Here we are at the end of another memorable day. First, my apologies for my typos and fast typing. The connection is ultra slow and the key board not familiar! Our big bus came and got us with Nana at 8:30 and we headed for the Buduburam Refugee camp. It took almost 2 hours to get there - many, many other churches, especially pentacostal having services as we drove by. We are amused and bemused by the names of many of the shops. Here is a sample of what we saw this morning: His Grace Fast Food God is Great Estate Agent God Knows Mobile God Loves Beauty Salon or alternatively If God Says Yes Salon Temple of Food (Jesus is Winner) In God We Trust Auto Parts King of King Drums Works Jesus Never Fails Fashion Salon - and Redemption Fashion Jesus is Lord Upholstery Your Will Be Done Electrical God's Grace Bicycle Repair God si Great Sokoo (have to find out that a sokoo is!) Amen Driving Institute Everything by God Upholstery Service Clap for Jesus Allah is Great Food Joint Not I But Christ Fahsion God First Specializing in Door Repairs ... Plumbing ... Machinery Service And on and on! It is wonderful to have faith so close as hand all around. Agnes, one of the MYF workers traveling with us to the camp today, said that the names sometimes reflect the difficulty the shop keeper had in getting financing - for instance, God is Just or if it was easy, God is Gracious. Our John Yambasu who is our missionary host's son John said that the names of the churches are even more remarkable. I was beginning to notice them but the road was so bumpy and I had to write so fast I couldn't get them down.
That is what we're going to do on Wednesday when we go back to the camp to deliver the cases of school supplies. The church service was worth the drive and more. There were probably 60 or so worshiping with us and the most amazing choir imaginable. If anyone has been to here the Northwestern Ensemble do their annual gospel show you would have a glimmer of the music. Several of us took video so we will be able to share. The sermon was on Jeremiah, to paraphrase, do not be afraid, stand firm and God will go with you wherever you go. The message what to the refugees who have been told by the Ghanaian government that they must return to Liberia and many do not want to return or cannot afford to return. It was a lively, beautiful service. Many people came up after and shook our hands. We took a short walk around the camp - the houses are small but made of cement and many people are offering services to others in the camp, small shops, photography, computers, telephone service. Hardly anyone is employed and only about 30% of the children are in any kind of schooling. There will be more to tell on Wednesday. We are going to go and repack the crates now for delivery. Joanna is going early tomorrow to a place past Kumasi to visit another mission site to make a report back to the U.S. We will go to work at the center. Lots to do there. Comfort, the woman cooking for the Ghanaian workers has promised to show us how to make 'gravy' - which is red chillies, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger and is served with every meal. I put it on my veg pizza at lunch and had Ghanaian pizza! It's delicious!!! We are also looking into fully equipping the kitchen at the center.
It wasn't on our original plan but it is only a large (30 x 30?) empty room at the moment with braziers on the floor so it would improve things enormously. I've gone on long enough! Blessings to all. We hold you in our prayers as well. Cate
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Hi Cate, and the rest of the team. Its Monday morning here Nora and I have just finished our morning prayers where again we held you all up in our prayers. It sure sounds as if you are having a great time. Yesterday was a good day in church, the Central College Choir from Pella Iowa was in our service, about 65 voices strong they sang a nice variety of music including a gospel selection that really 'rocked.' I preached a sermon that Nora said showed that I had been listening to Marcus. I thought perhaps he had been listening to me! Over the weekend we actually had a bit of snow mixed with rain but today is bright and sunny with a high predicted to be around 60 degrees. We are getting ready for the ASP dinner on Saturday, it looks as if we will have about 170 guests so that will be a nice day and we'll miss you. Be safe
Hello to all! Thank you so much for posting these delightful descriptions of your trip so that we can share in it at least a little! As Dean said, we really had church yesterday! It was thrilling to see so many young people come down our aisle in the choir and their singing was powerful. Dean's sermon was good, as always. Then I went to the final meeting of the General Conference delegation where we spent over an hour considering what it means to be a world wide church with different cultural values and practices and one faith! Your experiences speak right to that topic! Thank you. Blessings...
Dean and Margaret Ann have given you a good idea of worship yesterday. The choir was wonderful. Ron Anderson gave a good presentation at 9:15: Ignatius of Loyola, the examen, and the way John Wesley incorporated Ignatius' ideas in his rules. There was a good number in the class. Our prayers continue to be with you. Looking forward to your next entry.
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