The Cornilles Family

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

The Adventures Continue | Japan |

Adventure number three this summer was JAPAN! And what a pleasant surprise it was. Japan has everything- mountains, lush green forests, beaches, and big cities.

Just a week before Austin's brother, Brennan, returned home from serving a two-year service mission for our church in Taiwan. This trip was the first time his whole family had taken a vacation in years. It was wonderful to be a part of.

Sea of Japan

Swimming in it

Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park

Above the Clouds

Hiking Mt. Fuji

Summit

Humeji Castle

Our Traditonal Japanese Hotel Room

Moat Around Himeji Castle

Lots of Trains

Miyajima

Ferry to Miyajima

Golden Temple

Deer in Nara Park

Riding Bikes in Nara

Biggest Wooden Structure in the World

Kyoto

One of the many Buddha

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Ghana Part 2: The Trip of a Lifetime

After two months of crazy adventures including, but not limited to, treading through sewage flooded streets, 100 mph insane taxi rides, tro tros, extreme rain storms, mosquitos, spiders, flies, malaria, constant power outages, and two trips to the hospital….. we are home!

I know that makes the experience sound like a nightmare, but honestly it was the experience of a lifetime. I saw more and learned more in these past two months than I have in my entire life. That sounds really silly and dramatic. I know. I can’t explain it all and pictures don’t do it justice, but it was amazing. We hope to go back one day.

Auntie! LOVE that woman.

Elmina Slave Trade Castle

Whole Group. Prom pic style

The Last 3

University of Ghana MEI Event

Our Neighbor Buddies

Our Street in Kumasi

Church in Kumasi

Our Last Meal- Red Red

Bonwire Kente Village

Rain Storms

Slum

Client in Tudu

Slum

Kukum National Park

Typical Day in Accra

Slipping Under the Bride (FC: Rebecca Loveland)

View From the Hostel

Boats in Cape Coast

Flooding in Darkuman

My Custom Made Dress

Going Home!

Now off to our next adventure on Monday. Japan here we come!!

Saturday, June 21, 2014

GHANA

We have hit the one-month mark here in Ghana. I’ve learned and experienced so many things in this short time it makes it hard to put into words!

Things I LOVE About Ghana:

1) The people. Nowhere else have I experienced a people with such compassion for each other. Value is not placed on material things, it is placed on people. I wish the rest of the world understood this.

2) Fruit. The mangoes and pineapples are DIVINE. You find them everywhere and they are less than $1. Bonus.

3) The rain. As a native Oregonian, I’ve always had a special place in my heart for moisture. Ghana has just reaffirmed that love.

Things I Don’t Love:

1) The filth. Sewage, garbage and dirt everywhere.

2) The heat/humidity. Air conditioning is a major luxury that I will never take for granted again. I don’t think I have ever been this hot in my life AND IT’S THE RAINY SEASON.

3) Bugs. And by bugs I mean mosquitoes because I’ve only seen a few spiders that haunt my dreams. Mosquitoes=Malaria. Malaria=not fun, I’ll spare you the details.

Things I’ve Learned:

1) I’ve realized how incredibly fortunate I am. I grew up in a home with a loving family that provided me with everything I could ever want or need. I have a kindhearted husband who treats me with love and respect. I had the opportunity to go to school and be educated. I’ve been blessed with a stable job. The list could go on and on.

2) People matter. Things don’t. I think we all think we know this. It is just so easy to get caught up in the material things. Honestly, we blog about fashion. We go to trendy parlors for $5 cups of ice cream. We want the newest iPhone, car, that outfit we pinned on Pinterest, whatever it may be. Those things just don’t matter.

3) Heavenly Father loves us, He watches over us, and He cares about our lives. It’s easy to see His tender mercies in a place like Ghana.