Yay! Christmas!

Home

I arrived in Atlanta, Ga at 6:30 am Christmas Eve - what a relief it was to finally be home!  Mom and Dell woke up at 4 in the morning to drive to Atlanta to get me!  Customs and baggage claim felt like it took a million years - then we began our drive to Columbus.  I don't know a time I have been more excited about food than when we passed a Chick-fil-A on the way! I ordered my favorite - a chicken, egg, and cheese bagel - mmmmmm. 

After a 13 hour flight - with the seven hour time difference - I am having some "jet - lag" problems.  I am sleepy when I am suppose to be awake and I am hungry when I am suppose to be sleeping! 

I drove to Auburn (which I was nervous about - but am still very capable of driving - and how amazing it is to be able to drive yourself somewhere - whenever you want or need to go!) in time to visit with my cousins from Montgomery, my grandparents, my aunt Lee Alice, and then make it to church for the Christmas Eve service right on time!  I walked in and found my dad ushering at the back of the church - it was so great to see him! I think he is just so excited for me to be "safe" back in America.  I don't think I will ever forget that moment - Him realizing that I am good and happy and me realizing the time that has passed since I left and understanding for maybe the first time what "family" is and how important people are to me.

Elizabeth and Tracey and Hannah and Lydia and Paul and Skip and Glenda were all there - great hugs - great Christmas Eve.  Just good stuff. Thank you, Jesus for all my many blessings.  Thank You for family and friends and so many homes to come home to that I can't decide where to stay and thank you for life and for how You allow us to live in freedom- sometimes I forget how many times you give us the choice - but You have given us the priviledge to choose how we live our lives, and where we live our lives.  Thank you. Thank you.

Merry Christmas!

Israel is amazing and I have been really sad to leave - so I have been blessed with a few more days here! It really is nice to have some time after such a busy trip to rest and just be here.  I, however, have not had this attitude all day! 
So, I was suppose to fly out of Tel Aviv at 5:30 am - so I arrived at the airport early - at 2:15 ish.  Once I passed through the brutal interegation that I have been through traveling into and out of the Middle East (which is a hastle - but one that I am so thankful for and comforted by), I was told that no planes had taken off from the airport in Frankfurt, Germany - so there were no planes here in Tel Aviv to take us where we needed to go.  Since I was early - I was one of the first of the hundreds of people stranded and stressed in the airport to be in line to change my ticket.  There was a group of med students from the US in line behind me - and we were all advocating for each other to be able to get to the front of the line and get on one of the flights out of Tel Aviv today - Israeli people apparently do not know how to "cue" or make a line.  Emotions were running high - people were breaking in line and yelling at each other and grown men were shoving to be next in line.  We made it to the counter - safely - only three hours after we arrived, and 15 minutes before my original flight was scheduled to take off.  I had the option of flying to Newark later today - with no connecting flight to anywhere in the south - I tried every airport in the south east - and there is suppose to be bad weather in the North East - or a flight leaving here tomorrow evening - flying straight into Atlanta, Ga.  This is when I was trying to call home from the airport to give the message that I would not arrive in Atlanta today - and I was trying not to sound too stressed - but after having no sleep all night in the airport - I was a little stressed. So, I appologize for worrying you - I am really fine and safe and good - wishing I was at home - but fine and safe and good.  So, I am stuck in a nice room right on the beach here in Tel Aviv.  I have an Isreali buddy - who is trying to get to Montogmery, AL - what are the chances?

While waiting in line with so many people from so many cultures - I was praying for my flight and my chance to go and I was overwhelmed thinking about these people who don't have Jesus in their hearts - they don't have the peace that Jesus is going to take care of this.  I have just been overwhelmed with how the Lord is taking care of me in this situation.  Friends in line - buddy to travel with - beautiful beaches - there's no better way to be stranded. 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have recieved from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I am missing you all and I am now scheduled to arrive in Atlanta on Dec. 24 at 6 am - please keep that flight in your prayers - and that I am able to make it home for Christmas.  I am comforted by the fact that our all loving God is in control of this situation - and He's taking care of me.  Thank you for your prayer and I will see you soon!

Israel!

Literally walking in the steps of Jesus is so overwhelming.  We just did a brief two hour tour of Jerusalem - and are trying to decide what to do next - so much to do and see. So much to take in.  Layer upon layer of history.  The people we have met here have been so nice and welcoming.  The food is amazing - not saying much -- any food would be amazing compared to African food!  We even had a jelly doughnut to celebrate Hanukkah! 

Can't wait to show pictures -  Christmas blessings!

Sad to be leaving...excited to be with friends and family (and air conditioning, and stable power, and target, and fast food, and clean air and christmas decorations and so much more!)

Last visit to the orphanage before break! We colored nativity scenes and sang Christmas songs - a-mazing.

This one wanted me to take our picture over and over - and it is so funny - the Ghanaians just don't typically smile in pictures - so this is him "smiling."

It was my roommate, Anne Clair's Birthday Tuesday - and she got....

A goat! Not just any goat - it's a pygmie goat! Almost a mini horse, Elizabeth!  She named him "Rudolph" the red nosed rain-goat!  We call him "Rudy" for short.  When he cries, it sounds just like a baby crying - it's so strange, and kind of cute too.

Isn't he cute?!

And, I had flowers planted in our front yard - they are suppose to grow really fast to cover the razor wire on the top of the fence - maybe even by the time we get back from Christmas!!

I am flying out tomorrow night!!! So exciting! Please keep all of AIS's staff's travels in your prayers.  I will not be using my phone - or taking my computer - so if I find an internet cafe - I will try to post that I am in Israel - if not - you can see me on Dec. 22  after I fly into Atlanta!!  Merry Christmas and see you soon!

I'm coming home!!!

Ah! Just in time!!!!

Remember

One of my prayers since I have been here is from Revelation 3:3:

"Remember, then, what you have received and heard.  Keep it, and repent."

I don't want to forget any of the things that I am learning here - but it's a pattern in my life to forget, and I inevitably have to learn things over and over again.  I have reread the Luke this week, preparing for Christmas and travel to Israel (I still can't believe I am going!!).  And something new stood out to me:


   "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
   And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." Luke 2:15-20


I always think about Mary and what she was thinking and how she handled all the pressure and excitement and so many other emotions that would come from carrying Jesus.  I think this passage reveals Mary's character.  She kept the words of the Lord and the miraculous things He had done, and she pondered them in her heart.  


God does amazing things around us all the time.  It's our choice to see things in this world as the divine work of our God - to give God the glory.   Then, it's our choice to keep these things, thinking about them, pondering them.   And last, it's our choice to allow God to change us through them.  


So, look around you and see the things that God has done for you, and for those around you - keep them - and then, be changed and be blessed!

Soooo Africa!

We had Friday off of school for "Farmer's Day" - so we used the time to travel to Ada beach.  It was absolutely beautiful - a time where I really realized that I was in Africa and I was glad and grateful to be.

Nicole and Charlie Wright, Kim Kershner, our driver William, and I drove the two hours to this glorious place.  There, we boarded a leaking canoe to get to the end of the beach, to a place called Maranatha.

The boat ride was beautiful - there were some really nice houses -mostly British owned vacation homes.

Then, right next to them are straw huts!

Sooooo Africa!

Then, we got to the beach where we were staying - it was an area like the jetty in Destin- "bay"on one side, and the ocean on the other.

Here is Charlie in one of the huts we stayed in!

Mosquito nets over the beds.

Straw roofs.  Apparently the straw huts are strong enough to last for years! I would have thought they had to rebuild them all the time - but the people said the roofs might need to be replaced every five years or so - crazy!

Charlie reminds me so much of my cousin, Lydia.  She loves animals!  We were all the time catching cats, dogs, hermit crabs, fish, and William caught this baby goat for her!

We swam and napped in the sun during the day, and when it was time to sleep, the huts were too hot --

so we carried our mattresses out to the beach and slept there...only for a while...

...until it the moon was up. (the sun set around 6 and the moon didn't come up for another 2 or 3 hours!! which made the stars in the sky soooo nice!)  When the moon was finally high in the sky, about 11 at night, we took a walk on the beach....

Looking for tracks from the ocean...

Left from a sea turtle!!! Ah! There was one who had walked up the beach to lay its eggs - it was so amazing!!! I felt like we were invading her privacy watching her - but it was so cool!  It took her over an hour - and when she was finished, she covered them up by moving the sand with her arms and legs, and rocking her whole body back and forth - smoothing out the sand over her babies- so that no one would disturb them.  It was so amazing.

She will come back in two weeks to nest - and to see her babies hatch.  The baby turtles will have to make it 20 or so yards down the beach - battling humans and massive crabs to make it back to the ocean to meet their mom and swim away.  She will know the exact place where to meet them - how amazing is that?!?!  We thought she was huge - but they said she was the "smaller" breed of sea turtles that come to lay eggs here.  Crazy!

The two days we spent in Ada was to relaxing and fun and it is always so nice to get away from the city. The people there were friendly - there were lots of internationals staying in the huts - all day and night there was drumming and African music - love it.  William was so excited to come with us - that was a huge blessing to see - he met some fishermen who let him help pull in their fishing nets - and gave him some fish.  He was sooooo excited to have fish to take home to his wife - it really reminded me of all the things that I take for granted - even here in Africa.  I have plenty of good food, a nice and safe place to stay, and great job.  So much to be thankful for.

I am getting really excited about traveling - I shot up in "bed" saturday morning - realizing it would be one week until I will be flying to Israel and then home!!!  We have not heard anything about our visas or passports - so please keep praying.  We are hoping that no news is good news - the lawyer says not to worry yet.  We have realized that as long as they will give us our passports back, we will be able to leave the country - it just might take a while to get visas to get back in - which I can deal with much better than not being able to come home!

So, I have finally been able to unpack my bags!  While unpacking, I found a prayer journal that I started sometime last year, and included a detailed recap of how God completely moved my life from Birmingham, AL to Accra, Ghana.   I didn’t realize I had been praying for God to send me here for a year.  It is so overwhelming to realize that God really listens to us, and His answers to our prayers are so specific.  

I have had more, and/or chosen to give more time for prayer since I have been in Africa, than any other time in my life – and it has given me such a peace and understanding of God and His word– but it has also made me really think  ….  I should already understand prayer, since I have prayed every bedtime and at every meal since I can remember, and a lot of the time in between – but why we should I pray to a God who already knows all things, exactly as they are going to unfold? Through my time here, God has shown me over and over and over again (and I am sure that I am going to need more reminders)  - that He just wants to spend time with me – with you – with all of us, He wants us to ask.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

"You do not have, because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions....Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:2

Sending Christmas Blessings from Africa!

I got the power!

So, the Wright family picked me up for church yesterday - and their 4 year old son, Jacob is obsessed with Batman - like I can only think of a few times when I haven't seen him in his Batman cape - so cute, he is always talking about his "powers."   When I am getting in the car, and he asks me what powers do I have - and I had to confess that I don't have any super hero powers - and his sister Karli spoke up "but she has her Bible!"   Then the sermon at church was about "The word is Power!" Just had to share.

We haven't had any updates on the visa situation - we are all still praying that it all goes through.  Craziness!   A whole other thing making my life busy right now is making props - I have been making these ones for the "Pantomine" of Alice in Wonderland - I think they turned out pretty well.

I have also been helping with things for the AIS Christmas program - which was this Saturday.  It was great - the kids were precious and the parents were thankful.  It is always fun to see our whole school together - we are such a diverse school - I always think that's how heaven is going to be - everyone all together!

These are some of the preschool angels - aren't they cute?!  One of them is part of a family at our school, who moved here from Birmingham, AL - can you even believe that?! We have been living a few miles apart for the past three years - and now we meet in Ghana. Talk about a small world.

More of the little ones - they were SO cute!  Here are some of the teachers, it's so funny that we are wearing sun dresses at a Christmas program!

Last week, we had field day - and it was so much fun! Each teacher had a team, and each team was a different country - I was Italy - yay!  We began with games like life size battleship, snow ball fights (with paper), blind musical chairs, and sumo wrestling.  Then, there was the craziest relay ever - it began with a huge shoe pile relay - where all the kids throw in their shoes and then have to find them again mixed in with all the other kid's shoes!

Then, we did the sponge, fill the bottle at the end with water relay.

Then, the dizzy bat thing, incredible hulk, other crazy things - it was fun! My team came in 4th place.  It was fun to have a day just to hang out with the kids, and spend time with some that I don't usually get to see.  It was also really neat to see the older kids helping the small ones - good stuff.

Thank you for your prayers - I hope and pray to have good news about the visas soon! I'll be on skype for a little while this afternoon - 9 - 10 am Auburn time - hope to see you!

Not to freak anyone out --

-- but I have a very urgent prayer request.  We found out this morning, that our visa extension papers have been denied, again, for maybe the 3rd time -  we had to rewrite our forms this morning, and if they are not turned in and approved today, our visas in Ghana will be expired.....if our visas expire, we will not be able to travel until the situation is taken car of - sometime - someday - according to Ghana time - in which there is no notion of time.  We joke about meeting places - at a certain time - whether we are meeting 10 o'clock American time or 10 o'clock Ghanaian time.  American meaning right at 10 o'clock - Ghanaian time meaning whenever it happens - but we will begin to think about getting ready to go sometime around 10 o'clock.

The point is - if our visas are not approved today, there is a very serious possibility of us, of me not being able to travel to Israel or home for Christmas. Please pray that our visas go through today, that we will will find favor in the officials processing our paperwork.

It's funny - I was praying about giving up control of my life to God last night - talk about giving it all up to Him - this is so in His hands.  I took my time filling out the form, I practiced, I prayed, we prayed, and I am asking you to pray.

"As for me, I am in your hands, do with me whatever you think is just and right." Jeremiah 26:14

Skype!

The best time to skype me right now is right after school here - or anytime between 9 and 11 am Central time! I will try to sign on every afternoon! My skype name is lollyjohnston - Hope to see you soon!

Three weeks until Israel!

So, I started reading the Bible from the beginning - Where else would I start my search for information for my trip to the Holy Land?! (And I am getting, like, really excited!!!)  


In my thoughts about prayer, the prayers the people of Israel have stood out to me, mostly because I (and all of us) relate to them so well - trying to follow God, but forgetting about Him every step of the way.  But their prayers asking God to send them out from Egypt stood out to me:

“…the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help.  Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.  And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  God saw the people of Israel  - and God knew.” Exodus 2:23-24

I just think it is interesting that it wasn't Moses who prayed to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt - it was the people of Israel.  And God chose/had planned to answer their prayers by appearing to Moses and telling him to go to Pharaoh and bring God’s people out of Egypt.  All Moses could say is “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children out of Israel?” 3:11 Moses did not pray for this task, he actually asked God not to give him the task – but through his eventual obedience, God was able to answer the people of Israel’s prayers and bless both Israel and Moses, and keep His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

My point is, I think that God asks us and leads us, just like He asked Moses to follow Him to or through certain places or situations sometimes seemingly walking into the fire -- sometimes to answer other people’s prayers, sometimes to answer our own prayers but always to bless us, bless all of us through it - we just have to learn to listen.

A huge part of God leading me to Africa was a random trip to Publix in Crestline one afternoon – I’ll never forget it – because I had no reason to go, but I just felt like I should go.  I ran into a friend from Auburn University who was living in Birmingham and over small talk, she told me about she and her husband moving to Africa the next year, she to do slum mission and he to teach.  I said that I had always wanted to go to Africa – and she said there was an art job still open – and she facebook messaged me the link that night – I filled out the online application for NICS (like I had done for several other overseas teaching organizations and the peace corps) that night, and forgot about it.  I wasn't reminded until I was back in Auburn for Gilmer's funeral, and Brother Charles asked me when I was going to teach overseas?  This was days after I had found out that my job was "shaky" for the next year, and days before I learned about my living situation for the next year falling through.  So, I contacted NICS to see where my application was, and was hired to teach in Africa days later.  It's so amazing to look back and see how God moved in my life, and in affect, in the lives of those around me!

 “And we know that for those who love God ALL things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

In the beginning...

Yesterday afternoon at the orphanage, I read the kids the story of creation, and asked them to draw each part as I read.  While they didn't seem to be listening, they did some nice drawings.  It's so interesting to think about how these kids see life.  They loved hearing the story, and drawing it - it's amazing how excited the kids get when they are simply given plain white paper and old crayons.

Heavy on my heart right now, are the numerous people in need here in Ghana, who live everyday in poverty and filth and hopelessness, and my friend Erin dealing with physical illness.   I can’t help but ask God why He allows such injustices? And every time in my life I have asked such questions – God sends me to Job, who “was blameless and up right, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” 1:1

When God has allows Job's life and physical wellbeing to be violently taken from him, Job and his friends try to justify the actions of the Lord, and Job defends himself by reminding God of his righteousness. “...In the days when God watched over me, when His lamp shone upon my head, and by His light I walked though darkness, as I was in my prime when the friendship of God was upon my tent, When The Almightly was yet with me..” 29:2-5

We are so quick to say to God – Why me? Why her? Why them? I don’t deserve this, she doesn’t deserve that, they don’t deserve this and Job definitely didn’t deserve to loose his family, health, and prosperity.  Job cries out to God in defense of the life he has led, and God rips into Job’s spirit, my spirit, your spirit with these verses:

“Then the Lord answers Job out of the whirlwind and said:”

(I hear God say this like Mufasa on the Lion King – angry at Simba, echoing and surrounding)

“Who is this that darkens counsel with words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you and you make it known to me.

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements – surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for Joy... Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…”

God is bigger than anything we could ever imagine, and He loves us more than we can comprehend.  We just have to learn to trust Him.

Is it a bird?!

Is it a plane?!

Is it Superman?!

Nope.  It's bats.  Gross.

I don't believe that I have seen a single bird since I have been here - if ever there is anything flying - its a bat.  These are the bats that stay in these certain fruit trees on the way downtown.  However; the people believe that the bats stay there because this is a sight where one of the tribal leaders was buried and they believe the grave is cursed.  They really believe that.  It is so interesting how another culture's spiritual sense is so different.  It's so sad to live in a place so full of LIFE - I love all the colors, all the people, the culture is so alive, even the culture of religion is very alive - but Christianity is not.  These folks can REALLY talk the talk, but do not walk the walk.  Infused with "christianity" here, is ancestor worship and joo joo practices.  Because they are all intertwined, the people have a hard time discerning the TRUTH.  Here are some crazy amazing coffins, yes, coffins made by the Ga tribe, to celebrate their ancestors.

What kind of coffin would you want?

The funerals last for weeks and months sometimes here.  People hire "mourners" to visit grave sites.  They believe the more money and time and mourning they give to their ancestors, the better their afterlife will be.

Anyhoo - Sunday, the AIS PTO had a fashion show fund raiser to build a library at the school.  Several of the moms are designers and had really cool stuff modeled.  There were also student models - who were super cute:

This is Sophie Korrum, who I have been living with, and one of the designer's daughters in matching dresses!  Here is the MC of the night, our actress mother, Akosua Busia, in her fabulous Ghanaian attire!

They raised over 1,000 cides for the library - so it was a success!

Just for fun - I documented the first gecko in my new bedroom! - That's right - I  moved! And the new house is glorious! (except we don't have internet yet, thus the lack of blog post this week, and skype conversations, with I REALLY miss - we're working on it!)

I am just going to guess that y'all might not realize that geckos in the house are a really good thing - because they eat mosquitoes!    Have a happy Wednesday! God Bless!

Prayers

Please join me in prayer for my friend Erin.  She is facing her cancer with confidence and peace that can only come from Christ.  She is still recovering from the surgery to remove the tumors.  The cancer has spread from her lymph nodes to the surrounding tissue.  On top of that, her treatments have been postponed because of a staph infection.  She is now scheduled to begin chemo on November 17 and receive it every 21 days there after.  She is also starting radiation on her mouth and neck next Tuesday, and will receive it everyday for 6 weeks.  Let's all pray that she will take all her fears and anxieties to God. Let's pray for peace in her heart, and healing in her body.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 

I have called you by name, you are mine.  

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; 

when you walk through the fire  you shall not be burned, 

and the flame shall not consume you.  

For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."  

Isaiah 43:1-3

 "Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving 

let your requests be made known to God.  

And the PEACE of God, 

which surpasses all understanding 

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 4:6-7

Here is Erin and her husband Matt, a picture from her caringbridge site.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/erinprielozny 

War Eagle!

So, I had to pull my bike over this morning to "snap" this guy!

He, of course, had no idea what his shirt meant, or that it was even a school.  I asked him to say "War Eagle" and put his hand up - ha!

A big business here is the "Obroni Way Woo" store.  This literally means "dead white people's clothes." So, next time you drop of clothes at the thrift store, realize that whatever isn't sold in the US is shipped to Africa and sold for pennies.   The people here wear whatever - they have no idea what the shirts say or mean.  The guard next door wears a shirt at least once a week that has a turkey and says "Gobble" on the front and says "Happy Turkey Day 199-" on the back.  He had no idea what Thanksgiving was.  I explained it to him, and have asked him to be sure to wear it on November 25 - we'll see if he remembers!

We are "moving"!! I have moved almost all of my things to the pink house - and I think that we will spend the night there tomorrow! Just so that you can see how great the house is, I took some pictures from inside the razor wire.  We have a great front porch!

We even have a little grass!!!

Here's the living room - we are in the process of moving - so please excuse the mess!

Dining room:

Kitchen:

Here is the window from my bedroom:

One of the hardest things about being here is not having the freedom and independence that I am used to having in the states.  If you notice, here, we live and work behind walls and gates.  We live in houses and work in a school where the windows are covered with bars.  And this does keep us safe and helps me feel safe - but it is very restricting.  Beyond that - Accra is a huge city with little vegetation and there are buildings and people everywhere.

At home, I could find "peace" sitting on my Dad's back porch, or going on a run in Birmingham, anywhere I could be outside and look at grass or water - any place with free and open space.  I write this to say that I am so thankful to be able to see trees outside my window.  After being here for a while - I don't even see the bars on the windows and the razor wire around the wall.  It gives me great peace to be able to see trees from my room.  I am really learning that peace is not where you are or how you feel or even how comfortable you are.  I can find and bring peace everywhere I go.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the World gives do I give to you." 

John 14:27

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. " Philippians 4:7