Take Me Back

title image from Google Images

Now that I've been back for nearly three weeks, I think it's time to share pictures from my trip to Ghana.  I hope you all enjoy :)

At the school:

A prayerful heart/spirit needs to be instilled into a child's heart at a young age.  I was amazed and touched at how worshipful/prayerful these small children were :) <3

I had the privilege of teaching a couple Bible lessons.  The guy in the red shirt is translating what I had just said :)

... more Bible lessons at the school

... and even more Bible lessons at the school

Worshipping our Lord and Savior before school starts :')<3

Touring Ghana:

I was able to visit Elmina, Ghana.  I took this picture at the Elmina Slave Castle

{I took the picture with my phone camera, hence the poor picture quality}

This is another view of Elmina, Ghana

{again, I took the picture with my phone camera}

This became my all-time favorite place to be.  No I'm not a beach girl here in America, but I am in Ghana :)<3

Meeting the sweet children was my favorite part :)<3

Kwami's auntie, me, and Kwami
Kwami's aunite is now a converted Muslim and is living for her Jesus :)



I absolutely love Cape Coast ... the Cape Coast market became my favorite place too.  This picture is the Cape Coast Kotokuraba market.
{picture from Google Images}

 Card distribution:

The children from Haven of Hope (the Children's Home) loved the cards Olivia Bell made :)

The children from the Orthopedic Training Center loved the cards Olivia Bell and some others gals made :)<3

... more OTC children who loved their cards <3<3


The guy on the left absolutely loved the F.R.O.G card Rhey made <3

Adapting to the culture:

I learned how to carry a child on my back the Ghanaian way

I was brave and tried coconut ... and didn't really care for it.  It's an acquired taste, and super yummy when you are extremely dehydrated lol ;P

... my yummy coconut :P

Laundry was done completely by hand, which means blisters on your hands + fingers, rinsing them at least twice, wringing your wet clothes out, and then hanging them out to dry.

Saturday morning Bible club:

Walking to Bible club

Children from Saturday morning Bible club ...

... the children loved the cards that were sent in as well :)

More Saturday morning Bible club ...

 Peeking during prayer time :')

Ministry:

Papa Jim ministering to a Muslim young man

Papa Jim ministering to an older couple who is currently caring for their four grandchildren.
{the husband and wife both came to the Lord the day this picture was taken :D}

Two of their four grandchildren
{please pray that Jesus gets a hold of their hearts as well}

Handing out snacks to the visitors

Somethings that I wasn't able to get pictures of was me handing out Fante Bibles to some of the locals, giving out flipflops, and witnessing to people on the trotro

Friends I made:

me and my friend Anna

L-R: Kojo, me, Kwami

L-R: Gabriel, me, Percy

**************

To say I enjoyed my trip is an understatement.  To say I want to go back is another understatement.  I thank God that I had the fabulous opportunity, and already can't wait to go back :)

"Say Goodbye" - Mandisa

During my three mile walk two days ago, I came across a song {Say Goodbye} by Mandisa (love her songs) and it made me think ... I love when songs make me think :)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! {2 Corinthians 5:17}

When we are made new in Christ, we need to put what we used to be behind us.  No matter what our past mistakes be, no matter how much we hate what we use to be like.  We need to "say goodbye" to who we once were, and embrace who we are in Him.

Enjoy this song by Mandisa - I hope you are greatly encouraged as much as I am when I listen to it! :)

21st Celebration

As I said yesterday, I am back in the blogging world.  And as my mom said in her post on here, I went to DC.

Miss Linda took decided to take me to the Embassy of Ghana, so I could get my visa for my upcoming mission trip.  She used the visa as a ploy so we could stay with her son and I could have a memorable 21st birthday.  Here are pictures I took along the way (and some that Miss Linda took).  Enjoy ;)

April 4th, 2016:

 Me and Rhey getting ready to head on out to DC with Miss Linda

Road trips are the greatest with aviator sun glasses and Pandora Radio ;)

April 5th, 2016:

 One of the neighborhoods near the Embassy of Ghana.  I fell in love with the beauty of this neighborhood :)

 Me, Rhey, and Miss Linda at the Washington National Cathedral

Me, Miss Linda, and Rhey having lunch

After lunch, we went to the Pentagon City Mall and walked around

I found this cute cup {but I didn't buy it} - and it expressed e.x.a.c.t.l.y how I feel ;)

Lee (Miss Linda's son) took the three of us out to dinner at Mike's Grill.  He left the table, using the excuse of "I don't see something on the menu.  I'll be right back", and told the waitress that it was my birthday.  I was shocked when I saw my birthday dessert - it was heavenly btw ;)

April 6th, 2016:

Since the beginning of this year, I have wanted to get my picture with a cop.  Don't ask me why, but it was something that I had on my 2016 bucket list.  It just so happened that Lee is a cop, so Miss Linda arranged with him for me to get that desired picture :D 

"Let the attitude show ... you're 21 now!  C'mon baby, c'mon ... lean in!"

After the pictures were taken, Lee started clearing out the passenger seat of the police car.  I didn't think anything of it, and then all of a sudden I heard Miss Linda say "get in Ali".  I was so confused lol ... Lee told me "C'mon, let's ride ... get in girl".  I got in and off we were.  Lee had arranged with his boss for me to go on a ride along.  It was his idea - and I had a blast.  We ended up pulling two people over ... I thought it was the neatest experience!  I'd love to go on a full shift ride along sometime (we'll see if that comes about lol).

Connor {Lee's dog} and I became best buds while I was there.

When we got home, my parents surprised me with two things:

~ luggage for my trip

~ a sister road trip to KY to visit friends

I had the most awesome 21st birthday ... it will be one I remember for the rest of my life!

Upcoming Posts:

~ LillaRose Game 2

~ Ready for Adventure Giveaway

A Purpose for Random Questions

Who loves random questions?

I sure do!  If you were to ask my family + friends, they would without a doubt agree with you.  I'm constantly asking random questions ... or discussing random thoughts with myself (to this I get the "Oh Alisha" eyeroll LOL).

What if random questions suddenly had a "purpose"?

Oooooh what a day that would be .... to finally ask (or answer) random questions, and there actually be a "purpose".

Well ... what if I told you that random questions well have a "purpose" in April?????

I would like to announce .....

So here's what you have to do in order to make this video happen ;)

You can either email me
If you email me, please include the following information ...

-Your name
Specify in your email if you'd like to remain anonymous or if you wouldn't mind your name being mentioned with your question.

-Your questions
you are more than welcome to send as many questions as you'd like.  Enter whatever questions enter your mind ;)

You can fill out the submission form
If you fill out the form, you'll be limited to only five questions.  You'll still need to specify whether or not you would like your name mentioned or not.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Submissions for this video end MARCH 31st, 2016
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So there you have it lovelies - who's excited???????

Comment and express your excitement ;)

XOXO

Called to Africa 2016

As I sit here writing this letter, my heart races with excitement and anticipation!!  Why you ask? Allow me to share a bit of history ...

At ten years old, the Lord laid Africa on my heart.  There was nowhere specific, just simply Africa.  But, being so young I simply thought this was God's way of opening my heart to missions, in general.  Therefore, I tried to put it out of my mind.  However, God had other plans!  As much as I tried, I couldn't forget what I had heard that still small voice whispering.  It seemed everywhere I turned Africa would pop up out of nowhere; pastors, missionary stories/articles, friends, movies, music. Everywhere I turned, I was being shown AFRICA.

I knew missions was something God was calling me to, but wasn't sure exactly what it would look like.  Last year, a mission organization called “Mission Nanny's” was placed in my path.  Thinking this was something God wanted me to pursue, I looked into it, excited to see there were positions open in Africa.  However, after much consideration and personal testimonies, I prayerfully decided this is not where God was leading.
    
Now, at the age of almost 21, thinking I had made a wrong turn or heard God wrong or missed an open door or something … God decided it was to time to reveal His perfect plan :)  God has placed in my path a godly couple who are missionaries to Ghana, West Africa, ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to orphans and widows.  God has opened a unique opportunity, through Jim & Caroline Driscoll, (apart of Every Child Ministries), for me to go serve along side them.  After talking with the couple myself, I knew right away that I was supposed to go – now to only convince my parents.  However, God works in mighty ways, He already had verified this call to my parents. When they confirmed what I was already feeling, I was overwhelmed to the point of tears.

My plan is (Lord-willing) to go to Biriwa, Ghana, West Africa for three months; June - August, 2016. My goals I hope to achieve from this trip are:

:: to grow in the knowledge and likeness of my Savior
:: fulfilling God's call in my life
:: sharing with the orphans the transforming power of the one and only True God
:: showing the orphans the unconditional love of a complete stranger
(I will be staying at the orphanage for about two weeks)
:: ministering to the teen girls caught within an immoral generational curse
...and so much more that is still yet to be determined (by Him)!

I truly stand in awe at how my Lord is putting all the little things together, without my help.  From the immutable conviction in purity woven into my heart at the age of nine, a burden on my heart for these immoral generational curses, all the way down to my family giving stateside orphans a home. Without my help, God has put everything together so perfectly and equipping me for even climate and bugs (read Luke 10:19 for the bugs).  God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called and He has called me.  I can't explain the peace/excitement/joy/anticipation I am feeling right now!  Who would have thought the someone He would choose would be ME?

I am very excited to heed this calling in which God has placed in my life, and cannot wait to see what He does.

If you would like to support me financially, you can donate here:
Called to Africa 2016

If you would like to keep up with the trip, you can follow along here:
Hearing the Call

Joys of Farm Life || Farm Girl Chronicles

Photo from Pixabay

#1 Pickups

#2 Fresh eggs

#3 Baby meat chicks

#4 Living in the country

#5 Muckers

#6 Fresh milk

#7 Dairy farm smells

#8 Farming conversations

#9 Butchering

#10 Hunting

#11 Our property

#12 Farming friends

#13 Garden fresh vegetables

#14 Gardening conversations