Breaking Up Fallow Ground

Yesterday I noticed a young man working to clear the ground near this ant hill.  This evening I saw him again and asked if he was planning on growing vegetables.  When he said yes I asked why he choose to do it so near the ant hill.  He said he thinks this might be very fertile ground because of the ant hill.

The whole episode reminded me of the exhortation in Hosea 10:12 to "break up your fallow ground".  I wondered just how much real estate in my life is currently fallow.

I'm usually inept at accurate self evaluation, but I know the Lord can see the landscape of my life with clarity and He is an expert in cultivation and fruitfulness.

So here in Pepease, where I am removed from my 'normal' life, I'm taking the opportunity to ask God for a frank evaluation and recommendation.  

As I write this I can hear the students singing what has become my favorite new worship song.  The chorus is "do something new in my life, something new in my life O Lord.  

I'm ready for something new.

How about you?

Yesterday we took photos of the students with us on the Ebenezer Stone just behind the Training Center.  Many of them will finish their second session in just a few weeks and return to their homes and villages to put into practice what they have learned here.

I have a whole new group of girl friends too.  They affectionately call me Mommy, but after Bible study we talk about clothes, hair, children (with the ones who are mothers) and boys (with the ones who are single).  So, other than going for Starbuck's and pedicures it's pretty much just like at home.  They have big plans to teach me how to tie up my hair in a scarf and just forget the whole hair styling ritual. They say it's that or corn rows.

This is an African Oreo.  

Gary and I invented it this evening 

after dinner.

I remembered the McVites Rich Tea 'biscuits' from our first trip here.  

Gary goes to sleep before most toddlers, and I read and eat a few of these little yummy biscuits with my decaf Earl Grey tea

which I brought from home.

The secret is the little super sweet bananas.

HERE'S ONE FOR ALL MY PINTEREST FRIENDS

A young girl who boarded with us at Heathrow (London) had this bag, but I could never get a clear shot of it.  As we got off the shuttle and entered the terminal in Accra, she was in the diplomatic passport line right next to our line.  I knew I'd never get another chance outside the airport, so I snapped it as she paused to stash her passport in her backpack.

Now I know how the Paparazzi feel when they finally

 get a shot they've been stalking all day!

Tomorrow we'll teach here at the Training Center in the morning and then go on to the Academy for a session with the whole school.  

You can't imagine how delightful it is to hear the kids worship.  They have several drummers and 3 or 4 students who lead the songs.  I'm sorry to report that the clapping makes me feel inadequate.  One little girl kept trying to help me, but she got the giggles and finally gave up.  

In my defense, we never had drums or lessons in rhythmic clapping in primary school.

I think Anderson Union Elementary School had their priorities all wrong.

You should come here.  

Seriously, you should come.  

You gotta see this thing God is doing here.

Blessings,

Kelly