Thanksgiving with the Winona Team

Nancy sharing some fish while Manassah translates.

We started this Thanksgiving morning sharing some food with some widows.  Manassah helped us identify about 10 widows in town who were especially needy and we took them a bag of dried fish.  They were all so appreciative.  To us it was such a small offering, to them it was HUGE.  We took turns giving the food, explaining that it's the love of Jesus in our hearts that leads us to share His blessings, then leading in prayer over the ladies.  It was a very special time.  

It may have been a cool Thanksgiving day back in our home in Mississippi, but here in Nalerigu it's a typical West African day -- hot!  We took a short break to enjoy some "water sachets" which is basically like a Capri Sun (only water) with no straw.  You just bite off the corner and suck out the water.  It's WAY cheaper than bottled water and we've grown to love them dearly.  

Meanwhile, back at the BMC compound, preparations are being made for a Thanksgiving meal with all the missionaries and volunteers.  We shared this time with people from the US, Canada, the Netherlands and (of course) Ghana.  Take a look at this prize turkey!  It flew in from Accra (on a plane).  A lot more of the food had to be imported too like cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, celery -- some came all the way from the US!  (Thanks Granny!  The cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie were delicious!)  We had cornbread dressing too.  We had to buy the corn in the market then take it to the grinding mill to make it into meal in order to make the cornbread.  Not quite as hard as the Pilgrims, I'm sure, but it took a fair amount of advance logistical planning.  We had a lot of fun and were TRULY thankful for the bountiful feast God provided for us.

See if you can find Cindy, Charlie, Nancy, Evan, Mikel, Allie, Natalie and Ryan.

After lunch, there was no time for a nap.  We had the weekly "Kids on Campus".  There were a record number of kids (almost 70) that came out for games and God's Word.  Mikel shared the Gospel using some "write on / erase" pads with a heart on it.  They could write "sins" on the heart, then lift the film and see the "sins" disappear.  Mikel shared how Jesus' blood can do the same for our spiritual hearts. The kids got to take the toy home with them that was attached to a tract that explained the Gospel too.

This is the last night for our Winona team to be here.  We had planned to have a low-key evening so they could get into the bed early, but it didn't happen.  A delegation from the "Baptist Youngsters" football club came by to express their gratitude for the soccer balls we gave them.  

Then, we found out that today is Manassah's birthday.  We couldn't let that go uncelebrated.  So we threw together a surprise party for him.  He was very surprised.  Frightened may be better word.  We had the lights turned out and jumped out yelling "Surprise!"  It's a good thing he didn't have his machete with him.  We had a great time.  

Not long after these festivities, Charlie and Nancy left to go pack for their 4 am departure.  The kids, however, had other plans.  They decided to avoid having to get up so early by merely not going to sleep.  So they stayed up all night hanging out with all the MK's.  It was a lot of fun for them.  But at 4:01 am, their shuttle van was rolling out of the compound headed for a cooler climate.

LORD, we thank You that our friends from Winona were able to come visit with us and help spread Your glory in this nation.  We thank You for their willingness to sacrifice celebrating Thanksgiving in America with friends and family to minister to needy in West Africa.  We thank You that You allowed them to travel to and from Ghana safely.  We know that You have changed them while serving here.  

We pray that these seeds of the Gospel that have been sown here will fall on hearts of fertile soil.  We may never know, this side of Heaven, the fruit from this sharing.  We trust what Your Word tells us that it will not return void.  We rest in this truth, LORD.

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