Sunday, April 12, 2009
Moving to Facebook Pages!
Hey Everyone! We are moving our Blog stuff over to Facebook Pages. I'm going to try to put up a feed here but check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tupelo-MS/Ghana-Team-The-Orchard/69988624841 for our Facebook page. It's "Ghana Team @ The Orchard". Become a Fan and share the page with your "Friends". We want to sign on 1000 fans by the end of April!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Ghana Team Raising Support
It's time to head back to Ghana. This trip will take 12 teachers and business professionals to the village of Bole. We are raising support for the team. We ask for your prayer support during the next 3 months and through out our trip. (June 25-July 7) It will cost approximately $40,000.00 for the whole team. That is travel, room and board. The team will consist of 5 teachers, 3 students and 4 business people. We’ve been asking ourselves what it would look like to not just go build buildings or hand out shots but to be a part of helping a specific region establish a school, fresh water supplies, economic growth and many of the other things not yet available to them. We believe through this relationship we will have the opportunity to change a region and share Christ with them.
For more information on what we will be doing this trip, subscribe to this blog. Over the next weeks and months we will be updating on plans and give specific things to be praying for. Even if you never thought you could go on an international mission trip, you can be a part of the team by helping others fulfill the mission through your support.
To support this team, send to:
Ghana Team c/o The Orchard, PO Box 3216, Tupelo, MS 38803.
For more information on what we will be doing this trip, subscribe to this blog. Over the next weeks and months we will be updating on plans and give specific things to be praying for. Even if you never thought you could go on an international mission trip, you can be a part of the team by helping others fulfill the mission through your support.
To support this team, send to:
Ghana Team c/o The Orchard, PO Box 3216, Tupelo, MS 38803.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Upcoming Trip to Tinga/Bole Ghana
We have been silent for a few months. Our partnership in Ghana is still strong. We plan to return in the early part of Summer. If you are interested, please contact Joel at joel@theorchard.net . If you know of someone who is interested or might be interested, please share this Blog with them. It takes a few months to put the team together, arrange travel and prepare for the trip. There is a $2500 to $3000 cost to the trip for each person. We lower out of pocket cost to individuals by raising support for the team as a team.
We have information to share with everyone interested. Please contact us. For more information about Ghana...do a SEARCH and look for Ghanaian People.
You may contact Joel at 662-401-9480 or 662-844-3310.
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Saturday, April 19, 2008
Back in Town
The Team has returned from Ghana...watch for pictures in the photo album and NEW video links. Also check out the Blogs linked to the team to see their reactions and feelings about their experience.
Overall the team was great. The prayers of everyone were heard and the team was very successful. We only had a couple of health issues but through God's grace, everyone was fine in about 24 hours. The team developed some great relationships with the people in Bole, Tinga, Bale and Gunyiri...playing Football (Soccer) in each place. We even got 62 year old Bishop Otto Brown in on the game. The goodwill and connection with the people in each village was unbelieveable.
One team member shared their experiences with abortion with a group of women. One women, who is a teacher in the local school, shared that she had just had a conversation with one of her students who is pregnant. We pray God uses this testimony to safe the life of this students unborn child.
Bole is a highly Muslim area and our team impacted them as well. After our Bible Club in Bole, the elders from one of the mosques visited Reverend Job that evening to ask why "these people" would come all the way from America to play and sing and teach their children. All Job could tell them is that "it is God's Love". One woman told her Muslim friends..."it's all because of Jesus". It is awesome to see how God will use his people to share his message of love. Sometimes words aren't even needed!
The team worked with about 200 kids in Gunyiri where there is no school. The children had never colored before. We literally had to teach kids to color a coloring sheet. We taught them a song and they taught us a song. We worshipped with them and then took time to visit the homes. Part of our team experienced "traditional" worshippers with their idols and even witchcraft. It was a side of life in Ghana that we had not really seen before. Every family that worshipped idols had some kind of illness in the home. It's hard to break the traditions but God used Bishop Otto Brown and a couple of team members to show there is a better alternative. Seeds were planted. Before we left Ghana we left money for the beginnings of a school in Gunyiri. The village will take care of accommodations for the teachers and we will try to help pay the salaries for the teachers. A teachers salary is about $1800.00 a year.
We also left money for teacher rooms in Bale. Many teachers will not go to the North in Ghana and many will only stay when they have a place to live near the school. In Bale many of the teachers drive from Bole to Bale. If they can't get transportation on a given day, then they don't make it to school. Students will show up for school and not have a teacher. So in Bale, more teachers will be able to live, even if just during the week, at the school. There are already 4 rooms and they will be adding 2 more. The church in Tinga is ready to build a building so they can stop meeting in local school building that is not always available. They have a great piece of land near an area where there are many people who don't go to church. The team left money to help get the building started. The church will be responsible for building labor and some extra materials like roofing and woodworking.
Beyond planting seeds, impacting the Muslim community, teaching and helping with seed money for building projects, this team accomplished its mission...RELATIONSHIPS!
Overall the team was great. The prayers of everyone were heard and the team was very successful. We only had a couple of health issues but through God's grace, everyone was fine in about 24 hours. The team developed some great relationships with the people in Bole, Tinga, Bale and Gunyiri...playing Football (Soccer) in each place. We even got 62 year old Bishop Otto Brown in on the game. The goodwill and connection with the people in each village was unbelieveable.
One team member shared their experiences with abortion with a group of women. One women, who is a teacher in the local school, shared that she had just had a conversation with one of her students who is pregnant. We pray God uses this testimony to safe the life of this students unborn child.
Bole is a highly Muslim area and our team impacted them as well. After our Bible Club in Bole, the elders from one of the mosques visited Reverend Job that evening to ask why "these people" would come all the way from America to play and sing and teach their children. All Job could tell them is that "it is God's Love". One woman told her Muslim friends..."it's all because of Jesus". It is awesome to see how God will use his people to share his message of love. Sometimes words aren't even needed!
The team worked with about 200 kids in Gunyiri where there is no school. The children had never colored before. We literally had to teach kids to color a coloring sheet. We taught them a song and they taught us a song. We worshipped with them and then took time to visit the homes. Part of our team experienced "traditional" worshippers with their idols and even witchcraft. It was a side of life in Ghana that we had not really seen before. Every family that worshipped idols had some kind of illness in the home. It's hard to break the traditions but God used Bishop Otto Brown and a couple of team members to show there is a better alternative. Seeds were planted. Before we left Ghana we left money for the beginnings of a school in Gunyiri. The village will take care of accommodations for the teachers and we will try to help pay the salaries for the teachers. A teachers salary is about $1800.00 a year.
We also left money for teacher rooms in Bale. Many teachers will not go to the North in Ghana and many will only stay when they have a place to live near the school. In Bale many of the teachers drive from Bole to Bale. If they can't get transportation on a given day, then they don't make it to school. Students will show up for school and not have a teacher. So in Bale, more teachers will be able to live, even if just during the week, at the school. There are already 4 rooms and they will be adding 2 more. The church in Tinga is ready to build a building so they can stop meeting in local school building that is not always available. They have a great piece of land near an area where there are many people who don't go to church. The team left money to help get the building started. The church will be responsible for building labor and some extra materials like roofing and woodworking.
Beyond planting seeds, impacting the Muslim community, teaching and helping with seed money for building projects, this team accomplished its mission...RELATIONSHIPS!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Day 1 - Mission 2
It's 12 am on our first night in Ghana. We had a great trip over. Believe it or not I can't sleep even after the plane ride. So I thought I'd clue everyone in on what we are doing here this week and next. First this will probably be my only post until the end of the trip because we will not have access to internet after this morning.
We are staying at the Baptist Guesthouse in Accra tonight. Tomorrow we leave for Kumasi and Bole. Once in Bole, we will be working on the cashew project through discussion with the director about how we can help with free trade and school growing projects.
We will be doing 5 Bible clubs in the villages around Bole. We will be doing literacy training as part of the Bible club, reading with children and leaving about 50 books behind for the schools to use. This will also be an introduction to the teachers in Bole of some of the teachers in America!
We are also seeding 3 building projects and we are also exploring a water project in Gunyiri.
Please pray for the team, you can visit Russ and Anna's blog for a schedule of prayer or you can simple pray for the following...
1. Hearts are open to hearing God's word and life changing message.
2. Invisibility for the team.
3. Safe Travel and good rest. Health and physical nuriousment! (too late at night to check spelling!)
4. All the projects we are working on this week and next!
Peace to you. Look for updates toward this end of next week!
We are staying at the Baptist Guesthouse in Accra tonight. Tomorrow we leave for Kumasi and Bole. Once in Bole, we will be working on the cashew project through discussion with the director about how we can help with free trade and school growing projects.
We will be doing 5 Bible clubs in the villages around Bole. We will be doing literacy training as part of the Bible club, reading with children and leaving about 50 books behind for the schools to use. This will also be an introduction to the teachers in Bole of some of the teachers in America!
We are also seeding 3 building projects and we are also exploring a water project in Gunyiri.
Please pray for the team, you can visit Russ and Anna's blog for a schedule of prayer or you can simple pray for the following...
1. Hearts are open to hearing God's word and life changing message.
2. Invisibility for the team.
3. Safe Travel and good rest. Health and physical nuriousment! (too late at night to check spelling!)
4. All the projects we are working on this week and next!
Peace to you. Look for updates toward this end of next week!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ready for Return
It's time to head back to Ghana! April 10th is currently our date for departure...Many developments have taken place since our trip last June. This team is made up of 2 married couples, Robbyn Abedi - our Missions Director, Jackson and I. The team is on schedule as support comes in. Currently the team is still raising $10,500.00. As always, you may contribute a tax-deductible gift...payable to: The Orchard, PO Box 3216, Tupelo, MS, 38803...write "Bole, Ghana" in the memo!
Our trip this time includes projects in English Literacy, researching Cashew Growing Projects with the schools in the Bole District, building projects for the school in Bale and church structures in 3 other villages. The team is looking forward to the relationships to be developed with each of the villages and the individuals there.
Pray for this team as they continue to raise support, prepare for travel and prepare for the projects they will be involved in.
Our trip this time includes projects in English Literacy, researching Cashew Growing Projects with the schools in the Bole District, building projects for the school in Bale and church structures in 3 other villages. The team is looking forward to the relationships to be developed with each of the villages and the individuals there.
Pray for this team as they continue to raise support, prepare for travel and prepare for the projects they will be involved in.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
What's Next?
It's amazing to see and hear what everyone has to say about our visit to Ghana...I've had tons of people tell me they want to go back with us. We will go back..hopefully in late February or early March. We have a great plan for the next five years. And what God will do there will blow us away. As we look forward to the next five years, we want to share with those who are and will be a part of this mission our need to complete the first leg. This trip was planned on faith as will be our future trips. Funds were raised in faith and are still coming in. We do, however, still need to fulfill $1500 to complete the budget.
As funds are received they are placed in the Tinga/Bole account...all funds we receive beyond the fulfillment amount will be left in the account until the next trip in early Spring. We will use the residual funds to help others go on the next trip. We want to have as many partners as possible for the Tinga/Bole Mission. Please forward our blog address to friends and family you feel would be interested in participating. Watch the blog for new information about our next trip and how to get signed up.
To make a donation, make checks payable to The Orchard
and mail to:
The Orchard
PO Box 3216
Tupelo, MS 38803
As funds are received they are placed in the Tinga/Bole account...all funds we receive beyond the fulfillment amount will be left in the account until the next trip in early Spring. We will use the residual funds to help others go on the next trip. We want to have as many partners as possible for the Tinga/Bole Mission. Please forward our blog address to friends and family you feel would be interested in participating. Watch the blog for new information about our next trip and how to get signed up.
To make a donation, make checks payable to The Orchard
and mail to:
The Orchard
PO Box 3216
Tupelo, MS 38803
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Final First Trip Post
I guess by now you realize we are home from our trip...Electricity and connectivity in Ghana are not always on the same time as you are so you have to be patient. I was not able to post the last couple of days in Ghana so I had to wait till now...
There are so many things to tell and so many thoughts about living cross-culturally...if even for two weeks! This has been an amazing experience for all of us...For me personally...
I realize I live "Fat"...there is way too much in my life in the way of stuff. I want to be more untethered by material things...it doesn't mean sell the house and move to Ghana...God's not called me to that yet but I realize the excess in my life more now. I understand that all the images of people in third countries that I see on TV are propaganda for the most part and I need to find out for myself. I have come to understand that the people of Ghana are much more like me than not...Economically their country looks different than mine. Their houses and the towns they dwell in are much different but none the less efficient for them...Like my country there are people who don't care about taking care of their children, parents who love their children extremely, who work hard and those who don't want to work at all. There are lower, middle and upper classes. Some kids hate school while others long for it. There is the same kind of peer pressure. There are the same kinds of corruption. There is abuse of power and of people...of children.
But like I said early on in this blog...God has not called us to save them or change them...He will do that! God calls us to share our lives with them...to share the knowledge we have and to gain the knowledge they have. It's true that there are villages without electricity or running water. There are places with little or no suitable drinking water. There are schools that need teachers. There is a need for economic development in some towns and villages. There is a need for church buildings and school classrooms...just as there are in my own backyard and yours.
Don't be fooled by what you see on TV...not all of it is true and just like in America it is very hard to make generalizations about the whole of Africa...and from what I have seen in Northern Ghana, West Africa.
God has given us a clear vision. In a few short weeks, we will post a video explaining what our work will look like over the next several years in Ghana. We will use our partnerships and our people and our resources to impact the Bole ("Bowl A") District in Northern Ghana. The video will be posted here along with pictures of people and places we will be interacting with over the course of this lifetime. When you come back to look you will see what we mean, when we say, "when you go there you leave a part of yourself and you take a part of Ghana with you." Let me say this mission is all about relationships with people in the communities of the Bole District and no matter what "projects" we are involved in as we return there...our first and constant mission is the cross-culturally relationships we have started there. Pray that God lead you to go out and leave a part of yourself in the world...hopefully in Bole...and take a little part of it home with you...It will change the way you live in the world...for the rest of your life here!
Thanks to all who have supported this initial mission with your prayers, gifts and monetary support. We could not have done it without all of you. If you are a part of our home church, please know that Margaret will be home during the month of July and we will be making a presentation to the church about the vision for continuing the Tinga/Bole Mission over the next several years.
Check back for the video and picture album!
There are so many things to tell and so many thoughts about living cross-culturally...if even for two weeks! This has been an amazing experience for all of us...For me personally...
I realize I live "Fat"...there is way too much in my life in the way of stuff. I want to be more untethered by material things...it doesn't mean sell the house and move to Ghana...God's not called me to that yet but I realize the excess in my life more now. I understand that all the images of people in third countries that I see on TV are propaganda for the most part and I need to find out for myself. I have come to understand that the people of Ghana are much more like me than not...Economically their country looks different than mine. Their houses and the towns they dwell in are much different but none the less efficient for them...Like my country there are people who don't care about taking care of their children, parents who love their children extremely, who work hard and those who don't want to work at all. There are lower, middle and upper classes. Some kids hate school while others long for it. There is the same kind of peer pressure. There are the same kinds of corruption. There is abuse of power and of people...of children.
But like I said early on in this blog...God has not called us to save them or change them...He will do that! God calls us to share our lives with them...to share the knowledge we have and to gain the knowledge they have. It's true that there are villages without electricity or running water. There are places with little or no suitable drinking water. There are schools that need teachers. There is a need for economic development in some towns and villages. There is a need for church buildings and school classrooms...just as there are in my own backyard and yours.
Don't be fooled by what you see on TV...not all of it is true and just like in America it is very hard to make generalizations about the whole of Africa...and from what I have seen in Northern Ghana, West Africa.
God has given us a clear vision. In a few short weeks, we will post a video explaining what our work will look like over the next several years in Ghana. We will use our partnerships and our people and our resources to impact the Bole ("Bowl A") District in Northern Ghana. The video will be posted here along with pictures of people and places we will be interacting with over the course of this lifetime. When you come back to look you will see what we mean, when we say, "when you go there you leave a part of yourself and you take a part of Ghana with you." Let me say this mission is all about relationships with people in the communities of the Bole District and no matter what "projects" we are involved in as we return there...our first and constant mission is the cross-culturally relationships we have started there. Pray that God lead you to go out and leave a part of yourself in the world...hopefully in Bole...and take a little part of it home with you...It will change the way you live in the world...for the rest of your life here!
Thanks to all who have supported this initial mission with your prayers, gifts and monetary support. We could not have done it without all of you. If you are a part of our home church, please know that Margaret will be home during the month of July and we will be making a presentation to the church about the vision for continuing the Tinga/Bole Mission over the next several years.
Check back for the video and picture album!
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Tuesday June 5
Our first full day in Bole! Boy was it full...I am beginning to see why we are here...Lots of people and places God is showing us. We visited the schools of the Methodist church today...a JSS, which is Junior High school...like our 7-9th grades and a PSS like our Kindergarten through 6th grade....we gave two soccer balls to each school. The PSS kids went crazy...took the balls and went running...about 150 of them...It was great! Everyone is very into Jackson...they love his name and the kids freaked out over his braces...some actually ran the first time he smiled in their presence. You just don't think about all the things people here have not seen...They came back later and just stared...People here do that with white people...some have never seen a white person...mostly kids! We will meet with the JSS teachers later to get an idea about their work and how education works in this community.
We were received well by everyone today...again the formal introductions...even with the school kids...the same ritual. Jackson got to do the closing prayer at the Primary school. (Margaret has great pictures from the schools but I was not able to down load for this posting..we will get them up as soon as possible!)
I am realizing got has brought us here for "relationships". Like I said before...they don't need saving but it is becoming more real for me that their are things we can learn from each other.
They say Ghana has it's own time...about an hour later than any set timetable...we traveled to see the District Executive after the schools...by the way...Jackson has been invited to play in a soccer match on Thursday...so we look forward to that...
We visited the first church out in the district this afternoon...The church in Tinga...originally this is the church we would be in partnership with but it appears from discussions, the Bole District (or circuit as it is called) will be the scope of our partnership here. But onto Tinga...we met with them this afternoon...first we met the Chief...A very small old man who is blind...he was very gracious and happy to have us there. He granted land to the church for a church building and possibly a school at some point. From this introduction we went to meet the church. They are meeting in a catholic school building. But they worshiped just the same. We met with them after the worship (all the worship services we are attending have been pre-arranged at certain times since we will not be here on Sunday and could not be in all those places at once anyway...so it's kind of like a mock worship services but we still get to worship with them!) Today Bishop decided, on the spur of the moment, to have us "give a word"! That was fun...what do you say to people who don't know you language and whose lanuage you don't know? God worked it all out!
At the end of our time there...they showed their gratitude to us by presenting us with a GOAT! We named her Joan and left her with Rev. Job to give as a breeding animal for a needy family! Now we can say we have a GOAT in Ghana! That was AWESOME!
Today God showed me...that these people are more like us than not...We are not clear on the work God wants us to be a part of with the Church in Tinga but we are learning that God has all kinds of surprises in store for us...The people of Northern Ghana are very gracious...they are as interested in this partnership as we are. We need to continue to pray that the partnership remains about relationships and not about a checklist of projects that teams come and do and go. We are interested in making an impact on one region in Ghana. God has definitely made this clear to us...now as we go through the next few days...let's pray together that God will show everyone...how it will unfold.
Monday June 4
Majo (Good Evening) Arrived in Bole this evening after a long ...10 hour car trip...over roads...some paved...some dirt...We had a blast. Jackson, Jackie, Margaret and I were piled up in the back seat all the way. Jax was either on a lap or sandwiched between two adults. As soon as we arrived we went to meet Reverend Job. He's the District Superintendent. We entered the Mansa...not sure if that's how you spell it but that's how you say it. We were formally introduced to the Superintendent and his leaders. This is a custom in Ghana. You come in and sit in the "hall" or living room. You are "welcomed"...they actually say..."You are Welcome!", they shake every visitor's hand and say it over to each person. Then they offer you something to drink. They will then ask..."why have you come?" The Bishop is our guide and host so he did the introduction of Margaret and then she introduced the team. This took about 30 minutes for all the introductions...then they go around and shake hands again and say..."You are Welcome!" All over Ghana you see the billboard..."Akwaaba!" (which means you are welcome!") It's just what they do. People we met on the street in Accra would say the same! After the formalities, Rev. Job took us to our first of what we hear will be many meetings with Church leaders and chiefs. It was the womens group from the Methodist Church in Bole. We had to sit up front and be introduced...all over again. Bishop gave a short message and we took our leave and headed for the "Cocoa Research Facility Rest House", our accomodations for the week! Very nice with HOT water for the showers.
Tomorrow we start our tour to different churches around the district. We will meet with some Chiefs and, from what Bishop tells us, we will do the same introductions in every place we go...we will also meet the District Chief Executive...very important as this office oversees schools and other activities related to the government and we want them on our side! We took a few pictures along the way!
Friday, June 1, 2007
Two Days in Ghana
May 30 Flight to Germany
So good so far…our flight was a little late leaving the gate in Chicago but we are on our way…Hopefully we’ll make up time as our connection time is very short.
I got to sit next to a kid from Arkansas on the flight from Memphis…He has just graduated from Central Arkansas. It’s great to see his perspective on life. He’s traveling to Prague to seek experience as a Graphic Designer. He said he was most excited to eat a meal on a plane. I didn’t have the heart to say anything about airline food. But I love his perspective on the world today…it’s an adventure. He knows no one there. He’s seeking experience in a strange, new place and he can’t wait to do something at which most of us would gringe.
“Miss Potter” is the in-flight movie…It’s about the author Beatrix Potter who wrote Peter Rabbit Tales…She realized that “you can’t stay in the house all day…you’ve got to get out and show yourself to world. It’s an adventure!” So I think that’s what I’m taking with me…this is an adventure…and we’ll see what God’s going to do!
We’ll arrive at about 11:00 am Germany time, which is about 6 am our time in Mississippi. Hopefully we will have had a little time to sleep and get closer to Ghana time.
June 1
Margaret decided to wake us early yesterday...without telling us...and taking us to meet the Bishop over all of Ghana...A wonderful leader, Bishop Aboagye Mensah and the Director of Evangelism and Renewal...Dr. Reverend Emmanuel Asare Kusi (who just graduated from Asbury Seminary in Nicholasville, Kentucky from the Beeson Program Specialist Degree with his Doctoral degree.) Both men are very excited about the twining program we will be a part of. This coming Sunday we head north with Bishop Brown, over the North Region called "Bole" (pronounced "Bowl A"!) The church in Tinga we will partner with resides in the Bole District.
From our meeting we drove 4 hours to the East to Cape Coast a small town of fishing. Very cool. We spent the night there and actual got to wade in the Atlantic Ocean on this side...Now Jackson can say he has been on both sides of the Atlantic.
Today we traveled to the rainforest in Kakum (pronounced K Coom!) We did a canopy walk...which is up in the trees...walking across suspended bridges...we didn't see alot of animals but the view across the top of the rainforest was awesome. We ate lunch with Crocodiles and were stopped the police twice. Margaret is our driver this week and the police really like to chat with her. She has become very fluent in Twi (pronounced "Tree" with a "W" sound after the "R"...it's very unique) All the time we are traveling in the car we are trying to learn Twi...lots of fun but then Margaret always is.
Meda ase means Thank You! (pronounced "MA DA C"! We are learning so much more...but not enough time or space here...Ghanaians are always taken back when you speak their language...they are a very joyful group of people and will help in any way they can. They love to teach their ways and customs and even their language to us. We watched a group of men and women towing in a 3000 foot fishing net onto the beach by hand..."Adam" came over and began to talk with us about what they were doing. The catch was very low so we pray for better catches the rest of this week.
When I wrote on May 30, I told you I was going to see this as adventure and it has been already in the two short days we have been in country. It is amazing the protection and grace God has poured out on the 4 of us. We are very excited about tomorrow...we go to Bible Club...the children's Bible program Margaret helps with...they are using our outline from GrowZone last year! It will be fun to see what God is doing there.
I have been looking for the struggle that I prayed about on the day we left. I have not found it. What I am finding is there are the same struggles here that we have in America, in Mississippi and Kentucky. The Ghanaians live at a different level and pace...meaning they may not have a house like me or cars like me but in their society there are lower, middle and upper class...there are the same kinds of government red tapes and papers, children go to school and work and families grow. It just looks different here...so the struggle is not something God is calling me into but something he has called me to deal with within myself. We can serve him anywhere. We are not called to change the Ghanaians or save the Ghanaians. There are things we can learn from Ghana and there our things we can share with them. We'll see what God wants our part to be...
Pray as we travel on Sunday and all of next week to Bole! Safe Travel...protection...invisibility (I'll explain later!)...retention of the language...physical strength, rest and well-being! GYNANE ADOM...By God's grace!
So good so far…our flight was a little late leaving the gate in Chicago but we are on our way…Hopefully we’ll make up time as our connection time is very short.
I got to sit next to a kid from Arkansas on the flight from Memphis…He has just graduated from Central Arkansas. It’s great to see his perspective on life. He’s traveling to Prague to seek experience as a Graphic Designer. He said he was most excited to eat a meal on a plane. I didn’t have the heart to say anything about airline food. But I love his perspective on the world today…it’s an adventure. He knows no one there. He’s seeking experience in a strange, new place and he can’t wait to do something at which most of us would gringe.
“Miss Potter” is the in-flight movie…It’s about the author Beatrix Potter who wrote Peter Rabbit Tales…She realized that “you can’t stay in the house all day…you’ve got to get out and show yourself to world. It’s an adventure!” So I think that’s what I’m taking with me…this is an adventure…and we’ll see what God’s going to do!
We’ll arrive at about 11:00 am Germany time, which is about 6 am our time in Mississippi. Hopefully we will have had a little time to sleep and get closer to Ghana time.
June 1
Margaret decided to wake us early yesterday...without telling us...and taking us to meet the Bishop over all of Ghana...A wonderful leader, Bishop Aboagye Mensah and the Director of Evangelism and Renewal...Dr. Reverend Emmanuel Asare Kusi (who just graduated from Asbury Seminary in Nicholasville, Kentucky from the Beeson Program Specialist Degree with his Doctoral degree.) Both men are very excited about the twining program we will be a part of. This coming Sunday we head north with Bishop Brown, over the North Region called "Bole" (pronounced "Bowl A"!) The church in Tinga we will partner with resides in the Bole District.
From our meeting we drove 4 hours to the East to Cape Coast a small town of fishing. Very cool. We spent the night there and actual got to wade in the Atlantic Ocean on this side...Now Jackson can say he has been on both sides of the Atlantic.
Today we traveled to the rainforest in Kakum (pronounced K Coom!) We did a canopy walk...which is up in the trees...walking across suspended bridges...we didn't see alot of animals but the view across the top of the rainforest was awesome. We ate lunch with Crocodiles and were stopped the police twice. Margaret is our driver this week and the police really like to chat with her. She has become very fluent in Twi (pronounced "Tree" with a "W" sound after the "R"...it's very unique) All the time we are traveling in the car we are trying to learn Twi...lots of fun but then Margaret always is.
Meda ase means Thank You! (pronounced "MA DA C"! We are learning so much more...but not enough time or space here...Ghanaians are always taken back when you speak their language...they are a very joyful group of people and will help in any way they can. They love to teach their ways and customs and even their language to us. We watched a group of men and women towing in a 3000 foot fishing net onto the beach by hand..."Adam" came over and began to talk with us about what they were doing. The catch was very low so we pray for better catches the rest of this week.
When I wrote on May 30, I told you I was going to see this as adventure and it has been already in the two short days we have been in country. It is amazing the protection and grace God has poured out on the 4 of us. We are very excited about tomorrow...we go to Bible Club...the children's Bible program Margaret helps with...they are using our outline from GrowZone last year! It will be fun to see what God is doing there.
I have been looking for the struggle that I prayed about on the day we left. I have not found it. What I am finding is there are the same struggles here that we have in America, in Mississippi and Kentucky. The Ghanaians live at a different level and pace...meaning they may not have a house like me or cars like me but in their society there are lower, middle and upper class...there are the same kinds of government red tapes and papers, children go to school and work and families grow. It just looks different here...so the struggle is not something God is calling me into but something he has called me to deal with within myself. We can serve him anywhere. We are not called to change the Ghanaians or save the Ghanaians. There are things we can learn from Ghana and there our things we can share with them. We'll see what God wants our part to be...
Pray as we travel on Sunday and all of next week to Bole! Safe Travel...protection...invisibility (I'll explain later!)...retention of the language...physical strength, rest and well-being! GYNANE ADOM...By God's grace!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Leaving Tomorrow
It's Monday Night, Memorial Day...we leave for Memphis in the morning about 10:30 to catch our flight to Chicago for our journey to Ghana, Africa. This site will be my personal journal for the trip. Please be patient as we will not have internet access every day of the week...some posts may be multiple days. We hope to be able to upload some pictures too.
Thoughts B4 we leave...
Can't say that I am anxious about anything but I have thoughts and feelings I've never had before...no worry's. I think it's more excitement and anticipation of what God is going to do with me while in Africa.
Through our talks with Margaret...I've received some vision and direction but it's totally a God thing...eyes open...ears listening!
Close to 22 hours from here to there...My greatest anticipation is to see God in a culture and people I've never experienced before and to see how he works there...
My prayers...cause me to be effective...and affective...teach me to listen...broaden my borders, personally. Allow me to see t he struggle and the wisdom to know what you would have me do about it.
I'll try to post from Chicago and Frankfurt, Germany...tomorrow night...then we cross that timeline and I'm not sure what day it will be but I will try to post from Ghana on Thursday or Friday...with pictures!
Thoughts B4 we leave...
Can't say that I am anxious about anything but I have thoughts and feelings I've never had before...no worry's. I think it's more excitement and anticipation of what God is going to do with me while in Africa.
Through our talks with Margaret...I've received some vision and direction but it's totally a God thing...eyes open...ears listening!
Close to 22 hours from here to there...My greatest anticipation is to see God in a culture and people I've never experienced before and to see how he works there...
My prayers...cause me to be effective...and affective...teach me to listen...broaden my borders, personally. Allow me to see t he struggle and the wisdom to know what you would have me do about it.
I'll try to post from Chicago and Frankfurt, Germany...tomorrow night...then we cross that timeline and I'm not sure what day it will be but I will try to post from Ghana on Thursday or Friday...with pictures!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The Hawkins
Our family will be traveling together on this leg of the mission. If you are interested in supporting this mission, you may send contributions payable to The Orchard, , PO Box 3216, Tupelo, MS 38803. Make sure to write Tinga/Bole Mission in the memo line on your check or money order. All contributions are tax-deductible.
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