Third Day Firsts

Today was a day of firsts.

The biggest first was the opportunity for us to be in the presence of all of our sponsored children from Ghana at the same time.

It was also the first time we've met two of our children in person... 19 year old Victoria, and 7 year old Maaatta.

For several of the children, it was their first time traveling to Accra. We had made plans to meet at a marina/park in Accra for the day, so many of them traveled several hours to join us.

Although the twins have been together their entire lives, and Ato Sam and Tahameena have known each other their whole lives as well, the rest of our Ghanaian children would meet for the first time.

Photo Credit - Ato Sam

Tahameena saw live fish for the first time in the park's lake.

Ato Sam and Tahameena took their first paddle boat ride. They had never been on a boat of any kind before.

Ebenezer (left) and Ato Sam

Some of the sponsored children had never played in a playground, some of them tried swings, slides, merry-go-rounds and monkey bars for the first time.

Photo Credit: Caitlin

Jillian had her first horseback ride. (In Africa. Go figure!)

Our team member from the U.S., Caitlin, met her child Abigail for the first time.

I heard Maaatta laugh for the first time, and discovered that she had a twin sister.

I had my first opportunity to sit and talk at length with Ebenezer, the Director from the Compassion project in Enyan Abaasa.

Tahameena had her first chance to use a camera when I let her borrow my camera phone.

Ato Sam tried Will's Indiana Jones hat for the first time -- and kept it on all day.

I'm sure there are many more firsts I'm forgetting or not even aware of... but I'll end with one more:

It was also the first time I had no trouble narrowing down the hundreds of photos from today to only three favorites...

(Left to right: Tahameena, George (P), Victoria, Maaatta, George (K) and Ato Sam)

My besties, together!

My Ghanaian son, and his Canadian "mum"

Homes & Hospitality (Part 1)

When it comes to my knowledge of home visits, hosting and etiquette in North America, a few thoughts come to mind -- "all thumbs" and "oblivious" competing for first place on that list.

Leisurely visits with family, neighbors and friends is at the heart of the Acadian culture that I grew up in.  I was always fascinated watching my mama visit with people, an art form that she seemed to have perfected and enjoyed so much, but as an extroverted introvert with a strong underlying current of social anxiety who moved mid-childhood between two very different cultures, I feel all thumbs when it comes to visits, social etiquette and cultural expectations.

We had people from the mission team committee for a potluck a few summers ago, and someone asked for a steak knife.  I walked over to Will and whispered "Honey, what's a steak knife?  Which ones are those?  Do we have any?"

It skips a generation, it seems.  Or, at the least, it skipped me.  My mama always had people coming and going at her house almost every day, and was a mother hen to them all.  By contrast, I could count on one hand how many times we've had people over in the past 5 years.

It was a bittersweet moment in our house when our neighbor's washing machine broke down.  I jumped right in and invited them to use ours anytime they needed to.  My heart went out to them -- I know how frustrating (and expensive) it is when something breaks down, especially a washing machine in a household with children, but in the same breath, I was admittedly excited and fascinated at the thought that they'd be dropping by often, even if only for a short while.  I love our neighbors -- they're the kind of people that would end up coming over more than once even though I'm the world's worst host -- I don't offer coffee, since I don't have any, don't drink any, and wouldn't know how to make it... and would likely forget to even offer it.  I'd be so excited someone was in our house that my mind would just go blank.  [Ritalin is my friend]  They see past my awkwardness and love me in the midst of life being real.  Have I mentioned that I love our neighbors?

In my mind, Africa was different.  After all, it's the land of Hakuna Matata.  No worries, right?  Africa, a place where I can just relax and be myself and not worry about being all thumbs.

And then God giggled.

The Ghanaian culture (including the Akan culture in the Central Region where we spend the majority of our time) is particular about the do's and don'ts when it comes to social etiquette.  While I still somehow feel very, very relaxed, content, at peace and at home here, my "all thumbs" seem to have hitched a ride with me to Ghana.

Our schedule for today was anticipated to go at a pretty hectic pace.  Normally, we would do 2, maybe 3 home visits in one day.  Since we were visiting 3 of our children, along with 3 children sponsored by friends in the same town or area, we would be doing 6 visits today.  Deborah, our host from Compassion Ghana, would help us keep on track.

Sensing those "all thumbs" from a mile away, Deborah had to stop me a few times to explain the proper visit protocol for the Akan region.  First, prayer.  Second.... I already don't remember. Something about elders (I feel old in this heat, does that count?)... third...  possibly Ritalin.

Needless to say, Deborah was a Godsend.  She guided our conversations between our group and the sponsored children's families, and made us all feel at ease, helping translate for the elders who didn't speak English, or for the younger children who had not yet mastered the language or couldn't quite decipher our Canadian accents.

After a quick stop at the Greater Grace Community Library to take a closer look without the crowd from yesterday (or the distraction of Jillian passing out), we made our way to Ato Sam's home.

We hadn't yet seen his father during our time in Enyan Abaasa.  His father had badly broken his leg last June in a car accident and was still recovering.  A few minutes after leaving the Library, we pulled up to a dirt yard with a few trees, a small market stand, a school and a partially constructed building.

As I looked up, I saw a group of four houses facing each other over a common courtyard, and I recognized it right away.  This was Ato Sam's home.

I was so excited to finally be there and see his family, and so afraid I'd forget to ask the questions I had jotted down in fear of forgetting to ask them, that all the things I'd learned that morning about etiquette once again flew out the window.  Why was this so complicated for me?  I hope it was more amusing to them than offensive, but sometimes, I really wonder.

Deborah graciously and patiently explained the order we would follow once again, and I tried hard to pay attention to each name that I was introduced to, how to pronounce it, who the name belonged to, and how they were related to Ato Sam... and did I mention he has never really answered me as to how many people are in his family because it's too many to count?  By the time the introductions were done, I had forgotten what came next.

I had specifically chosen to sit by Ato Sam's mother, since I wanted to connect with her on a deeper level.  He has amazing parents.  His father is patient and kind, wise and educated, disciplined and hard working.   His mother is very loving, strong, and wise.  They are all struggling since his father has been unable to work because of his injury.  They still run their subsistence farm but had to add a market stall to supplement their income.  His mother has been bearing the majority of the added work and stress.  I was glad we had brought some groceries to help ease their burden, but it seemed like so little in the face of all they had faced in the past 9 months.  They seemed to be holding up well, though.  They have a strong faith and a strong support network in this community, including the Compassion program, and that has made a tremendous difference.

I was able to go through Ato Sam's entire Compassion program file, where every letter, school report, medical record, home visit, gifts and purchases is recorded.  His file was one of the biggest we'd see on this trip, mainly due to the large volume of letters and the length of time he'd been sponsored.  I even got a chance to see an older photo of him I had not seen before.

All too soon, given the full schedule ahead of us, it was time to go.  We presented them with some textbooks for the family to use, along with some other educational books.  We also gave Ato Sam an engraved Bible with a soccer ball cover, a Bible case, a great quality soccer ball our friend Gigi purchased for him, and a sturdy backpack that should last him through his years of university.  The family provided us with fresh bananas from their family and Tahameena's.  It was in this visit that I learned that Ato Sam and Tahameena, the other child I sponsor from Enyan Abaasa, are actually cousins.  Ato Sam's father is the sibling of one of Tahameena's parents.  Her mother, I think.  Wait... her father. I will blame my foggy mind on the heat.  That should explain everything for this entire trip.

As we took a few last photos, prayed together and said goodbye, Ato Sam took my hand and walked slowly with me to the van.  We reflected on the visit, and I shared with him how much of a blessing it was to spend time with his family, how proud I was of how well he was communicating, and that I appreciated getting to know his mother a little more.  I told him he was very blessed to have two great parents.  "I'm getting to know your mother more.  I really love her.  She's so strong and wise, but also tender and compassionate too.  She's a great mother, son."

He turned to me, still holding my hand.  "...  she is just like you, mum.  She is just like you."  <3 p="">

All too soon, we reached the van, where we climbed in and started making our way to Prince's house, a child sponsored by our friend Stephanie and her family.  We had visited Prince, his older brother and his mother when we were in Enyan Abaasa in 2011, and were eager to see how Prince had grown and how his family was doing. This would be our second of the 6 visits.

We walked down a familiar small open corridor between buildings, side stepping hens and chicks pecking for scraps, and made our way to their cozy courtyard.

Prince's oldest brother has moved away for work, but we were able to spend time with Prince and his mother as well as a few relatives and neighbors.  Prince is a very charismatic boy -- which is fitting, since both of Steph's girls are equally charismatic.  These two families are a perfect fit for each other -- strong, loving, kind, hard working, beautiful and with amazing personalities.  He has grown so much since the last time I saw him, but I recognized him right away and wrapped my arms around him in a big hug.

Prince and his beautiful mama.

We found seats in the shade inside the courtyard surrounded by doors leading into various rooms/homes, and followed Deborah's lead and exchanged greetings and information in the prescribed order, much as we would attempt to do once again in the next 4 visits.  I managed to avoid awkwardness somewhat, and even got some laughs when I turned to Prince and asked if he was working very hard to help his mama now that his older brother had moved away and Prince was now the "man of the house"?  He gave me a cheeky grin, and dramatically nodded his head, affirming that he was most helpful, while the twinkle in his eye completely contradicted his every attempt to convince us.  We all burst out laughing.  He and Jillian would make GREAT friends.

After presenting our gifts of groceries and a soccer ball to Prince and his mother, we took some group photos and a few photos of him and his mama, and I asked if he would be willing to say a few words to Steph and her family on video for them, since I really wanted them to hear his voice and see how sweet a boy he really is.  He did not hesitate one bit.

As we made our way back to the van after our visit, we ran into his lively grandmother, who wanted to shake our hands and have her photo taken.  Charismatic personalities run deep in this family!

From left to right:  Prince, his grandmother, and his mama

We asked Ato Sam to take on a mentorship role for Prince, now that Prince's brother had moved on, leaving Prince without an older male influence in their home.  He would need a good role model, an older brother to watch out for him and encourage him, and with Ato Sam being a great leader, it seemed like the perfect fit.

Ato Sam (blue shirt), Prince (striped shirt)

All too soon, it was once again time to say goodbye so that we would have time to move forward to the next 4 home visits.

It has been nearly 7 years since we began sponsoring Ato Sam, a decision that changed our lives and continues to.

He is one of five children we sponsor in Ghana, and our most prolific writer by far.  In fact, it was through Ato Sam's letters that we were inspired to action in 2011 for the child slave rescue mission, and again in recent years for the provision of a library in his community.  

Over the course of the last few photos that Compassion has sent me of Ato Sam, I noticed a growing disfigurement in his left jaw area.  At first, I brushed it off as the possibility that he'd had a tooth pulled and was experiencing some swelling, but as I continued to receive photos from time to time, it was apparent that something was seriously wrong.  He was reluctant to mention it in his letters (I suspect he didn't want to worry me) so I called Compassion and asked for a report on Ato Sam's health.

We received the report a short while ago.  Compassion Ghana has officially confirmed that Ato Sam's disfigured jaw is in part due to a tumor and a growth/enlargement on his jaw bone. 

He has been brought to the teaching hospital in the capital city of Accra several times for tests, scans and consultations. His family and Compassion leadership are very concerned.  To proceed with a surgery in Ghana this point would completely disfigure him without guarantee that his health would be restored, in fact, the doctors are not willing to operate on such a complex case.  The doctors are instead consulting specialists from outside Ghana in order to form a plan of action if at all possible. 

We booked our flights a few hours after we received the news.  Although we were awaiting for confirmation about flying to Ghana to see the library progress in person, this provided all the confirmation we needed.  We look forward to spending time encouraging Ato Sam, praying over him, affirming his value and the love we have for him, his family and the Compassion leadership team who are doing an excellent job advocating for his needs.

He has nicknamed me "My lovely mother I love you" in his native Fante language, to which I respond by calling him "Son of my heart".  He truly is like a son to me.  My mama heart just aches for my boy. 

Please pray as we continue to prepare for the trip, for Ato Sam's strength as he endures the ongoing health crisis, for the funding to complete the indoor plumbing and other needs for the Greater Grace Community Library, and for God to provide the doctors with the skills that Ato Sam desperately needs.

Greater Grace Community Library

It has been a long, long journey.

For years, I have prayed until my knees were raw and my prayers turned to groans, fully feeling the weight of this library on my heart and in my spirit, all while wrestling with feelings of inadequacy and loneliness more times than I can count.

At times, I have crawled, weary and tired and poured out until empty for this, and at other times, barely been able to sleep from the consuming passion in my heart to see this through.

Can I also lean in close and confess that I have also felt out of my mind more times than I care to admit?  Mostly because I felt that's what people's perception might be.  Really, what kind of person signs up for this, empty handed and against all odds?  I still don't know the answer to that question, and I may never know.  It doesn't matter -- all that matters is hearing the invitation, and responding.

For every time I felt as though I had lost my mind, I felt a hundredfold more certain that this was the path that was chosen for me, regardless of how it felt or how it looked... and that's what kept me going.  I didn't choose this as much as I was chosen for this, although I'm half convinced that I was only chosen because I was the only one crazy enough to say "Yes!!".  


For all that He has provided, in spite of my shortfalls and failures, my inadequacies, my limitations -- and for all that is yet to come -- I am grateful beyond measure.


Had I known how hard and sacrificial it would be, and how long it would take, would I have still said yes?   Even knowing what I know now, I have never been able to imagine saying no.  I would have been whimpering and on my knees, mind you, but the yes would have been there, because I know deep down that the cost of saying no would have been immeasurably higher than my yes every cost me.

The people of Enyan Abaasa would have missed out on this blessing...

And none of us could have watched this unfold out of His mighty hand and into reality.

He has done the seemingly impossible.  He has built this out of dust and dreams, mercy and grace, prayers and faith, sacrifice and surrender.

Dust and dreams breathed into life have never looked so beautiful.


It is an honor to introduce to you the Greater Grace Community Library, nestled in the heart of Enyan Abaasa...

The Grand Opening was held February 2nd, with the assistance of our friends from Books For Africa Library Project, who helped provide the more than 2200 books that currently line the shelves.  These God filled people with servants' hearts have been a tremendous answer to prayer, not only for books, but for support, prayer, encouragement and for bridging the communication gap between Canada and Enyan Abaasa throughout the past few months.

We will be bringing 600+ children's books with us when we travel to Enyan Abaasa in early March to see the library in person, meet Collins the librarian, and obtain a full progress report on what's been done and an assessment on what there is left to do (running water, washrooms, technology lab).  Stay tuned.


On behalf of Ato Sam and the people of Enyan Abaasa...  Thank you... thank you for your support and prayers.




Your will, Lord, for Your glory!

The Lord HAS Built The House

OK, technically, the Lord has built the literacy center!

Where were we? 

A few weeks ago, the literacy center exterior was done, but nothing else, and we were struggling to qualify for a free shipment of books. 

Qualifying meant that we had to get the interior mostly finished, including furniture/shelves and flooring by Christmas. We didn't know how long it would take for the people in Enyan Abaasa to receive the funds we sent at the end of October and November. Would they get the funds on time to purchase the materials and labor they needed to qualify, would they know what the priorities were in order to qualify? It seemed nothing short of impossible, to say the least, since we had no way to communicate this to the people in Enyan Abaasa efficiently.

God provided the idea of hiring a messenger to deliver the message to Enyan Abaasa in person about the opportunity for books through Books For Africa, and within a week, the people of Enyan Abaasa had risen to the challenge and fully qualified to receive the books. Nothing short of God's hand, there's no other way to explain it!!    

It is true -- so true -- "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain."  Psalm 127:1 God did in a mere week what we struggled for THREE years to accomplish.  Nothing is impossible for Him, and all is done in His time, not ours.

The literacy center construction is quickly wrapping up. The exterior is done, the interior has seen more progress in the last 3 weeks than I ever thought possible, including a cement floor, wall paint, bookshelves, finished ceilings and furniture.  The reward was worth it -- the books arrived in Enyan Abaasa last week -- 104 boxes totaling 2200 books, sorted and Dewey Decimal labeled!  We are SO thankful for the tremendous work God is doing through Kirt and Hilda Bromley and the Books For Africa Ghana Library Project ministry.  

The board member are preparing for the grand opening that is scheduled to take place February 2nd 2017. 

Less than a month, and the literacy center will be OPEN!!

The books they received did not have many children's books, so we are preparing to bring children's books with us when we travel to Ghana in late February or early March. God knew we would need children's books in large quantities, though, He prepared us! We had been collecting books since our return from Ghana in 2011, and had over 350 children's books collected. So far, with some skilled and strategic"Tetris Style" packing, that falls within our checked luggage allowance.

A glimpse of our collection of soft cover fiction books, not including chapter book collections for more advanced readers.  

We are currently working with a travel agency to see if we can obtain a humanitarian/mission airfare in order to save some out of pocket costs or increase luggage capacity.

We still need a bit more funding to finish the interior -- running water, indoor plumbing and a few odds and ends, and for the attached computer literacy center, but anything is possible -- it's astounding all that has fallen into place the past 3 weeks. God has provided beyond measure, in terms of funds, books, people, encouragement, resources, communication, and more.

Please continue to pray as we prepare to travel. We will use this blog along with a FB group (email Ghana@beyondmeasure for access) to post major updates and to share while we're away IF we have access to internet, or to post the stories from our time in Ghana when we return.

Specific prayer needs:

• Praying for travel logistics/planning - discernment, funding, team building, travel visa, immunizations, safety.
• Funds to completely finish the interior and provide for a librarian.
• Pray for Ato Sam's medical needs, as they look into the possibility of having him travel outside Ghana to receive the surgery and medical care he needs.
• That we will fully follow God in this, and not run ahead, or stray behind.
• Pray for the outreach ministry this literacy center will provide to the church in Enyan Abaasa as they serve their people's needs.

Your Will, Lord, For Your Glory!

If The Lord Does Not Build The House

From the beginning, although I knew that God would provide for the literacy center construction, I have to admit that when it came to filling the literacy center with books once the construction was completed, it felt as though I was staring at a blank page.  

I couldn't imagine it, couldn't visualize it, didn't know what we would do to obtain the books, what He had planned, how He would provide...   it was a complete mystery.  All I knew was that He was asking me to simply focus on the construction, and when the time came to fill the library, He would reveal His plan.  Well, maybe that's not all I knew -- I also knew that I felt completely inadequate for the task ahead and that was perhaps why He chose me for this yet again.  Like I said, a complete mystery.

In reality, it wasn't any different than any other callings He has placed upon my heart.  The child slavery rescue mission in 2011 was much the same -- I came to the table empty handed aside from my belief and understanding that God had promised it in full, and that it was my calling, my purpose.  I had no idea what we could do, individually or as a whole, that would ever amount to enough.  Picking up recycling bottles wouldn't be enough.  Neither would mowing lawns or selling photo sessions.  That's because the only "enough" was Him.

I have vivid memories from 2011 of how it felt when we were scheduled to leave for Ghana in 53 days and we had only managed to raise 12% of the $30,000 needed, not including travel costs.  

It looked impossible.  If we'd had a dollar for every person who had told us that we'd never reach our goal, well, we would have been much closer to reaching our goal!  We all felt it.  The pressure, the weight of the calling, the awareness of what stood in the balance for the children who were waiting to be rescued, and those who had been rescued and needed the resources we were gathering for them.  

The only reason I didn't get discouraged is because I knew from experience that God works best when we've come to the end of ourselves, when we've exhausted all other possibilities.  When the only success possible is the kind where He steps in and does the impossible.

He did just that in 2011 by providing the funds in full before we stepped foot on that plane, as He had promised, and in ways we can't explain to this day.  I still choke up when I think back to what we experienced that year when we simply said "Yes!" to whatever He would do through us and in spite of us.  

Before we left Ghana to come home, I gave Him that "Yes!" again, this time for the literacy center, and once again, I'm finding myself in that place where we are up against a wall, and the only success possible is the kind where He steps in and does the impossible.

I feel the pressure, the weight of the calling, the awareness of what stands in the balance.  I refuse to get discouraged, as I know that what He has started, He will finish, but I feel weak in the knees just trying to wrap my mind around this.  Maybe that's part of the problem -- I should stop trying to wrap my mind around this, because I know I can't.

Remember when I mentioned that at first, I did not know the logistics of getting the literacy center filled with books?  I didn't know, but now I do, and that's what has me completely bursting at the seems with excitement, and trembling at the knees when I see the gap between where we are, and where we need to be to receive these books for the literacy center.

A short while ago, I came across a book that caught my attention.  It was a book about a Christian couple whose calling was to create a non-profit that would provide books to rural communities in Ghana.  (I know, I was speechless for a good long while as I read this book and could relate so much to their ministry!)  The communities interested in receiving books had to fund and construct a library with certain specifications, including having a minimum of 300 linear feet of bookshelves, a board of directors to oversee the library, the library being available to the entire community, and someone that could be trained to become the community's paid librarian.  Once the community met those qualifications, they could apply on a first come, first serve basis, with preferences given to rural libraries, and if accepted by this non-profit organization, they could receive a large shipments of books all sorted by the Dewey Decimal System, with a variety of books from all the different categories, and proper training.    

As I read the last page, I felt as though I'd been holding my breath.  

FIVE YEARS.  

FIVE YEARS, I prayed for God to provide a way for the books to be brought into Enyan Abaasa somehow.  

Five years of not knowing how God would provide, and as I finished reading this book, I knew.  

I flipped to the beginning of the book again, and realized that since the book had been written in 2013, there was a possibility that they were no longer providing books.  I pleaded with God as I did some research, "Please, Lord, if there is any way..."  I found some information, and reached out to them, providing information about our calling to help provide a literacy center to the community of Enyan Abaasa, and received the confirmation that they are still in a position to provide for one last library this coming spring while they are in Ghana.

To be clear, after years of providing books to libraries throughout Ghana, they are only planning on providing books for one last library in the foreseeable future, so that they can focus instead on supporting the libraries that have already been established through their ministry. Having read about their experiences, I completely understand and support their decision to focus on the libraries they have already established until the Lord directs them otherwise.  

When they received my email about the literacy center, they encouraged us to apply as soon as possible, preferably by December, since this will be their last library provision.  However, in order to apply and qualify, we must include with our application photos of finished bookshelves, along with the list of board of directors, and plans on how the librarian's salary will be provided for. The first community to apply and qualify will receive the last of the book resources they have at their warehouse.  They have confirmed that they have just what we need in terms of books (and exactly what we prayed for!!!), and that the literacy center has many things going in its favor in terms of being well supported, but until we provide proof of bookshelves being completed and fulfill the other requirements, we are at risk of losing our opportunity to receive this immense blessing, this precious shipment of books. 

The challenge is time, funds, and, well, bookshelves.  Bookshelves?  Why is that so complicated?

Given that we're in the midst of fundraising and haven't reached the required funds yet to start the interior work, we're simply not ready - the bookshelves haven't been started yet.   I can probably guess what you're thinking -- how long does it take to build bookshelves?   It may not take long to build bookshelves, but it takes a lot longer to raise the funds to provide for the bookshelf material and the labor, it takes 4-6 weeks minimum for them to receive the funds and our instructions, and if they understand that we need photos of the bookshelves and they send the photos to us, it will still take another 4-6 weeks for the photos to reach us.  

As of today, October 12th, we have raised 8.25% ($751) of the funds needed to finish the interior of the literacy center.  

In order to get the shelves started so that they can be built and photographed for the application process, we need to have at least $2000 raised and sent without delay along with instructions for the bookshelves and the need for the bookshelves to be built first.  Sending $4000 would be even better, as they could make more progress as we raise the rest, and work on the tables, benches, floors, plumbing and electricity.  (We always try to send the funds in $2000 increments, since $2000 is the limit per transaction for this project, and we are limited to two transactions per year).

I feel so utterly overwhelmed by the sense of relief at the answer to our prayers, the gratitude in being called to do this, all while all at the same time, the sense of the impossibility of it all.  With one simple communication or transaction taking 4-6 weeks or longer, and with us not quite having reached the initial $2000 for the first transaction... the timing looks nothing short of impossible.  

Have I mentioned that it's October?

This is the point in which my kids would say "can't.even".  I'm tempted to join them, but I can't, and won't -- this is not impossible for the God we serve, the God who has promised us that He would see this through.  In fact, my heart knows that place that seems impossible is typically when God shows up in all His glory and everything falls into place at the touch of His hand.

So, yes, I know that God's got this -- He alone can do this...  but it still requires something of me, and I'm willing, if only I knew how!

I know from His word that if the Lord Himself does not build the house (or library, as it were), then those who build it labor in vain.  Psalm 127:1 

The Lord HAS built this literacy center.  He IS finishing it.  We have NOT labored in vain.

That being said, I have reached the end of me -- I honestly do not know how to take the next step, in which direction, what to do or how...  and so I am doing the one thing I know to do...  ask you to join me in prayer and in action.  Prayer for the Lord to light our steps as He promises to, for me to have the clarity to see the ways He lights my steps (because sometimes I don't see too well!), for the funds to come together miraculously and in time, for communication to be fast and efficient, for Him to provide His people to come alongside of us, help us on this calling, and help see this through.  

There's room at His table -- won't you join us?

 

JD

Ghana@beyondmeasure.me

Update: It's a baby..........

In a recent post, I shared the exciting news about the new Child Survival Program sponsorship available for moms and babies from Rwanda, Bolivia and Bangladesh. This sponsorship program is unique in that it can begin before the birth, continue through infancy, and then transfer to the Child Sponsorship program once the child reaches the age of 3. It gives a whole new meaning to lifelong relationship!

In the profile I had been sent, the information on the baby hadn't been included because at the time the profile was created, the baby hadn't yet been born.

A quick call to Compassion today solved that issue...

It's a..... BOY!!!!

And he is Oh-So-PRECIOUS! Look at his sweet face!!

This sweet boy was born on April 29th, 2011, and his name is Nyibisubizo. I dare say his name probably translates to PRECIOUS in any language, really! Oh, those cheeks!

If you're interested in sponsoring this precious boy and his mom through this amazing sponsorship opportunity, or if you'd like more details on the new CSP Sponsorship Program, please let me know. (JD at BeyondMeasure dot me)

Never Underestimate

It has been said that the words can build up or destroy, that the tongue has the power of life and death. In one sentence, we hold the choice to criticize and condemn, or encourage and uplift.

Since words are a reflection of the contents of our hearts, if our words do not point to Him, perhaps it is wiser to silence ourselves until our hearts are changed lest we are held accountable to the destruction we will cause -- seen or unseen.

It's not unthinkable that our words and lives may be the most powerful resource we have as witnesses to Christ. What do our words say about Who we serve? Who do they point to, ourselves, or Him?

By using words that honor Him, we are a light in this broken world, a positive difference that builds up, encourages, teaches and leads. It's much more than words, but how we live our lives -- words not lived are empty words.

Ato Sam, our Compassion son from Ghana, beautifully illustrated how crucial words are to every relationship we're entrusted with. In the letter we received from him tonight (another 6 pages!), he shares the following treasure:

"He said that he thanks God for not allowing your enemy to overcome you. He says he was astonished about what you have told him. He says that this shows him that God truly exists. Ato adds that he now knows that with God, all thing are possible and he would join you in battle to win over the enemy."

Not allowing satan to overcome me, not giving in to fear and disbelief... caused a boy on the other side of the world to believe that God truly exists. There was no way of knowing that what God led me to share with Ato Sam in my letter to him would present itself as proof that He exists...

Now, how will I find the words to tell him how blessed I am that the heart and life of a child of such tender years, a child I haven't yet met, has helped shape my life and encouraged and fueled my faith? I have only known this ten year old boy through his words, and I feel a great responsibility to let him know that his words have had a tremendous impact on me, that through his words, my life has been changed for the better, my faith has been fueled, my love has grown...

God will give me the words Ato Sam needs to hear. Again. He has, and will continue to do so. I must simply continue to seek Him and surrender to Him.




How have you used your words to heal, to uplift, to share Christ, to give joy today?

Proof of Answered Prayers

Five years' worth of letters and love, support and encouragement, prayers and praises... five years that had changed our lives completely.



I had always prayed we would someday meet any of the children we sponsor, and here we were, across from the one we had sponsored the longest. A mere twenty steps would close the gap and allow me to wrap my arms around her and tell her how much she is loved.


Our team was standing off to the side of the water park entrance, and the kids came in and stood off to the side across from us. I saw her as the children were brought in, but I was somewhat unsure at first. Although I knew it was her, it was hard to reconcile the solemn photos I had stared at for years with the radiantly sunny face I had a glimpse of that morning. The photos didn't do her justice, she was a stunningly beautiful young lady, so tall, so... real!



We were all beside ourselves with anticipation, it could tangibly be felt. What would this be like, would it be awkward or would it feel as though we'd known each other for years? Would they be shy or excited?

Once we were all ready, the leaders would call out one sponsor's name, and then the sponsor's child would be called and the child, along with a family member, someone from Compassion and a translator would join the sponsor. That meeting spot, the big blue star on the ground, that was the spot where prayers were answered.



When my name was called, I wandered over to the meeting spot and waited, and the world around me completely faded. A few more seconds, and I would be able to wrap my arms around this girl whose family we had prayed for and loved for over five years, this girl God had used to change my life...


The only thing missing was my mom, who sponsors Bessy with me... she would have loved to be there in that moment.


I've been compared to Tigger a few times, so I did my best to put the Tigger side of me into a virtual straightjacket so as not to overwhelm her... I gave her a big hug, hugged her mom and her Compassion rep, and we stepped off to the side to get to know each other a little in person.

After a bit of an introduction, I explained that I was here on behalf of both my mom and I, told them what had led me to Honduras, and how hard it had been to not let her know in advance that I was going to meet her. I recounted the story of how the sponsorship started, the day I first saw the photograph of a sweet and solemn three year old girl in a pink shirt, jean overalls and the longest, most beautiful pigtails. That's when I knew... that was our Bessy... and here she was, sitting beside me, with her mom across from me. What an amazing gift.




Her mother had heard the story in our letters, but it was worth recounting again, this time she could hear my voice, hear the emotion as I recalled what had joined our families together.


She told me how much she appreciated our letters, she felt the love we had for the Lord and for their family, and that it had really touched her heart to get to know us through our letters. She explained that Bessy was normally really shy, but she had been so excited about this trip she had been sick to her stomach from the anticipation.


I learned that they embarked on a bus the previous morning around 8am, and only arrived in the city around 6:30pm. It was hard to imagine the lengths they went through to share this day with me, I was so thankful for this precious gift.


Bessy gave me three crafts she had made at school for my mom and I, and I gave her a bathing suit to use for the day. I learned that she had never owned a bathing suit, never been swimming or been in a pool. She was ready to experience it all!!


We went and changed, found a table in the hut to put our stuff, and she and I ventured out into the pool. The weather was perfect, not too hot, perfect sun, perfect weather for a pool day.

Our translator, Daniel, was a lot of fun. He helped break the ice as we all played with a beachball. Bessy was a bit hesitant to venture out further in the pool at first, so she held my hand and we wandered off to explore the rest of the pool area. I loved that she held my hand, she held it so gently, but so full of trust. She didn't say much, but she was smiling from ear to ear, it was such a beautiful sight.

We talked, I asked a bunch of questions, she answered them, and once in a while would throw me a question. In no time, we got some quiet giggles, then a few hearty laughs. It sounded like heaven.




We took a break for lunch, and she was almost too excited to eat. I got to spend some more time with her mom, as well as with the Compassion rep. That's when I learned about her village's transformation from the church's Compassion program. I was in awe... I had no idea!

I also had a chance to talk to the Compassion Rep by herself when Bessy and her mother excused themselves to use the washroom. I told her a little more about my life, my story, my faith, and invited her to share it with Bessy's mom at a later time when the opportunity arose.


We had brought gifts for the children, as it was our only chance to bring something for them beyond what we could normally mail to them. I had brought a backpack filled with stuff for Bessy and her sister, Evelyn, as well as a suitcase full of stuff for them to bring back and give to the Compassion project.


The first thing I gave her was her Bible and her doll. She grabbed the doll, hugged her and a smile that rivaled the sun shone across her face... I looked at her mom, and her mom had tears in her eyes. I couldn't understand what Bessy was saying, so I asked the translator, and he explained that Bessy had always believed in God, but now she believed in miracles and answered prayers, she was holding the proof in her arms... Bessy's mom explained further by telling me that Bessy had prayed for a doll from the time she learned how to pray, and this was the very first doll she had received. An answer to prayer.



I tried to hold back the tears, but I'm not sure I succeeded. Eight years old... first doll... most toddlers in North America had more dolls than they knew what to do with. I knew this was different, that this child would appreciate her doll and take great care of her.

I showed her the rest of the things I brought for her, including a skipping rope that she had just told me she wanted, and a large box of Crayola Pip-Squeaks for her and her sister to share. Her mom was so excited as it would give her daughters many options for activities to keep them busy and give her some rest, especially the markers, which would lead to some quiet time. Apparently, her youngest daughter Evelyn is, shall we say "very rambunctious"? I understood -- some things are universal :)


Bessy's mom talked some more about the benefits of the Compassion program, beyond the entire community having been positively impacted by the departure of the gangs. When Bessy started to come to the project, she suffered from asthma and was very sick. In little time, her asthma symptoms completely disappeared. She was healthier than she'd ever been, and has been perfectly healthy since.


I learned that her younger sister, Evelyn, also has a sponsor. Her father is not a Christian, but he is a great father and loves his family very much. He was worried and called earlier that day to make sure that they'd gotten there safe, and that Bessy had finally gotten to meet me. So sweet. Evelyn was sad about not being able to come too, but was so happy for Bessy.


I was glad that the clothes I brought, including a smaller bathing suit, would fit both Bessy and Evelyn, that was a sweet surprise.


After a while, we headed back to the pool area to take advantage of some sun and some fun, and the rest of the day seemed to fly by. All too soon, it was time to wrap up the day, get changed, and gather up in the meeting area.


It was hard for my heart to feel heavy with sadness when it also felt so buoyed with joy. I had been so incredibly blessed. Still, I warned them that we had been told that it would be best for us not to cry, so as not to alarm the children or make them think that they'd done something wrong or that we were disappointed. Bessy's mom and I laughed, telling each other that there was little chance that the two of us wouldn't cry! Ahhh, no wonder we got along so well! :)



As we prepared to say goodbye, I asked Bessy's Mom and Maria, the Compassion rep, to each take a turn to pray out loud. I had expected the translator to translate, but he didn't, and I don't think he could have... it was a God-send, because the Holy Spirit translated it for me. I have never, ever witnessed a more passionate, spirit led, beautiful and awe-inspiring prayer... It was an experience that touched me profoundly and one I will never, ever forget. These women were prayer warriors, and I felt once more humbled to be in their presence. Powerful moment... words won't do it justice, it had to be experienced.

I asked Bessy what she'd like in her letters, and she asked if I could send her a photo of a bunny, maybe a white bunny if I could... and another Cinderella coloring book. I promised that I would try.



I walked side by side with her as we went back to the gate, carrying her backpack while she carried her doll, and with each step, we were closer to saying goodbye. After many hugs, photos and valiant attempts to hold back the tears, I told them how much I had appreciated the time God gave me with them, how much I appreciated the blessing of sponsoring this amazing little girl, and how blessed I felt to consider them all family. I told them I would continue to pray, especially for the salvation of Bessy's father, and they promised to pray for my husband as well. Another international powerhouse of prayer...


I managed to hold it together, I don't know how... especially when she blew me a kiss, and blew one while I photographed it for my mom.


All too soon, I found myself on the bus, completely in awe of the time He had given me to spend with them.



The doll wasn't the only proof of answered prayers.