Change of Address

This is just a quick note to let you know that I have moved the blog over to Wordpress. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. I am hoping the new format will work better. 

www.journeytothepearlhouse.wordpress.com

Be sure to head over there and click follow when you do. Thanks! 

A Tiny Piece of Glass

At the start of each new year I have a cherished tradition of reading through my prayer journal from the year just completed. It puts everything in perspective and helps me to see the bigger timeline of God’s ongoing work in my life. As I participated in that exercise earlier this month there was one sentence that stuck out to me over all the rest.

“I feel like a tiny piece of glass trying to be a chandelier.”

I cannot recall what was happening on the particular day that was written. But it does not matter. The reality of that statement is true each and every day.

I feel so weak, fragile and vulnerable. I could easily shatter if too many things go wrong in a day.

I am unable to rely on my wealth of experience, have not been here long enough for that.

I am unable to rely on things going my way as an indicator that I am doing the right thing. No matter how much I have planned, things will always go wrong.

I am unable to rely on a support network of physically present friends and family.

I am unable.

But HE is able.

I remember watching the movie Pollyanna as a child. Honestly, I can recall very little about the plot. I do remember that the main character is a very optimistic child actively trying to convince everyone else to look on the bright side. In an effort to cheer up a dying woman, Pollyanna once hung glass prisms in a window to create a beautiful display of light. The rainbows painted on the walls by the refracted light seemed like a magical fantasy in my young mind. It is a very good thing my parents did not own a chandelier at the time, I most certainly would have dismantled it in an effort to reenact the scene.

In life my job is not to be the light in the chandelier. It is not to do the scientific work of refracting light.

Instead my work as a child participant of the Kingdom is to be a tiny piece of glass that stands in the light. God provides the light. And his glory makes beautiful displays of light and power all over the world. My job is to turn my eyes to the Light and not depart from it.

So I may be weak. I am assuredly far from majestic and awe-inspiring. And I may shatter at any moment. But I can reflect. I can be a fragile piece of glass reflecting the light of God.

“And it is to this end I labor, struggling with all his energy,

 which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:29 NIV

Home Again, Home Again

When you have 20 teenagers in the house together for a month, you must find ways to occupy the time in meaningful ways. Our wonderful staff leader, Auntie Rita led the way in planning and executing our many fun activities. We played musical chairs, had a sack race, a treasure hunt, played charades, had a dance competition, took a neighborhood walk, enjoyed a soccer match and had an apple biting competition. … (I now feel completely justified in the nap I just took.)

Here are a few pictures!

Musical Chairs

Spoils from the treasure hunt

Dance competition

Apple biting champion! 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Through the purchases made by recent Gala attendees we were able to go on a few outings with the girls over the last few weeks. To celebrate the New Year we took a trip to the main branch of our church in Accra and got to worship with them. The church service there is always such a joyful and celebratory environment. Then, it wouldn’t be a Sunday in Accra if we did not go eat at our favorite restaurant, Papaye. Although the place was packed we managed to squeeze all 24 of us into some tables and enjoyed a delicious meal. After a big meal we decided to go and walk around in Marina Mall. This is when I got to experience the joy of watching the Pearls ride on an escalator and an elevator for the first time. We had a great time walking through the stores and finished everything off with some soft serve ice cream!

For our other fun outing we went to a nearby movie theater and got to watch a showing of the newly released Annie. The girls were able to connect with the story, they loved the music and we all had a great time. The movie was followed by a trip to the new mall where we again enjoyed a meal and the joy of escalators and elevators. We took time to walk through a few of the stores to teach girls about different foods and appliances. It is also important that they start learning how much things cost.

We laughed a lot and made memories together. So thankful for the joy of the Christmas season.

Papaye

Fun times in the bus

Checking out the merchandise

Holding on for dear life on the escalator

Ice Cream!

A big table for a big family

From the US, With Love

December and January have been full of activity at the Pearl House and it has been SO fun! The girls started back to school on the 12th, so our days full of quality time are over for now. The good news is that means I now have time to share what we have been up to. Many of our supporters sponsored activities and gifts for us over the holidays. I will start with sharing about the gifts, with more stories to come this week. 

You all bought a new dress, church shoes, undergarments, school sandals, a jacket and a backpack for each girl. Writing out that sentence humbles me to no end. Twenty girls all received so many things they need and use each and every day. Deafening shouts of joy and squeals of delight were the response to each and every one of these surprises. Thank you for blessing us with those gifts this Christmas season.

New Dresses

New Shoes

New Jackets

Christmas Day

Many of you have asked what we did on Christmas day with the girls. We celebrated by going to church and sharing together in a time of worship. Following service, our fellow church members came over to share a Christmas meal together. All in all there were more than 75 people who enjoyed a meal in our house that day. That evening in devotion we sang Christmas worship songs and enjoyed time together talking about the birth of Jesus. I must say it was a very different Christmas from any I have previously experienced, but it was most definitely a wonderful day!  

Some youth and children from Lauren's Lighthouse

Lauren's Lighthouse church members

There's really no way not to love this little guy

The Pearls on Christmas day