Adventures in May

May has been a month full of fun activity. The girls were on vacation at the beginning of the month so we took them to the beach one day and to Kakum National Park another day. The third and final term of the school year is now in it’s second week. We had a super fun group from Memorial Rd Church of Christ in Edmond, OK here visiting. AND we had our May birthday party. Whew. No wonder I have been a little tired!

The beach is always a fun little outing. It is nice to get out of the house and explore new territory. We played all kinds of games and enjoyed walking around. So thankful to live in a city with such a beautiful landscape.

Then there was Kakum. Another example of God’s great creation. I have been there more times than I can count on two hands, so the newness has worn off for me a bit. But it was a whole new experience for the Pearls, and they were SCARED! Kakum has a walkway of seven swinging bridges that allows you to walk through the canopy of the rainforest. There’s not many like it in the world and it is a pretty cool opportunity to go. However, those that have a fear of heights tend not to enjoy the experience. Most of our girls fall in the latter category. I think my favorite comment was “You mean, we could be at Papaye (their favorite restaurant) and we are doing this instead?” We made some great memories and the day was full of laughter.

Last week we were encouraged by our time with the University students from Memorial Rd Church of Christ and Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, OK.  They were full of energy, fun and Christ. Their visit was brief but packed. They poured supplies and gifts over us; they played, prayed, worshiped and encouraged. We could not have asked any more from them.  The girls enjoyed their many new friends. As the team’s bus pulled away from the house singing “… what can make me feel this way, nothing but my pearls, my pearls, my pearls”, we were all filled with joy.

Up next, a visit from my mom and sister!

Sisters

One of the things I have recently enjoyed seeing is how much these girls have grown to love each other. Since moving into the house, our staff has all gotten to have some time off, so the girls are used to us coming and going. But they have not been apart from each other hardly at all. They eat, sleep, study and work together – they are rarely separated.

Thirteen of the girls all came from their hometown on a Wednesday. The last seven were delayed an extra day, so I went to Accra to pick them up in the Highlander. This is the scene from when we pulled into the driveway.

These girls are from different regions of Ghana. They are from different tribes. They speak different languages. They came into the house with deep prejudices against one another. But they are learning to love. They are learning that God’s love is greater than any other identifier man can give us. Our experiences make us who we are, but that does not define who we should or should not love.

Every tribe has its’ distinct dances. On numerous occasions the girls from different regions have done a few of their dances. We all enjoy watching the variety that comes from the various groups. When we have done this in the past, it was either one group or the other, but when we had some dancing a few nights after their arrival back in the house there was a difference.

The girls were joining in on each other’s dances, willing to participate in each other’s culture. For me, that was a turning point. They still get mad at each other. They still hold prejudices. But they appreciate one another and they even support one another. It is truly amazing to witness God’s transformative work, day by day.

Easter Sabbath

April has been a busy and exciting month. We had a visit from dear friends, I traveled to some of the girls' hometowns and had a few days of quiet while the girls were away visiting their hometowns. I am excited to tell you all about our experiences. But, since the girls are home from school on break for two more weeks, I would not describe the house full of 24 people as a conducive writing environment. In fact, within the span of writing these first four sentences I have been interrupted three times. Good thing it's beautiful pearls that are interrupting me! 

Many of you know that the Pearl House is just a 15 minute drive from the beach. Unfortunately, other than the occasional drive-by with visitors, I have not been to the beach for the purposes of relaxation since the girls moved in. That is, until Easter Sunday. My new intern, Emilie and I decided to try out our hammocks on the palm trees of Ghana. It is an experiment that will be repeated, hopefully often! Here are a few pictures of our beautiful beach.

Until I find another quiet moment .... God bless you all!