ghana

Well, it's my third night here. It's hot. My mom calls Alabama "africa hot" in the summer. She has no idea. It's crazy here. I love it, but the running water and electricity are unreliable. So far we have gone to Odomasi Krobo, a little village. It was cool. It's the bead capital. Women collect glass and recycle it into little beads for crafts. It's cool. We got to see the whole process. I bought some agagite beads. Beautiful.
Anyway, tomorrow we finally get to go to Cape Coast to see the place I'll be staying. I'm ready to get there and settle in a bit.

The food is ok. Very starchy. I ate a fish head and fufu today. Fufu is a sticky starchy thing. Not crazy about either.

God is all over Ghana. The people are crazy reliant on Him for everything. So far that's my favorite part. The poverty is startling. It's feel very surreal to see people who have so little yet still smile.

I am like a rock star in the streets. Everyone stares and calls Obruni! White woman!
I hope I can build some friendships with the locals in Cape Coast. I hate being removed from them because of color and language. although they speak english, I still have trouble understanding most of what is said. It's like a cross between a tribal language and British english. Weird.
Anyway, tomorrow's another day. And I must sleep. Hugs and love from Accra, Ghana.

You shake my nerves and you rattle . . .

Black dude riding his bike in the park sang this line at the top of his lungs. I was joyously reveling in the sunshine, the fifty degree weather, and soaking in the vitamin C burst. I couldn't help but sing back--'that kind of love drives a man insane'.

Ahh, Boston! Isn't it nice to feel the sun on your face again? It's been a long time coming.

Three weeks of school left. Four final projects. One capstone course. Seven weeks of internship. One yellow fever shot. One day of skydiving. I'm ticking things off my to-do list these days.

Speaking of lists:
For R:
• buy your cap and gown
• get your commencement tickets
• finalize your website
• do one last Homework manager
• buy me a cup of tea at the 'bucks
• go to aquarium with moms
• rock the finance final
• send an initial email to capstone

Hehe, you didn't think I'd post it, did you?
Goodness, gracious, GREAT BALLS of Fire!

Consumed

This is how it feels to be loved
so much that I cause no offense when I don't call back right away.

This is what is it to know that my relationship
with the God of the universe doesn't suffer just because I
haven't been to church in 6 weeks.

This is how I know that my heart is in the right place
when the sacrifices I make are motivated by my loyalties.

This is how I show my trust when I rest, not fret that I still don't have a job lined up.

This is what it means to be consumed by something bigger than me and my dreams.

Spring has arrived

The snow and ice are melting off of the streets of Boston. Can't say that I will miss it. I think it got up to fifty today. Nice to shed the down coat and simply wear a fleece to class.

Well, I'm on the home stretch. Nine weeks left. Unbelievable to think that I will have my degree in nine more weeks.

I'm getting ready for Ghana-at least in my head. I still have a lot of work to do before I leave in late May. It will all come together nicely, I'm sure.

All is well. Mom is doing well. Mike was here for spring break and we had so much fun seeing Boston. That's all of my news. Nothing much to say these days . . .just enjoying life and trying to finish well.

That's more like it!

Just thinking of moving to Boston used to conjure up all sorts of images of snow drifts, wet streets, and bundling up against the elements. Honestly, there have been many days when I have been seriously disappointed that we have had such a mild winter(and I even prayed for a mild winter). But, the winter up here has been milder than Nashville winters, and somehow that's just not right. UNTIL TODAY>>>>>>A real nor'easter!! And it's beautiful. It's kind of gross, in a fun way, walking around in all of the sloshy grey goo on the sidewalks, but I have to say that I'm loving it. And I'm glad it hasn't been like this ALL winter. As Bono would say "you don't alway get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need!"

:) So, HAPPY Valentines Day to you! Isn't it amazing that the God of all love--loves us? I hope His love surrounds you, fills you from the tops of your hearts to the bottoms of your souls. I pray that you feel NO lonlieness today as you cuddle up in the arms of the father. I pray you know that you are loved by me and by many others. Blessings and hugs to you!
Denise

Stru--gglin!

Omigosh-I have a test tonight that I am totally not ready for!!!! Thanks to the excitement of Payton's big win last night, I managed to effectively procrastinate. Now, I will pay the piper.

Four hours before the test!! PRAY PEOPLE PRAY. :)

True story

He looked me in the eye. "Can I ask you something, Denise? To be honest, I don't really know how to ask you this."
I laughed and told him he could ask me anything. I didn't mind. A thousand things that he might ask me went scurrying through my head. I was there to talk about internships and the future of my career. The conversation had up to this point had been small talk.
"Who are you?" my professor asked.
I didn't know how to answer. His opinion of my faith and all that I have stood for these last few months hinged on my answer. For a brief second, I turned my head to look out the window of his ninth story office in Boston. Then I looked back and met his gaze.
"I'm just a Christian girl trying to do something good with my life," I said.
On many levels, I'll never know if it was the right answer.