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Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sunday at Maranatha
We are at Maranatha Power Ministries on this beautiful Sunday morning celebrating the 15th anniversary of the church! We as well as the entire congregation are wearing matching shirts and dresses celebrating this festive day! These are pictures of Denise sharing with the congregation about having strong families. There was also a mass wedding in which several couples are being joined together in Christ. Maranatha believes in husbands only having one wife, which is not a common practice in Ghana. We are so blessed to have taken part in such a wonderful time of celebration in the life of their church, and our hearts are thinking of our churches who are worshipping and celebrating this morning as well! Love you all!
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Safely on the ground in Ghana
Our team arrived safely at the Accra airport at 11:30 am Ghana time! We were greeted at the airport by Phyllis and Katheryn and went to work...shopping!
We visited both Tet's Bead Industry and TK's and were educated and given demonstrations on recycled glass bead-making.
We will check in at the guest house briefly, have dinner and then go to Maranatha Power Ministries to join in ministry with a prayer vigil and a women's conference led by Denise Lopez. Betty Lewis will also lead a prayer time and several ladies will lead in worship together.
Will post more tomorrow after we get some rest!
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We visited both Tet's Bead Industry and TK's and were educated and given demonstrations on recycled glass bead-making.
We will check in at the guest house briefly, have dinner and then go to Maranatha Power Ministries to join in ministry with a prayer vigil and a women's conference led by Denise Lopez. Betty Lewis will also lead a prayer time and several ladies will lead in worship together.
Will post more tomorrow after we get some rest!
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Location:Ghana
Because I'm a Masterpiece!!!
Wow! May I just start by saying God is incredible!!! Last night Mary and I (Allison :)) had the opportunity to share with the youth girls at Pastor Odai's church. We had almost 30 13-19 year old girls. I started the lesson by reading Psalm 139:1-18. The girls learned that these verses have 3 major points: 1) God see me and is with me, 2) God created me, and 3) God knows me and loves me.
While talking about the fact that God created them we were able to tie in Ephesians 2:10. This verse states, "For we are God's masterpiece. Created anew in Christ Jesus to do the good things he planned for us long ago." It amazes me that even with a language barrier these girls were able to grasp the concept that despite what they see when they look in the mirror or what other people say to them they are a priceless work of art because who their creator is!
Last night (at 1 a.m. :-o), we closed our time together by having the girls break up into 4 teams. In their teams they had to come up with a song that talked about what God says about them. One group sang the song "He knows my name" but they added "because I'm a masterpiece!" to the chorus. Mary was able to get it on video :-D we are hoping to get it uploaded soon. ;) it is absolutely precious!!!
After we finished, one of the girls (Debra) came up to Mary and I and shared that her friends at school tell her that she is fat and ugly. Mary and I were able to reiterate that she is a masterpiece, a daughter of the King and therefore a princess, and that she is BEAUTIFUL! When we told her those truths her face just lit up. I can't describe it. She went on to share that she has no one to talk to (at school or in her village). Mary immediately jumped on that and prayed that God would bring a friend. Not 5 minutes later another one of the youth girls walked over and come to find out she lives in the same village as Debra. Needless to say, God answered Mary's prayer for Debra right then. She now has a friend! :-) Who she can talk to at church and in her village.
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While talking about the fact that God created them we were able to tie in Ephesians 2:10. This verse states, "For we are God's masterpiece. Created anew in Christ Jesus to do the good things he planned for us long ago." It amazes me that even with a language barrier these girls were able to grasp the concept that despite what they see when they look in the mirror or what other people say to them they are a priceless work of art because who their creator is!
Last night (at 1 a.m. :-o), we closed our time together by having the girls break up into 4 teams. In their teams they had to come up with a song that talked about what God says about them. One group sang the song "He knows my name" but they added "because I'm a masterpiece!" to the chorus. Mary was able to get it on video :-D we are hoping to get it uploaded soon. ;) it is absolutely precious!!!
After we finished, one of the girls (Debra) came up to Mary and I and shared that her friends at school tell her that she is fat and ugly. Mary and I were able to reiterate that she is a masterpiece, a daughter of the King and therefore a princess, and that she is BEAUTIFUL! When we told her those truths her face just lit up. I can't describe it. She went on to share that she has no one to talk to (at school or in her village). Mary immediately jumped on that and prayed that God would bring a friend. Not 5 minutes later another one of the youth girls walked over and come to find out she lives in the same village as Debra. Needless to say, God answered Mary's prayer for Debra right then. She now has a friend! :-) Who she can talk to at church and in her village.
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Location:A Bus on the way to Frankadua
Frankadua princesses
I do not have words for what God did today in everyone's hearts but I'll try.
We arrived in Frankadua this morning exactly on time at 10 am. For those of you who have been to Africa, you know what a miracle that is! Reverend Grace welcomed us and got us settled in their newly built cafeteria/all-purpose room. It was so nice :)
Since the girls were on school break, many of them had to travel to get there. Some came the night before, some that morning. In all, we had nearly 50 girls, 3 boys, and around 10 instructors.
Starting with "princess" nametags that the girls decorated, we welcomed the young ladies. When they introduced themselves as Princess _________, their faces lit up in beautiful smiles. Andrea taught them Sing Sing Sing and they taught us There's No One like Jesus.
At lunch, we sat with the girls. They told us about themselves. It was a precious time.
Our time today was shortened by several hours to avoid night travel. So we promptly began the teaching time with the four parts of the necklace we had for them:
Chain: in Christ we are freed from slavery.
Sand vial: God's thoughts about you outnumber all the sand.
Crown w/ "diamond": You have priceless inner worth.
Pink Pearl: You are God's pearl of great price and He wants to be yours.
They loved knowing that they are precious to God and there is freedom in Christ. A number of girls were especially touched by Psalm 27:10--Even if my father and mother abandon me, the lord will hold me close.
On from there to the "Masterpiece Snap" and a crazy fun dance Allison taught them.
Next, we washed the feet of every girl, boy, and teacher, talking with them about the love of Christ and their relationship with Him. We prayed with them, then sent them to decorate flip flops with ribbon and flowers.
We also gave each person a purple Individually Designed tote bag, an NLT Bible, a set of cards with scripture from the day, and a God Box.
Finally, gathered in a huge circle we sang He's Got the Whole world in His Hands. Goodbyes were bittersweet as we hugged and took some last minute pictures.
Such precious girls who all needed to know how beautiful they are to their heavenly Father and to us.
Our hearts are already pulling us to go back. So many sweet faces crowd my mind. Reverend Grace and all the instructors are an amazing blessing to the girls. Please continue to pray for the girls as some graduate later this month and embark on a new part of God's plan for them. Others will continue their schooling, and new girls will begin as well. I hope to be able to communicate with them by email.
Thanks to everyone who supported this day in prayer and with sponsorships. The girls know that you have been praying and that they have special notes from many of you in their God Boxes.
Personal notes:
Judy says Hi!
Alicia says Love you Scott, Jordan, and Jonathan.
Sending love to all,
Alicia and whole Ghana team :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We arrived in Frankadua this morning exactly on time at 10 am. For those of you who have been to Africa, you know what a miracle that is! Reverend Grace welcomed us and got us settled in their newly built cafeteria/all-purpose room. It was so nice :)
Since the girls were on school break, many of them had to travel to get there. Some came the night before, some that morning. In all, we had nearly 50 girls, 3 boys, and around 10 instructors.
Starting with "princess" nametags that the girls decorated, we welcomed the young ladies. When they introduced themselves as Princess _________, their faces lit up in beautiful smiles. Andrea taught them Sing Sing Sing and they taught us There's No One like Jesus.
At lunch, we sat with the girls. They told us about themselves. It was a precious time.
Our time today was shortened by several hours to avoid night travel. So we promptly began the teaching time with the four parts of the necklace we had for them:
Chain: in Christ we are freed from slavery.
Sand vial: God's thoughts about you outnumber all the sand.
Crown w/ "diamond": You have priceless inner worth.
Pink Pearl: You are God's pearl of great price and He wants to be yours.
They loved knowing that they are precious to God and there is freedom in Christ. A number of girls were especially touched by Psalm 27:10--Even if my father and mother abandon me, the lord will hold me close.
On from there to the "Masterpiece Snap" and a crazy fun dance Allison taught them.
Next, we washed the feet of every girl, boy, and teacher, talking with them about the love of Christ and their relationship with Him. We prayed with them, then sent them to decorate flip flops with ribbon and flowers.
We also gave each person a purple Individually Designed tote bag, an NLT Bible, a set of cards with scripture from the day, and a God Box.
Finally, gathered in a huge circle we sang He's Got the Whole world in His Hands. Goodbyes were bittersweet as we hugged and took some last minute pictures.
Such precious girls who all needed to know how beautiful they are to their heavenly Father and to us.
Our hearts are already pulling us to go back. So many sweet faces crowd my mind. Reverend Grace and all the instructors are an amazing blessing to the girls. Please continue to pray for the girls as some graduate later this month and embark on a new part of God's plan for them. Others will continue their schooling, and new girls will begin as well. I hope to be able to communicate with them by email.
Thanks to everyone who supported this day in prayer and with sponsorships. The girls know that you have been praying and that they have special notes from many of you in their God Boxes.
Personal notes:
Judy says Hi!
Alicia says Love you Scott, Jordan, and Jonathan.
Sending love to all,
Alicia and whole Ghana team :)
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Location:Road to Accra
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Statistics about the country of Ghana
This is a video we put together after one of our previous trips, but it gives some perspective about the great need in Africa, and in the country of Ghana.
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