Tuesday with the Winona Team!

Today's schedule was as packed as the students in this picture of the morning assembly of Nalerigu Secondary School (NASS).  

1.  We started the morning at 7:00 as we were welcomed by students and faculty.  We were ushered to a small stage area where there was a table complete with white table cloth awaiting our entourage.  There was an opening prayer by the secretary of the Scripture Union, Gifty (see a picture of her on the previous post).  Even though the headmaster is Muslim, he knew we were Christians and allowed her to pray.  In Gifty's own words, she prayed "in the MIGHTY name of Jesus Christ!"  Go Gifty!!  It's so encouraging to see Christian students taking such a stand for their faith.

The students then sang their school alma mater and national anthem.  It was amazing to hear all these 2000 students lifting their voices together.  Then Charlie introduced all of us. The students started yelling "Boss, boss, boss" again.  He said, "I could get used to that!"

Then Charlie addressed the students telling them we were from America and then a little bit about our school in Winona.  Charlie wasn't shy about his faith either as he made it clear that it was only the love of Jesus in our hearts that led us to travel to Ghana to be with them.  

After the assembly, we presented the school with some new soccer balls and new soccer uniform for their men's soccer team.  The team was regional champs in 2004, but now doesn't even have uniforms to compete in.  We hope that this gift will touch the hearts of the muslim students in some way.

After the assembly, we were taken on a tour of the campus.  It really seems like a small college campus.  Take a look at this picture of one of the girls' dorm rooms.  120 girls sleep in this small room -- 6 to a set of bunk beds!  That's right, 3 to a bed.  Charlie also showed the faculty a video of scenes from around Winona.

    2.  Before lunch, there was a quick tour of the chicken farm.  The kids got a chance to get their hands dirty feeding, gathering eggs and grinding corn for the chicks.

3.  After lunch, we traveled to Gambaga, home of the ladies' outcast camp.  We've written about it before -- ladies and children accused of being witches and driven away from their homes.  The chief of this village has offered asylum to these ladies for years.  Christians are ministering to them and many are now followers of Christ and are being re-introduced into their home villages.  

Before we went to see the ladies, we had to go meet the chief and tell him why we were there.  We weren't able to take pictures, but Cindy, Nancy and Keenan went as representatives of the group.  While we waited to go in to see the chief, we visited with some ladies outside his home.  Here is a small child that was playing in the dirt.  (Couldn't resist including this shot).

The meeting with the chief was brief and uneventful -- introductions, greetings, then exit.

When we arrived at the all-purpose building in the camp, the ladies were already assembled.  We greeted all of them as we entered and filed around the room.  They were all so happy to see us.  Cindy presented the ladies with some jewelry making supplies.  Then, Nancy shared a message from God's Word and presented the gospel.  Then we bought some of their jewelry that they make and sell to help support the ladies.  

3.  On the way back to Nalerigu from Gambaga, we stopped by NASS to help with some more cement blocks and to have some more time of fellowship with the students.  We were able to present them with a sizable contribution to the building of their chapel.  This is such an important building as it will allow them a place to gather and worship and offer a visible presence on campus among many muslim and traditionalist students.  This gathering of students is essentially a church.  We were so excited to be able to be a part of their building project.  Please be in prayer for these bold students as they PHYSICALLY build their chapel.  Thanks to all who made the financial gift possible.  You are truly helping plant churches in Ghana!!!

While at NASS, we were able to see the final practical exams of some of the students as they planned, cooked and served meals designed for people with various types of health conditions.

4.  Just outside of Nalerigu, we stopped by to visit with Manassah at the site of his new home and chicken farm.  The building is progressing well and they hope to complete the project in a few weeks.  It was exciting for the Winona team as they had read about Manassah and the chicken farm on our blog.

5.  Just before dark, we went to meet with Pastor David of FBC Nalerigu.  He has started a multi-agesoccer outreach ministry in Nalerigu that will give boys an opportunity to play in an official soccer league (maybe even gaining access to their national league!) while learning how to become a Christian and lead life as a Godly man.  He is so passionate about the LORD and we were honored to be able to present them with some quality soccer balls to practice and play with.  The ONE ball they had was worn down to bare threads.  They were so appreciative that they sent a delegation of the boys to our house the next evening to officially greet and express their gratitude.  

Needless to say, we did not have to be rocked to sleep this night.  We were all exhausted, but pleased with all the ministries in which we were able to take part today.

Please be in prayer for each of these ministries -- that God will take our gifts and visits and allow them to be seen as an outpouring of God's love that has been shown to us so freely through Jesus Christ.

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Monday with the Winona Team

Monday began as many Mondays do.  It just seemed like everything was going wrong.  We knew it was just spiritual warfare so we trudged on.  We first went to  Miracle Brain School which is an elementary and junior high school with about 700 students.  These students pack into very small, dark classrooms and write down what the teacher tells them to.  They do not have any text books and the few books the teachers have are very old and in poor condition.  

We contacted the headmaster from this school, who is a Christian, who gave us a list of the subjects for each grade level.  We were able to distribute at least one book for each subject on each level.  Most of them are teachers' editions.  Now the teachers all have new materials to teach EVERY subject at EVERY grade level.  We went to each classroom, introduced ourselves to the classes, presented the books to the teachers then prayed over the classroom.  We wanted each person to know that the books were purchased by Christians who want to share the love of Jesus with them.  (Thanks to all of you who contributed!)  Each member of the team took their turn at presenting the books and praying.  We also presented a teacher's math set to the junior high classes which allows them to draw figures and angles on the chalkboard.  Needless to say, the students and teachers were ECSTATIC!  

Then, in the afternoon, the girls took some food to the orphanage while the guys headed to NASS (Nalerigu Secondary School) to help them make cement blocks.  A large number of their students were there to help.  The guys helped haul water.  Then they got their hands (and feet) dirty making some blocks.  Mikel really got into the game by helping pour water into the large tank and helping make a LOT of blocks.  It was a great time of fellowship with the students.

  

Sunday with the Winona Team

Packed house at NASS worship!

We got off to a very early start on Sunday morning by heading to the 7 am worship time of the Scripture Union at Nalerigu Secondary School.  This is the only high school here and is a boarding school.  There are about 2000 students living on campus here.  When we met the assistant headmaster, who is Muslim, he told us that we could come to the morning assembly of students but we could not lead a Christian devotional time.  He did say that we were welcome to go to the Christian worship service on Sunday morning, so we did.

When we arrived a few minutes before 7 am, we could already hear the music and singing. As we approached the classroom where they were meeting, some students came to greet us and carried our Bibles for us and helped us find our seat.  There were probably 300 students packed inside the room and overflowing on the porch outside.  It was truly a time of celebratory worship that was partly student-led.  They do have a "patron" who is a school accountant that leads them, as well as a local pastor.  

Evan, Allie and Mikel shared a few songs and Charlie shared scripture and encouraging words as only a Christian headmaster can.  Interestingly, when he was introduced as a headmaster, the students started yelling "Boss, Boss, Boss".  Charlie really liked that!

Cindy and Gifty

Charlie sharing

We had a great time of worship with them, then went out to where they are about to build their own, free-standing chapel.  They said that their room was way too small and sometimes they were not allowed to use it if classes or exams were going on.  It's really just Christian persecution, though.  The school has, however, allowed them to build.  They announced that the next day they would be starting to make the cement blocks and all the students  were invited to help.  We were even invited so we made plans to attend on Monday.

Winona team with some of the Christian students

After the early morning worship service, we then went to First Baptist Nalerigu for their worship service.  Afterwards, we got a sampling of the local "fast food" items and had a Ghanain buffet at home for lunch.

Sunday afternoon we were making plans for the community-wide youth worship event.  It had been well-publicized and we were looking forward to it.  The kids had really been working on the music and it was sounding very good.  When we first got there, there was no one there.  Almost 30 minute after the publicized starting time, a FEW people were there.  People told us that it was just typical of Ghanains to come late and that we should start.  They assured us that more people would come.  Sure enough, as the night progressed, the building gradually got more and more full until it was near capacity of around 200 people.

Charlie shared a message about the parable of the talents and Keenan shared the gospel.  

Afterwards, we had some water, cookies and door prizes (compliments of our friends in Winona).

It was a great night, but we were exhausted after this long day.  

Following . . . .

Saturday with the Winona Team

Since the Winona Team only has a short time in Nalerigu, we have to cram a LOT of things into the week.  The only "tourist attraction" around here is the escarpment at Nakpanduri.  Since our ministry schedule will be so full, this is the only day to squeeze this trip in.  I know that the last thing the weary travelers want to do is get back into a vehicle for a 45 min ride, but they were troopers.  We bumped along the bumpy road to Nakpanduri then hiked and climbed around some on the rocks.  Here are "the boys" atop a large rock formation.  

Aside from a few tight squeezes through some narrow rocks and Nancy getting a thorn stuck in her arm, the trip was nice and relaxing.  Allie and Ryan posed for a shot overlooking the countries of Togo and Burkina Faso. 

On the way back we stopped to visit with a Dutch / American couple who have lived in Ghana 50 years planting trees.  We saw and photographed their baboon, monkeys and turkeys, too.  Charlie enjoyed hearing John talk about WW2 and how he remembered when the Germans came onto their farm in the Netherlands and how he saw trains of Jews traveling to concentration camps.

On the way back to Nalerigu, we stopped for a cold Coke to soothe our parched bodies. 

 We had to get geared up the afternoon -- pizza and a movie with the orphans!!

That's right.  The kids from the orphanage had been invited to our house for a special time.  Natalie and Allie had been reading them a book one day about shapes.  The book mentioned a slice of pizza and the children said they did not know what it was.  So, our girls wanted to let them enjoy some homemade pizza.  We had been wanting to do this with them, so while our friends were here from Winona, this was a perfect opportunity.

While the final preparations were being made for the food, all the kids played outside.

Allie rode kids on horseback while Natalie taught the kids a lesson in taking turns riding her bicycle.  The guys got "schooled" playing soccer with the Ghanaian boys.

We had cheese pizza (with the help of our Ghanaian friend, Rebecca) and then they watched "Lion King."  They were so excited.  A while into the movie, they began needing to go to the restroom.  Some just went outside as they are accustomed.  Some wanted to try out the "white man's" toilet.  Nancy went in to assist 3 little girls that had been in there for a while.  When she went in they were just standing and looking around.  One asked Nancy, "Where do we urinate?"  I'm just glad they asked instead of making the wrong guess . . . . !

Right before the orphans left, we were able to give them each a new pair of shoes and a new shirt.  The shoes were bought here with some donated ministry money.  The shirts were donated by various businesses / schools in Winona.  (Thanks to those of you who made all of this possible!!)  The kids were SO excited.  They tried on their new things but put them back in their plastic bag because they didn't want to get them dirty.

After the kids left, all of OUR kids went up to First Baptist Church Nalerigu to do some practicing and sound checking for the youth event scheduled for Sunday night.  You can look forward to hearing about that and other fun things tomorrow.

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Winona Team Here!!!

This and several more posts over the next few days are about a week delayed.  In fact, even as I type, they are arriving back into Winona.   I had intended to upload a post each day that our team from Winona was here, but we were too busy during the day and too tired at night.  Check back each day to see all the various and exciting activities and ministries we were involved in.

Charlie, Nancy and Ryan Parkerson AND Mikel Sykes

They had left Jackson 2 days before.  After a stopover in Atlanta, they travelled on arriving the next day in Amsterdam.  Then it was on to Accra, Ghana.  They overnighted in Accra then flew to the northern region of the country the next day.  After a few hours crammed in a van on a bumpy, dusty road, they arrived into Nalerigu about lunch time on Friday.  They were exhausted, but we were so glad to finally see them.  We had been anxiously awaiting there arrival for a long time.  We spent the rest of the day visiting, showing them around Nalerigu then allowing them some much needed rest.


This would be the only day we let them rest, though!  Stay tuned for  a daily synopsis of their ministry here.

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Random Pictures

Mazurah cooking at the orphanage

Local pickup

Waiting for clinic

Mary filling "food flasks" at the orphanage

Bonku and stew

Thanksgiving dinner???

Local water well

Children holding baby hedgehog

The river on wash day

Local ladies passing our house

Nalerigu Christian School kids and teachers

Art class

"Keep Ghana Clean"

"Charma charma charma charma charma chameleon . . . ."

Orange and banana shack at the market

Termite mound

Wearing 11 accessories on 11/11/11

Evan with Jeremiah, their Koko Duu interpreter

"The corn is as high as a elephant's eye!"

"I've never been this close to a cow before!"  -- Evan

Guinea fowl eggs given to Keenan by a patient in clinic

'Nuff said

Natalie

Allie

Evan and Manassah

Family tradition = birthday pancakes

Porch full of boys after helping move a bunch of rocks

Evan's little boy gang  (they call him "Heaven")

Natalie in the rainy season.  We miss the rainy season.

Red Red = fried plantain, spicy black-eyed peas and goat meat

Praying over Manassah's house and farm site on building day 1

Woops!!

Sueba and Haadi, popcorn, juice and a movie at our house

Allie and a HUGE tree