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.