Time to load up! We climb into the van and start bumping and sliding down the extremely muddy road to the beach. Waving palm trees, bobbing fishing boats, and crashing seawater greets us. I stand with my teammates to form a rectangle shape in the water, and soon, kids run into the waves within the rectangle, laughing and shreaking with excitement. When I feel so cold that my lips turn blue, the whistle blows and I am releived to walk back to shore.

Once we have returned to camp and eaten dinner, we gather in the chapel. Each person holds a candle as we sing songs of adoration to the Lord. After receiving encouragement from the Word, we sadly blow out the candles. 

But, the evening is far from over! Outside, a bonfire is awaiting us. As we gather around the fire, flames leap high into the air and sparks fill the night sky. This is the night campers and leaders have been waiting for! In a matter of minutes, the African drumming and the brass band begin to play, and the dancing commences. The entire field moves to the rythm of the music, and joy covers the dancers. Then, when it seems like nothing could be better, fireworks burst over our heads! The celebration continues late into the night. When the musicians can play no longer, we slowly make our way to bed, tired, with full hearts. And I am reminded of the beauty of culture and the simple gifts from God.

Madam, madam! A 7-year-old with the brightest smile looks up at me and shows me her coloring page, proud of her work. Apparently I am “Madam” here in Ghana, and though it is a new title, it is one I am happy to adopt.

I just finished a week of camp, leading a group of 16 sweet, sometimes sassy, or overly sleepy, 7-year-old girls. We prayed, played, praised, and performed, and we learned more about God and his love. It was a delight to get to know each one of them. 

As a camp we had approximately 600 campers, who come from a community that is not easy to thrive in. We visited the community before the kids came to camp. I carefully picked my way on the trails through the community, trying to stay clear of filth, smelled less than lovely odors, and caught glimpses of cramped and dirty quarters. But, I wouldn’t be able to tell that the kids who arrived at camp lived in a community much different than any other. They wore winning smiles, they laughed, they shared many hugs, they learned and recited Bible verses, and danced like nothing else! I am reminded that humanity is capable of being fiercely resilient and determined, and we all can learn strengths from each other, no matter what our homes and education are like. It all comes down to looking at the heart.

Enjoy the photos, and come back for more!

I just finished a summer of teaching PreK, and it was a crazy ride! Little kids say the funniest things, and when they are at school for the first time, there is no telling what they might try. It was the most chaotic job I’ve ever tried. However, I learned a lot through it. While you might think I learned about 3 and 4 year old academic needs, I actually learned the most about meeting physical needs. If you have PreK students or think you might in the future, this is for you! 

Number one, bathroom breaks are essential! If you dont schedule many, long bathroom breaks for what seems like half of the day, you will learn that the nurse doesn’t have an endless supply of outfits to replace wet clothes. Also, in regards to bathroom breaks, don’t stress too much when kids are standing on top of toilets, locking stall doors and crawling out, or making hand soap mountains. They will live 🙂

Number two, rest time is the best time. After lunch and recess, our little ones asked to sleep. Back in the classroom, we scattered sleeping mats on the floor and the students curled up and slept for 2 hours or more! They clearly needed sleep, but the quiet was a gift straight from heaven. So, when needed, schedule rest time strategically with the circadian rythm, play some lullaby music, rub some foreheads, and magic will happen. But, as soon as a child stirs to waken, take them to bathroom! 

And lastly, in addition to bathroom breaks and rest time, I learned that mealtime in the cafeteria requires super powers. Four-year-olds can’t open packaged food by themselves, and if you arent fast enough, other activities take priority in little minds. Like getting lost behind the trash cans, making straw sticks, crawling under boxes, and blowing gigantic bubble-milk snakes that turn into mini lakes.

So to sum it all up, meeting physical needs is important. Stay tuned for what I learned about actual academic PreK learning, AND to read about what I am doing in Ghana right now!

Hundreds of kids run up to you, reaching for your blonde hair, offering hugs, and asking millions of questions. The warm air of the African landscape gently blows, and the laughter of the kids is contagious. In just a moment the worship team will lead the children in praise, and you will be surrounded in jubilant song and dance.

This is what I am looking forward to experiencing in just a few short months, because I am excited to share that I will be traveling with Arm of Hope to serve at a summer camp for 2 weeks! Arm of Hope serves children and youth from the poorest parts of Ghana by offering school sponsorships, Bible studies, and support both in academics and life skills year round. The children who participate are invited to camp in the summer, and this is the highlight of their year. At camp they will hear the gospel, enjoy fun games, compete in sports, and play at the beach. I will be serving as a counselor for girls, anywhere from ages 6-18, and I can’t wait to meet them. I will also get to meet the two little girls who I sponsor!

As I prepare and travel, I would love your prayers! If you would like to support the trip financially, you can donate by visiting the link below, selecting “Ghana trip,” and typing in my name. I would greatly appreciate it- thank you!! I will also give you a plant as a token of thanks if you list your name as a donor 🙂

Check back in this fall to hear how God worked in Ghana!

https://www.armofhopeinghana.org/

Which teachers do you remember from elementary school? Chances are, the ones you remember the best are the ones you connected with the most.

Returning to Promesa has shown me just how important it is to connect with students. It has been a delight to see my students again, who have been generous with their hugs and smiles. The students are excited to have me in class again, and while very energetic, they have been respectful and joyful.

However, my first day with 1st grade was crazy, to put it simply. Little humans running around, standing on chairs, crawling under tables… Somehow I managed to learn all their names, but probably because I needed to use them so frequently. Yet the students in 1st grade are so dear! They simply had little prior connection with me, and didn’t know how to respond to a new person. I taught all of the other grades last year, so those classes knew me already. But I didn’t have the opportunity to teach the current first-graders last year, hence the need for us to establish connection. And connecting did not take long! By my second day with them, most greeted me with a group hug and cheers of “Miss Sara!” For the rest of the week they were calmer, more respectful, and more receptive. We just needed to get to know each other a little bit.

If we face reality, sometimes connecting takes years, and there are those who may never respond to our investment, but connection is worth the effort! As you relate with others, I hope you keep this little story in mind, and let it encourage you to keep establishing connection- with your students, children, colleagues, and anyone else in your life. There is power in connection, and the benefits will last as long as you are connecting!

How would you describe your family? While the word “family” holds a different meaning for each person, family is one aspect of life that we all seek to understand. If I had to choose one word that has stuck out to me more than anything else during my time here in Peru, I would choose family.

My host family here is such a gift from God. We share meals together, laugh together, and exercise together. Some of my favorite memories have been nights when we have also studied the Bible together and prayed for each other. The Holy Spirit is ever-so-present when we share these dear times. I am also extremely thankful for the family I’ve gotten to know at church. The pastor’s children and their cousins have all welcomed me into their family and I’ve feel so by their friendship and our adventures together. I am so thankful for God’s design of family.

At the time of this writing we are in the midst of Christmastime- a season when many of us spend a little extra time with our families. Maybe your family is blended, maybe your family is really a group of friends that is like family, and maybe your family is ever-changing. However, may you be encouraged that God wants these key relationships for you, and He will bless your time together as you trust in Him to be present with you and your family.

Merry Christmas, and enjoy your family time!