A Charge to Keep I Have

Hello All you lovelies that read my blog. I just love hearing from family and friends back home, it's encouraging me to keep on blogging! I miss each of you and am so happy to have been able to keep in touch. 

Today Savannah, Dustin, and I walked to Fetteh and then caught a taxi to Senya to go to market. I know it seems like we are forever going to market - but hey, how long can three pineapples last before they go bad and you have to buy more? We got some fruits and fabric for me to wrap up my hair. On the way home from market, we ran into a man (I think he was at least partially drunk) that wanted to talk with us. Somehow Dustin got a way from me for a minute and the man kind of cornered me. He rubbed my shoulder (which isn't strange here) and then his arm just kept on sliding down until he grabbed my butt! OF COURSE Dustin was not around so I just try and call to him. When he comes over he has no idea this guy grabbed my butt. And really, for those of you who know me, you know there isn't much to grab. I mean, we are in AFRICA there are gigantic booties everywhere. Mine pales in comparison. I'm literally in the negative on the butt rating score. And before we were able to escape the man, he also managed to slap Savannah's butt. But as Savannah says " it just shows that drunk people are the same everywhere."

On a deeper note, I am continually impressed with the African's ability to honor their responsibilities. I mean, even if they are bad. Really bad. If it is something that needs to be done, they do it. Even the kids. They don't complain about having to get up at 5:00 AM to bathe and get back to the house for devotional at 6:00 AM. You try waking up any American teenager for a house devo every morning at 6, including weekends, and a house devo every night at 6. They understand that dedication to what you feel is important is to be upheld. There aren't rebellious ones or those who try and get out of doing what they've been assigned to do. This lead me to Colossians 3 ,

22-25 "Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work."

As Americans are really bad at this. We don't have a servant mentality as a whole. In fact, I think that a lot of Americans feel negatively about having a role that serves. Don't get me wrong - I know there are degrees of people who do this, but at least for me I've always taken this verse and applied it to my profession. You know, that I need to work at becoming a PA with all my heart. But, I've never thought about keeping my house clean, doing laundry, washing dishes, just whatever. That EVERYTHING I do on a daily basis, I should give 100% to. Especially the part about being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work. Like, just because you are a good, nice Christian doesn't mean you can get away with half way doing your work. Or doing the minimum.  This is so important to the people here at VOH that we have an old hymn we sing often. In fact, I didn't even know it before I came, but it's beautiful. 

A charge to keep I have,

A god to glorify,

A never dying soul to save,

and fit it for the sky

To serve the present age,

my calling to fulfill,

O may it all my powers engage,

to do my Masters will!

Arm me with jealous care,

as in Thy sight to live,

and O they servant, Lord, prepare

a strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray, 

and on Thyself rely

Assured, if I my trust betray

I shall forever die.

Amen.

Tonight Savannah and I had to go up to the clinic. On the way home we met most of the children who were walking to Prep (study hall). Yes, they have study hall on Saturday night. Savannah let them listen through her stethoscope and you would've thought she'd given them like a new xbox or something. They loved it! They listened to each other's voices through the bulb and played. It was really sweet and innocent. I love that part of African children. They are so content. So happy. So satisfied with life, that even something as small as someone's stethoscope can make their evening fun.

We will go for church in the morning. I plan to wear an African dress I bought in the market. It's going to be great. I will try and get pictures up soon. Internet here has been shoddy but maybe tomorrow. Sigh, another day has come and gone here in Ghana. It's going far too quickly.

All our love,

Tessa and Dustin