Shouting it from the Mountain!

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3

Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:2-3

The Lord is good, the Lord is mighty, the Lord moves mountains! Yesterday I had a meeting with USCIS at the U.S. embassy because the day before was my deadline to submit the clearance letter from National Social Welfare. I wasn't able to get the letter so instead I presented a case against needing the letter based on the law. My elected officials had also contacted USCIS earlier on my behalf but I hadn't heard any updates from them. There were also many other families in the same position as me, not having this letter and being stuck in the process. So I attempted a face to face meeting to also plead my case. I was praying for a breakthrough and for compassion. 

And it happened! Yesterday was AMAZING!!! 

After getting through all the security at the embassy (including being told I couldn't bring my purse in....uh, I was by myself..what?.....luckily my trusted taxi driver was still close by), waiting my turn and rehearsing my argument in my head,  I entered a private room and was welcomed warmly by a sweet, sweet grandmotherly woman. She asked how I was. I was honest. My face fell and I sighed. Immediately she put her hands up in a gentle protest. I only spoke two words with tears in my eyes, "I'm frustrated," before she stopped me and said not to be frustrated and that she was so sorry for how long this process has taken. She said she had GOOD NEWS!!! And she did! The words I had prayed to hear! The night before at 10:30pm USCIS made the decision to waive the need for the clearance letter in all the pending adoption cases!!!!!!!! AHHH, praise the Lord! Elolo's and my case is now approved through the I-600 stage and his case will be forwarded for his visa. And even better, she assured me that the clearance letter would not be needed for his visa and that USCIS is recommending that the visa process be expedited for our case!!!!!! Hallelujiah, hallelujiah! 

I told this sweet woman, Aster, that I wish I could hug her (she was behind a glass window); so she put her hands under the window and held my hands and said such kind words to me and again apologized for all the difficulties. I cried tears of joy holding her hand. And then I had the privilege of praying for this sweet woman who works in such a hard, hard environment being a liaison between American families and the Ghana government. 

I walked out of that room with tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face...though I was trying to keep it somewhat contained as I walked by so many Ghanaians waiting in line hoping and praying for a visa to the U.S. But it was hard to hold it in. I practically skipped out of that place. 

The best part. It wasn't just my case! The floodgates of heaven opened over Ghana yesterday. Did you hear the shouts of praise, joy and shock around the world. Multiple waiting families received calls yesterday and heard this beautiful news!!!!!! Praise the Lord! Answered prayers!

We are starting to LOVE Accra and be spoiled by all it has to offer. We enjoyed lunch at the mall before heading home to Ho - pizza and air conditioning! We picked my mom up at the airport the night before my embassy meeting, so she was here to rejoice at the good news!

Here, Near and Faraway

'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' Acts 1:8

I had the amazing privilege and honor to worship God with my Vineyard church brothers and sisters here in Ghana this past Sunday (Vineyard is the church I'm part of at home and Vineyard church plants are all over the world)! While a typical church service in Ghana differs greatly from what I'm used to, I'm always in awe of God's creativity and vastness when I join in worship with Africans. While I usually struggle to understand the words being sung (even when they're in English =)), worshiping in the Spirit easily transcends the need for mere words. The worship is beautiful and passionate; and it is just a small glimpse of what we will see in heaven where 'a great multitude..from every nation, tribe, people and language...will be standing before the throne and before the Lamb' coming together in worship. Get your dancing shoes on!

I'm so thankful to have been able to cross nation, people and language but still find my Vineyard tribe here so far away.

In addition to attending the Accra Vineyard this past weekend, Elolo and I had such a great trip to the capitol...it was just the two of us and so special. He was on his best behavior and a great travel companion! He LOVED the hotel (especially the tv!!) and I greatly appreciated the a/c, hot water and ...I also really enjoyed the chance to watch an American movie! FYI...we have none of these things at our house. Elolo also got to visit the mall and a Western-ish grocery store for the first time. He was in heaven and wanted to go back the very next day! We also got to hang out with my friend and fellow adoptive mom from St. Louis, Georgia, her friend and her two boys (3 and 4); they're in town for the week. She is in the EXACT same spot of the adoption as me; her deadline is also this Thursday. It is such a blessing to have her in this as we discuss strategy and joining together for power in numbers. We both have meetings with the embassy this week and have our elected officials calling on our behalf. Even Pastor Thomas offered to make some calls for both of us!

The Accra Vineyard or officially...Arts Centre Community Church (Vine Yard).
It is a fairly small church; maybe 30ish people or so, but they have a couple of
 sites in the northern part of the country and in another area of Accra.

Pastors Thomas and Francis. They called me up to introduce myself , Georgia and Kacey and to say a few words, so I greeted them on behalf of the Vineyard Community Church in St. Louis!

A short video of the opening worship.

The church is on the beach so they have this view of the ocean!

Pastor Thomas and his family, Pastor Francis, Georgia, her boys, Kacey, Elolo and me.

With two small ones, Georgia and Kacey were constantly carrying and chasing these boys. I was able to give them some 'African advice:' buy some cloth and carry those boys on your backs. The boys loved it! This is how most babies and toddlers are carried as their mamas go through out town, work, sell things at the market, farm, wash, etc, so it is a comfort to them to be wrapped so snug and firm. Plus these two yevus (white people) look adorable wearing these kiddos African style on their backs! They had a car stop them on the street and ask if they could take their picture!!! Haha!

It only took about six takes to get him to smile nicely for this selfie! 

I was able to sneak this one of Elolo playing his new African drum outside our hotel. A drum maker was located next door to the church so we had to take a look and make a purchase. 

Prayers for my kiddos, Ghana time, and the Good Life

My dear Patience could use some prayer for school. She's been out of high school for nearly two years now and still isn't in a University or trade school. It is really unfortunate because she is extremely bright and a hard worker. Unfortunately, she performed poorly on one subject on her national exams, twice, and it has kept her from getting into nursing or teachers school (her first choices). She is now enrolled to start at a Imports/Customs training school (??). Classes were suppose to start in February but they have yet to begin. Please pray for what is ahead of her in terms of schools and careers. She has such potential, but Ghana lacks many opportunities for her. 

I would also really appreciate prayer for Frank. Yesterday morning I was asked to come to his boarding school for a 7 am meeting with the headmaster and one of his teachers. First, I love Frank which is why I agreed to travel to his school which is 45 minutes away in a small village at that crazy hour of the day! Second, Ghana time....errrr.....Ghana time! I was told specifically the meeting had to be at 7am so we could be done before school started at 8 and so I could get to work. I should have known better. I begged poor Richard to drive me to the school since it was so early and I didn't want to rely on getting a taxi, negotiate fairs or be late. We arrived and the whole school was starting mass, so we waited and waited and waited....until 9am! I was SO mad. Ghana time or not, I warned Richard that I was going to embarrass him and complain. But he was irritated too. Third, the meeting. The meeting was with ALL the teachers. It was Richard (thank you Lord for him being there!!!), Frank and me facing the headmaster, assistant headmasters and about ten teachers. Ugh...what did I walk into? Out of respect for Frank, all I will say is please be praying for emotional healing, peace and Jesus for this boy. He is a sweet, sweet boy (he recently told my mom that when he gets married one day, she will be sitting in the front row right behind him) but he has definite anger issues, is impulsive in his actions and has been exposed to the practices of his family's village where Ghana's traditional religion is still practiced. All of which were discussed at this meeting. After a 1 1/2 hour meeting, it was determined that we'll be looking for a new school for him after this school years ends (I was able to negotiate that they wait until the end of the year). =( But a new school won't really solve much. We need God's intervention and his guidance on how to best get Frank the help he needs. 

Patience and I went on a little shopping trip to the local bookstore. Definitely not Barnes and Noble. =) Frank requested a bible. That's a good start! 

She's been helping me way too much with cooking so I decided she deserved a dinner out at one of the local hotels. 

And my son. Who is definitely at the age where letting me take his picture is not cool. Boo =(

View from Frank's school where I waited and waited and waited. 

I realized I was only showing the dirt roads...which are the back roads and shortcuts I like to walk.
There really are lots of paved roads. Here's a pic from town.

And the crazy traffic. The road in front of us is just a line of taxis and tro tros as far as you can see
because they're all headed to the market.

I come home in the early afternoons to work from home so that I can be there when Elolo gets home. Here is a scene from my work space this week! It made me so happy to look up from my computer and see these kids chatting and playing games and Elolo eating his after school snack. I am so blessed! 

Elikim and Elolo washing Elolo's school uniform. African style! I started to do it myself and got as far as filling the bucket with water and soap before Elikim came and took it away from me. I didn't protest! It is hard work and they are white shirts. For a school on a dirt road. With a dirt school yard. And kids. White shirts? Why? Why?

Ahh...one of my favorite treats. FanChoco.  It's ice cream...kind of ... it is frozen chocolate milk that you eat straight from this bag just by biting off a corner and enjoying!

A full week

My house got a bit fuller this weekend with even a few more of my kids staying the night - ten of us total! Just a warm up for when my mom comes in two weeks and all the kids are on break from school for three weeks! They won't all stay here all the time, but I do anticipate some craziness. 

We also invited Auntie Mercy over Saturday for lunch, and joined her for church on Sunday morning. I've had a really hard time over the years finding a church here I enjoy and want to attend. But today was really enjoyable and a good teaching. The pastor is from a different region of the country and doesn't know Ewe, so the service is led mainly in English...a plus for me. I surprised myself and actually stayed until the end, 9am-noon!

While we still need a major breakthrough on moving forward with Elolo's visa, we did take one positive step this week in getting his passport. My friend Richard had tried several times since last fall to get it but was having problems. I went with a slightly different approach; it took two trips and two days but they finally accepted all of our paperwork to process and hopefully print it!

I also started back 'at work' this week and things are going fairly well even though the power was out from 8-4 my first day back! I have a main office to work in thanks to my old friend Sylvester, who was one of my first friends in Ghana. And thanks to Richard, I have a backup office with a generator.

Frank and Elolo

Auntie Mercy's visit.

The travel connect four traveled all the way to Ghana! Eunice and Elolo.

Big boys home for the weekend. 

Sela and Patience. We stopped for a bite to eat (chicken and rice) on our way to the market.

Sammy and Frank at their boarding school.

Worship this morning was full of tambourines, clapping and dancing!

The pastor preached in English and had an Ewe translator.

Waiting so patiently at the passport office.

Elolo getting his passport photo taken!

My new office space with my old and dear friend, Sylvester

Life from this side

Our front porch view. Delicious mangoes!

I enjoy spending a little time in the early morning on the front porch; I've had a couple visitors the past few days.

And some others.

Elolo's school

Elolo with his tutor after school

Our kitchen

It may not be luxury, but is sure beats cooking outside over a fire or charcoal which is common. 

Auntie Mercy's neighborhood

Elikim, Patience, and Emma are all currently on break from school. Patience has been staying with us and helping me SO much! The boys have been popping over every couple of days.

Our daily walk

This is at Elolo's aunt's house. I was trying to capture the kids without being spotted....not successful...and this is what happened.  

Here they come.

They keep coming.  

Look at these crazy poses.