Giving Thanks!!!

This past week has been a great time to remember and be thankful for all that the Lord has done for us. Though Thanksgiving is not a Ghanaian holiday, we try to celebrate the holiday anyway. Our family believes that it is good to teach people to count their blessings. So each year we invite people from our new Ghana family.

Here are a few things that have been a blessing this last week. I am going to mix in a few of our Thanksgiving pictures so that the reader can see our Thursday activities.

1. This last week we had the blessing of leading two people to Christ. Mensah has been attending our Bible study for about six months. On Saturday of last week we where able to led him to Christ. Also on Tuesday of last week, Pastor Andrew and I where able to led a young lady named Mary to Christ. She has attended for about three months. This was very encouraging, and was a great way to start the week of Thanksgiving.

2. Water Supply- The longer that we have lived in Ghana the better the electricity has gotten, but that is not true of the water. Most days our water flows from about 2:00am until 9:00am. That is of course on the day that it does flow. Because of these facts we have become quite good about our water consumption. We have 5 buckets that we fill twice daily. They are used to flush the toilets, put water in the sinks for washing dishes and bathing. Each adult gets one bucket and the girls split one. But, this last week we had a great blessing given to us! Our landlady decided to put two large water containers on the roof. (Each one holds about 2,000 liters of water each). We have one outside, which is wonderful, since even if the water is off for a week, we can still get water from this outside tank. But, since our landlady put these tanks on the roof, we have constant water in the house. We can flush the toilet after every use (YAH!) and even take showers. (I have learned to like cold showers here). Basically while the water is flowing, these tanks refill each night, when the pressure is good. They hold enough water that once the water is off again (normally for 4 to 5 days), we still have water in the house. We are very happy. Now we have almost constant water!

3. Little blessings- Since we have moved here, we have learned to really enjoy little blessings. Things that would be normal or even go unappreciated in the states, become exciting here. This is one of the perks of the mission field. Here are three, OK, four blessings. A. Ritz crackers. They never have these here, but a few weeks ago Andrew and I walked into a store while out visiting, and what do you know, there where boxes of Ritz crackers. They where even fairly cheap. So we snagged a couple of boxes each. They where great with my wife's broccoli casserole that she makes for Thanksgiving. (That is another blessing, a farmer has started growing broccoli here, so we do not have to buy expense imported broccoli now!) B. Stove Top stuffing- a small shop had three boxes of Turkey Stove Top stuffing this year! We bought them, and have been able to use two so far. The Ghanaians loved it at the party! C. Summer Sausage- My sister sent this to us! Not sure how she fit this huge thing in the box, but she did. We are very happy to get to eat this little blessing on New Year's Day. D. Last but not least our Turkey! It is a blessing to be able to buy a local turkey that was large enough to feed all those people and still have leftovers!

4. The Thanksgiving Part- We had a great time! We had a total of 12 people at the party. It was the best party that we have ever had. It was so much fun to eat together and share the meaning of Thanksgiving. After we had games and Pumpkin Pie! (Yes, this is another blessing- they grow here only during the fall months, and Patty makes a WONDERFUL homemade pie!)

These weeks have been filled with blessings! And today I want to say to God, Thank You! I hope that all those out there had a great Thanksgiving weekend too.

The Blind Men and the Elephant

The Blind Men and the Elephant

It was six men of Idostan

To learning much inclined,

Who went to see the elephant

(Though all of them were blind)

That each by observaton

Might satisfy his mind.

The first apporached the elephant,

And, happening to fall

Against the broad and sturdy side,

At once began to bowl,

"God bless me! but the elephant

Is very like a wall!"

The second, feelin of the tusk

Cried! "Ho! What have we here

So very round and smooth and sharp?

To me 'tis mighty clear

This wonder of an elephant

Is very like a spear!"

The third apporached the animal,

And happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands,

Thus boldly up and spake:

"I see," quoth he, "the elephant,

Is very like a snake!"

The fourth reached out his eager hand,

And felt about the knee.

"What most this wondrous beast is like

Os mightly plain," quoth he;

"'Tis clear enough the elephant

Is very like a tree."

The fifith, who chanced to touch the ear,

Said, "E'en the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most.

Deny the fact, who can,

This marvel of an elephant

Is very like a fan!"

The sixth no sooner had begun

About the beast to grope,

Than seizing on the swinging tail

That fell within his scope

"I see," quoth he, "the elephant

Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan

Disputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,

And all were in the wrong.

So, oft in theologic wars

The disputants, I ween,

Rail on in utter ignorance

Of what each other mean,

And prate about the elephant

Not one of them has seen!

I love this poem! Since I have come here to the field it has become more real to me. There is a definite place for facts and knowledge in Christianity. We can know about God from the things the Bible clearly says about Him. But, one thing that Westerners tend to forget is that God is great. He is even grander than all the Bible says about Him, and can never be fully understood. Our scientific brains strain to put the Bible and our Theology into little boxes and we strive to make everything fit into a logical order and pattern. But we forget that in the end it is FAITH! So things just are. I have seen friends driff into Calvinism and Armenism over the years. Each person had the same problem! They sought so hard to fully understand the elephant, that they forgot that they where blind! As the meet different things in their own lifes they began to mke conclusions and start to follow these system. They would argue with any person to prove that this is how things are, but they do not realize they are just holding a tail or an ear.

One of the greatest gifts of the mission field is that a missionary gets to rediscover the gift of Wonder! Here things are less about theories and science, and more about acceptance. In the African mind, some thing just cannot be understood. They just are! Somethings we can never understand. So instead of trying to think I can understand every last detail, I will just enjoy Christianity for what it is!

Migration Season???

Coming from the northern part of the United States, I grow up with four distinct season: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Then we moved to Ghana. When we first arrived I thought that there where only two seasons, Hot and Hotter! But since I have learned that there is much more to the weather here then I first thought.

Until today, I have discovered four basic seasons in Ghana. We have our heavy rainy season from May until July/ August. During this time it is very 'cold'. During this time Ghana gets most of it's rain, and it can rain for days at a time. After the heavey season has finished it is followed by the light rainy season. During this time, August to October, the days are hot with intense sun. The rains have cleared out all the smoke and pollution. But during this time, it rains almost every evening. Then we pass unto are Harmatan season. This is when the dry winds off the Sahara Desert sweep down into Ghana. The air becomes very dry and fills with dust. The dry air and strong wind almost give Kumasi a cold feeling. Then we pass into our last season, which is described in one word, DRY! The dry season is just that, no rain, dust every where, and intense heat. The sun is not as intense since the smoke and pollution hang in the air, but the air is much like an oven from January to April of the year.

But, today I discovered that we can add in another season to this list. It comes at the end of our night rainy season and happens until Harmatan arrives. It is... Migration Season! Yes, the time that all the little creatures come out and try to get the last bit of water that is left before they reproduce or go back north.

We have bats. In Northern America, we used to see flying geese or ducks in V-formation. Here we get another sight. When a person goes outside at night, right before dark, he will look into the sky and think he sees thousands of birds traveling east, but he is wrong, they are not birds, they are bats. These nice little mosquito eaters, are taking their yearly migration.

Then we have our Grasshopper/ Locust Migration. This one has been more noticeable this year. Today we went outside out house to find hundreds of locust all over the walls of our house. They are trying to mate before they die. We have even more this year, since our landlady hooked up two street lights in front of our house. At night the locust are everywhere.

These locust draw the magpies and African Brown Hawk. They love to eat them. It is amazing! We have about ten hawks circling the house. They swoop down at lightening fast speed and catch then in their beaks. Then the magpies just sit around on every palm tree and on the roof, they fly around eating all that are left.

Then our last and my wives most favorite creator, the flying ant! (No Patty really hates these guys!) They come in the houses look for water before they die during dry season. They are not to bad, they do not bit they just crawl around. Here they are very few, but in Barkino Faso, I am told that they come in swarms and people eat then fried. We only have about 20 to 30 visitors a year. But, Patty is very polite and greets each one with a nice magazine that she crushes them with.

So, these are our seasons. They add a little spice to our life. So, for all those in the Frozen north or temperate South, who are starting to turn their heaters on, give your love ones a happy Migration Season greeting from us.

The Way of Peace

Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

This was Jesus Christ's mission, and here in Ghana it is our mission also. We have been sent to guide people, to teach them the gospel truth's of the Bible so that they can understand salvation and be guided into the way of peace. Some say, but why is your family going? Are not the churches in Africa growing, are not many new 'converts' being saved each day. To this we say these verses...

Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.


Romans 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

This path of peace is what they have sought for and not found. They have been given religion. I believe Africa to be one of most religious places in the world. They been given many things: The Word of God with no understanding, the works of spirits without the Holy Spirit, the Cross without the Redemption, the New Testament without the Old, and Christiainity without conversion!

But one thing that all these programs, aid groups, and denomational investors have not given is Peace- and along with it Love, Hope, and Joy!

The African might have a song on his lips, food in his stomach, and clothes on his body, which is all good, but he has NO PEACE in his heart!

Here in Africa peace is King. It is what is most sought after. Even in our past it was the highest virtue to obtain. One might not have had peace outside of his tribe, but he always sought for it inside his community. Even here in the Akan, our highest diety that interacted with man was Asasa Yaa. She is the goddess of Earth. Her rule was over the laws of community and her main concern was in mantaining order and peace. But, no matter how much the African wants it, weather he be Traditional, Muslim, or 'christian', the peace he seeks is always alluding him. He seeks to cover transgressions, but the heart boils. He seeks to gain favor for his life from the gods, or God, but peace never comes. It is a phantom that casts its shadow across the path, but can never be felt or seen. He works hard going to prayer camps, church meetings, even 'witnessing' to the lost. But no matter how many times he is delievered from spirits, no matter how long he speaks in tongues, not matter how much he obeys the commands of the missionary, it still does not come to his heart.

What they do not know is that this is not the way that they are to go. THE WAY that Christ has set before us, and given unto us, has not been shown to so so many here in these great lands.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Christ and His sacrifice can bring peace to these hungry souls.

Even those that know the truths of the Gospel and Divide the Word rightly, are so often bound by church practices and procedures that are so deeply rooted in Westerner Culture, instead of Bible Culture, that we never think to do more than copy the patterns that we have seen and heard in our Bible colleges oversea.

This is not intended to be a rant that is given about the wrongs of missions, but a post about the need of the people of this great continent. Even now as I write this post, I can hear the sound of singing. The children in the local school are singing and drumming. They sing loudly and speak in unison. They are not singing the old songs of the past, but new songs of the present. But, though I can hear the 'amens' of the students, and understand the 'praises' in Twi to Almighty God, I hear no peace. I see no joy. Once the drum beat stops, the pulse and excitement is reduced, so goes the happiness that is the only distraction that they have. The body is touched, but the spirit is empty.

For these our new people, we cry! We beg! For those that have been placed in a greater darkness. Not the darkness of witchcraft and magic, but the more dangerous and deadly darkness of the pre-dawn. In the early morning fog, where it is not quite day and not quite night. Here they sit filled with religion and DEATH! With Amens on thier lips and cruses in their souls! For these that are walking without peace we cry and ask... WHO will come and help?

Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The Other Part of My Team!

Many times in missions the men seem to get the glory. In a few rare cases, like Isobel Kuhn, Amy Carmichael, Mary Slessor, the ladies seem to stand in the spot light, but most often it seems that the great women seem to be content in the shadows and help their husbands to do what God wants. Ann Judson helped Adinoram to be the man that he was and his ‘team’ would have been incomplete without her. Maria Hudson was the helping hand that so greatly aided Hudson Talyor in his early years of the mission.

I was reminded again of the great blessing I have in my wonderful wife this week. Patty had to go in for a minor surgery this week. She went in Saturday, and returned on Sunday morning. A I sat outside waiting for her to come out of the ‘theatre’ many thoughts flooded my mind. I hope she was be fine, but what if? Then I started thinking how difficult life would be here without her. How much I love her and am thankful that God has allowed her to be here! Basically after the hour of surgery, when they rolled her out of the ‘theatre’ I was very happy to she.

The surgery went well, we are almost back to normal, and we even washed clothes by hand together today, since the water has been off for a week. It is good to have reminds. So today post is given in honor of my missionary wife.

The poem is for her. She read it and said that it was quite good.

Missionary Mother's Dilema
by Pam Griffis

The very first thing in the morning
I plan my schedule for the day.
I think I've got it all worked out,
In my neatly organized way.

Devotions first; Then Aerobics! (Of course!)
"Breakfast?", Did my hubby say?
Quickly fed and swiftly dressed,
I send the little ones out to play.

"Oh, I forgot today is wash day!"
As the generator starts to run.
I rush to gather the dirty clothes
I must hurry and get them done.

Above the din of the washer,
Shouts the voice of my 4 yr. old son.
"Mom, J.J. has to go potty!"
"And he broke my favorite gun!"

I settle the fight and dry the tears,
The clothes are finally hung out.
As I sit to type the culture file,
There is yet another shout!

"Hun, Awelalu brought sweet potatoes!"
I try to hide a frowny pout.
I really enjoy my chat with her,
Knowing that is what it is all about!

Lunch time comes all to soon.
"Where's desert?", the clan wants to know.
I could pull my hair out one by one,
But I don't want my feelings to show.

Dishes to wash, then rest time;
I am feeling pretty low.
I sit down to study language,
And a windy rain starts to blow.

I run to rescue the clothes off the line,
The kids wake up from their nap,
"Did you bake cookies yet?, they ask me,
As they climb up on my lap.

An hour later, the cookies baked,
Clothes folded and put away.
A sigh of relief and a "Thank you, Lord,"
Is all I am able to say.

When supper is over, baths and dishes done,
And our family pauses to pray.
When my little ones say, "Thank you for Mom,"
My frustrations fade quickly away.

Tomorrow will surely be better,
And if not, God planned it that way.
He knows what I need for my growing.
I am only to "rest" and obey

The Week in the Life of Two Missionary Girls

I come from a family where girls where the majority. My father and I where out numbered 3 to 2, but this did not bother me so much, since I spent most of my time outside in the mud. Growing up the majority of the time I spent with my sisters was used trying to rescue my G.I. Joes from them, since they where using them for husbands for their Barbies. All the other times where spent when they came outside with me and played. This outside play would always lead to mud throwing, ruff housing, or occasionally people being shoot with a BB gun, but that is another story and I digress. So, even though I grow up around girls and have become quite close to my sisters, I was not prepared for the new world that I would enter when the Lord gave me two little girls.

When my wife and I married, we knew right away where each other stood. My wife is a very activity athletic lady; she likes sheik modern lines and elegant feminine charms. There where no lace, pink, or home school jumpers. This sat quite well with me. My wife and I have the same ideal concept of a woman, which follows the line of Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, not Paula Dean! So, we both assumed that when are girls where born that they would seem to gather these same opinions through our genes. But, then we both entered the World of Little Girls.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Our girls are not spoiled princesses, that pouter their faces all day long, or are more worried about their clothes then getting in the mud. They can get ruff and tumble and are tuff, but they are ALL GIRL! We love them and have learned to love their intense female interests.

It is quite funny having a five year old going on six, and a two year old going on three. I have learned more about girls in the last few years than I ever knew was possible. Life is full of little girlie things, and little girlie ways. How does one describe a little missionary girl? I figure I should just sum up the weeks activities.

What happens in a week: Ten tea parties (bottled water included, if they can sneak it past mom radar), three different outfits a day, necks covered with every necklace of local beads ever made, dress-up shoes clomping through the house, dried tears from a scrapped knee caused by the concrete yard, little voices singing on the top of their lungs in two languages, toy baby dolls being feed and carried on their backs, questions about why people bath outside, half day school in the home school room, making the girls takes bath underneath the water storage tank after covering themselves with mud after they make ‘food’, long walks to the gas station with dad for plastic sachets of ice cream, Daddy letting girls put barrettes in his hair and beard, imaginary fufu and other local and foreign foods being prepared for Mom to eat, pacifier searches, and add on top, pink, princess, smiles, dancing, hugs, bows, and two pairs of blue eyes that look to their parents for love and comfort.

I am not the only that has had to change some routines since having girls added to life. Patty had her scrap booking and other ladies activities, but she had no idea what these little ones would bring with them. She has since learned how to pack purses for little girls, with just the right amount of coloring books, dolls, extra bows, and lip gloss. Patty never carried purses before having children, but now she is the master of fitting 10 tons of child care products into a tiny purse. Patty has even learned to have tea parties… yes, tea parties. Not water in plastic cups around a small table in the kid’s room, but a real tea party. The girls and Patty make little muffins and hot chocolate (since she does not like tea), and brake out the Blue Willow tea set. The hardest lesson seems to have been allowing the girls to have their own dress style, to a point. For Carey the choice is easy, if it has pink and twirls she like it. If it is Ella, if it has buckles and is shiny she like it. All together the ladies have meet together and found a happy medium where everyone is happy.

These little girls have come to stay and have truly changed us along the way. They have brought their girlie ways and bags of accessories, but we would not have it any other way. So to all those out there that have little girls in their life, enjoy! God gives these little gifts wrapped in pink paper and bows to remind us of all that is sweet and beautiful!