Update

It has been shamefully too long, and we have no good excuse.  Perhaps this new life is becoming too busy or too normal to write about, but we write this update with fresh resolve to be more consistent!

Events of note in the last month:

1. We have a new principal at our school.  Her name is Sheree Haley and she is filling a position that has heretofore been empty and sorely needed.  She has already made some extremely helpful changes and filled in some of the gaps in administrative policy and procedure.  We thank God for her.
2. Volleyball ended.  I hesitate to call it a season, because we only played one true game; however, I consider it a huge success because we learned, improved, had fun, and grew closer to God and each other.
3. Soccer continues.  Two more games.
4. Finals approach.  This is our last week to teach before one week of review and one week of final exams.  Everyone is ready for a break.
5. A few weeks ago we got to visit a church where Roy has a contact and was scheduled to speak.  He asked us to sing and we were reticent at first, but when we did so, it blessed both the church and us.  It was one of those moments where you connect in Christ across a huge cultural gap.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a traditional Ghanaian meal where we were treated like guests of honor and the pastor gave us a big wooden stool (very valuable) as a gift.  
6. We had field day at school.  The kids played both indoor and outdoor games, learned a memory verse to earn points for their team, and got to shave the PE teacher’s head.  
7. We had teachers and their families over to our compound for Thanksgiving Day to grill turkey and listen to Christmas music.  It was definitely a unique way to practice some American traditions.

We are looking forward to next semester and the tasks that lay before us.  We have discovered a need for discipleship among the students at AIS and are trying to find ways to challenge the students to grow in their personal faith, whether they have grown up in a Christian home or have yet to take the first step.  Our chapels have been phenomenal, and we are throwing ideas around about how to get kids even deeper.  We also want to see students grow in their leadership skills as we recognize the enormous potential they have to influence the world in the future.  We are starting the first AIS Student Council in January and planning for the unique AIS tradition of a service project senior trip (By the way, Does anyone have Christian contacts in Spain?!  The kids have set their sights there.)

All-school picture on field day.

One of John's team members attempts his verse on field day. 

One of the messier outdoor games on field day.

The winning team took turns on Josiah's new haircut.

Yummy American Thanksgiving food!
Someone even brought crunchy onions
from the States for green bean casserole.

Post-feast games:
Pin the feather on the turkey.

Post-feast games:
Tonya and Adowa play slapjack (Tonya won).

Carving Watermelons

When life gives you lemons, carve watermelons!  Or something like that...

Christy, one of the many great teachers we work with, hosted a watermelon carving party last weekend.  The kids in these pictures belong to Chris and Nichole, two other great staff members at the school.  The whole idea just made me think about how challenging, and sometimes even fun, it can be to come up with creative solutions to some of the problems we face here:

• Non-English speaking student can’t understand what you’re saying?  Say it differently.  Still can’t?  Get a dictionary or another kid to translate.  Still having trouble?  Gesticulate wildly and at least get a smile.
• Kids aren’t getting to class on time?  Leave mints on their desk and collect them off empty desks when class starts.  
• Books being left all over the school?  Open a book jail and charge bail (proceeds to benefit the senior class, of course).  
• Craving Chick-fil-a?  Go to Peter Pan.  
• No electricity?  Turn on your headlamp.  Dropped your headlamp and broke it?  Light a candle.  Can’t find one?  Go to bed.  
• Don’t have pumpkins to carve in October?  Carve watermelons!