Banda!

Time is flying here in Africa!  I can’t believe we only have 3 more
weeks here!  The town we are currently in has definitely been my
favorite so far.  We are pretty busy, but I now understand the
ministry and culture better…I also got to hold a baby goat!!  A dream
of mine since arriving in Ghana!  We are still going into the
elementary schools for half the day, and I have loved teaching second
grade.  We worship and share a story from the Bible before going into
the classrooms, as we did before.  Lately I have been telling the
story about Jesus walking on water, while my team members act it out.
It is really refreshing to see the simplicity of the children’s faith
and the joy a short story or a few songs brings them.

We have also started to become more accustomed to the local songs and
dancing.  During our worship times with the people of the community,
we are dancing and clapping with them.  It is so fun!  One time we
travelled out to a remote village and worshipped with them.  They
would take turns, about two at a time, coming into the middle of the
circle and dancing while everyone clapped around them.  They laughed
when we all took our turns, because of course we looked ridiculous!
That remote community though, was probably my favorite time so far.
We took this flatbed truck about an hour out into the bush called a
“bone shaker”…the name is very appropriate, let me tell you.  We were
all laughing the entire ride, and seeing how the people lived in that
community was so eye opening.  It was there that I really started
seeing how Africa will change my life in so many ways.

Something that I have found myself being drawn to more and more is the
mental health system here.  Every so often we come across a man or
woman that is clearly mentally ill, just as we do sometimes in the
United States.  I asked one of our missionary hosts one day what the
care for mental health is like in Ghana.  There are no private mental
health practices here, just government run hospitals that family
members must check someone into.  There are only a few, in the bigger
cities, and they are obviously very expensive.  It struck me how
incredibly lucky we are to have that “in-between” mental health care
in the U.S.  The ability to have social workers in our schools,
counselors to go to, and that you aren’t just put in a hospital.  The
next location we go to there is a mental health hospital that another
girl studying psychology and I are trying to visit.

Thank you for all your prayers!  This next week is probably our
busiest so prayers for strength, especially now that we are all
missing home, are much appreciated!

Al

Hello from Ghana!

Africa is SO HOT!  While you all are sitting back at home thinking you are sweating, add a couple of gallons to it and you’ll feel me right now. ;)

Anyways, we are doing so much here, so I am just going to touch on a few of the highlights for now.  One morning we went to a vocational school, which was all high school age students studying for what their career will be.  It was such an awesome time for me because I have experience with high school students and I felt so comfortable there.  I gave a short talk on the Parable of the Sower, which was basically like giving a Young Life talk.  Playing volleyball with the students and chatting with them afterwards really made me miss all of my girls back home (I miss you all SO MUCH!) and made me really recognize my passion for high school ministry even more.  We have also spent a ton of time in elementary schools.  At the beginning we do a worship session and share a couple of bible stories, sometimes with schools of 600 kids!  After being sick it took a while for me to have the energy to play with the kids, so I have really loved the time we are given to go into the classrooms and teach.  The teaching style is much different here, a lot more memorizing rather than learning the concept behind it.

Something God is continuing to teach me, even though it was something I thought I was finally figuring out, is how to trust Him in all circumstances.  It is something I think we all strive for as Christians, but boy is the need for that elevated in a third world country without the comforts of friends and family.  I have found that my capacity to trust Him must always be expanding and adjusting to the circumstances I am surrounded by. 

All in all, the Ghanaian culture is something I am still in awe of when we go out each day.  Some parts are difficult, but the people are so kind and welcoming.  The Christians I have met are some of the strongest I have ever met; they are on fire for God and are an inspiration to my team and I.  They spend endless amounts of time in prayer and when they worship they do it with overwhelming passion and energy. 

In just one month I will be back home, sharing pictures and stories with all of you!  I am so appreciative of your prayers, and ask that you continue praying for strength and health, especially these next two weeks as we move into another town and will be very busy. 

Much love, Al

First Week!

Wow.  Definitely not what I expected from my first week in Africa! 

The first night here, two other girls and I got pretty sick.  I totally take for granted having air conditioning when you have a raging fever.  After I had fainted enough times and the other girls couldn’t keep any fluids down, our trip leaders took us to the local hospital the following night.  I had tried my best to keep my expectations to a minimum, but this was far from what I was prepared for.  Now that we have had a couple days to recover we have joined the rest of our team and are slowly but surely regaining our energy, and appetites.  I believe God was just saying to me “Ally, I know you think you’ve got this third world country stuff down and know how to handle it, but oh you are so wrong.”  He carried us through that time, as He always does, and praise Him that we are well enough to go about our ministry now!

We have spent time worshipping at a local school with the kids, teaching lessons in the classroom, and in their free time playing with them.  Part of the school is an orphanage, so based on my past experiences doing ministry abroad, I felt so comfortable there.  That was when I finally felt like I remembered why I am here, after really questioning what I had gotten myself into lying in a Ghanaian hospital bed!  We also walked through a local village meeting and talking with families.  The Ghanaian culture is so welcoming.  Whenever we would show up they’d pull up chairs for us and demand us to sit!  It is also really funny when you introduce yourself, because they clap if you have a biblical name, but a name like “Ally” they just laugh at!  They have trouble saying the “y” so I have reverted back to “Alexandra” to avoid complications. 

We also got to play a soccer game against the local high school team, which was such a fun experience and great way to unwind.  I had very little energy still but did what I could and loved it!  Kait, you would have been a superstar!  I wish you could have been here because whenever someone asked if I played soccer back home I’d say, “I used to, but my sister does and she is amazing!”  

A side note, as I mentioned before, not only do I take AC for granted, but I take water and power for granted too!  We probably have power 50% of the time and getting a full shower in…yeah no we just fill a bucket and make it work.  Prayers for the water and power to keep running are much appreciated! 

Our leaders (they work for Pioneers Africa) are so passionate about their faith and it is a blessing having them as inspirations to our team.  Each of them has their own unique personality and it has been so exciting getting to know them already.  

Again, thank you all for your sweet letters.  I wish I could thank each one of you personally and tell you what they mean to me.  Much love from Ghana!

Wheaton really is everywhere...

I forgot to mention this in my last post, but we went to an international church service this morning and we met a Wheaton graduate that was also visiting here!  She actually spoke in one of our chapels back in February.  How crazy that we would run into her in such a small service!  It speaks again to how big God is, and also really makes me believe it when people say "Wheaton is everywhere"!

A fun little addition to my day...one of my teammates and I were up on the roof of the house we are at jump roping for a little exercise.  When we started doing some jumping jacks we looked across the street and noticed a little girl watching us and doing exactly what we were doing!  So we ended up having a little workout session with us leading and her following, until we came down and went across the street to meet her :)

We head out to our first location tomorrow...not sure when we will have wifi but will update when I can!

Ghana.

We arrived in Ghana Friday night and have spent our time so far in Accra, the capital, getting acquainted.  We leave tomorrow and travel to the first city we will be staying in, and then will stay in two other cities after that!
Africa is amazing.  It is so great to be diving into a completely new culture and I have learned so much already.

Yesterday we learned a few things about Ghanaian culture:
-Never wave or serve others with your left hand
-"Pants" are "underwear" here (that can get awkward)
-Crossing your legs amongst elders is rude
-Saying "I'm going to come" means "I'll be back"
Just to name a few!

I have already witnessed God teaching me here.  During orientation we were given a time to sit in silence and really listen to God.  I always struggle to clear my mind and practice this, but once I was able to, the word that came to me was "time".  At first I was confused because nothing I had just cleared my head of had to do with time...until two days later when my "waterproof" watch suddenly filled with water and stopped working.  I looked everywhere for a watch at the airport in Miami and on our layover in London, but failed miserably.  Then it hit me, maybe this summer I need to give up one more thing I like to have control of in my life, the time.  When I got to Ghana we were made aware of how laid back the time is in Ghana...it definitely is.  Time is very flexible.  Coincidence or not, time is something I will be working to give up control of this summer. :)  

The last thing I want to reflect on is how our team has really realized how big God is...God is SO BIG.  And not even that, but God is the same here as he is back home!  It has been so comforting for us to remember that as we look forward to the next 6 weeks and some of the fears and anxieties associated with a new culture.

Thank you all for your prayers and for the wonderful letters I have been reading!  They have made me laugh and have brought tears to my eyes.  I am so thankful to have such wonderful people encouraging me and praying!  Miss you all! 

We're Off!

The Wheaties are finally off to Ghana with our seven other wonderful teammates!

Some prayer requests as I start my journey:
Peace at times that I am homesick or exhausted.
Growth in my own spiritual life.
A positive attitude in all circumstances.
Safety.
The people in Ghana.
And lastly (mom you will appreciate this one) a protected heart.  I often let myself become consumed with how little I actually can do to help those that I see hurting or suffering and I am praying that God protects my heart and helps me to understand my limits.

A verse to keep in your prayers:
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve on another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.  To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen."
1 Peter 4:10-11


Please let me know how I can be praying for you as the summer goes on as well!  akmoore93@gmail.com

Off to Florida

I have a backpack full of letters, an overweight suitcase, and chacos on my feet...definitely ready for this adventure to start!  This morning I fly to Florida where I will have orientation with Pioneers until we fly out June 5 for Ghana.  Please be praying for our team as we all get to meet for the first time today (aside from the 3 Wheaton students) and start working towards how our summer will progress!  Thank you to all that have been praying up until this point, and thank you to my friends and family for all of these letters!  I can't wait to read them :)

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson