Curt and I were back in Accra, Ghana most of April. Curt had a busy schedule of media training, visiting partners and encouraging our Sub-Saharan Africa team. I cooked, cleaned, made curtains and even recovered some chairs. But I also spent time just listening, praying and encouraging the women of our team. I have an incredible memory of one morning spent with Eva, a Liberian refugee who serves our team.

It was only 8 AM, but the African morning was hot and humid with the smell of nearby cooking fires lingering in the air. Eva had walked more than a mile to work, so sweat was on her brow as she arrived, a brilliant white smile etched across her ebony face. Numa, the African Grey parrot, greeted her with a "Mornin’ Eva!" No electricity that morning but Eva took it all in stride as she began to sing "Great is Thy Faithfulness.” She sings this to praise God for the day, but also hoping Numa will soon learn the tune!

As Eva sang, she and I began making bread. After a busy morning of laundry, dishes and cooking, we shared a cool glass of fresh squeezed lemonade.  We sat on two short, African 3-legged stools, laughing and telling stories ...sharing what God was doing in our lives.

I asked Eva, "You look a bit tired today, are you OK?" She replied, "Oh yes, but I had a hard night. Between the witch doctor’s chants and my room being very hot I slept very little.“ But then she added something I will never forget. She said that as she lay there in her bed complaining to the Lord, He reminded her of the days she spent hiding in the woods during the civil war in Liberia. God reminded her of the leaves she ate to survive. Then she said, “Now I have plenty to eat and I am not living in the forest, so I really have nothing to complain about."

I was speechless as I sat and listened to her story of hunger, fear and God’s grace during a terrible time of war. Through Eva, I was deeply challenged.

How often do I complain to God? It is so easy to be caught up in the things of this world. Instead of complaining, maybe we should hold out our hands to the Lord each morning, asking Him, “How can I serve you today?” That’s what Eva taught me that day.