Bienvenue au Togo!

This past weekend, a group of friends and I took a trip to Togo. About a week before, we began making plans to go, and I wasn't really excited or anything because I had no idea what to expect in Togo since I had never heard anything about it before. However, I decided I would go on this trip and I can say I am SO glad that I did. I love being in Ghana, I really do, but being in Togo gave me this sense of joy that I can't really put into words. I've been in Ghana for about two months now and have finally settled into a routine for my everyday life, so being in Togo was like having a breath of fresh air and excitement.

This first sense of excitement happened when I realized that we were about to walk across the border from Ghana into Togo. I've never walked across a border before and this definitely felt like a movie moment (It reminded me of the scene from A Walk To Remember haha!).

After crossing the border and getting through Ghana Migration Services, we went through customs in Togo and this was the second sense of excitement because all of a sudden I went from hearing people speaking English to hearing people speaking French! I'm pretty sure throughout the many years of taking French in school that I knew Togo was a French speaking country, but that didn't really hit me until I got there and heard it for myself. I don't think I've ever been so excited to hear French in my life!

For those of you who don't know, I did a home-stay in France for two weeks while I was in high school, and those two weeks are two weeks of my life that I will never ever forget. So arriving in Togo and hearing French brought back so many memories of living with my awesome French host family, traveling around France with my wonderful best friend, and eating some amazing French food. I also haven't taken French for a little over a year now, so it's been a while since I've heard anyone speak French and unexpectedly hearing everyone speaking French in Togo was extremely heartwarming. As soon as I realized I could (to an extent lol) understand what they were saying and attempt to respond back in French, I was overjoyed.

Once we finished going through customs and were getting ready to head to our hotel, I felt the third sense of excitement. As we were figuring out where the hotel was and how to get there, a group of seven guys on moto-taxis pulled up to us and next thing you know, we were all getting on. It wasn't a very long ride, but it was sooo much fun! (We enjoyed it so much that the next morning we got up and rode around the city for two hours on moto-taxis just for fun lol!) 

Arriving at our hotel and talking to the staff in French, and then getting to a restaurant and being able to order in French made me so happy. Even though most Ghanaians speak English, they often speak in Twi which I've just recently started learning. So going from being surrounded by Twi any time I'm not with other international students, to being surrounded by French was extremely comforting because even though I'm not fluent in French, I know and can understand French a million times better than Twi lol.

For a seemingly perfect end to this trip, we went to a French bakery where I got French pastries and a real croissant (foods that I haven't been able to enjoy since I left France– almost 4 years ago!).

Togo, you outdid yourself. I will definitely be back.

À Bientôt!
Elisha :)

It's Ghana Be Wild!

“I have plans for you, I have plans for you. It's gonna be wild, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be full of Me.” (Come Away - Steffany Gretzinger)

If you were to tell me a few years ago that I would be living in Ghana for a semester, I would have probably laughed and not believed you. Yet, here I am. Living in Ghana for a semester. It's been a month since I first arrived (which is crazy!), and I am truly loving it. I could not be happier with the decision that I made to come here for study abroad, and I know and see that God has so much more in store for me beyond what I could have even began to imagine.

Since my last blog post..

I've adjusted to life here

It seems like it took forever, but I finally adjusted to being away from home and have settled in to this new environment. One of my biggest accomplishments is the fact that I've figured out my way around campus. It may not seem like a big deal, but coming from the super tiny campus of Agnes Scott, that was definitely one of the hardest adjustments I had to make, but I've finally got it figured out. There are also other things I've gotten adjusted to as well, such as the food, people, catching tro-tros, and taking cold showers (lol! but really). Coming in with an open mindset and being flexible has definitely helped in regards to making the transition as easy as possible.

Classes have officially started

Although I've been here for a month, classes really just began last week or so. The “first week of classes” wasn't really the first week of classes, and that took us all by surprise. Although students who were here last semester (and other Ghanaian students) warned us that no one (including the professor) typically comes to class the first week, it still caught up by surprise when we found that to be true. Also, classes are only once a week, and some of my classes didn't meet the second week either, therefore I really just started having all of my classes last week. The majority of my classes are public health classes, but I'm also taking a Twi (local Ghanaian language) class, and a traditional African dance class. Now that they've all gotten started, it looks like it will be a great semester!

I've been attending church

One thing I love about this campus is how many churches there are. Without even leaving the school, there are very many different options for churches to attend, and the ones that I have visited have been very welcoming and I have thoroughly enjoyed the services. Along with having so many church services on Sunday, most churches have midweek services as well and at least one prayer night a week on the field. The prayer nights are my favorite because there are so many different people from so many different churches coming together to lift up the name of Jesus on this campus and in this nation.

I began volunteering with Mawulolo Youth Network

Volunteering with Mawulolo Youth Network has by far become my favorite part of this whole study abroad experience. Although I have only been a few times now, I have fallen in love with the children, and their smiles warm my heart. Twice a week, I get to teach them, get to know them, and just laugh and spend time with them and I absolutely adore every second of it. I knew the second that I arrived that I would love it, and that is a huge understatement. Kids definitely have a special place in my heart and I am so beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with them.

  

Again, I am so extremely satisfied with my decision to spend a semester in Ghana. Who would have ever thought that I'd be here, but I'm so glad that God saw fit to place me here (seriously. I wasn't even on planning on coming to Ghana when I applied for study abroad, and I actually didn't find out I would be here until AFTER I had already been accepted elsewhere lol!) The Lord surely works in mysterious ways, and I love it. His plans are not what you would have ever imagined, but it's definitely better than anything you could think of yourself. Letting God have His way in your life may cause you to end up in a country you would have never even thought of going to, doing things you would have never imagined doing, but I promise you it's so worth it.

In the words of one of my dearest friends, life is a WILD ride. But when you're following God at least He knows where you're going. You may not, and handing the control of your life over to Him and choosing to accept whatever He may bring your way and wherever He may take you is never easy, but He's never gonna let you down. God knows what He's doing. Life with Him is full of surprises, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Life is a wild ride regardless, so we might as well stay with the One who makes it worthwhile. :)

Blessings,

Elisha :)

I Think I'm Ghana Like It Here :)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.." -Ephesians 3:20

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting when I arrived in Ghana, but I do know that every expectation that I had was definitely exceeded. From the moment the plane got close enough to where I could see the city below me, I immediately knew I would love it here. All of the mixed emotions I expressed before leaving quickly diminished and I was overcome with excitement and joy.

After being here for two weeks now, that initial excitement has not faded. Other emotions have definitely come and gone due to various circumstances, like feeling overwhelmed and sometimes frustrated, but despite all of that, I am even more excited now than I was when I first arrived.

Although my time in Ghana has been short thus far, we've done many different things like taking a tour around the capital city Accra, visiting the museum of Kwame Nkrumah (the first Ghanaian president), learning how to ride tro-tros (public buses), doing canopy walks at Kakum National Park, and taking a trip to the beach at Cape Coast, where we also had the opportunity to go through a slave castle and experience the tragic reality that many of our ancestors faced.

Kwame Nkrumah

Slave Castle at Cape Coast

Canopy Walk at Kakum National Park 

My roommate (Chelsea) and I at the beach at Cape Coast

It's been a great two weeks in Ghana, filled with meeting lots of new people, making new friends, trying new foods, and having new experiences. There are definitely things that I am going to have to get used to though, but I am learning to enjoy this phase of not knowing things and not being as independent as I would like to become. I am learning so much about myself throughout this journey, and I am really trying to embrace every step of it despite the difficulties and challenges.

Here are few of my favorite things about Ghana so far:

1) The sense of carefreeness

Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between carelessness and carefreeness, but here the people are definitely carefree rather than careless. Very few people are in a great rush, especially outside of the city. It's not that they don't care because they're lazy, but rather because they choose to enjoy life and one another instead of always being in a hurry to get somewhere.

2) The abundance and accessibility of fresh fruit

Getting fresh fruit (especially pineapples and mangoes) at the market is easily one of my favorite parts of the day. It's so convenient, extremely cheap, and is always so refreshing after walking around all day in the hot sun. On top of all that, it's absolutely delicious and definitely some of the best fruit I've ever had.

3) The extremely evident love of the Lord

One thing that really caught my attention as we were driving around is how many of the tro-tros, taxis, and different shops have a reference to God on them. I've seen different sayings on the backs of tro-tros and taxis, such as "Jesus" "God's grace" "God is King" "Salvation" and many of the names of shops here make a reference to God, such as "God's Favor Cuisine" or "Sweet Jesus Catering" and my personal favorite, "The Lord Has Done It Hair Shop". At first, these names seemed a little random and out of place, but the more I saw them the more I realized that it is just an outward expression of their inward love and devotion to the Lord.

I'm really enjoying my experience in Ghana so far, and though it's only been 2 weeks, I do think I'm really going to love it here. 

Thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers! It means more than you know. Please continue to lift me up, in regards to further adjusting to life here and as classes are starting this week. I will update you all when I can!

Stay blessed,

Elisha :)

This Is Ghana Be Interesting! :)

Ahhhh it's almost time! My excitement is through the roof!

University of Ghana

For those of you who don't know, I will be spending this semester in Accra, Ghana attending the University of Ghana. I will be doing my best to keep this blog updated with what's going on while I'm there, things I'm leaning, and just many of the things I experience during my time in Ghana.

I'm super excited for what the Lord has in store for me while I'm there, and I'm excited to involve you all on this incredible journey that I get the amazing opportunity to embark on.

Flag of Ghana

Having spent the last few months preparing for this moment, I can't believe it's finally here. It's been quite a journey leading up to this moment, with lots of questions and mixed emotions, from anticipation and eagerness to feelings of anxiety from not knowing what to expect when I get there. It's been a lot of running around to make sure things are all done before I head out, and I especially want to thank everyone involved in that because without you, I would not be here (almost) ready to go. It's been quite emotional saying goodbyes to dear family and friends whom I won't see until I return, but as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

But more than that, these past few months have been a time of eagerness and expectancy for what God is doing. I'm excited to see first hand how God is moving in the lives of His children in Ghana, and I can't wait to see how I fit into the bigger picture. What a lovely and humbling reminder that this life is not really about me, but I am just one puzzle piece in the bigger picture of what God is doing in the earth. I'm excited to spend these next few months experiencing in a new light what is really meant by "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." I am eager to discover more of God as He takes me away from what I know and am comfortable with, into the great unknown.

As I take this leap of faith and set out on this journey that awaits me, I am encouraged by the reminder that God is always with me and He goes before me. I'm sure there will be many things that will catch me off guard and things won't always go as planned (as they rarely do) but I do know that God is a good Father and everything that happens (the good, bad, and everything in between) will be a valuable lesson that teaches me more to depend on Him.

As I get ready to leave, I ask that you all would please keep me in your prayers. Some specific prayer requests I have are:

• Safe travels as I fly to DC and then to Accra, Ghana

• Continue to trust the Lord and be led by Him in this next chapter of my life

• For God's will to be done, and not my own

• For easy adjusting and settling once I arrive in Ghana

• For a great semester, both academically and spiritually 

• Whatever else the Lord lays on your hearts

Thank you all so much! Your prayers and support are definitely appreciated. I will post more and keep you all updated as much as I can :)

In Christ,

Elisha B.