We’ve been in Ghana two weeks, yet it feels like we’ve been here for years. Our host constantly goes above and beyond, welcoming us into their home for meals, taking us to the market, showing us around Accra…the list could go on and on. We are surrounded by breathtaking mountains and the friendliest people!
This month we are teaching at Royal Oak Academy which is part of Grace Life Ministries. We arrived late Tuesday night and camped out in one of the classrooms. The next day we packed up our belongings and stowed them in a side room. Our host gave us the most delicious breakfast, after which, we were introduced to the students. The rest of that day we figured out housing and played peekaboo with the preschoolers who we were sharing the room with and were separated by a divider.
Our first week here was pretty chill. We went to the market to get food, visited the botanical gardens, and found a good internet café. Sunday we were introduced to the church and unexpectedly asked to sing…it was a pitiful rendition of King of My Heart…we’ve since learned to be prepared.
On our first Monday we were eager to begin ministry. Unfortunately the school was not in session because it was a holiday so we helped with construction! Grace Life Ministries is in the process of building five classrooms on top of the existing school. We had the privilege of carrying cinder blocks from one side of the compound (about 90 feet) up the stairs and into one of the rooms on the second floor/roof of the school. Our ministry host, Pastor Calvary, was highly amused at how gung-ho we were to be doing construction work. I felt like a total B.A. and got a fabulous work out! We carried about 11 blocks each and at the end were treated to a big juicy watermelon!
The next day brought school. We had chosen which class we would assist in; I chose Class 3 partly because I was terrified of teaching kids too young, because there were so many, too old, because they would likely know I had no clue what to do, and partly because 3rd grade was one of my favorite years in school. I have 17 students, 10 boys and 7 girls. We observed for the first day and I talked with my teacher to see how I could help in the class. My teacher wanted to me to teach, so we talked over what I felt comfortable teaching and settled on Math, English, and Creative Arts.
I took a ton of pictures of the text books/teacher’s guides and went home extremely nervous. Teaching has never been my thing. It is nerve wracking to be responsible for the learning of children, what if they learn nothing and aren’t prepared for the next grade? That night I dug into my notes on teaching from Training Camp and raided the library in our house (we are staying with a retired Father who has study hall for the neighborhood kids) for any appropriate 3rd grade material. Many hours and several out loud conversations to myself later I had three lesson plans ready to go.
When we arrived at school Wednesday morning I found that I was teaching Religions, Morals, and Ethics. It was a lesson that I hadn’t prepared for. My first ever lesson felt like an eternity as I flipped through the book and speed read the text. At one point I had them take a break and play Heads Up, 7-Up so that I could formulate a rough plan. The funny thing was that I didn’t get to teach the lesson I had prepared.
One thing I’ve learned on the World Race is that you can’t prepare for everything; sometimes your ministry is teaching lessons on the fly. God’s constantly working with me to give up control & I’m sure this year will be full of more situations like this.
Good news. After that first day, teaching became easier and I actually really enjoy it. I got more use to lesson planning, and learned all my kids’ names. Some lessons are better than others. I’ve had more opportunities to observe their teacher and have tried to keep them on track for the term.
That’s pretty much what we’ve done so far this month! Pictures will (at some point) follow.
Thank you for coming to read about how God is moving across the world! If you are prayer warrior (or even if you aren’t) would you please keep these items on your list?
-First and foremost that me, my team (Worthy Warriors), my squad (K!), and all those who are currently on the World Race would be living in Christ, growing & being attentive to the Spirit. That we would be the willing and obedient tools God uses (let’s be honest, he doesn’t need us to work). That we would take up our crosses daily & follow Christ down any road at any cost.
-Pray for Ghana and its leaders. They are in an election year. Pray that whoever wins would be wealthy in wisdom and have a God’s hand in their lives.
-Our next country is Nepal and we head out October 4th! Pray for safe travels and that God would prepare our hearts for ministry there.
