Off to Ghana, West Africa!!

Isaac, but they called him "Obama" because they thought he looked like our president.

Tomorrow I leave for Ghana to volunteer at the Forever Young International School for three weeks. So excited!! I'll be there with two friends: Jenn (the team lead) and Calli (who just finished her masters--congratulations!). In the past we have focused quite a bit on teachers' training--touching on best practices in education.

This year, we hope to spend more time assisting the administration with their goals. Each year we bring over donated reading books for their library, medical supplies for the office (they currently don't have a school nurse), and school supplies (for both students and teachers). The Forever Young Foundation is getting some computers over there for their lab this year. We have also set up a scholarship program to help students who might not be able to finish school. They get help with tuition, lunches, etc. On that note...if you would be interested in donating towards supplies (for next year) or in sponsoring a student, please let me know! I've helped sponsor one boy who's parents were earning about $2.50 a day. Projects we have for the future include setting up a malaria clinic (through grants and donations), getting a vocational program up and running, and expanding the computer lab.

But really, I'm just excited to go over and see old friends and make new ones. The students range from pre-kindergarten all the way through high school. There are roughly 650 students total. I've posted photos from the first year I went, but will definitely share some from these next few weeks! I'm just blessed to have a husband who will support me in this adventure. Love you, Jed!

The American school bus...

Jesussina (right) and friends after school.

Sarah: Me do pa!! (I love you!!)

Dishes for my Brotha

So my brother asked me to make a dinnerware set a little less than a year ago. I finished them about a month ago. And I've just packed them in boxes a minute ago. But before I did, I took pictures. Here they are:

Salad/Soup Bowl

Ceramic Cup and Water Pitcher

Ceramic Pot for Counter

Set of Salad Bowls

Serving Bowl

Stack of Plates

Place Setting

My Signature and Stamp!

I quit!! This is fun!!

Depending on the day, or maybe more accurately, the moment--I have told Jed that I am DONE with this whole farmers market thing or that the adventure is so much fun and I LOVE it! The market day when our Kansas county was on tornado watch and almost no customers came was a little discouraging. But just in the moment that I needed a boost, we had a fun Friday night harvesting and Saturday morning talking to people stopping by our booth.

I've found myself taking a lot of pride in our healthy-looking Russian kale (an heirloom variety) or the rainbow-colored beets we pulled from the ground (also an heirloom). It's fun becoming part of the community of vendors at the market...like Patty who sells amazing goat's-milk soap in the booth next to us (who gave me some ground-up apricot pit to put in my first try at soap-making). Or Becky who makes beautiful pottery (she came to my school and helped me figure out how use the kiln in my classroom last September). And there's the lady who spins her own wool (how cool is that?!!) and the honey-lady, and the Kromers (who are retired military, now growing produce). And I love seeing the plants grow and take on these amazing colors: food is so dynamic! These plants are my babies.

So, I'm learning that just like anything--being a local, market-garden farmer is a lot of work, with its challenges and its joys. And I'm glad we are making the journey...most days.