More Peace and More Happy Day!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and 

minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7

A sweet friend texted me this encouragement yesterday. I was needing some peace of my own this morning so after taking Elolo to school I took my time walking through town and told God about what I think I need.....a visa interview. I thanked him for some things and then I asked for what I really need....peace.

I got to my destination, the bank, but it was still 30 minutes before it opened so I sat on the front steps and waited. And suddenly I got this show!

The Police Wives Association was out marching for PEACE! A peaceful election in November specifically. They stretched out up and down the road and had police sirens and a marching band.

It was a treat to watch and hear the band and read their signs.

Then I came home and enjoyed a late breakfast cooked by these three (Sammy, Richard and Frank). They even cleaned up everything afterward. This is nothing short of a miracle! =) I was feeling pretty good, enjoying life and peaceful by this point.

And then this beauty came.....new mail! From the embassy! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. The visa application issue is truly resolved, I completed it and we have Elolo's 'Take Two' visa interview on Monday, June 27 (my parents' wedding anniversary!!!)

As if the above wasn't cause enough for celebration, today was also my mom's birthday (which we celebrated with her from afar) and we celebrated Richard's birthday. His really isn't until Friday but since the boys headed back to school today we celebrated a little early. He'll be 17!

Oh Happy Day, Happy Day!

Not a 'happy day' with the embassy and Elolo's visa yet, but an even better, actually best kind of happy day. God is doing some big things here! Last weekend Patience and Agatha decided to be baptized. For both it took a lot of courage and for one it was breaking through years of fear. I was so honored to walk with them as they made these decisions.

Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Peace. 

This girl is kind of awesome. Peace. She's 18 and just graduated from high school. She has applications into the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast. We just have to wait for her national exam results (they'll be released in September); all her years of school, her grades, her involvement, being school prefect and winning the regional constitution contest....it all comes down to these test results. That's the only thing the University considers for admission (well...officially, that is). 

She wants to study law. And she would be amazing at it. She is an advocate for justice. She has the constitution memorized! =) She is a leader, a hostess and she can adapt to many situations and environments. I could see her as an ambassador or involved with the United Nations (she was an ambassador of sorts to me when I first met these precious children). 

A few weeks ago, I got to see her in action and I was so proud I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry. She got into a heated 'debate' with our taxi driver who apparently misheard us- twice-when we said where we were heading and then accused us all of lying (you know, because taxi rides are so fun here that we just like to fool the drivers into taking us on joyrides!). He was quite rude, a bit intimidating and gave us an earful. As Peace explained to him, respectfully, that he misheard us and that he shouldn't accuse us of lying, he told her to 'Shut Up!' Again, rude! But nope, she refused and told him so because she has freedom of speech as stated in their constitution! =) He looked to me to 'put her in her place' but I just laughed and told him, good luck....she's going to be a lawyer. It was great. Of course, arguing for arguing sake's isn't something I promote, but this was something special. This is a different culture. For a 'school girl' to stand up to someone older and especially a man was brave and bold. The two boys with us hadn't said a peep. 

The hidden parts of her though are that she experienced great loss at an early age and the grief resurfaces with new stages of life (which is totally normal), has endured a lot of unfair treatment, and attempts to be 'perfect' often.

Last weekend at church she went forward to ask Jesus into her heart. It was powerful and full of all kinds of emotions! The pastor had the word 'ministry' for her, nothing more specific, but God would use her in a ministry for His Kingdom.........an ambassador for God. Let it be, Lord, let it be. 

Please be praying for her heart, for healing, for peace for Peace =) and for her exam results to reflect all of her hard work throughout school and life.

While we wait......

But those who wait on the Lord 

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

I should be used to the waiting by now. 3 1/2 plus years. One thing I've learned (albeit slowly) is it's so important to keep on living 'today' amidst the waiting. To be present in the moment of today, not the tomorrows and when 'all is worked out.' It's a daily struggle and a choice to do so....actually an hour by hour choice. Some days I'm better at it than others. Thank goodness for God's grace!

As we wait on the embassy to resolve their online visa application glitches (for almost three weeks now...) and battle against emotions of anger and frustration, the Lord is keeping us busy. And I am trying to focus on what a blessing it is to be living life in Ghana. To be with my son during the waiting. Praise the LORD!!!!! To be able to pray for this country and its people right here while I walk and live among them. For the blessings God keeps pouring out on me through my kids and our friends. 

Frank's birthday was June 4 so Elolo and I took a little ride to his boarding school equipped with a cake and goodies. I received a positive report from his class teacher that he has started this term with an improved attitude and is working hard as she tutors him after classes. Thank you for your prayers.

We were treated to a soccer game during the visit. Three of our boys are at this school, all different grades. Two boys (Frank and Richard) played against each other on opposite class teams and the third (Sammy) was the referee.

This is the scene that awaited us at the National Health Insurance office a couple of weeks ago. One of our girls needed an insurance card. I made asked Peace to also come with us. We arrived a little after 9am. We were silly. These are all the people ahead of us. Trying to make sense of the order of this line was futile. I was actually told by a stranger to 'relax, it's Ghana' when I tried to help move the line along. =) Around 12:30pm after we had barely moved one row, I bailed on the girls (I do have to work). I felt only slightly guilty as I merrily skipped away from that sauna (so thankful for the excuse to get out). Sadly, those girls were there until 5pm!!! I kid you not. And they couldn't even get the card that day. We finally got it yesterday....and now something similar though not so horrible awaits us at the hospital/doctor's office.

We've been attending our Canadian friends' church now for over a month. And each week, we add someone new to our entourage that heads to Adaklu Mountain. Peace and Patricia have been coming with us and last Sunday, Agatha (a friend of our kids who has been staying with us) also came. It was a powerful and emotional Sunday for all of us.

We always enjoy a time after the service where we share a meal and everyone hangs out.

Elolo (hidden behind that palm leaf and playing freeze tag) loves the pastor's kids; he never wants to leave. 

We sang 'Be Magnified, Oh Lord' during the service. And I couldn't help but picture the hill we were upon and that our words and melodies were going out spreading over the villages below bringing God's truth and light to an area that needs it so.
Please join me in praying for Ghana.
For true revelation and revival.

And while Elolo is waiting for a return trip to his beloved Accra, he also keeps very busy. Here's the garage he built for his motorcycle! =)

The 'fix' he engineered for this leaky drainage pipe.

Hopping on the church drum set after service.

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! =)

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!