Happy New Year!

Wow.  I hope your New Year has started out as good as mine.  God richly blesses me day to day.  I have been here in Ghana for 8 months.  I have found many things to be rewarding and challenging.  One of the things which has been difficult has been living with another family.  I am ever so grateful that the Asiamah family welcomed me into their home and gave me a place to live, loved me as family and watched over me.  However, I have been used to living on my own for so long that I longed for a place of my own.

As I have informed you before, there are many things here which are very expensive.  Renting a place to live is one of those things.  First of all, the per month rental amounts are sometimes just totally unbelievable.  For instance, I looked a one house with 4 br/2 bath and the rent was $3,500 USD/month!!!!  I wouldn't pay that in the US.  And then on top of that, you are required to pay 2 YEARS in advance!!  Well, as you might imagine, it has been difficult to find a place I could afford.  HOWEVER, God led me to a wonderful place just before Christmas and I moved in just after Christmas!

This is a picture of the outside of the building.  It is a 2 story building with 4 flats in a completely enclosed compound.  There are 2 flats upstairs and 2 down.  I occupy one of the downstairs flats.  It has 3 bedrooms/2bathrooms.  Realitively nice place.  And I could afford it.

I even managed to purchase a little furniture for my move.  I will furnish it a little at a time.  But there are so many great things about having this place to live.  Now when I have visitors, whether American or Ghanaian, they will have a place to stay.  My first visitor will be MY DAD!!!

The two pictures above are of my living/dining room.  Currently it is my living/office room.  In case you are wondering, yes, those are bars on the windows.  Out those double doors in the far corner, I have a private little patio to sit and enjoy the outdoors.  And even with 4 tenants in this building, it is a pretty quite area.

This is a picture of the master bedroom.  I have a 3/4 size bed which is just right for me.  Right now my curtains are a bedsheet, but I am planning curtains for my next purchase.

Kitchen.....I have a frig., electric skillet, hot plate, microwave and a cupcake maker!  I think this will be adequate to cook many meals!  And let me tell you, the cupcake maker is my favorite.  I found this little jewel about a month ago.  I can make biscuits, muffins, brownies and cookies in less than 10 minutes!  Lovely!!

This is a picture of the master bathroom.  I am very happy to tell you that I have electricity and on a rare occasion running water.  Now before you gasp, let me tell you that if I had a choice, I would pick having electricity over running water any day!  There is a water well just outside my unit and so I can bring water inside and at least I have plumbing!  So no worries here.  It is much better than many have it. 

I know that I have not been keeping you informed the way I had originally planned, but my New Year's resolution is to do much better in this area.  Now, before you go laughing at the face that it has taken me so long to post this first entry, please let me explain.  On my computer, the "n" key quit working.  Just look at all the "n"s in this update.  It was very difficult to type without that one letter.  However, I finally was able to purchase a new keyboard, so we are back in business.

School has been on break since December 22nd, but restarts January 17th.  I have decided that the next health subject I will teach will cover "Sexually Transmitted Diseases" and have just finished writing my teaching plan.  I am not sure at this time whether I will be teaching this term or not.  If you will recall, I took my nursing exams here in Ghana on December 5th.  To date, we have not received our results.  If I passed, I will be working at one of the Regional Hospitals for about 4 months and so will not be at the school.

Along with school, clinic and possible hospital duty, I am also praying for a trip home.  I would like to come in late March or early April.  My international drivers' license, Ok drivers' license and taxes are due in April, so it would really be a good time for me to visit.  And along with my Dad visiting at the end of January, Dr. and Mrs. Herndon will also be coming.  So my plate is definitely full.  Many blessings and many opportunities. 

Please keep this work in your prayers.  I miss you all very much, but I know that God has a plan.  If he grants me the opportunity to visit you I will.  And if he grants you the opportunity to come to Ghana, please accept it.  You will be greatly blessed.

Psalm 118:1  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.