|
| HomeTommy and Lucy -- the two mission team members who extended their stay in Ghana and then did a little more traveling -- are now home. We thank the Lord for His traveling mercies.
Ghana Mission 2008 Summary To recap what the Lord accomplished through the 9 members of Ghana Mission Team 2008 and our supporters... Approximately 250 men, women, and children received free medical care in the village of Boekrom.
A total of 200 bed nets to prevent the spread of malaria were distributed to pregnant women and children in 5 villages in the Western Region and at OOEIM Orphanage near Cape Coast. Recipients were educated about the benefits of net usage and instructed about proper installation.
- The OOEIM Orphanage bread making program was revived by purchasing flour and other ingredients in quantities sufficient to make approx. 1600 loaves of bread. The bread will feed the children and provide another source of income through the sale of the extra loaves.
- The team advocated with school officials for fee reductions for the children and teens from the orphanage.
- Construction supplies and local labor were provided to complete work on the chapel in Boekrom to the level of the lintels.
- A Holy Spirit powered evangelistic outreach service conducted at Boekrom ministered to villagers and team members.
- The scholarship account at Baidoo Bonso Secondary Technical School in Agona Ahanta was reviewed, funds added to it, and arrangements made for an additional payment.
- The palm oil processing equipment and grinder for cassava and copra in Azani were repaired and a new management structure instituted to oversee equitable usage and maintenance of the operation.
As a team we were blessed with the Lord's presence throughout all of the situations we encountered. We celebrate the laughter, fun, fellowship, and sense of family that we enjoyed as we served together as a team. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) "In Christ we are more than conquerors through him who loves us" (Romans 8:37).
Blessings,
Cheryl
| | |
| "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
It would be easy to focus on the transportation challenges during Ghana Mission 2008, and to lose sight of the way that the Lord took the little we brought and multiplied it to bless others -- and us -- for His glory. Whether it was a song offered up during a service that ministered to others; a smile, a hug or making funny faces with a child that provided encouragement and reflected God's love; medication to treat an adult or youngster with malaria; a conversation with a headmistress on behalf of a young lady from the orphanage; or laughter and good-natured teasing shared during our "unscheduled" stay in New York, the Lord repeatedly extended His grace and His hands filled with hope. His presence accompanied us throughout, and His plans and purposes prevailed.
I've posted some photos to provide readers with "Glimpses from Ghana Mission 2008". To view them sequentially, first click on the "photos" link and then double-click on "Glimpses from Ghana Mission 2008" in the Recent Albums box on the right. To enlarge the photos and view the brief description, click on the first photo of the album.
Rejoicing in what the Lord accomplished,
Cheryl
for Ghana Mission Team 2008 | | |
| All Members of the Massachusetts Team are Back!Praise the Lord!
Tara, Elizabeth, Seth, Ron, and Donna arrived safely back in Massachusetts at approx. 3:15 a.m. this morning (Monday). They had made alternate ground transportation arrangements from New York, and arrived only a couple of hours later than Cheryl & Rachel who took the delayed flight from JFK.
| | |
| Delayed Again!Our 10:15 a.m. flight Sunday morning from Accra to JFK in New York via Delta was delayed until noon due to fueling issues. When we landed at JFK, we again experienced delays that involved sitting on the tarmac waiting for a gate to become available. We were finally offloaded onto a transport which drove us to a gate. Adding to these delays was the time it took to collect our luggage and go through Customs. Bottom line: we are 2 for 2 -- we missed the connection from JFK to Boston.
By God's grace, Rachel and Cheryl were able to get on stand-by for the next flight to Boston scheduled for 10:10 p.m. Tara, Elizabeth, Donna, Ron, and Pastor Seth were scheduled for the Monday morning flight to Boston at 8:15 a.m. Discussions were underway about alternate possibilities, but since Rachel and I had to leave the rest of the team, I'm not sure of the final outcome at this point.
Rachel and I arrived safely in Boston this morning (now officially Monday) at 12:46 a.m. The 10:10 p.m. flight boarded at 11 p.m. and took off at midnight.
God doesn't promise that the road will be easy, but He does promise to walk with us.
In Christ,
Cheryl
| | |
| Winding Down...Today -- Saturday -- is our last full day in Ghana. This morning we visited briefly with Bishop Kow Egyir who is the Administrative Bishop for Ghana. Bishop Egyir has been involved in our Ghana mission efforts since their inception in 2002 when he was Bishop over the Sekondi District; he is the President of Friends of Ghana Outreach here in Ghana. Since his schedule as Administrative Bishop does not allow him the leisure to actively engage in our activities in the Western Region, the purpose of our visit was to share with him the work we were able to accomplish over the past week and a half and to thank him for the able assistance of Rev. Dan Brace and others from the Western Region.
Following our meeting, we returned to the arts and crafts marketplace at the Circle in Accra for more shopping -- and negotiating for the best prices. Rachel, Tara, and Elizabeth have quickly adapted to the necessities of bargaining with the shopkeepers for the best price. Although they still consulted at times with "Mama Cheryl", "Mama Donna", "Papa Ron" and "Papa Seth", they knew what they wanted and had quickly learned from their experiences yesterday.
We took a ride to the hills above Accra where the residence of a former President of Ghana is being restored and refurbished for the President's use. The road winds and curves its way up into the hills, but the view is tremendous. Since city traffic in Accra is horrendous and we had made luncheon arrangements for 2 p.m. at OSDA House, we were not able to go the entire way to Pastor Seth's former town or see Pastor Dorothy's boarding school. We did, however, have time to stop alongside the road to purchase mangoes which we enjoyed after lunch when we returned.
Tara, Elizabeth, and Rachel have promised to share some of their thoughts and reflections about Ghana Mission 2008 within the next couple of weeks, and I hope that Tommy will be able to do likewise. Until then, there will probably not be anything else to report other than our safe arrival in Massachusetts -- God willing.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Cheryl -- on behalf of Ghana Mission Team 2008 | | |
|
