Meet Abigail

Hello to all of you! I wanted to introduce you to my new puppy, Abby! (Obviously short for Abigail. She is gorgous and so sweet. She's almost 4 months old. The guy said that both her parents are yellow labs, but I have my doubts. She "points" like a bird dog, has a coat like a lab, and looks like a Weimaraner in the face. I actually don't care what she is 'cause I love her and she's MINE! I got her from a shelter that was outside of Pet's Mart in Paducah. Renee called me and told me that there was all types of puppies in front of the store, so my mom and I went to check it out. One hour later - we were headed home with my little Abby. She had to stay at my parent house for a few weeks until I could move into my new apartment. We are now in our new apartment and doing fantastic! She's getting used to being in a new place, and I'm loving the company! I thought you all would enjoy some pictures of her!

Preaching...

I decided to blog about something disturbing I overheard at Bible Study tonight. Now, normally I'm not even in Searcy during the summer very much, so Bible Study on Wednesday during the summer is usually just where ever I am that week. Anyway, so I'm sitting there tonight waiting for class to get started, and I hear this conversation between two women. I'm not sure what all was said except what caught my ear. Here's what I heard, "See, I don't understand why we even need preaching. Why can't we just come and praise God through our singing, praying, and have some testimonies." The lady she was talking to obviously didn't agree with her because all she was doing is saying "uh huh" and having this uneasy look on her face. You also have to understand I don't know either of these women. The church has about 1200 members, and I know about 10 people. Please keep that in mind.

So, now here is why I decided to blog about what I heard. Obviously being a "preacher's kid" my view on preaching is slightly different. It's kinda like having a dad who is a doctor and when to school specifically to help people get better, and then listening to all his patients, who went to school to be a flight attendant, constantly complaining about the treatments he prescribes. In a nut shell...it's irritating. Not just because of my dad and the tendency I have to be bias for the need of preaching, but because I was raised to understand my faith in God not just as a emotional high every Sunday but as an intellectual reasoning that is not based on my emotions alone but through study of the scriptures and respect for the purpose for being a Christian. Not to just get a great feeling when I leave worship, although that's not necessarily bad, but a feeling of growth spiriually in knowing more about what I believe and why I believe it. What better way to learn about how to be a better Christian than from a man whose whole job in life is to study the scriptures. I think our culture bleeds into so much of our persepective of this idea of "experiencing God" because it is easier and more comfortable and would be content to do away with any thing that requires them to think deeper than what they feel or sit longer than it takes to hear an entertaining story. I think the key is balancing the importance of an "intellectual understanding" of God and just "experiencing God". I'm gonna go out on a limb and call it...FAITH!

What do you think?

...AND WE'RE BACK!!!!

Now don't everyone have a heartattack! I know, I know...it's been like....a year or something like that. Maybe a little more than a year. But, let's not focus on the negatives - right?


Ok - so I figured I would come back with an update and pictures of my recent vacation to Canada. I think a blog about my visit to another country would be appropriate return.

Lets start with what I did when I got back from Togo. I actually went on a fishing trip with my dad and some family friends of ours last year in the middle of July. It was great to just spend time with familiar people. After I got back and went and visited my sister and my brother as well as making frequent trips to Searcy for job interviews. Long story short, I got a job at Augusta Elementary School teaching 7th/8th grade Reading and GT. Which, turned out to be wonderful and a huge challange all wrapped up. I did however end up teaching with one of my really good friends from college and grad. school. Ironically we didn't even know we had both gotten a job at Augusta until after we were hired. Amazing how God provides for you!!! Anyway, I am returning to Augusta as a 3rd grade teacher in the fall and can't wait to meet that new challange! They say that if you surive your first year and you don't want to quit - then you are suposed to be a teacher. Well, I'm sill breathing and am willing to try it again so - I guess I'm suposed to teach.

So - that kinda roughly gets us to my present situation. Currently, it's summer time and for teachers - it's our favorite time of year. It means you get paid for all the work you did that you felt was "over the top" and left you consistantly saying "I don't get paid enought to do this" during the school year. Seeing as this is the first summer - it's looking good so far. Anyway, this summer I have been keeping Wendy's baby, Ava, while she teaches and does some consulting for the area co-ops. She is so sweet and for your viewing pleasure, I have put a picture on here.

The most recent trip I took (as stated earlier) I went back to Canada on a fishing trip with my dad, my brother, and two other guys that are extremely close to being family! We had a great and very eventful trip! Bascially we go back in the middle of no where in Northern Ontario and camp for about 6 days. All we do is fish and enjoy great quailty time together. It's a wonderful experience that makes youu so greatful for what you have and also for what God has created! It shows his power and creativity in so many ways. It's also a great escape from life for about a week and a great time of fellowship. I put some pictures on here. Hope you enjoy them!

Coming home

Tomorrow I will be back in the United States. I am really excited. Slightly nervous and very anxious but definitely excited! We arrived back in Accra on Monday night. Saturday was the last day of school and then we had a promotion for the kids on Sunday night. It was so much fun to hear the kids read what they had prepared for the promotion. Isaac and Hannah both read from their writer's notebooks. I was so proud! I stayed at the Emerson's house Sunday night. Brett and I left Kara at 6am on Monday morning and got down to Accra in pretty good time - especially seeing as we stopped in Kpalime at the Blind Center to look at their wood shop. On Tuesday we went back to the Artisan Market and I got a few more things I needed to get. The picture you see is of the men who made a braclet for me:) The Miller's arrived Tuesday night. It is so good to see them again and spend some time with them actually IN Africa. I spent some time with them in Searcy before I left but seeing them here makes things feel so complete. Tonight is my last night in Africa. I leave for the airport at 6:00am tomorrow morning. That should give me plently of time to get my stuff takenc are of and send a few e-mails before I board my plane. Please pray that everything goes smoothly with my flight here in Accra and also on my flight out of JFK. :) I can't wait to see everyone!!! See you on the other side of the ocean!

Ghana Artisan Market

Today Brett, April, Caden, and I went to the Artisan Market in Accra. I had so much fun! Basically, it a huge market area (like the other markets) only it's for the "arts". There was so much stuff there I didn't know where to begin. We arrived there at about 11:00am and only spent 1 hour. The time absolutely flew by. I got so much stuff for such a cheap price. I got a lot of presents for people (still many more to get). Since they speak English, I bartered with them over so many things. It was a blast talking with them. It's so great because you can be sooooo overdramatic and it's ok and exactly what you are suposed to do. You just have to remember that your starting offer is 1/2 of what they want you to pay. Then you go from there. You approach something with a price in mind and you talk with them until one of you gives in. The idea is for them to give in to you but sometimes that doesn't quite work. They all speak a "broken" English. Everything is simplified and articulated. I get in the rut of talking that way and sometimes I forget that I can talk "normal". I had a blast. Togo works the same way only it's all in French which, if you've heard me speak French, it doesn't go well. Anyway, I will be going back there before I come home and getting the rest of my gifts. The picture is of me trying to "talk" about a price for the things I want to buy.

Togo - the dog

Ok - well, sad news. While in Accra, we went by Delta to check on things for bringing Togo back to the states with me. Turns out, there is a embargo on pets entering the U.S. from May 15-Sept. 5th. Which means, Togo can't come with me. They say it is for heat and the "safety of you pets". I'm not sure what that is suposed to mean - do they know he LIVES in more heat then they can ever imagine. Anyway, we exhusted all the options including trying to ship him. No luck. It would have been over $1000 to ship him. I love him but I cannot see spending that much money for a dog. Anyway, the Emerson's have agreed to keep him at their house. I am going to try to talk some gulable couple that comes to visit into bringing him back with them later in the year. I will just pray that it will be possible at some point. I'm sure he will be so happy with the Emerson's though. He loves Caden, and they will get along great. I will miss him but he will be in good hands!

Fun in the Sun

We just returned from the West African Missionary Retreat at Coconut Grove. Well, we will actually return to Kara on Sunday. Right now, we are staying at the Baptist Guesthouse in Accra. It's a real treat because we have wireless internet there. Needless to say, I am online ALL THE TIME!!! Sokay, it makes up for all the time I haven't been able to get on because of the ridiculous price of our internet in Kara. Anyway, the retreat was amazing. It was such an encouragment to all of us and a great time of fellowship. It's been a while since I've seen that many white people in the same area so that came as a shock. hehehe. We stayed at a resort right on the beach and it was so beautiful. We also took a tour of an old slave castle and walked through a rain forest. At the rain forest we took a "canopy walk" where we walked on these extremely small, wood planks held up by ropes above the canopy of the rain forest (I included a picture of Isaac on one of the bridges). I also had the great pleasure of meeting the Rider family from the Arlington Church of Christ. For those of you who do not know, the Arlington Church supported my parents when they were in Liberia. Turns out the Riders have heard of my parents because Danny grew up at Arlington. After telling my parents about meeting them, my dad said he had heard of Danny Rider and knew him when he was a small boy. I know that God provided that opportunity for us to meet and have the blessing of sharing our stories and memories. It was amazing to see them all the way over here in West Africa.
We will be in Accra until Sunday morning and then we will make the long drive back to Kara. I will be in Kara for 1 week and then I will head back down to Accra to catch my plane on the 24th. I will arrive in Nasvhille the evening of the 24th (because of the time change) and head STRAIGHT back home. I cannot wait to see all of you again. The next time I post, I will be back in Accra and just days away from coming home. Please pray for my trip and for a smooth transition for Togo (the dog) and me.