I made it back to Knoxville Thursday morning. I meant to post sooner, but I have been really busy since I got back. The transition has been a lot harder than I anticipated, but God is good.
I'm praying about going back in August and staying for 4 months, but we'll see what God has planned. :)
Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragement while I was gone. They were such a blessing!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
When I'm weak, He is strong.
Its been an interesting couple of days.
Emily was sick for almost a week, but praise God she is finally feeling better. I got sick Friday morning, and I spent most of Friday and Saturday curled up in bed. I hated that I couldn't be out playing with the kids because I had no energy. Saturday night, all the volunteers went to have dinner with Johnbull and Stacy. Emily and I couldn't hardly look at the food without wanting to vomit. And sitting in a resturaunt, that was pretty difficult. After we got back from dinner, I was starting to feel a little better. Sunday morning, I got to sit in on Sunday School for the younger ones; the older boys did a lesson about Abraham and Sarah. After Sunday School, it was time for church. The older boys led the music, and pastor Eben gave the message. After lunch, we loaded up and took the kids to the beach. It's pretty chaotic taking 30 kids to the beach, but they love it. As soon as we got home from the beach, it was time to bath all the sandy kids. They love it when mommy does bathtime for them, but man, it's a chore to wash off a bunch of kids all covered in sand. Once we finished bathing, we ate dinner and the boys played soccer.
Monday morning, Sarah and I went over to Assurance Of Hope, the orphanage that Lola is staying at, to help with some crafts. We did valentine cards for their food sponsors, and we also did a little craft for them. It was kind of challenging, because some of them didn't really speak English, and we didn't know their names. But we made their crafts successfully. There was one little boy that stole my heart while we were there. He was clinging to my side shortly after we walked in the gate, and once I picked him up, he absolutely would not let me put him down. If I was able to get him down, he would hold onto my leg until I picked him back up. The kids all love to be held, but he would not leave my side the whole time we were there. It broke my heart to have to put him down and leave, and I've been thinking and praying about him ever since. God has a perfect plan for his life, and I trust He will watch over him. And I also pray Jehovah allows me to be apart of his life. :) I've been living in an orphanage for three weeks, and I love the kids here, but none of them have stuck out to me like this little boy has. I don't know why he's so special, but he sure has a place in my heart.
Today, we are doing valentine cards with our kids. I'm glad I get to spend valentines day loving on the fatherless. :)
I'm heading home tomorrow night, so please be praying for safe travels. It's going to be hard to leave all these beautiful children, and I cannot wait for the day I get to come back.
Emily was sick for almost a week, but praise God she is finally feeling better. I got sick Friday morning, and I spent most of Friday and Saturday curled up in bed. I hated that I couldn't be out playing with the kids because I had no energy. Saturday night, all the volunteers went to have dinner with Johnbull and Stacy. Emily and I couldn't hardly look at the food without wanting to vomit. And sitting in a resturaunt, that was pretty difficult. After we got back from dinner, I was starting to feel a little better. Sunday morning, I got to sit in on Sunday School for the younger ones; the older boys did a lesson about Abraham and Sarah. After Sunday School, it was time for church. The older boys led the music, and pastor Eben gave the message. After lunch, we loaded up and took the kids to the beach. It's pretty chaotic taking 30 kids to the beach, but they love it. As soon as we got home from the beach, it was time to bath all the sandy kids. They love it when mommy does bathtime for them, but man, it's a chore to wash off a bunch of kids all covered in sand. Once we finished bathing, we ate dinner and the boys played soccer.
Monday morning, Sarah and I went over to Assurance Of Hope, the orphanage that Lola is staying at, to help with some crafts. We did valentine cards for their food sponsors, and we also did a little craft for them. It was kind of challenging, because some of them didn't really speak English, and we didn't know their names. But we made their crafts successfully. There was one little boy that stole my heart while we were there. He was clinging to my side shortly after we walked in the gate, and once I picked him up, he absolutely would not let me put him down. If I was able to get him down, he would hold onto my leg until I picked him back up. The kids all love to be held, but he would not leave my side the whole time we were there. It broke my heart to have to put him down and leave, and I've been thinking and praying about him ever since. God has a perfect plan for his life, and I trust He will watch over him. And I also pray Jehovah allows me to be apart of his life. :) I've been living in an orphanage for three weeks, and I love the kids here, but none of them have stuck out to me like this little boy has. I don't know why he's so special, but he sure has a place in my heart.
Today, we are doing valentine cards with our kids. I'm glad I get to spend valentines day loving on the fatherless. :)
This is Peter. :)
Friday, February 10, 2012
"There is power in the name of Jesus"
Its been a very long day. Emily is still sick with Malaria; she feels very weak, and hasn't eaten much the past few days. I wasn't feeling well when I woke up this morning. I threw up, and have had "the runs" all day. I thought it might have been the food we ate last night, but I'm still feeling very sick, so I don't know what it is. Jehovah Rapha is mighty to heal, so we are trusting in Him. Please pray for healing for the both of us. Sarah, the other girl here with us, isn't sick at all, so we are praising God for that!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Heading home in a week.
I can't believe I only have one week left here in Ghana. It has been such a wonderful experience, and I pray that God allows me to come back soon!
We have spent most of our time at the orphanage the past few days. Just taking care of the kids, and helping wherever needed.
On Monday, Emily passed out in the middle of the night. Thankfully she landed halfway on our bed, instead of on the floor. John took her to the doctor, and they said she had Malaria. She is doing a lot better now, but she's still feeling very weak.
Here are some pictures of the kids. :)
We have spent most of our time at the orphanage the past few days. Just taking care of the kids, and helping wherever needed.
On Monday, Emily passed out in the middle of the night. Thankfully she landed halfway on our bed, instead of on the floor. John took her to the doctor, and they said she had Malaria. She is doing a lot better now, but she's still feeling very weak.
Here are some pictures of the kids. :)
Frankie riding his bike
This is what happens when the kids have oranges.
Luka. He and his two sisters went home to America on Friday.
Playing with the girls.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Week two!
Sorry I haven't posted anything the past few days. I didn't have internet most of the week. But! Moving right along.
This week was full of wonderful new experience. On Monday, we washed our clothes by hand. Some of the older boys were making fun of us because we weren't doing it right. But our clothes came out clean, so it's all good.
Tuesday-Saturday, Lola and I stayed at City Of Refuge with Johnbull and Stacy Omorefe. Their ministry is used to rescue children who have been sold into slavery. There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. Craziness.
It was so awesome getting to know the Omorefe family, and hearing about all that God has done, and is doing in their lives. They have one safe house that is a home for several children who have been rescued from child trafficking. They hope to build many more safe houses in the future to provide homes for children in need.
They have a school at City Of Refuge, and it's called "Faith Roots International." They have 121 students, Pre-k through 6th grade. They hope to expand the school and add a Jr & Sr high in the near future. Lola and I got to experience the school first hand on Wednesday. Lola helped in the 5th/6th grade class, and I helped with 1st grade class. It was really cool getting to see some of what goes on in the school.
On Thursday, we went to the city of Koforidua, to go to the bead market. There were literally millions of beads. It was insane. Lola and I were walking to meet up with John and Stacy, and we passed this man who informed that I was "the one". He was yelling and everybody was staring at him. Needless to say, I kept my head down and walked straight over to John and Stacy. =P
Friday, we helped in the school's store. They give the kids kind cash for good behavior, doing well in school, things like that. They get to buy little toys and other random stuff. It's kind of like an AWANA store (For those of you who know what that is. =P). Friday night is movie night at City Of Refuge, so we cuddled up with the kids and watched a movie.
Saturday, we spent the morning with the kids, before we had to leave. John and Stacy drove us back to Accra, where we met up with Sarah to go shopping. We went to one of the markets, and it was insane. There were people evvverywhere. But we had a lot of fun.
Today, we had church here in the orphanage. Love that Africa music! After church, they had a family meeting. It's a time for everyone to express any issues or problems that have been going on in the home. Basically, all the older kids get really worked up about things, and they all make fun of each other. So much sibling love. =P I'm not sure how they got on the subject, but pastor John (the leader of the orphanage) asked the older boys to go get their underwear, and some of them came back with it on their heads. Part of it was serious, but we were laughing a majority of the time. Once they were done with family meeting, we ate lunch and headed to the beach. There was about 40 of us total. The beach is a couple miles from the house, so we took a couple taxis to get there. You would be amazed how many people can fit in these little taxis. When we were leaving the beach, we didn't have any taxis, so we had to start walking home. We walked a little ways, and then one taxi stopped. We crammed as many kids we could, and Emily went with them. The rest of us had to walk home. That was pretty interesting, but we had fun.
So yeah! Been another awesome week, and I'm really enjoying my time here in Ghana! God is so good!
This week was full of wonderful new experience. On Monday, we washed our clothes by hand. Some of the older boys were making fun of us because we weren't doing it right. But our clothes came out clean, so it's all good.
Tuesday-Saturday, Lola and I stayed at City Of Refuge with Johnbull and Stacy Omorefe. Their ministry is used to rescue children who have been sold into slavery. There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. Craziness.
It was so awesome getting to know the Omorefe family, and hearing about all that God has done, and is doing in their lives. They have one safe house that is a home for several children who have been rescued from child trafficking. They hope to build many more safe houses in the future to provide homes for children in need.
They have a school at City Of Refuge, and it's called "Faith Roots International." They have 121 students, Pre-k through 6th grade. They hope to expand the school and add a Jr & Sr high in the near future. Lola and I got to experience the school first hand on Wednesday. Lola helped in the 5th/6th grade class, and I helped with 1st grade class. It was really cool getting to see some of what goes on in the school.
On Thursday, we went to the city of Koforidua, to go to the bead market. There were literally millions of beads. It was insane. Lola and I were walking to meet up with John and Stacy, and we passed this man who informed that I was "the one". He was yelling and everybody was staring at him. Needless to say, I kept my head down and walked straight over to John and Stacy. =P
Friday, we helped in the school's store. They give the kids kind cash for good behavior, doing well in school, things like that. They get to buy little toys and other random stuff. It's kind of like an AWANA store (For those of you who know what that is. =P). Friday night is movie night at City Of Refuge, so we cuddled up with the kids and watched a movie.
Saturday, we spent the morning with the kids, before we had to leave. John and Stacy drove us back to Accra, where we met up with Sarah to go shopping. We went to one of the markets, and it was insane. There were people evvverywhere. But we had a lot of fun.
Today, we had church here in the orphanage. Love that Africa music! After church, they had a family meeting. It's a time for everyone to express any issues or problems that have been going on in the home. Basically, all the older kids get really worked up about things, and they all make fun of each other. So much sibling love. =P I'm not sure how they got on the subject, but pastor John (the leader of the orphanage) asked the older boys to go get their underwear, and some of them came back with it on their heads. Part of it was serious, but we were laughing a majority of the time. Once they were done with family meeting, we ate lunch and headed to the beach. There was about 40 of us total. The beach is a couple miles from the house, so we took a couple taxis to get there. You would be amazed how many people can fit in these little taxis. When we were leaving the beach, we didn't have any taxis, so we had to start walking home. We walked a little ways, and then one taxi stopped. We crammed as many kids we could, and Emily went with them. The rest of us had to walk home. That was pretty interesting, but we had fun.
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