America. The home of....

the depressed?

Man, I've got to be honest with you - it's hard coming home. I mean once you see the face of love through the hands and feet of fellow Christians serving each other amidst the simplicity of life everything else just seems to fade.

I went to Target yesterday and not a single person smiled at me. I was just walking through the store and I'd catch people's eye so I returned it with a warm smile. Nothing. If you go anywhere in Ghana and don't receive a smile plus a wave, hug, or hand shake then something isn't right. No matter where we were or what we were doing people were happy.

Before I left, some were confused as to why anyone would even bother to go to Africa. They said things like "That place is hopeless. Why bother?" Well, that's exactly where Jesus would be- with the hopeless. Even so, that is not what I found in Ghana. I saw more passion, love, sacrifice, service, and life than I have anywhere else including America.

Don't misread me here. Our country is an amazing place and God has blessed us more than we are able to understand. The missionary at the Village of Hope talked to us on the last night and said "I don't want you to go home and be ridden with guilt and shame for living in America. What I want you to know, and God wants you to know, that He's blessed you with a purpose. You know what you have because it all came from the Father and with that blessing comes responsibility. Use what you have been given to bless those around you as much as you can."

I sat there in mud huts with people who had nothing but the shirt on their back and say "God is good." I heard children who said "I am so lucky. Both of my parents died but they passed peacefully. I have food. I have water. I have a bed and a place to sleep. I am with people who love me. I am so lucky." From the mouth of an 8 year old. Doesn't that just floor you? Doesn't that make you wonder how much we take things for granted? Doesn't it simply grab your heart with the question of - have we missed what life is supposed to be? What is it really all about?

I walked out into the parking lot of Target and wanted to scream at the top of my lungs "America this isn't working!" We have everything at our finger tips yet so many of us have yet to find true happiness. All of the clothes, big houses - not it. All of the money - not working. All the food, cellphones, and to do lists, - nope. All of the cars, TVs, iWhatevers - not even close. Being obsessed with if we are successful enough, pretty enough, smart enough, rich enough, or simply believing the lie that we aren't enough for anything or anyone. This can't be the way things are supposed to be. There has to be something else.

Ghana showed me something. That thing is Jesus. He IS love. Living, walking, talking, breathing, serving, teaching, dying, resurrecting love. Through love comes true happiness. That is what I saw in Ghana. That is what I see in the hearts and eyes of the children at the Village of Hope - what we all need is the love of God. Regardless of race, gender, or geography the common thing that we hold is the need to be loved by our Creator and His creation.

And that, my dear friends, that is what I learned from Africa.

Well...that's just the beginning...

I say all of that to myself as a challenge to do something with my blessings instead of just "Thanks God that's nice of you". Hopefully it has made you think or at least encouraged you by the work that is being done for God's kingdom in Ghana.

Once again, thanks for stopping by.

Hello America - Land of the Obruni's!

Hey everyone!

We made it back home safe and sound yesterday. I sure hope you have enjoyed the Ghanaian blog we set up while I was away. I have a million things to share but first let's get some house keeping issues out of the way.

1.) Many of you are wondering why the WsygInGhana blog is down well here is why. Some pesky spammer posted a comment/link to inappropriate sites. Essentially when this happens, the friendly folks at Blogger will shut it down until otherwise notified. I am e-mailing them to assure the techies that isn't what we're about and the blog is for the Village of Hope in Ghana...I mean c'mon people. I will have that up and running soon to give you guys some feedback on the end of our trip.

2.) Some of you believed that I had malaria while in Ghana. Well kids I wasn't one of the lucky souls to contract said disease although I do have a bacterial infection. I'm headed to the doctor this afternoon to get some stronger antibiotics but don't fret your little hearts about me because I'll have you know I'm doing quite well.

3.) I'm assuming all of you will want to see pictures of Africa and I trust me I will come find you when I get home, drag you to a coffee shop or well anywhere you will sit down to show you and share my stories....but in the meanwhile I plan to set up a Flickr site so you can feast your eyes on what we saw in Ghana. I will let you know when I get that up and running.

4.) I am leaving for the OCOEE (rafting) trip on Sunday...so I will be out for a few days and will return to Memphis on Wednesday.

5.) I realize that perhaps some of you are ready to drag me back home so I figure I'd put that down in my calendar for you. I plan to leave Memphis either the 6th or 7th of August. Yes plan your party in accordance to that. Oh there will be a party.

That's all I have for announcements, please remember to take your family matters home with you, stack your chairs, and ENJOY!

Haha sorry I just couldn't help but do that. I want to take a quick moment and thank everyone of for their prayers and support while I was in Africa. Thank you to the ones who actually allowed me to go through finacial support or permission *cough cough parents cough* It changed my life forever and I do not say that as a cliche or without complete sincerity. I will never be the same because my heart is in Ghana. I guess I'll need that back eventually...

For the record I am extremely jetlagged hence the post at 7am in the morning which is the time of day I usually never see in America. To me it feels like noon which it is in Ghana.

Well I'm going to go grab some coffee since I'm up. Once again and as always, thanks for stopping by.

ps: Obruni is the Ghanian word for "White Person" yes I just saved you a Google search and for that you owe me a glass of sweet tea. Pay up.

And we're off!

Hey everyone!

Well I'm departing for Ghana, Africa tomorrow around 7pm out of the Memphis airport. It's pretty crazy to think that I'll be on another continent within 36 hours.

I've been sick the past 2 days but thankfully I've pumped myself full of antibiotics and other medications to keep me up 'n running. I should be able to shake it before we arrive in Ghana but some prayer would be appreciated!

I want to be able to be fully functional for the WSYGers and the Ghana kids. It's hard to anticipate such a journey because I know there's nothing else that I can compare it to. Granted I did go to Brasil last summer, but this is a completely different culture and economic background. Even so, the kids at the Village of Hope have already captured my heart and as Courtney has stated "Megan you're going to get Africa in your blood and fall in love with it". I guess we'll see soon enough!

If you were wondering, I have created a separate blog for the trip to Ghana. Everyone on the team will be able to post from there so I'm sure it will be a good thing to keep up with. I will be responsible for the blog so you can expect to hear from me as well - along with photos! Get excited! Just see the link below:

http://www.wsygINghana.blogspot.com

Electricity might be unstable in Ghana but I will do my best to keep you updated. Don't hesitate to shoot an e-mail because we will have easy access to the internet (forreml@auburn.edu). Thank you so much for your support and prayers!

Until we meet again....

God Has Filled Me Up.

Wow. Man I just feel slightly overwhelmed by this post. I don't know how to convey the week God just blessed me with. I know that words will never really be able to capture what I saw, heard and soaked in. I know that you, my friendly reader, can only nod in agreement, laugh, or simply pass through what I type but I will try my best to share what God has done this week.

First off- the camp was filled with people. The total count was 185 when the camp ground capacity was 100. We almost doubled it...shhh don't tell the Ranger or Smokey the Bear for that matter. It took place in the state park of Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee. An absolutely gorgeous display of God's creation in nature complete with lakes, creeks, swimming holes, and water falls.

There were 8 ladies from the church who were cooks, tech people, Rodney (the pulpit minister), both youth ministers George and Courtney, our speaker Duncan Cambell, 2 nurses, 90 campers, older high school kids who were considered counselors or CORP (they served and did the grunt work like moving tables, setting up, etc), FIVE oh let me just say that again....FIVE elders who were there actively engaging with the kids, and the list just goes on and on. All of these people pulled together to make a week and a camp that changed the lives of over 100 young people.

Whew....well I think the best way to go about this is to tell you my "Camp Highlights". Ready...go! Now if you know anything about me, you are aware that nature and I are two unacquainted individuals. I know little about nature nor have I spent much time in it. Unfortunately trees don't have outlets for my laptop. During class, Mrs. Rubio taught the first day and said "I want you to let it rip this week. Jump off that rock. Go down that creek. Soak up His word. Sink into his glory. GO FOR IT!" Well I took that to heart and did exactly as Mrs. Rubio suggested.

I jumped off that rock. I saw teenagers moved by the Spirit of God in BIG ways. I leaped off that bridge. I went under that waterfall. I played ultimate frisbee until my tshirt was soaked with sweat. I read the Word every day and God showed me things I never knew about Himself. I dove into that frigid water. I played four square until I made it to the 4th square. I saw elders and ministers alike hold and laugh and cry with teenagers. I killed that freakishly huge bug that made my campers scream in terror. I laughed, and danced, and raised my hands in worship to the glory of my God. I rode that log across the gorge in the lake. I held hands and cried with my teens after worship just because we knew we needed our Father. I ran through the rain. I climbed over those rocks. I hiked down that cable trail. I took several handfulls of shaving cream in my face. I joined hands with my campers in the creek as we received 4 new sisters and a brother in Christ. I slid down a tarp of chocolate syrup and baby oil. I got muddy and dirty and disgusting and sore and never for one second did I regret it.

I saw God this week. In nature, in laughter, in smiles and most of all in the people. For one of those rare moments I witnessed teenagers decide to pick up their cross and follow. I felt the presence of God because these people, these TEENagers, forgot about themselves and truly LOVED one another.

What moved me the most was the fact that this church has shown me what it looks like to really love people. I mean a honest and pure and true passion for people. I want you to see that more than any picture of a waterfall or me covered in shaving cream.

If this post just isn't enough to wet your palette about my week, don't hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an e-mail. I'd love to hear from you! It's my prayer that God will FILL your heart this week and that you will continue to seek Him.

"Draw close to God and God will draw close to you" -James 4:8