Life begins at the end of your comfort zone - Neale Donald Walsch
Today is my 2 week anniversary in Ghana and it is incredible to see how much my mindset has changed since I have been here. At the start I was scared as well as naive. Then I became intimidated when I met all the capable missionaries here and when I hear about the work I was going to do. Now I am less intimidated, less scared and less naive. This is going to be a learning curve for me. I will be pushed outside my comfort zone and made to do things that I have never done before.
I have been learning about sacrifices recently and what God calls us to do. God has called us to give our best to be a blessing to others. Sacrificing what is comfortable and easy has been hard for me but I hope that God can use me here in Ghana. Please pray for an obedient heart as I learn what it means to sacrifice for God.
During my time here, I have managed to try a lot of local food. I've had uncreative army-ration-like meals at home because I haven't done much grocery shopping so it has been great when people have asked me if I want to go out for lunch with them. I have tried Kinki, Banku and Fufu. All of these are similar. Kinki is a ball of dough eaten with sauce (most fermented = most bitter), Banku is a ball of dough eaten with a stew (less bitter) and kinki is a ball of dough in a light soup (least bitter). The dough is made from pounded corn or yam (from what I can remember). I think it will take some getting used to. I don't love it. However, other street food such as rice, beans, chicken etc is DELICIOUS. I have also been indulging in fresh fruit.
Yesterday I went to a place called Ashaiman which is in the Greater Accra Region. It was nice to see a bit more of the country. We met a friend of Sherri's who made a dress for her. This morning we went to Tesano School to do the weekly kids program there in assembly. Sherri (my guru) does such a great job with the kids- something I hope to learn by watching her.
My language skills in Twi (properly said Chwee) are improving. I am learning the proper replies to questions and am getting more confident.
Twi lesson 101:
Etisaine = How are you?
Aye = I am fine
Love your opening quote Esther! It is so true too, I can totally relate to that. Its hard at the time but looking back its cool to see God's hand at work.
ReplyDeleteI am so encouraged by reading your blog, and so proud of you!
Keep the blog posts coming xx
Great to see you are settling in to the challenges ahead Esther - cautious optimism is a most wise attitude in my view. Just had a lovely Easter here in terms of the weather -but not as hot as you are experiencing. Love & prayers.
ReplyDeleteStephen and Debbie