March/April
Wow, been awhile! I had a March post typed up and was ready to go and it somehow got completely deleted. So after that I gave up on March until now! I have now spent 9 months in Ghana! Wild. It is difficult to recount everything that has been going on so I will do my best! The past two months (wow, time flies) have been interesting for sure! Let’s start with school…
Recently, school hours have been filled with lots of planning for upcoming math programs that we are doing at the school in May. It is fun to plan but also stressful sometimes! I do not always feel qualified to put together some of this type of training and big activities, but I am doing my best. And, a more experienced teacher is coming for the month of May to work at the school, so I get to be supported and led by her too! What a blessing! The past months, I have also had many opportunities to work with the teachers or take over certain aspects of the math classes, and it has been a challenge but so wonderful! Tutoring was in full force every evening leading up to exams at the end of April as well. One of the 4th grade boys asked me to teach him about squared numbers again before his exam, and so after the mini lesson, we practiced the squares and I told him how I remember them. I repeated it over and over, and after his exam he came to me and told me that he heard my voice in his head saying the tricks to remember! So fun! And sweet to build that connection with him. At school, we also had sports day! An activity filled day that brought lots of laughter and smiles (and treats).
Now, outside of school! A few animal experiences such as more chicken killing days, a goat for Easter (see the photo of the goat’s jaw), and an alligator that the boys killed! I had a few trips to Tema/Accra throughout these months that have been so wonderful! First, we got to go and celebrate Grace’s graduation! Such a special day that we have been waiting on for so long! Woohoo! Then several weeks later, I went and spent a weekend with Grace. We went to a friend’s house for games, to the beach, to the movies, and to church! Each morning I got to venture out on my own a bit and found some great coffee shops to read my book! It was such a treat. My other trips were with Autumn and Stacy! We had some AMAZING FOOD!! Beyond amazing. Serious treats. Including Pinkberry?!? Yes! Pinkberry. Different set up than frozen yogurt places in the states, but still so so delicious. And now I am thinking about it… yum. Besides that is has been fun things around CORM! Another CORM sports day on a holiday off school and a girls night for the women!
Life feels so normal here most of the time. I will get so used to things that I forget how different it is from the States. While I am grateful that I do not feel like I am living so far from my old comforts, I also want to remember to be grateful for all that I am getting to uniquely experience. It is such a blessing to have the deep, real friendships that God has given me here. My life has been so enhanced by these people and these experiences, and I never want to take that for granted. Some things are very hard, for sure, but it only makes me want to open my eyes and ears to how God is growing and shaping me. These months have been very formative personally and spiritually. God has gifted me the opportunities to have conversations in which I get to speak into people and they speak into me. Sharing wisdom. Calling to higher. Encouraging. Those conversations are what make me forget about the hard stuff. I honestly cannot even put into words how much I am learning from living here. From the small stuff like more efficient ways to clean your bathroom and how to kill a chicken all the way to gaining freedom from our own brokenness.
John 8:31-32 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
It is a beautiful thing to live in community like this, walking through life together. God is so so good to bring me around the world to experience this life.
Prayer requests:
Math May! We have a ton of work ahead of us and I pray that God will equip us to equip the teachers.
Staff! Let’s pray that the staff would be rejuvenated and be listening for the Holy Spirit’s prompting in all situations.
Autumn & Richard: They and their kids are heading to the states in less than two weeks and it will be a whole new chapter for them and for CORM! Praying for a wonderful job for Sir Richard and peace across the whole family as this new chapter begins. We will miss them SO much here, but are trusting that God will bring His perfection all around.
