a realization

After being in church on Sunday and now writing a communion talk I just have come to the realization how amazing the body of Christ is. On Sunday I was really missing my church in Ghana and how much joy it seems they have and I missed the carefree don't care whose listening singing and the dancing and all the smiling. This frame of mind is totally different from church here in the states. However is it about how we are worshipping or is it Who we are worshipping I think this holiday as I came home it was me wanting to see my family but wanting to be in Ghana and missing people on both ends and I wasn't thinking about why I was coming home to celebrate the birth of Christ and that it didn't matter where I am I am going to be celebrating with people all over the world the greatest gift and biggest sacrifice. Isn't that what Christmas is all about anyway and it doesn't mater where I am and who I am with. It doesn't mater how we worship or celebrate we are celebrating and worshipping the same person. Let us keep that in mind as we go into worship this season.

O Come Let us adore him.

Can't believe its over

Wow I feel like this semester has gone by super fast. I feel like I have been going and going since I have been here. It has been pretty busy here finishing up the semester. Its hard to believe that just in about 24 hours I will be getting on a plane to fly by to Chicago for three weeks. This realization has been hard to grasp this year. I have this feeling of wanting to be here in Ghana but wanting to see my family. Ghana has become my home and I have a family here too that might not be related to me but has been my support through so much this semester. I feel like I know how military people feel when they are going home but long to go back. I haven't even left yet and long to be back here. I have grown so much this semester just in finding who I am outside of school and who I am in the greater scheme of things. Just pray for the transition back to the states because I feel like it will be harder for me this time. Pray for people to hang out with that I will get some rest in between all the traveling.

Praise- I have now received my passport back and inside it is my work visa for one year. So after two and half years of waiting I finally have it.

Pray- for a safe trip back into the states.

a God who knows what we need before we ask

I always wondered what I would be like in an emergency. Well today I surprised myself. I always thought I would be a little emotional instead I was calm and in control. Today at school we had a fire and we had to go outside. None of us knew what was going on. Well it happened there were a couple of little fires that were put out. However, to go along with that we had no water at school. So at about 11:30am we all went outside. The administration decided to call school and send everyone home. So instead of teaching all day I was outside watching the third graders waiting for their rides to come. It was very exciting.

I thank God that it was not to bad and no one got hurt. Its funny how God knows things before we do and he knows exactly what we need. The past week I have had this head thing going on and have not felt well. So today I was tired I didn't feel well and just at the point of not wanting to be at school. I was contemplating seeing if I could take tomorrow off because I just was tired and frustrated at the school for not having electricity and not having water. I was just to the breaking point after a long week. Not more than 20 minutes later I find out that they have cancelled school for tomorrow because it is a national holiday. It was just what I needed.

Please just pray that I feel better it is just a head cold but it is wearing on me. It is straining my voice, I am having a hard time breathing out of my nose and my ears are clogged. THese would not be all that bad except when you have 15 third graders and you can't speak or hear them.

Continue to pray for my passport situation. THat it will come back in because I leave in 15 days. Continue to pray that we will start building soon. Our budget here is getting really tight with the new building. Please also pray that our electricity bill at the school will come down it is a lot of money and its not necessarily a fair amount.

Praise no school tomorrow so another 3.5 day weekend. Tomorrow I will get to go surprise my friend George at his soccer tournament by my house that I didn't think that I was going to be able to go because I had school. Holiday is coming with much needed rest.

Thanks for all your prayers and support we definitely feel them here.

field day

Field day is a day here at AIS where we split up each student into a team of a country represented at our school. Each teacher has a team of k- gr12. This year my team was Ivory Coast. My team came in second place out of all the other teams. I had a great team! On the last day we had to wear the colors of our countries flag. Mine was green, orange and white.

My third graders before field day!

PRAISE AND PRAYER REQUEST:

THE FIRST PART OF THE WORK VISA HAS COME THROUGH. THE PRAYER REQUEST IS THAT THE SECOND PART IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE MY PASSPORT AND I LEAVE IN LIKE 20 DAYS. PRAY THAT I GET THE PASSPORT BACK SO I CAN LEAVE ON THE 16TH.

a time to come to end with great new beginnings...

There hasn't been much going on here. It seems like a lot of things are coming to an end. Reading month is officially over. Which means a lot of stress has gone away. Eligibility for the semester is over which is great because there is a lot of drama dealing with that. The semester is coming to an end also it just a few short weeks. The sad one is volleyball. Monday is our last game against the staff and Wednesday is our party. Then girls volleyball will be over. Even though all these things are ending there are so many new things beginning.

So I have signed my letter of intent to stay another year in Ghana. I love it here and I love my students. Some of you have heard that I am looking to change grades here at AIS. Right now it is still up in the air of what I will teach but hopefully it will be either first grade or kindergarten which are totally different from 3rd grade.

The joy I feel when I see precious little ones in those grades and even smaller like the preschoolers is amazing. It must only be a small glimpse of what Christ sees and feels when He looks at us.Even today while I was waiting for my friend George to get done coaching soccer practice I was watching these little kids that couldn't be more than 5 or 6 playing soccer and how adorable they were trying their best to kick the ball and even when they missed the joy they had while just trying to kick it. Just seeing little kids with huge smiles on their faces with not a care in the world reminds me of how we are to be. Just think if we were to act a like one of those little kids trying to kick a soccer ball and failing but still have so much joy and excitement. Wouldn't our lives reflect the true joy of who Christ is. I am speaking to myself right now. The past couple of weeks have not been easy here. They have tough, lonely, and feeling of being left down time and time again. If only I had the joy through all of it as those little ones did. Have the faith that one day I will be able to stand and not feel any of those things. That one day I am going to be in the presence of the Lord everyday and never feel sad, alone, or cry a tear. Its only looking back on the situations and hard times it seems that I learn this. I wonder why I don't keep this in mind when I am actually going through it.

PTL

- George, he is a great friend to me that just listens and sometimes lets me just tag along with him doing errands just so I can get out of the house.

- amazing parents who really support the class.

- new principal at our school she is amazing and I have already had a bunch of meetings with her and they have been great.

Prayer request

- housing- there has been a lot of tension at my house between my roommate and me. I may actually be moving at christmas into an apartment with another teacher.

-deciding what i will be teaching next year. THe director sees me as a first grade teacher but I know God will put me in which ever one he wants me in.

- I have a student that doesn't smile and he told me I wasn't going to make him smile so its my mission to make smile. He is a sweet kid and want him to love Ghana as he moved from Ohio. He was the first student i met this year.

-George- He has been really busy and he is exhausted. He believes in Christ but we have been talking about it a lot and he doesn't really go to church anymore because he is tired and doesn't have anyone to go with. He is catholic and so just that he will feel the pull at his heart to go back to church. he needs accountability. Just ask for opportunities to encourage him and that we will keep having great conversations about life and things in general.

- my stress level it has been really high lately and it was to the point where I would get home from school and go to bed at like 6:30 and sleep all the way to 4:30 (4:45ish) in the morning and still wanting to sleep.

- I have also had the yearning to really want to be home. A lot has happened in this first semester with people at home. Like my best friends mom died and it was hard for me because I could not be there for him or just feeling like I am letting people at home down because they are going through something and I can't be there which I know I can't be because God has me here and that he has control over the situation at home but its definitely this week effected me.

- a good end to the semester only a couple of weeks left and they are going to be busy.

27 days until I leave to come home to celebrate the holidays.

The Provider

I just love how God provides little things that encourage you or just teach you something. This weekend has been full of God's provisions.

Having our very first volleyball game in AIS history. God provided a team and safety getting there. He also provided our girls to have the most amazing attitude about playing and even after a lost. They could have been discouraged and all had bad attitudes but they had the most wonderful attitudes. He also provided amazing fans! Our fans are awesome there was a lot of them and they were cheering these girls on. I seriously love each of them. Our captains are amazing and I am so glad God gave me each of them.

He also...

Provided a great friend to hang out with. Being a coach and teacher can sometimes be frustrating and having someone who understands when you just say your frustrated with the week. No questions asked because they already know. Or having lost a game and kind of bummed and just replaying all of the things in practice you could have worked on or all the things we need to work on next in practice. Just saying we have some things we need to work on and they understand. Sometimes you also need someone who is not associated with your job or ministry. Sometimes is here since I work, live, and hang out with everyone at AIS you sometimes just need new faces and people who understand you that are not around you all the time. God provided me with that friend this weekend. A way to not think about the week to get my mind off everything to do with school. Thank God for George who is both a teacher and a coach. George has become a really good friend of mine the last 6 months. This weekend was a blast hanging out with. For just a couple of hours of not thinking about all I have to do or just about school.

He also provided...

A close friend! This year I have felt lonely. I really haven't felt like I have really fit in with anyone. I still have my friends from the last two years but I have felt like I haven't really connected with them for some reason. God provided me with a volleyball coach that I have come to love. She is awesome and is such an encouragement to me. Today we went and got pedicures and we just talked about things going on and about what we are going to do next year or when the contract is up. Its awesome that He provided me with someone I work with and coach with.

A much needed break

After a very few stressful weeks we had a much needed day off from school Friday. This was very relaxing for me. I got to relax by the pool and then hang out with a great friend. Not only did I get to relax I got a little taste of home. I got to have some root beer and peanut butter ice cream. I also got to watch american football which I was really excited about. It was just what I needed. I hung all day with that friend and then got to go to see my other friend Mike at a job function. It was great to see him because he is leaving to visit the states on Sunday for a while so it was good to see him again before he left. It was a great day off and today I got to relax by the pool and then chill at home and tonight I get to go out with Nichole.

It was a great relaxing weekend! Monday and Tuesday I have parent teacher conferences so pray for me as I talk with parents. Pray also for the volleyball team as AIS will have their first volleyball game on Friday! Almost 2 months till I will be home enjoying the snow! THanks for all the prayers!

Being Peculiar for Christ

But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I peter 2:9

The word peculiar is a word that has been coming up and a word that has impacted my life is amazing ways. God has been working in my life and really been impressing on my heart to be peculiar for Christ. I should not be normal to this world I need to be weird.

I was sitting in church the last two weeks and the pastor was saying how some Christians these days are to nervous and to ashamed to even pray out loud at restaurants. So many times we do a headache prayer. I asked myself am I willing to be peculiar for the one who was peculiar for me?

The past two weeks I have really been trying to stand out in the world I am living in. Trying to be Christ to people I am with. We are studying David in my Bible study and how what he was doing was culturally ok but not okay with God. This made me ask myself if I am doing things that are culturally okay are they really okay with God.

Then today in church Pastor Jeff was talking about who is getting the glory and why you do certain things. So many times I just do things for my glory to get man's approval but I should be doing things for Christ's glory. Really giving glory to whom it belongs because really without CHrist I am nothing and can do nothing. That is being peculiar knowing that the approval of men is nice but doing for Christ is going to be more rewarding in the long run.

I have been blessed the last couple of weeks with some awesome friends that have taken my mind off of school. I have had so many nights out with other people and it is quite refreshing to be with others than the same people I work with.

Where do you find your strength?

I have a couple of stories to share with you this week. I got strength this week from a couple of things that happened this week. 2 of them have to with friends and the other ones just have to do with little encouragements from others.

So this week I was sick again out of something I ate. So on Wednesday I came home from school at like 3:40 which is super early for me and came home and went to sleep because I had no energy. So I wrote on my facebook that I was not feeling all that well and I get a phone call from a friend that I just really started to get to know at the end of last year. He was just calling to see if I was okay and to make sure I didn't have malaria. It was so sweet and it kind of made me feel better. Then I got a better on Thursday and George wanted me and my roommate to see the soccer game at Lincoln on Friday. So we decided to go and I was excited so I got to see my friends George and Elrom.

Then on Saturday I got told since I was a volleyball coach I needed to go thru first aid training and it happened that the guy that was doing our first aid training was my friend Mike who was the life guard at my pool party last year. It was great to see him again and just see him do something that he is very passionate about.

On Thursday in our mailboxes we got prayers from students after chapel. I and the prayer team at home have been praying for one of the high schoolers who has been searching for Christ. Well on those prayers I found one that said something like thanks for sending Jesus to die for me, and it was from this one student that we are praying for. I don't know if he has accepted Christ but he realizes that Jesus came to die for him and that is one step closer for him to ask him to come into his life. Our prayers are working and Christ is working in his life so please keep lifting him to our savior. Sometimes in ministry when you don't necessarily see a lot of results from just planting seeds and you see something like that you just see that all the work and praying for these students is making a difference you regain strength.

The one that has not happened yet but that I am so excited about is volleyball starts tomorrow! We have about 11 girls that have picked up permission slips to play which is just really exciting. But what is perhaps even more exciting is that I have an awesome partner who has the same passion I do for these students to really be a discipleship group as well. Talking with her yesterday in the van about what we wanted to do to make Christ even more evident on our team. We have come up with a couple of different things: Before we start practice each time we are going to have someone share something that they learned about Christ that day or something that happened to them. Then we are going to pray together as a team. This week Daesha and me are going to show them. As a team we are going to have a team verse that we are going to memorize. We have talked about getting shirts with the team verse on it so that it would be the center of our team. We want volleyball to be not only a team but a small group that can encourage and be in God's word together. Please pray for all these girls and Daesha and me as we coach and disciple these girls.

Last and not least I have especially today found strength in sitting and reading the Bible, and listening to worship music. It has been a rough day and the first thing that i thought of was to vent to someone else. However all the people I usually vent to were not home or not online which I think was God telling me I am the one that you vent to. So just crying out to God for strength to deal with people here and just being tired just listening for his voice, and searching in the Bible. Going to humans first is so ridiculous because they don't hold your future or your life. They don't have the words to comfort and loving arms to wrap around you and hold you for a long time but God does and He does all the time. He always has the right thing to say to you even when it is in his stern voice because you have disobeyed or did it your way instead of going to him first. He always does it in a loving way.

Please pray for this senior who has realize he needs Jesus. Pray for salvation. Pray for our volleyball program as it starts on Monday. Please also pray for a struggling relationship with one of my housemates and coworkers. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragements.

a little bit of chaos in a world of peace

This week has been a week that I have realized that I am back in Ghana. The honeymoon stage is over and I am full in. You would think after 2 years I wouldn't have to have the realization that I am no longer in America and get into a routine which is fine. I love having my routine but being too comfortable with the routine is another thing. Having a passion for what you are doing with a routine is different that just being completely comfortable with your routine. I don't want to be in a rut where I just go and go like a robot. I want to be open to all of what God is willing to teach me and the opportunities I have to share Him with others.

This week I got to go to a Korean festival. There is a big Korean population here in Ghana in a place called Tema. A lot of these families are missionaries. They would putting on a fundraiser for their church. It was a lot of fun and I got to eat a lot of good korean food. I had a great opportunity to eat lots of good food. I had some Korean noodles which are amazing, they were called Chap Chae,I think bung-a bbang was these things that look like fish and inside they have beans and something else but they taste like chocolate, and hoddok is a cinnamon pancake thing, it was more of a dessert. I got to hang out with some amazing teachers and friends. So all of these foods I split with the new PE teacher, Josiah, and at one point he told me I wasn't allowed to talk any more till I finished the rest of the fish thing because he wouldn't start eating the pancake things until I was done. So for all of you who know me I didn't stop talking I just quickly finished so that we could eat the pancake things. It was a lot of fun and I hung out with people that I hadn't really hung out with yet.

So in Bible study this year we have been looking at the life of David in I Samuel. This week a couple things just hit me.

1. GOd has a will for me but so does Satan. (2 Tim. 2:26, And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Satan tries with all his might to make us stray and to deceive us. Make us doubt our faith and make us doubt of who we are in Christ. He attacks us and we know he will just like David knew he wrote it in Psalm 27:2. That is why 2 Tim. 1:12 is so important. It says For he which cause I also suffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I KNOW whom I have BELIEVED and am PERSUADED that he is ABLE to KEEP that which I have COMMITTED unto Him against that day.

2. There are two types of faith. Faith that we base our faith on what God is doing and one where we base our faith on who He is. So many times especially in Ghana I have faith on what He is doing and as soon as something happens where I don't necessarily see Him working I tend to get down on myself and look at things more critically. WHere as if I have faith in who He is I would really be looking at WHat he has done in the past and all of His promises that he has kept and know He is a faithful, loving, all consuming God.

3. GOd is bigger than our feelings. He is bigger than our heart. Beth Moore talked about how we have the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts when our feelings are in conflict with our callings. SHe talked about how we can't just listen to our hearts because our hearts will deceive us. I John 3:20, I John 4:4. verse 20"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. vs 4 Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you than he that is of the world." Praise the Lord that We have a savior who is greater than our heart.

It is coming to be time again where I have to decide what I am going to be doing next year.I have a couple of choices. I can stay in Ghana and teach third grade, I can stay in Ghana and switch grades, I can transfer to a different NICs school, or I can come home. I think coming home is not really going to be an option my passion is to be overseas. I am just really praying about where God would have me. I have been thinking about maybe transferring to Korea or just switching to a different grade here at AIS. Just pray for this decision. I always dread this decision it is so hard for me. Part of it is because all I have known for the last two years has been AIS its scary thinking about leaving it. However, I can't let fear or being comfortable keep me here and not really listening to what God is saying to me. I ask that you pray for discernment.

So I guess I should explain why I entitled my blog a little bit of chaos in a world of peace. In the last couple of weeks my whole world has been turned upside down with a million different things and just adjusting to life back in Ghana and not getting to talk to some people as often as I did at home and different things and it has just been chaotic but I have peace with it all. I have peace because I know God gives peace to those who trust in Him and He has every single thing that has happened in the last couple of weeks from Amanda's wedding to coming back to Ghana to some other things He already had and has them worked work out and so with chaos all around I can have peace. I can have faith that God will come through and I can have joy even in the hard times because I know I have a faithful God.

God is good and I am so thankful that i have this opportunity to be in Ghana for a third year. My class is amazing and they really put a smile on my face every time I see them. okay so at Care group tonight Chris was talking from Hebrews and he referenced a passage in TItus and I really like it and it really just kind of stood out to me so i thought I would close with this.

Titus 3:4-8

" But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy ghost: which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior that being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and that things i will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable unto men. "

In you I find strength and purpose

So this week has been eye opening. I feel like my perspective on life has changed. Life in Ghana is going amazing. My class is awesome and they have taught me so much.

This week I had a sweet boy in my class break down in tears because his grandpa had a heart attack and he was upset because his grandpa doesn’t know Christ. He was scared that his grandpa was going to die and not know Christ. This little boy showed me how we should be concerned for those who are not saved. We never know what is going to happen I mean look at the news people are dying everyday and do we even think about how it should disturb us that we don’t know if they knew Christ. Why don’t we react like this little boy did when we here about lost souls dying?

The second thing was that God puts people in our lives for a reason. We may not know the reason for them at the moment but when a situation happens they are the ones we turn to. I am privilege to have amazing friends all over the world that pray for me and encourage me even if they don’t know all that is going on.

I found a song and it is amazing. When you are filling down and are struggling with something God is always there and He can do all things. Just look at David. He was anointed king of Israel was placed in the palace and then searched out to be killed by the King and even in all these times David just cried out and look to God.

I Look to you by Whitney Houston

As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
Im lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I've been through
Who on earth can I turn to

I look to you
I look to you

After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you

Yeah

And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song

I look to you

After losing my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I've taken
Lead to my regret
And I don't know if Im gonna make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

I look to you
I look to you

Yeah

And when all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you

Oh yeah

And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song

I look to you


(my levee's have broken, my walls have come)

Coming down on me

(crumbling down on me)

All the rain is falling

(the rain is falling, defeat is calling)

Set me free

(i need you to set me free)

Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me

I look to you
I look to you

After all my strength has gone
in you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you

and when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song

I look to you

yeah

I look to you
oooooooh
I look to you

first week done

Wow, I cant believe that I have been here only 5 days and have taught 4 days, put together a classroom, lesson planed, put up bulletin boards, grade papers and catch up on friendships. I have yet to go grocery shopping, that will be today's job.

It has been very busy week at school. I love my class and I wouldn't change them for the world. My class is sweet, kind, and work really hard. We have had so much fun this week but have learned a lot.

I am definitely back in Ghana. Saturday morning Christy and I started rearranging the furniture in the house. We found a lot of random things. Christy then left for tutoring so I continued to clean and put my room back together. About 12 I was just starting to get ready for the day when the bell rang about a million times. So I am running around trying to find some real clothes to put on and I go to the gate there are about 8 of our soccer players and one from the other American school coming for a soccer ball. So now all of them are in our house waiting for me to find a soccer ball, which I have no idea where the ball is. I eventually found it with the help from Christy. These things happen all the time here where students just show up because they need something. Looking back on that I have realized that I am here to teach but its to provide love and support for these kids. Yes while it was an inconvenience for me yesterday I made hopefully a little difference by showing the kindness of finding a soccer ball for them on a Saturday.

To end the week we had my roommate Christy's birthday. We went miniature golfing which was a lot of fun. However, I am horrible at it golfing i golfed a 74 on a 18 hole course. It was so much fun at one hole Josiah and Minta hit the ball through one of the holes and they both got stuck in the tube. So they went to just go get two new golf balls but they wanted to get them out of the whole so 2 Ghanaians came out to look at it and eventually they got a big stick and got both of the golf balls it was awesome. Then we went out to eat and then back to the pink house for frozen strawberries and pineapple.

I am excited to go to church for the first time since i have been back. I am ready to see some good friends and just be in fellowship with my church family here. God is good and He has given me strength to make it through the week.

two suitcases and a baseball bag...

Life the last couple of weeks has been crazy with the wedding of my sister and packing and leaving to go back to Ghana. It was so nice to see so many friends and family the last couple of weeks and to see people that have made impacts in my life that I had only talked to but never really met. I have found that more and more I have known people without even meeting them face to face.

The trip back to Ghana was pretty adventurous. I get to the airport and I can't find my reservation on the little computer so I was in this long line. Let me remind you I have two large suitcases one that ways about half of what I do and a bat bag that is a little bigger with all my clothes in it. So I finally get to the front and I know I have lots of baggage fees. So finally she fines my reservation and I get all of my bags checked through security and get to my gate. So I get to my gate and I am delayed about 20 minutes because of weather. They get us on the plane and we go to the runway and they tell us all flights to D.C. were grounded because of the weather going through and that we would hopefully take off in a few minutes. Finally we take off and we land in D.C. at 10 o clock. My flight is already boarding for Ghana, when we arrive. So I get off my flight and walk really fast to my gate. When I get there they call final boarding and I make it just in time. I get on this flight and we get to the runway and we are delayed because of an emergency landing. Finally we take off and this flight was so bumpy.

Finally I get back to Ghana and it is now about 45 minutes later than when i was supposed to come in. So I finally get out of the airport at 3:30 and I get picked up by the directors wife and Laurie. They take me back to my house where I get a very warm welcome. Then they take me to the school to see my new wonderful classroom. (pictures to come) My classroom is amazing I love it. So immediately I get to work organizing. Laurie had invited me over for dinner that night so after working in my room for about 2 hours we go to Laurie's house. Fellowship and food are great things when you are just overwhelmed with everything you have to do. So just getting you would think I would be exhausted but not me I was totally jet legged.

I get to school extra early today Tuesday (the second day of school) excited to see and meet all my new students. Its exciting to see what an impact you make on some one and someplace when you walk in a place and you get bombarded with hellos and hugs. I didn't even care that I was unorganized and havoc was everywhere in my classroom with books and posters laying everywhere.

Today was a good day with my class even though i was pretty tired and very out of my organized element. My class is awesome and they seem pretty independent. This was good today because as they were working on projects to get to know each other I was able to pass out their books put up some bulletin boards and organizing which they helped with also. My class has already debated between Christianity and Islam. It is amazing what these kids know and what they discuss. I am most excited about Bible this year! I have 14 as of right now and could get more. It was a little relief knowing that I didn't have 21 right off the bat.

Pray that God teaches me especially in the next couple of weeks to balance my time at school and with my friends. Fellowship is something that keeps us going while here in Ghana. Thanks so much for all your prayers. They are what got me over here. God is good! enough said.

Excited

This summer has been a busy one with traveling around and seeing different people and meeting new friends that are going to other NICS and OASIS schools all around the world. I spent two weeks in Memphis at Pre Field Orientation which is training that all new teachers go to, to learn how to relate to the students that we encounter on a day to day routine. THis Here I got to have a small group of 4 amazing young women who have been called to go to 4 different countries. I loved hanging out with these girls they reminded me of how faithful God has been to me these last two years and how He has calmed all the worries and fears I had about packing up and leaving my comfort zone to Ghana.

I thank God that He has put me in GHana and that I am blessed to go back to Ghana for a third year. Not only am I blessed to be going back but I am blessed with about 21 students nine of which are new to the school. THat means I get nine new students to introduce to Jesus or help them grow deeper with him. I am also thankful for students that I would have never thought I would be in contact with this year. One I think of in general who is going in to 12th grade this year and just the conversations that I got to have with about Christ. I wrote earlier this year about a student who after a soccer game waiting for his parents and looking at the moon and the stars, which you can see very clearly in GHana, talking about who created all of this and why. THen just this past week he messaged me on Facebook to see if the soccer coach had Facebook because he had a question for her. So I asked him how he was doing and I let him know that I was praying for him. (I should say that I have been praying for this student ever since we had that conversation in March, I can remember because it was the monday before my birthday.) I then got a message back saying really you are praying for me. All he said was wow. THen he went on to ask me to pray for him to be a good kid, and that he would not make his mom sad, and that he graduates. I of course said of course but i also told him that he could pray to Christ too because He loves him and cares for him and he listens to him too. I also told him that we all make mistakes and that is why Christ came to earth to die and to forgive us, and that His grace covers us. Just pray for this student that his heart would be opened to who Christ is. THe seeds have been planted and I am praying the God works in his life and brings him into the family.

I still have a couple of weeks left in the states. It is funny how in the last two weeks i have had this yearning to get back to GHana and back to these students. I am so excited for this year and the ministry I have with these students. I think I am more excited because i have a relationship with these students now and they have gotten to know me the last two years and hopefully begin to trust me.

Please Pray for these students that I will come in contact with this year. As I coach volleyball, work in the mentoring program and teach. Pray for the families that I will come in contact also. That I can share Christ with these families. That my enthusiasm will stretch throughout the year.

I want to leave with a verse that i came upon this week that I think is a great promise that is confirmed all the time over seas but also is an encouragement to those who are showing Christ to people in their neighborhoods, jobs, schools, and communities.

we have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. We are persecuted, but GOd does not leave us. We hurt sometimes but we are not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

blessed

I have been home for just over a week and I have been blessed so many times. Here are some of them

Blessing One

So my computer broke 4 days before I left Ghana so the day I got in I went directly to the apple store. They had to send my computer in and I was going to have to pay almost 300 dollars to get it fixed because my warranty had expired. So I was prepared to pay it and my person was very nice he fought for me and so I didn't have to pay anything to get my computer fixed.

Blessing two

VBS at our church. I was kinda jet legged and probably could of slept a long time. I am so glad I pushed and went to work with these kids. They were so cute and they really made me smile. I once had a friend tell me that every hug or smile you get from a child is a hug or smile from God.

Blessing three

Vacation. Being in San Diego is amazing. It is so beautiful here and so many different types of people. Getting to hang out with my sister and see a lot of cool things. Not worrying about anything for school or home just being where I am is amazing.

These may seem like a really small things but is it not the small things that sometimes make your life worth while and gives us the best attitude.

My last week of school

Wow, this past week has been one stressful week. Please pray for the unity of our school there is a lot of division right now. We have 3 and a half days of school left and it is going to be a busy one. My week starts tomorrow with our last Sunday of this year at Pram Pram. Then the high schoolers are coming over for lunch. Christy's parents come in today so it will be nice to be able to hang out with them and meet them. Then on Monday my students will be watching CHarlotte's Web and playing yahtzee with the second graders. THen on Tuesday is my class party. FOr my class party we are going to one of the students house who has a pool and we are going to spend the whole day at the pool. Wednesday we are going to be cleaning the classroom. Thursday is the last day where we are going to just celebrate the year we have had. This year I am giving each student a book that I will write a memory verse and note in. In class we are going to be working on memory books where I am going to be sharing a verse also.

This past week I have more than one opportunity just to pray for students in my class one on one with them. Its amazing how much these kids just need someone to listen to them. With all the drama and stress that goes on at school the reason I am here is not for the school it is for these students and to share Christ with them. The last couple of weeks I have been focused on how much drama there is at our school and yesterday I realized that these students are the reason and they are the ones that see Christ through us.

Today I realized how much I care about my friends here. I was supposed to go play volleyball this morning and I got up to go and got ready and actually got a taxi and was on my way. I called the person I was supposed to be meeting and nothing phone is off. This never happeneds. So I get to the place not where we met before and they were still not answering their phone so I came home. 17 cedis and an hour later I was back home still trying to get ahold of my friend. Here in Ghana travel is not always the safest and is not always reliable. So knowing that they traveled home late at night on trotros got me really worried. I just kept calling finally they called me back like 5 hours later with their phone which shut off last night and then was feeling sick, but I was so relieved that they were okay. It is going to be hard to say goodbye to some really good friends that I have made this semester.

PRayer Request

1. finishing up the school year strong

2. the see ya laters (instead of goodbyes) to some great friends

3. my traveling home on Friday night, Saturday morning.

4. getting everything ready for the first four days of school that i will be missing next year.

I cant believe I am done with my second year of teaching. It was crazy just yesterday I was sitting in the fourth grade room with my third graders and I realized how much my third graders have grown from last year and that it was crazy that another one of my classes was going to be moving on to another grade. I can't wait to see how much these kids have grown over the summer. looking forward to seeing you all very soon!

One Amazing Saturday

I had the best day yesterday. I hung out with Christy and two of my friends from Lincoln Elrom and George. Yesterday Christy and I hung out with Elrom and George the whole day. We got the opportunity to help out with a football tournament and we were there from 8am-6:15pm. It was so much fun. It wasn't even that we were having a bunch of fun but it was the people I was with. We got to chill and talk afterwards. Christy and I got sunburn but it was totally okay with us. We came home and knocked out we were so tired.

Its funny how life changes after being here a year and a half. Its nice to know that i have some good friends that are not from my school and people that are not americans. I realized how much I need people outside of AIS. Yesterday I got a chance to just be part of something that didn't have the stress of school. It was nice to help out some people who got to see Christ in us and make a difference to some kids and these two teachers at a different school. It was so much fun.

I am glad I have another year to hang out and become better friends with George and Elrom.

Prayer:

1. three weeks of school left

2. saying goodbye to friends for two months

3. finishing up strong.

Its been a while

Wow, its been a while since I have written. Not to much has happened here. We had spring break and I got to enjoy a nice relaxing break in Germany hanging out with some really good friends of mine. I got to lay in a blanket and read a book and eat american food. It was awesome. After spring break it was in the swing of things again. Now we are closing down the school year. I am kinda of excited I am ready to be relaxing. We had our spring musical last Saturday it was the Sound of Music so the students just sang songs from the musical. Life here has been pretty normal playing lots of volleyball with my friend Elrom and just chilling at home playing games and trying to lay out at the pool if it is not raining.

Praise the Lord we are in Rainy season!!!!

the funny thing about being a teacher

isn't really funny. Something I realized is that being a teacher is not your only job. As a teacher you are sometimes the steadiness in a child's life. You are their counselor when they have no one else. You teach them not only subject matter you teach them life.

Sometimes life is just to hard. You may say what does a third grader know about life being hard. Being here has really made me thankful for how I grew up. Some of my students don't see their parents for weeks sometimes months on end. Some of them have in more schools then they are old. Some of them have been let down time and time again and they are only 8 and 9. Plus some of them, most of them in a culture that is not their own. So I am OKAY being that steadiness and a counselor and teacher of life because if I am not then who else is going to be.

I thank God for every single one of my students no matter how trying they may be. They all have something they bring to our class. Please Pray for my class as some of them are going through a really hard time.

PRayer

1. for a little boy in my class who was in tears for like 15 minutes today. He has a lot going on and I dont know the details but God does.

2. Pray for the details of my trip to Germany to come together. Plane tickets bought.

3. SAT testing that is going on in school this week.

in the fast past of life...

The past two weeks have been kind of crazy. Last week I went to two soccer games against the other American school. It was a blast but super busy. I am amazed at how God just stops us and shows us His greatness. I saw this on Monday night.

So wanting to get home after a long day Christy and I were waiting for the students to leave and there was one left. An 11th grader that I believe is new to the school this year. We were sitting out on the front steps of the school waiting for his mom and we started talking about the stars and the moon. I said something like I don't understand how people can look at the moon and the stars and all the details in nature and not believe in God and he was like ya. Well we kept talking and he said but how did God get here. I was like the Bible just says He was there. Other than that I don't know that is something you will have to ask Him when you get to Heaven. At that point I wish I would have planned that when I said that but I wasn't even thinking that this kid might not be saved. Its great how God uses things we say to spark great conversation. At that he said well I pray and go to church and worship him and sometimes I read my bible so hopefully I will get to Heaven. At that I was like that is not how you get to Heaven. You can't get to Heaven by doing certain things we don't get there by reading our Bible or praying the only way is to accept the gift God gave us. He then went to ask what that gift was and I got to tell him about Jesus and how he came to save us and that if you accept that gift everything we have done or will do is already paid for and that if we accept that gift you will spend eternity with Jesus. Now did he accept Christ I don't know but he is searching. His mom finally came and gave us a ride home. As I was getting out of the car he simply said thanks for the advice Miss Meitzler. I said any time just stop by my room if there is anything. He stops by and says hi but no more questions but my job is to plant the seed and all we can do now is pray that the Holy Spirit works in him.

So we have a school in Japan in the southern part but they are definitely seeing the impact of the tsunami and the earthquake. We took a moment to stop and have a moment of silence. I explained that this was a serious thing because a lot of people lost their lives and everything that they owned. So at 2:46pm we stopped and we all stood up and just was silent however my class broke out into prayer for these people and they just asked God to comfort them and put His arms around them. It was an amazing time just to hear these 7-12 years just pray out in front of the rest of the class praying for a nation that is closed to the gospel for the most part and for people they don't know. They have some reference to the school because we have two teachers that were at AIS go to Japan and the director was in our class when the directors came so they love the director there. When we are to have faith like a child this is what he means. Hearing them pray was a great reminder of how we are to pray. Pray for people we don't know and just believe that God is already taking care of it all.

Lets get our praise on

1. the opportunity to share the gospel with these kids

2. the relationship I have with this students that they feel free to open up and talk to me

3. our electricity has been pretty good.

4. I am now 24 years old for another year to serve God

5. Amazing friends that I have all over the world that encourage me.

Prayer request

1. This 11th grade student and that the holy spirit will work in his life

2. the students that are at AIS that God would just open up their hearts and ears to him especially the Muslim families

3. hiring of teachers

4. plans for my spring break trip to Germany April 22nd- May 1.

5. Standford Achievement Test next week

6. Japan and the school that we have there that they can share CHrist with this lost country.

4 day weekend

Praise the Lord for 4 day weekends. This past weekend was Ghana's Independence so we got Friday off and Monday. I just thank God that I am in a peaceful country, and that the government is civilized and supports democracy. I especially am thankful because there are so many countries in Africa that are not and there are so many countries just in general that are not in peace right not.

This weekend I was planing to just sit and relax however it was a time a time of adventure and fellowship. It started bright and early on Friday. My friend fro

m the other american school invited me to come play volleyball and I was excited it was going to be on a hard surface more like a gym, even though it was not a gym. I am so used to playing on dirt/ sand at AIS . It was real, organized volleyball like serving, passing, setting, and spiking which I have not played in a while. It was great. We played like 3 hours straight. It was awesome.

After I played volleyball my friends and I went to the beach which was an adventure. We will close to the station that we needed to be to, to get a tro tro, which is like a 15 passenger van but with a lot more people in it. Finding the right tro tro was easy with my friends help he set it all up so that the guy would tell us when to get off. Which is just a praise because we had written directions and none of us had been there before. Ghanaians are really friendly people that will help you out even if they don't know the answer. So we found a taxi then to take us to the beach from where we were left off a tro tro which another ghanian helped us get. Then we finally made it to the beach and it was beautiful. Seeing the ocean and ho

w it seems to go on forever and just looking at the water and how it all seems to flow together. I just think how can you see things like that and not know their is a God. I mean I was sitting there and was just in awe of God's marvelous works and how amazing his creation is. I encourage you one day to go look at the sunrise or the sunset and just be taken away in God's amazing creation. I could have spent forever just sitting marveling at God's creation. I am so glad that I will be with the Lord marveling and praising Him forever one day.

Well it was about time to go home which took us 3 1/2 hours which was about double the time it took us to get there. It was great and even though y

ou were not there here are some pictures to remind you of how great our God really is!

Kim, Me, and Christy after we were out on the beach
Christy and Me before the waves smashed into us

Me and Kim getting pounded by a wave.

Me and Kim again

Get your praise on

1. good friends to fellowship with

2. a peaceful country to live in

3. be surrounded by friendly people who help even though they don't know you.

4. A God who made and amazing creation.

Prayer Request

1. Safe travels as my dad comes to visit me on March 18- 24

2. Continually showing love to some students in my class even when it is hard

3. figuring out everything for next year as I will be coming to school 5 days late. I know this is a while away but knowing I am missing the first week of school is stressing me out already.

4. hiring of new teachers and our land

5. relationships in our school between each other

"Seussification"

This is my class on the stairs right outside my

classroom wearing our Dr. Seuss hats.
Dr. Seuss hats on my class.
After we read Horton Hears a Who we

made Horton mask out of paper plates and paper.


THis is my white board all decorated.
Each cubby got a Dr. Seuss Hat

This is my awesome door that I decorated

it is Dr. Seuss and then all of my students names

are on the hats all around. As well as information

on Dr. Seuss and who he is was.

This is a word that my third graders made up today as we celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday. I wanted to share some pictures with you from our day today and let you join in our "Seussification"

In the Rush of the world ...

God still finds time to calm us down and learn more. THese past two weeks have been busy but I have learned so much in those two weeks. So last week it was a struggle to really get into my Bible study and really focus on the Word. So on Tuesday I think it was I woke up and could not sleep I was wide awake. I tried watching a movie but it was not putting me back to sleep so I opened up my Bible and for some instance Revelation drew me in. I could not put it down I found so many things that were so interesting and how amazing our God really is. Just the smallest detail He has it down. One thing that just amazed me how awesome the worship is going to be and how everyone and everything is going to be praising the Lord. THat is just so amazing to me and it has given me a new hunger to read the Bible.

Then yesterday my class was talking about Matthew 18:21-35, which is the story of the unmerciful servant. We started talking about how Jesus made the greatest sacrifice for forgiveness by dying on the cross. So we were talking about that and somehow we got on the devil. So we were talking about how the devil got kicked out of Heaven and all these questions about the Bible. It was amazing just to see how many verses came to mind and how I could reference them in the discussion. This was definitely the holy spirit bringing them to mind. It was amazing. My class had such a good discussion, that even the students that don't usually put in their opinion were speaking up and asking questions and putting input in which was huge.

THen today we were talking about the Spaniards and how they came over to the west and were setting up missions and that they were forcing the native americans to believe or the were publicly whipped or killed. So we started talking about the right way to spread the gospel and the wrong way. How we need to do it with a loving, and caring spirit and not a forceful spirit where you make it a punishment. It was amazing to see the opportunities I have had this week to share with these kids and encourage them to get in the word.

Really that is the reason we are here. For all the times this year I have been stressed out or just frustrated with my class these last two days made up for it more. I wish I had more answers to their questions but they were asking some hard questions and we are going to see if Mr. Crosby can answer some of them. A friend of mine that teaches in Singapore wrote to me and gave me a good reminder, he said, "Every time one of your third graders give you a hug it is a hug from the Lord." THis is so true God doesn't put us in impossible situations we just have to see His touch in the simple things and in the child-like things. He sends his hugs in the form of a child.

Get our Praise on

1. more people are showing up to volleyball

2. I am learning so much and have a renew hunger for the word

3. Great Discussion in Bible

4.we are still getting rain- this never happens in February.

5. My dad comes in 3 weeks!

6. Had some great fellowship with the high school and middle schoolers after school and volleyball.

Prayer Request

1. OUr electricity has been going out more and more. This is the third or fourth time this week that our electricity has gone out.

2. opportunities to share Christ with students

3. I don't get to busy to sit and listen to what the Lord is teaching me

4. pray for unity in our school right now there is a lot of issues going on right now.

5. Mr. Crosby, our director, as he hires people to come to Ghana that the Lord would bring the right people to us at AIS

I love my life

This week I have really seen why I love being in Ghana. This week I had a blast getting to know these students. It started off with a day off where I got to just work in my classroom and then got to be a chaperon for the soccer team. Not really knowing anything about the game of soccer I went to be a support for the soccer coach which happens to be my roommate. I got to be in charge of the first aid part which is just funny since I have no idea anything about first aid. Luckily no one got hurt at least not to bad. All I had to do was get ice for two students which happened to be a really cool thing. I got to talk a lot to the assistant athletic director. After we got back from the game and got home I had an email from him which was just a huge encouragement of the testimony our school has, especially to the other American school. The soccer team did really well and they tied against a really good school compared to us. So I got to meet a lot of the high schoolers and middle schoolers on the soccer team which I knew their names but really did not know them. So on the way home one of them reminded the coach that she said if they won or tied she would give them a party so on Friday the soccer team came over. It was very chaotic but very fun. It is amazing to see the students outside of school and how they interact with each other.

I just have kept thinking this weekend where else or how could I ever imagine that I would have 25 high school and middle school students at my house playing soccer and playing games. The impact that we make here through relationships with the students and really just getting to know them is amazing. It is a real encouragement to see the impact that people have on other's lives just because of how we act and how we treat other people.

Get your praise on

1. opportunity to share a smile with professionals at another school

2. no one got hurt at the soccer game and that they did well

3. our electricity came back on

4. great friends that are big encouragements to you and support you no mater what

5. time to yourself to regenerate.

6. One of the seniors got saved last week.

Prayer Request

1. continue to pray for my class

2. pray for this senior girl who got saved as she begins this amazing journey

3. for Mr. Crosby as he is back in the states interviewing for new teachers

4. Pray for a situation that is not involving me but a close friend and a parent and somethings that happened with administration.

5. This new contact I have with the assistant athletic Director and that I can share Christ with him.

life in Ghana

This week has been a pretty normal week. We have no school Monday but teachers have to go in for a teacher work day. I am really excited for a day kind of off. I really don't have much to say but I do have a few prayer request that seem small but are really important.

1. please pray for the volleyball program. The kids are not showing up and me and the other teacher are thinking about just not doing it anymore for the high schoolers. This brings me to another one we are thinking about working with the 3rd through 5th graders to start on their skills so that way when they get to jr high school and high school they will have a love for volleyball and we can play more fun things. THis volleyball program is my baby and I want it to work and reach these kids with something that they haven't done before and share a passion that I have.

2. pray for two of my students they are just having a rough time. These two are the ones that shape our class and they have no confidence in themselves. I had one last week that broke down twice in tears for me and the art teacher. Please pray for whatever is going on his poor little heart.

international day

This Friday we had international at school. I love seeing all of our students dressed in their national costumes. It really just shows why I am here in Ghana at AIS and all the different types of people that we are reaching. Here are some pictures.

Students that represent India

This is Meghann and Me at the international day lunch.

All of the parents bring in food from their country and share and the whole school and parents eat and then there is a part where we see

all the students and parents from the different countries.


Before lunch a group of students and the science

teacher did a traditional ghanian dance.

THis is our PE teacher who was

Presenting on Scotland. He got in full character.

Most teachers research a country and then tell the students

about the country and do an activity that goes with

the country,

My wonderful third graders doing

of course silly things.


My third graders and me taking a

picture in their traditional dress and representing

their countries.

Beauty from Ashes

Beauty from pain

Wow so much has gone on the last couple of weeks. These past couple of weeks have not been easy but as I look back on everything that has happened I have come out a stronger person and the phrase that really got me is beauty from pain. God uses pain to make us more beautiful. I have learned so much this past week and just seen God in so many ways even when I thought everything was to much He was still there. I have realized that I have so much. I am not the richest person and I am not by any means the poorest person. Today looking at the street kids get the books and how excited they are to just receive a book and how that is more than they could ever imagine. I just think what happened if I looked at everything that I have or get and be that exciting just because God allowed me to have it. He allowed me to have a trailing week but he also allowed me to see the joy that comes with getting through those trials.

Also this week in Bible we have talked about Salvation and pictures God uses to show us salvation and our focus this week is becoming a new creature. II Corinthians 5:17 is our memory verse and just looking at how we are something new once Christ has come into our lives. Well this one-day they had to finish this phrase Salvation is like…and fill it in. My students came up with amazing analogies that related to their lives I wish I could share them with you but they were so good I showed them to the director and haven’t gotten them back yet.

Please pray for my class and that their hearts are opened to the gospel. Please pray especially for two boys in my class who have a huge influence on how the day goes. Lately it has not been very good. Please pray that no one gets lice in my class, which includes me, we have had some students out with it. Pray for our electricity it is starting to go out more pray that it stays on. Pray for the NICS family as one of the director’s wife died suddenly this past weekend after collapsing in front of her class on Friday.

Blessings

1. God makes us beautiful through trials

2. Blessed with more things than I could ever imagine

3. The joy and the hope that I have something so much more to live for

4. That God already has an outcome for every situation.

5. Great friends around the world that know what it is like to go through things over seas even though we are not in the same country but deal with the same things.

To end this I have some lyrics from a SuperChic(k) song that have been an encouragement to me and I hope they are an encouragement to you.

The lights go out all around me

One last candle to keep out the night

And then the darkness surrounds me

I know I'm alive but I feel like I've died

And all that's left is to accept that it's over

My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made

I try to keep warm but I just grow colder

I feel like I'm slipping away

After all this has passed, I still will remain

After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain

Though it won't be today,

Someday I'll hope again

And there'll be beauty from pain

You will bring beauty from my pain

My whole world is the pain inside me

The best I can do is just get through the day

When life before is only a memory

I wonder why God lets me walk through this place

And though I can't understand why this happened

I know that I will when I look back someday

And see how you've brought beauty from ashes

And made me as gold purified through these flames

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/beauty-from-pain-lyrics-superchick.html ]

After all this has passed, I still will remain

After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain

Though it won't be today,

Someday I'll hope again

And there'll be beauty from pain

You will bring beauty from my pain

Here I am, at the end of me

Tryin to hold to what I can't see

I forgot how to hope

This night's been so long

I cling to Your promise

There will be a dawn

After all this has passed, I still will remain

After I've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain

Though it won't be today,

Someday i'll hope again

And there'll be beauty from pain

You will bring beauty from my pain

Isaiah 61.3