[this IS africa]

SHAKA....teaching the local kids some worthwhile things

Keneshie. a local transport station

One of the schools we will work in

At the Orphanage with Erika and Kobby.

RED light GREEN light

GHANA

a WORTHY struggle

 I always thought....

STRUGGLES are meant to be AVOIDED. 

they mean I have FAILED and done something WRONG. 

and that I might as well GIVE UP and try again.

but where has this definition come from? Father God says to consider it pure joy when I experience struggles of any kind {JAMES 1:2} Why can’t I just share in the joy. in the happy times. I like smiling and laughing....can’t I just have that part Jesus?

To say Africa is not a struggle would be a complete and utter oxymoron. I am pretty sure when you look up the synonym to Africa, struggles would be right next to it. Everything in me wants to write something that brings the warm and comfortable feeling that I long for. BUT in my search for those thoughts I realize that I don’t grow in those. They come and go and then I search for more fuzzy feelings.

I am currently sitting next to one of the first year Pais missionaries. She is writing a lesson plan for Friday, and this thought completely overwhelms her.  I watched, gave ideas, and watched her struggle through this process. She looked up at me from time to time hoping I would just do it for her. I then realized this is how I look at Father. I say, “This is to hard. I can’t do this.” And He sits and waits. Just like her I pace back and forth, let out yells of frustration, and reasons why I should not have to endure such things. Like her I then come back and start to write my lesson. Realizing the struggle was all part of it. That the beauty is not in the ease of the task, rather the understanding behind it. Knowing [full well] that suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us [me] to shame because God’s heart has been poured into our [my] hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us [me]. Romans 5: 3-5

The last seven weeks have come and gone so quickly. I have learned so much, slept so little, taught often, but spoke little. Each day is a new moment to realize why Father has called me here. Not to prove my worth, or show what gifts I can offer. Rather recognize that through the struggle I realize I am nothing without HIM. That the moment I feel like I have lost it all, is the same breath I feel completely and utterly embraced by Him. 

Through the struggle I have learned what it is to LIVE SIMPLY with my Lord.

{without hesitation. free of judgement. with a soul at peace. capturing moments of such pure and utter joy. lacking nothing. where being still is no longer something I need to find time to do. rather it is WHAT I do. feeling full satisfaction not by what I have done, but what HE is doing, and knowing I am LOVED. purely and fully}

The other day I sat with one of our teams that started doing devotions with students before they leave for school.The group has doubled, and we hope and pray that it will continue to. It was so inspiring to worship the Lord with these students. We got to walk with them to school, and pray with them before they entered into their classrooms, but the best was yet to come. As we walked back to the church we were greeted by yet another student. She had left everything she had behind to find us. This sweet girl named Abigael, sought us out because she wanted prayer, and knew we could do that for her. 

So as I struggle each morning to get up at 4:45 am, or realize that my feet will never really be clean or not swollen, that I will sweat more than any human being truly should, get bitten by mosquitos and red ants, and that I will be pushed, shoved, and hit my head each time I enter a “tro tro” (public transport).....I remember that it is worth it. I get to watch people encounter Jesus for the first time, I get to empower young people to rise to the call Father has for them, and everyday I see the joy of the Lord embraced through the struggle.

I have no clue what each day will hold, and am learning to find such peace and joy in that simple fact. I travel a lot and get the opportunity to visit all of our six different teams in Ghana. I help with lesson planning, communicate with churches, mentor, and help spread the vision of what Christ has called us here to do. Just today I visited a school and was amazed by how Father opened so many doors. It started with just helping with Chapel on Wednesday morning, to developing a choir and soccer team, and supporting several different clubs, and meeting up with students during their lunch time. Sometimes I wonder why I am amazed. This is the God we serve. This is what He does we call upon His name, and expect Him to show up. This is pure joy.

Friends and family your prayers have and will continue to work wonders in many lives here. Please continue to bring up the teams, our health, the students we are reaching, and the churches we are partnering with. Thank you for sharing in this journey with me. I love and miss you all very dearly.

Jessica

I have an address now!!! It is a PO BOX of one of the churches that is letting me use it. I can’t wait to receive my first piece of mail.....

PO BOX 16135, KIA-GHANA