Kid's time out with Barney!

Hello lovely readers! 

So Monday was a holiday here in Ghana and it was in celebration of Founder's day (the late first leader of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's birthday), which fell on Saturday the 21 of September and for that matter had to be shifted to Monday! Yea... holidays are so cool, right? Well they are for me. lol. One of the TV stations asked their viewers what they know about him and other heroes of Ghana, and one person said he knows more about corruption than history, and sincerely, I agree with him.

Away from that... Guess who was in town?! Barney!!! Yea he came to town, so on Sunday the 22, I took my sunshine and a friend with her kids to the International Conference Center to watch the Barney show. It was fun... Enjoy some pictures 

The auditorium was so packed that even people with VIP tickets could not get seats. This family had to seat on the floor

sunshine with his friends

The lil girl is soo cute! Her name is Chinemere...

That's comedian funny face. This guy is something... Very humble and a nice person too

That is all for now. I wish you all the very best of everything... I also pray that we will learn to wait on the Lord and hide ourselves in His secret place so that forever we will abide under His shadow!

My heart goes out to all those who were directly or indirectly affected by the Kenya mall bombing. Ghana lost one of its greatest Poets. A prolific author, himself an elder statesman, Prof. Kofi Awoonor (former Chairman of the Council of States). May God be our strength at this time. It's well.

Peace... I'm out! 

Little beginnings are very important part of your story...

Hello Everyone, 

Another wonderful week is here again! Here is wishing we all have very beautiful testimonies and wonderful things to talk about at the end of the week. 

Today, I am talking about little beginnings. I have had the chance to speak with a few successful people here in Ghana, from executives in the oil an gas sector, to bankers, to transport owners, to fashion designers, to farmers, atheletes and entertainers; and their stories have all been almost the same. Some started off as mechanics and drivers among many other odd jobs that we don't really regard.

The difference was their perseverance. they persevered against all odds and it landed them at where they are now.

What am I saying? Small beginnings are very important, never despise or let anyone despise your little beginnings because, a journey of a thousand miles begins with just a step.

I hope this encourages someone. I hope this helps teach a reader that, even though you might not be seeing the head and tail of a thing now, things will only get better if you believe in what you are doing, hang in there... even when the road is rough. 

My prayer is you keep on being persistent and faithful and with God being on your side, your story will be different in the next few years to come. May the Lord bless and keep us all, may He cause His face to shine upon us and give us peace always, in Jesus Name. Amen!

Peace... I'm out!

My Weekend In Pictures

Hei Blogville,

Happy new month to you all. I pray in this 9th month, we will birth all our aspirations and we will find rest in God IJN, Amen!

I hope y'all had a great weekend. Well... It's a wish I have for you, cause I had an awesome weekend myself. 

Weddings are beautiful, not just because of the joining together of lovers, but also the glamour, the fashion, the fun, and ofcourse, the pictures.

so I went out on Saturday and Sunday (for two wonderful wedding ceremonies) with my camera. See a few of what I got, Enjoy...

this was for my collegues traditional marriage on Saturday

this was for Sunday at a church member's wedding

that's my sunshine with a cousin

this girl was amazing with the adowa dance. (a traditional dance by the Akans)

my colleague with her heartthrob 

both are church workers and they found love in each other.

I pray the Lord God will bless both marriages with all their heart desires and make them continue to grow and glow in love.

Before I sign out, here's a big hug to atilola on her loss. May the good Lord strengthen her and the family. Goodbye is the saddest and hardest thing to say, especially if it's the kind of goodbye that never waves back... cause they are gone for good.

I wish you all an amazing week, I pray we have lots of testimonies from now till the end to month and always.  

Peace... I'm out!

Somewhere In The World Today...

Dear Lord,

Somewhere in the world today, there’s a man confused about what to do next. He’s done all he knows but has still not been able to be the kind of husband and father he thought he would be.

Somewhere in the world today, there’s a woman whose hope is failing. She has been patient, trusting that things will get better. She’s raised her kid(s) without a man and has struggled with broken dreams.

Somewhere in the world today, there’s a couple that woke up not understanding why they are still together, looking for a reason to break up, wishing there were no kids in between to make their decision to move on tough…

Somewhere in the world today, there’s a new kid on the prison block. He’s wondering how he got into the whole mess that landed him in the cells, and the answer just isn’t coming.

Somewhere in the world today, there’s a young lady who has become tired of believing and is just ready to give in and violate every single principle she has stood for.

Somewhere in the world today, people are suffering for the mistakes and ineptitude of their parents.

Somewhere in the world today, there’s a child, wondering why he/she is not the one in the classroom; why he/she cannot wear good clothes and shoes like the child across the road; why there’s no one to call dad or mum; why that uncle puts his hand under her skirt every time she needs 1cedi for a meal; why that aunty asks him to kiss her nipples every time he comes for a plate of rice without money; why his/her little shoulders must have to carry an adult's burden and why he/she must have to figure this whole sadness out…

Lord, I am just reporting live from the world. But You have already seen these things from where You are. So I am not just notifying You with updates, I have just come to ask for grace. Lord have mercy on them… Have mercy on us all.

Let the Light of Your Presence pierce through the darkness and break the chains of death, wickedness and despair among us. Let us rise up in Faith… true Faith, and contend with the enemy of our souls. 

Teach us to pray o Lord and teach us to remember to give thanks in all things, for it is Your will for us through Jesus Christ…

Above all Lord, give us grace to help those who cannot help themselves.

Peace Lord... I'm out!

Crossroads...

Hello everyone!

I trust we are all doing awesome and the month has been good for us so far... I pray no weapon formed against us will prosper IJN, Amen!

I got some few things to share today, so here goes...    

Sometimes we don’t know why people do what they do. Sometimes we are uncertain about whether or not people mean well... (just well) when they take us out, buy us gifts; show all forms of care, concern and attention.

What is worse and even more perplexing is when the people that do these things for you who you ordinarily consider as having no reason or business with wanting to take the “beats” to the next level, but then, they begin to show you signs which, whether confirmed verifiable or otherwise, indicate that they want to be something more than friends.

The married ones are more difficult to digest, especially when you know their spouses and are directly involved in their lives, whether as friends, family or close associates/colleagues. Then the questions begin:

What is this? What is going on? Why does he/she keep calling or texting me? Why does he/she use those words to speak to me? Why this unusual show of concern? Does his/her spouse know that he/she visits me? Why does he/she want to spend this much time with me, and this much money on me? What if his/her spouse finds out?

Then another deluge of questions ensue:

What do I do? How do I manage this? His/her spouse is my friend (or someone I know very well), and he/she is a good person. How do I begin to handle this? How can I allow this to destroy my good relationship with these people?

Then comes the next stage: We either play along, or we decide that this has gone far enough and no further... Me thinks, that a defined relationship sets boundaries:

"What do you want?" is a question that is very much in place at this point. The "NO!!! We can't do this" should be next. When they say "oh no! you are getting it all wrong", ask them "then why this and why that (ofcourse you have your facts)". Tell them, "you must stop this! Don't let me loose the respect I have for you. Do you even wonder what will happen if your spouse finds out?" They will usually use the oldest answer in the book to address this: "but you and I are adults... who will know if we don't say?"

If you are not comfortable with it, walk away from it. Don't wait till you get entangled. I know that there are so many reasons why things might happen the way they do, but really, much as we are none to judge, we cannot pretend that there are no Wolves in Sheep's clothing, who will mess up your life just for a piece of it.

I don't have all the answers, and I hope you can lend your voice to this issue. Lots of people, both men and women are in this quagmire, and still have not figured out how to deal with it. Or have you been there yourself? How did you deal with it (if you dealt with it)?

Peace... I'm out

Stress Reliever!

Hello everyone!!!

Thanks for the encouraging comments on my last post, I appreciate. 

Someone sent me this Akpors joke on whatsapp, I laughed so much I had to share, so here goes:

"Teacher: There will be an elementary science test next week.

Contrary to his nature, Akpors reads his book from cover to cover like no man's business. On test day, teacher lines up about 5 birds, covering each with a piece of cloth so only their legs are visible.

Question 1: Looking at the leg of a bird write down its common name, habitat etc.
 

After about 20mins of frustration and not writing anything, Akpors storms to the teacher's desk and slams his blank sheet in front of the teacher.

Akpors: Sir this test makes no sense! I am going home!
Teacher: What a rude boy! Come back here, What is ur name?

Akpors raises his trouser and points to his leg "Oya, you too, look at my leg and tell me my name, my surname, my house address, what tribe i come from... etc" LWKMD...

In other matters, there's this "guess the blogger" post kinda game from Atilola lately, and its fun! Congrats to Honeydame and Toinlicious. "Me too will win some" LOL. 

Hei tomorrow is a holiday, Yaaaay!!!!, I know 9ja will be having a long holiday cos' its two whole days! well... I wish una well eh... I go manage my one day like that. (sad faced) lol... Barka da salah in advance to all my Muslim friends... Blessings and more to you all.

Peace... I'm out!

Help Them Or Let Them Be...

Where I have been? I've been on leave from work... Eating, sleeping and getting fat. And oh... Worked on my long essay which I have submitted. I believe y'all are doing awesome? I am doing same and I resumed work today.

So, on July 19, I submitted my long essay on "Using Communication to Reduce Stigmatisation Against Persons Living With HIV/AIDS". What started as a mere academic exercise (which was meant to add value to my results) turned out to become much more than an intellectually gratifying experience, but also an emotional and soul searching journey.

I had first-hand contact and conversation with persons living with HIV/AIDS (called PLWHA in short)

Me & Joyce D Natey (AIDS ambassador & PLWHA)

and the first thing that hit me was "Hei! Come now! these guys are human beings! Real people! They eat, they talk, they cry, they look good... really good, and they are no different from you and I". I had to come face to face with my guilt and my fear; the guilt of saying to myself, that it is risky to have PLWHA as friends, and the fear of thinking that mingling with them even in a conversation will infect one.

Well... I conquered my guilt, and I conquered my fear concerning PLWHA. I applaud them for speaking openly about their situation; for teaching people like us how to handle ourselves so that we don't get into their situation. I respect them... I don't pity them. Not at all! They don't  need pity, whether yours or mine. They need our eyes, our ears and our hearts to be open to their message, that it could have been us in their shoes. So we must learn what they are teaching us and not stigmatise them. They deserve a good life and we must not stand in their way of getting it. Besides, most of them "before and after" lived and are living a far more decent life and are much less promiscuous than a lot of us who vilify them.

So, just as I have been converted, I end in the words of Jesus "...let he/she that is without sin, cast the first stone"

SAY NO TO STIGMATISATION OF PLWHA

Peace... I'm out!