“Take me back with you.” The statement I have just about enough of…many of the people I meet around town ask me to take them to America or propose so they can get into my country. I hear this line before they even ask my name or greet me at times. Luckily, I can tell them I’m not going back; I’m going to Asia for awhile first. However, even that answer doesn’t even get them to stop mentioning it. They think America is the solution to their struggles. They think they will be rich and life will be easy; they will be able to have everything they want or could ever need.
Yes, there are more opportunities in America and I am very wealthy compared to them. However, America has its own set of struggles and hardships leading to unhappiness. Stress, worry, fast-paced lifestyle, competition, comparison and materialism are just a few traps Americans get sucked into and it’s a cycle that’s hard to escape. All my possessions give me temporary happiness and comfort but then leave me still searching for more. I can be proud of my work and find temporary contentment in succeeding at my job, education or success in the worldly prospective but having yet another level to achieve. I can try to find joy in my friendships and relationships and have fun but dependence on them can lead to disappointment as well.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for JOY and be glad all our days.”
Psalms 90:14
God is the only way to truly be filled with JOY. He is the one who can provide complete JOY and contentment in our lives. When we focus on Him for provision for our fulfillment He will bless us with an indescribable JOY. Wherever we are, in whatever circumstance, we can experience this JOY because it comes from our Provider, Redeemer, Friend, our Father.
“…The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.”
Psalms 145: 13
“…you open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”
Psalms 145: 16
Emmanuella is determine to come back to America with me. I buy the most delicious mangoes from her weekly and she always gives me a good deal 😉 I have told her God is the only way to complete JOY and happiness and He will provide for her and her family right here in this city. I pray for provision and protection and she knows she is blessed by God.
Thanks for the mangoes sista! I’m going to miss you and your sass!
Fun Fact:
Taxi cars are the main transportation here. Just flag one down and one picks you up. They pick up until their car is full and drop off on the side of the road to wherever is closest. I walk down our dirt road to the main road to catch one, jump in and go to the church, city, market or the main station for 1 cedi 60 peswas which is about 35 cents.
