Our recent adventures!

I know, I know...it's been a long time since we've posted anything...I guess you can say we've been "busy" :) our internet connection isn't the best either but no complaining...just happy to even have internet, praise God! Where do I begin? I suppose I can begin with this morning and go backwards, how 'bout that? Well...

Pastor Angelo and our driver Isaac left the house at 6:00am to head out to the Tema Port to continue working on getting our jeep out! It has been in port for about 1 1/2 weeks or so, but, these things take a looong time. So anyway, that meant I had to find other means of getting the girls to school this morning. They usually leave b/w 7:30-7:40am for school with Angelo and Isaac. Sooooo, because we had no car we did what everyone else does around here...you guessed it...walk! We set out on foot on our orange packed down, pot hole ridden, dirt road, (and I decided to wear white capris today :) hoping to hail a taxi not too far from the house, but, no taxi, we ended up walking up to the main road junction where everyone else waits for tro-tros and taxis. Tro-tros are vans that for a very cheap fee take you where you want to go, jam packed of course. I started getting worried because I couldn't spot a taxi! Finally...one came by, I negotiate the fee first though, which was like $1.50 for the three of us to go to their school. That's about average. I may have been able to get it for less but being pressed for time didn't feel like bargaining at that hour. While the girls and I were walking one of the girls says, "I left something at home!" at this point I was like Oh well, for sure there was nothing we could do now. This experience 'll whip your kid into shape for sure. Plus, the other thing I did not mention was that at that early hour it was already H-O-T! What an adventure for us, but this everyday all day life for many Ghanaians. No cars, always on foot and using tro-tros, waiting in lines, could take your hours to get you where you need to go.

Suleima and I were invited out today and so we too have to set out on foot to hail another taxi...whew...it's hot! Pray for our air conditioners...they aren't working and we have few fans, we're pretty used to it by now but sometimes it's just hot and you feel like staying in a cold shower. I welcome them now, we did have nice cooler weather but all that is gone for sure. The dry season is rolling in!

Yesterday for church we visited , one of our NLGO branches located in Teshie, near the coast. It was very nice to worship with them. As I gave a greeting to them I shared greetings from home in America to them and talked about no matter where we are it is so good to know that allthough we are different in color, we bleed the same red blood, and we worship the same God! They all cheered and were very happy. As a special treat and presentation to us their youth dance team preformed! It was sooo good and beautiful, tears just came to my eyes as I thought about the many short terms missions trips we have taken with our own youth from NLOI Richmond. I thought about how many moments Angelo and I had wondering when our turn would come to go overseas for a longer time. Now...here we are! I thought about all of our youth back at home doing the same thing, Tiffany, Will, Chris, Mike, Nathanial, Courtney, and others that I miss. And guess what? What do you think the temperature was yesterday? I don't know either but it was H-O-T! We met in a neatly painted coral pink, wooden structure with an alter and windows that prop open and swing out, much like you'd see along many coastal areas around the world. Half the windows were closed so the air wasn't circulating well. We were all hot and sweaty but the presence of God was still there...It was a long one hour drive from our home...but the joy of the Lord was all over everyone! There was dancing and singing and dancing and dancing and singing, and did I mention...dancing and singing?

Well...This blog will have to be continued...Suleima and I must get a head start to catch a taxi! I promise to finish soon! Love you all.

God is good. by Feliza

We have now officially been here a month! God has proven over and over again to be faithful. About 1 1/2 weeks ago I was outside my house praying and asking God to "bring the right person" here as a housekeeper. In Ghanaian life it is common to have a daily housekeeper and cook, among other staff, to help keep the home running. As far as the cooking goes we are fine in that department, I enjoy cooking and baking and so does Suleima. Well, the very next morning about 7:30 a.m. our driver came to me and said there is a woman here who has come about the housekeeping job, can she come in? I took a quick gasp because she was a complete surprise to me, and I still had my pjs on from getting the girls ready for school. So I told Isaac to please have her wait. As I peeked through my bedroom window I could see she was patiently waiting outside the gate, sitting on the curb. I threw something on and invited her in right away, immediately her face told me so much about her spirit but of course I continued to move on with the interview. I was delighted to find out that not only had she had experience as a housekeeper for foreigners but her previous employers were a family working for the French Embassy! After some Q&A's I decided to hire her to begin work the very next morning! I tell you all this to give praise to God because I shouldn't have been surprised...He always comes through sometimes sooner than expected! One day I'm praying for a housekeeper the next morning the Lord delivers her to my doorstep! How many times does God come through for us and we don't even see it? Or we make excuses and don't accept what God is giving us!

Her name is Vida but we call her "Ama". She always has a smile in her eyes and face just like our driver Isaac. Isaac is another blessing. God provided us with a car and a driver before we even moved here! Isaac has a sweet spirit and so do his two beautiful sons, Joseph and Daniel, and his lovely wife Margaret. Angelo and I decided to pay them a house visit after church. Isaac wanted his sons to meet his boss, as he put it. His children were so excited to meet us! Afterwards, when driving home, he expressed how this was the happiest day for him. He said his wife and boys were sooo happy, he loves us very much. His wife is expecting their 3rd child and they are hoping for a girl. He also said that if she has a girl they will name her after me, "Feliza". Thank goodness I had my sunglasses on, I was so moved and tears just welled up in my eyes. I offered a quiet thank you to him as he was driving. That afternoon we continued a joyful and happy ride home! God indeed has been good to us, and there is more news and more experiences to come...more praises to offer our God.

You know you're a Missionary Kid When...(by Marisol)

1. Your school is located on No. 1 Jungle Street (It's true!)

2. You have instant "pets" in your home...geckos, fuzzy creatures, huge spiders...

3. Your choices of TV channels are either fuzzy channel 1 or fuzzy channel 2...soccer and news! (if you're lucky you might catch fuzzy channel 3.)

4. Getting "something special" means when your mom buys you a TWIX candy bar from the local grocery store...Maxmart!

5. You get excited about owning your own fan!

6. You're exited about hot water.

7. The closest thing to modernization is the internet cafe.

8. Your mom hangs up laundry in your room to dry when it's raining outside!

9. It's a miracle if you ONLY loose power in your school 6 times a day!

10. Your lucky if your air condition works.

11. The joke "Why did the chicken cross the road..." is a reality.

12. When you have goats and chickens in your Sunday School room!

13. When an exciting conversation takes place over having popcorn as a snack at school!

14. Family night means sitting around the laptop to watch a DVD movie around a laptop.

15. When your friends get excited about buying a nightstand for their bedroom!

16. When your parents yell at you for mishandling a precious flashlight!

17/ When getting a good deal means haggeling for hours to get something for just a few dollars.