To my father…

My dad left Ghana this morning, after arriving a week ago to celebrate this birthday with the children and I. I am so thankful for my father’s life and the man that he is. I cannot emphasise that, or what my dad means to me. He has only shown selfless, gentle, understanding, and supportive love to me, my family and all around him. Any person who gets to know my father will truly be blessed. My father has been blessed with so many talents and gifts, he only uses them to bring glory to God and to show others by his sacrificial christ like love what it means to truly live as a christian. This doesn’t mean he is perfect, none of us are, but he does an amazing job setting an example, and placing a standard on what it means, and what it looks like to live a Christ like life.

No one quite understands my vision for PNN, or for my life better than my father. My whole life my dad was always supporting me, and not just supporting my goals, visions but he would incorporate himself into them. He would embrace them and partake in them. I do not know many parents who would fully step on board with their at the time 16 year old daughter traveling to Africa, going with her, and then deciding to start something from nothing because God had called us to do so. His compassion for these children and people we had come to know on our first trip to Ghana turned into a passion. We share the same heart, and see the same vision for where God will take PNN. I have so many amazing memories with my dad but this past week might top them all. We kind of made this full circle, our first time in Ghana was just the two of us, with nothing, no plan or idea that PNN would happen. Here we find ourselves enjoying the work that God has put on our hearts, and seeing the goodness of His faithfulness. Watching the kids play after school, helping with homework, enjoying a movie or talent show, or simply just speaking life into them. These are the kids we worked all these years for. These are the very children God has called to this place at this time. Seeing the children’s lives being changed, and seeing the way in which they responded to my father’s love, and watching them cry when he left was truly amazing. This shows us how love is more powerful than anything, it is the greatest gift from God.

I often think about what my life would look like if my father, well was not my father. I know that I might not be sitting in Ghana writing this post right now, I do not know where I would be. It makes me think about the love he has shown me my whole life. And this is simply how I see it. The love that one person can show can change a generation. My dad’s love and support for my life has enabled me to first know love, and second be able to show love. So dad I thank you for never giving up on me, for providing for me, and embracing my calling on living a very different life. Thank you for coming alongside me and being so open and willing to give more of yourself and your time than I ever deserve.