I know everyone who were following me on my Blogs and Facebook have been wondering what happened to Queen Yaa Yaa? Well, when I arrived back in the States on November 19th, it took me a week to readjust and transition back into this side of the world. One of the first things that hit me when I stepped off the plane, it was cloudy, rainy and cold. As I was riding back home from Dulles, the trees had turned brown and some were bare. I had just left the beautiful greenery and sunshine in Ghana. “Oh, what a reality check”! It’s exactly one month later after arriving back to the States, and I am still adjusting and missing our Motherland.
After my first week of readjustment and getting my biological clock back in sync, I went into my office just to pick up my computer so I could get prepared for the Spring semester. Now, remember, I was actually supposed to be on sabbatical for the entire Fall semester and not officially return until January. Also, my original plan was to return to the States on December 13th, but I changed my ticket to return on November 19th. Once I set foot on the campus grounds, that thing called ‘sabbatical’ took a flight somewhere else. Was it a mistake to go back into my office or not, or was this another one of those divine interventions that I talked about in my previous Blogs? Well, stay tuned and let’s find out.
While I was in Ghana, my faculty and staff did a superb job of keeping things going and moving forward with the many tasks that was on their “things to do list” that I had given them before my departure to Ghana.
Before leaving for Ghana, we were in the midst of working on the various stages of planning for the implementation of a MSW program at VSU. During my absence, the Department was very successful in getting the approval from the various University Curriculum Committee’s, the Faculty Senate and VSU Board of Visitors. The next big task before us was writing and submitting the proposal and prospectus to the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV) and the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) for approval for a MSW program at VSU.
Before I left for Ghana, I had written the proposal for SCHEV. Upon my return and follow-up on the submission process, we learned that several things had changed in the submission requirements and we had a deadline date to submit the SACS Prospectus to the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness (OPIE) by December 13th, so SACS must be in receipt of the prospectus no later than December 19th to meet their January 1st deadline date. If this was not done, it would delay our process possibly another nine months to a year to move forward with the MSW program. I am thinking OMG! Then I hear this voice saying to me, “this is no time to complain or get frantic, you just have to get to work to meet the deadlines”. At that point in time, I realized I had to stay focused and “follow the process”. So, I went off the grid for approximately three weeks, meaning no blogging and social media, etc.
Ironically, on Friday, December 13th, rather than my returning from Ghana as I had originally planned, we completed the SACS Prospectus and submitted it to OPIE on Friday, December 13th, and we are holding on to our faith that everything will work out positively. We are now praying that the Commonwealth of Virginia will provide the funding for VSU MSW Program.
Was this all part of our Creator’s plan for me to return back at VSU earlier than previously planned, so I will have another testimony about listening to and following the heart, mind and spirit?
Today is Sunday, December 22nd, and I am finding myself sitting in the stillness of my home thinking about my life’s journey, especially over this past year. This has been a phenomenally and amazing year! I appreciate this journey called life more and more each day that I breathe air in and out of my lungs. The knowledge and wisdom that I have acquired over my lifetime is not taken for granted.
While I was working tirelessly on the SACS prospectus, Kwame was been keeping me updated on DKA’s Computer Center progress. Because of the out pour of love and generosity from the Friends of Divine Kids Academy (FDKA) and the Divine Kids Academy Warriors (DKAW) our Creator and ancestors are shouting out in the other world knowing that their sacrifices did not fall upon infertile soil. DKA will be the first of any school in Jukwa, Ghana to have a computer lab. Kwame reported to me hat the DKA teachers, students and parents are so ecstatic over the computer lab, so they are joining in by volunteering their time and labor in assisting the carpenters, masons and electricians. In addition, DKA teachers are also volunteering their time to paint the front of the school on weekends with no pay, except a meal while they are working.
FDKA and DKAW, because you followed your hearts and spirits, you have planted seeds that will change the lives of children for generations. Your kindness, love and generosity are truly a Christmas miracle for our little sisters and brother, and the families in Jukwa, Ghana.
May God continue to bless you with good health and prosperity. DKA wish each and everyone of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Queen Yaa Yaa