For church today, we visited a children's ministry on the beach.  It was, as always,  so nice to get outside of the city!  The ministry was founded by a Parisian woman, as a place to get kids of the streets in Accra.  The kids are found in an area of town called Osu.  She has a place there that provides street children the opportunity for a bath and a meal.  The children who show real commitment to getting off the street and making a better life for themselves, are invited to live in the community we visited today.  The kids live, attend school, and attend church on the grounds there. The whole place was so nice - the classrooms were really nice and they had a computer lab and were building a library.  The kids were amazing, this was my guide around the facility.  She is a fifteen year old from the Eastern Region.

She was very sweet and well spoken.  The rules at the facility are tough on the kids, they really have to prove their dedication to working for a better life - but it is working and the kids are remarkable.

We had church under this straw hut, right out of view of the beach.  Church was great - they spoke about treating all people equally, and looking past the outside of people.  Just like God did, when choosing David as King:

"For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."  - 1 Samuel 16:7b

It is so interesting how some things that are hard lessons for Americans, are just as hard, or sometimes harder for Africans.  While in America, we may judge each other for what brand shoes or watch or sunglasses we are wearing - here people are judged and divided by which tribe they are from and which language they speak.  The tribal divisions here are deeply rooted, and easily seen.  Many tribes here "brand" their children's faces with scars of a certain number on a certain place on their cheeks.  It is hard for the Ghanaians to see past these reminders of differences.  Today was a good reminder to work at looking past all of our differences, and learning to see each other, first, as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The worship here was an amazing expression of joy.  Africans know how to show their joy and praise the Lord.  I had never noticed before today, that Ghanaian churches divide up songs as either "praise" or "worship."  It is just the tone that changes in the songs.  We always put praise and worship together in church, and in effect, in our minds and hearts - interesting culture note!

So, Friday at school was "character day." They don't do "Halloween" here - in a culture where witchcraft and such are real things and a real part of the culture - it's not acceptable for the Ghanaians or us to participate in.  Anyways - since I am a nerd - I dressed up as the Mona Lisa - educational and fun!

(Where's Waldo, Queen Esther, teacher from Wayside Stories, i pod, Socrates, me (Mona Lisa), and a "Ghanaian"

Such a weird picture! I was trying to smile weird like she does!

  Almost all of the Pre-K and Kindergarten boys were spider man - and precious.

We had two Michael Jackson's - and thus a "dance off."  Which was great - they moon walked and everything!

Saturday, we woke up and went to the market to look for fabric.  I got some great fabric with butterflies on it for bedding in my new room (that I am going to just tell you I am not moving into this week  - and maybe I'll be surprised!)  On the way home - I experienced my first "tro-tro" ride.  

This is the common transportation for most Ghanaian people - I am not a clean freak in any sense - but I have not been looking forward to this.  But - It was just fine - we got home safe and that's what matters! It only cost 35 pesewas - which is like 20 cents - as compared to a 5 cide ($3) taxi ride - so we saved money.

Hope you all had a good weekend and a blessed Sunday! I heard about the exciting Auburn game! War Eagle!