Our Stories Becoming One

Right now I am sitting up just getting excited for the adventures that are waiting for me. ONLY 1 MORE WEEK!!! This time in one week, I will be living with my Ghana Family about to wake up to go be with my girl, Lady. God has just continually been blessing me with His provisions for this adventure.

This past summer I thought I was going to be leaving for Zambia, Africa. However, for some reason that trip kept falling thought. Then I was told that I was on some list to go to Ghana with the Mem Road group. But I never signed up for this trip. Although when I asked Jeff about it, sure enough about a year and a half before, I apparently said something to him about wanting to go. He at that moment two years ago put me on a list for this past summer with the group of twenty people.

Once I arrived in Ghana we were able to do some wonderful things at the Village of Hope and make some life changing relationships. Near the end of our three-week trip, we were able to spend some time at a Christian College. During this time we went to visit a hospital. This is where I met a girl who has changed my world. Her name is Lady. Lady was abandoned at the Amasaman Hospital when she was seven. She is now ten. She has the Buruli Ulcer, which has now covered her whole leg. Feel free to look it up. It looks as if the person is being eaten from the inside out. While there I learned a lot about the hospitals  and how each patient has to find their own food, and pretty much take care of themselves. Well as you can imagine it is nearly impossible for a little girl who has no one to be able to take care of herself.

This is where so many people have really helped her. The lady in the bed next to her has done her best to feed Lady and care for her. While there, I could see how people were the Light of the World to others in the same terrible situation as themselves. Although one person is struggling, there is something that keeps them looking after the person in the bed next to them in the same pain. There have been so many people who have hear Lady's story and pitched in to do what they can to be partners with this little girl. There have not only been adults giving money, students giving money, but also children's classes raising money and buying presents to send to a girl that is their age. Seeing kids have this passion for others has continued to encourage me. 

I have so many flaws that have been even more obvious to me the past few months. I am a definite worrier. I like to tell God that I know He is in control. This is way easier when life is running smoothly. Well as my life has been changing over the past year I have had a lot of time to turn to Christ and cast my cares on Him. I kept making "plans" for my life. I thought one thing was going to happen but that fell through. So I decided to focus on something new and work hard to make that happen. Well God closed that door for me as well. So the stubborn person I am, I decided to find a new goal. None of these "goals" were "bad", they just were not showered in Trust of God and His power. They were showered in "Trusting myself and what I needed to do to get things done". Welp, once again God snickered at me and said "My dear foolish child. Listen." As this past semester went on I not only prayed but I spent a long time listening. So often I felt as though there was nothing to hear, and once again, I just wasn't listening (hind site is 20/20). It was really hard for me to be quiet and LISTEN. However, with practice, trust, and faith I really saw and heard God working. 

     About 3ish months ago I heard through an email that Lady Fosu gets to have reconstructive surgery! Wow, this was a miracle. By my human mind there was no way that leg was going to be saved, it would definitely need to be amputated. Well, God isn't human and He humbles me all the time. Through so many people saving and giving, the surgery was going to be completely taken care of financially. What a blessing people have been.

For some reason, it hit me like a brick wall... "Mary, GO, take care of Lady". I was a little taken off guard by this epiphany (God speaking) so I decided to pray a little longer about this specifically before asking or telling anyone about it. God kept pulling at my stubborn heart so I said "God, if this is of you then please open all the doors, I am so tired of trying for things that I think are right and them being slammed in my face. Please take this in your control COMPLETELY." The more I prayed and listened it made sense. We are told to take care of the widows and orphans. I am free, single, and able, why in the world would I not?? So, from there I discussed it with Jeff and to my pleasant surprise, he was excited. He apparently had an email from over two weeks prior saying they were in search of someone to come and care for Lady in her recovery. If this wasn't God talking to me, I don't know what is. We immediately responded saying someone was interested, but questioned if there was somewhere I could live etc. After this I went to my apartment and e-mailed my family in a bit of fear to what my parents, especially, would say to their youngest girl moving to Africa, alone. My dad called me a little later that afternoon after he read it. He was worried and concerned (like any dad J ). However, to my amazement, he said, "get some more information and if things start to work out, I honestly think this is what God wants of you". This is huge! If you know my dad, letting me leave alone like this is probably one of the last things he would let me do. This was another door being opened that I heard Christ through, LOUD AND CLEAR. After many more emails, it was made evident that this is something that I can and should do. With that I filled out a Visa application and started to look for flights. God has been in this, every inch of the way. All I have been doing is trusting and praying. HE is providing. It is powerful sitting in His presence KNOWING that He is behind me and holding me up. 

     

     So as I sit here in my Nashville home, I am overjoyed with the love I have received from people I don't know, friends, and family. God is so good and overwhelming. From this girl who has been so worried about her life after college I am so joyful in Christ with the knowledge I get to become family to a Girl Named Lady.