Ghana Living

The past few weeks have been filled with kids home from school, tutors, doctor visits, fun and chaos, kids going back to school, sending my mom off last weekend, a couple of trips to Accra, many firsts for Elolo and Patience (thanks to the Accra mall), another visit to the U.S. embassy to pick up Elolo's visa application and life (the embassy 'experience' is an interesting one.....think DMV but add men with guns). 

Peace and Patience. Patience is now in her 2nd week of school in Accra and doing well. Praise the Lord that just before she left her sister, Peace, had her last day of high school and came home from the boarding school. She now stays with us in the house. She is also such a help to me and I appreciate having this special time with her. 

Elolo can also be a helper....sometimes....

The girls sporting some new earrings thanks to a friend of my mom's

The fountains at Accra mall

First time in an elevator!!!

First movie theater experience!!!!

Helping Patience stock her little  apartment with the essentials in this 'real' store

All this traveling means lots of travel in tro tros. =(  This is at one of the Accra stations.

Another station and more waiting on tro tros on the way home from Frank's school.

Elolo's also been learning cool things at school

And just in case the elevator-riding, movie-going and fancy store-shopping lifestyle of Accra inflates our heads, our dirt filled clothes still await us at home ready to be hand-washed in cold soapy water and line dried for all the world to see.

And when we run out of clothes line, we're still not too proud to throw our clothes to dry on anything we can find...even a tilapia tank! =)
And to keep it real: I washed ZERO of the items pictured here. I am given much mercy each day. I do wash quite a few things, but even with my five item limit, I'm rubbing the skin on my hands right off!

Be courageous!

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

We've spent two Sundays this month in a nearby village under the Adaklu mountain. Adaklu mountain is the one I've hiked up in years past and it is always in view in the distance from Ho. Many little villages exist all around the base of the mountain and even one or two on the hill. In fact Elolo's hometown village is on the far side of the mountain.

We haven't been going to climb Adaklu (never again!!!!), instead we've been going to pray, worship and fellowship with our new friends, the Reddekopps. They're a missionary family from Canada who have lived in Ghana 12 years and have four kids. I was connected to them through a Vineyard contact and am so thankful to have met them and have their friendship. 

Their land at the base of the mountain is truly a reminder of God's artistic skills and creation, they've been blessed with a beautiful church building and fellowship area, and most importantly, their ministry is bold and courageous in an area that heavily practices idol worship and black magic. 

They offer children's church which Elolo has been attending and loves; after his first time, he immediately told me that he would be coming back (I think he may have meant with or without me =)). This past Sunday Peace came with us and we ended up staying the whole day hanging out afterward in the Reddekopp's home visiting with them and a brand new American missionary family who will be helping with their ministry. Being able to share stories and discuss Ghanaian culture with other foreigners in the middle of it was a much needed blessing.

My Father's House

The view of Adaklu from the church

This building (with an amazing view) is used for children's ministry and a time of fellowship over lunch after church 

Elolo with the Reddekopp's kiddos....waiting for a ride back down the hill and into town

What a beautiful scene from their land

Shining like the noonday sun

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:5-6

I received my official notice from USCIS stating, in writing, that I would not be required to submit the adoption clearance letter. Seeing it in writing was nice. Even better was the language used...

'we have determined that the clearance letter from .....is currently not a legal requirement for Form I-600 approval. .....is not currently a requirement under Ghanaian law.'

I wasn't just given a 'pass' or slipped through the system. The prayers and advocacy done for the U.S. to recognize this requirement as unlawful paid off! God made the innocence and justice of this cause radiate like the dawn and shine like the noonday sun even amidst so much evil and corruption! 

We've been enjoying the high and relief of this decision over the past week. Next steps are to wait for USCIS to process all the paperwork and forward to the consular section of the embassy so that we can request a Visa interview....probably a couple more weeks.

We have another answered prayer to celebrate as well. Patience finally received the call from her school that it is time to start!!! She went to Accra for a day of orientation last Friday; it is such a joy to be here during this time to celebrate with her and cheer her on as she steps out to living on her own in Accra and starting the next chapter of her life. She starts classes next Monday, so we will soak up our time with her this week and then send her off when many blessings, tears and joy. 

I had just arrived back to the hotel from my embassy meeting and shared the amazing news that we finally got the approval to move ahead with Elolo's U.S. visa. My mom cried, Patience jumped up and down and grabbed Elolo, Elolo just laughed! But over the past week, he has made comments about 'when we go to the U.S.'.....usually in relation to his desire for a puppy.....hhmmm, not sure that is going to happen any time soon. 

This kid loves to climb trees. 

Frank and Elolo are good buddies; here they partnered to wash the dishes after dinner. 

The night before Patience's orientation we took her and some of the kids out to celebrate her next adventure. The 'nice' restaurants in town are all at the hotels. This is at the newest hotel and was very nice!

Before our dinner, we enjoyed these fun rocking chairs.

They overlooked the town.

On Elolo's last day of school before break, they had a celebration at school. I decided to surprise him when he got home with several of his favorites. Patience and Patricia also got a surprise! This little chop bar serves up some tasty rice and salad. This day I took it home, but there are plastic tables and chairs behind this shack where we've enjoyed our food.

All three of these are treats around here since they cost a little more than the average. Salad and rice (ok, .the rice is no special treat....we eat rice every other day), apples and soy milk. 

A visit from more of the kids.

My Noble. This man boy. He left Sunday for the new school term. After August, he only has one more year left of high school. Then he wants to pursue medicine. But we already call him Dr. Noble. He is such a hard worker (he worked most days of his break), a jack of all trades (he fixed our stopped up sink and saved one of the small girls who got locked in the bathroom! =)) and so, so funny. 

Noble also has some serious muscles and can cook! Those muscles were needed to make rice balls for dinner last week.

A familiar site in Accra....KFC!!!!!

  

And directly across the street from Kentucky Fried Chicken.....live chickens! =)