PROSPERITY Gospel = Heartbroken Sandra (Part 3)

(Note: If you read this blog before you will notice I pretty much deleted all but the end. After a work spoken my a Ghanaian here, my own heart was revealed and felt these lyrics to "Lead Me to the Cross" were more appropriate than my former rant. :)

"Savior I come, quiet my soul, remember redemption's hill where Your blood was spilled, for my ransom. And everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost.

Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to You. Oh lead me, lead me to the cross.

You were as I, tempted and tried, human. The Word became flesh, bore my sin and death now you're risen. And everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost.

Lead me to Your heart."

I praise the Lord that to this day I choose Jesus over anything this world or pseudo-gospel could even pretend to offer me.

Father You are real. You are ever-present. You are gracious. Your love reigns and Your mercy is forever. In You we find hope and rest and peace. In Your Son we find life. Through His blood we are redeemed. Through Your Spirit we are empowered. By Your love we can live life fully for Your kingdom’s cause without hesitation, without fear, without regret, and without shame. Father, You’ve given us a choice to store up treasures in this life or to store up treasures in heaven. Help us to choose wisely as reality hits us and decisions are not easy at times. Speak to us through Your Spirit, Your word and those who are truly Yours. May the only ‘prosperity’ we devote our lives to be the prospering of souls for Your kingdom. And may we be able to humbly confess that we will take advantage of the opportunities set before us, whether they be ones we would label as fun/positive or those which might be labeled difficult/negative…may we handle each of them as a good steward for Christ’s name’s sake. Thank You my King. Amen.

PROSPERITY Gospel = Heartbroken Sandra (Part 2)

The broken heartedness is for two groups.

1) Those who hear this twisted gospel—. Today, in one of the two churches I attended the pastor preached on this decade (2011-2020) being a “Decade of Opportunities”. Pride dripped from his suit as he preached. I tried to hear anything that the Holy Spirit might teach me in spite of this man. I believe that the enemy knows I have to fight against the urge to ‘tune out’ when I hear anything that sounds like it might be the “Prosperity Gospel,” which is so stinkin’ prevalent here!

So I didn’t tune out. I listened. I listened to the man tell me that God has given him a word, that this is a decade of opportunities for me and all I need to do is take advantage of these opportunities that will come before me. He gave some material examples and how I would be blessed. Thank goodness ‘my son’ urinated on me as he slept in my lap and that gave me a reason to step outside the church building. (When I am listening to a message that is not Biblical I can hardly stay in my seat. I’ve been known to leave a church if something does not align with Scripture. I just can’t help it.)

So I stepped outside to let my skirt dry and air out Kɔsi's cute little trousers before we went to the next church where I was expected to speak this morning. I was still in earshot of the message and continued to listen. I couldn’t help but overhear to local men speaking in English about their disapproval of what the pastor was saying.

What about the people that hear this? What about those who don’t know truth and are relying on the pastor for truth?

I had two people tell me the same thing today as I voiced my broken heartedness. One is a new follower of Christ and one is a long time follower of Christ. Both told me that pastors these days will preach messages that people will respond to with “Hallelujahs” and “Amens” and fists and hankies in the air. If someone preaches that the life of a believer may not be easy, people will just sit and listen and not become emotionally involved and “the offering will not be plenty.” It doesn’t take much to see the motive in that one.

Today the pastor had everyone shouting, “I WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE ME!” They shouted with gusto and joyful expression. And all I could think about was Stephen in Acts 6-7. God called him to “wait tables” and not long afterward he found himself standing before the Sanhedrin on trial only moments from his death. As he was certainly filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no doubt in my mind that he saw his situation as an “opportunity of his lifetime” for this is the man that God would use to fulfill his prophecy and command that the gospel should be spread to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The stoning and death of Stephen sent believers throughout the area sharing the Gospel of Jesus. Any true follower of Christ would be honored to be in Stephen’s place. HOWEVER, in my own mind (which is known to be quite wrong at times) I don’t see Stephen standing up in the temple throwin’ up a rock fist (claiming material blessings in conjunction with his situation) shouting out such things. If anything I see him humbly, bowing in reverence before the King offering up his life.

But those who hear and have believed are also called to live in the Spirit and should spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing. (John 10) While these ‘deceivers’ are responsible for their own deeds and for leading others astray, as believers we have the Holy Spirit and God provides a way out for those who are already His (1 Cor. 10:13).

And 2 Timothy 4:3-4 reveals godlessness of some of the audience these deceiving “evangelists” are catering to…

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

2) The second group my heart breaks for is the “deceivers” themselves. Not because I think any part of what they are doing is okay, but because they are human and are living in the same fallen-ness in which I have lived. Their ending that awaits them will not be pretty. God desires all to be saved, even these men and women.

There is one young man who I’ll call Joe who I absolutely saw the Lord working through in 2007! He was an incredibly gifted teacher, encouraging to all around and just a blessing to be around. I looked forward to seeing him in 2008 and learning what the Lord had done in the year that I had not seen him. As it turned out, he fell into the hands of one or more deceivers and was in a pickle and wanted financial assistance to get out of it. Unfortunately, I was not in a place where I could assist him. He struggled for a bit and then really had no other 'visible' option but to put his hope in these same deceivers who left him hanging before.

His heart has become hardened and it shows on his face and in his expressions and body language toward other people. Each time I see him his pride grows and he becomes more distant. In Jesus’ name I want to encourage him, but I know his spirit won’t hear me, only his pride will. He is waiting on promises to be fulfilled from the men who are deceiving them. He is awaiting his earthly reward. My heart breaks for what could have been and incredible pastor leading the Lord’s flock. My heart breaks that his fate may be that which is described within 2 Peter. What a horrible fate!

PROSPERITY Gospel = Heartbroken Sandra (Part 1)

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-22

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them— bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instincts, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wondered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were in the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.

Jude verses 3-16 also mentions these false leaders in the faith.

The bold are characteristics that I myself have witnessed in several pastors here.

Insight to Women

A man props himself up under a makeshift shelter where five women are organizing their produce in order to sell. He begins to dominate the conversation, instructing women as to what they should be doing. He is fully engaged in conversation until, from the corner of his eye he gets a glimpse of a woman passing. The most noticeable thing about her is her skin...drastically different than the five women he is conversing with, her skin is white. Forgetting the conversation he is in he turns his entire body around on the bench to face the white woman. As she draws nearer he shouts his greetings out to her. She is passing by the shelter and quietly responds. He grabs her wrist and she stops walking and looks the man in the face. He begins asking her where she is from, what she is doing, where she is going.

She patiently responds to the questions all the while trying to nonchalantly remove her wrist from his hand but his grip is firm. Finally he asks the question she's heard a gazillion times, "Srɔ efɔa?" (How is your husband?) She doesn't know how to respond so she doesn't. The man's grip tightened. The woman is not alarmed as this is typical. She knows this man thinks that maybe she'll be his wife. It is at this point that the woman looks around into the face of each of the five women to see what she can learn about this man. Is he a jokester? Do they seem irritated? Where does everyone stand? None of the women look her in the eye. They just go about their business as if they are totally unaware of the conversation taking place but she knows they are all ears.

He says in broken English and a high pitch voice which he thinks she will better understand, "Are you married?"

"No" she responds as she pointedly and firmly remove her hand from his. Some of the women look up and then back down to their work.

"You will marry me."

"No."

"No? Why?"

...............This is the moment...pivotal....how she responds will show her respect for this culture, this man and these women. Her response must be somewhat calculated so as not to turn people away, sound pious, or seem inappropriate.

"Why? Because maybe you are already having a wife," she exclaims with a smile as she glances at the women.

Upon hearing this they all look up at the white woman and exclaim in unison "Ah-Haaaaa!!!!"

Applause is given to the white woman and smiles are exchanged. Relationships have been established and as she walks away she hears the five women shaming the man who seems to just be happy to have conversed with the woman.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Something I've noticed so much here in Ghana is the distance that seems to be between the white woman and the Ghanaian woman. Some of that is the language as I've mentioned in a previous blog. One reason I believe may be the level of education but one of the biggest seems to be the way a foreign woman responds to the local men.

Women have expressed their disdain (in not so subtle ways) for the way men act and express themselves toward foreign women. I've had more married men proposition me than unmarried men. Some are "joking" but I've never laughed at a man who said he would give me a child or that I should give him one. I've had chiefs, pastors, business owners, motorbike drivers, headmasters...all kinds of men proposition me and the same would happen with any other white woman who stepped foot here.

I think I would be a bit disgusted to if I saw the men in my life acting all crazy, disrespectful and crude to visiting women. Ugh!

But the way I respond to these men has been one way that the most doors have opened to establish relationships here in Ghana. I have come upon some fun and funny ways to turn down men WITHOUT totally disrespecting them along WITH expressing my lack of appreciation for their comment. With humor and putting men in their place, I have won many women over.

I remember back in 2007 when all I wanted to do was sit and chat with the women but felt such a thick barrier in the way. It seems like it is just melting away. That's a pretty cool deal! Never know how the Lord will work!!

I'm glad these people here have such a great sense of humor! That's fun to be around. Of course I'm the last to laugh at a joke because it has to be interpreted to me...haha!

The more I learn about women here, the more I appreciate them! They are absolutely incredible people!!!

So much to do, so little time...

Time feels like it is running out. I have about three and a half weeks left here in Ghana. One week is set aside to travel to the Ashanti region and visit my Ewe friends there. So that leaves about two weeks left! It feels like it is going by wayyyy too fast!

I'm nowhere near completing the paperwork for the NGO. The last thing I'm waiting on is for the Lord to provide the third Ghanaian Director to fill each necessary position. Tomorrow (Saturday) Godson and I are going to look throughout Teƒle, Sokpoe and possibly Sogakoƒe for housing to rent as we must have a permanent address for the NGO "office." We also need to make at least one more trip to check on the churches we have been teaching in.

There are also other relationships that I need to work on growing before I leave. I found out today I offended one of the elders because apparently he was sitting inside some business and I didn't notice him. (In case one doesn't recognize my sarcasm, there IS some there.) However, even though I don't necessarily see it as totally acceptable that one would be offended because someone did not see them, I acknowledge his hurt feelings and have promised to be intentional about looking in "the-store-he-might-occasionally-be-in-sometimes-when-I-walk-by-as-I-happen-to-be-going-to-market." Haha, maybe mindset isn't right but I was sent on a guilt trip more than once today as people questioned me as to why I hadn't stopped by their place to greet them more... One lesson I'm always learning, there's a balance to everything and one cannot please everyone.

One weekend I'm hoping to treat Edi's mother's family and Pastor James' family to a day at the beach. Maybe next weekend we will cram 8 adults, 11 children and one driver into a a 15 passenger van (Oh joy!! :) and travel an hour or so to the beach where all but two will see it for the first time. I think it will be a good day if it works out.

One thing I would seek prayer from YOU about, since you are keeping up with this blog, is the possibility of this ministry partnering with a U.S. discipleship ministry. The beginning of this process might possibly require me to travel to Italy this summer rather than return to Ghana to complete paperwork as expected. We never know until God works things out the way He wants them.

One thing I know, He's called us to disciple so we are working on discipling now in Ghana and working toward following where God is leading us and in what ways He would call us to disciple believers. I'm excited to see what directions He leads!! This faith life is always an adventure!

Thank you for your prayers, for your support, and your faithfulness to our King!

Confession...

It’s been several days since my previous post expressing my exhaustion and frustrations. I posted that on the 19^th of January and on the 25^th I reached my limit. Okay it wasn’t that bad I guess.

Market day in Sogakoƒe had passed and I have desperately needed a smaller coal pot since I arrived. I struggled cooking banku each night because I didn’t want to spend the money on another coal pot. But as I began to pout and get frustrated over dinner I realized it would be quite beneficial to spend the $3.50 for a new coal pot. I had planned to go to Ada junction but found myself cleaning my house and securing everything. When Godson arrived after school to greet me, he informed me he needed to go to Sogakoƒe and get fuel for the motorbike and a couple of other things. Before he even arrived at my house I had my bag packed and planned to go to Soga and stay for a day or two.

I told him I would go with him and as we left the house I told only Edi’s mother that I would be back in a couple days and told no one else of my plans. I went with Godson on his errands and he asked when he should take me home. I said I wasn't going home. I had planned to walk to a guest house on the edge of town and stay there. He refused to let me walk and he took me there. Good thing he took me because there was no room in the inn! So he took me to the other side of town and I found a room there.

He waited until I had paid before he left. I was so embarrassed at how much I was paying to stay for two nights. The amount came to 60 cedis which is about $40. Unless one realizes how far 40 bucks can go here, that might not seem like much. An example is, for lunch one day I bought a whole loaf of bread, rice, fried chicken, a boiled egg, noodles, hot sauce, cole slaw(-ish stuff) and a coke for about $2.85.

Remember how I didn’t want to pay 5 cedis for a coal pot.

So when I got to my room the first thing I did was turn the A/C on and the second thing I did was utilize the restroom facilities. I’m closing in on two months that I have not had a plumbed toilet or a running shower. It was incredible! Running water produces a totally different feeling of clean than a bucket bath. Plus, as I exited the shower there was no dirt, only tile so even my feet stayed clean.

But those aren’t the most important things or the reasons I began writing this post…

I see my frustrations and exhaustion as valid being that I am a foreigner and I’ve picked up living a totally different lifestyle than I am familiar with. I sought counsel from a few people on the idea of leaving but before I received a response I had already decided I would leave my village for a couple of days. I knew they would be supportive and turns out they were.

As I contemplated “getting away” my thought was, “This has to be just an American perspective. Someone in Ghana would not even understand much less approve of something like this.” But then I remembered Mark 1:35. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

The hotel would be my solitary place and there I would pray and worship and read and rest and sleep! After I showered, I slept. When I awoke I had a prayer time in which the Lord revealed the state in which I had allowed my heart to fall.

My prayer time was almost non-existent. I read my Bible as the day’s happenings would allow. And my focus on the Lord began to wane. All of these things weren’t my problem though. My problem was that I had allowed my heart to become content with who and where I was. I didn’t come before my King like I do when I am aware of my need for Him and when I want Him to make me more than what I already am.

In my contentment I became complacent. And my focus on the Lord began to wane. All of these things weren’t my problem though. My problem was that I had allowed my heart to become content with who and where I was. I didn’t come before my King like I do when I am aware of my need for Him and when I want Him to make me more than what I already am.

In my contentment I became complacent. Yes, even here on the mission field. I’m not sure when that started, sometime within the last week and a half, but when it did is when I began to rely on my own strength, wisdom and energy. And we all know that we don’t last that long working on our own.

The two nights at the hotel were refreshing and enlightening. My hunger for prayer time and just intimate time with the Lord is renewed and I can better love those around me here at my house and those to whom we travel to minister.

There's something about being in the presence of the Lord that just makes the heart hunger for more...more of His word, His love, His strength, His power and even His correction. Because it is He who makes us into who we are, if only we will let him.

So all in all, I’m not satisfied with whom I am but look back with a grateful heart to what the Lord has done in my life and look forward with anticipation to who the Lord is growing me to be. I want to rely on Him always and trust that when I begin to look to the right or left (or to myself), He will direct my focus back onto Himself, just as He did this week.

A friend from college had a poem in her room in college that I think of often. I like the line that says, “My eyes locked with His…” That’s where I want to be and need to be!

Several have expressed that they have felt the need to pray for me. There certainly has been a necessity for it and I encourage that as you feel led, pray. I can share more of why the Lord might be calling you to pray when I return home.

Until then know that the Lord is Sovereign here in Ghana as well and He is patiently and loving turning (and returning) hearts toward Himself! I praise Him for that!!!!!

Tired

For the first time since I’ve been here, I’m ready to get away. Not to leave Ghana but to go to a village where I don’t know anyone and stay in a hotel and not greet anyone, not study the language, not do anything but read my Bible, pray and sleep.

I’ve been praying about some things and have some unexplained feelings that make me unsure of exactly what direction God is leading the ministry here.

This morning while I washed my laundry I just sang and worshiped God. I sought answers as to why I may feel this way.

I’m tired and feel somewhat burdened by Ɛvɛgbɛ studies, responsibilities to those we have been ministering to, demands placed on me by my friends and even by people I don’t even know, making sure in all areas I am being accountable, questions of who else God would lead us to, and the biggest one, my own personal time. I am well aware that “quiet” is out of the question but even just “me time” is difficult. I don’t need it every day but once and a while it is truly refreshing.

Our sermon Sunday was in Matthew 11:28-30. I trust that as I choose to be yoked with Christ and learn from Him, my soul will find rest from these burdens.

I certainly hope if any reading this are feeling burdened that they too will find rest in Christ! J

Thank You Lord that You think of Your servants enough to call us Your own and join Your Son and learn from Him. I praise You for Your faithfulness, even when I am not.

Discernment- Answered Prayer :)

I've been praying for and have asked people back home to pray for discernment on my part for the sake of the ministry and for my own personal sake, to keep me out of harm's way and out of trouble.

We have had some recent male additions to the neighborhood. I was very cautious and hesitant not knowing the people. After they were situated, the opportunity arose for greetings and conversation. My first impression was that they were pleasant, amiable, educated and motivated in their work. They asked many questions about the US which I enjoyed because it gave me insight to their thinking and allowed me to correct some "myths."

After a couple of days however, I had a dream. In this dream one of the men came inside my house. And not only did he come in without permission, but he came all the way over to my bed where I as sleeping, just to ask me to give him something. I wasn't afraid but felt as if someone was saying to me that I should be cautious of this person because if I'm not careful he will mandate that I give more (time, effort, money, etc) than I am willing or able to give with little regard as to how it would affect myself and this ministry. I felt that the dream was intended to show me I should put more distance in newly established friendship.

I've learned when something like this happens and I am sure it is from the Lord, even though I may not understand, I need to be obedient.

As it happened, one recent evening I was instructed to wait until he returned in a few hours from his outing that evening and give him some information. I mentioned that I would be going to bed early and his response was that I should wait.

I remembered my dream and simply stated my plans for the evening and that if he made it back before I closed the door to my house I would assist him. Within the hour I was ready for bed and shut and locked my door for the evening. This morning, as I was playing with "my son" here in the house, the men came to the door.

I mentioned to the one man that I must have been asleep when he returned, to which he replied, "I didn't sleep here last night."

Good thing I didn't wait! I'm still not sure that I totally understand the situation but I feel as if it is an answered prayer. I will seek ways to still be friendly and be Jesus but continue to maintain the distance.

This might sound a bit odd but I truly believe it is answered prayer and as this man is supposed to be here until I leave, I'm glad that I have learned this lesson NOW and not later!

Thank You Lord for answered prayer!

The Kingdom of God Belongs to Such as These…

Disclaimer: This post is not in anyway intended to make any of my fellow American teachers or parents envious or jealous! :) haha

Last Sunday I was not feeling well. I did not confess this to my friends here in Ghana but I think it was due to some food that I had prepared on Friday and Saturday had failed to reheat properly.

So I made it to church but left early. I stayed in bed from 11am to 1pm. At 3pm I stepped outside my house. The neighborhood children playing nearby spotted me and yelled my name and ran to me. I explained that I wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t entertain them. I’d decided I would attempt to cook soup and asked Edinam, a 10 year old girl, to prepare banku for me. She smiled and said yes.

When the children learned Edinam was helping me, they all wanted to help. I said not a word! I just watched them. The three girls Edinam, Augustina and Perpetua (all 10 yrs old) collected everything they needed to prepare banku. The boys, Freddy and Eddie (10 and 8 respectively), decided they would wash dishes so Eddie went into the house and collected all the dirty dishes from the evening before. I sat in the house and worked on preparing the soup, occasionally stepping outside to check their progress and take pictures.

Upon completion of their respective tasks they tidied up, put everything in its place and one would never have been able to guess that they’d spent the last hour on the terrace washing and cooking! I was so grateful and so proud of these young ones!

It was a sweet, encouraging moment and it reminded me of each of you back on the home front that is diligently doing the work there! You are a blessing and an encouragement and I appreciate you! Thank You!” J (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)

A Heart-Warming Moment

I don’t know if my heart could be more full than in this moment!

Just now Kɔsi, my son (whose name I’ve been spelling in a different language Kwɛsi) came into my house while I was eating soup and banku (from three days ago :). He started singing, “way down. Way down. Way down.”

He was attempting to sing a song by Selah that I play loud on my iPod because the children like to dance to it. So when he sang, “Way down…” I would sing, “deep.” So together we sang:
Deep, way down deep
Way down deep down in my heart
Oh deep, way down deep
Way down deep down in my heart.

Then the song continues…
I got the love (echo) …of Jesus (Repeat 3x)
And it’s deep down in my heart.

The second part I sang twice and after that he sang it alone. It was so stinkin’ cute that I took a video. Only the internet here is so slow that I really can’t post it but later I’ll try to post it here.

The heart-warming part is when he left the house (after eating all my fish) he was singing “I got the love of Jeeeesus. I got the love of Jeeeesus. I got the love of Jeeeesus.” I hit me how what was going on inside my house went outside. His mother began singing it and a woman passing by caught the words and repeated them.

Then I didn’t hear Kɔsi anymore until he had walked behind my house to where the carpenter was working and his most adorable little boy/baby voice I heard him singing, “I got the love of Jeeeesus. I got the love of Jeeeesus. I got the love of Jeeeesus.”

The love of Jesus is spreading in so many ways, despite obstacles and in spite of ourselves. God continues to work. This morning I realized I had the whole school day to do nothing but study the Word. I wondered if I was “wasting time” by not ministering to anyone else today, but through Kɔsi I’m seeing there are many different ways to minister.

In addition, I loved the parallel of how what goes on in my house also takes place outside my house, just like what goes on in my heart takes place outside my heart for all to witness.

The saying is true, “When your output exceeds your input, your upkeep will be your downfall.” It is also true that , “When your input exceeds your output, your upkeep will be your downfall.”
But as long as we are walking in Christ, we are right where we should be and He will lift us up!

Insight to Islam

Yesterday I sat and visited with one of my new neighbors named Adams. He is Muslim and I asked him if he would teach me about his faith. I’ve read books here and there, listened to audio pieces of people speaking on Islam but never sat down and had a conversation with a Muslim. I especially have wondered over the past couple of years if African Muslims differ from Middle Eastern, etc. because I see men dressed in the Islam garb but I don’t see many women’s faces veiled.

(FYI for those who don’t know, “Islam” is the name of the faith and “Muslim” is the name of the person practicing the faith. Like “Christianity” and “Christian.”)

A couple of weeks ago I went to Accra and in a random moment while riding in the mini-van I thought, I wonder how many mosques I can see from here. I looked up and counted six in the short time it took me to span the left side of the van. Seeing that sent a little jolt through my body. While there certainly are more protestant churches with Christians in them, the Christians are not necessarily a united body. So if we count each denomination as its own, Islam is surely beginning to take over. It is even more prominent in the north.

As I sat with Adams he shared with me his past and the environments he’s lived in both Christian and Muslim and he shared with me his education in the Qur’an. He reads it in Arabic and as a child spent half of the day in school learning basic subjects in English and then he spent the rest of the day in Arabic school. Interesting.

I asked him what the major differences were between Islam and Christianity and I wondered what kind of tension that would place between us there in that conversation. It wasn’t nearly as thick as I thought it would be. He mentioned the five prayer times each day. (Quick note: someone's alarm next door has been going off at dark-thirty every morning and it turns out, Adams' first prayer time is at 4:30am. This morning while half asleep I thought, "Man, I'm glad I'm not his roommate and having to wake up do that EVERY morning." Then I thought, "Wait a minute...here I am waking up to his alarm every morning at 4:30." I laughed at my silliness and went back to sleep. :End of quick note.) He then beat around the bush a little before he mentioned that they did not believe God has a Son. They believe there is only ONE God (He emphasized over and over) and Jesus was a prophet just as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Mohammed, etc. There are over one hundred major prophets and thousands of others.
I expressed to him that Christians believe in one God also, but they believe He has presented Himself in three forms, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

He told me of the Five Pillars of Islam our conversation came to a close with my asking how Muslims were assured of salvation and going to heaven. He said that we must follow the commands and the scriptures. He mentioned much of the Qur’an and the Bible are the same. I’m not sure if he’s read the Bible though.

I will not even begin to try to break down the Islam faith. My time with Adams was just to listen and learn how they do things, the way they think and what they believe. I will say one thing however, it seems as though Muslims recognized God’s justness and righteousness more than most people or faiths, but at the same time the belief is that prayer and works (efforts on man’s part) are what save him in the end. Again, I can’t pretend I understand Islam or have really studied it at all but I do know that I would like to know more. If anyone knows of anything brief and easy to read or listen to that describes the Islam faith I’d be interested in checking it out. I’ve heard some of David Jeremiah and I think Ravi Zacharias has some things out but I don’t know if any are specific to Islam or not. I say “brief” because while I want to understand, I don’t have a ton of hours to devote to intensely studying.

Oh, one last thing to mention that was interesting to me. Adams said that jihad is no more. It was mandated in the beginning because people were seeking to take Mohammed’s life and in addition, in Mecca there were lots of idol and idol worshipping going on so apparently he went to fight and rid the place of idols so people would worship Allah. Then after the faith was established (I think) Allah basically said no more fighting. Every man is accountable to me and will be judged for his deeds.

Lots more thinking to do! Maybe I’ll find some Muslim in the airport next month and attempt a discussion…totally kidding!

Speaks VOLUMES!

Wow! I never would have understood how much speaking in one's own language means to people if I had not experienced their reactions myself!

I live in a country where we expect people who enter our borders to learn our language. I don't think anyone has ever come up to me speaking a foreign language and expected me to understand. (With the exception of students' parents who only spoke Spanish, but I knew enough to understand.) So I cannot imagine what some of these people feel like when I walk up to them to buy something and I am speaking a language they do not understand.

Yesterday was market day and it was also Tuesday which is one of my two Evegbe lesson days. My teacher informed me that yesterday was the day for my "practical" and when we went to market he would not speak. I was okay with it until we walked up to the first seller and I totally chickened out because I knew everyone would laugh and I would draw attention to myself. My teacher spoke for me. After the first purchased I bargained with him, "Every time I use the Ewe language I get to earn bonus points for my test on Friday." He agreed and I spoke Evegbe from then on.

Maƒle tomantoes, 1 cedi. = I want to buy 1 dollar's worth of tomatoes.

Fetri, nene yo? = How much is the okra?

Yoo, maƒle 2000, 20 pesawas = Okay, I want to buy 20 cents worth.

This went on with agbitsa (egg plant), aka (charcoal), ela (fish), ami dze (palm oil), ablee (pepper), sabala (onion), blodo (bread), Biblia (Bible), koklozi (eggs)...

I earned 18 points on my next test but my reward was MUCH more than that!

I was pondering the experience in the marketplace as we returned home. After we unloaded everything, my teacher said, "You made me look great today." I asked what he meant and he said that the sellers in the marketplace were shocked at how well I spoke and understood the language. They said surely I must have a great teacher!

I obviously didn't hear what they said and if I had I honestly would not have understood all of the conversation. I noticed something else though.

I noticed sellers who looked me in the eye, who smiled, and who greeted me warmly. In the past, I would just point and present money or have a Ghanaian do the buying for me as it would be faster. Because of the communication barrier these people seemed cold and disinterested in my eyes and I'm sure I appeared the same in theirs. Yesterday something changed! In one day, in the village of Sogakoƒe doors swung wide open for me to build relationships and to some extent, be a part of the people.

The women loved it and their encouragement and acceptance stretched beyond what money could buy or bonus points on a test can do! From now on I see the Evegbe less as "intimidating" and more as a "tool" to love the people!

I think I should get two more bonus points for making my teacher look good. Oh and I forgot to mention, my teacher gave me two points for speaking in the Ewe language to the fish seller but when she gave me an extra fish he took the points away. He said it isn't fair to receive two rewards. I personally didn't see a problem with it! :)

Thank You Lord for these moments of encouragement!

Answered Prayer...no changes

Well, there are almost no changes.

In the previous blog I mentioned some possible changes that would have a great effect on ministry efforts. I was forced to sit down and evaluate what exactly it is God is calling me to do this very moment and pray about what He has in store for the remainder of this trip.

The changes I anticipated were that Godson would be leaving to attend school. As it turned out, the school he was placed at had given away his spot. So that means he must wait until September to be admitted once again.

Through this ordeal (yes, it has been an ordeal) as well as the time spent in ministry with Godson, I have been able to witness his personal character and manner of business. I have prayed for months as to whether he might be someone the Lord has put in such a place to join in ministry and throughout this process I believe I have received confirmation and tomorrow (Jan. 12) I will sit down with him and discuss the ministry's vision etc., and see where he stands and how he might see the Lord calling him to serve.

This would be the only change- if Godson does accept the invitation to partner in ministry and walk along side me through the establishment of the NGO process. We are waiting on the first form to come tomorrow and are hoping to have it completed by the end of this week.

The form includes many aspects of which the Lord would need to provide just the right people and information. It may not be done by the end of the week. I spoke with a pastor today and both of us agreed, "It's better to wait on the Lord than to proceed unsure."

We will wait on the Lord. As we wait, will you pray? Pray that every step is according to His will, every person is chosen by Him, and every blank filled in on the form is according to His purpose and our service to Him!

After this form is completed and turned in, we will wait for a certificate and then have one other part to complete in order to be established. Thankfully I have friends in our district that I didn't even know where a part of the District Assembly who hopefully will vouch for my character, ministry and look out for me.

Many missionaries come up against problems when going through processes like this one. Would you pray that God would safeguard us in this area? It seems it's nearly unheard of to be able to be processed without bribes or some sort of blackmailing etc. I have been very cautious in every aspect since the beginning of last year when I first came to stay long-term. I have been sure to "walk worthy" and live "above reproach" so that no one has anything to come up against me with. Even still, people may talk. But our Lord is sovereign over every mouth and every heart, even if they've not chosen Him! So please pray for the covering and protection as the Holy Spirit guides, counsels and directs us through this process!

I am so excited! I wish I could have the paperwork completed tomorrow! As it is, I will need to explain everything I understand to those who God calls from Ghana as most have never been a part of or learned about organizations.

Thank You Father for Your faithfulness and Your Truth! May we continue to walk worthy! Convict us where we need to be convicted, encourage us where we need encouragement and strengthen us in the areas with which we need strength! Only You can do these things! Please cover this ministry with Your hand and allow us to work with Your eyes, Your mouth and Your heart! We commit ourselves to You! Amen.