Ghana Nurse

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

When something does not go as planned, the Lord quickly makes His will known. This is one of the many reasons why I love being in Ghana. On Wednesday, Hope and I expected to travel to a village for the day, but because the center was having Hepatitis B screenings by a local clinic, we had to postpone until Thursday. We were a little disappointed being that we had two days to rest after Kid's Camp and we were more than ready to get back to work. However, the Lord prepared our hearts to serve, so we assisted a small medical team that came to help draw labs and administer vaccinations to the staff here at the center. I was grateful to learn more about community health in Ghana, but it wasn't until later that night when I realized why God wanted us to stay and help at the center.

Some of the staff tested positive for Hepatitis B and the looks on their faces was of devastation and pain. One man had brought his family and though he and his wife as well as the oldest child tested negative for hep B, his three youngest children were positive for the virus. When I found him later that night and pulled him aside to talk to him, I could see by his red eyes and sunken face that he was taking the news with extreme difficulty. My friend who used to laugh and joke with me, could barely look into my eyes. I said a prayer in my mind for the right words to speak, and as I opened my mouth I could feel the Lord working through my words to encourage him through explaining what Hepatitis B is and the different ways it is transmitted. We talked through the medical plan of action for his children and discussed how God can do a miracle. As I looked into his eyes, I saw a huge burden roll off his shoulders. He later came to me and told me that after talking with me he called his family together and his wife and children who were devastated by the news, stopped crying when they heard what the Lord was saying through me. They prayed as a family together and they are moving forward with life and looking to the Lord for strength, not looking to a past which would only drain them further.

The next day (Thursday), we once again prepared to go to the village. However, this time there was nobody who was free to drive us to the village, plus all the center's cars were rented for the day. Hope and I exchanged frustrated glances. We really wanted to work in the villages. However, we were told that we had to set up a clinic here in the area and invite all the neighbors to come. After praying, we began to work. A crowd of people had come and more were on the way as people we treated left and spread the news of our clinic. In the middle of assessing a man’s knee pains, I received a phone call from one of the center’s employees. He asked me to come quickly because he found a girl lying outside the auditorium. I left Hope to manage alone and ran to the scene in time to see a man carrying one girl to a car. She was vomiting and could barely sit up. I asked what had happened and the people around me said she was just lying outside the building and they did not know what had happened.  They were going to take her to the hospital, but I implored them to drive her to our clinic to let us treat here. I knew from experience that it would be many hours before the hospital finally had time to see her. As I was about to walk towards our temporary clinic, I heard commotion at the entrance of the building, and someone called for me to see another girl who reportedly couldn’t breathe. I ran into the room to see a girl sobbing and gasping for breath. Another girl was trying to lift her to carry her to the car. I asked them to bring that girl as well, and I immediately started praying. As a nurse I am trained to remain calm under pressure, but it’s true my mind was spinning. I needed the Lord to help me think clearly.

They quickly drove the girls to our clinic and I debriefed Hope on what little I knew of the two girls. She took care of the girl who I first met who was vomiting. I took the girl who was sobbing and couldn’t breathe. Suddenly the Lord revealed to me what to do. The girl was hyperventilating and shaking. I held her hand and asked her to count with me slowly. Within a few seconds, the girl’s breathing evened out and she was able to take medications. She was feverish and a little delirious with the classic malaria headache. She was then given a mattress to lie on. Everybody was watching Hope and I at work. It was like being put on stage and you either performed well and the people praised God or you did not perform well and God’s name would not have been glorified. But God is always glorified, so He gave us the wisdom to make the right decisions.

Throughout the day Hope and I continued treating the local people. Several times I went to check on the two girls who slept most of the day. By the evening time, both girls were walking around and the girl I took care of smiled and took my hand. We couldn’t understand each other’s language but we connected. I later found out that these two girls we helped were part of a program here for young Muslim women. It was incredible to learn that the fruit of our labor for the Lord is a testimony to the hundreds of Muslim girls who came. And to think Hope and I wanted to go to the village that day! If we had gone, we would have missed out on the Lord using us in a very special way. These stories of the Lord’s timing have no end. I will share two more and then get back to work!

On Friday we went to Pastor Jacob’s village. The pastor was very organized and had all the villagers lined up with numbers sitting on benches a short distance from the place we were setting up clinic. We ended up treating over 500 people and after our driver cooked us dinner, we treated more people until 9pm with one light hanging from an electrical wire strung up outside to illuminate our medication table. We intended to spend the night, but ended up coming back to the center to sleep. The next morning the pastor from that village came to visit us. He informed us that people started coming to his house at 6am that morning to see if we were still around. He said that many people remarked at the difference between Muslims and Christians and because of our fruit and the love we showed, many people from surrounding villages were touched and asked that Pastor Jacob help them plant a church in their area as well. In the meantime, some decided to join Pastor Jacob’s church. Pastor Jacob told them that if they want to come to church that is wonderful, but he will not force them, it must be their decision to come. It is so amazing to hear how the Lord is already working in the hearts of the villagers. The Bible says people will know us by our fruit. So I encourage everyone to think about what you are doing that demonstrates that you belong to the Lord. He takes imperfect vessels like myself and can help us bear beautiful fruit for His glory.

The last story occurred yesterday (Monday). We traveled to a village almost an hour’s drive from the center. We treated and prayed for about 400 people. It was turning into a frustrating day because people crowded around us tightly and the pastor of that village was not assisting to organize the people. Instead, people cut in front of each other, the children were filthy dirty, flies were everywhere, and the overall condition was very unfortunate. As we were packing to leave, the chief of the village came to us to implore us to see a woman who reportedly had a twig in her eyebrow. As we drove to the site where the woman was sitting my heart sank. I saw the woman hunched on the ground surrounded by a pool of blood and vomit. She had a veil over her face and when I lifted it, Hope and I quickly realized she had to be rushed to the hospital. Instead of a twig like we were led to believe, the woman had a branch imbedded in her right eye which angled down towards her nose. She was pregnant and very weak. Some people wanted to pull the branch out, but Hope and I implored them not to do any such thing and insisted we drive her to the hospital. The closest hospital was a 45 minute drive away from the village. Originally the men of the village thought to put her on a motor bike or a bicycle and take her to a clinic, but thankfully they heeded our warnings and allowed us to pack the woman into the van with us. Two men and a woman travelled with her and the three of them with Hope, held the woman’s head steady for the entire drive to the hospital. She began vomiting blood in the car and we all kept praying. Once at the hospital the Lord granted us favor with one of the nurses who tried to help us get the woman seen immediately. However, there were only two doctors available, so finally after pleading with them personally, one of the doctors finally agreed to see the woman. She now had had the branch in her eye for almost an hour and a half. I cannot imagine what would have happened to her had we not arrived that very day and had we lost our tempers with the villagers and left any sooner than we did. God is always in control of time, and I am so grateful to be able to see Him at work in the lives of people around me.

Since then, I found out today that the branch was removed from the woman’s eye and that she is doing well, though no one can tell me if she ended up losing the eye or not. However, praise the Lord she is fine as is her unborn child. Continue to pray for this woman and her family. They are all Muslim so pray that they sense the Lord’s care and love for them through our hands. Pray they come into His kingdom quickly. We are to visit the hospital on Thursday, so if I learn anything more, I will share the news. In the meantime, as I said, please just keep praying! 

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." - James 2:14-17  

The moment I set foot in Ghana, I felt like I had returned home. The familiar smells, sights, and noises greeted my senses. How grateful I am to be back in this beautiful country among a people I consider my family. The moment I reached my final destination I felt the Lord had rejuvenated my strength and when Pastor Mbarra asked if I wound like to rest or go to a village, I was so excited to have the opportunity to get right to work. I packed up some medications in a small bag and jumped in the tro-tro (van) with a few other missionaries from the USA as well as local Ghanaian pastors.

We drove about an hour to the village and when we got there we set out to greet the chief of the village. If I can remember the statistics correctly, this particular tribe of people there are about 800,000 in population with less than 1% being Christian. When we met the chief we were each give opportunity to share about the love of Jesus and give a brief testimony of what the Lord has done to change our lives while one of our guides interpreted. The people gathered around us to listen carefully. 

During this time Pastor Mbarra also had the people gather around him and list three of the main issues the village faced that year. The first issue people complained of was lack of water. The second issue was no school house. The third issue the people reported was needing a better clinic. Pastor Mbarra then chose three symbols to represent each issue. A pencil to represent school, a bowl to represent water, and a calculator to represent a clinic. Then he gave each person a stone so he or she could place their stone in front of the one issue they felt was the most pressing. By the end after counting the stones it was decided that the people believed that lack of water was their most pressing problem. The people had already tried to drill for water two times and failed, but this time we told them we would pray that the Lord would help us to help them. Pastor Mbarra explained that there is nothing we can do apart from the Lord, that He is the One who can provide. He also emphasized that the village would have to be involved in this effort. Then the people allowed us to pray for them to not only receive physical water, but more importantly spiritual water in the days to come.

After talking with the people and hearing what they had to say, I was granted permission by the chief to assess and treat the people in his village. After about two hours and seeing almost 100 villagers, I even had the opportunity to treat the chief himself. I am truly thankful to have a skill from the Lord where I can reach out and touch people. To feel their pain, hug the sick babies, and pray for healing. Also, praying that the medications I used were effective so that all the glory could be given to the Lord because all the people there knew that we were there because of Jesus. I was the only person on our team with medical training, but the rest of the team really helped by pulling aside the children and playing with them or pulling aside adults to talk with them. The other people pulled aside those I didn't have medications for to pray for them to be healed. So those of you who are not nurses or doctors and believe you cannot go into the mission field without a skill, reconsider. There are uses for everyone in the mission field! 

Besides working in the villages, and seeing the Lord working in my life and in the lives of those around me, it has been so encouraging to be involved in daily devotions and see all my old friends again. It was good to see the children at the orphange again as well as all the staff there. Wow, I cannot describe the amazing welcome I received from everyone at the center as well as at the orphanage. The warmth expressed towards me, the hugs and the shouts of delight blew me away. I nearly cried. How God used me to touch the lives here I can barely understand it, but how much more my life has been impacted by the people here.

Since I first came to Ghana I have realized that I will never be the same again. Things I once thought so important seem strangely dim. I continuely see the Lord working in my heart, focusing it on Him more and more. The things I cared about back home (car, clothes, career) are just that...things. It's time I live for the Lord completely. Please pray the Lord continues to work in my life and that He will help me to do the work He intends for me to do. Also, there are three other prayer requests.

1. Pray for the kid's camp that Lord would soften the hearts of many children to hear the truth about the Gospel

2. Pray for Pastor Daniel who needs a new car because the last 3 times he has come to my aide to pick me up from the airport his car has broken down though he continually tries to fix it, but becauses of lack of money he cannot afford a new car to pick up missionaries from the airport

3. Pray for the vocational school where they hope to start training about 20 women starting this fall if the funds are provided so that these women can support themselves and take care of their families, while learning about Jesus the very same time they learn their skills

“For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?” 1 Thessalonians 2:8-10

On Wednesday, Matilda and myself went to our last village where we assessed and treated 201 people within 4 hours. It was a lovely time of serving the people and one woman made us fufu for lunch which tasted so good after our hard work all morning. Matilda really grew to love the team here at the center because of the overwhelming kindness everyone has shown here. She even made a special effort to come to the center last night so she could say goodbye to everyone before leaving for Germany this morning. I know her heart has been touched and I pray the Lord uses this experience in Ghana to draw her closer to Him.

On Thursday, the Children’s Home hosted a small party in my honor with drinks, cake and some small gifts. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to the babies, knowing that when I come back they will be grown and some will have found new homes. Please keep these precious babies in your prayers.

Friday morning I read the above verses at morning devotion starting in verse six and ending in verse thirteen. In my Bible the title of the section is “Timothy’s Encouraging Report”. I told the staff at the center how I would give an encouraging report to those back in America.   

I have been feeling overwhelmed and encouraged by the gratefulness, lunch and dinner parties, gifts, and hugs everyone here at the center has given me. The genuine spirit of everyone here is so inspiring and I am so thankful for the time I had with these precious people. They taught me so much how to show hospitality, love, and care to complete strangers.

As I spend my last weekend here in Ghana I have a lot to think about and pray about as I start my journey to the USA. Please pray the Lord takes me safely back to Accra as I am traveling by bus very early Monday morning. I have made the journey twice before with others, but now I am making the journey on my own. Pray the Lord gives me wisdom and traveling mercy.

Thank you all back in the USA for all of your prayers, encouragement and support. I look forward to seeing everyone even though I wish I could stay here in Ghana forever. Please pray that the Lord will bring me back here again in August as planned!

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17&18

So much has happened it is unbelievable! I cannot say enough just how good God is. My days are busy per usual but He has been so merciful. Every single day is full with hardly any time to breathe. Last week on Wednesday it was my turn to lead Bible study and I tried so hard to make time to prepare but every time I had two minutes to myself, someone would knock on my door. Then by the time everyone left, I had to go to work at the orphanage and then by the time I got back I had 5 minutes to shower and go to Bible study. So without any preparations I prayed that the Lord would help me and give me the words to speak. Praise the Lord I was able to teach for one hour and everyone at Bible study had questions and other comments to add to the conversation so the time flew by! It was a really good time of digging into the Word impromptu.

Thank you all for praying for my German friend and co-volunteer at the orphanage, Matilda. She is so open and we are becoming good friends. She is a medical secretary at a hospital in Germany, and she expressed interest in seeing what I am doing here in Ghana. I was able to introduce her to Pastor Dan who is heading the evangelism department because he had a computer donated from Germany. Matilda came to see if she could help him change the settings so that it would be in English. Her boyfriend is a software designer back in Germany so she called him and he was able to talk her through everything. On Friday, I invited her to dinner and to sleep over at my place so that she could come with me to the village to set up clinic Saturday morning. She was absolutely thrilled. She came to prayer meeting on Friday night and Saturday morning we made a great team and treated 220 people at the village within four hours time. It was incredible! Matilda told me that the previous 5 weeks in Ghana made no sense to her but now that she has been working alongside me, everything makes so much sense. Before we leave for the village our team always pray together and once we arrive at the village we pray again and when we come back home we pray another time that the Lord would use us to show His love and that He would use the medicine and prevent harm to the people we see. This has been a great thing for Matilda to witness and experience. It is also so important to always pray to Jesus because we even had a testimony as we were leaving the village. One woman brought her small baby to me complaining that the child refused to sleep the past several days. After looking the child over I gave the baby some medicine and sent them on their way. As we were leaving the mother rushed to the truck to ask what I had given her baby because he was finally sleeping peacefully. She was so surprised and delighted. It was so encouraging to see her relieved expression! Matilda loved the experience so much that we agreed to go to another village to set up clinic one last time next Wednesday so please pray all goes well. Matilda also spent the night with me last night so that she could attend Bible study. I was so glad she came because Pastor Mbarra shared the entire salvation story and I was able to explain the difference between “reward for works are earned” and “salvation by Jesus is a free gift” to Matilda. Please keep praying for her!   

Today I went with Pastor Mbarra to visit a sister’s mother who was ill and could not walk. The mother is a Muslim and her husband is an Imam. After assessing, treating, and teaching the mother, Pastor asked the woman if she would be willing to listen to my testimony. The woman agreed and I proceeded to share for about 10 minutes my testimony of how I came to know that Jesus is in fact the Son of God and the Savior of the world. The woman listened carefully as her Christian daughter interpreted everything in Dagbani. I could tell the woman was touched as I was sharing. At first I was nervous that I would say something wrong, but as I was speaking I realized that God was doing all the work for me and that it was up to Him to use my words to touch her heart. By the end of the testimony, the woman told me she heard me and that she believes that everything I said was true and that she loves Jesus. Pastor asked her if I could pray for her before we left and she readily agreed. I prayed that the Lord would heal her body and the He would bring her and the whole household to know the Lord. My prayer was not translated to the woman, but God was at work because right after the prayer, the woman told Pastor that she wanted to accept Jesus into her heart right then. So the woman held my hand and repeated the sinner’s prayer after her daughter (who was repeating after me) and asked Jesus to come into her heart. The woman smiled and did not want to let go of my hand; she told Pastor Mbarra to let me stay with her for a while. Her face was radiant as she looked at her daughter (who had been persecuted by the family for becoming a Christian years ago). Please pray that God would protect this woman and her daughter and that the Lord would save the father and the rest of the family as well.

Other than that, I have had two reading lessons with Brother David (continuing where Lynn left off). He is doing so well in his reading lessons despite the setback of diabetes and poor vision. I went with him to the hospital a few days ago so we could get him prescription glasses. He was so thrilled that I was able to go with him to help him with everything at the eye doctor.

Also pray for the Muslim brother who is coming back to Christianity. He went in to surgery today, and he is opening up more and more to Jesus. Pray for healing, quick recovery, and for him to choose Jesus once and for all!

Just now as I was typing this, two men came into my room to seek medical attention. It is so wonderful to be able to talk with people and help them to the best of the knowledge God has given me. Please pray that He guides me in everything I do, especially in the medications I give.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Yesterday I saw in grateful amazement the love of the Lord shown to me as I lay in bed sick from 4:30am until 6pm when I finally emerged from my room to walk around the center for a little while. For three months the Lord has kept me safe from any sickness but yesterday I woke up vomiting. Thankfully it really only left me feeling weak and without an appetite. I think I must have eaten something Sunday that did not sit well in my stomach because I had no fever or other signs of something more serious like malaria or typhoid. And by the evening I was almost fully recovered, and today I am strong once again praise God!

While I was lying in bed all day sleeping and recovering, many people from the center stopped by to visit me. Two people in particular took turns coming in to give me a cool washcloth, tea and medicine every few hours. They laughed as they "nursed the nurse". One brother came in to pray over me and the heartfelt concern people shared with me even this morning when they saw me was so touching. I did not realize just how much of a family the people have been to me here at the center. They have been my father, mother, brother, and sister by showing the love of Jesus to me while I was weak. I cannot describe how grateful I am to all of them. Even the manager and the director took time to see me in their insanely busy Monday schedule. In my dazed sleep I heard many people running up and down the hallways to their offices, and I knew the people who took time to see me really did sacrifice their precious time. Some even stayed past their shift to check on me, even going home to cook and then walk all the way back to the center in the evening just to make sure I had eaten something. I am truly amazed at what God is doing through these people and how He is using them to bless me!

Even while I was sick by God's grace, I ended up helping to treat a few people who had minor illnesses. However, despite the kindness being shown to me I was tempted to get annoyed with the people. Didn't they see I was in bed sleeping and sickly? Was there no rest for me? I realized my true colors were coming out and praise the Lord He was able to give me self control as He reminded me of everything He went through when the crowds pressed in around Him 24/7 for healing and prayer. How much easier did I have it treating just a few illnesses?

This morning I went to morning devotions and afterwards went to visit all the departments at the center to treat various illnesses and check blood pressures. I called the director at the children's home (who had also come to visit me yesterday) and she told me not to come to work today, but that I could come visit the babies and resume work again tomorrow. So today I will go to both orphanages and check on the babies and come back to rest some a while. 

In other news, the village I was going to visit on Saturday has be rescheduled to Monday morning. Please pray the Lord helps me as I am the only medical personnel going to set up clinic. There are a few more supplies I need to gather before I go, so please pray the Lord gives me a clear mind and wisdom! I am also working through my budget as I am leaving in about one month and I pray the Lord stretches the money so that I can donate to who and where He wants the money to go. Because I am here for medical missions, it has been quite costly to do the work that I need to do here, especially when I had to send 5 babies to the hospital from the orphanage. So please continue to pray that the Lord provides all the funds that are needed, and if you feel so led, donate online to my ministry here in Ghana so that I can put the money where it will further God's kingdom here among the Muslims.

"But with God, nothing is impossible." Matthew 19:26

It is amazing what the Lord is doing here in Ghana - I cannot even describe how His hand is moving in my life through being here. I see so clearly how even through my mistakes and my sin God still reaches into my life and into my heart. There is so much in my heart that is coming to the light in my eyes and I desire to seek after the righteousness He desires in my life to glorify His name.

Often I feel like Paul when he says in Romans that he is frustrated because even the sin he desires not to do he does, but praise the Lord that He is merciful and works everything for good when we call upon His name. It is a challenge to seek the Lord in His Word every day but it is SO important. One sister quoted Matthew last night when she said "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you". How incredible! I am praying that the Lord will help me to seek His righteousness every single day. It is so easy to become discouraged when I mess up but this is why we must turn to the Lord to help us every day because in our own strength we cannot do anything at all. Read the following stories to see just how God is able to use me!

Last week on Tuesday, we went to another village to set up clinic. There were well over 100 people waiting to see us and we were only able to see half of those that came. I have never seen so many bad cases of ringworm and malaria in my life. Newborn babies were placed in my arms for me to evaluate. It was one of the most incredible experiences I've had here in Ghana.  As I looked up from my work and gazed at the never ending line of people that pressed in around me, I had a taste of how Jesus must have felt when he was followed by mobs of people. I even felt a little claustrophobic at times because of the heat from the sun as well as the heat from everyone pressing in around me. I still have to go back to that village when Uncle Tom returns from travelling and finish evaluating the rest of the people we could not see. We arrived in the morning but had to leave by noon so I could make it to the orphanage to work in the afternoon and so that Lynn could pack for the U.S.

When I arrived to the orphanage that afternoon I noticed one of the babies looked very weak. All of the babies seemed healthy and without fevers just the day before, but Tuesday afternoon during the course of the few hours I was there, 4 of the babies were having diarrhea, vomiting and had low fevers. I immediately called the volunteer coordinator (Mr. Abu) who was not at the office at that time and told him the situation. He asked if I would be able to come back with him in the night to reassess the babies. I told him I would love to because I was leaving for Accra the following morning to say goodbye to Lynn.

When I returned to the center I told Pastor Mbarra the situation and after he met with Lynn and myself to pray for our journey to Accra and thanking the Lord for Lynn's stay in Ghana, I left with Mr. Abu for the orphanage again. The situation was unchanged at the orphanage and I spoke with the supervising nanny and Mr. Abu to request that 4 of the babies be brought to the hospital immediately Wednesday morning and that the director of the orphanage should be made aware of the situation asap. Unfortunately despite my advice the director and her friend who is a retired nurse practitioner decided to try their own treatments. Wednesday night one of the babies started convulsing and according the the director herself the baby died due to delayed medical treatment. It breaks my heart whenever I think of this situation which I believe could have been prevented if only my warning (which I realize was from God) had been heeded. I have to admit that I had a very difficult time releasing it to the Lord and realize that there is nothing else I could have done.

The trip to Accra on Wednesday was a very long and tiresome journey, but God was able to use me in many ways. It was sad to see Lynn go back to the U.S. after watching how many lives she has touched (besides my own) while she was here. We all miss her but we know the Lord has her where He needs her to be right now at her university.

Brother Nathan and myself made the long journey back north and I cannot describe my gratitude God for providing the perfect person to accompany me for that journey. He negotiated everything with the taxis and bus company so I would not be over charged. I even watched as he witnessed to the taxi drivers! Once we finally boarded our bus we sat back to relax, but about an hour or two into the journey a fight broke out as two men began punching each other and knocking people over in the process. They fought right next to the seat I was in and immediately Brother Nathan stood up and instead of throwing punches himself he held firmly to one man's arm and was able to stop the fight then and there. No one else was willing to stop the fight. I sat in amazement as men just sat or stood there watching and doing nothing. Fortunately only one chair was broken and one small girl suffered from minor scratches and bruises despite the rough beating she got just from being in the way of the fight. I attempted to pull the girl out of the way several times but because of the fight I was unable to get a good grip on her body to pull her towards myself. The man was moved to the front of the bus and nothing further happened the rest of the journey praise the Lord. The men fought because one of the men who had to sit on a stool in the center aisle was falling onto the other man whenever the bus lurched forward and this caused the other man to become very angry.

When I returned I learned that the babies had been taken to the hospital Thursday morning so I went to visit them. I have been going nearly every day since then to visit them and yesterday I was able to help take them back to the orphanage. It was a relief to see them going back to their home again. I started crying on Tuesday when I held one of the twins who was the sickest of the babies. His weak cry broke my heart and his limp body touched me like a knife. I prayed for him and told him that I love him and that Jesus loved him and suddenly he looked at me and smiled as I spoke the words. I could not help but cry. I had not seen him smile in many days. Please continue to pray for him that the Lord would strengthen his body and completely heal him. He is still very weak but doing much better than last week. Every day I am monitoring his progress personally and talking directly to the director who has now asked me to be with her when making medical decisions so she can consult me. So please pray God continues to give me wisdom.

There is much more happening here in Ghana but I will have to update you all at another time. Thank you all for your prayers. They mean so much. Next post I will tell you about a man who was a Muslim but turned to Christianity but is now on the fence as it were. I will tell you how God is already touching his life through Pastor Mbarra and myself! It is so exciting to see how God orders events and circumstances work together to touch someone at the right time! So please continue to pray pray pray!

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

 Last night Lynn and I celebrated New Year’s Eve in town drinking our pear Alvaro drinks (kind of like sparkling grape juice). It was wonderful to go out as just the two of us and take a break from our busy schedule for an hour. Moments like those really make me grateful for the relationships and true friendship the Lord has given me this past year. When we came back to the center, the four hour church service had already begun. We wore our African dresses and during the open mike I asked Lynn to come up to the front of the congregation with me for moral support so I could speak and sing. We went up together and I picked up the mike to thank the Lord for bringing us to Ghana safely and for the kindness of our Ghanaian friends. After speaking a few words we sang “Lord I Lift Your Name On High” and “My Lord is Good” in Dagbani; everyone loved it and beat their drums, clapped and sang along. I really enjoy the musical spirit the people have here. They love to praise the Lord and dance because they love to rejoice and be glad as Psalm 118:24 says.

Today Lynn and I went with Brother Nathan and his best friend, Pastor Nathaniel to a village about 45 minutes away from the center. We got to experience first hand how the villagers celebrate New Year’s Day. The service was 100% in Dagbani and the room was very hot and I thought I was going to pass out from the heat. We all had to get up and take turns leading worship, so the four of us sang “My Lord is Good” in Dagbani and led dancing (which was hilarious because we cannot dance like Africans). After visiting several homes, sitting in the shade, chatting, and eating jollof rice we headed back to town. As we drove back I thought about how much I truly appreciate the African way of life and how people really love community. They welcome strangers warmly and they sit for long hours talking to us and to each other. I also appreciate the landscape of Ghana as well as the heat. We passed within a few yards of several major fires in the bush and I could even feel the intense heat from the fires in the bush and the smoke was very thick around us. By the time we returned to the center we were all covered in red dust from the dirt road. Lynn and I were happy to shower before we headed to Pastor Mbarra’s house for dinner. It was a wonderful party and we laughed so hard especially during the dance competition (no comment on how poorly Lynn and I did but somehow we got third place). What a blessing to have such amazing and welcoming friends here in Ghana. The Lord is so good and He has truly granted us favor in the eyes of those we meet. He has provided for all of our needs here and has kept us safe. Please pray that in this new year the Lord would continue to protect us and to use us. Tomorrow marks the two month anniversary of my stay here in Ghana, and I am so thankful to be here. Pray also for the woman I met at the hospital to come to the Lord and for all the Muslim men and women I’ve been able to talk to about Jesus to have hearts ready to receive Him.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:11

The past few days have been so much fun and very busy. I have a total of four beautiful Ghanaian dresses which everyone here has been admiring. They call me "African Elizabeth" now. Lynn and I have gone on many adventures already and have had many amazing conversations with the local people. We have been on the radio twice together now (surprisingly Lynn lets me do most of the talking!), and a couple of days ago we decorated the Christmas tree at the Christian orphanage while singing Christmas carols in ninety something degree weather. I laughed to myself as I walked through the sand to place ornaments on the fake pine tree (what would my friends and family think of my "summer-like" Christmas here in Ghana?). Being here in Ghana this Christmas reminds me of the song with the following verse: "There won't be snow in Africa this christmas time, the greatest gift they'll get this year is life, where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow, do they know it's christmas time at all? Here's to you, raise your glass for everyone, here's to them, underneath that burning sun". 

On Thursday, Mr. Abu and his sister took Lynn and myself all around town to invite previous orphans (who have been discharged from the children's home to different families around the city) to a Christmas party which was held at the orphanage today. I was able to get a picture with the little orphan girl I am able to sponsor to go to school. She is very shy but she nodded her head and smiled when I asked if she enjoyed going to school and if she enjoyed her new backpack and lunchbox. I am so thankful to be able to make a difference in this little girl's life and put a smile on her face this Christmas. 

Lynn and my room is constantly occupied and entertaining visitors whenever we are inside. Literally we have a swinging door. It is so amazing to be able to host our friends and to let them come whenever they wish. Even the little food or drink we are able to give is such a blessing to them and it is so humbling for me to hear the stories these people have and be able to serve them in some small way. The stories I hear would break your heart (just as Pastor Mbarra warned me they would break my heart). One of my friends is an orphan and was abused as a child and sent to work as a cowboy. He came close to death many times as the family he stayed with took their own children to the hospital when they were sick, but they refused to do anything for him. He was not allowed to go to school and when he finally was allowed to go to school they made sure he was worked so hard at home that he eventually flunked out. Finally at the age of almost 30 he is wishing to go back to school to finish his college degree. As he told me his story I could hardly believe my ears; everything sounded so surreal and it made me so grateful for all the Lord has provided for me. I realized how many things I take for granted and what little to nothing I have to complain about. My life and his are filled with very stark differences, but through it all my friend looked at me and sincerely said, "But through these experiences I can say that it is truly only by God's grace that I am alive here today."

Yesterday while Lynn went to a funeral with Mr. Abu, I stayed home in the apartment and was visited by two of the girls I teach Sunday school to at church. After feeding them lunch I went with them to explore their neighborhood. We spent almost the whole day together, and I had a really wonderful and interesting time greeting all of their families. Interestingly their families are Muslim, but they allow their children to come to church by themselves on Sunday. All of the children wanted to know what my plans were for Christmas and I told them about the Christmas party at the orphanage so they decided they would try to come. Little did I know that today about 15 children would show up on my door step. Lynn and I decided we could only take one taxi full of children, so seven of us piled into one taxi and went to the party. The party was supposed to start at 12pm, so Lynn and myself arrived at 1pm but the party didn't actually start until around 2pm. We call this phenomenon here in Ghana "Ghanaian time" since everyone here tends to be very late to their meetings.

After the party (which was a lot of fun) we met Brother Nathan in town along with his cousin who took us to the uncle's house to eat kabobs and drink fruit juice. It is quite interesting to sit in the hot sun on someone's "patio" while the chickens and chicks peck food from around your feet while you are eating food. Meanwhile your African clothing sticks to your sweaty skin because it covers you from head to toe. After visiting a while and practicing more Dagbani, we went to Brother Nathan's cousin's house. I absolutely love being there because his cousin and his wife, Auntie Mercy, are so down to earth and so very kind. I have been to their house about 4 or 5 times now, and I have also visited Auntie Mercy's shop a few times so that I could hold and play with her two adorable children. Lynn and I had a wonderful Christmas with them just talking and laughing. It was almost like we were Ghanaian just like them because we were able to relate with fellow Christians on a special day. It is very interesting to look around the rest of the city and see how few people actually celebrate Christmas here. I had to be very careful about who I wished "Merry Christmas" too because it would be easy offend a Muslim. So today Lynn and myself focused on showing lots of kindness even in small ways like giving the taxi driver the extra few peswas for our taxi ride, giving candy to the taxi driver and to the children, and giving the Muslim security guards here food and candy every so often. So although I completely enjoyed my Christmas here in Ghana, I did somewhat miss the normal American Christmas I am used to where my family goes all out with the tree, lights, manger scene, traveling to visit extended family, and Christmas Eve dinner. However, I am so thankful to be here with Lynn and among amazing new friends.

Last night at prayer meeting we spent an hour praying for many issues as well as thanking the Lord for how far He has brought us this past year. That can be something quite difficult to pray for especially when you feel like you have had a rough year, but when we know that God has a plan for our life, and we trust Him, we understand that He works everything for our good because He loves us so much. I see so many ways He has blessed me through Ghana already and how He worked everything out for me to be here at this exact moment. It is so humbling to realize that He can use even me to further His kingdom, and that God Himself decided to come as a humble servant and be born in a stable. The challenge I gave to the children in Sunday school was to strive to be humble like Jesus this week, and this is a challenge for myself as well. It is not easy!  

"Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." Song of Songs 2:2

Sometimes you can be so busy helping others and noticing problems in other people that you forget to check on your own heart. Just like a room if left alone gathers dust and dirt, so the heart also needs regular tending to and cleaning. Sometimes the enemy will sow seeds into your heart that have the potential to sprout into things that are not of the Lord. How do you prevent this from happening to your heart? Daily reading of the Word and praying to Jesus allows seeds that produce good fruit in your life to take root and grow. The verse I posted above is a challenge to myself. I want to be the lily among thorns to my Lord. One thing I noticed in my heart is that I often strive to do my very best to look like a godly person to other people, forgetting that what counts is the Lord's opinion of me. Am I looking out for number one all the time or do I take the blame for my actions? The Lord has been so gracious to protect me and help guide me here in Africa where I literally do not have guidance from parents or friends. I am so grateful He is allowing my best friend to join me here in just 2 days! She will be an encouragement to me emotionally and spiritually. This morning at devotions we prayed for her safety; please continue to pray that her journey to Ghana will go smoothly.

In other news, I have not had reliable internet connection the past nearly two weeks. Since I last blogged I have been to a beautiful wedding near Accra, helped take care of babies with malaria, treat the staff here at the center for colds, and helped with other aches, pains and sprains. I have also eaten much of the local food, been invited into many homes, met extended family and friends of my friends, worn my very own African dresses, picked up more of the language, re-arranged my apartment, learned how to cook more of the local foods in my own kitchen on my own stove, and the list goes on. I also want to praise the Lord for keeping me in good health. I have not been sick (with the exception of a cold for 2 days) or had any intestinal problems for a month and a half now. I even test negative for 4 different kinds of worms. Thank you for all of your prayers for my health and safety.

As I close this blog I listen to gunfire, shouting, and drums. A new chief is coming to the city and there will be a fire festival tonight. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the culture here in Ghana. Everything is fascinating and different. Although there is so much that makes me sad to see here, there is so much that truly makes me respect the people here. As I was on my way to work a crowd of about 500 people blocked the road. They had long knives and sticks, but they were a joyful mob surrounding people from the chief's palace I assumed. As they paraded within a hair's breadth from me, they all shouted "sinaminga!" and joyfully took time to welcome me despite their festivities.

There is so much more I want to blog, but I will have to save it for another time. Please continue to keep Pastor Mbarra in your prayers as he is a very busy man and just got over a serious case of malaria this weekend. Please pray for Mr. Abu as well as I have not seen him in almost a week. The last time I saw him was when he had a bad case of malaria which I was able to help treat, and it seemed he was on the mend but no one knows how he is doing now. My friend Monica is back from traveling the past 2 weeks, so please pray I can see her again soon and that the Lord will use me in her life.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12

The past several days have been full of amazing opportunities and blessings from the Lord! I am learning how to cook Ghanaian food as several of my friends have come to visit my apartment to teach me! I’ve learned how to cook rice, spaghetti, and stew the Ghanaian way. My recent favorite is Fufu and groundnut soup. It’s something like soft grits that you pick up with your hand like putty and dip into a soup mixture of peanut paste, tomatoes, onions, fish, vegetable leaves, seasonings, etc. It is thoroughly cooked and served very hot so that it almost burns your fingers when you pick it up. Yes, I ate with my fingers like everyone else, which the people love to see me doing here! The food was delicious!

Thursday is hospital visitation day, and I was invited to go for my first time! A brother who works with the ministry took me, and together we went to the hospital ward and prayed individually with every single patient. Each patient (whether Muslim, Christian, or another religion) was extremely grateful. One young woman was diagnosed with diabetes and recently had an amputation. The doctor prescribed insulin for her to take but the woman was unable to afford the medication. So the brother and I went to every pharmacy in town to search for the medication but we couldn’t find it anywhere. We returned to the hospital to tell the woman and her nurse to talk to the doctor in the morning to see if he could change the prescription to one of the insulin choices we did find in town. We told the woman we would be back during visiting hours the next day to fulfill her prescription. As we were about to leave we saw one more lady we had overlooked. We walked towards the exit where she was lying and immediately she sat up and grabbed hold of my hand. She spoke to me in Dagbani thanking us for what we were doing and saying that God will truly bless us for what we are doing. It is so humbling to think that God was able to use us in such a simple way to bless people of different beliefs.

On Friday after working at both orphanages, I went with the same brother to visit the hospital again. How encouraging is the Lord because as soon as we walked onto the unit every face lit up at the sight of us. Everyone waved and smiled at us.  Some were feeling so much better they were walking around and came to shake our hands. Many of these people are so far from home that they haven’t had any visitors except for the brother and me. We walked over to the woman who needed the insulin and provided her with the medication she needed. She was so very grateful and the frail young woman we met yesterday who did not smile was now smiling and walking around the ward with us despite her bandaged feet with amputated toes.   

On Friday night I went to a music concert at a huge sports stadium with several of the volunteers from the Christian orphanage. We met up with a group of about 20 other Sinamingas (white people) from all over Europe and the USA. None professed to be Christian or to have any kind of faith and unfortunately many of them got very drunk and caused several disturbances during the show. Thankfully I saw Mr. Abu and he had me join him and a friend a couple of rows above the rest of the group, and the three of us had a really fantastic time! Although it was relieving to see people of my own color so I could become “invisible” again; it was very disappointing because they were so intoxicated. They have invited me to join them for several parties including dinner on Thanksgiving Day, but I am most likely not going to go. The Americans there told the Europeans that it is a “drinking holiday” so that the Europeans would come to the dinner.

On Saturday, I had a really bad case of the cold, took medicine and didn’t do much other than rest and sleep. On Sunday I was feeling a whole lot better and went to town to spend time with my friend Monica who I haven’t had time to see in a while. We had a really great time together walking through town, going to the culture market, meeting up with her best friend, and visiting her family’s houses. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Monica taught me how to put my hair up under my scarf like the other women do here in the North. The women appreciate everything foreigners do that compliment their culture, so I enjoy learning new things. Monica gave me a beautiful bead and cowry shell necklace she made, and bought me earrings made of cowry shells to match the necklace. If you remember from a previous post, Monica is the girl who told me she doesn’t believe in anything and would rather not talk about it. Well the Lord is answering our prayers to provide opportunities! As we were walking down the street together arm in arm, I heard Monica humming a tune that I realized I knew! The song was “Lord I Lift Your Name on High”! She did not know all the words, but as she was humming I began to sing the words to her and she was absolutely thrilled. When I stopped singing she told me I should not stop and that she wanted to hear it again, so I basically sang the entire Gospel to her per her own request at least three times. She told me she loves to sing and I told her that she is always welcome to come to church with me on Sunday because we always sing songs like that one. Please pray she will have the courage to come!  

Pastor Mbarra went out of town this weekend to visit another village, but before he left I went to his office to keep him updated on events. He told me he had a praise report for me. Apparently one of the staff in the ministry shared a testimony at morning devotions on a day I was already at the orphanage. He received one of the emergency asthma inhalers I brought over and it came just in time to save his life. Apparently he had a massive asthma attack and could not breathe. He made it to the hospital and even they did not know what to do, then in desperation he suddenly remembered his inhaler was with him and as soon as he took it the symptoms immediately ceased and since that day he has not had another incident. Praise the Lord! Pastor Mbarra was so excited about the fact that I came “just in the nick of time to save a good man from dying”. This is so encouraging to me because it shows the Lord IS using me and the medications I am bringing to help the people of Ghana. I have prayed over my medicine many times that none of it would harm the people and that it would be used appropriately especially for the babies in the orphanages. Please continue to pray that the Lord would direct me as I provide medications, and that they would go to the right people at the right time like this young man. I have also treated a sprained wrist of one of our staff, as well as multiple waist pains and muscle aches among several staff members. So although my focus is on the children in the orphanages, I have had many opportunities to help the adults in our ministry as well.

Just to keep you updated, while I was in town, I ran into the two girls from Holland that I prayed over per Mr. Abu's request. Both are now Malaria free, praise the Lord, and will continue to work at the orphanage as this is their last week here in the North.

"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation'." Mark 16:15

The past few days have been very busy as I go from one orphanage to the next on Fridays. The Lord has provided transportation and help from the local people as I travel from one place to the next. There is great need at the government run orphanage. The children have ringworm, fevers, diaper rashes, and many other illnesses. Besides bringing some medicine and other supplies, I will be assessing the children there weekly. I will be deworming all of the children next week as well as right before I leave Ghana. I truly enjoy this part of my work and both orphanages are very receptive to what I have to say. The first orphanage that I work at 5 days a week has especially taken care to use my nursing skills. The head director there had me come into her office yesterday and asked me if I had any recommendations for them. I gave them only one for now, to child proof a toilet that I noticed the children sticking their hands into and then sucking on their fingers.   

During various points in my days, I have made many new friends who all want to show me their homes and the markets. One friend I made is Monica, and I met her in a taxi. She is studying to become a nurse. She is 18 years old and she tells me she doesn’t believe in anything. She is closed to talking about God when I have tried to bring Him up multiple times. I pray the Lord will allow something to happen so that I may have the opportunity to share more with her about Jesus. Monica was kind enough to teach me how to cook my first Ghanaian meal. It consisted of rice, beans, fish, and tomato sauce plus seasonings. It was so good! She also took me to the fresh market to show me where to buy other foods. Most of it I cannot eat because it would make an American sick, but it was an interesting experience to go there and see where the people get their meat. There is a large room and in that room they have the cow meat with the head of the cow and its hooves and the goat meat with the head of the goat and its hooves just sitting out in the open. I have never seen anything like the meat market and I have never seen so many flies. The butchers point their long bloody knives in my direction and shout, “Madam, buy this”. I avoid this particular market next to a taxi rank because the smells there can be so foul in the heat of the sun. Besides that it is so big and the rows of produce are so crowded and narrow that I have never ventured in there alone. It is too easy to get lost.

I am still getting used to being stared at, pointed at, waved at, shouted at, and people asking me if I will send them to America! I would forget that I had a different skin color and would think myself black if only the people here would not remind me I am white every second of every day! I am learning more and more of the language and culture every day which has been fascinating. Today in particular, a friend showed me a community right near the market and taught me the tribal customs, even introducing me to several of the chiefs. The tribe is actually not Muslim but they believe in many gods and spirits.

Everywhere I look there are lost people who know nothing about or chose not to know Jesus. It is very sad to see, and I only pray the Lord can use me in all of these situations that I’m facing. I also learned how to play checkers the Ghanaian way, and everyone decided they wanted to play against me. Thankfully the deaf and dumb group I had met a previous day were known to be champions and they sat next to me and signed to me. I won every match! 

But besides all the fun and games and learning the culture, the Lord has given me other opportunities to talk to the people here. This morning, after praying together, three of us went evangelizing again in the local area. We ended up talking to a group of Muslim men (about 8 of them all together). They were so interested in what we had to say and had so many questions for us that we ended up talking to them for an hour. Their boss then came out and yelled at us to leave the men alone so that they could focus on their work, but before we did, the men specifically asked us to pray for them to understand right then and there. So I was elected to pray aloud over the men, my two friends with me in agreement. They asked us where we went to church and later today as I was walking down the road to go to town 3 of the men passed me on their motorbike and shouted my name. The 3 of them told me they would be at church in the morning! Praise the Lord! I hope that they come and that He will reveal Himself to them. Please pray for all of these Muslim men and for my atheist friend, Monica, that the Lord would soften their hearts and help them to seek His face.

p.s. I forgot to mention that I did receive my final piece of luggage on Monday! It took a week to finally arrive because it was sent to Egypt, but Praise the Lord none of the medications were stolen that I can tell. Only my extra batteries and packs of gum were missing.

“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 hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11

 I am finally writing again as I sit at my table eating the rice and beans I cooked on my stove. This weekend has been very busy, and my internet access has not been working most of the time. I can now get wireless access on and off, which is wonderful because I have had a few Skype conversations with my best friend and my family back home. So, to update everyone, I still do not have my last piece of luggage. Apparently it arrived to the airport office Friday afternoon, but by the time I got a ride there, it was closed and it has been closed all weekend. Tomorrow I will go after I return from the Christian orphanage so please pray that it really is there.

Other than that, Sister Anita has been showing me how to take a taxi into market and how to get to the orphanages by taxi. That is the easiest and cheapest way to travel here when you do not have a car or motorcycle. It doesn’t even cost $1 to go roundtrip from where I am staying to the orphanage and back. So monthly transportation (including random extra trips to market or trips to the government orphanage on Fridays) would only cost me about $25. Other than learning the taxi system, I have also been learning how to wash my clothes by hand and hang them out to dry. I am picking up the language a little more quickly every day even though my vocabulary is about 10 words plus a worship song that I know in two different Ghanaian languages. One thing I have found a little difficult here, is understanding “incorrect” English grammar in concurrence with the Ghanaian accent. Embarrassingly often I think a Ghanaian is speaking another language to me when in reality they are speaking English! So I have had a few awkward moments because of that. Hopefully I will soon get used to the accent. Sometimes I find myself subconsciously changing my English to sound like theirs, but I’m not entirely sure that is helping communication!

When a group of three, including myself, went evangelizing in the local area it was difficult for me to understand the local people’s English at times, but I was glad that one of the brothers who came did most of the talking and translating so that I could listen and get used to the types of questions the Muslims ask. It was a really powerful time ultimately because we first prayed together as a threesome before heading out into the streets. Our mission was to share the good news of the Gospel, the love of Jesus Christ, that He is one with God, that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and that He is soon returning for His people.

We talked to three different groups of people. The first group was a group of young adult Muslim men. They didn’t seem too receptive at first, but one of them asked a lot of questions and said he always thinks of lots of questions and would like to meet one on one with a brother to discuss those further. The second group was a group of young boys and they had many questions regarding Christianity. I found it very interesting how their questions focused on outward appearances and actions. Islam is a very strict faith with many rules and restrictions. Also Islam directs people to pray a specific way, to fast a specific way, etc. The children asked a lot about why certain Christians drink alcohol and why certain Christian girls wear pants and why certain Christians dance while worshiping or praying. They did not want to be part of a religion that allowed something that was quite vulgar to their culture. The children respected us because we dressed appropriately to their culture, but it was difficult to encourage them to really seek out the message the Christian is trying to share with them to see if it is true regardless of how the person appears.

The last person we spoke with was an older man who actually called us to himself as he cut branches and shaved the stalks. He stopped his work and sat back on his bench with interest when our brother began to share with him the entire Gospel story beginning with Adam and ending with the return of Jesus to gather his saints before the time of judgment. He nodded his head and contributed to the story many times showing he knew the general story. He told us that he hears what we are saying and that he believes it is likely to be true (two children also gathered near to listen during the conversation), but he said the social pressures are too great for him to really desire to change. We asked him if we could pray for him to have the strength to fully accept Jesus no matter what the cost and he heartily agreed that we should do that, but that he was not ready yet to give his life completely to Jesus. As soon as we returned to the center we gathered together and prayed specifically for each person we encountered.

The seeds have been planted, but now we can only pray that the Lord changes their hearts.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

Last night was an adventure in several ways. I have never slept without any blankets or sheets.....until last night. It was just too hot. Then sometime around midnight I woke up to all the dogs in the neighborhood breaking out in sudden and ferocious barking and they kept it up a good while until finally I fell back asleep.

Pastor Thomas brought me to the airport around 4:30am and the lady at the desk told us that my name was not on the list to be on the flight to northern Ghana. Thankfully at 5:30am they straightened everything out and I boarded the plane 15 minutes after being checked in. My flight left at 6am and I was surprised to see I was not the minority in that tiny plane. I flew with a group of maybe 10-12 Canadians who were there to help several areas in Africa for a month with their agriculture. They were very interested to meet me and one of the Canadians was also a nurse, though retired, and we hit it off right away. Turns out they are all from the same church back in Canada even though their specific mission here wasn’t through any church organization.

Right after we landed and I picked up my carry-on luggage which I had checked for this flight, Pastor Mbarra came to greet me and took my luggage to his truck. He shooed away several natives who immediately rushed over to carry my bags. Once in his truck we introduced ourselves a little more and Pastor Mbarra prayed for me and thanked the Lord for bringing me to Ghana. He told me how much my coming has been an encouragement to them already. It is so humbling because only God can do something like that.

Over and over Pastor Mbarra spoke about the Lord and his goodness and even despite tough times he still looked to Father God to thank Him. Pastor Mbarra said that it is only through God’s grace that He uses Pastor Mbarra’s mistakes to allow great things to happen among the Muslims here in northern Ghana. We had a really wonderful and encouraging conversation. Once we arrived at “my” apartment and put my things down, we went to breakfast together to talk so more, and so I could meet some of the staff and tour the place I’m staying at.

Then I was given a lot of time to unpack and rest which was wonderful. I’ve already put a picture of my family up on my refrigerator as well as the daily verse a day one of my friends gave me in a little pink case titled “Project Ghana ’10-‘11”. There is a verse and a word of encouragement for every day that I am here in Ghana. Today ended with a Bible study on Romans chapters 7-9 and I learned my first Ghanian worship song in Dagbani! In English it is called “God is Good” which is so true. Bible studies in Ghana are different from any that I’ve been to previously. Sometimes when they pray, they all pray at once together so that all the voices mix together each one praying for the same thing in their own way. Some speak their prayers in English, and others speak French, and most speak in their native Dagbani.