A Day to Remember at Wayamba

When we arrived at the village about thirty minutes before starting time the older children were setting up chairs, tables and desk from the classrooms. There were few people there yet but as you can see the crowd grew. Priscilla the head mistress and those on the program sat at a row of tables at the front. There were about 70 adults, family and friends of the children as well as representatives of the chief and his council of elders. Several made speeches, I told them that God had sent us to bring them water and shared the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. I told them that physical water was not our main purpose. We came bringing Jesus who gives water that rises up in those who believe "as a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." After all the speech making and sermonizing the children sang a song, which says it all, "I want to thank you Jesus."

A Day to remember in Wayamba

The first picture is of the officers of the sixth grade class who will go on in the fall to Jr. High. Today was also the last day of school. They will be on vacation for the month of August. The next picture is of the new officers who a being congratulated by those they replace. The next two pictures are from the awards portion of the program where outstanding students were given prizes for their scholastic achievements. Each of the top students were given backpack book bags. Others who earned recognition were given writing tablets and pencils. Children in the states might not get excited about these gifts but the children of Wayamba cherished them. These gifts were furnished by the vol. team from Rockwall First Baptist Church, Rockwall, Texas, lead by Chery Read.

A day to remember in Wayamba

These pictures show the spokesman for the chief and me cutting the ribbon to officially open the water system which now furnishes clean drinking water for the school children. Then the spigot is opened and the water flows. There is a picture of me giving the chief's representative a drink. I pretended to drink but I did not really because while the water is perfectly safe for the locals, I must drink filtered water only. The last picture is of some of the ladies from the village getting a sample drink after the ceremony was over. Living in the states you can not imagine what today meant to everyone in the village. We were told that the chief, who is Muslim, is encouraging his people to support the Christians because no one else has done anything for the people. We are careful to give full credit to God for the work that has been done. To God be the glory, great things He hath done. Thanks go also to IHH, Bob and Cynthia Brightwell, Rev. Robert Gillchrest, and the deacons from his church for their contributions.
If I left anyone out forgive me.

The Water Project completed at Wayamba

The work on the water project is finally complete. Actually it was completed much faster than I anticipated, praise God through whom all blessing flow, and now through His blessing, the water flows. The spigot is only partially open because I did not want to waste water just show that it is coming from the tank. I had one of the teachers take my picture because Peggy says that I never appear because I am the camera man. But I think you see me often enough. The children are the youngest group at the school. They are the real winners in all of this. Thursday we will have a dedication ceremony for the water system and it will be a chance for us to give credit and thanks for the love of Jesus which is behind it all. Pray that the people will be drawn as the woman at the well was drawn to the giver of the water of life.

New Names Written Down

Sunday July 19, 2009 was a first for me. It was the first time 100% of my congregation professes belief in Jesus Christ. The day started slow. Peggy stayed home because she needed to keep off of her infected toe. (Pray for the infection to clear up). When Lansah, Joseph and myself arrived at the village school Pastor Daniel's son John was there and had the classrooms open. There were a few children there and Pastor Immanuel who teaches with me at the Seminary was also there. We waited until 10:15 and no adults came though theMuslim children continued to arrive and join John in the other building. I told the rest we need to pray, so we sat on the porch and prayed. I prayed that God would encourage us and show us that we were right in what we were doing in Jesus name. We waited. I had brought an English translation of the Bible and a Dagbani New Testament for a young man who had asked for them last week. His name is Abukari. He was not there and a passer by said he was working somewhere. Abukari is a carpenter. Now it is 10:45 and still no adults. I told the rest if no one comes in another 15 min. we will go looking for people to share with in the village. Then a man came by going toward the village on a motorcycle. I hailed him and he stopped. We began to talk through Joseph and Lansah. He said his name is Yakubu and he is a farmer and a butcher. He is Muslim, but he said that he liked the Christian way. I told him that he could become a Christian and he said that he had been a Muslim for a long time and that all his friends and family are Muslim. We told him that we were waiting for some people from the village to come so I could tell them about Jesus, but that so far only children had come. This Muslim man then did a strange thing thing. He said, " don't be discouraged. As long as the children come continue to tell them, and work with them." I thanked him and said we would. Then I felt led to do something. I offered the Dagbani New Testament to Yakubu. He said, "I cannot read, but I have four children who are grown and they all read. They will read it to me." I gave it to him on his promise that he would get them to read it to him. He then left for his home in the village. We returned to the porch. Now it is 11:15. The children are still coming but no adults. Then one elderly man arrives on foot. He was with us last Sunday and said he thought he was too old to become a Christian. I had told him that no one was too old and told him about Nicodemus. After he sat down with me I told him the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection and ascension. When I finished I said, "Do you believe what I have told you is the truth?" He said, "I believe what you have said is the truth." To be sure I asked again, "Do you believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He died for you sin, and do you put your trust in Him? He said "I do." I told him how glad I was that he had become a believer and a child in God's family. I told him that we were now brothers in Jesus Christ. Almost at that exact moment another of the elders from the village arrived. His name is Haruna. He also was there last Sunday and rthe Sunday before. I then went through the story of Jesus again and asked him the same questions I had asked Iddrisu and Hharuna also stated that he believed in Jesus Christ. We rejoiced together in the wonderful saving grace of God. Tomorrow Pastor Daniel and I will do follow up with these two men. Pray for them and also pray for the young carpenter Abukari and for the farmer/butcher Yakubu, and pray for John and all the children he is working with. Pray that we will get the water project completed this week as a testimony to God's faithfulness.

Ditch for water pipe at Wayamba

Went back to Wayamba today and the water is connected

These pictures were taken July 16, 2009 and they show the participation of the men from the village digging the ditch for the Water Authority to lay the water pipe. Several of the older men pictured are elders of the village. Priscilla, the head mistress of the school is shown observing the work. Everyone is very excited and happy that the work is progressing. This is all due to the participation of you who contributed to this project. We say thank you, from the children who will drink the clean water. Matthew 10:42, "Whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is known to be my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly be rewarded." While I was taking these pictures some of the children were singing, "The B -I- B- L- E, that's the book for me."

Sunday July 12, after the team went home

Sunday was a day of disappointment and fulfillment. Saturday Pastor Daniel went to Wayamba to share Jesus and invite people to come for our service Sunday morning. He would not join us because he had to preach at his church. I stayed home and prepared a message for them. I prayed for the kind of turnout we had the previous Sunday. I think I really believed it would happen, but when Peggy and I along with Joseph and Lansah arrived at about 10:00 there was no one around. Then about 20 min. later 2 small children came, and then several more and then more. We sat on the porch and sang a couple of songs as more children arrived. I could not deny I was disappointed, but I said, "If God sent us children we will take what He sent and have church. Before it was all over there were four men and 9 women who joined us and there were so many children we had to send them with John, Pastor Daniel's son to the other building. There were at least 100 in his group. We kept the older children and teenagers with us so we numbered about thirty. I storied using Nicodemus and his visit to Jesus at night. Joseph who is just recovering from Malaria translated for me.When I finished some of the men asked questions. One of them said that he might be too old to become a Christian. I told him that Nicodemus was an old man when he became a believer, and God did not care how old we are. Another told me to not expect them to become Christians right away. When I asked if anyone wanted to become a believer no one responded but one young man wanted to know if I could get him a Bible and I told him I would see what could be done. Some times we get to see God work fast. Sometimes we get to see Him work slowly, but always He works on time. We will be patient. We won't try to force things or people. It is better if we wait upon the Lord. We will keep going back as long as we are here and we are needed, and we will be satisfied with what God does. Keep us in your prayers.

Wednesday the last day for the team at Wayamba

Wednesday after we storied in the village we helped the children put on a program for the family and friends that were able to attend. The puppets did their thing and the children sang. The school staff were presented gifts from the team. Earlier in the week the team presented the school with much needed supplies. The program was a well recieved success and a fitting end to the combined efforts of all envolved. Thanks go to Cheryl, all the team members, those supporting them in their churches back home, and our Ghanaian assistants. Most of all we say thank you Lord for allowing us to be used by you to share love and the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday at Wayamba

Tuesday we followed the same schedule, storying in the village in the morning and Bible School at the village school in the afternoon. Two of the pictures catch the children at lunch, which is prepared by some of the school staff in a small kitchen that stands alone between the two class room buildings. The Headmistress uses a shady place under a tree to set up her desk and office.
The last picture is Judith and a very special translator named Lansah. Mr. Lansah is our driver, handyman, advisor, yardman, bodyguard, and close friend. He goes with us just about wherever we go, and we could not have stayed here without his help and understanding. He loves the Lord and he has shown us many times that he loves us. With out a doubt we love he and his family too. There is also a picture of the group I storied with Tuesday morning, almost in the shade of the village Mosque.

Monday Bible School at Wayamba

Monday through Wednesday afternoon we held Bible School for the children at the school. These pictures were taken Monday. The first one shows our daughter and Eunice her translator doing music. She got to be first because she is our daughter. T second picture shows the children being assembled. The next is the team with Priscilla, the Headmistress and a staff member. The third is of Feonia and Beverly doing puppets, the fourth is Chris and Colton helping with soccer for recreation. I think if you click on the pictures they get larger. The school staff were very helpful and our thanks go out to them. A number of them are believers and you can tell they have an influence on the children.
The team members did an excellent job and we can't say enough about their compassion, sweet spirit, dedication and flexibility.

Monday at Wayamba

These three pictures show people Pastor Daniel and I storied with. Pastor Daniel is the one with the white shirt and the Arkansas Razorback cap. There were five other teams storying and for details about their experiences check out ghanamissions09.blogspot.com. That is the blogspot for Cheryl's team. I used the stories of Philip and the Ethiopian and Jesus and Zaccheaus. At 11:00 we went to the village school for Bible school with the children.