Universal Languages

In all of my travels, I have come to know of some languages that are used around the world.  These languages are beautiful and uplifting, and they exist to bring people together.  In Ghana, I have come to realize several of these languages again:


Dance-- How could I not start with acknowledging this language?  Haha.  Dance is everywhere!  It is often used for enjoyment and entertainment, but it's also used for storytelling, spiritual ceremonies, preparations for battle, and so on.  No matter where I've been, I've found dance, and I have experienced it in a way for people to connect and share with one another.  So although the styles of dance can be unique to each culture / country / region, they tend to serve similar purposes and communicate experiences and emotions.

Music-- Just like dance, music is everywhere!  One of my favorite instruments to observe and feel around the world is the drum!  And how can I say "the drum" when there are so many types of drums?  Drums have been used to relay messages through far distances (perhaps from one tribe to another), and they have been used to support dance. Sometimes we refer to this as "moving to the heartbeat of Mother Earth."  There are even "natural drums", such as certain trees in Ghana that were used as instruments to send and receive messages in the jungle/forest.  A person need only to bang the side of the tree, and the sound will travel for up to 2 miles!

Smiles-- This language is so strong!  In India, I only learned a handful of Tamil words and phrases.  Here in Ghana, I have managed the same-- only a few words and phrases in Twi.  In Hungary, the language came to me at a very slow pace.  In Mexico, I often rely on the Spanish I learned in Jr. High.  And the list can go on.  Despite my limited understanding of the spoken words in these countries, I quickly develop friendships through smiles :)  Perhaps that sounds cheesy, but it's true!  Smiles are magic, and I have found them everywhere I've gone. 

The Light of Christ--  I believe that there is a special spark/power/energy/quality within each of us that can be referred to as the Light of Christ.  Whether someone carries the same beliefs as me, or whether they are Christian or not, I have felt connections through the Light of Christ with people around the world.  This language is spiritual and can reach the whole soul.  The Light of Christ unites hearts and generates "the good vibes we feel in the universe." 


There are surely more languages that are shared worldwide, but these are the ones that stand out to me most.  

B's Post --- We are on our way coming

The people in Ghana are so amazing and beautiful and kind. When they are going to accomplish something, or see someone they say "I am on my way coming." There have been moments in my life where I have felt I was "on my way coming". Rach and I have been best friends only a short time according to those around us, but we know it has been so much longer. It's something that I know we had promised up in heaven, we were "on our way coming" to find each other in this life and help each other out. Rach has always been a good example to me, and Africa has been her dream for so long. I feel so spoiled and blessed and privileged to be here with her experiencing as she says living the dream. She has been "on her way coming" to Africa for so long. And now to see her here and being able to feel her spirit and happiness, it's empowering, encouraging, and enlightening. I'm sure we have all had "on my way coming" experiences.  When we feel we need to do something, I want my response to be "I am on my way coming" and hope others feel the same, even if it is just to say hi to someone or put out your hand and introduce yourself. Something that I have felt a lot in the last few years or maybe longer and I didn't know... is this idea of my soul is like a puzzle and there are pieces of it wandering around the world, so as I go places I find a piece of my soul and leave a piece of my heart. These are "on my way coming" moments of I am coming to get my soul and leave you my heart. There are so many "on my way coming" experiences all around us. I invite you to find some of yours. Rach has been a great motivator in focusing on the right path to be "on my way going." She is "on her way coming" to change the world and she is doing it every day! 

Thank you for supporting my best friend,

B :)

Timothy

In the spirit of Father's Day, I'd like to introduce you (through my writing) to Timothy.

Timothy is a powerfully meek man.  He currently serves as a Bishop in an LDS ward in Kwamo, and he would probably be the last person to tell you about the incredible things he has done with his life, haha.  I can't claim to know him super well, but I feel that I know him well enough to share with you why I believe he is a great friend, father, mentor and servant of God.

Timothy lives next to the Kwamo school where we are working to expand the building.  He has played a major role in supporting the school with the new building project, and he is a true advocate for the success of the school.  When we were digging the trenches for the foundation a few days ago, he was there right along side us, using a pick axe and shovel to hasten the work.

Each time we've visited the Kwamo school, Timothy and his family have opened their home to us and have generously fed us of their home-cooked meals (which often taken hours to prepare.)

Timothy and his wife, Mary, have also taken in several young men, providing shelter and opportunities for them to work and develop important character skills.  When allowing the first boy to come live with him, Timothy discovered that this boy had practically become homeless and had taken to stealing food in order to survive.  The rest of the young men to follow had similar stories to tell-- stories of abandonment, abuse, homelessness, etc.  One of the young men has since left on an LDS mission, and the rest of them are preparing to serve as well!  It was a great privilege to work along side these young men when digging the trenches at the Kwamo school.  I didn't know of their stories then, but I could already sense that they are persons of integrity and diligence.  I am certain that without Timothy and Mary, they wouldn't be the men they are today!

Timothy serves individuals.  He doesn't work to receive recognition and praise, but rather to humbly do his part to make a positive difference in the world.  Even his story combined with Mary's is an inspiring tale:  Mary had been a child bride to and old man in Togo, and when pregnant with her second child, she fled.  The child she was expecting at the time, Vida, is now one of my dear friends :)  Vida is my same age, and she is an amazing woman!  I know that she is the powerful person she is today in part due to the virtuous and loving upbringing from Timothy and Mary.

Timothy is kind, patient, charitable, faithful, wise, and much more-- all qualities that one would hope for in a father.  And I must say, I have been blessed to have a father with the same characteristics :)  I am grateful for the good men in my life here on Earth, and for the ways I see them follow the example of our Father in Heaven.  

"I am Strong and Healthy!"

About 10 minutes remained until Sacrament Meeting was to start.  I had just finished braiding little Mimi's hair, and felt rather accomplished with how I had turned her once-knotted up hair into a smooth, woven arrangement.  As I settled into my chair once again, I watched as friendly faces arrived for our Sunday worship services.  It was then that Sister Naomi walked over to shake my hand, and then my friend B's hand.

"How are you?"  B asked.

"Oh, I am strong and healthy!"  Sister Naomi replied, with enthusiasm and a beaming smile.

After hearing this, my thoughts were immediately taken back to the memory of a conversation I had with Brian (one of Becky's employees who lives with us) several days ago.

"How are you?"  I had asked.

"I am very, very, very, very, very, very blessed."  Brian had said.  His words then led us into a conversation about why he was feeling so very blessed.  He truly is blessed :)

In Ghana, you cannot simply ask someone "How are you?" and expect a superficial answer, which is exactly what most people do back home in the States.  "How are you?"  "Good.  How are you?"  "Good."  "Good."   The end.  Wow-- how dry and impersonal!  (Granted, I know people back home who offer heartfelt responses, which then lead to conversations with depth and true connection.)  

Perhaps it is the lifestyle here in Ghana and the way time passes that allows for people to have meaningful conversations about how they're doing.  Whatever the reason for the cultural difference though, I like it here!  I hope this is a piece of Ghana/Africa that I take home with me!  So the next time you ask me how I am doing, I want to give you a meaningful, truthful, heartfelt response!  Don't worry-- I'll try to remain sensitive to the time you can afford to give me for a response ;) 

When the Power is Out

There are many things I take for granted back home.  Even after traveling to Mexico several times and living in India for a summer, I see how I have allowed myself to feel entitled to many of the blessings I enjoy on a daily basis.  Or if I don't feel entitled to them, I don't take time to appreciate them or give thanks for them.  Several changes of clothes for every season in Utah; clean drinking water nearly EVERYWHERE; well-paved roads, even in canyons and most remote neighborhoods/towns; lights/electricity that almost always work; relatively easy access to education; support for girls to stay in school when they're menstruating; quality support for the homeless and unemployed; political system that mostly keeps the government in check; effective programs to keep most of the trash and loose animals off the streets (i.e. cows, goats, chickens, etc.)... And the list can go on.

Here, where I'm living, the power goes out almost daily (sometimes more than once), and often stays out for a good chunk of time.  I can imagine it's even more spotty in other parts of the country.  (And that's not taking into account the number of people who can't afford to pay the electrical bill.)  Tonight, the power went out during dinner.  Everyone calmly continued eating as best as they could in the dark while one of the kids went to grab one of the solar powered lamps (a luxury here that many might only dream of.)  As I sat in the dark, my mind turned to my fears-- particularly bugs.  For whatever reason, I struggle with the idea of bugs roaming free in the night.  I know that cockroaches roam the house in the dark, along with other critters.  Once the solar-powered light arrived at the table, I felt my worries ease.  

As I contemplate now my thoughts and feelings from when the power is out, I feel a need to count my blessings.  God is patient with me... ever patient.  It seems that I need wake ups calls like this on a fairly regular basis!  But I am grateful.  I really am.  So tonight, I will give thanks for 9 (the best number) specific things from my life here in Ghana:

1. The solar-powered lamps we have scattered around the house for when the power goes out
2. The friendly people who greet me on the streets and continue to welcome me to Ghana
3. Ouwra (spelling???), the sweet 2 year-old who lives with us with his mom, and has one of the most adorable laughs in the world
4. The fan that sits in the bedroom window an night to cool the room down and help keep the mosquitoes away
5. The little shops on most streets with water bags and Fan Ice (little ice cream pouches)
6. The sweet, juicy mangoes we eat every day!
7. The dog, Arthur, who keeps the thieves away
8. The fact that most people here can speak English, but are also patient with me as I try to learn Twi
9. The humidity that keeps my skin from going dry

I definitely have more than 9 things to be grateful for, so these are simply a few ("few" can be more than "3"... right?)  In short, I am grateful for the times the power goes out as it gives me a chance to reflect on my blessings and give thanks.

Taxi Full of Chickens

We rode along the bumpy road, appreciating the sights through the car windows.  The night before brought a wealth of rain, so shops were opening slower this morning.  Puddles of water decorated the orange-dirt roads; cars carefully navigated the slippery terrain.  Men and women cautiously walked the busy streets with crates and baskets of merchandise balanced on their heads.  Shops stretched as far as the eye could see to our left and our right-- shops with food, clothing, accessories, building supplies, furniture, toys, souvenirs, and more.  Suddenly, we saw it.

A taxi full of chickens!!

No, these were not frozen bags of chicken; nor were they dead chickens.  These were living and breathing chickens!  The taxi had pulled to the side of the road, and a woman opened the door to start unloading the chickens.  We stared at the plethora of goofy-eyed birds, their heads quickly turning from side to side.  Their expressions seemed to say "Geez fellas-- where are we?"  "What a strange cage we're in!"  "Hey!  Hey!  Hey! Hey!"

I've seen some fascinating and exciting things during my time here... but the taxi full of chickens is probably the most random thus far!

Kakra Kakra

The air is calm and full of enlightenment.  No one notices the dense humidity in the dimly lit room.  A small orange-covered book lays open on each persons lap or in their hands.  Sounds of English and Twi fill the air as friendships are strengthened and knowledge enhanced.  Everyone wears a smile, and God's Spirit abides with us.  These literacy classes are a place to practice reading and writing through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The knowledge and information doesn't come all at once, but rather little by little-- kakra kakra.

As I listen to my new friends practice English, I know that I must practice my Twi.  I quickly and carefully switch between my teacher hat and student hat.  My students and friends are my teachers.  Helena, Janet, Sister Pat, Georgina, Naomi, Joshua and Francis.  We rejoice when I say things correctly, and laugh when I make mistakes.  They are so kind.  The knowledge and information doesn't come all at once, but rather little by little-- kakra kakra.

A week has nearly passed, yet it feels as though I've been here much longer.  Dirt roads, frequent rainstorms, colorfully patterned clothing, bright smiles, intricately layered music, packed buses, lush green surroundings... even the mosquitoes and street chickens seem natural part of my life.  Time passes in a leisurely way, allowing most things to happy as they should.  The environment guides me to reflect on the person I was before I came here, who I am now, and the person I want to be when I return home.  I analyze parts of my heart and soul-- recognizing most of what I find, and discovering new pieces to remove, change or learn to love.  I believe Africa is changing me for the better.  The change isn't coming all at once, but rather little by little-- kakra kakra. 

In Their Bones

After breakfast, we (B, Becky, all four kids, Brian, Joyce's son, and I) traveled to Kwamo-- distant area of Kumasi-- to visit the home of Bishop Timothy and a school.  Bishop Timothy wasn't home, but his daughter Vida was there and several other family members.  Vida prepared a marvelous lunch for us, and we enjoyed exploring their property while the kids played with the dogs and puppies for a while.  We went to the school after lunch, and that's when the real party began!

The Kumasi school is built in an L shape and divided up into enough classrooms so that each "grade" (known as "class" here) has their own room.  Each room has a door that feeds directly into the open space outside the school, as well as a large window (without any sort of covering).  Roughly half of the classroom walls are completed, while several dividing walls don't quite reach the ceiling, leaving a large gap so that classrooms can see one another.  The school is covered by a tin roof, and each classroom is complete with wooden desks, blackboards, and hooks to hang backpacks on.  The spirit of the school is filled with the smiles and hearts of the children and their teachers.

When we first approached the school, children came running saying "Obroni!" which means "white person" (this is a very common thing to hear from children as we travel around), and they excitedly reached to shake our hands and ask our names.  Words can't describe how truly beautiful their smiles are!  We were soon led to visit each of the classrooms so that we could greet everyone and learn a little more about how their school is set up.  Later, it was dancing time!

The school gathered several of their younger students (probably around classes/grades 2 and 4) who performed a few dances for us, and they invited us to join in on the last couple dances.  It was so fun!  We of course didn't know the dances beforehand, so we carefully watched these young girls and tried to mimic their precise movements.  Their sense of rhythm and phrasing of dance steps was so spot on!!  I noticed as the rest of the students on the sidelines danced to the rhythm in their personal space as they enjoyed the performance.  It was as if the energy of dance and music was being transferred through the air and ground to everyone in the area so that they couldn't stand still.  Young and old, boys and girls-- everyone wanted to dance!

After the group of girls performed, things quickly evolved and I found myself dancing with the older boys (several of who just completed class 12, so they have graduated!), and that evolved into a mini dance battle!  We had fun showing off some of our best moves and praising each other for the things we brought to the dance floor.  The rest of the school surrounded us as they clapped and cheered along with the fun.

Soon after, we were then treated to another performance from the young girls, but this time they danced to the traditional drums of Ghana!  Young men carried out 4-5 different styles of drums, as well as a metal bell/chime of some sort (I need to learn what it is called.)  The dance they performed was the Adowa, which I was thrilled to recognize!  Before coming to Africa, my Ghanaian friend Nana taught me a few dances from Ghana which I then shared at the Africa Dance Nights I taught.  It was so satisfying to watch this intricate dance performed to the traditional music.  Again, they invited us to join in on the dance :)

To wrap up our time at the school, we enjoyed more of the traditional music, and one of the young men even invited me to trade in so I could play one of the drums!  I studied the rhythm for a moment before he offered me the sticks, and then I was in!  I was surrounded by many complicated rhythms accompanied by the singing and clapping of students and teachers.  It was a rich experience, and I couldn't wipe the goofy smile from my face as I tried to blend into the layered sounds.

It's in their bones.  Dance.  Music.  Rhythm.  Art.  Expression.  It's there, and it is strong!  As I danced and drummed with the students, I felt a connection with everyone.  What I spend my career trying to bring to the students in Utah is naturally born and bred here.  It's as if the Ghanaian people (and people of all Africa) have an element in their bones and blood that has been with them through all time, and that they have never lost it... While in the meantime, many people in the States have been drained of this element... They can't feel it.  And if they do feel it, they don't trust it.  It makes my heart sorrowful for those back home who say they "can't" and "won't" when it comes to dance and music.  Yet it makes my heart soar and every cell of my body come alive as I join in the rich heritage of dance and music with my African brothers and sisters.  I am so grateful they have kept this element in their bones!  I'm so thrilled that they share it with others!  I hope to share a portion of this energy with my students and friends when I return home.  The spirit which accompanies people who dance and create music is a type of medicine for the soul that many back home are sick for.  I pray that my efforts as a dance specialist back home can help bring this element back to the bones of those who have lost it, even those who may have lost it many generations ago.

I haven't even been here a week, but my soul is energized with life, love and laughter.  I feel a harmonious connection with my African brothers and sisters as we share with one another.  To any Ghanaian who may be reading this:  Thank you!  Thank you for such a warm welcome to your country and culture.  Thank you for teaching me and sharing with me.  I am so happy to be here with you!

A Child's Prayer

Adults often believe that they know more than children in all areas of life.  Sure, adults may be the ones to pay bills, drive, set schedules, perform difficult manual labor, prepare meals, and so on.  It seems to me though, that no matter how much adults may know about the temporal things of life, children often have better intuitive knowledge about things pertaining to the soul.

Today, B and I had the privilege of teaching Primary.  We had about 20-25 children present.  Becky directed the flow of our time together (and played the piano for all of our songs), and B and I taught the sharing time lesson and directed the music.  There were 3 particular moments that touched my heart:


The Opening Prayer.  The sweet little boy who offered the prayer kept things so simple and pure, yet also profound to me as an adult.  His prayer contained the following:  "Thank you for our life.  Please help us."  (He addressed Heavenly Father, and closed in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.)  Those simple phrases carried deep meaning to my heart.  Our life.  Our existence.  Our purpose here.  All praise and thanks be to God that we exist!  We wouldn't be able to thank Him for anything else if we didn't have this opportunity to live.  And because we live, and He is our Creator, we need help.  He is the one to send help.  If I could carry this simple prayer in my heart more often, perhaps I would feel more gratitude and wonder for all of God's creations, and I could maintain the necessary humility to always remember Him and seek Him.

The Power Fist.  When singing Choose the Right, I invited the children to do a powerful fist pump into the air every time we sang the words "Choose the right."  They LOVED it!  What surprised me even more was when one of the older boys (who was one of the more resistant and disrespectful kids) continued to use this strong gesture later in Primary while singing about about something that I could see he truly believed.  I will be curious to see if he continues using this motion the next few weeks while I'm here.

Visual Testimonies.  Near the end of Primary, we sang a song titled __________.  This song was fairly long, but the children knew all of the words, and they sang it with "vigor and vim."  Hearing the children sing this song about their Savior and their own personal worth was very moving.  They love this song, and they love Jesus.  The way they sat focused and engaged in their chairs; they way they delivered each word of the song with conviction; the way their eyes and smiles lit up the room with excitement and understanding... I could see that they know these things to be true.  Not only did I see this with their singing, but also with the actions that followed.  They shared books and crayons as they colored pictures, helped tidy the room before leaving, and they jumped at the opportunity to receive an assignment to help in Primary next week.  Yes, there was still some fighting, and a few small children had fallen asleep in their chairs (so precious!), but the overall Spirit in the room was tangible and humbling.


It's no wonder that we are told to become as a little child.



  

Akwaaba to Ghana!

I AM IN AFRICA!!!!!!!

It's almost as if I have to pinch myself every day to remember that this is real life-- that this is really me in my body, and that this is really me (in my body) in Africa!  This has been a dream for as long as I can remember.  I built up to this moment by learning about various African cultures, studying the map of the continent, watching movies connected to Africa, studying the music and dances of various tribes and peoples, looking up pictures, talking to anyone willing about Africa, etc.  It truly fills my heart to finally be here!!

Let's backtrack for a second though and go over the highlights from the travels here:

• Number of flights:  6
• Friends Made:  A Ugandan young man who was the first to welcome us to Africa (he was traveling home from a trip to China); Bilson Bright from Ghana who was traveling to be a student representative at a conference in Rwanda (about 26 yrs old); Sister Christetta, a Catholic nun from Zambia who loved visiting with us in the Kigali airport and made a little dance video with us!  (She has been studying at a university in Uganda, and she was traveling home for a break.)
• Greatest Adventure:  We had to camp out in the Kigali (Rwanda) Airport for 10+ hours.  During that time, we confused nearly all the workers with our strange flight plans so they didn't know what to do about finding our luggage (since we were switching airlines) and boarding passes for the next flight!  About an hour before boarding time, they successfully brought us our boarding passes, and they had located one of our two pieces of luggage.  Yay!  We are stilling trying to figure out what happened to the second piece of luggage, but we are still grateful for the help and patience of the workers in the Kigali airport.  I think we became the most well-known travelers in the airport by the time we left, haha. 
• Strangest Thing:  The large stuffed teddy bear in the Qatar Airport.  I mean really... Why??

These first few days in Ghana have been a delight!  Since internet is quite slow and unpredictable here, I will sum up the first four days as best as I can.  Also, pictures are having a veeeery difficult time being uploaded-- I will try to share them later, because they really are so cool :)  Here it goes!

Day 1:  Wednesday, June 6th

• We arrived around lunchtime and made it through customs quite easily!  After finding Becky Rogers (the woman we're staying with) and Brian (a Ghanaian who works for Becky), we took what they call the STC bus from Accra to Kumasi.  It was an amazing ride!  I loved seeing the vibrant colors all around me, people carrying LARGE baskets on theirs heads to sell things from, hearing the sound of Twi (the language) being shared poetically... my senses were alive and well as I tried to take in my surroundings!
• The bus had an assistant or guide of some sort who gave a MARVELOUS speech about how to survive our journey on the bus, complete with a sermon about how to use the toilet / wash room.  Perhaps I will be able to share a little recording we captured of her speech when I return home, haha.
• During the drive to Kumasi, I experienced my very first rainstorm in Africa!!  I looooooved it!  I could hardly believe how green the world was around me already, and having the rain mixed in was simply magical.  
• We made it to the home in Kumasi well after dark... Perhaps around 7 or 8 PM.  We met more of Becky's family:  her husband Tom, and the kids Josh, Thomas, Chamane and Miriam (Mimi for short.)  They have just the youngest four of their 10 children living here (although they had another who just left on a mission for India!)  Also living here are Brian and Nana, and their new baby, as well as Nana's "mother", Joyce, and her little boy.  (Joyce is Nana's aunt, but she is also her mother since she raised her.  By Ghanaian tradition, Joyce came to live with Nana to help for a bit with the arrival of the new baby.  Joyce came about a week before the baby was born, and she will be leaving in about a week or so.)  
• Before going to sleep, we enjoyed our first water bags here :)  

Day 2:  Thursday, June 7th

• We visited the Ashanti palace where we received a tour and learned about the history of the Ashanti Kingdom / Asante people in the last few hundred years.  The palace grounds had many peacocks roaming around, and an amazing tree that we enjoyed playing in!  
• After lunch, Becky took us to meet a few of the women we will be helping to expand their businesses.
• Helena Appiah -- She's the Relief Society President here in the Daaban Ward (the area we're living in), and she has a small sewing business.  B and I are excited to have her sew a few articles of clothing for us :)  Her husband (Francis) is the Elders Quorum President, and they have three children:  Vida, Hannah, and Francis.
• Monica-- She's an investigator (the missionaries have been working with her a lot), and she is possibly going to open a small hair cutting business out of her home.  She has two children:  Godwin and Blessing.
• Georgina-- She is also a member, although her husband is not.  They have 7 sons-- a set of twins are the youngest :)   The three youngest come to church:  Samuel, and the twins:  Junior and Senior.  What great names for twins!  haha.  Anyway, she owns a small store out of her house.  She has treats, little foods, soap, and so on.   

Day 3:  Friday, June 8th

• We visited a couple of the women again to go over business plans.
• After lunch, we took a trotro/ tro tro (a large van used to transport large numbers of people, which we have nicknamed Twinkie's based on their appearance) to the market.  The market was a fascinating place!  Everything is so packed together, and the streets and alleyways are swarming with people.  Helena and her daughter Hannah led us on our trip.  Since it was Hannah's birthday that day, we enjoyed surprising her and her mother with a gift of fabric so that they can make some clothes for the girls!  It will be Vida's birthday on Monday, so the timing is perfect!   
• The children in our neighborhood are learning our names :)  There is a lady who run's a fruit stand right next to our home, and her children love calling out to us.

Day 4:  Saturday, June 9th

• Once of the projects we will work on here is Literacy Classes.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has produced a wonderful pamphlet to help people become more literate.  Today, we went to our first Literacy Class with Becky and Helena.  It was an introductory class for a woman named Janet, a member of the Church here.  On Tuesday, we will start the official class with her, Sister Pats, and a couple other people in the area.  I'm looking forward to it!
• After the Literacy Class, some of the women took us on a tour of the neighborhood where we saw homes built on and around large rocks.   Imagine laaaaaarge boulders.  It was like the Primary song:  The wise man built his house upon the rock.  It was incredible to see how the people had created these unique living space.
• The rest of our day was spent on a glorious adventure in one of the forests here-- the Bobiri Forest Reserve.  Helena's kids (Hannah, Francis and Vida) came with us!  In the forest they have a butterfly sanctuary, so we saw hundreds of butterflies pollinating and flying around!  A man and his family live there, and he took us on a walk through the forest.  As we walked, he taught us about the trees (my favorite being the Three Sisters Tree), including any medical or spiritual purposes for the trees.  We saw large centipedes, a crazy big spider, beautiful moss, shoots, large mushrooms, and I noted the four main layers of the rain forest:  Emergent, Canopy, Understory, Forest Floor.  (Utah 3rd Grade Social Studies Curriculum.  Wow, I am such a teacher nerd!)  Ecosystems.  Cool.  But really, the forest was an incredible place to be!  I would happily return there every day if I could.  Although I admit, I didn't love the bugs, haha.  We were told that there are plenty of snakes there as well, although they tend to avoid humans as much as possible out of fear.
• Our car broke down, so we spent an extra couple hours in the forest waiting for it to be fixed.  The man who led our tour took his motor bike into the closest village to get a new battery, and he brought one of the village men back with him to help install it.  Even though this could have been a stressful situation, everyone remained calmed and enjoyed the extra time in the forest.  Being there offered a great opportunity to reflect and play.  We even made a little dance video :)

It has only been four days, but it feels like I've been here for much longer-- in a good way.  I think a part of my soul has been residing here, waiting to be found, and I know that I will leave a piece of my heart when I go.

Let's all cross our fingers that I will have some good internet connection soon so that I can share some pictures!!

Best wishes!

A Perfect Landing

Picture this:

The plane begins its final descent, and gradually floats down through the dense, fluffy, white clouds.  You close your eyes for a moment (due to exhaustion from the long journey), but carefully track the passing time so as not to miss the landing.  

You open your eyes.  And there it is-- the beautiful land of Uganda!  This will be the first place you touch African soil-- yet this is a temporary stop.  As the plane reaches the runway, you soak up the view through the tiny window.  They sky is a grayish-blue.  A light rain trickles down the window, as well as onto the lush-green land outside.  A dirt road runs along the outside of the airport fence.  Lake Victoria spreads across the horizon.  A few people are working in field close by, and several others are riding bikes and driving small cars along the dirt road.  Then, as if cued from the graceful swish of a wand, dozens of large white birds (possibly egrets?) take flight out of the field.  The birds swirl around in the sky, dancing above the treetops.  Everything is perfect.  Several tears appear in your eyes for the joyful occasion.  You have arrived in your dreamland at last-- the place your heart has longed to be.  

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It's been a long, wonderful journey... And we're not quite done yet!  Salt Lake >> New York >> Qatar >> Uganda >> Rwanda (where we are as I write this.)   In about 6 hours, we will complete the journey:  Nairobi >> Ghana!!!  I've never taken so many planes to arrive at a destination, but I have no regrets!  

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Hey hey, B here! This is my small side of the story. Imagine being so tired your body physically cannot keep itself awake when suddenly tiny hands grip your arm and shout "LOOK" in your ear. Ok ok maybe not shouting but like joyfully exclaiming it. I pop up almost scared of what's happening to see the beautiful picture painted for you above and then look at Rach to see how happy she is. I think her smile might burst. Then she just says "oh wow" and is crying with gratitude joy and accomplishment. We made it to Africa.

Here I Come!!

Bags are packed.

Hugs and kisses have been given to loved ones.

Bedroom is clean (mostly...)

Funds have been raised and graciously accepted.

Studio concerts and school projects are complete.

Flight itineraries have been confirmed.

Passport/Visa's are ready.

Best friend is with me.

Africa shirt is on.

Africa, here I come!

The well-known Africa Fund jug

Created in 2009, Used through 2018

(No, I did not pack the jug like this with me, haha!)

Africa Lion Shirt!