10 Lessons My Gap Year Has Taught Me

Hello! My gap year is slowly and surely drawing to a close and I'm now in University mode. Well more like attempting to apply to university mode. Yall I didn't know this stuff was so complicated. Being a Ghanaian with foreign background trying to apply to universities back home is actually a struggle and three-fourths. So yea.
I'm really happy with how my gap year has gone and how God has been faithful and has used me! He has changed me and removed some undesirable things in my heart so it's all fist-pumping and praising with a huge dash of worship up in here.
I think it would be weird if I hadn't learnt anything from this experience. I would honestly recommend seniors in high school to take a gap year  (aka convince your parents). There's absolutely not rush to go to university even though many counselors make it seem that way.
In any case, here are 10 Lessons My Gap Year Has Taught Me.

Not everyone is going to encourage/appreciate you and your hustle

Its sad but it's true. Not everyone is going to be high-fiving and/or booty-bumping you as you attempt to figure out what your life is about. And dare I say that some people may try to discourage you. You just have to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and go about what you need to do.

Some people/circumstances are only for a season

Another lesson that is a little heartbreaking. Remember how I used to volunteer at a baby's home? Yea I haven't been there in at least 3 months. And its 2 seconds away from my house. My baby John got adopted and that was it for me. Yea. Also all the friends that I made there... Haven't quite spoken to them in at least 3 months as well. This is probably just my weakness, but I'm terrible at keeping in touch.  But God used that season of my life to teach me something else which is

Patience is a virtue

YALL. Dealing with children is a struggle! All the moms and dads out there who work 9/5 and then have to come home and make dinner, help with homework, clean up here and there, make sure the kids have showered and put the kids to sleep are the real MVPS. They deserve all the awards. All the of them.

Spending time in the Word of God and in prayer are so important!

I realized that the times/days when I wasn't starting my day with some good old devotion and prayer, my thoughts and actions were just bleh you know. It's also so much easier to backslide when you're not in word of God. It transforms you basically.

Pursue new interests.

This gap year, I learnt how to sew and I'm taking a floral design class. I had never thought of these two skills whilst in high school. Like they never crossed my mind. Ever. Ever. 

Work is hard. Hard is work. Hard work is hard.

Um yea. I  don't think I've ever worked as hard as I have this gap year. Just two weeks ago, sewing pretty much consumed my life as I was preparing a display table for Voyageuse Africaine at my old school. I worked till midnight/ 1-ish for a whole week, with no naps (IMAGINE THAT). My back hurt. And that was when I realized that I had never worked that hard in my life before. Like Senior Seminar compared to that was nothing. You guys. I dreamed about sewing. Like I would have dreams of sewing needles going through fabric. That was what my life was about.

There are people around me who are hurting and in need of Jesus so bad.

On a daily basis, I'm sure I come into contact with people who don't know of the saving grace of Jesus and how He died for our sins on the Cross. Like that's crazy you know. But at the same time that's the state in which our world is. I'm convinced that God is changing me inside and out to be used for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Seeking God's will basically becomes number one priority

Like. Lets be real. God says He says plans for me to prosper, and plans to give me a hope and a future in Jeremiah 29:11 and what's better than that? Absolutely nothing. So I'm going to be here trusting the Lord with all my heart and not leaning on my own understanding ( Proverbs 3:5) 

You have to discipline yourself if you're going to get things done

This is an obvious one, sorta, but still! Discipline is important and still haven't gotten that down yet. Like let's take today. I woke up at noon. yea not so much discipline to be found here today. Come back tomorrow. Maybe.

Being shy isn't going to get you anywhere

These last couple of weeks, I'd love to say that I've slowly peeled off my shy self and I'm doing life for real. You want to talk to that boy? Do it! (but not really bc ugh) You want to go to this church service? Teleport yourself there! You need to go to the next town by yourself to buy jewelry supplies using public transport that you dont know too well? Yea just pray for God's guidance to get you there in one piece. But get on that bus girl! Seriously.

So that's it! 10 Lessons My Gap Year Has Taught Me! Have you ever taken a gap year? What are some lessons it taught you? 

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Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of all kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
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8 Ways In Which A Floral Design Course Changed My Life

Hiiiiiii! Long time no seee. How are you doing? Yall. I'm the busiest bee as of right now, I need the Lord to give me some strength up in here cuz lets be real, I have approximately none of my own. Who knew attempting to run a small business would be so hard? Who knew you could almost have an emotional breakdown bc of stress and general exhaustion on the side of the road because your bus didn't stop at your stop? w0w. ANYWAYS. It's all good. God is good and He has sustained me so its all thumbs up around here!

I had my 7th (WHERE HAS TIME GONE) floral design lesson this week. Remember when I first mentioned it? I think it was on instagram. But woah time has flown. I've learnt so much so here are 8 Ways In Which A Floral Design Course Changed My Life!

• I now wake up early! Long gone are the days of sleeping in till 10. When class starts at 8ish (we're on African time), best believe your girl is up at 7-7:30 to get ready for this fist-pump worthy of a class.

• Naming flowers is basically my 9-5 job! Plz get at me. Just kidding. Please dont. But on the realz, I can name quite a few flowers so that's pretty shweet.

• Our house ALWAYS has flowers. It is a problem? Yes. Do we care? Nah boo! As I write this, there are two completely different arrangements just chillin' and illin'.

• I'm always dreamily looking out the car window at flower vendors and the flowers they're selling. Like mhhhm. Those purple roses / sunflowers / lillies / gladiolas are calling my name (LOL TOLD YOU I COULD NAME THEM #noflexzone)

• I never want to leave florist shops. For an assignment, I had to get some flowers and some floral foam to make an buffet arrangement (holla at your girl) and that florist shop. YO. I was in my happy place. I did not want to leave. It was so beautiful.

• I'm forever taking photographs of flowers. Like oh, working on a flatlay? Let me just throw in a quick lily in there.. no big deal.

• I've learnt so much about flower arrangement maintenance that I can't STAND murky vase water. LIKE WHY IS THE WATER LOOKING GREEN?? Better dump that out real quick and refill it like yesterday. Thanks. And while you're at it could you like, get rid of those almost dead leaves. Yea thanks.

• I feel like my eyes are more open to God's awesomeness and creativity. LIKE. He designed these flowers. Every single one of them. How amazing is that? I appreciate that.

Here are some more photographs for your viewing pleasure! 

PS - Have you checked out the shop and followed it on instagram? If yes,*sticks gold star on your forehead lovingly* if nah then you better get to it! And while you're at it, order something for yourself! 
You May Have Missed: Voyageuse Africaine : The Boutique The Kente & Khanga Network An Open Letter to my John-John!
Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path - Psalms 119:105

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Voyageuse Africaine : The Boutique!

Yall! I got some exciting news. Voyageuse Africaine : The Boutique is FINALLY open, by the grace of God! Like honestly, long time coming but we finally here. Remember when I first discovered that I actually really liked sewing and making stuff? 

Click this post to refresh your memory {#throwback to blog posts that were a mess}. And now all my dreamzz are coming true. (hey now, hey nooooooow, this iz what dreamzz are made of, hey hey! *Lizzie McGuire booty-shake thing*)

Laptop Sleeve in the Naa Lamile Print :3

iPad sleeve in the Lamisi Print

A Bible sleeve in the Lamisi Print!

BUT YO God is so so so faithful! I remember when I made a promise that if He provided me  with a sewing machine (which I've never owned, much less know how to operate) I would give the first fruits of this little business to His Kingdom.  
NOW LOOK AT US. I'll be making my first Kenya deliveries next week so that's really exciting #dollardollarbillsyall, but not really. but kinda.

simple multi-purpose clutch in the Naa Lamile Print

I have international shipping set up already, but now I'm just tryna set up PayPal and those international payment shenanigans. BUT YESSSS. God has been so good! Super excited to HOPEFULLY start shipping internationally.

a simple multi-purpose clutch in the Yaa Print

So basically what I'll be doing is making technology (so iPad and laptop) sleeves (OH AND BIBLE SLEEVES) as well as little purses out of Ghanaian wax fabric #reppinGhanarealquick. All the fabrics have Ghanaian names because why not? I think it adds an extra dash of spice and personality to the fabrics y'know what I'm sayin'?

You can click here to check out the store, Voyageuse Africaine, and browse through some of the things I've made so far. Oh, about the last photo, I went to the bead market in Ghana over the summer, and these are some of the shweet beads we picked up. I actually made these for my mom's birthday (which is today, happy burfday mama jammaaa!) and I thought MHM maybe I could add these to the shop as well *kanye shrug*
YAAAY. So that's kind of that. Still a bit of radio silence because of laptop issues but yea. Shweet shweet shweet. YALL. Pray for me! I want to glorify God with this business so bad. 
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Who should not revere you O King of all nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men in all the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like You. Jeremiah 10:7
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The Truth About My Gap Year : Part II

In which God constantly reminds me that He is faithful even when I am not, and that He has plans for me to prosper! (2 Timothy 2:3 and Jeremiah 29:11) If you missed part I here it is!

So if you follow me on Instagram (@xoNorkor), I think I've posted twice about my gap year and how God has been so good. Man. 
So basically here's the low-down. This gap year I've volunteered at New Life and fallen in love with baby John (who praise God is getting adopted in like a week, I'M CRYING AND HAPPY AT THE SAME TIME). God has been stripping me of some sub-par things within me like impatience. 
Remember when I posted about a new passion? Well I've been praying and internally crying about it and man, God makes a way when there seem to be no way! Like wow. My mind is seriously being blown by God's goodness and how He provides like crazy for me! So I basically wanted to start a small business making little things from Ghanaian fabric and 1. I can't sew. Like I have no training or anything. I think I've used a sewing machine once in my 17 years of life. and 2. We don't have a sewing machine.
 SO. IT ALL SEEMED PRETTY IMPOSSIBLE. Good quality sewing machines are pretty expensive where I live, so I was seriously trying to figure out a way to get a sewing machine. Like looking on the Walmart online store and trying to find people who were going to the US to get it for me ALL THAT KINDA STUFF.
SMH. Long story short, a colleague of my mom's from like 94820923 years ago, who actually remembers me from when I was like 7, is going to hook me up with some sewing training and will help me find a good sewing machine for a reasonable price. I'M JUST LIKE YO. This lady popped outta NO WHERE, and voila, all the pieces are being put together by God. For His Glory alone! Much praising. Such worship.
ALSO. I'm starting a floral design course TOMORROW. I'M SO EXCITED. I love flowers, like seriously look at this post, and a lot of my instagrams. I'm so excited to learn a new skill and ALSO hopefully turn it into a business! My God is so great like w0w. I'm going to be occupied. NO MORE SLEEPING IN. *FIST PUMPSSSSS*
So that's whats going onnn with my gap year! I hope you're doing well yo.
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing. Hebrews 13: 1-2
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The Truth About My Gap Year : Part I

I've been so productive today, I decided hey, I could probably throw in some blogging into all this productivity! I'm 6 months into my gap year, and to say it hasn't quite gone the way I would have wanted it to is an understatement.

Y'ALL.

I had all these goals and was so mega super pumped up about this gap year. LOL. Jokes. It's basically that quote that says "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans" by Woody Allen.

Some of my goals for this gap year were:
- Two internships; the total number of internships I've done in my past 6 months add up to a nice round number of 0.00.

- Get involved in music; I still do not own a musical instrument despite having the ability to play the piano, flute, violin and a dash of guitar. Fantastic

- Be adventurous; this is the vaguest of all vague gap year goals. I still have no idea what that means. I guess it could mean anything right?

- Get healthy/ work out; what is healthy? Who is work out? I am currently not acquainted with any of these terms.

- Improve photography skills; THE ONLY GOAL that I've somewhat achieved. My instagram game is much better. I feel like my artistic side is just poppin' at the moment. My eye for interesting colors and compositions is just YAAZZZ.

- Be consistent with everything [walk with Jesus, taking care of mom]; also another goal that I've SOMEWHAT achieved. I still really struggle with having a daily quiet time, especially in the mornings. I'm not a morning person, but that's not even an excuse.

But on a serious note, I'm sorta bummed about all the things I haven't achieved in my gap year, but on the other hand, I'm trusting God to come through for me all the time! Like okay so what if I haven't done 2 internships yet and I'm half way through my gap year? God has promised me in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has plans for me to prosper and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. So really its all good in the hood.

This is a long text post, so I guess I'll do a part 2 on it! :) Thats all for now.

You can catch up with all my gap year posts here:

Why I Decided to Take a Gap Year
The Gap Year Grind: Volume 1
It's a Beautiful Day Not to Be in High School
The Gap Year Grind: 5 Lessons Learnt So Far
The Gap Year Grind: A Guest Post

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Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

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On Intentionality

So apparently its December and I'm halfway (ish) through my gap year. I've honestly been feeling like I've accomplished approximately -384.4820 things on my to-do-over-this-gap-year list. Why am I pretending like I'm on summer break and sleeping in and not going to "work" is acceptable? Like who do I even think I am? I'm genuinely confused.

So today was one of those *ahem* sleep in days and I felt horrible because srsly what are you even doing with yourself Norkor. ugh.I decided that from TOMORROW, I'm going to be intentional about everything I need to do. I'm done sleeping in when people are out there pursuing Jesus intentionally, chasing their dreams and just TRULY living life. Sleeping is so 5 months ago aka summer break.

I spent a nice chunk of the afternoon outside on the porch because it was nice and sunny. I ended up doing some artsy fartsy stuff to motivate myself. I didn't want to say I'd start being intentional when 2015 rolls around because then I'd continue to give myself an excuse to sleep in and do nothing.

SO. I'm going to be intentional about:

 - spending time with God, praying, reading the Bible, meditating. 

 - Going to volunteer at New Life every morning!

 - Eating right and working out. THIS ONE IS THE HARDEST.

I'm sure this list can grow but that's all I have for now. Is there anything YOU want to start being intentional about? I want to know about yo. Fah real. ALSO. Casual reminder that you are loved. Mhm.

Surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes. - Romans 6:19

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The Gap Year Grind: A Guest Post

Hello! Today I've having my very first guest post here on Voyageur Africaine! Ms. Kristel over at Glowing Light also took a gap year, and today she's sharing her experience. In other words, gap years are the bomb dot com.

When I first “met” Norkor she told me her blog was a lifestyle/gap year blog. My immediate thought was, “what in the world is a gap year?” But as she explained it I realized I had also taken a gap year. And it was really one of the most valuable years of my life.

I graduated college when when I was 21 years old. I knew I wanted to go on to grad school but I also wanted a break before pursuing that goal. 

In that year after college I began working as a preschool teacher to save up some money. I never imagined myself as a preschool teacher but it ended up being a great experience. In many ways that time prepared me for being a mother to my own children. 

I also spent that year planning my wedding. My husband and I had a ten month engagement, which may seem long to some, but it was perfect for us. Marriage is such a huge life change. It was nice to have all that time to really focus on preparing for not just a wedding, but a marriage as well. I’ve met so many couples who are so stressed about wedding planning and I’m glad to say that I didn’t feel that stress at all. We took our time making decisions and really enjoyed our engagement. 

At the end of my gap year I got married, moved to another state, and started grad school. I felt refreshed and ready to take on new challenges. I really feel that anyone who is able should take a gap year as well. You can try new things, take a break from “regular” life, and learn a lot about yourself. 

Have you take a gap year? What did you learn?

Kristel Acevedo is a wife, mom and blogger living in Miami, FL. You can keep up with her on Glowing Light, her personal blog, where she writes about faith, family and all the fun in between.

Follow the rest of Ms. Kristel's adventures on her blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter

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It's A Beautiful Day Not To Be in High School

The sun is shining. The birds are singing a song of praise, and I'm probably still asleep. Also known as, I'm enjoying this gap year a little too much. And here are 9 reasons why!

Waking up at 6:00 to leave the house at exactly 7:14AM is no longer a thing.

Being on the bus whilst sleep deprived featuring noisy elementary kids is not the life I live.

general emotions regarding high school struggles

Running to Physiology and Anatomy as fast as my 50-kilo messenger bag will take me before the bell rings, is no longer my daily workout.

Looking forward to naps on the bus isn't the highlight of my day anymore.

Leaving the house in SWEATPANTS is literally a thing of the past #callmesweatpantsqueen.

People *cough* freshmen *cough* talking loudly at 7:55AM is no longer my portion.

Being the CEO of the StruggleBus Industries is no longer my full-time occupation.

Phrases like "doing homework on Sunday evenings and "what's due tomorrow" have been temporarily deleted from my dictionary.

MLA format? Works Cited? Who are those? Did they go to school with us?

this is my happy to not be in high school anymore face

Needless to say, I'm so enjoying this gap year! Doing all of my favorite things and seeing where God leads me! Also, there's so much freedom that comes with taking a gap year. Like yo, I can wake up one day and say, you know what, I haven't had a strawberry lemonade from Java in a while.. LET ME JUUUUST.

And then it just kinda..you know.. happens, just like that. On the other hand, time management is a real thing. I'm still learning how to account for time spent. The only reason I'm not running around town doing artsy fartsy things is because I can't drive yet. But LETZ BE REAL. If I could drive, would I be found in the house 24/7? Probably, but I'd also be like..doing brunch and stuff..you know. or nah.

But I'd be lying if I said senior year wasn't the most hilarious, most shenanigan-filled year of high school. I'm so so so grateful for all the experiences and all the amazing teachers that made my high school experience what it was. It was indeed the apex {shout out to AP Literature} of struggle but yea, high school, I'm so over youuu.

*In other news, I did the accent challenge with Korban, which you can check out over here! You can really experience how in shambles and awkward I truly am! Go watch it!*

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Photos of yours truly by Korban Photography

But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and no get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.- Isaiah 40:31

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The Gap Year Grind | 5 Lessons Learnt So Far

Hello!
I just realized that in a couple of days I'll be hitting the two month mark of my gap year! It has gone by so fast, it's a little crazy. But at the same time I'm SO excited to see what God will do in my life during this time.

However, in just two months I've learnt a few things about myself and about God.

First things first, "unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain". [Psalms 127: 1]

If it's not God's plan, you can't force it to be. And even if you do, it won't turn out A+. You just have to go with the flow of things. At the beginning of my gap year I applied for two different internships. One never got back to me and the other one asked me to reapply in January. I was a bit bummed out because I was so ready to be productive the ways I THOUGHT I wanted to be.

But God is too great because Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". That's an amazing promise. And as always, He came through.

I began volunteering at the New Life Home Trust, a babies' home and I enjoy my time there so much! I've learnt so many skills [bottle and spoon feeding, entertaining toddlers, speaking in baby language aw yea] and I've been TRULY blessed by that place. It gets so tired taking care of children uhuh but it's so worth it. Especially seeing them smile.

How awesome is God? For real!

And now, I'm an assistant for my children's service at church {durr, where else} and I love EVERY. SINGLE. CHILD. I got the chance to start the J-Church choir, and it's so mind-blowing how God has used all those years of music lessons and choir classes for this! IT'S HONESTLY so great I can't even explain how grateful and in awe of God I am! I'm just praying that He would lead in every single thing.

Also, some things that I've learnt about myself that are significant to me, but are insignificant because my God is greater than all of them put together would be the fact that:

• I am extremely impatient, like bruh I can count so many moments just these past two weeks were I've gotten so impatient, which then leads to anger smh [and that's not a fruit of the Spirit so I need to be rid of that]
• I am inconsistent with so many things. Exhibit A: this blog in itself.
• I like to do things on my own regarding some things, but I have no strength of my own. My strength comes from the Lord.

And last but not the least:

I am in desperate need of His grace and guidance every.single.hour.

I'm curious to see how God transforms me this year! 

How about you? Have you being noticing little things that God is transforming in you? I want to hear about it!

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Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. - Ephesians 4:29

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Jack of All Trades Link Up

The Gap Year Grind | Volume 1

It has been almost two full weeks since my gap year officially started, and so far I’m enjoying myself. I have applied for an internship at a media agency [yay for CV writing #nothankstohighschool] and I am yet to hear from them. But I’m not stressing. At first I was, because I was like “huhuhu when will I hear from them?!/1 Because I was ready to get this gap year going.  Sometime during last week I was feeling discouraged because I wasn’t shifting gears from summer break to gap year fast enough. Real quick, I want to revisit the goals that I made for myself.

• Do at least two internships – these haven’t kicked off yet..so..nah
• Get healthy [workout  & eat right] – yeaaaaaaa.. lets get real for 1.394829 seconds. I really need to work harder on this one! Working out is currently not a word in my dictionary.
• Get involved with music [violin, piano, flute] – Mother dearest and I are already on the hunt for a new violin/flute. Once I have one of those, I can brush up with the help of the bae Youtube
• Improve photography skills – I’m definitely getting more adventurous with mother dearest’s iPad camera. Check out some of my instagram snaps!
• Be consistent in everything [walk with Jesus, taking care of mum] –  this has been  easy because God has been giving me the strength and the desire daily to wake up early and spend time in His Word. My heart is SO full yo. Taking care of mother dearest basically means making her a yummy breakfast and dinner and making her countless mugs of Rooibos tea . I  love spending time with my mom! Maybe a little too much. #shesthebest
• Be adventurous! - this is  the vaguest goal ever.

But the best part of this ENTIRE week has been volunteering at the New Life Home. Man, I’m blessed daily by the little bundles of joy that come as children there. The ladies and gentlemen that work there are so caring and work so hard every single second of a LONG day. It’s really hard taking care of children let me tell you straight up. I’ve learnt SO much just this week, and especially appreciate the hard work of every single mother yo. Raising children [with your husband or by yourself] is hard work! And so tiring.

 Man. It’s been a humbling opportunity. The children are GROWING on me. Getting attached to every single of them has become my day job. I pray for every single one of them to find a good home with parents that really love them and can take care of them. Little baby John has my heart, it’s ridiculous. He’s the quietest baby and he’s SO observant. All he wants to do is eat, sleep and look around. Ugh he’s the best. And we have the same haircut!

All in all, these past two weeks have been great! I’m so excited for what God has in store for me this year

The Child of God who maintains the habit of reading and reflective study will find new insights in what appears to be the peeling back of layer upon layer of scriptural complexity. In reality, it is us who are being peeled back and laid bare by the ever present truths of His Word.

                                                                                            - Steve Troxel

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Why I Decided to Take a Gap Year

Source

So today actually marks the first official day of my gap year! I've been so excited to start this year and to see where God leads me.

After graduating, everyone (literally everyone) asks you what your plans are. I literally answered this question a billion times this summer from every single family member. Taking a gap year really wasn't that big of a decision for me.