Desperation and Determination

Hello!

So, I'm up waaay past my bed time tonight. It happens. The reason though, is that I'm baking cookies for the seniors at school! They're trying to raise money for their senior trip next semester and tomorrow they're having a bakesale - somehow I told Ryan (their senior class advisor) that I would bring cookies. Well, it turned out to be much more of a hassle than I bargained for. Apparently, not all flour is created equal. I don't bake too much and when I do it's usually from a "just add water" box type deal because those are cheap in the States. In Ghana it's cheaper to cook from scratch. And once again, in America things are much easier because when you go to the store all the flour is pretty much the same price and you just buy the one that says "Flour" in big bold letters. Here in Ghana you have to be careful because a seemingly innocuous looking bag of flour might actually be $20... or more. So, thinking I was saving money, I did the math and bought the flour that was on sale not knowing that "self-rising four" is in fact not what you want to use for baking cookies. A very flat batch of cookies later I've learned my lesson and am now cooking using the correct ingredients thanks to the wonderful girls upstairs loaning me some flour. These cookies are much prettier.

Tonight was also really fun because our house was invited over to the Mozley's for dinner! The Mozley family is just so great. Last year, they had alllllll of us over for dinner every Monday night. This year we won't be able to do that just because there are so many more of us. So, tonight was just our house and we had delicious food and amazing conversation. It was just fantastic to be back in that house eating pita chips and salsa :-) mmmmm So many fun memories from last year!

"But Elyse," you wonder, "what's going on with the title of your blog???" I'm getting there.

I remember last year having a conversation with Mariah about how the word "desperation" really effectively summarizes your first year in Ghana. I agreed with her then but now looking back I really how seriously true it is - desperation describes everything about last year.

Every time a plane flew overhead I was desperate to be on it.
I was desperate to learn this crazy culture and feel like I understood it well enough to get around on my own.
I was desperate to feel like a part of an already established friend group.
I was desperate to figure out how the school was setup and run (still working on this one).
I was desperate to figure out how to handle 6 preps - 1 of which I was certified to teach.
I was desperate to blend in with the crowd.
I was desperate to learn how to count on God for everything and to get myself out of the way.
I was desperate to get home.

(You know how when you say a word too many times it loses all meaning? Just happened with the word desperate.)

So, the word for last year was desperation and I think the word for this year is "determined."

I'm determined to be a better teacher this year than last year.
I'm determined to be the light for Christ that I know I'm supposed to be and that I want to be.
I'm determined to finish the year well.
I'm determined to stay focused in Ghana.
I'm determined to just get through it and get home.

None of that probably makes any sense but I'm very happy with my word choices: desperation and determination. I enjoy alliteration.

Okay, well by now it's SERIOUSLY past my bed time and the last cookies are cooling on the counter. I'd better go put them away before the ants get to them.

Hope you're all doing great!!! Less than two months to break!