From the first time I heard of the need at the deaf school, a desire was born in my heart to reach them, but it didn't seem possible as we were not planning to live in Takoradi for more than one year. When James came to visit last December, he decided to stop by the school and ask a few questions for another person who was interested in reaching the deaf. While there and later on the flight home, God began to show James that He wanted us to have a deaf ministry. Now, as we are seeing the first souls come to salvation, I believe that they are only the beginning of a great harvest!
With any worthwhile open door, there are obstacles to overcome. The obvious obstacle with the deaf being...we do not know their language! So... enter sign language classes. The headmaster arranged for us to have a sign language class at the school. We are currently going twice a week on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Our teachers are two of the deaf teachers at the school. I was wondering how in the world you can communicate when your teacher is deaf, but it has worked very well. Kaitlin had some previous experience with sign language years ago so many times she can get the meaning of what they are signing. Other times, we write on the board, paper, even desks (with chalk). The amazing thing is- we are learning -not as fast as I would like...I think my brain leaks!! : ) Every week the teacher writes a list of words on the board which he then signs. We each have a notebook in which we record the words (and, for me, hints for how to sign) so that we can practice at home. I am definitely coordinationally challenged. Sometimes, they have to take my hands and fingers and put them the way they need to be because I can't figure it out. The only encouraging factor I cling to is that my husband is as bad as I am- maybe worse : )
The best way to learn and remember sign language is to have to teach it without an interpreter...at least, that is what the headmaster says. He said they had to suffer in Bible times so we should be willing to suffer as well. That is easy for him to say!! How do you teach a Bible story with a very minimal vocabulary?! But the sheer number of students (350) and the lack of helpers has forced us to do just that. Kaitlin and Jimmy are doing quite well. James has always had an interpreter. ME? Well, thankfully I have only had to teach without an interpreter one time. I did find out when all else fails, play hangman with Bible words from the lesson because I have mastered the alphabet : )
In spite of the obstacles (there are others- especially with my class- which I will tell you about in a later post), God is really blessing. There is a hunger in the older students especially that I have rarely seen. They have many questions about life and death. Those who have come for salvation have amazed me with their seriousness and transparency. After getting saved, one teenager asked if it would be okay if he went back to his village and told others how to be saved or did a preacher have to do it! These students are from many different West African countries...Can you imagine how many people they could reach if others get saved and go tell it in their villages?! Please keep us in prayer as we continue to study sign language and reach the lost among the deaf.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Musings
May I be transparent? Sometimes I miss my former home. I miss my family. I miss the church where my husband pastored for almost 15 years. My mind is tempted to think back...
But then I think of the little boys who come almost daily standing at the edge of our compound yelling for "Pastor James" so we will come have a Bible class with them. Who would teach them a Bible class if we had not answered God's call?
I think of Osbourne whom Jimmy led to the Lord and who now comes to church with us. Would he have been saved if we had stayed in Hoven?
I think of the lady who walked to the compound to ask for a Fante Bible. She has a desire to read the Word. She needs to hear the gospel. If we were not here, who would reach out to her?
What about the deaf children who so eagerly listen to the Bible stories and who have asked some very soul- searching questions concerning the fate of their deceased parents and grandparents. Should they also die without knowledge of the ONE who died to save their souls?
I could go on and on...Ghana is a needy country full of religious people. It is very common to find them giving God the glory for their abilities and possessions. Worshipping God is a priority to most, but they know not whom they worship. They do not understand that God must be worshipped on His terms. Someone must tell them!
When I think of my Savior who sacrificed all for me, when I think of the gospel light that I have been given, when I think of the fate of lost souls and blood on my hands, it is then that my inward pain seems so trivial. Can I not "suffer" loss so that my Savior can receive the reward for His suffering? His was a suffering to which mine cannot even begin to compare! He was separated from His Father for my sake. Can I not follow in His steps? He never said it would be easy, that there would be no inward pain; but He did say that His grace is sufficient. I have known and experienced this truth before, but I am again finding it to be true. Not only is His grace is sufficient for the pain but it is abundant enough to help me look to a future that is bright with the promises of God- a future of reaping God's blessing in the center of His will.
But then I think of the little boys who come almost daily standing at the edge of our compound yelling for "Pastor James" so we will come have a Bible class with them. Who would teach them a Bible class if we had not answered God's call?
I think of Osbourne whom Jimmy led to the Lord and who now comes to church with us. Would he have been saved if we had stayed in Hoven?
I think of the lady who walked to the compound to ask for a Fante Bible. She has a desire to read the Word. She needs to hear the gospel. If we were not here, who would reach out to her?
What about the deaf children who so eagerly listen to the Bible stories and who have asked some very soul- searching questions concerning the fate of their deceased parents and grandparents. Should they also die without knowledge of the ONE who died to save their souls?
I could go on and on...Ghana is a needy country full of religious people. It is very common to find them giving God the glory for their abilities and possessions. Worshipping God is a priority to most, but they know not whom they worship. They do not understand that God must be worshipped on His terms. Someone must tell them!
When I think of my Savior who sacrificed all for me, when I think of the gospel light that I have been given, when I think of the fate of lost souls and blood on my hands, it is then that my inward pain seems so trivial. Can I not "suffer" loss so that my Savior can receive the reward for His suffering? His was a suffering to which mine cannot even begin to compare! He was separated from His Father for my sake. Can I not follow in His steps? He never said it would be easy, that there would be no inward pain; but He did say that His grace is sufficient. I have known and experienced this truth before, but I am again finding it to be true. Not only is His grace is sufficient for the pain but it is abundant enough to help me look to a future that is bright with the promises of God- a future of reaping God's blessing in the center of His will.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Our New Home
If you like adventure, you would love to drive in Ghana. It is like a constant game of "Chicken". Having been in Africa two times before, I knew what to expect during our 4 1/2-5 hour drive to Takoradi. To give you an idea of what goes on- imagine traveling VERY fast, swerving to miss pot holes, driving on the shoulder so as not to collide with ten cars that are passing a slow-moving vehicle, slamming on the brake to miss goats, people and parked cars... You get the idea ; )
The Takoradi region has a population of approximately one million. Our new home is in Kansaworodo, a village on the outskirts of Takoradi. They are building a bypass to the International Highway which runs right by our village. This is an ongoing project so as we neared Kansaworodo the blacktop disappeared giving way to dirt roads full of pot holes of varying sizes. The "main street" in Kansaworodo has vendors selling their wares on both sides of the road. This is a very busy place from early morning to late at night. It would be impossible to drive to our house without being noticed!
Our driveway (which the Lord has since allowed us to repair) was my first surprise. After repeated wash-outs, it more resembled a rough trail. We had to get a running start to get up it. One taxi driver had to transport our groceries to the house while we walked because he couldn't maneuver it with us in the car.
The house is situated on the top of a hill overlooking the village. It has a nice yard with many fruit trees. In addition to the main house, there is a small guest house and guard shack on the property. There is currently only a partial wall, but we hope to build a complete wall as God provides. This is essential for our safety.
The house itself was familiar from the pictures James had taken in December although everything seemed much smaller in real life. It really is a perfect size for us with plenty of room. Once we began cleaning, I wished it were smaller : ) My second surprise wasn't the extra roomies ( I was told to expect mice); it was the mess that they had created. Let me give some background to explain...The missionaries that were renting this house before us had been gone from the house for 15 months. We had purchased their dishes, pots, small appliances, linens among other items. While Martin had paid some girls to come sweep and do some house cleaning, the cupboards had been untouched. They tried to make everything clean for us, but they had to stop house cleaning because the dusty season was hindering their work. Back to my story...I think I was most repulsed by the fact that these critters were not only in my house but also very likely going to mess everything up again as soon as we cleaned it. Mice had destroyed many of the kitchen items. Termites had wreaked havoc on the wood, and the countertop was falling into the cupboards. Everything felt dirty! Enter culture shock or at least Africa 101. I kept the dishes in the living room on tables until I was sure the critters weren't going to immediately ruin our work. Praise the Lord they do have chemicals and bug sprays to help us get rid of these pests, and we used a lot in those first weeks. Believe it or not, for all that mess, we only caught one mouse... I try not to give that much thought! : )
For the first two weeks, our family counting Kaitlin worked constantly to clean the house: we went to war against mold, bugs and dust. Everything had to be laundered as it all smelled musty. Everyone washed dishes, walls, and cupboards. When the house was finished, we moved to the guest house again sorting and cleaning. Finally, we had everything in order, and we looked forward to establishing a daily routine. We have yet to see exactly what that looks like, but we have a start with homeschooling back in session.
God has been so good to give us a nice place to live here in Ghana. It has already become an oasis for us. There are many repairs that still need to be done, but the Lord has provided for the things that just couldn't wait- like the countertop : ) I wish I could say I haven't been discouraged at all, but I am so thankful for my family (for future reference remember that includes Kaitlin) who have been such a help getting things clean and orderly. The mission field has brought out the best in them, and they are exhibiting character traits and adapting in a way that clearly shows the grace of God!
I can't end this post without mentioning that our container is arriving tomorrow!! While it has been a blessing to start with the items we bought from the Consfords, we are very excited to have our own belongings to finish making this house feel like home. We covet your prayers as we go to the port on Wednesday. Please pray that everything goes smoothly and that the duty is low. God Bless!
The Takoradi region has a population of approximately one million. Our new home is in Kansaworodo, a village on the outskirts of Takoradi. They are building a bypass to the International Highway which runs right by our village. This is an ongoing project so as we neared Kansaworodo the blacktop disappeared giving way to dirt roads full of pot holes of varying sizes. The "main street" in Kansaworodo has vendors selling their wares on both sides of the road. This is a very busy place from early morning to late at night. It would be impossible to drive to our house without being noticed!
Our driveway (which the Lord has since allowed us to repair) was my first surprise. After repeated wash-outs, it more resembled a rough trail. We had to get a running start to get up it. One taxi driver had to transport our groceries to the house while we walked because he couldn't maneuver it with us in the car.
The house is situated on the top of a hill overlooking the village. It has a nice yard with many fruit trees. In addition to the main house, there is a small guest house and guard shack on the property. There is currently only a partial wall, but we hope to build a complete wall as God provides. This is essential for our safety.
The house itself was familiar from the pictures James had taken in December although everything seemed much smaller in real life. It really is a perfect size for us with plenty of room. Once we began cleaning, I wished it were smaller : ) My second surprise wasn't the extra roomies ( I was told to expect mice); it was the mess that they had created. Let me give some background to explain...The missionaries that were renting this house before us had been gone from the house for 15 months. We had purchased their dishes, pots, small appliances, linens among other items. While Martin had paid some girls to come sweep and do some house cleaning, the cupboards had been untouched. They tried to make everything clean for us, but they had to stop house cleaning because the dusty season was hindering their work. Back to my story...I think I was most repulsed by the fact that these critters were not only in my house but also very likely going to mess everything up again as soon as we cleaned it. Mice had destroyed many of the kitchen items. Termites had wreaked havoc on the wood, and the countertop was falling into the cupboards. Everything felt dirty! Enter culture shock or at least Africa 101. I kept the dishes in the living room on tables until I was sure the critters weren't going to immediately ruin our work. Praise the Lord they do have chemicals and bug sprays to help us get rid of these pests, and we used a lot in those first weeks. Believe it or not, for all that mess, we only caught one mouse... I try not to give that much thought! : )
For the first two weeks, our family counting Kaitlin worked constantly to clean the house: we went to war against mold, bugs and dust. Everything had to be laundered as it all smelled musty. Everyone washed dishes, walls, and cupboards. When the house was finished, we moved to the guest house again sorting and cleaning. Finally, we had everything in order, and we looked forward to establishing a daily routine. We have yet to see exactly what that looks like, but we have a start with homeschooling back in session.
God has been so good to give us a nice place to live here in Ghana. It has already become an oasis for us. There are many repairs that still need to be done, but the Lord has provided for the things that just couldn't wait- like the countertop : ) I wish I could say I haven't been discouraged at all, but I am so thankful for my family (for future reference remember that includes Kaitlin) who have been such a help getting things clean and orderly. The mission field has brought out the best in them, and they are exhibiting character traits and adapting in a way that clearly shows the grace of God!
I can't end this post without mentioning that our container is arriving tomorrow!! While it has been a blessing to start with the items we bought from the Consfords, we are very excited to have our own belongings to finish making this house feel like home. We covet your prayers as we go to the port on Wednesday. Please pray that everything goes smoothly and that the duty is low. God Bless!
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Airplane Journey and Arrival
After losing my whole update just minutes before I was going to publish it, I am going to try again... The airplane ride was uneventful- just as we like it : ) Micaiah had a little trouble in security: he had something in his nail clipper set that was unacceptable, and his kindle had to be specially checked; but the rest of us went through very quickly both times. Even me! I usually get swabbed and patted and everything else they can think of doing. At Denver, we had a nice layover with time to enjoy our last "American" meal and to make some last-minute phone calls. I was excited to have a layover in Germany, but I must say that the airport there is unlike any I have ever been in before. Its layout is very confusing. As we watched several people miss their flights, we thanked the Lord we had enough time to get to our gate and to even have a short Sunday morning church service. Our Lufthansa flight to Accra was on a huge double-decker airplane. Although I still prefer Delta (James liked Lufthansa better), I did think this flight had very kind stewards and stewardesses. The one man paid Micaiah special attention giving him extra food and attention. Besides my having some stomach issues which required quick and tricky maneuvering by the stewardess during a meal (How embarrassing!), we all handled the flights well. Eighteen hours later, not counting layover hours, we were all very happy to land in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. We had arrived!
Exiting the plane, we were met by a blast of hot air. Friends, there is a little temperature difference between Ghana and South Dakota : ) Once inside, we waited in lines to get our passport stamped and to get all the necessary paperwork. Next, we were on to the luggage pick-up where to our relief everything was there. After another stop for paperwork, they passed us through customs without going through our suitcases or even asking any questions. Praise the Lord! In record time, we were headed outside to meet Martin, our friend and hired man. The regular group of taxi drivers waited outside each trying to get us to chose their taxi. To the left, a band was playing distinctly African music. Although we were wondering if we would be able to find Martin, he quickly found us. I wonder how? Although it was obvious we had a ride already, men appeared on all sides helping push our luggage and even load it into the van. We tried to tell them we had enough help, but they continued to help hoping to make some money. They weren't too happy when we only gave them a small amount for their unnecessary help.
Since we had paperwork to do at the Ministry of Interior, we headed to the Baptist Guest House where we were spending the next two nights. The Baptist Guest House is an oasis for missionaries. Run by Southern Baptists, it is very clean and the food is safe- two very important features on the foreign field. We will most likely be spending many nights there when we need to do paperwork, to pick up supplies, or to meet arriving friends and family...We are expecting some of you to come visit : ) Seriously, I know it is expensive, but if you want to take a missions trip, I can tell you of a good place! God blessed abundantly with our paperwork and we were ready to leave for Takoradi by Tuesday morning. We were about to see our new home. But that will have to wait for the next time because I have to leave for church.
Exiting the plane, we were met by a blast of hot air. Friends, there is a little temperature difference between Ghana and South Dakota : ) Once inside, we waited in lines to get our passport stamped and to get all the necessary paperwork. Next, we were on to the luggage pick-up where to our relief everything was there. After another stop for paperwork, they passed us through customs without going through our suitcases or even asking any questions. Praise the Lord! In record time, we were headed outside to meet Martin, our friend and hired man. The regular group of taxi drivers waited outside each trying to get us to chose their taxi. To the left, a band was playing distinctly African music. Although we were wondering if we would be able to find Martin, he quickly found us. I wonder how? Although it was obvious we had a ride already, men appeared on all sides helping push our luggage and even load it into the van. We tried to tell them we had enough help, but they continued to help hoping to make some money. They weren't too happy when we only gave them a small amount for their unnecessary help.
Since we had paperwork to do at the Ministry of Interior, we headed to the Baptist Guest House where we were spending the next two nights. The Baptist Guest House is an oasis for missionaries. Run by Southern Baptists, it is very clean and the food is safe- two very important features on the foreign field. We will most likely be spending many nights there when we need to do paperwork, to pick up supplies, or to meet arriving friends and family...We are expecting some of you to come visit : ) Seriously, I know it is expensive, but if you want to take a missions trip, I can tell you of a good place! God blessed abundantly with our paperwork and we were ready to leave for Takoradi by Tuesday morning. We were about to see our new home. But that will have to wait for the next time because I have to leave for church.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
God Be with You Until We Meet Again
Much has happened since my last blog. I had hoped to update and chronicle each step of our journey, but time was limited, internet was unavailable, and I was beyond fatigued. So I will try to quickly recap tonight...
Our container was loaded in record time! The Lord blessed with many hands to make the work light. Within three hours everything was loaded and ready to go. It felt odd to watch most of our earthly possessions being driven away and then to go back into an empty house; but it was also a relief to know that all the planning, buying, and packing was finished, and we could now focus on spending our last few weeks with family and friends.
Those last few weeks flew!! We enjoyed every moment. The boys even were able to go skiing with their cousins for the first time. Except for Jimmy scaring us to death by getting knocked out and being unconscious for several minutes, they had a blast. We had dinner dates and game nights and made many precious memories which even now make me miss my loved ones so much! Our church had their mission conference the week before we left. Unfortunately, I became sick early in the meeting which took some of the enjoyment out of it for me. I do thank the Lord that I was able to be in our commissioning service. It was a blessing to see all the friends that drove long distances to be there for us. God has been so good to our family!
When we first booked our tickets, I was afraid to have expectations of who would see us off because the airport is 2 1/2 hours from Hoven. Boy, was I surprised to find out that almost 50 family and friends were coming to see us off. (More would have come, but I shared my sickness from the week before.) My parents and we went to Bismarck the night before and enjoyed some last-minute time together. The next morning we all met at Perkins for breakfast. It turned out to be a great time of fellowship with time for pictures in the parking lot. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time, and check-in was quick and uneventful. Praise the Lord for that! The Lord allowed me to have a few moments with each person that came saying our goodbyes. Let me tell you-semantics aside- goodbyes are HARD!!! Yes, we know that we will meet again in Heaven no matter what. But we also know that a lot can happen in four years... Anyway, with tears for what we were leaving behind and anticipation for what we were facing, we stepped through the security check point and beyond the reach of earthly family and friends. Our airplane adventure had begun. We were on our way to Ghana!
I am running out of time so the rest of my recap is going to have to wait for another post... By the way, any grammatical mistakes are to be blamed on Jesse who keeps interrupting me with school questions. Doesn't he know that this blog is more important than his schoolwork? ; )
Our container was loaded in record time! The Lord blessed with many hands to make the work light. Within three hours everything was loaded and ready to go. It felt odd to watch most of our earthly possessions being driven away and then to go back into an empty house; but it was also a relief to know that all the planning, buying, and packing was finished, and we could now focus on spending our last few weeks with family and friends.
Those last few weeks flew!! We enjoyed every moment. The boys even were able to go skiing with their cousins for the first time. Except for Jimmy scaring us to death by getting knocked out and being unconscious for several minutes, they had a blast. We had dinner dates and game nights and made many precious memories which even now make me miss my loved ones so much! Our church had their mission conference the week before we left. Unfortunately, I became sick early in the meeting which took some of the enjoyment out of it for me. I do thank the Lord that I was able to be in our commissioning service. It was a blessing to see all the friends that drove long distances to be there for us. God has been so good to our family!
When we first booked our tickets, I was afraid to have expectations of who would see us off because the airport is 2 1/2 hours from Hoven. Boy, was I surprised to find out that almost 50 family and friends were coming to see us off. (More would have come, but I shared my sickness from the week before.) My parents and we went to Bismarck the night before and enjoyed some last-minute time together. The next morning we all met at Perkins for breakfast. It turned out to be a great time of fellowship with time for pictures in the parking lot. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time, and check-in was quick and uneventful. Praise the Lord for that! The Lord allowed me to have a few moments with each person that came saying our goodbyes. Let me tell you-semantics aside- goodbyes are HARD!!! Yes, we know that we will meet again in Heaven no matter what. But we also know that a lot can happen in four years... Anyway, with tears for what we were leaving behind and anticipation for what we were facing, we stepped through the security check point and beyond the reach of earthly family and friends. Our airplane adventure had begun. We were on our way to Ghana!
I am running out of time so the rest of my recap is going to have to wait for another post... By the way, any grammatical mistakes are to be blamed on Jesse who keeps interrupting me with school questions. Doesn't he know that this blog is more important than his schoolwork? ; )
Saturday, January 24, 2015
The Joys of Packing
How does one move their belongings across the ocean? What should I take? What can I buy when I arrive? How many clothes will my boys go through in 4 years? How do I pack everything so that it arrives safely? These are just a few of the questions running through my mind almost since I knew we were going to Ghana. I am so thankful for all the veteran missionary ladies who have taken the time to answer my many questions. I still have questions and am not sure I am doing everything correctly, but our container will have to ship in about a month so ready-or-not...Pack, pack, pack!
These barrels once held pickles- at least I think-from the unusual odor we smell every time we open one of them. Now they hold everything from shoes to clothing to books and many other assorted items. The shipper says everything must be itemized and valued so I have been keeping a generalized list of each barrels contents.
Yesterday I was able to tape off 10 foot sections in our dining room. I am hoping to figure out what size container we will need by packing everything in this area. We either have to go with a 20foot or a 40 foot. When the container arrives, it will have to be packed in 2 hours or we will have to pay by the hour for extra time. Since we leave in less than a week for a 2 week road trip to visit some churches that want us to come, I am hoping to know which size we need by the end of the week. I would appreciate your prayers as we make the big decision.
These barrels once held pickles- at least I think-from the unusual odor we smell every time we open one of them. Now they hold everything from shoes to clothing to books and many other assorted items. The shipper says everything must be itemized and valued so I have been keeping a generalized list of each barrels contents.
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| The boys taught me how to "ranger roll" so we could maximize our space : ) |
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| This is just one of the closets where I have been stashing the items I collected while on deputation. Since I like a good deal, I have been frequenting every clearance rack and thrift store that I could looking for things my family will need in Ghana. |
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| But time is running short, so lately we have had to just forego the deals and buy the rest of the items on our "needs list". This picture was taken after one of our trips to Walmart. |
Friday, January 2, 2015
A New Year- A New Blog
Happy New Year!! While every new year holds some level of anticipation, this year holds more than the usual for our family. In a little over 2 months, our small town, country-loving family is going to cross the ocean and enter a new world. Tears are already being shed as we say goodbye to our family and friends, but eagerness is filling our hearts for the fruit that will come as we follow the Lord's call. Small town Hoven will be replaced with Takoradi, a city of over one million souls; dry, frigid temperatures will give way to sweltering humidity; and beautiful wildlife will be missed as creepy crawlies become the norm. (I hear my new house has live-in "pets" such as squirrels, mice, geckos, and scorpions.) Yet with all these changes and more, I am comforted to know that our God will not change; His promises are still valid; and my life is still in His hand. I would like to take you along on our journey by way of this blog. I hope to share our discoveries and victories as well as our struggles and disappointments. This is new territory for me. I never thought this country girl would be a foreign missionary, but, with God, all things are possible!
Until next time...
Until next time...
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