More to come....

My camera is healed! I was praying like crazy that it would start working again and one evening I went to turn in on and it worked! Praise God. So anwyay, here are just a few pics....

This is me and Mary and Hanielle at the orphanage our group visited this past Saturday.

We had such an awesome time and these kids are just amazing!

This is a gorgeous Ghanaian sunset. I took this photo from the Lodge we stay at. Just one example of the Creator's magnificent handywork!

Quick Note

17 more days! I can't believe how fast our time here is going. Alot has happened and I apologize for not blogging more. I also apologize that there will be no more picture until I get home, my camera broke last Friday while we were at an orphanage. I am super bummed about that, but other people on the team are capturing the pictures for me and have promised to share them when we get back.

Thanks again to all who donated towards uniforms! Yesterday they handed out about 20 to the junior high students and today the seamstress came to collect the money to make the uniforms for the primary school. Because of the generosity of so many people back in the states we are going to be able to paint a mural at the primary school I teach at, put a new roof and paint on the other primary school some teamates are teaching at, purchase new benches and water basins for the junior high, and some new music equipment for the schools as well. God has been faithful to provide in such a huge way for these schools and He is receiving all the glory!

School is going well. I started assessing my students today to determine which ones cannot read and I am going to start intense reading groups with them next week. My prayer is that I can get them heading in the right direction before I leave. About half of my class in unable to read, so that makes teaching and learning very challenging. Pray that God will give me some creativity with my teaching because resources are very limited.

One of our teammates is actually leaving to go back to the States tomorrow:( She has been sick since about our second week here and has been unable to get better. Her doctor advised her to come home, so please be praying for Nika - pray for healing and safe travels home.

I would just ask that each of you pray for strength for the rest of team, so that we may finish out the rest of our stay strong. Many days we feel weary and wonder if our time here is profitable at all. The heat and all the walking take a toll at times. Lastly, just begin praying for our transition back into the States. We have all adapted to a new and different culture and will be thrown back into the prosperity and fast-paced lifestyle that is America. My prayer is that we make a smooth transition while still allowing what we have seen and experienced here to forever change the way we live our lives.

Thanks so much.

p.s. Just want to thank all of you who have written on my wall. I love and miss you guys and appreciate your words of encouragement!

Time flys by when you are having fun.....

I just realized that we leave 4 weeks from today to go home. Its crazy how time seemed to be going by so slowly when we first got here and now it feels like I blink on Monday and next thing it is Friday. When I thought about it, it really made me realize how much I want to make the next few weeks really count.

I want to take a minute to thank all of you who donated money to help purchase unirforms. My mom received $200, so that is 20 uniforms that will be purchased! Also, thanks so much to all of you who have donated school supplies to be mailed over. I don't think you will understand the joy it will bring to the boys and girls to have new pens, pencils, erasers, etc....so on their behalf I say "Thank You" or as they say it here "Medase".

Some of you may be wondering about the safari. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I am continually learning to be flexible. In a 48 hour period, we spent 28 hours in a bus, riding on very poor roads, with no air conditioning. I learned very quickly that there are no nice clean rest stops to pull off and use the restroom. You just pull over and use the restroom...the restroom being a concrete floor, or a bush...interesting experience to say the least. We didn't see as many animals as expected, and broke down on the way home, but we all bonded and made lots of memories....good times.

I am trying to upload pictures right now, sometimes pictures are much better than words. Thank you all again for your prayers. My mom has shared with me how many of you ask about me and the team and it is so encouraging.

I was able to touch a crocodile a couple of weeks ago at this hotel we ate at. I was a little nervous.

This is a picture of my classroom. Not a great picture, but helps to give you an idea.