It seems like every day the world of sports ministry grows. Actually, its like it is already grown but we are being made more aware of the other "members of the body".
There is an organization that is working in the central part of Ghana. THey have partners in ministry from the US and possibly other countries.
I am hoping to go and meet them and see what they are doing. I have plans for Godson and I to fly to Kumasi this week if it works out. This is a ministry that I hope to not only highlight on this blog but also to follow their lead in sports ministry here in the Volta Region.
But before I get ahead of myself, we'll work on meeting them first! More to come...
21 April 2012
Physical Refreshment
...wOw!!! If you haven't read the post Spiritual Refreshment, please read it before reading this one so that you can see the full picture of what God has done!!
Last night (April 16) before bed, I typed up the last post on Spiritual Refreshment. I didn't have internet to post it so I close my computer and fell asleep. Around 10pm or so, it began to rain. It was a slow soft rain on the tin roof. Enough to drown out the goats and noises from other houses but not enough to feel as if we were in a monsoon. It rained and rained and rained! By the time I woke up at 6am it was still raining. I laid in bed until seven something listening to the rain and finally got up to spend time in the Word.
I praised God for the nourishment our maize was getting and that we could now plant ayi, they use the English word beans but it is what we call black-eyed peas. I thanked him for the cool weather and that it was even possible to stay in bed until 7am.
Then as I was finishing my devotional it began to absolutely pour! Earlier that morning, I had set a 7-10 gallon bucket out under a gutter by my house. At the time it began to pour the bucket would be filled in about 5 minutes. I would empty it into a small cistern inside and then set it outside again.
In my last post I mentioned it seemed like people didn't realize the crisis in which we'd found ourselves. I was wrong. Girls ran out in the pouring rain with their large bowls and buckets on their head. I watched them run straight to my house and stand under the gutters. Two began to fight, dropping their buckets. I took one girls bucket and put it in place of my own. They are aware.
It rained for nearly twelve hours. After just an hour the girls had collected all the water their storage could hold.
God brought rain for our dry land, our dry weather and our dry pipes. There is still a problem with the pipe HOWEVER...
the blessings didn't stop... an hour or so after the rain stopped, I heard water running. I ran to the shower where I had left the faucet open and saw water coming out!!! I could not believe my eyes! I collected about 15 gallons of water this morning from the rain and NOW I was getting clean water from the pipe!
At first I was making sure the water would hit my hand and not the bucket because if it was loud, the neighbors would come and turn theirs on which would turn mine off. But then I realized I wasn't getting my work done and it was silly for me to try to get all of the water for myself.
So I moved my hand and said aloud, "Jesus I trust you as provider of water. You don't need me."
Then another crazy thing happened. After running smoothly, there began to be air in the pipes where it sputtered out. At first I thought, "They will surely hear and I won't have water with which to wash dishes or cook. I said I trusted God though so I didn't go back. As I listened I realized, the sputtering made it sound like I was pouring water from a bucket rather than it running from the pipe.
The water ran enough for me to have about 15 gallons of piped water.
The morning was spent praising God for the rain. The way He provided was a miracle and a blessing in itself.
But the greatest thing of all is evidenced in an email I wrote to a friend...
"And guess what….OH PRAISE GOD!!! It has been raining for 12 hours now!!!! God has brought RAIN! Our thirsty hearts have been quenched, our dry ground is soaked and the water that has been cut off (haven't had any since we got back from Accra) is being replaced by rain water. People have been suffering for water and today God has brought more than we can contain…in every way!
I just had to share this with y'all. It is a confirmation of God's provision. And I just think how each time we went to the farm we prayed for rain. I questioned why God hadn't brought it. No one will ever convince me of anything other than the fact that when we were obedient/faithful to come before God with pure motives, just to know Him, be with Him, confess to Him…He answered the cry of our hearts for renewal with Him and then refreshment for our land and our needs. "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their lands." Its true. He has done it.
Mawu lolo nutc! God is great oh!"
Last night (April 16) before bed, I typed up the last post on Spiritual Refreshment. I didn't have internet to post it so I close my computer and fell asleep. Around 10pm or so, it began to rain. It was a slow soft rain on the tin roof. Enough to drown out the goats and noises from other houses but not enough to feel as if we were in a monsoon. It rained and rained and rained! By the time I woke up at 6am it was still raining. I laid in bed until seven something listening to the rain and finally got up to spend time in the Word.
I praised God for the nourishment our maize was getting and that we could now plant ayi, they use the English word beans but it is what we call black-eyed peas. I thanked him for the cool weather and that it was even possible to stay in bed until 7am.
Then as I was finishing my devotional it began to absolutely pour! Earlier that morning, I had set a 7-10 gallon bucket out under a gutter by my house. At the time it began to pour the bucket would be filled in about 5 minutes. I would empty it into a small cistern inside and then set it outside again.
In my last post I mentioned it seemed like people didn't realize the crisis in which we'd found ourselves. I was wrong. Girls ran out in the pouring rain with their large bowls and buckets on their head. I watched them run straight to my house and stand under the gutters. Two began to fight, dropping their buckets. I took one girls bucket and put it in place of my own. They are aware.
It rained for nearly twelve hours. After just an hour the girls had collected all the water their storage could hold.
God brought rain for our dry land, our dry weather and our dry pipes. There is still a problem with the pipe HOWEVER...
the blessings didn't stop... an hour or so after the rain stopped, I heard water running. I ran to the shower where I had left the faucet open and saw water coming out!!! I could not believe my eyes! I collected about 15 gallons of water this morning from the rain and NOW I was getting clean water from the pipe!
At first I was making sure the water would hit my hand and not the bucket because if it was loud, the neighbors would come and turn theirs on which would turn mine off. But then I realized I wasn't getting my work done and it was silly for me to try to get all of the water for myself.
So I moved my hand and said aloud, "Jesus I trust you as provider of water. You don't need me."
Then another crazy thing happened. After running smoothly, there began to be air in the pipes where it sputtered out. At first I thought, "They will surely hear and I won't have water with which to wash dishes or cook. I said I trusted God though so I didn't go back. As I listened I realized, the sputtering made it sound like I was pouring water from a bucket rather than it running from the pipe.
The water ran enough for me to have about 15 gallons of piped water.
The morning was spent praising God for the rain. The way He provided was a miracle and a blessing in itself.
But the greatest thing of all is evidenced in an email I wrote to a friend...
"And guess what….OH PRAISE GOD!!! It has been raining for 12 hours now!!!! God has brought RAIN! Our thirsty hearts have been quenched, our dry ground is soaked and the water that has been cut off (haven't had any since we got back from Accra) is being replaced by rain water. People have been suffering for water and today God has brought more than we can contain…in every way!
I just had to share this with y'all. It is a confirmation of God's provision. And I just think how each time we went to the farm we prayed for rain. I questioned why God hadn't brought it. No one will ever convince me of anything other than the fact that when we were obedient/faithful to come before God with pure motives, just to know Him, be with Him, confess to Him…He answered the cry of our hearts for renewal with Him and then refreshment for our land and our needs. "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their lands." Its true. He has done it.
Mawu lolo nutc! God is great oh!"
17 April 2012
Spiritual Refreshment...
16 April 2012
Most may not know it, but in my village and the surrounding villages, we are in a bit of a crisis. What seems strange is it seems like many here don’t see it as such.
Something has happened with an essential part in the treatment process as water is pumped from the river to be pumped into the village systems. The answer I received was, “The reservoir has spoiled.”
Just one month ago, few people went to the riverside for more than just a leisurely day of washing clothes. Now, people are forced to fetch water for their every need. Many are buying purified water in sachets for drinking, quite an expense for many families. Even the purified water is scarce as it is the piped water that is purified and bagged. Today I visited a man named Evans. He and his wife have been absolutely incredible and if there is anyone here that I would consider my family, its THEM! They look after me so well and have assisted me in learning everything from formal greetings to the easiest way to prepare Banku!
Each time we leave their house, they give us water. First it was one bag, then it was four, then five, then six! Even in a time when their water business was at a standstill, they still gave. Today I noticed they had a huge cistern hauled in with water so they could continue their business.
There is no way this problem could go on so long in a more developed country. My biggest questions deal with health. What will happen to people here if they don’t have treated water? What health issues will arise? Will the young children be okay?
Most people bath twice a day. As water is rationed, we try to just stay clean. Although I went to farm and played with kids today, I just washed my legs and my hands before heading to bed. My dishes have been waiting since yesterday. And I will NEED to wash clothes soon.
Just before we left for Accra we got so low we were forced to fetch water at the riverside. Then, in the night, the water came on enough to almost fill one big tub of water. We are now low again. Its only me in the house for the most part so I’m praying God will provide what’s needed! Jehovah Jireh!
Water is a necessity. So is the living water. Some of our leaders in ministry have experienced a time in our life where we have been parched and unsure, or unmotivated, of what to do next. After a lengthy conversation and insight and honesty, this morning was devoted to personal time in the Word and group time in the Word.
God is faithful and gave water to His thirsty ones! And we drank, and drank, and drank. And then for the rest of the morning were drunk with the happiness and joy that comes from time in His presence, that comes from Living Water flowing into the parched life!
And just like God does...He poured out his blessings...more than we could contain.............please see the next post!
15 April 2012
KidsGames
Much has gone on in the last 72 hours. I am sitting at a newly completed desk that my dear friend , Carlin, built. He has since left Ghana and now I am here as the lone American working with the ministry. This is good and, well, mostly good I suppose. I miss my dear loved ones more than ever. At the same time, as I arrived home I found myself on my knees. All I have is Jesus. Now I have some awesome friends and co-laborers for Jesus, this is true. At the same time, I cannot rely on “my people” (as they say here) as my coping mechanism at which to vent or think through. Now my frustrations must (and should’ve from the beginning) first go to Jesus.
Today we held KidsGames. Due to lack of planning and then, of course, last minute issues, we were not well-prepared. I thought I had done a good job of preparing in the absence of my Ghanaian co-laborers. Unfortunately my Western-organized mind didn’t help the situation.
The way things turned out, we didn’t even get to the MEAT, the Bible stories. The leaders met afterward and decided to scrap the KidsGames Curriculum given and come up with their own. We will meet on Friday to plan the next KidsGames, which will likely be two weeks from today. We shall see. I’m hoping we can still utilize the concepts of KG because they are key to learning.
Today was a good day. Meeting after the games revealed a lot. We have learned from today. We have a better scope and sequence when it comes to our desired outcomes and objectives that will get us there. We will hold a couple more games in Sokpoe to continue to work out kinks and gain a better understanding of the best way to reach these kiddos in a meaning and relevant way.
It’s been a few days since I’ve been THIS exhausted at the end of the day and its not even 8pm!
Tomorrow is a day to go to the farm and weed and then off to the beach!! I have wanted to go for two weeks but more important things have come up. We’ll see what happens for tomorrow!
Please pray for our leadership team. Today we have increased by one! Our team now includes a young man named Aikens (sp?). He loves Jesus and loves football. He wants to be a part of ministering through sports so we warmly welcome him. He is the disciple-ee of Mawuko. J
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