Hello from Nepal! We arrived in Kathmandu last night and our entire squad of 50 is staying at a small hotel for a 4-day debrief. Then it’s off to our ministry host for the rest of the month! This post was written last week, but alas, no wifi was to be found. Here’s a reflection on our month in Ghana:
The best and easiest part about this month has been the kids. They are SO GOSH DARN CUTE and snuggly and loving and joyful, it makes my heart want to burst. Their little smiles brighten my day. They boldly sing and dance, and do so often. Whenever I sit still long enough, a swarm of children surround me to “plait” my hair and/or sit on my lap. I absolutely love spending time with them, laughing and hugging and playing together. This past month has been so much fun.
The most difficult part about this month has been…the kids. They’re everywhere all the time. They ask for undivided attention, endless energy, selfless love, and lots and lots and lots of patience. Over the past 4 weeks, I’ve gone from enthusiastic high to complete, exhausted low. My introverted side is going nuts because I’ve probably spent a total of 20 minutes completely alone.
I’ve been struggling with striking a balance between spending time alone, with God, with the kids, and with my team. And through it all, what are my motives? God hit me hard around week two. I was reflecting on/bitter about how the kids were drawn to other volunteers over me, and many didn’t even know my name. I heard God say, “But I want them to know my name.” Woof. Sometimes I’m so consumed with trying to uphold my own reputation that I forget about the One whom I represent. As Christ-followers, we carry the “aroma of Christ” that brings life. I pray that on Tuesday we leave CORM with a lingering sweet aroma that reminds them of Jesus, not us. Actually, I sincerely hope our aroma does not linger.
Fun Highlights:
- My three-year-old class was a hoot. They are hilarious to watch, especially when they’re just interacting with each other. One of the cutest things they do is play ‘teacher’ with letters, numbers, or colors by pointing to the visual aids on the walls. One child will point and say “A, aah, anteater!” and the rest of the children will repeat, “A, aah, anteater!” “B, buh, bat!” “B, buh, bat!” etc. etc. (up to ‘G, guh, gorilla’ because that’s all they’ve learned so far). It’s so funny, but also quite infuriating because it’s so difficult to convince them to repeat the actual teacher during class.
- Movie nights (every Friday) are the best nights of the week—everyone looks forward to it. All the kids come with their blankets and bowls for popcorn, and we kick off with a dance party, complete with Cotton Eyed Joe and Freeze dance. So far, we’ve watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (original version), The Smurfs, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and The Parent Trap (with little Lindsay Lohan). I am a huge fan of Mr. Popper’s Penguins—laughed very loudly and startled the kids a bit. Highly recommend.
- Last weekend, our group visited Cape Coast and stuffed as many touristy things as we could into 48 hours. It was wonderful, very busy, and surreal. Our Saturday began with walking through deep mud to reach the main road at 4:30AM, and ended with watching the sunset from a beachside villa that we rented via Air B and B. We walked among the treetops in the Kakum Rainforest and toured a historic slave castle. See FB whenever I finally post the pics, though they’ll never do it justice.
- In pitiful attempt to get the kids to like me, I began to tell some jokes, which spiraled into an everyday ritual at dinnertime. Unfortunately, I only have about 5 good, small child-appropriate jokes in my arsenal, so I ran out quick. Luckily, my fellow volunteers graciously provided what they knew. It’s a lot of pressure to be the “funny one,” though—whenever I ran out, they would respond, “Just make one up.” I have a newfound respect for real funny people who can maintain their reputation for so long.
- OK, I know I mention the food in every post, but this time I’m serious. Ghanaian food is the bomb.com. Every dinner, I declare, “This is my favorite meal.” I could go on and on, but I don’t want to make you jealous or hungry. Also, my lovely team leader and fellow food-lover, Darcy, is writing a detailed, though incomplete*, Ghanaian food review, so stay tuned.
*Disclaimer: She is a vegetarian, so take it with a grain of salt. The chicken is delicious—she has no idea what she’s missing.
Prayer request: We loved this month of ministry so much and it’s very difficult to leave! Please pray for the people we’re leaving and the people we will meet in Nepal next month. Pray that God would prepare us for a different culture, environment, and spiritual climate.
But thanks be to God, who… uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.
[2 Corinthians 2:14-16]
