"Encourage one another, as long as it is called Today, so that you will not be hardened by sins deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:

Today marks two weeks since I have been living in Abetifi, and 24 days that I have been in Africa.

Language school continues everyday, for 3-4 hours a day. The first week seemed so easy- or maybe more exciting. This past week was a lot more difficult, especially with all the different verb tenses and forcing myself to go out and practice with people, knowing that I'm going to screw up somewhere along the line.

But, through my frustration, God continues to show me why He brought me here. It has been amazing to see how He works through everything. One thing that has continued to amaze me is my roommate. God definitely knew what He was doing when He put us together in Ghana. Sometimes it is scary how similar we are, yet we are totally different. But how we were both brought here to learn the language, yes, but more importantly we were both brought here to become more like God. To make ourselves moldable, vulnerable and repentant with what we struggle with. It has been challenging but rewarding so far, and I know it is just going to get better.

Yesterday in class we were discussing African culture, and any questions we have had since being here. We were talking about families, and brought up a question about an orphanage we saw down the road. Teacha Yaw told us that adoption doesn't happen in Ghana. You will not find a couple who cannot have children that will go to the orphanage to get one, instead the man will get a new wife and try for children with her. So that led me to my next question- are these children adoptable? In remembering back to the times adoption was mentioned in the states, I could not remember hearing Ghana as one of the countries the child had come from.

But this was not the heartbreaking part. What brought me to tears were the stories of the women who would give birth and throw this beautiful, innocent child in the gutter, or bush along side the road, left there to die. In a culture where children are a priced possession, why would anyone do that? The lucky ones are those that were found, and put into orphanages, although Teacha Yaw informed us that the orphanages are not making it either, there are only 10 kids in each one, but ten kids- what happens to them when the orphanage closes?

I can't help but wonder what that means for me. God has continually brought me to a place where I am confronted with the issue of orphans, and my heart continues to break when I hear of their stories and the fact that there are so many people in the States that would do anything to take one of these children home. So I continue to pray for guidance...

Since being in Abetifi and being able to study the culture, it is becoming more and more clear that people are religious, but not relational. They are showing up to church on Sunday morning, but are beleiving the old traditional African beliefs throughout the week. The knowledge may be in their head, but not in their heart. For a culture that is considered so "Christian," I can't understand how they can justify married men openly having girlfriends, for example. This boggles my mind, but also confirms a call to share the Truth with them. God give us the courage.