SO...we spent 7 days in two villages. I swear it felt like 2 weeks. We took our first trip to Yalle. What an INCREDIBLE, giving, loving, helpful, trustworthy, beautiful, celebratory, happy people. They took us in on the first day, stared a bit, but then let us do our thing. We set up camp and the next morning began work on some desks. Walker, Chey, Sara, and I built 22 desks, while the Bens found the church needing some pews. What an exciting project! They built quite a bunch, AND turns out the 3 room school uses the church during the week, so the boys slapped some desktops on the backs of the pews. BAM.

We finished a day of crazy tired work and went home to make some spaghetti, gari, or Ramen (I can't remember, the days sort of blur together food-wise...but that is a summary of our 7 days). It always seemed like someone was around to dine on our leftovers-convenient Jesus.

We always went to sleep early so we didn't waste our head lamps, usually after playing some cards. The next day we worked all morning, sanding and building more pews until the storm came. You could see the black skies from FAR away and when it came...it came like MAD. It felt like one of those waterpark buckets in the kids section spilling over. Unluckily we had a thin TENT with all of our important stuff in it (not a mud hut like the rest of the community). LUCKILY, that tent had a rain fly and our boys know how to set it up WELL.

With dry stuff and not much work done we had dinner and sleep. The next day was Sunday. We were able to attend the ONLY church in this village of 1000 people. About 20 adults attended about about 30 kids. They had some music that some of us remembered from our time in Ghana, it was nice to feel that comfort. One of our Bens gave a sermon that was translated. He finished with, why do we waste our hours in church, when there is a community that needs help sowing their fields after the rain. As a church let's go out and help our brothers. Three groups split themselves up and helped to sow their neighbors' fields. What a great example of the love our Jesus is looking for...even on the duh duh dummm SABBATH!? While they did that, we finished the pews and headed back to our temporary home that we did not want to leave the next day. We spent the next morning packing up, giving out some school supplies to the teachers and students, enjoying the BEST goodbye party I've ever attended-dancing, singing and billions of laughs/pictures, cooking some yummy guinea fowl scrambled eggs, and playing cards while we waited for our friend and his tro-tro to pick us up and take us to the new village. After a crazy ride, and a visit to his farm, Godwin dropped us in Nungu with our shower bucket full-up of well water.

We scoped out the town, set up camp, and Ben S. got Malaria, he headed back to Bolga by a teacher and his moto and is now healthy as a horse. The rest of us woke up the next morning at 6:30am ready for two hard core days of work. We spent day one sanding the crap out of the three classrooms, scraping off 16 years of build up (I wish not to describe the things that fell into my hair, eyes, and MOUTH-but bats and dirt dobbers were involved). By lunch, all walls were sanded and ready to be painted. We spent the afternoon painting one entire classroom yellow, until dark. We were even more efficient on day two. Starting at 7, we painted the other two classrooms before lunch. Now here is where I wish we had pictures available to you. We used blue and green to paint each classroom a set of the alphabet, a set of numbers 1-20, and an entire back wall with either a painted world with a verse, or an Africa with a verse. They look gorgeous, and hopefully I'll be able to post pictures soon. We finished JUST before dark when a friend of ours from Yalle spent money to take a moto ride to visit us because he missed us! :)

Our last night we had enough spaghetti for our 6 friends that were hanging out to join and it was a happy affair. A couple of us were even married off with the promise of a few cows. We were blessed with Sara's talent for making popcorn, enjoyed each others' company, and fell asleep knowing that this was the last night for a while that we would have to poop in the woods. We all kinda smelled bad too.

A few students and teachers and community members made their way through the school and expressed their gratitude as it had not been painted since the school had been built in 1995. We kept hearing the word beautiful and we kept thinking the same of their community. Woo! Godwin picked us up and took us straight to the Talensi-Nabdam district headquarters. The director and executive director took our details, thanked us for helping with their school, and promised to help out with our project next year. We then finally made it back to Bolga. Walker, Ben, and Cheyenne took off to see some friends they knew in the area, Sara and I spent 3 hours laying on the floor with the kids at Mama Laadi's, singing and making forts with mattresses.

The next morning after plenty tears, we said goodbye with the promise of coming back-God willing-next year. It's been two days and I miss them already.

And yes, I DID go to the mall yesterday and see Harry Potter. Is anyone else sad that it's over!?!?

One week left. I still have some Accra-friend catching up to do, and of course, feasting on my favorite foods, but then I get to see my family, yay!

Love and miss!!!!!!

BACK IN BOLGA PEEPS!

Hey everyone!!!

Just a quick run-through of what's been going on!

Two of my teammates and I arrived here in Accra on the 24th of June: Sara (friend from Ghana/Grand Rapids) and Walker (just graduated high school-never been to Ghana) and I.

Ben M. (friend from Ghana/Mississippi) and his NEW FIANCE, Cheyenne (never been to Ghana/from Arkansas), picked us up at the airport. The two of them have now been here in Ghana for about a month, working and traveling with another teammate Ben S. (friend from Ghana/Mississippi). The two Bens have headed up a brand new organization called The Desk Project. Please visit the website to learn more:

thedeskproject.org

All of us have come together this summer to build desks, spend time with and to encourage the students and teachers, and to spread some love of Jesus where it might not have already been spread.

So, we arrived in Accra in the middle of Friday the 24th of June. We spent the day eating our favorite-missed foods from Ghana. Hanging out with friends we saw around town and chillin' at our favorite orphanage with children that have grown tons of inches and pounds since we've last seen them! It was wonderful few hours full of hugs and play time. :)

We did some reorganizing of bags and left the next morning on our 17 hour bus trip up to a place called Bolgatanga (http://www.michaelchuck.com/images/WP-MAP-Bolgatanga-HiLited-690w_850h.jpg). To give you some perspective, Ghana is only about the size of Oregon, but somehow it takes 17 hours to get from Accra to Bolga. Go figure...

We arrived in the early a.m. and did some sleeping. We spent the next two or three days reacquainting ourselves with the area and its people. We met some new and old friends, and fell back in love with Mama Laadi and her children. If you remember from my time here before, Mama Laadi is the owner/manager of the Mama Laadi children's home here in Bolgatanga. She is in charge of 60-some children, who are either out at a school, or under her direct care at the home. There might be 30 children staying there with her now. She is sponsored by individual families and friends, as well as an organization called Afrikids. Help comes from everywhere.

If you have any desire to donate money to Mama Laadi and her cause, please e-mail me at megbauhof@gmail.com and I can hook you up proper. Your donations would help with shots, day-to-day supplies, school fees, clothes, government papers and so much more.

After those few days, we packed up, loaded up supplies, picked up a truck, and headed outside of town to a few small villages. We started in Buugu. After spending an hour or so in the classrooms, trying to occupy the three of the five classes that were not staffed by the 2 teachers they have for this one school, we built 25 desks. Luckily, we finished before dark, and set up camp. The chief came by during the day and gave us a chicken. So while some of us were setting up dinner/settling in, Ben M. was breaking the neck/plucking the feathers/cleaning/cutting up our new friend the chicken. He was a little tough with our hard black eyed peas, but we were satisfied and of course had some granola bars on the side.

The next day we loaded up with water (have I not mentioned that the water holes are usually a big-fat-walk away from our camp?), and took off for the next village, Bingo (somehow pronounced "boing"). We built 5 desks at the next spot. We spent a bit of time in conversation with the students because no teachers had shown up for that day of work (5 classes-no teachers-are you seeing a pattern).

Because the night before was filled with scary noises, goats, and plenty children to distract us from our four hours of sleep, we took this opportunity between villages to nap. We spent about an hour under a tree with the breeze and oh how glorious is Jesus to give us those blessings. We walked to a river that we couldn't go in, but it looked real cool. The walk took about an hour and gave us a bit of a burn, but we've all got some sweet chaco-sandal tans on our feet now. MAYBE a little melanoma on the side...no big deal :-P

At the next village, Nungu, we were able to build 45 desks. 20 the first night until dark. We had some impatient rice and beans (both were a little crunchy-but both were FABULOUS), with Koolaid in our water, and dark m & m's we've been saving as dessert-DUH-LISH. 25 desks the next morning, bright and early, after a much better night of sleep (no school that Friday-holiday in Ghana, so a million students weren't surrounding and staring in our tent to wake us up at 4:30 a.m. like the last night). We sang songs, told stories, and worked hard to finish our goal. We happily headed back to Bolgatanga with hopes of a shower and a mattress. Our dreams came true!

We are now at the end of a weekend and will leave in the morning for another week spent in two different villages. In one we will be building about 20 more desks. In the other, we will be painting bright pictures on the bare walls with some English words to help further the English learning they have been doing in class. Hooray! In both villages, we have come across a single believer in each. These are the people we will hope to focus a bit of our extra attention. We are hoping to help with some encouragement and favorite scriptures, and maybe a few teaching techniques that will help to share with friends the stories that we have known since childhood. The stories we take for granted. We have all heard the story of Jesus walking on water and the feeding of the 5000. Is it astonishing that some have not yet had the privilege? How about that one where our savior dies in a miserable way, and then rises from the dead to save us all. Doesn't it suck that some haven't heard?? Doesn't it also suck that we can't tell them because we don't speak their language. We are standing right in front of them and can just smile, stick out our tongues with silly faces, and show them their photo to make them laugh. We will hope to continue bringing laughter, but our hope is to also, help these two followers to use their own languages and new found passion to share with their brothers and sisters the truth that we take for granted. Pray that we find reliable translators.

We are lovin' each other and already have a quote page that is filling up with things that have caused explosive laughter. Please if you are willing, continue in prayer for us. We would love great health, as we are a bit of a distance from clinics and hospitals. Pray for courage as we share our faith. Pray for our truck's health as mechanics are few and far between. Pray for our rest and our cooking-none of us are real awesome at it. Annndd of course anything else you would like to add to the list. :)

We all miss our families. So families, if you're reading, we all send big hugs. Thank you for your love and your belief in us, that we were able to come here. Thank you especially to all of you that donated and prayed our way here. We and our new Ghanaian friends are all so grateful for your contributions. Love you all and can't wait for the hugs when we return.

(sorry no pics...in-ta-net is toooo sloowwwww)

Back in the States!?...?!

Julie Andrews says the best place to start is at the very beginning. If I did that, we’d be here a long time. While I know that my tendency IS to create long blog entries on ACCIDENT, I will not be doing that on PURPOSE this time. However, I can’t make any promises that this will be short and sweet. I’m going to start from the middle of the summer to catch you all up on some things, so that I can explain what’s next!

I came home from the trip of my dreams (watching the World Cup IN Africa WITH my best friend -what could be better???) at the end of June 2010. With TONS of disorientation (culturally and physically-not much sleep) I started a job the day after I landed in Michigan. I spent the next 8 weeks working at this incredible day camp for kids with Autism. The transition from Ghana to Detroit was much harder than expected. All of us teachers over there, knew that obviously the culture change was going to be difficult. I always seem to underestimate things like that. I am generally a happy person, but apparently I spent some time not-so-happy...and some more time crying and embarrassing myself in front of the constant flow of visitors that always seemed to show up at my house at just the right time. Sorry to those of you that experienced that Megan. I can promise you, it was not because I was unhappy to be home, because nothing makes me happier than 24/7 with my family, long-missed friends, and soccer with my Toby. It was more of a sort of feeling mis-understood or of a mis-belonging. I had spent three years in a place that I had finally come to understand. I knew how the water, the electricity, and even how the expectations and minds of the people, functioned. I became used to the way of life, the timing of everything, the way people interact with strangers, the food culture, the religious state of those around me, and the beat and rhythm that can only be found in that place. Certain things only happen in Ghana. Certain activities are only common in Ghana. Certain stories are only relevant in Ghana. After three years, those things, activities, and stories became a part of me. I spent just a couple months within those three years visiting back in Detroit for one reason or another, racing through days, seeing as many people as possible, gorging on food I couldn’t get, and packing to go back. Within those few days at home I never had the time to think about discomfort. When people didn’t understand, I just banked that story to tell my friends when I got back to Ghana.

So, when I realized I couldn’t just bank the stories anymore to use during hang outs in East Legon or dinners at Chez Afrique, and I realized that there are about 12 people who have experienced what I’ve experienced at AIS in Accra...and for some reason, they are spread all throughout this fine country of ours, I started to get sad. Lucky for us, we live in a time where the phone and internet or so easily accessible, which means hang outs are almost possible (can you GET ear cancer from talking on the phone too much???). As with the rest of my former colleagues, we were experiencing glazed faces when telling stories, and quizzical looks after explaining common occurrences from our Ghanaian home. We all became counselors to each other. Needing constant reminders that just like anything, it’s hard for anyone to understand a story, when they weren’t there. The “I guess you had to be there” phrase was never more useful. It took a while to understand, that just like three years ago, I had to mesh into a totally different culture. Just like when I entered Ghana, it was going to take some changing in myself, to fit in again. Fitting in obviously isn’t my goal, I don’t do a very good job at it anyway, but feeling comfortable in this culture, took some time, and lots of prayer.

Not only did it take those things, but it also took the patience of those around me. I just wanted to thank those of you, that constantly overlooked and continue to overlook my weirdness, or over-emotionality (sorry if that’s not a word, but I fear it applies here). I still have times where I feel I don’t fit in, but there are so many groups of people that with their excitement to see me and inclusion in activities help to bypass those feelings. Thank you to my family who constantly disregard my “specialness” and my friends near and far that listen with interest to any and everything I want to say. I know my stories get long...REALLY long. So thank you. All of you are awesome and make me feel fantastic.

Moving on and speaking of friends that listen, Mrs. Jamie Boyse, who somehow constantly finds time to listen to my endless stories, has also somehow found job opportunities for me since the summer. That job I mentioned for eight weeks at the day camp was maneuvered into my life by this lady. Then, when I took my time, being unemployed and spending time with family, so that I could decide what God wanted of me and where God wanted me, Jamie called and told me to send her my resume. I am now her co-worker at a charter school in Taylor as a paraprofessional-which kind of makes me want to buy a t-shirt that explains this position, because not many people know it...but I’m sort of like a teacher’s assistant. I pull 5th grade kids into the hallway and give mini-lessons on things they might have missed in previous grades and hope and pray that’s the connection that will help them in their current level.

At this new school, I have fallen in love with the administration, staff, and students. With different technologies, some things are easier than in Ghana, but with a greater amount of students and family issues that might come along with these students, some things are harder than in Ghana. Either way, I know I’m in the right place. God has given me a peace and happiness with this opportunity, which brings me to next year. All this trying-to-fit-in junk brought some uncertainty to staying. Discernment is a sport I feel like I have to practice constantly but still have not mastered. How do you know God wants you some where? When do you know God wants you in this place? I’m currently reading a book that tells me that the farthest thing from your human-desire, is usually what God wants from you. How do I know what I LEAST want to do!? I probably least want to run through the streets naked, but I don’t think that should be my life choice. I recently signed a letter of intent to come back next year to this elementary school in Taylor, MI with the high hopes of a head teaching position. It scares me because I’ve seen the amount of work it is going to be. Things won’t be the same as they were in Ghana, but I know I’ve been given skills, friendships, and a year to prepare and watch, which will all help me dearly. If God decides to all of a sudden lead me in a different way, then so be it, I’ll follow, but for now it seems I’ll be another year in Taylor, and I’m kinda pumped about it! :)

Yes, yes, looks like another novel was published by Miss Megan Bauhof. My apologies...however, I have one last thing to mention. THE DESK PROJECT!!!! I’ve brought it up in church, and within a few circles of friends, but haven’t officially introduced this year’s trip to Ghana! So my next blog entry will be describing what will happen this summer, stay tuned, and keep in mind something that’s been on my heart lately...that a reliance on God is what gets us through. Quit trying to use the “I CAN DO IT” mentality that we all know and love. Moms love that feeling when a kid comes crying to them needing a hug, don’t they? Don’t dads dig it when they provide for their family? Aren’t teachers in Heaven when they see a child master a topic because of the little nugget of knowledge he or she provided?? I bet God’s like that. Don’t forget to rely on Him because I bet he gets His kicks when His kids realize His power.

Love you guys....thanks for listening.

ENJOY FEBRUARY CUZ IT’S ALMOST OVER!!! YIKES!

Meg

p.s. snow is cold.

Spring Break 2010

There was a huge rush of activity (that I can write about later) after Easter Break in April-which is apparently my excuse for not blogging about Bolga. I had a life changing experience up north in Bolgatanga, something that I would struggle to put down in words. There are hundreds of pictures that I fell in love with and managed to get some of them up on facebook (if you're on there, check 'em out).

Bolga was just an area that was SO different from Accra. I felt like it was the Africa that I went to Ghana for in the first place. It was incredibly laid back but sparse in supplies. The people were SO welcoming and I never once heard "Obruni" or something to that effect screamed at me while meandering down the road. This will forever be a place that I felt at peace and will definitely visit again soon. The group of us that went up there spent half of our time at a foster home. Mama Laadi

is the superwoman that is running this place and it would fall apart immediately were she to leave. Somehow she is caring for upwards of 50 children and some of their families. She offers school fees, clothing, food, and for about 20 some children, housing. There is a bus that picks up these kids


(this was actually our truck for the week-so they held off on the bus and we took 'em!)

every Sunday for church and they either walk or ride their bikes to school every day if they can afford it or are sponsored by an outsider (people who wire money to Mama Laadi from the States or Europe-you could be one of these people, just ask me for info and I'd be happy to get you in touch with Mama Laadi herself!). The other half of our 10 days was spent in the villages outside of Bolgatanga. We visited I think 5 schools while we were there-this number may need to be corrected, and brought supplies to build desks! The boys made one at Mama Laadi's and tested it out before leaving...



Looks good! So they made sure they had enough wood, nails, and muscles for 60 desks and loaded it all in the truck! Now these five or so schools that we headed up north to visit were in desperate need of some extra desks. Most of the children are sharing a desk with one or two other students or sitting on the crowded floor-books in hand.



I remember hitting three schools in one day. It was a long day, but totally great! We arrive on the truck and the school (staff and students) comes out to greet us. Chat a bit and commence building because they knew we were coming. This happened during school hours, so the students got to watch and the teachers got to help build! Our guys put 20 desks together faster than I could have imagined!



While they were working up a storm...my friend Anne Clair and I tried to keep the kids from suffocating the boys and their swinging hammers.



At the end of the week...60 brand new desks had been built and placed into schools that needed them like WHOA. So if we only reached about five schools...I bet you can guess that there might be a need still hanging out in the north of Ghana.

(Foreshadowing for summer 2011...)

We came back to Accra on the 15 hour bus ride with swollen feet and a need to rest, but still TODAY (September 8th, 2010) we call each other talking about when we get to go back.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

KATHY BAUHOF IS AWESOME.

I know this isn't NEW information, but I just thought today might be a good day to share that group of words that is ALWAYS in my heart. I've got about 3 things I know for certain.

1. Jesus is the fabulous, fantastic, and only way to get to that wonderful, magnificent, chocolate-filled, acid-free, coffee-smelling, constant-sweatpants-wearing, no work to be done, puppy-dog filled place called Heaven.

2. My friends, my unconditionally loving and giving friends, my friends of all ages, shapes, sizes, and nationalities are what get me through those tough moments with no laughter, no matter where in the world I might be.

3. My Matthew-Hannah-Mom-Dad combination is better for my soul than anything you can find on this earth.

That being said, everyone knows the momma of the family holds everything together. Especially when everyone is falling apart. Kathy has been that lady that holds everything together and she does it flawlessly. I know she has grown tired of the stress that holds down her family members when she has enough things to worry about in her own life, but somehow this superwoman is able to conquer it all. I know I have called her countless times with worries and frustrations only to find out later in the conversation that what I had to deal with was peas and carrots compared to what she, herself was focusing on at the time. She has done this (and so much more) for me, over and over for the last 25 years and I wish there were a better way to thank her from thousands of miles away. I love you Momma. Sorry I can't be with you today!!!

To the rest of you mothers-

There are about 100 of you (outside of my immediate family) that have stepped in in some mommish way in my life...all the church ladies, my friends' mothers, expat. mommas in Ghana, mi mami Tica, my Ghanaian grandma, my aunts, my grandmothers, and sooooo many more. I just want to thank you for being my constant momma-crew. Thank you for your prayers, for your love, and for your never-ending support in whatever I do. I love you all so so so much.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

LOVE,

MEG

It's already MARCH 30th!?!?!?!

Hello all!!! I can't beLIEVE the date right now. Wasn't it JUST Christmas 2009!?!?!? So lately, my mind has been wandering in the June direction. I've realized that my home of 3 years will soon be disappearing from view and that's been scaring me a bit. I remember knowing in August at the start of this school year that it would pass quickly, but I had no idea it would be THIS super-human-fast! My friends and I have talked about it quite a bit in the last week or so, and it's beginning to take over a lot of my thoughts. This last week I walked out of the orphanage after an onslaught of hugs and smiles and "see you next week!"s, and felt some tears coming to my eyes. I realized that in a few months, I'll be doing that for the last time, and there won't be any "see you next week!"s. Some of the kids in the home have been there for the entirety of my stay. This pains me a bit because I want them to be a part of a great family and SOON! Knowing the family that I was blessed with growing up, makes me cringe to think about what those kids are missing. On the positive side of things I have gotten to know some of those kids so well and formed such FUN relationships with them. Hanging out with them for a while has been SUCH a joy. THIS makes it harder to leave. There are also the Lily Street Kids Club kids. These kids are still saying the names of last year's teachers who have left. Like our students at school, these kids have had teachers coming in and out of their lives each year. I hate knowing that I'll just be another one of those teachers. Furthermore, those students at school. You know those students that we see sometimes for more hours a day than their parents do? Those students who know RIGHT when I walk in the room if I'm in a good or bad mood or even whether or not I've had my coffee that morning? Some of those students have been a big part of my ups and downs for the last two years. They've been through thick and thin with me while undergoing some huge decisions and major life changes. They've stuck it out and I love them and am going to miss them like crazy when I leave in June hoping to see them again sometime when they've grown up and have become doctors, writers, teachers, and astronauts.

I know I really shouldn't be worried about this yet, but with only ten weeks to go, the list is building. That list of things I must do before I leave Ghana. More on that later...

On March 6th, 2010, Ghana turned 53 years old. For most major holidays, the entire country seems to congregate on Accra's beaches. On that Saturday, there were people for as far as the eye could see to the east...

and to the west....


It was intense. People were running on the beach, dancing, playing football, trying to swim (while many cannot-it seemed quite dangerous at times), and just being with each other in celebration for their free country. After walking around for a while, enjoying the natural splendor, we did a little tourist-shopping and then we went to a nearby restaurant on the beach. It was beautiful to sit there on the beach eating kebabs like it was any other weekend. Happy Independence Day Ghana!


Oh yeah, and that day, I also bought a sword for my brother for his birthday. I couldn't send it to him in the mail, so I had to take wicked pictures on top of a rock by the ocean. It's like I just pulled it out of a stone or something. Doesn't everyone want a sword for their 21st birthday??? Happy birthday to the best brother in the world!!!! Does anyone know any brother cooler than Matt Bauhof? 'Cuz I sure don't. love you matty

Then on another fabulous weekend, we went up to Kitasi again. Now normally we are clearing land to prepare the area for grass-planting. However, like the last time, we were lugging big buckets full of water up the hill. It was fantastic, and also super hard, work. It was worth it though!!! Do you see what the land has yielded!?



None of this was around just two weeks ago! The foundation has been poured, the walls are being set, and they are continuing to work up a storm to get this place ready for those kids! Below are the buckets we would dump OUR buckets into.

Then this guy would come and dump a bunch of rocks that would get broken up and mixed with the sand to form concrete!

While all of this was going on, Christy was busy teaching the Children of the Light kids, some new ways to count! Tally marks was still their comfortable way of counting, so it was fun to see them using this new method. :)

Biscuits and prizes were given to those who finished quickly with quality! It was a great day up on the mountain.

Then out of nowhere my brother turned 21. It happened so quickly and it blindsided me. Although I'm struggling with feelings about leaving this place, I've been struggling with feelings of missing home. It's obvious that I've missed things. I knew I was going to, and I am completely content with my decision to stay. I know it's where God wanted me and still wants me to be. It came with cons though, as most good things do. My family and friends have been so forgiving with my time away from home, knowing that this is what God wants from me and what makes me happy. However, it still makes my insides churn when I think of the fun family dinners that I'm not able to attend, grocery trips to the store with my mom, pushing down the gas pedal for my dad while his head is stuck somewhere under the hood, laughing until I pee in my pants with my sister, and buying my brother a beer on his 21st birthday. These are all things I'm crazy about missing, not to mention friend's weddings and BABIES BEING BORN. BABIES! I have friends with babies. Anyway, I just wanted to share a picture that's been bringing me smiles lately...

However, in just 11 short weeks, God willing, I'll be able to see them all again. :) I need to remind myself about how lucky I am, when my complaining brain starts to take over. About two weeks ago, two of our high school students from Grand Rapids, MI (one being a girl from the soccer team) suddenly lost their father. Our school held a memorial service and they are now back in the States with family and friends. Many of the students were wracked with grief for their friends. Some knew their father personally and had some great memories to share at the service. Consequently, last Saturday, we had a soccer match. During the pep talk, two of my high school boys suggested that we play the game for our teammate's father. Everyone unanimously agreed. We were scored on first, but my team was dedicated, we had a penalty kick that was missed, but that player vowed to get that goal BACK for Mr. R. He went on to score two goals in the match to turn the game around. The first goal was actually scored by one of our newest players. The team did SOOOOO well!!!! I am SO proud of them. With the score at 3-1. The other team was quite fired up. We began to substitute more players, which we, coaches, believed might have thrown off the rhythm of play-our bad. The other team scored 3 more goals for the win. It was an unfortunate loss because we believe if we had the fitness and a little bit deeper of a bench, we could have won. However, the boys and girls walked out of there with smiles on their faces, knowing that they did their best for themselves, and Mr. R. Way to go team. :)

Then after the game I spent SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS at my friends house, making friends with Beatrice and Grace while they pulled out my scalp to create this monster...

So one thing on that list of things to do before I leave Ghana, was to get my hair braided. CHECK! I chose dark brown and purple to supplement the sandy-brown I was born with. My students, roommates, and parents on skype all flipped out on me because it was such a drastic change, but then they got used to it. One student even told me today I looked like a rockstar. Booyah.

Another thing on the list of things to do, is to spend some more time in the villages outside of Accra. I haven't had too much time lately in my American International world to go up up up in Ghana, where life is quite different. With our Easter break coming up, I have the perfect opportunity. A few friends of mine have spent some time in a town called Bolgatanga which is right before you get to Burkina Faso (18 hours up from Accra). This is the same town where most of the kids that are in the orphanage by my school come from. There is a sister orphanage up north called Mama Ladi's. This is where myself and my friend Anne Clair will be spending most of our week. The others will be taking a lot of time in different villages on the outskirts of Bolga, purchasing wood and building desks for a good number of schools in the area, where many students are found to be sitting on the floor in class. It's going to be a fantastic week. I promise to bring home pictures and fabulous stories to update when I return.

Hey, Jesus came to save us all in a few days 2000-ish years ago...get excited. Spoiler alert: He rises from the dead.

Weekend at the Beach!

I'm gonna try and stay on top of this blogging thing so that it doesn't add up the way it did before! Last weekend a few friends and I went to my favorite beach, Ada. This is that Maranatha Resort-the one with the huts and the sandy floors. Remember that? It's my favorite place to get away from the city and my stresses. There's no internet, hardly any phone service, no electricity, and no showers. All you do all day is lie under the sun and read or chat with your friends. It's a fabulous relaxer and it's only a few hours away by tro-tro. We had a long weekend because of President's Day in the States, praise the Lord for presidents! We arrived at about 10:30 in the morning on a Friday and spent the day in the sun on the beautiful beach. That night we took some pictures. As per usual-a jumping shot is always the way to go...

with the sunset on the coast of the Atlantic...

beautiful ladays!!! Amanda, me, Anne Clair, and Elyse

Anne Clair shot us three from behind. We realized later that it looks like all three of us are going in different directions. We started to tear up when we realized that in about three months, we will be doing just that. Amanda heads to Japan to work at our sister-international school in Nagoya. Elyse is heading to Ohio and I to Michigan. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO!?!?!

I'll TELL you what we're gonna do. We already decided we're gonna print out this picture and take it everywhere we go. We ALSO decided that we're buying a pair of big baggy sweatpants and creating our OWN sisterhood. That's right Hollywood.

Anne Clair is fabulous. She is DOWNRIGHT hilarious. She's from Mississippi and I wish I had her singing voice and her knack for being able to cook ANYTHING and make it AMAZING. mmmMmmmm. She's also got a huge heart for the Lord's kids and I wish everyone could love them the way she does.

So, we got a couple huts and then realized that it was SO hot we couldn't stand it. We decided to pull out our mattresses and sleep under the stars on the beach while listening to the ocean.

At first you couldn't HEAR the ocean because our laughter was so loud and constant. More jumping karate pictures were in order...

Goofy photos are a must when you're dirty and there are no movies to keep you entertained. We had a BLAST!

Then we decided to alll lay down and take more goofy pictures on our super sandy mattresses.

These are those times when I picture God looking down on us and laughing so hard that his big belly shakes the whole universe.

Speaking of the universe...after the pictures, my friend Elyse, who is the smartest of us all and has an amazing passion for astronomy, told us about how enormous the universe is. She showed us the Milky Way that we're in. She picked out constellations and tried to explain to us 'little' people in simple terms how far away those stars were. She tried to teach us the mathematics of it all and it was gut-busting to listen to her reactions when we tried to explain it back to her. We talked about meteorites and meteors and all kinds of other things I can't remember the names of. The most earth shattering? Learning that....

BILL NYE IS NOT A SCIENTIST HE'S JUST AN ACTOR.

You should've heard the air that got knocked out of our lungs when the realization that pieces of our childhood had been falsified.

Devastation.

Despite this news, we were still able to have a spectacular evening. We even awoke to a gorgeous sunrise and a lightening show that lit up the sky. The rest of the day was as relaxing as the one before. We headed out in the afternoon back to the city and smog and dust and most importantly-to our showers. It was the perfect couple of days and I wish I was there right NOW. Thank you Jesus for the beauty you created with your world and it's phenomena (Elyse taught me that word-it's plural for phenomenon...you shouldn't say "phenomenons" because that's wrong). Nature's awesome. God created it. Get psyched.

Love until next time!

Meg