Luke 21:34-36
34But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watchtherefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.
Thanking God for His word and His direction today. Praying what He said to pray for myself and loved ones. I wish I could stand on the tallest mountain with the ability to make everyone hear and listen to His words. We all need to pay close attention when He says things like "take heed".

Ghanaian Tradition

A dear friend said to me that she had learned from the Ghanains to be more relational.  I thought about it many times since she said it.  It is so true!  This is only one example: when a woman gives birth to her firstborn she retreats to her mother’s home for a month or two of training. I’m sure anyone in America is thinking, what? Are they crazy! Not at all.  There is  a precious momma living with us now.  She is sharing my room with her newborn.  Watching the women in her family who’ve gathered around her to teach her how to take care of the umbilical chord, bath and share their secrets of how to comfort her little one is precious.  But more precious is her attitude in receiving this instruction. She is receiving many blessings and memories.  I watch them laugh and giggle during many beautiful moments that they are sharing with one another and the bonding of the family to the infant is impressive.  Occasionally when they speak English and because I am beginning to understand Ga a little,  I find it refreshing that they keep no secrets but converse with one another openly about their feelings, their fears, their mistakes and their triumphs in life.  I’m sure your asking, what about the husband?  He visits often and you know what they say… Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  I am sure they long to be with one another and I am also sure she will return home to him rested and very confident in her abilities.  The bible speaks of the older women teaching the younger women.  The mother and other family members feel so honored to have the opportunity to share and be a part.  My dear friend, you are correct,  we should open our hearts and our minds so that we can become more relational with one another.  The enemy has robbed us of precious moments and memories because we are not more relational.

IT COULD BE YOU

This 8 yr old., Rebecca is precious.  She is beautiful and has a smile that will warm your heart.  She desperately wants a mommie and daddy.  We are praying for God to give her the desire of her heart!

Ghana Bath House

THIS IS OUR GHANA BATH HOUSE.The girls made this special place to bath.  They were so excited when I said I would use this place also.  I am fixing this up for the girls for Christmas.  I am so excited for them to see their new bath house.  More before and after photos to follow.  You can barely see it but they wrote open for business with chalk.  So cute!

I am not sure how to say what I am feeling.  Living at the home with these children has changed my life forever.  I know that it is a good thing to support orphans all over the world.  I do not want to take away from that.  However, would you want someone to support you in your poverty or rescue you from it?

I was thinking last night about some of the things that they live with daily. 

One of the things I miss most is silence.  There is none here.  Maybe for a few hours at night, but a little one is always stirring and someone must answer the call of the soft cry before it becomes wailing waking the others.  I have always been able to retreat to a quiet place until now and wonder how awesome a few moments of silence might be to these children.

 Another is the survival mode they live in.  The runt must fight not to be the runt.  When one advances in the chain another one will retreat to their new found place lower in the chain.  You must prove yourself and live in the moment for there is always someone a little higher on the chain than you. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like someone was competing with you?  It causes feeling of insecurity, frustration and anxiety.  

The assembly line is another.  Feeding, bathing, just about everything they do is done with the purpose of getting it done.  I remember taking my time bathing my little ones and enjoying every minute of it.  My heart breaks when I think about the necessity of the assembly line in this type of situation.  Unfortunately it is a necessity.

I am very fortunate to have a wonderful family who runs to my side if they think I am hurting or who come together to enjoy blessings.  There are so many times these children have moments that go unattended by another.  No one is there to share.

Can you imagine?  Please try.  And then… ask God what he wants from you.  He just might want you to give, we need givers.  He might just ask you to adopt a child.  Walking in obedience requires faith like the faith he required in II Kings 3 when he told them to dig ditches and he would fill them.  Just as he did then if you are obedient he will be faithful and you will be victorious.

CAPTURED

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ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME FOR LUNCH

You have to eat the head and the bones if you want to do it Ghanain style

Just When You Think This World is so Big...

God shows how small it really is... What are the chances of someone from America meeting someone from Sweden in Ghana who have the same passion?  Really good when God is in the picture!  This is Lynn and Ellen and not only did they  visit the orphanage several times while they were here but they also have raised money to help us with our Christmas Project.  Thank you Lynn and Ellen so much and may God Bless You!Just When You Think This is Such a Big World... God Shows Up!

GEOGRAPHY LESSON 1

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Today we had a geography lesson.  The children made it so much fun!  They were very impressed that Africa was so large.  They said, "Grandma, we live on the biggest continent, even bigger than America.  Isn't that right?"