Just a walkin...

So yesterday I made the decision to walk to and from school. I heard there was a short cut, so I decided to take it :) So, I set off on my journey to school around 6:30. I walked and walked and walked. There were many many different trails and paths to choose. I usually took the one that was less traveled. So I passed many people, schools, and through peoples compounds. I was walking in total confidence so no one knew I was absolutely lost. I just smiled and sung songs. I spoke with everyone I saw on the way...So, I finally decided to ask someone where the school was. He laughed because a teacher could not find her own school. He pointed me in the right direction and I arrived around 7:18. I found out I totally went the wrong direction at first, but I loved just a walkin and talkin to people on the way. I decided to walk home and master the "short cut." I made it about 15 minutes quicker this time! I also walked this morning. It is a great challenge to find the short cut, but I am confident I will master it by December.

Yisa

Sometimes we meet people we will never forget. Yisa is one of those people for me. Yisa is a crippled man who is on fire for the Lord. He is in an "african wheel chair" (which is a hand operated 3 wheeled contraption made for the dirt roads) He is a church leader for his village. If this is not enough he has planted over 15 churches around his village. This would not be that big of a deal if he had some sort of modern transportation, but he travels miles and miles and miles in the scorching hot sun on his "hand bike." He pours everything he has into the Kingdom of God. He is such an inspiration to me because there were some days I just didn't feel like going to the village or my back or head hurt. But, after meeting Yisa, I was reminded that God will supply the strength we need to complete His work. Everyday this man travels hours to disciple these churches and not once has he complained his arms hurt or he is tired from pushing all his wait with his arms, not to mention on the horrible roads of Africa. In fact he is one of the most joyful, humble, and thankful people I have met. It is humanly impossible, so I conclude that the hand of God must be pushing him. I told Yisa that I will always remember him and his dedication to the expansion of the Kingdom of God. I told him I would tell many people in America his story so that his life would inspire many people, even across the world. So if you are reading this please tell someone about the dedicated life of Yisa. And may his life inspire us to be ready- in season and out, crippled or well, on the mountain or in the valley- to always be mindful and dedicated to the Great Commission.

Baby Jacob

The very last village we went to there was a lady, Augustina. She brought her new born baby to me. I held him the whole time we were there. He was so precious I wanted to take him home with me. I asked her his name and she has not even named him yet and wanted me to give him a name. I decided to name him Jacob. I promised her I would pray for her and Jacob and would come to visit them if God ever brings me back to Ghana.

Aventures of Courtney and Brittany

Courtney has not only been my roomie for the past 2 months, but also my ministry partner, and adventure partner. We are very different, but we have so much fun together. When we are going to do something, Muss always tell us to have fun and be responsible...we tell he I will have fun and she will be responsible. I am very sad that she is leaving me next week. I will always remember the fun times and the awesome God moments we shared. I wanted to dedicate this post to our adventures in Africa. Well at the beginning of the summer we got lost, by ourselves, in Tamale. Tamale is a big city about an hour and half away. We were to grocery shop :) Well...we did our shopping in the city and then called Muss, who was driving us. He dropped us off then left. However, his phone was dead! So we were in the middle of the city, surrounded by Africans who barely spoke English and did not have a way to get in touch with Muss. If we were not a side show already by being the only white people, we carried huge boxes of groceries around the city. I tried carrying it on my head, but its not as easy as they make it look. We went and sat int he middle of the median, thinking that was the best place. Some Ghanaian told us we were trying to commit suicide so we moved. After an hour of searching we finally found him by God's grace. If we had not gotten lost we would have missed out on some awesome snickers ice cream we found in a store!
I will also miss the long rides in the back of a pick up, driving a stick shift in Yendi (which neither on of us are professionals so say the least), dodging goats, killing, plucking, cleaning, cutting, and cooking an organic chicken; baking cakes in an outside African oven, random misfortunes we laugh at (like a huge log falling out of a tree giving her a concussion, slashing her leg open in the market, and me getting electric shocked twice, burning my hands and catching the kitchen on fire.....
I will miss our fun times, but that's what life is all about-forming relationships, loving, and living life to the fullest.

Brave little Tito

Tito is the bravest, strongest little girl I know. The Texas team set up a medical clinic in a village last Saturday. I was at the prayer station. Being me, I am curious and like to explore things. I went inside where they were caring for the villagers. This little girl with extreme burns all over her hand caught my eye. The nurse had to take off all the dead skin and clean it up. I sat down with her and held her. It was not long before I started crying. I knew she was in so much pain. She did not shed a tear until he was half way done taking off her skin. I held her so tight and we wept together. We did not speak the same language, but I know she knew I was praying for her. Thirty minutes seemed like a lifetime. When he got done, I got her name and took her picture and had the translator tell her a few things. I can say God spoke to me through this painful experience. I loved this girl so much, even thought she did not know me. I loved her so much it hurt. I even wept with her in her pain. I cant even imaging the pain God feels for us when we are hurting. My love for her and pain for her was only a glimpse of what Christ feels for us when we are hurting. I will always remember how this moment gave me a new and fresh understanding of God's love.