A Crazy Love

I realize that all this time I have been writing that I have been talking mostly about the team and actually mentioning relatively little in regards to the library that we are building and the activities of the volunteers so, being that really nothing new or crazy has happened in the last few days (apart from me getting kind of sick off of a particularly awkward piece of chicken).

As of today everything on the library project is coming along right on schedule which I have to admit is nothing short of miracle due to the amount of work we had to do (As I am scattered a bit and am not good at remembering what I have already said, I might repeat somethings but if this is the case just consider it a refresher). Last year when building the library it took me and Adu (the guy here who helped me) exactly 6 weeks to build the entire library, with building consisting of installing a new wall, redoing the floors, installing a ceiling, fixing the roof, putting in electrical, painting and also having tons of furniture made for the library itself (shelves, tables, chairs). Overall that library cost us about $3k.

Well when we arrived here in Ghana this year and were taken to the building, I was pleased but surprised to find that the building we had this year was exactly two times as large as the one from last year. This was fine of course but the increase in size meant two things as well: an increase in work and increase in cost. Though I knew from the start we could do it, after the first two weeks after numerous set backs I began to get nervous about the completion. If everything went as planned there would be no problem but, as TIA (THIS IS AFRICA), anything can happen so I began to get nervous. Well, by the grace of God I had nothing to be worried about.

As of today the library is pretty much in a position that, once we fix up the floor, we will be able to paint and thus be complete with the project. It turns out that last year one of the biggest hold ups was actually getting the shelves for the library made (we had one of the most frustrating carpenters on earth that I still have nightmares about). This year we learned our lesson and spread the work load up amongst three different carpenters which resulted not only in all the furniture being completed on time but actually early, with the team finding out last week that all the furniture was done. For the most part this is how the entire library has been going and it is nothing short than a blessing!

In addition to the library all the students have also been teaching their own classes and tutoring and having activities in the library that we established last year. While this has been overall very rewarding for everyone, it has nonetheless been a fair source of frustration to the team which in the end really makes for a bunch of good laughs. One of the most difficult parts about teaching is simply the challenge of communicating with children who really have an extremely difficult time understanding English since they normally speak in only their tribal language. Not only is their English already very bad to begin with (even though they are supposed to be learning only in English...bad teachers???) but if you combine that with our high pitched American accents, communication is almost a joke! Most of our volunteers find themselves S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y without even having an effect sometimes. Add this to the general disorder of the school (we went to school on Friday to teach only to find our students carrying stones on their heads for a new garden...of course!) and there is almost a comic insanity to the whole situation. Even with these seemingly impossible barriers however, all of the volunteers have been making progress and, as I am proud to say for myself as well, have once again garnered the love and admiration of our students!

So alas, while the team is no doubt counting down the final days till we leave, it is already becoming bitter sweet reality. As I learned last year, Africa has a way of absolutely frustrating you to the core but, at the same time, when you least expect it, making you fall absolutely in love with what it all. Sometimes your opinion of the place varies from day to day but in the end, the love always conquers and, as happened to me, you begin awaiting the day of your return. But until then I wait and see what tomorrow brings. I am happy that God has blessed me with this amazing opportunity to serve but, as travel always does, I appreciate all the more the blessed life and loves that I have left behind. But until I come home, there is still work left to do here and all I can ask is that God bless me to do it with a joyful heart and and a happy smile.