Adventures in the BIG CITY

While we were at the Village of Hope for mid-term break, our new university student friends, Enoch, Caleb, Derrick, Ato, and Philip invited Jordan and I to a Jazz festival the following weekend. My first thought was heck yes, that would be so much fun....a jazz festival in Africa! Then my second thought was it's the week right after mid-term break and I can almost count on it that I will have so much to do. My third thought was...screw it! Let's go to the Jazz Festival! And Jordan's thought the whole time was WE ARE GOING!

So, I asked Head of Primary if I could miss school on Friday and she said that wouldn't be a problem, just give my lesson plans to my assistant. So, Thursday, I was getting everything ready and telling my assistant everything she could possibly need to know about what class would be like that Friday when a nice little beeep beeep beeep came fro my phone. It was a text message from Enoch saying that Jazz Festival had been postponed until further notice, but that he hoped Jordan and I would still come to Accra. Well shucks...I was excited about this Jazz Festival and Jordan....well he was at least 20 times more excited than I was. So now I was in a pickle...how am I going to break the news to Jordan? Well, easy, just call him and tell him. So, I did, and we both decided that we still wanted to go to Accra and hang out with our new friends.

We left early Friday morning and Enoch came and picked us up at the bus station in Accra and took us to the University where we met the other guys. We then went to a really nice hotel. I felt like I should be somebody special being in that hotel..but truth is I wasn't. There was a concert going on outside by the pool area which we enjoyed for a little bit and then we went inside to the Jazz bar. I seriously felt like I was back in my old New Orleans stomping grounds. The ambiance was cool and dark. Dimmed lighting, red leather couches everywhere, a few tables and the bar was in the back, and a small stage in the front. It was simple, but nice. We sat down right next to the stage and waited for the musicians to arrive. We ordered and ate some food while we waited...and for those of you wondering, I ordered fufu.....JUST KIDDING, I got pizza!

Now, I really don't know anything about Jazz music....but these Jazz musicians were good! I enjoyed sitting there and listening and watching them play literally 5 feet in front of me. It was awesome and well worth the trip to Accra and a nice Plan B due to the fact that Jazz Festival had been postponed.

After the jazz bar, and after discussing, and more discussing about what we would do next, we all decided that we would go to the beach. (It was reassuring to see that people in other countries have a hard time making simple decisions too haha!) It was a clear night at the beach, a chilly breeze and half moon which lit up the sky. We sat and watched the waves come and had good conversation...one of which was did the Americans REALLY go to the moon!?!? We left the beach around 2 in the morning and went back to Enoch's house to sleep.

The next day Enoch took us around Accra, we got to eat at a LEGIT gelato shop and we went to the mall of Accra. Sunday we went to church with our friends Paul and Ernest and then Ernest took us to the bus station so we could head back to Kumasi. But it wasn't soooooo easy. We got to the station and saw long lines of people, no buses, no trotros no nothing! Well, it turned out that there was a football (soccer) match in Kumasi that same day and so there were not buses or trotros in Accra...they were all in Kumasi. So we waited for about an hour and a half and finally this small bus came. Long story short...we literally had to fight our way on that bus. We got on and got to Kumasi safely! Thank you, God!

It was such a nice weekend. I am so thankful to Enoch for letting us stay with him, and for him taking his weekend to spend with us. We had such a wonderful time and it was nice to get out of Kumasi and go the "BIG city".  It was a little bit of an escape, and I would even say it was much needed which of course I am thankful for. But, like I have said before, I can't forget why I am here. I was greeted Monday morning with hugs and welcomes from my students. That is why I am here.

I hope you are all fine and enjoying yourself as the weather gets cooler....as for me...the weather is only getting hotter!

Blessings and LOVE <3

Conferences = SUCCESS = Trip to the Village of Hope

Well my friends and family, let me first apologize for the delay in my blog writing. I have been so busy! But don't worry, everything is chill over here in Ghana and Jordan and I are doing very well.

A few posts back I wrote about the Student Led Conferences that were quickly approaching and how I was feeling a bit anxious about it. I'm here to tell you that SLC was a HUGE success!! Thank God!

The weekend before SLC, I was really busy, not only trying to get everything prepared for Monday's conferences but Jordan and I also had our friend Chris here in Kumasi visiting. (More about his visit will come.) Thankfully, Sunday evening, my wonderful parents called me to wish me the best of luck on Monday and I took their words of encouragement to heart and felt at peace about everything!

Out of 31 students, all students and parents showed up except for 1, so I would say that was a good turn out. I loved getting to meet all of the parents and spend time talking with them about their child and the classroom. It was a joy to see each student take their parent around the classroom and show them everything that we are working on! I was so proud of my students...they did such a fantastic job! After a long but successful day of conferences, Jordan, another American teacher and myself treated ourselves to a nice dinner at Sir Max! It was the perfect way to end Ms. Johnson's very first experience with SLC at ICS!

With the successful SLC behind me, it was now time to look toward mid-term break!!!!!!!!!! SLC was Monday and the rest of that week we had off! So, Jordan and I got to take another trip to the Village of Hope! This has become our home away from home. We got there about 5 in the evening and Jordan and I walked into the guest house just expecting to find a quiet place but I was quickly taken by surprise. We opened the door, heard loud music and much to my surprise saw about 5 Ghanaian men, one of which was dancing around in his boxers. I quickly closed my eyes and thought to myself...wait, maybe this house turned into a BOYS house and I need to run back for the door and leave!! I was having about a million thoughts when one of the guys welcomed us and introduced himself and the others. I realized that it was ok for me to be there. Anyways, they were a group of 10, guys and girls who attend a university in Accra. They were also on their mid-term break, but spent their mid-term break doing community service at the VOH. It was awesome to have them around and I got to make new friends. Anyways, the VOH kiddos were not on break so they were having school every day. Jordan, the university students and I spent the week helping some of the teachers and hanging out with the kids. I also was able to touch up on my rustic game of Knock Out which I played almost every day with a group of kids. I beat Shaibu a few times....now if Ernest was there, that would be a different story. 

 My favorite part about being at the VOH is the simplicity of life. I love getting to play with the children, talking to the children and just enjoy the company and fellowship of children of all ages. There, they don't have so many distractions like TV, computers, electronics, and lives aren't so busy running from one thing to the next...it's just pure and simple and it's their lives and I have been so blessed by it. The moments I treasure the most, are moments spent with the children singing songs, or playing games, talking, or helping them with chores or other tasks.

Another bonus about the Village of Hope is that it is so close to the ocean. It's just about a 30 minute walk from the guest house to the sand on the beach. I was talking to Katie (a volunteer from the US) and some of the university students about how breath taking the sunrise at the beach is. So much talk of glorifying the sunrise, we all decided that we would wake up early and walk to the beach to see God's artwork. It was a good thing we did, because, it was nothing short of beautiful.

 

Thank you God for the beauty that you have created around me, not only in your landscape but in your people. 

Blessings and LOVE <3

Borne by God, Bearer of a Burden

Amos

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Borne by God, Bearer of a Burden

I'm dedicating this post to my good friend Amos. Amos has been following my blog and has even been marking (grading) each of my posts! He is sometimes hard to please when it comes to grading. Let's see what this post will get.....

I met Amos last year when Jordan, Emily and I came to Kumasi for the first time. He works at the Ghana Bible College, attends church at Bomso and lives right near the compound. So, it is easy to say that Amos was always around when we were here last year. He also ended up being our translator most of the time. Amos would accompany us on some of our trips to orphanages, he went with us to bible classes, we visited him in his office and surely there was probably not a day that would go by where we didn't see Amos and spend time talking to him.

Amos quickly became one of our best friends in Kumasi. He has such a good sense of humor and can always make you laugh. Sometimes, I don't even think he knows that he is funny! But he can bring a smile to your face. Another thing that I love about Amos, is the way HE himself laughs! He has a laugh that no matter what, will also make you laugh. It is contagious, and such a great quality.

Last year when I left Kumasi, Amos was someone who I knew I would miss greatly. The talks that we had, the time we spent together, the things that I learned from him were all aspects that I would miss when I went back to the US. Luckily, Amos and I were able to keep in touch while I was in the US and looking back, it was a huge blessing.

As most of you know, when I returned home from Ghana last year, I started to think about more long term possibilities in Ghana for the future. Amos and I talked much about this and he was the one who helped me the most. He was always quick to offer help, to pray for me, to advise me, to support me and to be a brother in Christ for me. I honestly think, that if it wasn't for Amos, I would not be sitting here in Ghana, Africa right now writing this post.

When I knew for sure that I would be coming to Ghana again, I was more than excited to see Amos and continue our friendship. 

In this past year, a lot has changed in Amos' life. Soon after we left last year, Amos got married and not too long after that he announced that he and his wife were expecting a baby. The baby boy is due late October or early November. Throughout the changes in Amos' life, he has remained a faithful friend. I can count on him for anything, I trust him, respect him, cherish him, and I am so thankful for him.

I have noticed that this is just who Amos is. He isn't just a good friend to me...he is a good friend to everyone. I have watched his interactions with others and realize that he is truly a man of God, BORNE BY GOD. His name fits him perfectly...right??

Amos: You truly are an example of how we should all live our lives. You put others before yourself in everything you do. You are quick to help, and to listen. I see Jesus in you. I respect you and look up to you. You have been a good friend to me and I thank God every day for you.

It is my prayer that we all, myself included, can learn to be a little more like Amos.

Blessings and love to you all.

SLC and Birthdays...what a combination!

Of course, it has been quite a while since my last post. I think that every day I become more and more busy. How does that happen?????

Well, it's hard to believe that I am about to be in my 8th week of school. The time has flown by so quickly. I wish it would slow down! In a week we have SLC (Student Led Conferences) and I have been a busy little bee getting everything ready for that...and no, I'm not finished getting ready either. Despite all the work that goes into making SLC a success, I am really excited about SLC. It will be the first time that I get to meet most of the parents. Parent/Teacher relationship is incredibly important to me. Parents and teachers work together to help make the child not only successful in the classroom, but at home and in life. It is my job as a teacher to foster this success. Also, it is just fun getting to meet the parents of your students...it can explain a lot about a student!! Another thing that I am looking forward to is getting feedback from the parents. I am eager to know what they are thinking, the things they like and the things they do not like, things that are going well and things that need to be improved. This is the way that everyone involved can work together to make a successful learning environment. I see parents as my partners in teaching. SLC is on the 18th of October. I have this next week to get everything prepared and ready for it. Please be in prayer about this, that everything will go smoothly and be a success. Although I am excited about this, I have been more than busy and I know as the time gets closer I will be a little nervous too! I would greatly appreciate the prayers!

An update on my students:

Things have been going well, and I think all my students are finally getting use to the fact that obroni (white person) is teaching them. There isn't so much hype anymore and I am really happy about that. On the last Friday of every month we get to celebrate the children's birthdays! So, on the last Friday of September, we were able to celebrate Glen's birthday. He just turned 7 and is one of the brightest students in my class. I couldn't believe he was turning 7....I was certain that he must at least be turning 8! Glen is so calm and collected, does his work neat and well, and what I like best about Glen is he is always ready and willing to help other students learn. After he has finished his work he will come to me and say, "Ms. Johnson, may I please go and help Richard. I promise not to tell him the answers but to help him learn." (I have been really working with my students on not telling each other the answers or copying because that only puts a hindrance on that child, they are only crippling that child, instead, HELP the child learn, help him/her find the answer and work together.) I loved getting to celebrate Glen's birthday in class as did the other students. He brought drinks, candy and biscuits for everyone! Glen is on his way to great things and I am privileged to have him in my class!

 Sorry for the glare on the chalk board!

  Glen with his goodies and friends at the birthday table!

  Me and the Birthday Boy!

Also, it was my assistant's birthday on the 29th of September. She wanted Jordan and I and 2 other teachers from school to go out with her. She took us to Sir Max's hotel. It is owned by some Lebanese people. Anyway, we went and ate at their restaurant. WOW! This is just what I needed. I couldn't stop looking at the menu. EVERYTHING...EVERYTHING AND I MEAN EVERYTHING sounded delicious. It was such a nice change from eating rice rice rice. I got a salad...and if know me in the slightest bit...you know that I LOVE SALAD....SALAD IS MY FAVORITE FOOD! hahaha. Well, I got a mouth watering, to die for in Africa salad and then a pita type thing with steak. It melted in my mouth. Needless to say...I think Jordan and I will be making a few trips back to Sir Max's for some good quality, mouth watering, delectable food!

p

I hope and pray that all of you are doing very fine. I think of yall often. Please continue to pray for me and my students.

Blessings and love to you all,

Ms. Johnson

TIA

TIA

This Is Africa

I think for the most part I have adjusted quite well. I'm doing better than I expected. Jordan, on the other hand makes me look bad! He eats all the food and loves it (or at least says he does), he can speak Twi better than I can, he can make cool noises with his mouth and everyone loves it...he puts me to shame! HAHA!

I'm trying to learn Twi, but it is a difficult language! I have already picked up on a few things and can understand some. Hopefully within this next year I will learn plenty more! I have a number of people who are willing to be my teacher...but finding the time is the problem!

So, I just wanted to give you some TIA experiences:

• RICE, RICE, RICE...we eat a lot of rice. TIA
• We have been without water for a little over a week. I am perfecting my bucket bathing! TIA
• Lights out can occur at any time...and the kids LOVE it! TIA
• Lights out can occur at any time...so SAVE your work on the computer every 2 minutes! TIA
• The Tro-Tro has ripped or should I say spoiled 3 of my dresses so far. TIA
• The school has adopted a new curriculum but we have yet to receive our books and the resources we need. TIA
• FACEBOOK is blocked!!! TIA
• I have 31 students in my class. The Head of Primary told me that if I still had 31 students on the 14th of September, they would make another year 3 class. I am still waiting...patiently.
• I now say WATA instead of water and NOT AT TALL instead of not at all. TIA

These are just a few and I'm sure there will be more along the way! Enjoy. Laugh if you want!

Blessings.                                                                                        

A Case of the Lies and FORGIVENESS

 Teaching is a blessing. But it is not always easy, and this past week has proven to be a very difficult one for a number of reasons.

I am still learning about my students, what their likes and dislikes are, what they are good at and where the struggle. It is my job as a teacher to meet the student where he/she is and help them to succeed. I told my students that I want every single one of them to be successful in my classroom and that we will work together as a team to make that happen. Unfortunately this week we were set back with a particular incident.

I brought some things from the US to have in my classroom here. Things for my treasure box, and then also other learning manipulatives and teaching supplies. I have my treasure box put away, but for the learning manipulatives and teaching supplies, I have them in a wall hanging organizer in the classroom. My students know that I brought those from the US and that it is all for me and for them. To help me teach better and to help them learn better. We had this conversation a few times...I wanted to make it very clear.

I have one student whose mother is Ghanaian and his father is from Denmark. They are living here in Kumasi and all 9 or some outrageous number of children attend ICS. Well, last Tuesday, we were finishing Literacy and it was getting close to snack time and the students were moving about, getting their snacks and drinks ready and this boy (I will call him Kwame for the sake of the story) was rustling about his backpack. He pulled out a sticker that said "I did my BEST!" WOW, I looked at it and it looked exactly like the ones that I brought from the US. So, I questioned Kwame and asked him where he got it and he told me that someone was selling it outside of the Preschool. Hmm...that is ironic isn't it??? So, I went over to the wall hanging organizer that has my supplies in it and looked through the stickers and I couldn't find the pack of stickers that said "I did my BEST!" So, l gave good old little Kwame a second chance to come clean. I asked him if he took the stickers from Ms. Johnson's organizer? He said NO, I bought them at the preschool. I asked him how much he bought them for and he hesitated with an answer. He said 30 pesewas. I said ok and let him go have his snack break. I honestly was a little frustrated, but with all the stress of school, I quickly forgot about it...until...Friday.

I was eating lunch with the teachers and some of my girls ran into the room yelling MS. JOHNSON, MS. JOHNSON, MS. JOHNSON!! I had no idea what they were going to tell me. I just looked at them and they began to say that 3 out of our 5 class puzzles are missing!! OH BOY WAS MS. JOHNSON NOT SOOO HAPPY! I didn't finish my lunch, I just got up and walked back to the classroom. Sure enough, more things were missing out of my wall hanging organizer. I started questioning some of the students, they were giving me names of people. I called those 2 people in and everyone else left, I searched their bags they had nothing. I asked them if they knew anything about the missing puzzles...and guess whose name came up in the conversation?? Yep. Sure enough. Kwame.

I told my assistant, Ms. Apam about what was going on and so she started helping me. I called for Kwame and he came into the classroom with me and Ms. Apam. I asked him again about the stickers and he still had the same story, I asked him about the puzzles and he said he had no idea. He was uncomfortable and dying to get out of the room. I asked him over and over again if he was telling me the truth and every time he told me yes Ms. Johnson, I am telling the truth. I couldn't do anything. I had no evidence that he had the puzzles. So, I told him that I was going to leave him in the room with Ms. Apam and he can talk to her and I will leave. About 10 minutes later Kwame walked out of the room and didn't say anything to me. I asked Ms. Apam what had happened and sure enough, he had taken the stickers and the puzzles. He was under strict orders to bring them back to school on Monday. So, I let Kwame be the rest of the day on Friday. When school was over and I was giving my students the 3 H's (hug, handshake or high five) Kwame came to have his, and I asked him what H he wanted, and he told me he didn't want one. And I said, oh, but why, Kwame? He didn't answer. So I just told him to wait in the room and I would be with him in a minute. I finished giving the 3 H's to all the students and went back into my room. I sat and talked with Kwame. I told him that I knew he had my stickers and puzzles. He started crying. It's a tough lesson to learn, and everyone has had to learn it in some form or fashion. It's better to tell the truth than to lie about it. KwameKwame opened his backpack and pulled out about half of the stickers. He said, "Ms. Johnson, I am sorry and I will never do it again. I already used some of the stickers, but these are the ones I have left." I gave him a hug and said thank you, I forgive you, and be sure to bring me the puzzles on Monday. Kwame left with tears in his eyes, but, the important thing was, he knew I still cared about him, forgave him, and he learned his lesson. 

I love Kwame, regardless of the lies that he told me. I'm not perfect, nor is Kwame, nor are you. We all struggle, we all mess up, we all fall short day in and day out. We should not forget to give thanks to the ONE who forgives us and loves us just the same.

"There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love." Bryant H. McGill

God Bless

 

The Village of Hope

I still have 31 students in my class. There is talk about them making another year 3 class. But talk is just talk. I won't believe it until I actually see it...especially here in Ghana. They say it, but it could be months before it ever happens. So, I am making the best of what it is now. 31 sweet seven year olds who LOVE talking! I guess I am getting paid back for all the talking that I did when I was in school. I love my students, some days are difficult, some days are easy, some days they make me proud, some days I get disappointed...but that is what being a teacher is about. At the end of the day, when it's all said and done, they are my students, I love every single one of them and they have all been a blessing to my life.

Now, when I got word that the 10th of September was going to be a holiday, I was more than ecstatic!!!!!! Teachers need a break just as much as the kids do right???

It was a Muslim holiday, and nationally recognized by Ghana. No problem, I will gladly support the Muslim holiday so that we may have a day off of school!! 

So, with our day off, Jordan and I decided that it would be best to go and visit the Village of Hope. For those of you who don't know, the Village of Hope is an orphanage and the main reason that I fell in love with Ghana. The children at the village have BIG pieces of my heart, I have very good friends there and the parents are absolutely wonderful. It was the place that I came in 2007, in 2009, and was eagerly waiting for when I could come in 2010. The Muslim holiday would be a perfect time to go!!

Jordan and I, along with our friend Eric got on a bus at 9am on Friday morning heading for Accra. It was about a 5 hour bus ride. We were stopped for a while because some Muslims in a town that we passed along the way were having quite a celebration in the road! Needless to say, we had to detour and find a way around them. Once we got to Accra, we took 2 more tro-tros and finally one taxi to the Village of Hope. I told one person we were coming and that was all! So when our taxi turned in and started driving down the hill, the kids were doing double takes. Before I knew it, we had about 15 children chasing or taxi down the hill and finally to our stop in front of the guest house. The children pulled Jordan and I out of the car. Very surprised by us! They couldn't believe we were there. Many, many, many, many, many hugs were given and every time I go to the Village, I am reminded of why I love Ghana, and why God put this passion in my heart, and why I love and care about children so much.

Thank you, God, for teaching me every day, I learn more and more what it means to love you and follow you.

Spending the weekend at the Village was awesome, Ruben cooked way too good of food for us, we had our first warm shower, and I got to be with my friends and the children that I love so much.

They are all getting bigger, it is crazy how just one year goes by and they become taller than you, they have lost their teeth, some even have the awkward, too big for your mouth kind of teeth! I love it and I love getting to see them grow and become the young men and women God created them to be.

The weekend went by too fast, but one of the best things that I could say was "I'll be back in a month to visit again!" Isn't that better than waiting a whole year to visit again??? I'm happy that I am so much closer to them and I can go and visit more frequently.

Bismark walked me to the taxi when we were leaving on Sunday after church and asked if he could come to Kumasi with me. I wish I could take him, he is my boy, but I know the village is a good place for him as well as everyone else who lives there.

We got in the taxi, took just one tro-tro and then boarded the bus and came back to Kumasi. It was a rejuvenating weekend, much needed, a blessing in so many ways.

I am thankful to God for giving me a family in Ghana.

Now, it's back to the job, and I can't forget why God brought me here to Kumasi...

I hope you are all doing well. I miss you all so much, think and pray for you often.

Blessings and love to you all from Ghana, Africa