Hello everyone!
As I type this newsletter, I understand it may come at a time in which each person reading this may be in the middle of a busy schedule, or even a complicated situation or decision to make. For that, I want to thank you for taking the time to read about what is happening on this side of the world in West Africa. My heart is heavy for all the hurt in this world, around me as well as there and other various places. We are all walking through different seasons, challenges, and in search of hope in an increasingly cruel and evil world. BUT, we do not have to be hopeless if we know the One who gives eternal hope through Jesus. That has brought me such joy during the challenges I face here. I recently completed a study on James chapter 1, and it opened my eyes and perspective to see all life’s challenges through the lens of Christ, and to choose JOY. Even in the most hopeless, frustrating, or complicated situation, good can still come out of it. If I am honest, I feel exhausted at the end of most days, but by the grace of God, I am always met with the peace that surpasses all understanding as I lay may head to sleep at night under my mosquito net. It does not matter the cultural practices, geographical location, or resources available, we will always be met with adversity. Poverty, neglect, hungry children, abuse, lack of education and healthcare are the various burdens I experience here. But, if I am to allow the overwhelming need crush my hope, then I am allowing the things out of my control steal my joy in serving the Lord in the capacity in which I am able. A humbling discovery I have met here is that children are resilient, and are precious in His sight. I often have a small voice come to my door to simply ask me for a block of ice from my freezer. Something this simple and small provides such contentment. Imagine the possibilities when they know Jesus as Savior! This hope is what motivates me each day to step outside onto the now muddy paths(due to the rainy season), to meet the faces of beautiful people here searching for simple contentment that can be provided by a simple Gospel through Jesus!
I am excited to share about the trip to Accra I took a group of teachers on a few weeks ago. These teachers have been helping with the after-school program, so as a “thank you”, I wanted to take them on an excursion away from our setting. We attended a one-day workshop that trained modern teaching strategies and methodologies focused on student-centered classrooms. The teachers received full support from other teachers in the US to attend this program, and we are all so grateful! We traveled to Accra a day before the training to visit the botanical gardens, and what an experience that was to witness these hard working teachers be so excited to explore a new environment for the first time. The next day we went to work learning, participating, and creating during the training. The biggest take away that the teachers shared with me from the whole experience was how they learned to think creatively while planning lessons and how to network with other teachers. They are still talking about the training to this day!
School has started back for their final term of this school year. We are back on schedule meeting Monday-Fridays after school. We have mostly been focusing on how to treat one another with love and kindness through role play, Bible Stories, and group discussions. Our closing assembly is when we try to tie everything together and charge the students to go home and apply what we have been learning. The hope and prayer is that the seeds being planted will take root and spread to their home environments. Recently, we have launched a community outreach project with our older students called: “Pillows for Widows” . We have partnered with a local seamstress that will come once or twice a week to guide us in how to make pillows to go out and distribute to the widows in our community to share the love of Christ with them. A group has already gone out on a Saturday to collect scrap material from other seamstresses to use for the pillow stuffings. Excited to share more on this project!
It is a JOY to share with you that our friend Irene was recently baptized. The ocean was fierce on this day, but she was successfully “dunked”! It was such a neat experience to witness the excitement she had to finally make a public proclamation of her faith! Her father is a fetish priest, so this was a bold decision for her to make. Please keep her and her 4 year old daughter, Enyonam, in your prayers as they continue to live in a spiritually dark atmosphere. Praying she will either have the faith to leave, endure, or be the light that brings her whole family to Christ through her own transformed life.
These are all some candid pictures taken over the past few weeks. My roommates and I try and visit Mawuenyo who is beyond her 90s, but still full of energy and spirit! It is times like this I wish I could speak and understand the local language of Ewe with ease so that I could just listen to her as she always shares stories. We asked her one day what meal we could prepare for her, any meal! And she told us rice and stew, which is a local dish….Simple. So we did, and we all ate and fellowshipped together. The next photos are from when I went with Mama Florence, who has been living in this village as a missionary from Accra for more than 30 years, to visit some families deep in the bush. I benefited just by being in her presence and learning how she connects with others and simply shares the with Word and Truth.
As I end the update, I would like to ask you to join me in prayer for these sweet children that I am heartbroken to share that they will be leaving our area for Mali. A few months ago, their father died unexpectantly. The mother cannot provide for them, and there is no other family or work for her to do because she does not speak the local dialect here. So she has chosen to travel with them all the way back to Mali where she migrated here with the husband many years ago. I am so sad to see them go, but more concerned for their future. I am trusting that any seeds planted in their life of truth will take root and continue to be with them as they grow. Letting go, and letting God…
It is always difficult to express in words all that is happening here. I am just so grateful and humbled for how so many people have faithfully continued to support The Lord’s work here. Thank you for the love and prayers. I do have days where I find it so difficult to press on due to the need around me, but…. I remember to choose joy and lean into the simple Gospel. God bless you all!!
Sending my love and prayers from Ghana,
Chelsi
Comments