Ghana or Denver- Where am I?

Dear friends,

Ghana
Last night I did a program with 60+ kids at our church about Ghana. Are you ready? We played Mancala which is called Oware in Ghana. The kids learned 2 praise songs in Twi. We ate pineapple, bananas, FuFu and something that starts with a B, both made from flour with cassava, plantains and yams. We did dances from Ghana (courtesy of a DVD from our public library) learned Twi words, prayed, played a tag game called, "The Big Snake," and learned facts about Ghana. Our church has a Ghana focus and we have several Ghanan students who attend our church while going to Whitworth University. One of these guys is Kofi. His father is coming next week and is one of our Partners International leaders in Africa. So we have church and Partners connections to Ghana. A guy at Partners gave me an outfit from Ghana, which is comfortable and pretty. The kids call me, "Hannah from Ghana." Our Ghana guys came and helped me cook the FuFu and teach the words, etc. We had 4 year olds to 5th graders and it was fun for all. Whew! I thank the Lord for staff at the church who help me execute my ideas with the kids. And the kids love learning about other cultures. I am tired today and have a pretty awful headache, but I had the strength when I needed it. My medicines have helped it tone down to tolerable now.

Next week on Tuesday, I am leaving for a week in Denver to visit our supporters and church there. I have been invited to do a lesson in Sunday School for the Bible Blast class. Our family has been adopted as their class missionary. Each S.S. class has an adopted missionary at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, CO.

I have an idea for the lesson I will do with them next week in Denver. I will have about 60 kids two times- so 120 total. I am planning to call it "Money and Missions." It is coming to me bit by bit from the Lord. That sounds strange probably, but during the day an idea will drop into my mind and it is like puzzle pieces falling one by one into place. The lesson will deal with issues about money and tithing, the economy, currency exchange rates and how that affects missionaries and the kids will also receive an allotment of pretend money to spend at the Partners International Store on projects featured in our current Harvest of Hope Catalog. I will have them posted all over the walls. They will each get a HOH catalog to take home as well. I think a song is even making its way into my mind today from the Lord to go with the lesson. You just never know with me! I liken myself to a combination of Dori from Finding Nemo, as my memory is about that bad, and the squirrel in Over the Hedge, when he drinks caffine and gets really hyper and moves at super-sonic speeds!

Medical Update
I had the CAT scan of my kidneys and bladder last Wednesday. I think because of my blood being extra thin due to the Coumadin I am on (last INR level was 3.7), it was very hard to get an IV in for the contrast. I think I had 5 stressful and painful tries before it finally went in. I was about to have the 3rd person try. I layed down after it had gone on for a while and didn't faint. I won't say more, but some of you know what I mean.

Anyhow, after the IV was in the test was pretty fast. My doctor called to tell me that nothing of concern showed up on the scan. He didn't see any tumors or stones or anything like cancer. Hallelujah! He said a lot of contrast accumulated in my appendix, but that it would dissipate over time. So, where the rubber meets the road, the blood in my urine has no obvious cause, so we don't need to be worried about it. Some people just have it, I guess. Just like some people get DVT's in their legs for no reason.

I'd appreciate you praying that my INR number, which indicates the blood clotting ability of my blood, will get down to the 2.0 to 3.0 range. I have it checked tomorrow. I haven't been wearing my compression socks because they have caused me to get a "bakers' cyst" behind my left knee. This pocket of fluid causes pain when I bend my leg too much. I ice it once or twice daily and that helps it to hurt less. Maybe I can get compression stockings instead of socks...I'll have to ask tomorrow.

Family News
I got to Skype with Allison last Saturday night for 1 1/2 hours! It was wonderful. Not as good as being with her, but a treat none-the-less. She met and spent time with the Australian drummer who played for Hillsong on their US tour. He and one of the teachers in her city is a Christian, but she is having a hard time finding English speaking Christians. She is going to try downloading church from the internet for her spiritual growth. She loves her students and teaching is going well. She MIGHT get to come home for Christmas and to be in a friend's wedding. Please pray for God's will about that. It comes down to money, as it usually does, but God can do it if He feels it is best for her.

Greg and Jesse are heading up into the WA mountains to hunt this weekend and for the next several weekends. I personally am hoping for an elk, but they haven't seen any animals on their scouting trips recently. I think this weekend, they only have tags for deer.

Laura, Jesse and Jenni are doing fine. And Greg is doing great. I sure do love him! Well, I should let you get back to your life. I need to make plans for my trip to Denver. I was so focused on Ghana for the last week or two, I haven't even arranged where to stay or a car to drive- Yikes!
May the Lord bless you as you bless others He brings into your life. Blessings- Nancy Fritz