Hello once again from Ghana,
After being gone from here for about 3 ½ months, I have arrived and in the process of “bouncing back” to the normal on this side of the world. There are always adjustments when traveling from one place to another. This time, since I was gone from here for several months, there were changes and even new situations that have occurred in my absence. There were new babies to meet, people to locate after they had moved areas, and even pop-up businesses and shops that have appeared in the bustling town of Aflao. One thing that remained the same, if not increased in intensity, would be the heat and the light outages that come with that. I found myself having a hard time acclimating back to the heat and day-long sweatiness that comes with it. The enemy tries to use these inconveniences to put a hinderance in the day-to-day activities, but thankfully, I have now bounced back to the new norm once again of “Hot Ghana”.
Re-Connections-New Seeds-Cultivation
I am grateful to The Lord for how there are relationships I have here that have lasted over the years that after spending time away, I can come back and pick up where we left off. These two ladies are my sisters in Christ and sent me off back the US during a fearful and unknown season of life. They received me back with open arms and hearts to continue serving The Lord together for such a time as this. Also, the young guy in the picture is who I refer to often as my Timothy (Junior). He has been on his first term break from SHS, so he has been around to also go around with me within the community for ministry. We all attended a program together that was hosted by one of my ministry friends here in the Volta Region which awarded students scholarships for college. We are hoping that Junior was inspired by the program to continue working hard and be a light among his schoolmates over the course of the next few years.
There is a group of youth in the community that attend Mama Florence’s church that I have felt drawn to. Many of them have such a sincere desire to know God more, but unfortunately, there are many challenges in their way to do so. Many of them are familiar with Biblical truths but are lacking the understanding to go deeper through scriptures and allow God to guide them day to day in these truths through abiding and leaning into Him, not culture or traditions. I have suggested that we divide them into smaller more intimate groups throughout the week to meet and do Bible study together. They seemed to like the idea and we attempted it, but there was push back from the families due to the many responsibilities these young ones have. For example, after going to school all day, many go to obligatory “extra classes” that do not close until 5pm or afterwards. Immediately from there, they walk home to begin fetching water to help prepare dinner and fetch enough water for everyone’s baths. They still have the homework to do after that. So one can imagine, it is quite difficult to find in other “extra time throughout the week. Saturdays are also dedicated to washing clothes, house chores, and being sent by an adult to the town, maybe even attend a church program. None of these things are necessarily bad things, but they do provide certain challenge to a young person that wants to have time to meet with other friends that are also having an interest to grow in relationship with Christ. Please join me in prayer in how to navigate these challenges that will provide the most effective way for these youth to have time together in fellowship and strengthening each other in the Word of Truth.
Since returning, I have been able to go to the community of Detekope one Saturday to check on the children’s program that is trying to be established there. Again, there are certain challenges in this, the rough road to get there playing a big role in consistently going there. Also, we are seeking a person that can commit to showing up there every Saturday with a structured plan of teaching literacy to the children along with Bible stories. The harvest is plenty there!! Workers are few….. But we are expectantly seeking for the one or pair that God has prepared for this work. The children there are so eager to learn! This past time of visiting, we brought a small speaker for them to come up one by one to sing songs they have learned and recite memory verses. They did such a great job with big smiles and laughter! The adults in the area also sat close by to observe what was happening…planting seeds 😊
TREE OF LIFE IN A DRY PLACE
I have been able to reconnect with the Muslim school I had been visiting and meeting with teachers. Upon arriving, I was met by the teachers and administration there that received me warmly. I sat down under this tree in the picture as I waited for the school to close for the day so that I could have a short meeting with the administration about continuing the teacher workshops we had done before I left. As I sat there, I watched the students walking around the school campus. I was enjoying the pleasant shade and breeze this tree provided as I sat and waited. My heart became burdened for the students as I was thinking about what the administrators had been openly sharing with me previously how several students are experiencing what they believe to be spiritual attacks. Violent convulsions and other behaviors have happened frequently, especially to the young female students. As I thought about how this tree was providing a relief to my physical body of being hot and drained from the extreme Ghana sun that day, I began to pray for these students that they will also find such a relief and peace from the bondage they have been living in. That they will find life amid a dry and weary land. There is now a plan set to continue the teacher workshops in which I will meet with the teachers to share different teaching strategies and how to utilize limited teaching resources effectively. Through this, I pray that relationships and trust will continue to build a bridge of love to Truth that will set free.
As I close this update, I want to again express gratitude and thanks for all who are reading this. Life has been full of ups and downs for many months it seems. What I can personally testify is that through it all, God’s goodness and sustaining love has remained constant. I have been reading about His unending grace lately and have witnessed and received this grace time and time again that is undeserved, yet freely given. The source of His unending well of grace is Jesus. Through Christ, there are no valleys to low, or mountains too high. He provides what is needed for His glory. His grace is sufficient.
Please keep us in prayer on this side of the world as we too will be remembering you.
Thank you all, and God Bless you!
Your sister in Christ,
Chelsi
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