I was paying bills this morning, writing the date, 8-30-10, several times and realized that we've been back from Ghana one month today. Sorta hard to believe. Part of me feels like I was just there, while the other part feels like it was so long ago. I wonder if I've used my time wisely since we've been back, if I've been investing in the things that matter, if I've been seeking to help my Ghanaian friends in a way that will make a difference. And I miss Africa like crazy and can't wait to get back there.
I was looking through a blog the other day, one of a complete stranger. There was an entry on some NGO work in South Africa, and I was scrolling through, curious to read about it. I honestly don't remember what all it was about, but I did notice this comment at the bottom that someone had added in response:
"These stories and pictures are so moving. I am amazed how cruel human beings have become... Oh well."
I went from appalled to angry in about .5 seconds. OH WELL? OH WELL? Darn, that's sure rough, but oh well? How could someone say that if they truly were moved? But then again, I could list many times where I've thought the same thing. 'Oh well, I can't do anything about it'. So today, I continue to be reminded that there are precious children across the world who need us to be people who will not merely say "oh well" but who will be moved to action.
This is a Franciscan Benediction that I found and that has become my prayer since returning from Ghana:
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
May God bless you, likewise.
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Check back on Wednesday for some exciting news!
Archive for August 2010
Well, in accordance with the continuing madness that is this week, I'm headed to BCS after lunch. Hanging out with some friends for the evening and then on to Houston on Saturday morning for our next Mercy Project fundraiser. One of our gracious supporters is hosting a bowling extravaganza at Palace Lanes, and we are excited for another chance to raise awareness and funds for some sweet kids in Ghana. Looking forward to seeing some people from out of town and getting away for a bit myself.
If you need some food for thought over the next few days, check out Donald Miller's post on farming. (Have I mentioned he's a brilliant writer?) Many of the ideas presented here have come to mind over the last couple of weeks. Soak it up.
Last weekend Amber and I went to see a really cool art show at the Galleria. It's a competition put on by Red Bull called the "Art of Can". Anyone can enter a piece of art in any form or media. The only stipulation is that it has to incorporate the Red Bull brand in some way. All the entries were really good, though we never figured out if the showcased pieces were the ones that were selected or if there were other winners within the selected pieces. Who knows, but it was fun to walk through and look at everything. Inspired me to be a little more creative for sure. Here are a few of the pieces, although I can't give you a great sense of scale...
This was the first piece we saw. Stretching about 6-7 feet tall, it's made of 600 migrating origami birds – made from Red Bull cans of course. They had a video showing the 47-day creation process. Dedication.
This was my favorite piece. Mixed media collage using Red Bull cans and boxes. Hard to show the dimensionality here, but very tactile with great texture and color use. Brilliant!
And the plane... This work was hung up above the rest and is indeed a full size replica of a Kirby, with a 20 foot wingspan. A 19-year-old student from Iowa created the plane from 9,000 cans of Red Bull – and drove it 18 hours on a flatbed trailer to get it here. Impressive.
This artist based her art on the 'contents' of the Red Bull can. The picture won't do it justice, but the cans are held up by (I'm guessing) that liquid foam that solidifies upon drying. The foam is painted more and more the further down you draw your eye, splashing the logo with color. In a picture frame. Great concept.
And finally, the 'Robot Red Bull Dog Meets Fire Hydrant'. Created by a chef and artist from Florida, this piece was sculpted in a mold and then built out. Too fun.
And to think I've never even had a Red Bull before...
It's that time of year... Target aisles are crammed with excited children, parents, and too many shopping carts (no doubt a huge safety hazard), perusing the current school supply lists, matching listed item to product in hopes of being prepared and ready for action. I find myself among the crowd, desperately scanning the listings for the one that reads 'Suggested 21st Grade Supply List 2010-2011', in fine print 'for those who still love the smell of new erasers and freshly sharpened pencils; you, too, can participate'. I never found that list, but I may or may not have purchased a new 24-CT box of crayons from the fourth grade list, 1 red pen for the average sixth grader, and various colors of pocket folders for the 11th grader. I mean, really, what 11th grader cares about pocket folders? (Well, I did, but that's another story for another day.) Moving on...
The beginning of school reminds me of the beginning of a new calendar year. Everyone gets a fresh start, teachers and students alike. The summer days of pool time, sleeping in late, and reading casual books are over (though the summer temperatures are not), and it's time to focus on engaging young minds and learning. While I am indeed guilty of scouring the school aisle for bargains on 12" rulers, I will personally not be joining in on a new school year. (Thankfully, those days are long gone. Insert 'first day of school' picture here. Lucky for us all, I don't currently have one in my possession.)
However, I'm mindful of teaching friends who are taking on new classes, some for the first time, as well as the many children who are embarking on a new year. Make it a good one. Touch the lives of the children no one else believes are reachable; befriend the nerd who drops his books in front of the cool crowd.
Remember the many children who are not able to sit in their own desk in a classroom with smiling teachers. I think of the kids we met on the lake who have never seen notebook paper and markers, who only dream about a safe place to learn and grow and develop skills, free from their current 14-hour work days. Say a prayer for these kids today, that one day they would have the chance to go to school and laugh and play like other children.
This fresh start, this beginning, is something I could use a little dose of. It's been hard to jump back into life after our Ghana trip. I've had this overwhelming fear lately that the more I seep back into life here, the more I'm going to forget the feelings and moments from our trip. I fear that happening because I know I'm human and live in a society that values wealth and success and self. But as I look back through pictures and videos of the Ghana kids, I'm reminded that the moments that touch our souls so completely can never be forgotten. So I think it's time for me to dive in here in hopes that I'll be able to invest more in the work in Ghana when the time comes.
And don't you worry, if you missed your chance at pocket folders, the first week after school starts is always just as intense as the week leading up to the first day. There is always Little Joey who forgot his Fiskers Scissors for 2nd grade and Little Susie who just has to have the colored binder folder (the one with the little kitty on the front) to match her friends. So go ahead and pick up a few glue sticks and a 1" binder while your out. But please, oh please, leave that shopping cart at the end of the aisle...
Last but not least, here is my meager attempt at a slideshow of the trip. Many of the pictures you've seen on here already, but the audio at the beginning, the Lord's Prayer, and God is So Good (with video clip) are all from the kids at the Village of Life.
As I sit here this morning, I'm wondering what else to relate about our trip. I feel like there's so much, yet that the highlights have been hit already and perhaps you've had more than your fill! That said, I'll share a few last images from the week. More photos, less words!
This shot is courtesy of Joanne, who captured all the 'little details' of the journey. This is Rachel, me, Levi, Allison and Joanne out on the lake.
Two of my friends in art class...
Group shot with our painted shirts, courtesy of Stacey who is also writing of our excursion here. She's chronicling time much better than I have.
Can't leave this one out. Definite highlight. A new boy (green and yellow shirt in the middle) arrived just as we were leaving, so here the children are welcoming a new brother to the Village.
One of my favorite parts of each day... We joined hands each night (this shot is right before we left) to sing and pray over the kids, to say the Lord's Prayer and sing God is So Good. There's audio on the slideshow to come, but those moments were simply priceless.
And finally, the mischievous child with the killer smile.
Final Ghana post tomorrow... ish... check back...
As I mentioned in a previous post, Allison, Chris, Stacey and I reflected on our trip last Sunday at Heritage, on what it meant for us to be people of justice and mercy in Ghana. Stacey did a wonderful job of conveying thoughts from the lake, because while we experienced many touching moments throughout the week, there is, once again, something so powerful about looking into the eyes of a trafficked child. It's a look that proves the desperate need for us to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
My heart has been captured by these beautiful African children, both free and still enslaved. And maybe Ghana doesn't capture your heart, but maybe Thailand or Nicaragua or California or the family next door does. Wherever it may be, I think we have a very serious role to play as God rescues and redeems His people, and I am certainly excited to see how that role plays out in my life. I want to be the kind of person who seeks justice and mercy for others.
I want this child, and every other child, to know the God who rescues.
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A few last pictures and slideshow to come, rounding out the week-o-Ghana saga. Thanks for stopping by!
In October last year, Chris preached a great sermon on compassion. I'm certainly not going to relay his whole message (You can find it here, entitled 'Overflowing with Compassion'.), but he shared a Greek word with our congregation that continues coming to mind in reflection of our experiences on the lake.
The word is spagkhnozomai, pronounced 'spuk-needs-o-my' in my sketchy phonetic attempt. I'm sure that's way off, but just go with it for now; I'll learn Greek another day. This Greek word for compassion is incredibly strong; it conveys a very gut-wrenching emotional feeling. There's 'compassion' on one level and then there's 'spagkhnozomai' that moves one to the very depths of his being. It's used for the compassion of the father in the story of the Prodigal Son, of the Samaritan who aided the victim on the road, the reaction of Jesus towards the widow whose son had died. It's the kind of compassion that runs so deep that it must evoke action.
So I had learned about this word and read the stories in which Jesus had such compassion on people. And I had been challenged to think how our world might change if we were to show that kind of compassion to our neighbors. But it wasn't until we came back from the lake that I felt like I really understood it. I think in seeing these children, I felt a hint of spagkhnozomai in myself. That gut-wrenching, 'move you to your bowels' feeling came to life for me as I looked into the eyes of the children next to me.
Again, images will never fully convey, but here are a few of the children that we encountered on Lake Volta. As we came alongside the boats, we handed out candy and blankets to those that would accept them. We were out for about 2.5 hours and saw approximately 10 trafficked children. 
Multiply that 700 times...
So I got off my one-a-day Ghana posts for the sake of working on a slideshow that I'll post later. It was a 'quick' project that evolved into a bit more because I have this perfectionism syndrome, and because I also became addicted to iMovie. However, I promise to more than make up for it as my next posts are lengthy. If you'd like to skip to photos, move on, and I promise I'll never know the difference! Without further ado... Lake Volta...
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If you've read any of my posts before our Africa excursion, or if you've had more than a 5 minute conversation with me anytime recently, chances are pretty good that you've heard about the kids on Lake Volta. From a wild crazy relay to t-shirt making to one extensive game of kickball and art project preparation... I've been blessed this past year to learn so much about the plight of the children enslaved in Ghana, to see pictures and videos, to hear of their rescues, to be involved in trying to help through Mercy Project. My mind was well wrapped around the factual injustice of the situation as we left for Ghana, but it wasn't until I witnessed it all for myself that my heart became completely and unequivocally invested.
Of course, I could tell you to look at a map and point out various locations, but I could never explain the vastness of the lake, the expanse of water and boats in every direction.
I could describe the nets, the ragged and bare clothing of the children, the signs of malnutrition and poor treatment, but I could never explain the feeling of reaching out to touch a child-slave in the boat next to me.
And I could show you images (which I will!) that may evoke some emotion, but I could never really explain the hurt in my chest as each boat rowed away, the children continuing to work... the children still working now, as I sit in my home in the 'land of plenty'. I won't try to explain those things, for I would surely fail. And to be honest, there is so much of it that I still wrestle with today and probably will for some time to come.
But I can't leave this portion of the journey out, for as much fun as I had with the Village of Life children, as much as they deeply touched us all with their smiles and singing and joy, I was most anxious to get in that boat on Lake Volta. I know every member of our team would tell you that they cannot return from our morning on the lake and continue living as if the things they saw in the eyes of those kids didn't rock them to the very core of their being. While that plays out differently for each of us, I can say that for me, there is no ignoring the reality that there are 7,000 7-16 year olds bailing water out of a boat right now. I knew all about it going into this journey, but now I've SEEN it playing out right in front of me. I cannot dismiss that experience with an empathetic look and remark of 'wow, that's really sad'.
So I share this, in part, so that there will be others to keep me accountable to the things I witnessed. Because what kind of person would I be to have seen those children with my very own eyes and simply walk away after putting their picture in a photo album? How could I ever claim to be a Jesus-follower and not do something to help? Help me remember, long after the words and images have been recorded.
Today you're getting less of my dialogue and more pictures. Cheer! Our camp and VBS time was so wonderful, full of smiles and laughter (especially when we couldn't communicate!). We had three rotations for the kids each day: art, school, and sports. Each afternoon, they got to choose their favorite one to go back to. Then we had our VBS time at night: lots of singing, a short Bible lesson from Chris, a coloring page, and a craft. The kids just loved it all, from the youngest to the oldest at 19. Here's a glimpse:
Jacob, ready to go for the day...
Humfry showing off his "All About Me" book. Stacey made these with the kids in school one day, and they were a hit!
Out in the sports area, Levi decided "Following the Leader" was a perfect way to transition to a new rotation group. He was right!
Welcome to art time! (Apologies to the school and sports crews; I didn't have as many pictures of those areas.) All the crafts went so well and were so much fun. It's funny to think back and how much I debated which projects would work the best, which ones the kids would enjoy most. Note to self: Anything brightly colored that they can keep for their own is sufficient! The first day we made construction paper shape pictures. Here's my friend Gameli, proud of his work.
Lots of drawing and painting...
This is Ebenezer with his boat picture. (The Band Aid under his eye is from the futbol match the previous day. Proof of the intensity!) He spent a good 45 minutes on this one painting along. He drew every detail and part of the boat with a green Sharpie and then came back and painted each area in a different color, adding the water in last. He also was one of the only kids to come up with his own shirt design. He painted a cobra on the front with the handprint tree on the back. Future artist, no doubt.
This shot is a bit on the blurry side, but here is Jacob and Daniel, two of the oldest boys showing their VBS crafts from the night. This particular evening was on Daniel and the Lion's Den so the kids made lion faces.
We taught the kids several new songs like "Awesome God", "This Little Light of Mine", and the "Jesus Loves Me Rap". "Wise Man" was attempted, but that one was a bit complicated for the language barrier! Here is a shot of Chris and Apenyo leading "My God is So Big". Apenyo was one of the boys Chris helped rescue last year; it was really neat to see him so happy and well adjusted. God has certainly rescued this child. 
And who could forget the coloring books? We had over 300 books with map pencils donated to take over to Ghana – thank you! The kids just loved to sit and color and look at the pictures in each book. It was difficult to take the pencils up each night so that we could sharpen them for the next day! 
There is indeed nothing my God cannot do! (clap, clap...)
Sunday afternoon was our first full day at the Village of Life, and I have to say, it was probably my favorite day of the trip. It was certainly one of unplanned madness, but ended up being so much fun. It was a day in which I went to sleep that night knowing that I had completely poured myself out every moment of the day. Here's a shot of the grounds, just to give you an idea. Bryan's House (boys) and Jantsen's House (girls) are the blue buildings up on the left. From the backside of the houses you can see Lake Volta in the distance. Then there are a few sun huts for cooking/shade areas. And then down on the right is the new schoolhouse with 3 classrooms.
We were blessed to participate in a worship service that morning with all the kids, house parents, and George's family. Let me tell ya, these people know how to worship. I've never participated in a service that was so unabashedly pure. We crammed in one of the school rooms and raised our voices until I was certain the roof was gonna pop off. And then we sang some more. I guess when you've lived in the lowest of lows, as these children have, you have so much joy and excitement that you can't help but praise God with every ounce of your being. And so they did.
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After lunch we painted t-shirts with the kids. This was one of the art projects that I was a bit skeptical about, but it went so well. Our crew really jumped right in helping the kids and trying to keep paint on shirts, not people. The idea was to use handprints as a tree trunk and then thumbprints for the leaves of the tree. They were all so unique and colorful. And many of the kids wore their shirts for the rest of the week. Here are a few shots of the painting:
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...and we just thought the World Cup was over! After church, George had announced that there would be a Ghana vs. USA futbol match at 4:30 and he was coaching. I was thinking a short game of pick-up, sub people in and out, just kick the ball around. Oh, no! They had jerseys! And quasi-referees (just like the World Cup!)! Anyway, here's the Ghanaian team, ready to go, though not the best picture. They didn't have time for such nonsense as picture-taking; they were ready to play. 
USA! USA! USA! Here is our team, Coach George, and a small barefoot child dribbling the ball right around me.
In conclusion, we did manage to win 3-2 in overtime (that's right!) after a slide-tackle play by Pastor Chris. We also had the help of our Ghanaian goalie, Gameli. But don't think we didn't get 'schooled' overall. Team USA was not used to a playing field of rocks, tall grass and small ravines. Or the 2 hour game time! It would be so cool to get to take these kids to a REAL full-sized field one day...
