So to wrap up my 3-part novel (for now!), what’s in the works from here? It is my great hope to be apart of a team of people (from our church as well as several others) who will go to Ghana next summer to do what we can to help. While I’m not sure exactly what that will entail yet, running a VBS and expanding one of the orphanages are some good possibilities. If you ask me today, I’ll tell you that I can be ready to leave tomorrow!

Also, some fundraising schemes are in the works. Get excited and get out the checkbook! We’re throwing around a lot of ideas, but one that is quickly approaching: Two months from now, a group of 8 runners (including myself) will embark on a 240 mile fundraising relay, from Dallas to Houston, over the course of 36 hours. Though my math skills are questionable most of the time, the plan is that we will each run about 30 miles total, trading off in legs of 5-6 miles at a time. Crazy? No doubt. Original? Pretty much. Exciting? Oh yeah! So lots more details to come about that once they’re solidified and we have everything mapped out.

I'll call it a night at that, but if you got this far, thanks for reading! Please be in prayer for these children, for their futures, for their hopes and dreams. Please be in prayer about how you and I can help. I can't wait to see how God will use us to further His Kingdom in Ghana, Africa.

So how does this all tie in and involve me… Many of you know I’ve been wanting to go to Africa for quite some time now. Didn’t really care where, was wanted to make that the next location on my list of places to visit. I had planned on going to the Village of Hope this last summer, but decided it wasn’t the best timing due to the job situation. When my friends Chris and Stacey moved up here to Rowlett and started work at Heritage, our church began dreaming and talking about finding an organization to help support, something that we could not just give money to, but be directly involved with. Chris knew of Pam Cope through contacts at ACU and started talking to her about the possibility of helping further/fund the rescue of children off of Lake Volta. One thing led to another, and Chris was able to go on a trip to Ghana this last month. Videos from before and after his trip can be seen here and here.

One of the greatest hopes for this ‘scouting’ trip was to see the lake situation first-hand and figure out where the greatest needs lie. And friends, there is much need. Chris was able to be apart of rescuing 3 children while he was there, but right now there are still over 7,000 children enslaved on Lake Volta. From what I understand, the biggest concern is that there are not enough places to take the children once they are rescued. The Village of Hope is maxed out, and while there are other orphanages in the area, more space is desperately needed.

I’ve been wrestling with a question for the last few months: Why this? What is it about this work that I am so drawn to? (I mean, I know there are hundreds of organizations supporting similar missions, there are thousands of children caught in trafficking all over the world.) I don't know. Maybe it’s just the timing of it all, the way things have fallen into place over the last few months. Maybe it's the images, the look in the eyes of the kids on the lake. Whatever it is, the opportunity is great and is staring me right in the face.

A few weeks ago, I was at a study time discussing the idea that we can be/are answers to each other’s prayers. I’d never thought about that before. There are plenty of people in my life that have been answers to my prayers. That’s easy to see. But I’ve never really considered that I may be an answer for someone else. If I don’t take the opportunity to help those around me, they may still be waiting for their prayer to be answered. Right? So here’s the thing: There are parents and house parents and teachers and leaders in Ghana who are praying for hope and futures for their children. And there are children who are laying down each night next to Lake Volta wondering if their 14 hour days of fishing are all they’ll ever know. What if I am supposed to be an answer to their prayers? What if you are supposed to help answer their prayers? If we ignore the opportunity, their lives continue on without change. But if we’re willing to ask some tough questions, they might know rescue.

Ghana. Where does one begin? It’s hard to know exactly what to say about it all. There’s so much to tell, so much to share; I’m still learning more about it myself! But some exciting things are in the works regarding some very special children in Ghana, and I can’t help but do my best to relay what I know of their lives. I know I will leave a lot of details out, but have included some links to help fill in the gaps for those of you who want to dive in further. So to begin with, a little background…

Ghana is in the ‘armpit’ of Africa, roughly the size of Oregon, and not to be confused with Uganda. There is a lake in Ghana, Lake Volta, that is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Initially created as a source of hydroelectric power for the nation, the lake is now used mostly for fishing. Many parents in Ghana are not able to support their multitude of children, so they sell them to fishermen on the lake for as little as $20. The children are there enslaved, working 14 hour days, every day of the week. They usually receive only one meal a day and can be as young as 6 years old. Many of the fishermen were once child slaves as well. The vicious cycle has continued for quite some time. And although chid trafficking is illegal in Ghana, adequate forces do not exist to enforce the laws, thus rendering them ineffective.

Several years ago, the New York Times ran a special on a little boy named Mark, one of the children enslaved on the lake. This article was read by a lady named Pam Cope (whose brother-in-law teaches at ACU). She was moved to help, and within a few months, Mark and 6 other children were rescued from the lake and taken to the Village of Hope outside of Accra. The basic idea behind the rescues is to either teach the fisherman an alternate trade or give them new fishing equipment in exchange for the children; buying the children would obviously only contribute to the issue. Relationships are being established with the fisherman in hopes of getting the children back. In the midst of all of this, Pam has started her own non-profit, the Touch A Life Foundation, based here in Coppell. Through her organization, work is being done to help children in Vietnam, Cambodia, and specifically Ghana.

Visit the TAL site and watch the videos on the page about Ghana. These show much more clearly the nature of the children on the lake, the hopelessness they face each day, and what is being done to give them life again. And that’s where we can help!

So tonight I am home sick and missing our Girl's Night. Darn. But there's just not enough energy left in me to make it too far off the couch. This is what happens when I try to take on the world day after day. My body revolts. Lucky for you, I'm taking this opportunity to catch up a bit in a little 3-part miniseries. This one's been a long time coming. Grab the popcorn and a blanket and settle in...

So it just occurred to me that only my posting times are showing up without the date of the post. That's confusing. But I have to edit my template in html, so if anyone knows exactly what area the time/date is located in, let me know. That would save me hunting for lengthy time periods and messing things up.

More later.

Anyone want to fly to South Carolina next weekend for a concert? O.A.R. and Matt Nathanson. Yes please.

While there is a longer version to the story, here's the short of it: We're moving next month... but just down the street. We're headed to The Hill, a few complexes over from ours, still in the Village. Why for, you ask? A LOT cheaper and a move-in deal that we just couldn't pass up. We were planning to stay put, but on a whim, Amber and I went to the leasing office on Saturday to see what was available in the area. There was only one 3-bedroom in the entire Village, and it was such a good deal that I put a deposit down right there on the spot. Cause I do crazy things like that...

Downside? For one, terrible timing. We have to be out by the end of September and all have quite a lot going on in the next few months. And two, we lose the garage and all of our storage space. While the garage isn't that big of a deal (aside from our designated camping closet), there is virtually no storage space in the new place. BUT, I'm secretly pretty excited about that, and trying to convince Amber and Rachel to be as well. I'm always looking for ways to live simpler, to get rid of stuff that is not needed. What a perfect opportunity! Hehe.

So check out our new space. I'll be in the room with the long skinny closet. The layout is sorta strange, but it's growing on me. There is a balcony area outside the dining area that faces a shaded courtyard space (hammock area). There's also a second exterior entrance to one of the back bedrooms, but we're not telling anyone about that. I'm not sure why the fireplace is adjacent to the kitchen in the middle of nowhere, but as long as the bookcase fits, I'm sure it'll be more than sufficient. Time to start master organizing!

By Your Side, Tenth Avenue North

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

So camp. Of the hill variety. While I would like to say that I took hundreds of pictures of cute campers and equally documented the work that our crew from Heritage did, reality is, I didn't even take my camera out of the bag. Just wasn't feeling it. SO, picture a lake with no water, 94 campers, 50+ volunteers, rocks, paperwork, a 2-hour Talent Show, tater-tot cassarole, lots of laughter, and a bit of chaos... and you get the idea.

It's always hard to go back to a place that you've left, yet still love so much. It's hard to see the ways its changed and evolved, even in a few short years. One of those things that can never be the same as when you left it, and at times, that can foster disappointment.

I'm learning to dream big for a place that still holds a little magic to me. I know the potential that COTH holds, having seen and experienced it being played out for several summers. So my prayer is that God will give the right people the right passion to allow such a special ministry to reach its full potential. That for many years to come, it will continue to be a place of refuge, love, and belonging for hundreds of children every summer.

We had a great week. It was so good to get away for an entire 6 days and have time to relax away from Dallas. Chris and Matt were SUPER patient with my slow-going on our morning runs, a time that I equally dreaded and looked forward to! Stacey and I helped Granny Field in the office; I was certainly blessed to get to spend time with them both. Some highlights of the week included getting to see some familiar campers and staff, a few rounds of Homerun Derby (though I was terrible!), cleaning out the Rewards Store, getting to know some of the Heritage boys better, great conversation, a kayaking adventure... er... swim, sitting on the front porch, and spending time at some special benches.

Well, pardon the posting hiatus as of late. In typical Nickson fashion, the last few weeks have been a little crazy. I'm currently spending the remainder of the Sunday afternoon working on wedding invitations... that have to be finished in a few weeks. Yikes! So I've shoved everything else into the backseat for the next few hours in an attempt to get something accomplished. BUT, check back this week for updates on the following... our visit to COTH, rescuing children in slavery in Ghana, and moving!

Current playlist:
Killing Me: Graham Colton Band
Brighter than Sunshine: Aqualung
I Wish the Best For You: Emerson Hart
Best Days: Graham Colton
Careful: Guster
Lift You Down: The Turning
By Your Side: Tenth Avenue North
Revelation Song: Kari Jobe
Crashin': Jack's Mannequin
Breathe In Breathe Out: Mat Kearney
Leave Out All the Rest: Linkin Park