Note: It seems as I played this back, the photo quality is quite poor...probably best to play it in a small screen rather than enlarge it. In case it is really bad, you can try this link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151320878355284&set=vb.705135283&type=2&theater
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Video!
Creating this video was a wonderful time for me to reflect and debrief. Enjoy!
Note: It seems as I played this back, the photo quality is quite poor...probably best to play it in a small screen rather than enlarge it. In case it is really bad, you can try this link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151320878355284&set=vb.705135283&type=2&theater
Note: It seems as I played this back, the photo quality is quite poor...probably best to play it in a small screen rather than enlarge it. In case it is really bad, you can try this link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151320878355284&set=vb.705135283&type=2&theater
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Pictures!
I hope that you are all able to get to some of our pictures through these links.
Once our photo presentation is ready, I will be sure to post it here for you to enjoy :)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151285045645284.794392.705135283&type=3&l=fb5c5dde07
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151285498025284.794428.705135283&type=3&l=a4a6ef6f94
Once our photo presentation is ready, I will be sure to post it here for you to enjoy :)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151285045645284.794392.705135283&type=3&l=fb5c5dde07
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151285498025284.794428.705135283&type=3&l=a4a6ef6f94
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Mission complete...or is it?
Monday our flight was booked for 11:30pm...our itinerary included a whole free day in Accra.
Most of the team left together on the bus with Simon and Stephen at 10am that morning for the International Cultural Centre for several hours of shopping fun/harassment :). The vendors are very 'friendly' by wanting to become your best friend so that you won't leave their 'shop'. Paul said that you start the barter process at about 1/2 the asking price. The vendors will even go so far as to follow you to the bus to try to get your sale. Paul refused to buy from anyone that called him 'Daddy' as many would :). Jambe drums, carvings, fabrics, maps, etc...made their way into our suitcases and as carry on for the flight home.
Seven of us left on a separate bus left at 9am to spend the day with 19 Compassion sponsored kids. We picked them up at the church that hosts the Compassion project and provides all the volunteers who work with the kids. It was arranged that we spent the day with them at a park where the boys played football (soccer) with Joe, Russ, Sam, Ryan and Nolan, the girls taught Jacqueline and I a couple of games, and when they all jumped into a shallow pool to play for a majority of our day, some of us watched and chatted with the workers or learned some Ghanaian board games. Jacqueline and I even had the opportunity to have a beautiful 6 month baby, Michelle, strapped onto our backs Ghanaian style :). We had lunch at a restaurant where we ate inside instead of on the patio because many of these kids have never sat around cloth covered tables to eat dinner the way we did that day. Waiting for our fabulous chicken and rice lunch, Russ taught the infamous 'Skinner-ma-rinky-dinky-dink song' that was a favorite up in Tinga, and then many of the children stood and sang songs for us. A boy named Maxwell (Prince's best friend), stood and sang the old familiar song 'Jesus My Savior', and as we started to sing along with him, we noticed his eyes well up with tears. The sound of us all singing together in that restaurant was beautiful and he was overwhelmed in that moment (as was I), but he kept leading us, and when he sat, he bent his head and quickly pinched his eyes to stop the tears and wipe them away...a very powerful moment...one I will never forget!!! We ended our lunch with Ryan juggling 3 tomatoes for the kids :). Once we said our goodbyes, the seven of us squeezed in about 45 power-shopping minutes to find some souvenirs. After spending most of all our Ghanian Cedis at the roadside market, we had to pay to refuel the bus. There was a bit of a nervous moment when we found out that they didn't accept the US funds or credit cards we had, but God saw that we had just enough Cedis to cover it!
The reason that we made this visit is because Joe and I have sponsored a 13 year old boy named Prince through the Compassion program for the past 6 years. He is one of 7 children in his family, but he lives in a west side poor section of Accra with his grandmother while the rest of his family lives approximately 2 hours away. He is the only child in his family that goes to school and that is why he is there. Compassion provides for his medical, dental and educational needs and they visit their neighbourhoods and family homes often to check in with his family to be sure all his other needs are met. We visited Prince last May, and at that time visited the church and they explained the program, visited his class (and the Lord helped me recognize him out of the whole class as they asked us to 'find' him amongst the 50 some uniformed kids), and visited his family before taking him to lunch. When we arrived at the church this time and walked upstairs to meet the kids waiting for us, Prince came down several of the steps toward us wearing the shirt and baseball we gave him last time, and welcomed us with a really big hug...Wow!!! When I signed the guest register again this year, I noticed that no other sponsor had visited their project since we had last been there. 98% of sponsors all over the world never have a chance to meet their sponsored kids...we feel SO blessed to have been able to do that twice so far, and hopefully we'll be back again :). I still have to get better at writing letters to him...all the kids look so forward to letters sent by their sponsors! Encouragement and love is what each one of us needs.
At 6 we enjoyed a final team dinner at the hotel, suitcases were packed back onto the little pick up and bus, and after 15 flying hours, 9-10 hours spent airports checking in, waiting for our connection and picking up bags, and a final 1 hour drive back to Uxbridge, we will be home! (Some of will have more drive times to their homes in Markham, Burkes Falls and Stouffville).
Home. A place God has blessed us with to live with and love our families, fellowship with our friends, tand work doing what God has given us to do so that we can provide. Provide not only for ourselves, but for our extended family and friends in various places all around the world...waiting to see what God has for us to be and do next...being His hands and feet in everything we do.
When I started this blog, I spoke about how quickly this project came together. God opened David's eyes to the need for this church to be built in Tinga. God put the desire in our hearts to be available for this mission. God arranged that a bulk of the funds was ready and available to be used for this project, and He provided the funds to our donors who helped see the additional financial needs were met. God worked through those of you who carried us with your prayers and support. Now we look forward to hearing about the work He does not only in the lives of those who walk through this new church's doors, but in the entire community of Tinga (David's Ephasus), and to the world beyond as He works through His people.
On this trip we were privileged to witness the new believers in the remote village of Babatok baptized. Shawn was baptized the following Sunday in Subinso, and Joe & I are thrilled that this Sunday as we were enroute by bus to Accra, our daughter Brittany was baptized with 625 others in Australia at Hillsong Church's Vision Sunday evening service. God is working everywhere in a mighty way!
Our work is not done. We must all continue to lift up in prayer the needs of this new church in Tinga, Peter and the new believers forming a church in Babatok, Pastor Rans and the church in Subinso, and all the other churches represented by the pastors and elders we worked along side for this build..that the right leaders are chosen for the new churches and that they all stay on course being everything God has for all of them being part of The Church in this world.
God bless you all!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Most of the team left together on the bus with Simon and Stephen at 10am that morning for the International Cultural Centre for several hours of shopping fun/harassment :). The vendors are very 'friendly' by wanting to become your best friend so that you won't leave their 'shop'. Paul said that you start the barter process at about 1/2 the asking price. The vendors will even go so far as to follow you to the bus to try to get your sale. Paul refused to buy from anyone that called him 'Daddy' as many would :). Jambe drums, carvings, fabrics, maps, etc...made their way into our suitcases and as carry on for the flight home.
Seven of us left on a separate bus left at 9am to spend the day with 19 Compassion sponsored kids. We picked them up at the church that hosts the Compassion project and provides all the volunteers who work with the kids. It was arranged that we spent the day with them at a park where the boys played football (soccer) with Joe, Russ, Sam, Ryan and Nolan, the girls taught Jacqueline and I a couple of games, and when they all jumped into a shallow pool to play for a majority of our day, some of us watched and chatted with the workers or learned some Ghanaian board games. Jacqueline and I even had the opportunity to have a beautiful 6 month baby, Michelle, strapped onto our backs Ghanaian style :). We had lunch at a restaurant where we ate inside instead of on the patio because many of these kids have never sat around cloth covered tables to eat dinner the way we did that day. Waiting for our fabulous chicken and rice lunch, Russ taught the infamous 'Skinner-ma-rinky-dinky-dink song' that was a favorite up in Tinga, and then many of the children stood and sang songs for us. A boy named Maxwell (Prince's best friend), stood and sang the old familiar song 'Jesus My Savior', and as we started to sing along with him, we noticed his eyes well up with tears. The sound of us all singing together in that restaurant was beautiful and he was overwhelmed in that moment (as was I), but he kept leading us, and when he sat, he bent his head and quickly pinched his eyes to stop the tears and wipe them away...a very powerful moment...one I will never forget!!! We ended our lunch with Ryan juggling 3 tomatoes for the kids :). Once we said our goodbyes, the seven of us squeezed in about 45 power-shopping minutes to find some souvenirs. After spending most of all our Ghanian Cedis at the roadside market, we had to pay to refuel the bus. There was a bit of a nervous moment when we found out that they didn't accept the US funds or credit cards we had, but God saw that we had just enough Cedis to cover it!
The reason that we made this visit is because Joe and I have sponsored a 13 year old boy named Prince through the Compassion program for the past 6 years. He is one of 7 children in his family, but he lives in a west side poor section of Accra with his grandmother while the rest of his family lives approximately 2 hours away. He is the only child in his family that goes to school and that is why he is there. Compassion provides for his medical, dental and educational needs and they visit their neighbourhoods and family homes often to check in with his family to be sure all his other needs are met. We visited Prince last May, and at that time visited the church and they explained the program, visited his class (and the Lord helped me recognize him out of the whole class as they asked us to 'find' him amongst the 50 some uniformed kids), and visited his family before taking him to lunch. When we arrived at the church this time and walked upstairs to meet the kids waiting for us, Prince came down several of the steps toward us wearing the shirt and baseball we gave him last time, and welcomed us with a really big hug...Wow!!! When I signed the guest register again this year, I noticed that no other sponsor had visited their project since we had last been there. 98% of sponsors all over the world never have a chance to meet their sponsored kids...we feel SO blessed to have been able to do that twice so far, and hopefully we'll be back again :). I still have to get better at writing letters to him...all the kids look so forward to letters sent by their sponsors! Encouragement and love is what each one of us needs.
At 6 we enjoyed a final team dinner at the hotel, suitcases were packed back onto the little pick up and bus, and after 15 flying hours, 9-10 hours spent airports checking in, waiting for our connection and picking up bags, and a final 1 hour drive back to Uxbridge, we will be home! (Some of will have more drive times to their homes in Markham, Burkes Falls and Stouffville).
Home. A place God has blessed us with to live with and love our families, fellowship with our friends, tand work doing what God has given us to do so that we can provide. Provide not only for ourselves, but for our extended family and friends in various places all around the world...waiting to see what God has for us to be and do next...being His hands and feet in everything we do.
When I started this blog, I spoke about how quickly this project came together. God opened David's eyes to the need for this church to be built in Tinga. God put the desire in our hearts to be available for this mission. God arranged that a bulk of the funds was ready and available to be used for this project, and He provided the funds to our donors who helped see the additional financial needs were met. God worked through those of you who carried us with your prayers and support. Now we look forward to hearing about the work He does not only in the lives of those who walk through this new church's doors, but in the entire community of Tinga (David's Ephasus), and to the world beyond as He works through His people.
On this trip we were privileged to witness the new believers in the remote village of Babatok baptized. Shawn was baptized the following Sunday in Subinso, and Joe & I are thrilled that this Sunday as we were enroute by bus to Accra, our daughter Brittany was baptized with 625 others in Australia at Hillsong Church's Vision Sunday evening service. God is working everywhere in a mighty way!
Our work is not done. We must all continue to lift up in prayer the needs of this new church in Tinga, Peter and the new believers forming a church in Babatok, Pastor Rans and the church in Subinso, and all the other churches represented by the pastors and elders we worked along side for this build..that the right leaders are chosen for the new churches and that they all stay on course being everything God has for all of them being part of The Church in this world.
God bless you all!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Sunday Bus Trip
Almost record time! Arrived in Accra in 9 hours! Only one refueling/restroom break...although that meant there was a mad rush to the bathroom at the hotel when we got here :)
We saw the sun rise from beneath some low lying clouds. It was beautiful to see...it rises so fast you can see it happening in mere moments. The sun is SO big here and with the haze, it really is a round ball that you can actually look at.
Simon navigated the speed bumps, animals, people, roadside breakdowns, traffic and crazy bumpy red sand roads under construction as we approached Accra. The applause we gave when we arrived safely was very well deserved. Stephen did great keeping up with us with his sky high load of luggage. They did a great job tarping and tying it down...with the roughest roads ever, the entire load got here.
Our 'on board' meals were fabulous! I mentioned the fried egg sandwiches and mangoes for breakfast, Simon bought bananas for us at the toll stop which we enjoyed mid-morning and later mid-afternoon, and lunch was incredible tuna salad sandwiches on the super fresh bread, meat pies, and crackers & cheese. Doug & Pat were in for a special surprise at lunch...all trip they noticed that we were never served the ends of the loaves (the crusts), and they love them. They had mentioned that to Brenda and guess what was in a special bag marked with their names...tuna sandwiches made with only the crusts! How special is that! Brenda, you are amazing to have taken note and done that for them!!! Sweet!
Rooms were assigned at the Earl Beam Hotel and we enjoyed sitting by the pool while some of the guys dared go in. The pumps weren't on, there were many 'floaty things' and it was pretty cloudy. The guys didn't care...it was refreshing. Glenn said it tasted 'sweet'!?!
A nice dinner was served at 6, and the Ghana quarter final game was on. Cards were played while others relaxed in the dining room while the game was on.
Tomorrow, most of the team will be heading to the market to shop, while 7 of us will be picked up by a bus to take Prince, our Compassion sponsored child, and his classmates who are part of the program, to an amusement park for the day. Ellen, the volunteer that I really enjoyed on our last visit will be with us, along with some others. I am really excited about it :)
Our flight is due out at 11:30pm tomorrow night. Pray that it happens on time and that our connection is too...the weather in Europe has caused Heathrow to be at 50% according to the BBC news here.
G'Night! And thank you for all of your prayers :)
We saw the sun rise from beneath some low lying clouds. It was beautiful to see...it rises so fast you can see it happening in mere moments. The sun is SO big here and with the haze, it really is a round ball that you can actually look at.
Simon navigated the speed bumps, animals, people, roadside breakdowns, traffic and crazy bumpy red sand roads under construction as we approached Accra. The applause we gave when we arrived safely was very well deserved. Stephen did great keeping up with us with his sky high load of luggage. They did a great job tarping and tying it down...with the roughest roads ever, the entire load got here.
Our 'on board' meals were fabulous! I mentioned the fried egg sandwiches and mangoes for breakfast, Simon bought bananas for us at the toll stop which we enjoyed mid-morning and later mid-afternoon, and lunch was incredible tuna salad sandwiches on the super fresh bread, meat pies, and crackers & cheese. Doug & Pat were in for a special surprise at lunch...all trip they noticed that we were never served the ends of the loaves (the crusts), and they love them. They had mentioned that to Brenda and guess what was in a special bag marked with their names...tuna sandwiches made with only the crusts! How special is that! Brenda, you are amazing to have taken note and done that for them!!! Sweet!
Rooms were assigned at the Earl Beam Hotel and we enjoyed sitting by the pool while some of the guys dared go in. The pumps weren't on, there were many 'floaty things' and it was pretty cloudy. The guys didn't care...it was refreshing. Glenn said it tasted 'sweet'!?!
A nice dinner was served at 6, and the Ghana quarter final game was on. Cards were played while others relaxed in the dining room while the game was on.
Tomorrow, most of the team will be heading to the market to shop, while 7 of us will be picked up by a bus to take Prince, our Compassion sponsored child, and his classmates who are part of the program, to an amusement park for the day. Ellen, the volunteer that I really enjoyed on our last visit will be with us, along with some others. I am really excited about it :)
Our flight is due out at 11:30pm tomorrow night. Pray that it happens on time and that our connection is too...the weather in Europe has caused Heathrow to be at 50% according to the BBC news here.
G'Night! And thank you for all of your prayers :)
Wrap Up Saturday & Sunday's Departure
The day started just like the previous 11 workdays...breakfast at 6:30 am, loaded and leaving on the bus and stake truck at 7:15, but today was special. The Ghanaian pastors loaded a couple of drums into the back of the stake truck and started drumming...they sang and beat the drums through the entire 1/2 hour drive, and even went beyond the work site so that the entire main street of Tinga would hear them. Unfortunately the donut lady did not some to the site, and many were disappointed that they couldn't enjoy their last opportunity to eat one as they have the previous few days. This was our final day and the last time we would see Tinga on this trip, and for some of us, probably the last time we would ever see it in person ever.
The trusses were completed, the purlins started and all the tents, chairs and tools were packed away. Ebenezer rents a house nearby and some of his men will continue to stay in the temporary shack built on the property in order to watch over things and complete the church over the next weeks.
Bev, Pat, Linda and I stayed in Carpenter to pack up all the remaining school supplies, clothing and finalize the gift packages for the workers. At 11 we headed to Tinga with Brenda, Carol and Stephen with our final jobsite lunch. Doug prayed a blessing over the food. It was a powerful prayer of thanks...starting with the word 'Wow'. We have enjoyed an incredible trip covered with so much blessing! Health, strength, protection, inspiration, joy, and more!!! The nurse from the local clinic, who is also a Tinga church member, brought each Canadian a bottled Ghana Malt drink. We were very honored by her gift to us, and it looked very refreshing, but once we started taking off the bottle caps and we sipped it, realized it was warm (almost hot), and it quickly failed at being a new favorite. The Ghanaians were more than happy to finish them for us...none of it went to waste. Pictures were taken of the entire group inside the church, and then our Canadian team had photos on the front steps. It became a really fun time as jokes were made as we all stood in the hot, hot sun. Carol carefully took photos with about 10 cameras (I suppose if there were that many taken with so many cameras, we figured we'd get at least one with everyone at their best :))
Some of the kids from our school classes happened by the worksite and were able to see us off. They looked so good in their day clothes! We are so used to seeing them dressed in their ragged orange and brown uniforms. Not one seemed to be able to look at Russ and Jack without automatically starting the actions for the 'Skinner-ma-rinky-dinky-dink' song. (I think we are all concerned that they must think its our national anthem, theme song or a traditional Canadian greeting :)). It's really is one of the funniest things to see!!!
Waving goodbye to the kids that were there, and seeing the building grow distant was tough, but we were quickly distracted with another special Ghanaian scene on the main street while we passed. At the street side outdoor butcher shop, was a cow head laying on the ground...long horns, brains and possible intestines sitting right next to it. As we exited town, we made a quick stop to the medical clinic to thank them for the malt drink and continued on our last trip south back to Carpenter. Most of the men returned on the stake truck as the Ghanaians picked up with the drumming and singing as they had done on the way in that morning, but now they had shovels and aluminum tubing from the tents to use to create more and louder instruments. It was such a joyful way to end our project!
Back in Carpenter by about 1:30, we had the afternoon to rest, reflect, pack our bags, and at 4:30, the most exciting football (soccer) game was on...some of us against some of the Ghanian pastors!!! It was a great time spent in the hot sun, and when it wound down, the score was 2-2...a tie! We'll have to schedule a tie breaking match when we come back :). Russ discovered he wasn't as young as he once was...unfortunately his Achilles tendon 'popped' (those around him heard it...he said it felt like someone kicked him hard in the back of the ankle, but no one was around). He has handled it really well and tonight we all prayed for a speedy recovery, and that travel goes well for him.
All showered and cleaned up, and we had our final banquet in the convention centre with not only us and the Ghanaian pastors like we are used to, but also with Ebenezer, his crew, Tinga volunteers and Carpenter staff. Abraham, the chef, served us at the buffet tables...'Carpenter Vegetable soup' made with only ingredients grown here, Rice, Guinea Fowl, Telapia fillets and fish, and the most exciting part of the table, the opportunity to join in with the Ghanaians if we dared try one of their favorite foods, 'Grasscutters' (kind of like our groundhogs or possums). I didn't hear of anyone who actually did.
After we were all fed, we enjoyed taking time to thank everyone who made this project possible, gave our gifts and were each blessed with a Ghanaian dress or shirt. Many of us put them on and took photos under the centre gazebo, and some played a final card game together.
Not long after we started settling in for the night, the winds came up, thunder and lighting was seen and heard, and then the rains came! They came hard and fast. Another memorable African experience for everyone :)
Due to have our luggage ready for the truck at 5:45am and to be on the bus at 6 the next morning, it was a surprise to hear Stephen backing up the truck to the compound at 4:40, open the squeeky front gate, and turn on the exterior walkway lights. Everyone quickly started to scurry around to get ready sooner than they had planned. Stephen obviously knew that it would take longer than 15 minutes to pack all our suitcases into the back of the small Nissan pick up. We were on the bus several minutes early, drove up to the kitchen, and our breakfast and lunch foods were loaded into the bus. The pastors were standing there, they sang a song of blessing over us, David prayed, and we sadly waved goodbye. Leaving was sad for all of us, but especially for Sam and Jacqueline. Their son Pete was standing with the pastors waving goodbye. He is staying until mid-April to work at the different stations within the compound and to help with upcoming conferences. I asked if he would blog his adventure...it didn't sound promising :(. What an amazing opportunity for him, and I would just love to hear all about it :)
We are safely on our way, enjoying our fried egg sandwiches on fresh baked bread, and beautiful mangoes. Russ is able to put some weight on his foot today and he rested well through the night. God is Good!
The trusses were completed, the purlins started and all the tents, chairs and tools were packed away. Ebenezer rents a house nearby and some of his men will continue to stay in the temporary shack built on the property in order to watch over things and complete the church over the next weeks.
Bev, Pat, Linda and I stayed in Carpenter to pack up all the remaining school supplies, clothing and finalize the gift packages for the workers. At 11 we headed to Tinga with Brenda, Carol and Stephen with our final jobsite lunch. Doug prayed a blessing over the food. It was a powerful prayer of thanks...starting with the word 'Wow'. We have enjoyed an incredible trip covered with so much blessing! Health, strength, protection, inspiration, joy, and more!!! The nurse from the local clinic, who is also a Tinga church member, brought each Canadian a bottled Ghana Malt drink. We were very honored by her gift to us, and it looked very refreshing, but once we started taking off the bottle caps and we sipped it, realized it was warm (almost hot), and it quickly failed at being a new favorite. The Ghanaians were more than happy to finish them for us...none of it went to waste. Pictures were taken of the entire group inside the church, and then our Canadian team had photos on the front steps. It became a really fun time as jokes were made as we all stood in the hot, hot sun. Carol carefully took photos with about 10 cameras (I suppose if there were that many taken with so many cameras, we figured we'd get at least one with everyone at their best :))
Some of the kids from our school classes happened by the worksite and were able to see us off. They looked so good in their day clothes! We are so used to seeing them dressed in their ragged orange and brown uniforms. Not one seemed to be able to look at Russ and Jack without automatically starting the actions for the 'Skinner-ma-rinky-dinky-dink' song. (I think we are all concerned that they must think its our national anthem, theme song or a traditional Canadian greeting :)). It's really is one of the funniest things to see!!!
Waving goodbye to the kids that were there, and seeing the building grow distant was tough, but we were quickly distracted with another special Ghanaian scene on the main street while we passed. At the street side outdoor butcher shop, was a cow head laying on the ground...long horns, brains and possible intestines sitting right next to it. As we exited town, we made a quick stop to the medical clinic to thank them for the malt drink and continued on our last trip south back to Carpenter. Most of the men returned on the stake truck as the Ghanaians picked up with the drumming and singing as they had done on the way in that morning, but now they had shovels and aluminum tubing from the tents to use to create more and louder instruments. It was such a joyful way to end our project!
Back in Carpenter by about 1:30, we had the afternoon to rest, reflect, pack our bags, and at 4:30, the most exciting football (soccer) game was on...some of us against some of the Ghanian pastors!!! It was a great time spent in the hot sun, and when it wound down, the score was 2-2...a tie! We'll have to schedule a tie breaking match when we come back :). Russ discovered he wasn't as young as he once was...unfortunately his Achilles tendon 'popped' (those around him heard it...he said it felt like someone kicked him hard in the back of the ankle, but no one was around). He has handled it really well and tonight we all prayed for a speedy recovery, and that travel goes well for him.
All showered and cleaned up, and we had our final banquet in the convention centre with not only us and the Ghanaian pastors like we are used to, but also with Ebenezer, his crew, Tinga volunteers and Carpenter staff. Abraham, the chef, served us at the buffet tables...'Carpenter Vegetable soup' made with only ingredients grown here, Rice, Guinea Fowl, Telapia fillets and fish, and the most exciting part of the table, the opportunity to join in with the Ghanaians if we dared try one of their favorite foods, 'Grasscutters' (kind of like our groundhogs or possums). I didn't hear of anyone who actually did.
After we were all fed, we enjoyed taking time to thank everyone who made this project possible, gave our gifts and were each blessed with a Ghanaian dress or shirt. Many of us put them on and took photos under the centre gazebo, and some played a final card game together.
Not long after we started settling in for the night, the winds came up, thunder and lighting was seen and heard, and then the rains came! They came hard and fast. Another memorable African experience for everyone :)
Due to have our luggage ready for the truck at 5:45am and to be on the bus at 6 the next morning, it was a surprise to hear Stephen backing up the truck to the compound at 4:40, open the squeeky front gate, and turn on the exterior walkway lights. Everyone quickly started to scurry around to get ready sooner than they had planned. Stephen obviously knew that it would take longer than 15 minutes to pack all our suitcases into the back of the small Nissan pick up. We were on the bus several minutes early, drove up to the kitchen, and our breakfast and lunch foods were loaded into the bus. The pastors were standing there, they sang a song of blessing over us, David prayed, and we sadly waved goodbye. Leaving was sad for all of us, but especially for Sam and Jacqueline. Their son Pete was standing with the pastors waving goodbye. He is staying until mid-April to work at the different stations within the compound and to help with upcoming conferences. I asked if he would blog his adventure...it didn't sound promising :(. What an amazing opportunity for him, and I would just love to hear all about it :)
We are safely on our way, enjoying our fried egg sandwiches on fresh baked bread, and beautiful mangoes. Russ is able to put some weight on his foot today and he rested well through the night. God is Good!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Final Friday
It's hard to believe that we will be leaving Carpenter in less than 36 hours. Like Joe would say, 'It's happy-sad'.
Happy because of all the work accomplished in building a church building and touching children's hearts in a 'very unique town.' (Tinga). David continues to call it 'Ephasus'. Tomorrow, we have three more trusses to raise and purlins to install to be ready for tin. Although this building required 3 days of foundation/floor preparation that Subinso didn't, we will be leaving only 1 day behind where we were at when we left Subinso last May. Things have gone much faster than David and Ebenezer ever expected! God has blessed us with health and a strong dedicated team who gave it their all!
Happy that the Muslim chief and elders welcomed us two weeks ago, and came today to accept our gift of school supplies, and in return they have us a huge gift (physically and monetarily)...a cow!
Happy that representatives from the district school board joined us this morning and heard the cry for more teachers for these schools...both from the chief and from David. All children across the country write the same acceptance exams to further their education. These children are trying to learn with 1/2 the teachers they need and very limited resources, while the children in Accra have a surplus of teachers and additional classes to help them have the advantage. Like David said to the area reps, the system is putting the children in this northern region in a position to only be the labourers for those in the south, yet they personally have the potential to be ministers of government, doctors, nurses, etc...if given the chance.
Happy that 5 people watching us and watching the building go up came to us wanting to find God!
Happy that we had the chance to meet Alex...one of the original visionaries and founding board members of NEA. He is an engineer and was the director of the the electric power system that runs Tamale (an area that is now almost 1 million people). He is now retired, but continues to stay busy with the many projects underway.
Happy for the opportunity to be a small part in the huge plan that God has for this part of the world and for The Church across the world. What a privilege it has been to hear David share how God works, and to know that the same God that did miraculous things in the Bible, still does them here, and back at home too if we would just listen, watch and allow Him to reveal himself! Tonight we were invited into the Mensah's home for popcorn and dessert that Brenda, Carol and Abraham had prepared. It was a wonderful social time with David sharing many stories about the house and how it came to be what it is today, his hunting expeditions and other things, but the spiritual lessons and challenges set out for us in regards to praying, fasting and being able to sleep well will never be forgotten. Knowing that no matter the challenges the next day holds, David shared that he sleeps well and he carries no stress or tension because he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is doing what God has called him to do, and whatever happens is in God's hands and for the greater purpose. Satan is always knocking at the door trying to get in by doing things like creating doubts by attempting to discredit work being done corporately, or through a foothold he has in someone's life that they are working with, but they stand firm that Satan has to flee in Jesus' name. The battle is won.
Happy to go home to be with our family, friends, work and church...ready to do what God has called us to do in our routines and do it all as unto Him...being His hands and feet everyday.
Sad because a part of us is left here once again.
Sad because we do not know if we are meant to be get to see these friends once again.
Sad because of the tears we saw in some of the young children's eyes when they realized we were leaving as they clambered around us and the truck when we pulled away from the school yard for the last time. Some of their faces will be forever etched in my mind. I pray that God keeps those faces clear in my mind so that even if forget their names (some of which I could never quite pronounce just right), that I remember to pray for them and be thankful for what they have taught me!
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Happy because of all the work accomplished in building a church building and touching children's hearts in a 'very unique town.' (Tinga). David continues to call it 'Ephasus'. Tomorrow, we have three more trusses to raise and purlins to install to be ready for tin. Although this building required 3 days of foundation/floor preparation that Subinso didn't, we will be leaving only 1 day behind where we were at when we left Subinso last May. Things have gone much faster than David and Ebenezer ever expected! God has blessed us with health and a strong dedicated team who gave it their all!
Happy that the Muslim chief and elders welcomed us two weeks ago, and came today to accept our gift of school supplies, and in return they have us a huge gift (physically and monetarily)...a cow!
Happy that representatives from the district school board joined us this morning and heard the cry for more teachers for these schools...both from the chief and from David. All children across the country write the same acceptance exams to further their education. These children are trying to learn with 1/2 the teachers they need and very limited resources, while the children in Accra have a surplus of teachers and additional classes to help them have the advantage. Like David said to the area reps, the system is putting the children in this northern region in a position to only be the labourers for those in the south, yet they personally have the potential to be ministers of government, doctors, nurses, etc...if given the chance.
Happy that 5 people watching us and watching the building go up came to us wanting to find God!
Happy that we had the chance to meet Alex...one of the original visionaries and founding board members of NEA. He is an engineer and was the director of the the electric power system that runs Tamale (an area that is now almost 1 million people). He is now retired, but continues to stay busy with the many projects underway.
Happy for the opportunity to be a small part in the huge plan that God has for this part of the world and for The Church across the world. What a privilege it has been to hear David share how God works, and to know that the same God that did miraculous things in the Bible, still does them here, and back at home too if we would just listen, watch and allow Him to reveal himself! Tonight we were invited into the Mensah's home for popcorn and dessert that Brenda, Carol and Abraham had prepared. It was a wonderful social time with David sharing many stories about the house and how it came to be what it is today, his hunting expeditions and other things, but the spiritual lessons and challenges set out for us in regards to praying, fasting and being able to sleep well will never be forgotten. Knowing that no matter the challenges the next day holds, David shared that he sleeps well and he carries no stress or tension because he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is doing what God has called him to do, and whatever happens is in God's hands and for the greater purpose. Satan is always knocking at the door trying to get in by doing things like creating doubts by attempting to discredit work being done corporately, or through a foothold he has in someone's life that they are working with, but they stand firm that Satan has to flee in Jesus' name. The battle is won.
Happy to go home to be with our family, friends, work and church...ready to do what God has called us to do in our routines and do it all as unto Him...being His hands and feet everyday.
Sad because a part of us is left here once again.
Sad because we do not know if we are meant to be get to see these friends once again.
Sad because of the tears we saw in some of the young children's eyes when they realized we were leaving as they clambered around us and the truck when we pulled away from the school yard for the last time. Some of their faces will be forever etched in my mind. I pray that God keeps those faces clear in my mind so that even if forget their names (some of which I could never quite pronounce just right), that I remember to pray for them and be thankful for what they have taught me!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, February 3, 2012
Character Thursday
Another hot but breezy (therefore dusty!) day. Everyone headed to Tinga this morning, but another one of us quickly realized they were not 100% and had to sit it out, and went back to Carpenter with the little truck early. By the end of tonight, it looks like they will be fine to be back with is tomorrow.
All brick peaks are complete and the truss parts are all cut and numbered ready for assembly.
The primary classes seemed to have gone well, but Master Emmanuel did say to Shawn and I this morning that this morning only 10 from our class arrived to assembly at 7:40 this morning. He indicated that it was because we were here and the kids weren't being 'caned' for being late. That opened up an opportunity for Shawn and I to share that we were disappointed to hear that they were taking advantage of us in that way. Shawn shared how they needed to rise to the occasion for the couple of weeks with us here to learn as much as they could. They wouldn't have understood every word said, but they picked up on the theme of what we were saying. The rest of the class we kept them busy with dictation, drawing, a word search and Playdoh as we explored shapes and family.
Our junior high kids special guests today were Josh and Nolan! They shared their experiences with school, working to afford school, their aspirations and what they like/dislike about an employer. Nolan encouraged them to pursue whatever it is they really want to do, no matter what anyone else might say to discourage them. Josh shared that 'The hardest thing to do is to do the right thing when no one is watching'. That opened up for me a wonderful opportunity speak about character and they were quick to feed me great words like loyalty and honesty. I then quietly asked the class 'what happened here yesterday' (referring to the grabbing and stealing incident with our craft supplies). One boy answered, 'All of your flowers went missing' and one of the girls said 'please forgive us'. When I said 'I forgive you', the entire class said 'Thank you Madam'. We continued to speak about peer pressure as well. It was a wonderful class and their homework for me is to write a fable/story using an imaginary character and including in it a character lesson. I can't wait to hear them tomorrow.
We confirmed with Brenda the appropriateness of our gifts for the teachers and the school tomorrow. It will be our last school day, and some of the elders will be there to accept them along the teachers. Thank you for all your generous donations...we had plenty to use and leave with them, and still some left here for Brenda to distribute where needed.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
All brick peaks are complete and the truss parts are all cut and numbered ready for assembly.
The primary classes seemed to have gone well, but Master Emmanuel did say to Shawn and I this morning that this morning only 10 from our class arrived to assembly at 7:40 this morning. He indicated that it was because we were here and the kids weren't being 'caned' for being late. That opened up an opportunity for Shawn and I to share that we were disappointed to hear that they were taking advantage of us in that way. Shawn shared how they needed to rise to the occasion for the couple of weeks with us here to learn as much as they could. They wouldn't have understood every word said, but they picked up on the theme of what we were saying. The rest of the class we kept them busy with dictation, drawing, a word search and Playdoh as we explored shapes and family.
Our junior high kids special guests today were Josh and Nolan! They shared their experiences with school, working to afford school, their aspirations and what they like/dislike about an employer. Nolan encouraged them to pursue whatever it is they really want to do, no matter what anyone else might say to discourage them. Josh shared that 'The hardest thing to do is to do the right thing when no one is watching'. That opened up for me a wonderful opportunity speak about character and they were quick to feed me great words like loyalty and honesty. I then quietly asked the class 'what happened here yesterday' (referring to the grabbing and stealing incident with our craft supplies). One boy answered, 'All of your flowers went missing' and one of the girls said 'please forgive us'. When I said 'I forgive you', the entire class said 'Thank you Madam'. We continued to speak about peer pressure as well. It was a wonderful class and their homework for me is to write a fable/story using an imaginary character and including in it a character lesson. I can't wait to hear them tomorrow.
We confirmed with Brenda the appropriateness of our gifts for the teachers and the school tomorrow. It will be our last school day, and some of the elders will be there to accept them along the teachers. Thank you for all your generous donations...we had plenty to use and leave with them, and still some left here for Brenda to distribute where needed.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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