There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
HAPPY NEW YEAR DEAREST LOVED ONES!!!
I write this FIRST Newsletter of 2023 from a heart of gratitude and anticipation. As the scripture above provides insight to the different time and seasons that we all experience, I feel as if I have personally touched on many of these over the course of 2022. Ghana does not experience the physical four season shift that most parts of the west does, but spiritually, there are seasons of life to celebrate, death to mourn, resurrection to praise, and growth to anticipate.
After a very busy past several months of packing to move to another place, preparing for our Sustaining Love Kids Christmas Program, visitations within the community, traveling for ministry connections and trainings, and finally wrapping up my online course work for TESOL, I unexpectedly received the opportunity to make a trip back to the US!! After some prayerful consideration, I accepted the unexpected invitation and hopped on a plane during what seemed to be chaotic time to do so. Some spiritual counsel I received during my time of wrestling with whether to travel or not, a dear friend reminded me that in God’s timing, there are no accidents or coincidences. With that in mind, I arrived in The States on December 27th, to the surprise of many family members and friends! It was so humbling to see how God provided such a time as this.
Just before I left Ghana, I had finished shifting my belongings to a different area that I will call my home base once I return. The time and season had come to make a physical move out of the area I have considered to be my homes base while in Ghana. As I was experiencing concern about this move, God kept providing clarity and confirmation that this was the right thing, and then He provided a temporary removal from the country for the necessary adjustments to be made in my absence for there to be trust and reliance on God and His timing for all things. A powerful statement I once heard that has been an encouragement during this sometimes-confusing time is: “how can others grow, if one does not let go?” My prayer right now is that any seeds that have been planted, will by the Grace of God, take root and begin to grow and produce the fruit of God’s love. This does not mean that I will no longer go to this community I have been focusing ministry in, but I believe it is important that I am no longer living there so that the model of: “I do”, “We do”, “You do” can be implemented successfully. The possibilities are endless because God is in control of all things!
The question I anticipate is: What do I expect to do once I return? The best answer I have is that I do not know exactly yet what that will be! But, God does. This cross-cultural journey The Lord has had me on has brought me to this stage time and time again it seems. What I have learned is best articulated by Oswald Chambers: “God does not always tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.” I choose to trust in His ways that are better than my ways. Whatever is in store, my God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I have peace in this truth.
I would now like to share some precious moments of how God provided during the months before I travelled. It all seems like a whirlwind looking back, but there is so much to celebrate and be grateful for. Some examples are:
Barrels arrived from the US just in time to make distributions of yarn to Muslim women who use it to make things to sell for income! This has created new ways of breaking down barriers and opening new doors for relationships.
A world traveler named Conner came to visit us for a few days. He came to Ghana after visiting 156 other countries to see the Ghanaian culture and share his love for Jesus with the children in the community at the Sustaining Love Kids program. He used his drone to capture amazing footage of the children and village to create a video that I hope to share with those interested to view while I am here in the US!
From generous donations, I was able to have shirts made for the teachers and hats for the children of the Sustaining Love Kids after-school program! We distributed them and it was such a joyous time!
On December 16th, we put on a Christmas program for parents and any community members that wanted to come and watch. The children worked so hard for more than a month to prepare toward this program which involved singing, drama, and dancing. All throughout the program the message of Christ as Savior was shared.
Here are some of the precious moments captured:
YARN DISTRIBUTION
S.L.K. CHRISTMAS GIFTS
S.L.K CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
FAMILY
The pictures above are sweet moments that were captured before I traveled with the ones who have truly become family to me. It never ceases to amaze me how God makes connections and build bridges of love through relationships despite cultural and language barriers. The teachers who have helped with Sustaining Love Kids after-school program have dedicated their time and energy to pour into the lives of children both academically and spiritually. The Muslim women have created a bond through the shared desire to learn English, but I pray it will ultimately lead to their acceptance of Christ as their Savior. The two sisters who have been my roommates have helped me in ways they may never understand. We have sharpened each other over the years. The children in the last picture stole my heart, tested my patience, and have taught me how to be joyful in the little things. They are strong and endure more than I can. I am expectant that The Lord will continue the work He has started in all these precious ones He has blessed me with the season of life with them! Excited to witness what is to come!!
HIS PROMISES ARE GOOD
During my stay here in the US, I aim to reconnect with family, reflect and recharge from 2022, attend a mission’s conference hosted by the sweet faith family at Albertville First Baptist, and wait in anticipation as The Lord equips me for whatever is next. Please feel free to reach out via email for any interest in connection!
PRAYER
I am asking for specific prayers for discernment as to what and where to focus the vision and passions The Lord has given me. I want to be faithful and obedient to His Will.
Here are a few possibilities that I am personally considering and praying over that I would like you to join in with me about:
Continuing a partnership in the Volta Region of teaching English among the Fulani nomadic herdsman communities in the bush areas.
Mobilizing and helping to organize trainings for Open Schools Worldwide organization in partnership with Gladys and her husband who live in Accra.
Helping to organize and set up Foster Parent training in partnership with Social Welfare of Ghana.
Thank you all for this sweet partnership! I love to hear how The Lord is working in all your lives, or of specific prayer I can join in with and for you as well.
Waiting Expectantly,
Chelsi
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