Big Adventure...

This day last year was my first full day in Ghana and the start of my Big Adventure.

After a hospitable night with the Sims family in Accra, I travelled with them to Amakom and my first sighting of the lake and greetings with the Jernigan’s, Rebecca, Hollie, Michael and James. A very long but very special day.

The view over the lake from Michael's porch

The Jernigan family with their 3 interns

Never has a place, people or community touched me so deeply and made me feel like one of them so quickly.

So what are some of the things that I miss... (in no particular order!!)

Koko...fried plantain...it just doesn’t taste the same bought from Tesco
Hobnobs with peanut butter and nutella...and the ants that shared them with us
Greeting people on the road as we walked through the villages
The cries of children greeting us “ mama louey” or Abena Louise
Sunsets over the lake
Open, free and enthusiastic praise and worship of the Lord...dancing in church : )
Random visitors popping in for a chat
Girly nights
Long chats into the night
Movie night...with popcorn and taffy
Fun road trips to Kumasi to gather in provisions
Spectacular rainstorms
Lucas and Luiza’s inventive games
Michael’s bright smile and willingness to help us at ANY time!!
Clear starry night skys
Spontaneous dance parties!!
Days spent in the air conditioning and chats with Andrew
James’ constant and joyful singing unto the Lord
Becca’s French toast and Hollie’s ‘hamburger pie’!!
Becca’s great wisdom and Hollie’s wacky sense of humour
Sunday afternoon football
Banter with the builders

I could probably go on forever but I’ll stop there. However, one thing that was constant was God’s presence, comfort, love and protection through every challenge and predicament we found ourselves in.

Michael and I enjoying a bowl of Tizette with intestines and tuna!!

Me and James...my brother who loves to sing!

Me, Rebecca and Hollie returning from our first 'mudding' road trip in Kumasi

My first taste of Fufu!

My 2 football heroes

The builders!! :)

My time in Ghana and at Lake Bosomtwe was such a blessing to me and a year on I’m still learning from my experiences and making sense of some of the lessons that God was teaching me.



The sun has set on one adventure but I will be setting out on another Big Adventure this summer when I travel to Sri Lanka at the start of July where I will spend just over a month. 2 1/2 weeks working on a research project in Colombo and the rest of the time working with the MMS(I) ViM team, which is travelling to Kitiyawa to work on a building project, alongside continuing work on my research project. I’ve no doubt God has many wonderful experiences and challenges in store for me again this year but I have no doubt He will be walking alongside me every moment of the journey once more.