Hello!

Hello!
My name is Autumn Buzzell and I live and work in Ghana, West Africa with City of Refuge Ministries. Here, I run our school, Faith Roots International Academy, and get to be a part in rescuing and the healing of children who have been trafficked into the fishing trade, orphaned, abandoned, and those who just need a little extra loving. What an amazing gift this life is!

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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Day 2

7:30 am--I just woke up from my first night here in Ghana. It's rainy season, so I loved falling asleep to the sound of rain outside my window. Only problem is, the rain makes the air so muggy! The fan in my room is essential to the breathing process! But, I slept well and am ready to start my first full day here.
My shower is first. I have my own bathroom, and though it's a little different from my shower back home, it's running water.
Plan for the day. . .meeting up with a lady from an International School here to discuss curriculum and ideas, hanging with the kids from the Freedom Center, and we'll see what else the day holds.
I tried to upload a video tour of my room here in Ghana, but the internet was too slow for this one. I'll try again soon.

6:30 pm--What an amazing day! I spent part of the morning working with Stacy on different ideas for the school. We talked a lot about ACSI accredidation and what that would look like for a village school with no income. Hmmmm! After awhile, we went to the Freedom Center where I was greeted by little Portia (3 yrs) and Edwin 1 1/2 yrs) running to me for a hug. They are so cute! After a little bit of time at the Freedom Center, we brought the school age children their lunches to their school. It was the second to last day of their term, so the kids were all out in the courtyard putting on a talent show. It was so fun! Dancing, singing, fashion show (which was hilarious to see the boys reactions!). After that, we met up with a lady (Erin) who is teaching at an International School in Accra for the next two years. We had lunch with her and it was an amazing blessing to get to hear John and Stacy's story of how they met and how God has moved in their life to bring them to this place. Erin also told some of her story and then we all had the opportunity to pray together. We definitely felt God moving in the restaurant as we prayed over the table and chairs that whoever would come next would feel the LOVE of the Father! Powerful time! After dropping Erin off at the YWAM base where she is staying, we went down into Community 1 in Tema which is in the center of the city where they do all their shopping. We had to pick up toilet paper (I bet you're glad I shared that random fact) and, of course, stopped off for some AMAZING pineapple! What a treat! Finally, we made it back to the Freedom Center where I got to hang out with little Edwin. Man, he is SO CUTE! At a year and a half, he still hasn't spoken. They work with him everyday to get him to talk. I also got to hang out with some of the older children and look through their past term's school work. I got some ideas of their current level of education (most of the books weren't finished, maybe only a couple pages completed in each) and what we'll need to do. I need to work on assessing the kids to see where they would fit in, but I know that these kids are bright and I'm excited to see what God does.
One cool note, Erin was praying today at lunch and told me that she felt like God told her that He was going to do something new and deep in me in this season. I have felt the word "expansion" over this season as well--just a widening and a deepening in my relationship with God, but also in my kingdom perspective. Cool to hear from her, someont I just met today, that God is speaking the same things!
Until next time!

4 comments:

  1. Blessings to you and your adventure, delighted to hear you have jumped into it with both feed and are off and running, keep it up
    "If you treat an individual as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be."
    – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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  2. Expansion via FAITH! and in your FAITH! excited to hear more. I like that Ed ends his comments with quotes. :)

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  3. Oh Autumn! My heart wants to be there with you right now! So cool that through our gospel partnerships and prayer we can be with you in spirit! I am so so so very excited about all that God has already done, is doing, and WILL DO! It makes me joyful and giddy. Thank you, thank you for being obedient to His call on your life! You are such an encouragement to our little community and the entire body of Christ! Excited to see how others are continually called to step out boldly in faith! Praying for you! Love from California!
    p.s. I feel like even through little things like bearing the uncomfortable weather, God is going to grow you in godly discipline and Christ-likeness! how cool that our "sufferings" produce godly character and rich fruit!

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  4. hehe I like the update on the TP situation :)! Reading about your word "expansion" i felt my lungs expand with air- and felt connected with what you were sharing. We wait on God in anticipation. I've got those kids in my prayers... pictures please!!

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