february 20-25 2012

Monday

I'll be happy to admit I give in to food cravings. Especially if it's an avocado. :) Buy them firm, soften a day or two until it just gives a little under your fingers & the rind turns from glossy green to a more dull greenish black. Sprinkled with salt, this little veggie is a buttery delight. Guacamole is on my list of things to make, but the avocados just don't last that long.

Tuesday

Rory(3), Arielle(6), Elle(3),Max(6), Kalli (4), Savannah (3), Carter (8)
Tuesday night we took the Bontrager/Sauder kids to Ghana University's botanical gardens. The small fee we pay to enter is well worth the open spaces to run, trees to climb & a playground. It was a great time. The best part? Ron & Audrey were able to have a date while we were gone. The worst part? What should have been a 35m drive home turned into 2 hrs & 45m in crawling traffic. Their romantic evening & our noisy one did not end the way we had hoped.

Wednesday

Chocolate peanut butter spread on fresh bread (not made by me!) was a tasty snack. The spread turned out to be a really nice alternative to Nutella, which is expensive here (isn't it everywhere;)?). It does feel good to make something with pantry ingredients, have it get thick & creamy & have many beggars for more. Maybe a recipe post should be coming up soon.

Thursday

This quiet street in a small town 6km from the highway is an important place to me. In December I was invited to help with a small clinic located in the building in the center of the picture. It has been a source of fulfillment for me. A kindness my Heavenly Father has given me. I did not deserve to pick up something I had laid down for His glory. I did not seek out a place to be a nurse in Ghana. But He led me to it & has blessed my time there.

How convinced I am of His intimate love for me!

There are many Muslims in this area & many needy believers. I go there with a prayer on my lips to spread the peace of Jesus with each interaction.

(I am being intentionally vague on details. There has been trouble with local health inspectors & I don't want to contribute. I hope show you more sometime. )

Friday

Not a bad start to a Friday. Bought eggs & bread at the gate before 8am & my 6 year-old is making breakfast for the children! Thanks, Max.


Saturday

Thanks to Carter Bontrager & Jonathan Groff having February birthdays, we were able to take the afternoon & evening off at Tesano Sports Club. It was a wonderful time of catching up & relaxing together. Audrey, Juanita & I even managed to escape for awhile in the deep end while the men had their feet in the kiddie pool. :)

a cloudless sky

I still read the our church's Sunday bulletin. We may be far away from helping our small group set up for the service, attending prayer meeting & the youth groups progressive meal, but I like seeing those familiar reminders. Because at that prayer meeting, they pray for Jon & I. And at those youth events are young men & ladies whose lives we invested in & we still miss.
Today I got an extra bonus. They are praying for water for Jon & Sara's well. We are grateful for every intercession.
And now I'll have to admit that item has been at the bottom of my prayer list. But my attitude about it, sadly, has not gone to the bottom of the list.

Mind you it's not empty, just very low.
It's a 17 feet deep borehole. An electric pump fills a gravity tank on top of our house. We are thankful to be able to pump up enough water for toilets &, sometimes, enough for dishes. Water bags fill in for showers & drinking. I've been carting my laundry to Audrey's for weeks now. She is incredibly kind & gracious to share her time & washer with me. The short walk to her house has built my biceps & given us a reason to sit down & talk when I come to switch a load. (Often she has the loads changed & ready for me to take back to hang up!)

Max & Richmond enjoying our blow up pool.

It's in storage, but the kids can't wait til we have enough water to use it again.

We expect it to start raining occasionally ...soon... and then the water level will return to normal. We are mindful of the gift of water & wash machines. We are surrounded by folks who never have running water close by & always hand wash.
I actually am very thankful for the water we do have. It's just that the water we used to have is making it harder for me to keep a good attitude about the shortcuts we have to take. A cooling shower at the end of the day is often now a few water bags. Reusing dishwater, filling buckets with 2 cup bag after 2 cup bag for cooking, dishes & drinking. And filthy feet get a scrubbing when what they really need is a soaking. :)
Our brothers & sisters at home are praying for our well to fill. We join them. But we are very aware that God is likely going to choose the character He is building in our hearts without water over the glory He could receive from filling the well.
Whatever water you are praying for today, may you allow the Spirit to focus your mind on the work He is doing in you & through you in spite of a cloudless sky.

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I had intended to post a "week in pictures". I like the look into our daily life it gives you. Proof we do many mundane things, proof that life is remarkably similar no matter the location. In case you ever wondered, now that we are titled missionaries (completely unfair...we've only changed locations) there is no shiny glow to taking care of the family. No angel singing when we sit & talk with neighbors. No heavenly whispers when my children are vomiting again. (So cultivate contentment in your current neighborhood, 'cause, honey, if you're not feelin' it now, it's not going to happen in any other location. )

Whew. Now that's off my list of things I've earned the right to say.(...in love, of course.) ;)
So this week was full of rest and healthiness. I made yogurt, tomato sauce, & have been loving fresh mango & avocado. Not picture worthy, but a really nice week. And yes, thanks to a little thing called a birth day, I've got a new hanging planter & flowering plant. Jon made an excellent choice on that as he did on another item. Sadly, it must be exchanged...more on that another time. :) I also received the gift of Jon being home a little extra & a birthday supper made by Audrey & eaten by candle light. Candle light in Ghana is not done for creating atmosphere. It's called the power being off. :)

Saturday morning Jon, Max, Richmond, Ron & Carter drive to East Legon for some baseball. They spend 90m running, throwing, catching & sweating. They come home tired & scraped up. Max was very proud to have earned a brush burn from sliding into a base this week.

While they are gone, Audrey & I held a Valentines tea party for the rest. We enjoyed a slight breeze under the orange tree while sipping green tea (with much sugar!), having pink cupcakes & pink marshmallow hearts.( Thanks to my Mom for sending paper plates & napkins) Cheese & pretzels were a treat as well. Perhaps the best part was the face paint. Sent by one of my sisters, it was enjoyed by all! Rory was sure he wanted a motorcycle. We settled on a turtle. He is still talking about being "allowed" to join the girls pink party.

And today was our Sunday at Kinder Paradise. We enjoyed the Comm-Ci beach afterwards with some friends. The rocks keep us at the edge of the surf, but the cool water, lemon Fanta & conversation was a welcome change of pace. (This week, I promise to take boring pictures & not talk myself out of posting them...all for you, Anna Z. You asked for it!)

All work and no play?

When we dropped off our weary workers on Saturday night, I was again amazed at the way God brought the people we needed to accomplish His work. Although departing airport runs are sad, especially for the children, we knew that they had accomplished the work they had set out to do. And more so!

Max keeping an eye on the water bags

This trip had difficulty coming together, and with a date change thrown in, we didn't know how everything would come together. We knew that 2 people were coming on the original dates, and that the next 11 would come 1 day before those 2 left. As it turned out, Tim, who arrived January 17th, was able to help Ron prepare for the group to come, which was helpful because I am constructionally challenged. When Sara and I picked up the next 11 guests, complete with their 22 checked bags and all their carryons and backpacks, we had a van full of people and a truck full of luggage. Even with the time change and oven-like temperatures here, they were ready to go the next day, and after the ridge pole was set we were moving. The men worked hard and without complaint, and we even received another worker in Nelson Shirk, who assisted at Living Hope for a week and then came to help us for a week. Thank you Nelson!

Eric enjoying some local food

Our job was to set the rafters on the Bible Institute, and then put the purlins and facia boards on. The rafters are made by joining 2 2x6 boards and putting a scab on. The wood is very hard, requiring grease to help drive the nails in. Then these heavy rafters were handed up to our fearless men on the roof, where they were nailed into place. Musselman Lumber was kind to send 30 pounds of screws along, which made this process much easier. With one screw to hold the board in place, the guys could then drive several nails in the hard wood. Musselman's also sent along 100 construction pencils, and as a mission we are very grateful for their donation!

After the rafters were set, we started putting the 2x3 purlins in place, which the metal will be screwed onto. This required a lot of lumber, and a second trip to the lumber yard. All this lumber is treated with a mixture of turpentine, chemical, creosote, and diesel fuel in the attempt to keep the termites out. Once the purlins were on, the facia board was installed and the job was complete!

A view from the top, including Harmattan haze

Due to the job going better than expected, some of our workers from NCMF were able to go out and help Jon Groff at his place. And the guys that stayed here were able to do some other projects which were very beneficial to us.


We did get to go to the Kakum National Forest, and then visit the beach where the group matched wits with the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Following a delicious meal of cassava fish and charcoal chicken, we left for the 2 hour ride home.
In the evenings, many rowdy games of "Pigs and Chickens", Rook, and Pit lasted well into the morning hours. Cokes in glass bottles disappeared in exorbitant numbers. The Africa Cup of Nations was on, and the team watched Ghana compete to win. Some very good late-night chats with friends and the church ministry was very encouraging. It became harder and harder for them to arise for the 6:45 AM breakfast time, but after a cup of coffee and some thought-provoking devotions, we were good to go.

Thank you Steph!

So, thank you Stephanie and Annie, for your help to Sara in the kitchen. We worked hard and ate even better. Thank you Tim, Mike, Tyler, Kendrick, Preston, Shawn, Jeremy, Eric, Jon, Nelson, Tim, and Janelle. May God bless you for your service to Him!

More pictures are available on our website, http://www.cfcint.com/, and Shawn Graber has written a masterful journal of his time here in Ghana at www.cfcint.com/images/Africa_Trip_Report.pdf.

Faith-Full Friday

Jon's sister Andrea gave much of her 5 weeks in Ghana to serving the children at the Beacon House. Here she is with Helen. She is an example to us of livin' every day ready!

1 John 3:2
But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own.

Guess who's coming for dinner...

Cinnamon rolls for a Christmas party
So the chicken is in the crockpot, relieved of its skin & a few feathers (blech!) & hacked into pieces. The salad & dessert are chillin' in the fridge. The ants have been removed from their meal of crumbs under the dining room table. Saturday night company is coming & we are learning the art of hospitality.
I always knew how much I had to learn. Having guests when we lived in Pennsylvania meant some serious cleaning & food prep. Not that my visitors couldn't've put up with scattered toys & dirty dishes, but I allowed untidy to reach chaos & dishes to reach towering peaks far too often. Shall I give myself grace for having a few small children? Shall I give myself a break for just not having the gift of hospitality? No siree, I should not.
Picture perfect is not the goal, nor is an aseptic shine on the kitchen sink. The goal for me is to be able to tidy, wipe & cook in a reasonable amount of time, leaving my husband free to invite guests without his wife having an anxiety attack & his children lining up for orders on top to bottom cleaning.
Here in Pokuase, the toys are less, the dirt is more, & there are fewer choices on the menu but guests to our home are much more frequent.
God has taught me a lesson about hospitality. Laziness too often got in the way of not inviting someone to our house. I'm ashamed of the opportunities I missed to bless & minister to people around my own kitchen table. The very simple matter of a family prayer, meal & boistrous conversation around the dinner table is something we take for granted. One young man who often joins us is learning to pray with us & join in the fun we have. His father, like so many men here is long gone & we pray God is reaching his heart through the example of godly men like Jon & Adrian.
Here in Pokuase I've learned ( & am learning!), a simple banana bread is enough. I'm using what's in the fridge to serve others, not feeling pressure to create something new & amazing in order to feel like having company.
Hospitality to a Ghanaian is very important. Serving guests & sharing what they have with someone is ingrained in them. Sylvia sells fried yam & smoked fish at a stand down the street from us. She has often said to me " You are invited!" as she holds out her lunch.
Many of our guests are fellow missionaries & good friends. We've also been blessed to host more than a few of you that have been able to travel to see us. We love the laughter & lasting encouragement we feel after an evening with friends.
But our newest brothers & sisters in Christ, the ones we have come to serve, are teaching us the most about hospitality in way that reaches beyond the comfortable fit of our own cultural norms to true hospitality. A gracious & welcoming spirit that shows-despite my faux paux- the love of Christ

Here's a few things on hospitality:
~always welcome a guest with a handshake & inquiries about their health & the well being of their family. They expect it even if they are only coming to see Jon- & if I don't go, have asked later why I didn't come out to greet them.
~ They will wait to be told where to sit around the table.
~ Our guests would rarely sit around a table or require utensils, & rarely does a household share a meal together. In their homes, they are served whenever they arrive, eat with their fingers, using a doughy starch to scoop up soup or stew, then go. The cook serves, stays by the charcoal fire to tend the food & then cleans up. Often the women & children eat early to finish clean up by dark.
All that to say, our humble dining room table, chairs & place settings are not their normal.
~They all expect me to serve them the food. Encouraging them to help themselves doesn't seem to translate well & they just like the one who cooked to serve the food!
~ Left hands are considered dirty. Don't touch their child with your left hand, give them change, serve their food or give a friendly wave. All things I've done!
~ They are hesitant to take second helpings unless you offer & serve them.
~ If Ghanaian food is served, several bowls of water are needed for cleaning hands while eating. I forgot this the first time! One of the women graciously dumped her water glass into an extra bowl without ever complaining. :)
~ Speaking of water, cold water is not the best. They are not used to ice water. I guess that is one less thing to worry about. Unless, of course, our guests come from Pennsylvania. :)
~Certain stews or soups are only served with certain starches...I have started the meal by apologizing for knowingly serving the "wrong" foods as I try to please my (sometimes) finicky children & spicy pepper loving guests.
~Many of our friends love to try baked items. An oven is very rare in their communities, so it is a treat for them. They just love banana bread, or a chocolate cake. But most cookies, any icing or sweeter recipes are left unfinished, just too sweet for their palate. Remember chewing on sugar cane is sweet thing to them! If you've never tried it, think about gnawing on a slightly sweet tasting piece of stringy wood. :)

We have many more things to learn. And we are learning to laugh at our mistakes along the way.
How hospitable are you? I know many of you checked this lesson off the list & are a wlling servant to minister to guests. Those of you who are more like me ;), let's hold each other accountable as sisters. Join me on this journey!
I better get off this chair & get to work...company's coming!

family pictures

We are very thankful that Miss Judith, soon to be Mrs. Martin, visited us here in Pokuase & used her skills to turn an unfinished concrete block church into a some beautiful photography. Biased I may be, but she captured the sweet joy of each of my children. Heat & hunger stopped us but not before we got some great shots. Visit Judy at http://judithnicolephotography.com/.

Judy's months of staying with her sister Juanita in Cape Coast are over & she has returned home to chilly Pennsylvania to plan a wedding! We wish Judy & Delton a joyful few months before they say "I do"! By the looks of her pinterest, it will be a delightful summer wedding. Enjoy every minute! Best wishes & much love sent in our absence.

Faith-Full Friday

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy.” 1 Peter 1:13 MSG