Palm Sunday

As we catch the rhythm and routines of life in Ghana, at moments we are startled to see ourselves relaxing , even finding our place here. I was able to visit the arts & crafts street with Audrey and her guest this week. A purchase was to be ready to pick up in an hour. When we returned, we spent another hour talking with the artist, Jabril. When is the last time you chatted with the clerk at Walmart about if they've visited Boston, or Tennessee? He proudly showed off his knowledge of American geography. ;0) The best part was, in between discussing Bush/Obama, Republican/Democrats, we talked about Jesus. That, my friends, is the Ghana advantage. They love to sit and talk and that buys us time to turn the conversation. By the way, I was the one purchasing artwork for my walls. One would think the visitor with us would have, but I have a special weakness for acrylic beauties. ;) Pictures soon. We have also become accustomed to surprises all around. Lizards in the house, ants in the towels & bedsheets (Elle's bed, of course! She is still talking about it.), worms in the veggies. We were able to spend the day with Jonathan & Juanita on Friday. Ron & Audrey dropped us off on their way to Cape Coast, returning for us on their way home. The ladies & children enjoyed the local beach, while the men worked on irrigation tubing on the farm. Sounds fair to me! Jon enjoyed a chance to see the farm, & the farmer, in action. It is always encouraging to see my friend making her way in Ghana. She is making a home for her family, making relationships all around her. In a land of so much words-only Christianity, she is being the hands of Jesus! Palm Sunday took us to the Dobro church & Pastor Isaac. He was delighted we came, & we were delighted to join in. Jon was asked to share "small", & he did. He & Jon are friends and share a joke about being ready in season and out of season to share a word. He was extra delighted to be the one to ask Jon to share this morning. The camaraderie they share is wonderful. What a glorious hope we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hope is what shines from the eyes of these village church attendees. We cannot cure their illness or make them millionaires, but Jesus has given them hope. It is a beautiful thing. One man testified in the service to recently accepting Jesus Christ. Joy shone from his face. He is making relationships in this small fellowship & is assisting with the work on the CFC school buildings. Pray for Steven as he continues to seek Jesus & make changes in his life. A large group of children have a sort of Sunday school under the mango trees while the adults have church. Many come from the local village without their parents. They are pictured below with their palm branches. They are easy to find here! The little lady I am holding came with her big sister to the service. She was so sweet! Pastor Isaac has a large children's ministry. He has a passion for ministering to youth and children. When Adrian Myer joins us in May, this is an area God has ready for him to minister in as well.

Before I could post this, we received a few Sunday night visitors. I tend to post in too much of an overview style, so here is a specific look at our evening!

Margaret, another young lady Audrey has introduced me to, stopped by. She sells kerosene along the highway. Our houses are on her 2 mile walk home. She is 15 years old & determined to do well in the next 5 years of her schooling so she can attend university to be a doctor. She is interested in all things American & will try any food we give her. :) She just lectured me last night about not letting strangers in my gate. She told a local robbery story, but , thankfully, in her opinion, my neighbors are trustworthy. :)

"Are you having bread," is the question. In other words, I would like a chunk of bread with much margarine. I was happy to give it to her, along with a chunk of banana bread. No pieces of bread here, they want a chunk. She came with a gift for Elle. She had crocheted her a little yellow purse! It was so sweet. She gave her a big hug. Elle likes Margaret and comes running when she sees her. Since I explained to her Elle's story of adoption, she is extra sweet to her. I should say this is so special because many Ghanaian youth care for younger siblings, little ones are a job, not playmates. That makes it extra sweet to see her sharing the bread I give her with Elle and taking the time to play with her.

Abigail and Mary arrived next to get water. These young neighbor ladies come for water, saving them a long walk for dirty water. I don't mind. The water is well worth the friendship we are working on. They are thankful we don't charge them. The landlord had been charging them 10 pesewas a bucket. The like many Ghanaian, they are Christians, but struggling with living it out. They have many questions & I don't have many answers. I hope to get her a study Bible and encourage her seek out a sincere local church.

Tonight we stood in my concrete backyard over full tubs of water waiting to be carried. Margaret was with the children in the kitchen, doing my dishes and enjoying herself, so I stayed & talked. Their questions were about my veiling. "Why?", followed by " If it shows submission & simplicity, then you wouldn't wear it to church, right?" :) Understand, Americans, that here, on a Sunday morning, the best, brightest dress comes out, the fanciest hair and the sparkliest jewels are put on. For one morning, they put aside work & put on beauty. She could hardly believe I would desire simplicity for attending church! It is a small picture of what can happen here, how the focus of worship and fellowship can get misdirected. Any church of any culture falls to this trap of Satan. I am thankful the CFCI Bible School is working hard to keep it's pastors, students & churches focused on honoring God !

The big questions passed & they wanted to see my kitchen. They oohed and ahhed over the cooker, the fridge & full pantry. Without power or running water, they plan & cook day to day. And if she had my pantry, her house would be full of hungry friends and relatives wanting fed. Abigail & Mary were anxious to try the banana bread. "Oh", they said, " It is too sweet!" But they both wanted chunks in rubbers (thin plastic bags) to take with them.

They had made three trips, filling all the buckets and head pans they had. They left with the last load of water, bread and a mango. And, I pray, a good dose of true friendship.

Margaret & Max were still playing a racing game on the iPod (a ministry tool! ;) ). She needed to get home before it got too dark. She had to chase Elle down, since she had taken off in her slippers (flip flops), & pry out her little feet. This little girl loves any sandals she can find!

After dinner, a storm knocked off the power. The power company does this because the wind can blow and swing the lines, causing them to touch and cause more problems. The wind and rain was so cold on the front porch, Max & I were imagining ourselves in sweatshirts, home in Pennsylvania! Not long ago we all would have ran out into the rain to cool off. Yes, we have done that! We've even taken along the soap and washed the children under the roof runoff! This time it felt too cold! Rory was shivering and Elle wouldn't even come out! I think our thermostats have been adjusted. :)

This weekend we will join three of the CFCI churches as they have a evenings of services on the CFCI campus.

May Easter be on your mind this week. The death & resurrection of Christ are a message too life changing to keep quiet. The Ghanaian way is to turn the speakers to top volume, so the message is difficult to ignore. May your life show the resurrection power of Jesus Christ at top volume this week!!