What a difference a day makes!

Today things are much more relaxed. The banks have reopened and because of the New Year's holiday, people seem to be in a happy mood. The political situation is still not resolved, but the tension is and after a run-off in one constituancy on Friday the election will be over and the winner declared. Does this remind anyone of Florida and the hanging chads we all grew to loathe? Anyway - it's a much more relaxed day for me as well, we've spent most of it at a beach resort by the pool drinking fresh pineapple juice and watching the palm trees sway. I could get used to this! Most of the people I've met are also on vacation until Jan. 5 when school/work/whatever resumes. I spoke with the coordinator of the AACT school this morning to give him my local number and start there at 10AM on Monday. I've got to figure out how to post pictures as I go, the landscapes are stunning. If I can paste this in I will share a great symbol I've adopted as my own, Gye Name meaning Except God - recognizing that God is in control of all creation. Here it is:

Finding an internet connection has been tough the past few days

But I did it, I'm in the office of the place we're staying on borrowed time. So far the city of Accra has been amazing. People are very friendly and very welcoming. The wedding went off well and there are apparently tons of pictures. If you can find the African magazine Agoo online you will see photos. On another note, a white woman in a ball gown must be an unusual site since there were lots of people asking me to take pictures with them. Yesterday was our first opportunity to see the sites. We traveled to Elmina, a castle built by the Portugese which was used by the slave traders. It was a very emotional tour through there seeing the cells where a group of 15 tourists felt crowded and hearing that 400 slaves were quartered there. Looking through the "door of no return" where the slaves boarded the ships was overwhelming. I hope to post pictures as soon as I can but if not, use google images, I'm sure you'll get the idea.
On another note the run off elections happened here on Sunday and it is still very close. There is a majority winner but the defeated party refuses to concede and there is a bit of unrest. People are cheering in the streets and in other places they are not. I keep getting reassured that Ghanaians are peaceful people and that they don't expect violence. While in church on Sunday one of the candidates was in attendance and was prayed for along with a representative of the opposing party.
I will keep this brief as I had to bribe the secretary to let me use her computer - apparently you can get anything here for a little cash. Please keep all of Ghana in prayer as I've already become quite fond of the people I've met.

One flight down

One to go. I'm currently in the London Heathrow Airport. You can definitely tell that it's Christmas today as most of the staff are wearing some sort of holiday gear. A Santa hat here, reindeer antlers there and tinsel galore pinned to uniforms. And you can definitely tell that you're in the UK as I'm wished "Happy Christmas" along the way. I'm probably going to pick up the accent before I leave here today. For my family reading this today, I officially apologize for depriving you all of the opportunity to pick on me at the Cole family Chirstmas compound. I will miss being with all of you, and especially singing the Doxology and all those favorite carols. Tell Daniel I think I saw Rudolph's nose from the airplane while Santa was on his way to Cole Valley. Anyway, as she flew out of sight she could be heard saying, "Merry Christmas to all and to me a good flight!"

And of course . . .

Before I actually get to leave to spend six weeks near the equator and the 80 degree weather we get an ice storm! Although this shoudn't delay my flight it does delay some of my last minute errands. However, it does give me another moment for me to spend some time gathering my thoughts and focusing on what I'm going to be taking on over the next few weeks. Last weekend during worship I briefly talked about Mary and Martha, sisters who approached hosting Jesus in their home in different ways. Martha was the perfect hostess busy with her list of things to do, serving and attending her guests. Mary simply sat at Jesus' feet and lived in the moment. She took in the teaching and just savored being in his presence. And while I'm more inclined to live like Martha everyday, I want to have the heart of Mary. To be completely focused on the moment. It's part of how I work as music therapist, or more honestly, how I want to work. In the moment, completely present, improvising based on what comes up in the session instead of moving through an agenda, even if it is my own. I hope this time at the center will help me develop this idea as I'm sure the music I'm used to using will have little relevance. I'll be depending on my ear to pick up melodies and rhythms which means I think I'll have to get as much exposure to that as possible. And, knowing that I'll be there over the holidays, I'm hoping that means plenty of free live music!

Leavin' on a jet plane . . .

I guess it doesn't help that I saw a news story about a plane running off the runway in Colorado but I'm no longer fearless when it comes to flying. There's a lot of water to fly over between Philadelphia and London. So - I guess there's one more thing that you can all pray for - that the plane stays in the air and that I get through it all without having a screaming Mimi fit. (A quiet panic attack would never do.) On the up side, I think my voice is coming around. I've been struggling with a bit of weakness in one vocal cord after a month long battle with bronchitus and a horrible cough. But, after some excellent care and voice therapy I think I will be able to productively use my voice again. I took it for a test drive this weekend at church and I made it through all the services with just a little residual hoarseness afterward. Thank God! My work hinges on using my voice and that would make it so much more difficult to sing with the kids while I'm at the AACT center. I have to trust that God's timing is right on with all of this mostly because I don't think I have the patience to wait much longer to sing in a healthy way. After today I'm depending on internet cafes so the posts may be random, I'm off to buy mosquito repellent! (It's the new scent for 2009, haven't you heard?)

Last week of work . . .

I'm somewhere between feeling relieved and reluctant as I begin my last week of work before the trip. It's difficult to gauge exactly what my clients understand about my leaving. I will certainly miss them, but I also need an opportunity to work differently, in a different place. I'm excited about the possibilities at the AACT and in making music in a country where music means so much. As I bring things at work to a close it's all becoming a reality. I have nine days until I board the plane. Last night I sat up and wrote out all the things I have left to do - it filled a whole legal pad page. I'd tell you about my battle to overcome procrastination here, but I think I'll have to address that later.

Anyway, the response to my talk last weekend at my church has been tremendous. People have encouraged me in so many ways and offered to help with things I hadn't even considered. It's a beautiful thing to join such a committed body of believers.

Sometimes God works in mysterious ways . . .

And sometimes God hits you between the eyes with a healthy dose of holy power! After speaking at three services at my church and mentioning that a laptop is needed I got at least three people who walked up and said they had one or knew where they could get one donated! So - I guess we'll figure out what to do with them and what the school really needs. Perhaps instead of one laptop we can provide an entire computer lab!

It's been great to get some comments posted to this blog and here is a response to one of those from a Bethel family soon to be adopting a little boy from China who wrote to me and asked for the quote I used yesterday while sharing my testimony and so I'll share it here:

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do." -Edward Everett Hale

The countdown starts!

Nineteen days and counting! It's hard to believe that I'm almost at the point where I'll be getting on a plane and heading to Ghana. I am renting a global phone which should arrive right before I leave. I was worried about how to entertain myself during my layover in London on Christmas day but I think I will have plenty to do programming my new phone and texting people. My incoming texts will be free (hint hint) but outgoing texts cost money. :(

All in all, some things are falling into place, some things are falling apart. Sadly I had to put my beloved German Shepherd to sleep two weeks ago. Holly was a sweet dog, totally devoted, and I will miss her terribly. However, I know that she didn't suffer and I'm glad that I was with her until the very end. This now leaves Ruffo as the king of the house. I can't tell if he's depressed and missing Holly or not, he's always had the same sad expression on his face!See ??

And - by the way, if anyone has a spare laptop they'd like to donate, Linking Cultures has asked me to find one for a school they support. The Dzorwulu Community School - you can see a description here : http://www.linkingcultures.org/dcs.html

Hoping to end on a positive note I will share a verse which has been a constant reminder to me that I'm doing the right thing.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (New International Version)

10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I'm glad that I've picked up a few followers on this blog, keep up the comments and the encouragement!