Editor’s Note:  The following is a typical day for Josi and her husband. Currently, they are in Ghana.  Read other posts about her journey, here.

Tuesday. I pick up Sarah and her three girls (Bryn, Myka, and Shea) at 9am and we travel out to City of Refuge Ministries to spend the day at their school, Faith Roots International Academy (FRIA).

FRIA motto (1)

Three boys (FRIA)

Morning. I teach Bible for one hour to three students—Benjamin, Joshua and Theresa. According to their age, they’re in grade P6 (P=Primary & 6=sixth grade), but their reading levels are more at a P2 (2nd grade) level. So they’re pulled out of their classes for the purpose of more attention and help along the way to catch them up and get them back into their P6 class. Benjamin, Joshua, and Theresa are beautiful kids and willing learners. We’re currently studying the book of Daniel. It’s fun and interesting to read such crazy, miraculous stories. They drum up questions in our minds and challenge our view of how God interacts with his people. And all the while learning new vocabulary words, some history, and always practicing reading.

Lunch (FRIA) (1)

Lunch. We’re served rice and kotomre stew. Kotomre is somewhat like spinach as it cooks down and has a bitter taste. It’s used in many dishes. Ghanaians like their food to have some kick. It’s tasty, but I make sure to bring plenty of water. The older boys eat last so they can grab the pot of stew and feast on whatever is left of it.

Futbol (FRIA)

After lunch I get to hang out with my new friend, Ajata. She’s a 19 year-old P.E. teacher. She landed the teaching job this past September and lives on campus with some of the other staff. We met last September shooting hoops at the school during recess. She seems to have great, positive influence on the young girls at the school. I look forward to enjoying a growing friendship with Ajata.

Afternoon. I get the honor of being around the smallest and cutest of all students – the Preschool class! I teach art to the little 3 & 4 year olds for an hour. When I come into the classroom, they’re just waking up from “nap time.” Two or three of them are so sleeeepy yet that their heavy eye lips can’t help but close and their little necks can hardly hold up their little heads. But by the time we’re half way through the art project, energy increases and giddiness overtakes. We color, we cut, we paste, we draw, we sing songs. I like to think of it as creative chaos.

Coloring (FRIA)

 

Seashore (FRIA)

 

Grandpa Bob

While I’m teaching Bible and Art, Sarah is busy helping coordinate the sponsorship program (read more about opportunities to sponsor a child), among other random and important things. Sarah’s girls help select students with their reading through teaching nursery rhymes. Also, the girls rotate turns being my “helper” for art class.

 FRIA to bus

It’s 3pm now, the school day is done. And so we walk to the bus…

Thanks for joining us on our Tuesday adventure!

EXPLORE more:

City of Refuge Ministries >> http://www.cityofrefugeoutreach.com/

Faith Roots International Academy >> http://www.faithrootsinternational.org/

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Josi Seibert

Josi was born and raised a Nebraska girl. As many Cornhuskers did, she grew up on a farm in a small rural community. Upon graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University, she exchanged cornfields for skyscrapers as she moved to Chicago to attend Moody Theological Seminary. It was there that she met her beloved husband, Ryan, and grew an interest in cross-cultural relationships as she worked with international students, refugee families, and lived in one of the most diverse communities in the country. She and her husband moved to Ghana, West Africa in September 2013 with a team of friends to start a business. In 2015 they resettled back in Chicago to welcome their first child and are currently working with World Relief, helping resettle refugees and find them employment. You're invited to keep in step with them as they live, work, learn and play: http://www.ryanandjosi.blogspot.com/

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