Fun before our Bible Study

Well I can finally say that I have arrived as a missionary in the minds of all the people that support us. Yes, most people that support African missionary imagine us daily fording rivers filled with crocodiles, marching through elephant grass and fighting lions, as we go out to preach the gospel, all while we single-handedly have spiritual duals with witch doctors. Though I do not fit these Western mindset of a missionary I think that I have finally filled one requirement. I have killed a snake!

Yes, this last Thursday night I had the privilege of killing my first snake. I would like to tell you that as Andrew and I where walking to visit a green mamba jumped out of a tree in front of us, and tried to bite us, and I like Indiana Jones, pulled out my machete (that people think every missionary wares on his/her back) and cut off it head with one blow, but sadly this is not what happened.

After visit some of our people and reminding them about the night meeting, Andrew and I saw a taxi driver that had stopped his car and was running to look at something. The driver was trying to kill a green mamba, that was crossing the road. (Africans do not have the same regard to preserve species as most environmentalist would like them to, here they have a simple rule: when a person sees a snake, they do not stop and ask if it is endangered, they know it will be deadly nine times out of ten, so they grab the first stone available and kills it, then finds out what it was afterwards). So knowing my social duty, I did my part, I grabbed a big rock and crushed it's head.

Over all it was a new experience. After killing the thing with the stone, all the Ghanaians around gave us pats on the back, and we got to go to the people already gathered, and rehearse our story. The wives where not as happy to hear about the presences of the snake as the men, but overall we had a chance to puff our chests and tell our warriors story!

Answered Prayer

One of the greatest blessing that I think that I get to see as a Christian is answered prayer. This month we had to pay to renew our residence permits for this year. In the past we have paid the same amount, which is 200 for me, 50 for each of the kids and Patty. So that adds up to a total of 350 Ghana cedis each year. This year our paper work was delayed in the capital so we knew that we where going to have to pay a months late fee of 200 Ghana cedis. That makes for total of 550 Ghana cedis. Well, we have been missionary long enough now that we knew that things can change at any time so though the total amount was supposed to be 550, we put away 850 for the expenses.

So now you know the background, here is the story. After getting my paperwork from Accra, I went off to the immigration office. My permit expired on the 8th of March, and I went on the 8th of April. The people at immigration where very helpful, and told me that if I finished all the forms and stuff that day, I would not be charged another months late fees (200 Ghana cedi, which is amount 200 dollars).

Well it was about 2:30 in the afternoon, and the offices closed by 5:00 so we set off on the task of getting everything done. So in a whirlwind of activity (African style), we got our passport pictures taken, filled out, photocopied, and processed our quadruplicate copies for our paperwork, and typed up our letters for immigration. Lets say about two hours later I was pretty proud of myself.

So here I go into immigration, I did not have to pay the extra 200, and was already planning how I would us the extra money. So they started total up the money due, and the lady at immigration told me, "The total is 1,000 Ghana cedis". At first I just thought that she was joking but she was not. They told me that in the past it cost 200 dollars for the one holding the residence card, and 50 for the dependents, but that had changed and now it was 200 for everyone. So all added up, one months late fees plus 800 for the family, it came up to a whopping total of 1,000 Ghana Cedis. Now remember it was about 4:45 at this time, and I life quit a distance from down town, and have no car, and if I did not pay by closing time, I would owe enough 200 on top. So I told the people I would be right back.

Some how before I had left the house I had grabbed a few other envelopes that contained money, and the grand total that I had on me was about 1010 Ghana Cedis, just enough to pay and get home. So I was able to part with all that money and start processing my residences permit.

But here is the answer to pray. The 200 that I used was for other things. We had to take it out of other places, and that was going to make us very short for the month. So here was the dilemma.
We could send for money, that we really did not have to use on expenses, or just try to ruff it out, and figure something out. So we just decided to pray about it and leave it in God's hands.

Well here is what God did. Every month we pay almost 200 Ghana cedis on electricity. It is very expensive here. But for about one year now we have been paying, but the electric people have not been putting it on our account. So this has led to a lot of fun, like them trying to cut our lights every month, but that is another story. Anyway, I have been asking them to fix the problem for some time, but the accounts still say that we are behind in payments. But, here is the blessing. This month they finally fixed it, and not only that, we had a 150 Ghana cedis surplus, so our bill was only 40 Ghana cedis this month. The amount that we will have left over after paying the bill today, will be almost exactly how much money we need to make up for the extra money paid to immigration.

So we have a wonderful God. He helped me to pay my immigration fees, He fixed the problem with our electric bills, and to top it off, He gave me the money I needed for the rest of the month.

Christ or Family... You Choose?

Matthew 10:36-38 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Most of people in the United States have little to no understanding of this verse today. The States is a place of tolerance, where even Muslims give way to the Western mindset of tolerance. But for many Christians around the world this is not true. Some lose home, jobs, and even family, and have the great privilege to suffer early for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sunday was Resurrection Sunday, but to my surprise Inusah did not show up for either morning or evening Bible studies. When I went to check him on Tuesday, I found out why.

Very early on Sunday morning, before the morning prayer calls for the Muslims here, Inusah's family called him for a meeting. The Imam was there, and I think a few others from the mosque. After the family and men prayed the tasbad, (this is the daily prayers of the Muslims five times a day, facing Mecca) they called a meeting.

They told Inusah that they had heard that he had become a Christian, and that he was no longer a follower of Mohammad. (If the reader has every worked with Muslims or known others that have, this is the hardest question that a convert from Islam ever faces). I am very glad to say that Inusah did not yield to fear. It sounded from the conversation with Inusah that God gave him a lot of grace and boldness.

They asked why had converted. To which he replied, that he had be a Muslim his whole life, and it had never changed him, it would never change him or help him, and he had found that change and it happened by coming to Christ. He told them that the Qu'ran says that if a person has questions they are to go to the People of the Book (this is Christians for those that do not know Qu'ran lengo). He told them that there was only one way to Paradise. The two thieves on the cross both had a choice to make, one did not trust in Jesus, and went to Hell. The other trusted in Jesus, and was told that when he died he would be in Paradise with Jesus. Inusah told them that he had chosen Christ.

The Imam told Inusah that the Bible was full of lies, that the white men changed it, and it was not to be trusted. Inusah told him, if it was not trustworthy, why did Mohammad praise it in the Qu'ran. He told them that the ten commandments give no hope, a man can never be good enough to gain heaven, and that Jesus was the only way. The Imam said that Paul lied and just spoke of his own dreams and ideas. Inusah said that the Bible says that no one can take away or add to the Bible without Gods punishment upon them.

They told him that Jesus never died, but Allah put the face of Jesus on Judas, and they killed Judas. Inusah told them that that was not true, and that even in part of the Qu'ran, it says that Jesus died. He told them that he was a follower of Jesus and would not be turned.

So after a long time, and not being able to attend church in the morning, the family left Inusah for a while.

That night, when they knew that he would go to night-time Bible studies, they called another meeting. The Imam, told Inusah that he was confused. He had been so faithful, (In the past Inusah would call people to prayers over the loud-speakers, and round-up people to pray), he told him that he even still wanted him to go out and talk to people about Islam with him. ( I think this was just bait, to try and win him back by compliments and money). But, we praise the Lord that Inusah was obedient to the faith. Inusah quoted from the Qu'ran and Bible, trying to witness to them. The Imam said that he had never heard those verses before. Inusah said that if he would get him a English Qu'ran he would read them to him.

Overall the meetings went well. I think that Inusah gave a strong testimony for Christ, and in the end the family did not cut him off. This is very amazing to me. I am not totally sure why they have not. One thing I know is that they know Inusah is stubborn and influentially. I think that they fear if they totally cut him off, that he will be somehow made a hero or martyr. Inusah was very influential with a the young men at his mosque and I think that they fear that he might somehow get more of them this way, they all seem to have a little rebellion in them.

Please continue to pray for Inusah. He seems to be growing. Pray that his future is as bright as it appears at this time. Coming from Islam he has a amazing ability to memorize, pray that these abilities will be yielded to Christ and used for His Glory.

Also pray for our future witnessing. Inusah and I will starting visiting soon on a weekly bases. He is interested in starting to learn how to evangelize. Pray for us as we also seek other opportunities here in Kumasi in the future to work in some of the larger Muslim areas in the city.

A Spiritual Flat Tire

Ephesians 5:18 "...but be filled with the Spirit"

I have been learning the importance lately of the need to be Spirit filled. In the past I would have said that I wanted to be Spirit filled. I knew that I needed Him when I was going to do some task like preaching or witnessing. I knew that I needed Him for victory over besetting sins. But the thing that I could not figure out was why at times when I needed the filling most, the times when the pressure was on, I seemed to be flat.

I have been learning that my life is like a tire. It is one whole piece. I cannot divide my life into parts, and say that one part has nothing to do with another. If you have a hole anywhere in a tire, the air will leak out and the part with the pressure on it will always go flat.

God has been showing me the importance of my walk with Him. If I want to be filled when the pressure is on, then I have to be filled and free of holes when the pressure is off. That means I don't get time off.

At times I want to think, "What does it matter what I do with my free time? If I want to watch a movie or read a book, so what! It is my time! Hey, I have extra money in the bank I can spend it on whatever I want, so long as it is not sinful."

I could think that way because at that time I was not feeling any pressure (did not think it was so important be filled with the Spirit). I just would make a decision based on my desires or thinking and not seek the Lord. But, the Lord has shown me there is a problem with that. If I am not living filled all the time, because I allow the Spirit to depart through a slow leak of my own thinking and wants, when the real pressure comes, I will be flat. And all drivers know how hard it is to drive on a flat tire.

So I am learning what Hudson Taylor said is true: "The faith that is ready for emergencies is the the faith that is strengthened by a daily dependence on God."

The only way not to be spiritually flat is to follow this verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When it Rains it Pours

The work here seems a lot like farming at times. There is a lot of preperation to do. The missionary tends the fields, weeds, and plants. The whole time he is praying for rain. He knows that all the labor of his hands are nothing if God does not send the rain. Sometimes it seems like it will never come; the intervauls between rain start to spread out. Then one day, he is outside working, and the rains come.

God blessed His work this week with some of that rain. Like the old saying says, "When it rains, it pours". This week we were able to see three people saved. It was like an African rain storm. One moment it is bright and sunny, the next minute, the sky is black, the wind is howling, and 2 inch rain drops are casacading down, and if a person does not find shelter in about three minutes, he is drenched from head to foot. (Nothing is done half way here, if it is is hot, it is real hot, if it is raining, it is really raining, etc.) That is how it seemed this week. We were working away, and all of a sudden the rain came pouring down.

Pastor Andrew and I have been having salvation Bible studies with a young community college guy named Fred. He has been attending all the Sunday services for the last few weeks. Saturday we went to his house and had a three hour study. At the end, all the pieces seemed to just fall into place, and we had the wonderful pleasure of hearing him asked God to save him. It was great!

For the last few months we have also been progressing through our salvation Bible studies with our Thursday night group. We have been praying for God to touch hearts. Last week on Thursday, I preached about the resurrection power of Christ over death. The people really seemed to listen. Martha (the young lady that Patty helped out last week) asked how a person can enter into this resurrecion power. I very clearly and plainly told her how a person receives Christ as Savior. I told everyone that if they wanted to speak to someone about trusting Christ, that they needed to speak with one of the leaders after we closed. After the meeting a young man named David that has been attending for about 6 months came up and told me that he wanted to get saved. I had the wonderful opportunity to lead him to Christ.

After the Bible study on Thursday, my wife was on the lookout for any ladies that seemed to want to talk, especially Martha, but none approached her. The good thing is that God knows what is going on, even when we do not. The next day came and went and it was now Saturday. Patty was a little nervous. She had been working so long with Martha, it seemed like the truth was never going to break through. Saturday afternoon, her group headed off for witnessing. At this point I will relate the story the way that it was told to me...

"We came to Martha's house for our final visit," Patty said. "We greeted her and started our Bible study by reviewing our earlier studies. After that I asked Martha a few questions." "I asked Martha, 'Are you sinner?' to which she said "Yes", and then I asked her, 'What is the punishment for sin?', to which she said "Hell", so then I asked her, "Martha, if you died where will you go?" Martha then said, "I will go to hevaen!" I was so shocked and frustrated that she did not understand, I just asked in Twi, "Aden?" which means why???? Even Gifty was frustrated and asked her why she thought that she would go to heaven, if she was a sinner and should be punished. Then Martha gave this answer. She said, "Well, Thursday night Pastor John said that if a person knew that they were a sinner, and should go to hell, but believed that Christ shed his blood for them on the cross, they could be saved. You said that I could pray anytime. I did not have to be with anyone, so Thursday night I asked God to forgive my sins. I asked God to cover me with Christ's righteousness and to place Jesus blood over my heart, and to forgive my sins. So I am saved now, and will not go to hell, I will go to heaven!"

Patty said, "Gifty and I were shocked! After all this time, it had finally clicked." Gifty grilled her a little, but after a few moments Marhta said, 'Look, I understand everything. I am saved. I am a child of God. I understand.' So Gifty and I finished the Bible study and told her that we would be back next week to start to talk to her about growing in Christ."

So finally after all these months the flash flood came. It has been a blessing to see, and we are praying and preparing for some more rain here in the near future.

Being Spent for Them-

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

Early on as a missionary a person is called to serve people. This all seems so glamorous as a missionary is preparing for the field and traveling on deputation. The thought of self-sacrifice and surrender is romantic and in the future. Then the missionary arrives, and the spending begins. And like always the flesh begins to rebel as the cost mounts and the mind begins to take tally. The hardest part of serving is the spending, and the hardest part of spending is the spending of self. The missionary finds out early that it is much easier to pay all the bills, pass around the money, then to spend himself. If he is not careful this is just what he does. But, if he is really going to reach them with the gospel and not his money, then the greatest thing that he needs to do is close the wallet and open the heart. Stop spending money and start spending time. I got a great reminder of this, this past week.

My wife has been witnessing to a young lady named Martha for months now. Martha is very close to accepting the gospel and we have been praying for her for sometime. About a month ago Patty found out that Martha was sick and needed to go to the hospital. After visiting a specialist, Martha was told that she would need an operation. Patty really encouraged her to have the operation, but there was a catch that seemed to be holding her back. She had someone to watch here son for the days that she was in the hospital, but had no family to look after her. See here in Ghana, the hospitals do not prepare food for there patients, and the nurses generally have about 100 patients to care for each shift. So the fact of the matter is if a patient does not have family members then he/she will not eat, have bed sheets changed, or clothes washed, for the time that they are in the hospital. Martha is from the north, and has no family to help her. The father of her child has abandoned her and the child. She really needed the operation but had no one to help. So my wife and Gifty (a good Ghanaian friend of Patty’s) offered to help.

When Patty came home and told me, I was excited that she would be able to help, but I had no idea how much she was going to spend herself over the next five days. Here in Ghana, the hospital has two visiting times. The morning visits are 5:00 am to 7:00 and 4:00- 6:00 pm. The hospitals do not have microwaves or any way to heat up food, so each morning at about 4:00, Patty would get up and cook the food. Ghanaian food and needs to be hot and fresh, no cereal and sandwiches here. Each morning at 5:30 when I would get up, Patty would be heading out the door, basket in hand, so that she could meet Gifty and give Martha here morning food. She would take the 30 minute mini-bus trip across town, and visit Martha. Patty said that is was quite interesting to see all the people staring. They have never seen a foreigner serving an African before. They would wash the dishes from the night before, change the sheets, and get the night clothes form the day before, so that they could be washed. After that, another 30 minutes trip home, time to get the kids ready for school. Teach, and back to cooking again for the evening meal. Jump in the mini-bus again about 3:30, and start the process at the hospital all over again. She would get home in time to start cooking dinner and to get ready for the next day.

Overall, it was a very busy five days. I thank the Lord for my wife. I am glad that the Lord has given me a wife that is willing to be spent for the people that God has called her to.

A Missionary Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13

If I have the language ever so perfectly and speak like a native and have not His love, I am nothing.
If I have diplomas and degrees and know all the up-to-date methods and have not His touch of understanding, I am nothing.
If I am able to argue successfully against their religions and yet have not His wooing note, I am nothing.
If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans and have not His love that sweats and bleeds and prays and pleads, I am nothing.
If I give my clothes and my money to them and have not His love for them, I am nothing.
If I surrender all prospects, leave home and friends, make the sacrifice of the missionary career, and turn sour and selfish because of the daily annoyances and slights of missionary life, and though I give my body to be consumed with heat and fevers and have not love that yields its rights, its leisure, its pet plans, I am nothing.
If I can heal all manner of sickness and disease but wound hearts and hurt feelings for want of His love that is kind, I am nothing.
If I can write articles or publish books that win applause but fail to transcribe the Word of the Cross in the language of His love I am nothing.