Snapshots from Ghana...

Left: Children enjoy Christmas treats- sodas, popcorn, grilled plantain and Betty Crocker brownies- and show that they are stuffed.

Right- Kɔsi after powdering himself

Fun times playing with Kɔsi, love his laugh!

Snapshots from Ghana...

Richards Konu's graduation

Delali carrying her "Baby" on her back and enjoying photo ops with Flat Stanley

Friends go to the beach at Ada Foah and Pastor James takes the opportunity to share the message of how Christ came to redeem us. Special moment!

Mele Ablotsi

I am in America. (Mele Ablotsi.)

The trip home was one of the toughest because I wasn't feeling well. In addition, for some reason I thought that saying good-bye to those I love would get easier as relationships get stronger and I am more certain of the direction of ministry in Ghana. But of course, I am finding that saying good--bye only gets more difficult.

I talked to Kɔsi on the phone today and his voice was just as strong and bright as ever.

"Sandra?"

Kɔsi!

"I LOVE YOU. I MISS YOU"

Kɔsi I love you too and I miss you!

"BYE-BYEEEEE"

click.

Haha, its good to talk to my friends there but it is so difficult to be away. And it is difficult to be directing the work there but not actually be there.

The NGO paperwork is underway and upon completion I can begin to file for a year-long visa allowing me to stay more than a couple of months. Where I was supposed to be able to stay for 3 months in Ghana, I found out as I left the country that was not the case. I was slapped with a fine before I was allowed to leave immigration. I sure will be glad when the paperwork is completed!

Soon I will be sending out an email including a short biography of those who are presently working with Gɔmesese Ministries. If you are not on the email list but would like to be, feel free to email me at holenroof@gmail.com.

I waiting to learn when I will be able to return to Ghana. It will either be this summer or summer 2012. I'll post tentative plans in a later post! For now just know that it is somewhat difficult for me to be here with all that God is doing in Ghana. Just need to focus on what He has me doing here in the way of Ghana ministry and US ministry!

Thank you all for staying updated! Thank you for your prayers! I definitely had some scary times this trip and your prayers were comforting to me. All glory and honor to God for His hand at work and for carrying myself and others through!

Not Temptation but Examination

Yesterday (2/10/2011) Godson and I were sitting going over some discipleship materials. I asked him if he felt like he had to sacrifice anything so far in his faith and as he serves in the ministry. He said there were some petty things that he had been doing before following Christ that he had stopped but he didn’t consider them a sacrifice.

He verbally pointed out the things that God has done for him. He marveled aloud at where God has brought him so far in his faith and life. He said that with all God has done for him he doesn’t feel as if he’s had to sacrifice anything.

I went on to ask about temptation. I know personally, when I most desire to follow Christ and rest wholly in Him, in storms Temptation! So I wanted to see where Godson was and if he too had experienced that. So our conversation went something like this:

S: So do you feel like since you have chosen to follow Christ that you have experienced more or less temptation in your life?

G: “I say there is no such thing as temptation.”

S: (Confused look)

G: laughs and says, “It’s not temptation but examination. (Seeing my still confused look he says,) Okay, what is temptation?”

It’s when something that is not of God is put before you and you must choose that thing or you must choose to refuse it and follow God.

“Okay so then, what is an examination?”

A test.

“So then when something comes before you it is an examination to see where you really stand and if you are going to follow God. Therefore, I say, ‘There’s no such thing as temptation, rather examination.’”

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Pretty neat insight from a believer! Call it what you want, temptation or examination, Godson is right- the way we approach it reveals our hearts and where we stand when it comes to serving our Creator.

I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve. (Jer. 17:10)

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. (2 Cor. 3:5-6)

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Father, as we face trials and temptations, may we choose the way out which You have promised to provide so that when we do examine ourselves and our choices, we can know that we have followed You and that You are pleased with us. Thank You Father for Your truth and for Your mercy. Thank You for continued understanding and encouragement!