Categories: uncategorized
Date: 16 November 2007 18:56:51
My last week in Kumasi was very busy. It was really sad to leave the children and I will really miss my friends and my church.
Singing at church on Sunday went really well. I stayed Saturday night in Kumasi at the house of the keyboardist and drummer (because it was taking me up to 2 hours to get home after choir practise) and then dressed in my traditional African dress and went to church. I sang 'Jesus, Lover of my Soul', once through by myself and then I was joined by the choir and tried to ad-lib (something I am not very comfortable with coming from a classical background). The two volunteers at my orphanage came to support me and said it was really beautiful. The choir director was really pleased and my choir friend said he was proud so I was happy.
When packing up the stuff from my room, I realised that a 50 cedi note (about the equivalent of 50 euros) was missing from my room. I searched everywhere (I had left it under my pillow, not very imaginative but I thought it would be safe) and it was nowhere. That was incredibly frustrating and meant a trip to the bank that I hadn't otherwise planned.
I have spent the last few days in Cape Coast. This is where the slave forts are situated. I had the same sick feeling visiting these forts as I did when I visited Auschwitz. Something like 20 million people were sold into slavery from Africa during that period in history. It was a rather surreal experience walking through the dungeons and trying to imagine the terrible things that happened there. I stayed on campus with a friend who used to attend my church in Kumasi and she showed me around when she could (it was exam period so I didn't want to take up too much of her time). Yesterday I was helping her carry something back to her room and I took a spectacular fall. Unfortunately it was in front of the hall where alot of people were standing. I got a great round of applause. I think if you are going to do something, do it well. My friend told me it looked like I was diving into the concrete. My pride was the thing that was hurt the most but I'm still harbouring a rather sore elbow.
As a sign-off from Ghana, I am going to leave you with something a church friend of mine wrote and gave to me before I left:
How do you see your life? How should one see life from God's perspective? There are so many answers to this question than one can imagine. The way you see your life shapes your life. If you consider life as a marathon, you will value endurance. If you see life as a battle or a game, winning will be of no importance but the effort to win.
Our existence on earth is a kind of earth's school where God educates and tests us. It is only the coward who says he has not known fear. But do not be driven by fear. Fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they are afraid to take their chances. They avoid risk and try to maintain the status quo. Fear will never allow you to become what God wants you to be. It will bring self-imposed imprisonment.
Do not spend all the time running from your past or hiding from your shame; do not be manipulated by the memories; do not allow the past to control your future. We are products of the past but we do not have to be imprisoned by it. If you do not succeed, do not say that you have failed. Just say it is an experiment, keep on trying till you get it right. Courage is not the absence of fear but it is the realisation that there is something more important than fear.
Oh yes, it is true that someway, somehow, you might have been intimidated but your greatest intimidation can be the source of your great strength. God specialises in making the impossible very possible. He also specialises in giving people a fresh start. The fact that you are down does not mean you are out, there is always another chance.
You look the way you look for a reason. God made no mistake and everything He created was beautiful and for a purpose. You are just what He wants you to be. You are who you are because God has a plan for you. Yesterday's failure should not scare you out of trying again. You can definitely make it because you are an overcomer. Do not be driven by materialism because the world crowns success but God crowns faithfulness.
It feels good to be appreciated but do not expect appreciation from the crowd because if you do, their failure to appreciate you another day will bring you down. Be yourself, do not imitate but be at the place where God wants you to be, know your purpose and run towards that direction.
For you to achieve your goals do not look down on yourself, you are who you are for a reason. You are part of God's intricate plan. You are a unique, precious and perfect design, called specially by God. Do what you have to do right because it is the Lord who causes us all to do such wonderful deeds. A good writer said sometime ago "I don't know the key to success but I can give you the key to failure and that is trying to please everyone". My dear, never follow the crowd because those who follow the crowd always get lost in it.
For you to achieve your vision, be like Hannah, "Be uncomfortable in your bad state and boost your desire for greatness and perfection". It is written that "but the desire of the righteous shall be granted". Proverbs 10:24b. Remember to pray; prayer is invading the impossible. The way God sees you is different from how you see yourself and how people see you.
No one can predict your future. Remember no matter the bondage you find yourself in, no one can imprison your power of imagination. Think rich, for as a man thinks in his heart so is he; speak well of your situation, for life and death lies in the power of the tongue, those who love it will eat the fruit thereof. Believe in yourself and rely on God.
Beloved, you can surely make it. When life's difficult moments come your way, stay calm. May God grant you hope to cope because I passionately believe it shall be well. Peace be with you.
GAS.