I just realized that the last time I posted, it was to the wrong blog. You can click here for our previous update.

Yesterday (Mon) we went to Tarikpaa village and did evangelism with about 300 school children. I've never seen kids (ours and theirs) have so much fun together! We divided the children into 3 groups. Group 1 heard Bible stories using puppets. Group 2 sang their hearts out and Group 3 played football (soccer) using the Evangeball. After about 30-45 min, we rotated the groups.

In the afternoon, Cheryl had the opportunity to meet with the women at the village well and tell them the Biblical story about the woman at the well. Good stuff. Incredible, actually.

Today (Tues) was Healthcare Registration in Sankpem village. We registered 300 people for national healthcare. In addition, the team divided into three groups and went with translators to the homes of those being registered and told them the story of Jesus.

Two of our team members heard about a widow in a neighboring village who was very very poor. She has 5 children, and the oldest (a boy) is sick. The team members met with her and have provided funds for healthcare registration for the entire family. In addition, the 2 team members will provide funds for the children to attend school. The costs are very minimal.

We are having a wonderful time and no one wants to go home! We depart at 7:30am Thursday for Accra. Tomorrow in Accra we will go to the Market and then we will go visits Beacon House Orphanage.

On Friday, the team will visit Pastor Mohammed's home church in Agbogbloshie. This will be a very difficult thing for the team, so pray that God would prepare our hearts, minds and eyes for the experience. This is a Dagomba village, that is literally built on a dumping group. There is no sewer system or electricity. The people are beyond poor. We are going there to help encourage and strengthen the church.

The team departs from Accra for home late Friday evening. Please pray for a safe journey.

Team 2 will arrive Thursday afternoon (depart USA Wed aft), so please pray for them as well.

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. It has been such a wonderful journey and I know that each team member will have many stories to share.

We will be posting pictures of Team 1 and updating the mission for Team 2 in the days to come, so check back.

Interesting and exciting day!

Saturday started with a trip to Kushibu and of course a first stop with the new chief. The chief had just been "enskinned" or installed, and he received the team, so all is well. Maybe more than well for some. He would not speak directly to team, he said that Colton would be his mouthpiece.

He also noticed that there are several girls on the team. He said that two of them could be his wives. Cheryl can choose. Cheryl hasn't yet decided who the lucky brides will be.

The team also spent time at the Heritage Baptist Church and went to see a demo of the grinding mill. These two things are landmarks for the people in this region and examples of God's work when we are obedient.

Next the team went back to Tamale and went the cultural center (market). Get ready mom and dad, Caleb and Cameron have purchased their machetes.

In the evening the team went to Sankpem for the first crusade. The movie "HOPE" was shown. At least 10, maybe 12 people accepted Christ.

Before returning to Tamale, the team ate Ghanaian food in Sankpem. They had Tizit with groundnut and okra soup. Try to find that on the dollar menu!

The end to a long but great day.

Team Tamale

After arriving in Tamale, the team was taken to our home for the week, The Seed Ministry. We are so blessed to be with Rev. Bob and Mom Bonnie Parker. They are spoiling us and we love it!

Thursday Update
After unpacking, the team was taken on a driving tour of Tamale, a large city of about 700,000. We enjoyed a lunch of chicken and dumplings and sweet tea ( I told you we were being spoiled!). Afterward, we went to see our friend, Pastor Tia, at the Ghana Bible Society. Not only did we hear the incredible story of how the entire Bible was translated into the Dagbani language, we had the privilege of seeing the original manuscript, which took over 20 years to translate. We also had the opportunity to purchase Dagbani Bibles.

Later in the afternoon, we went to Anfaani Orphan Home. Oh my goodness, I don't even have the words to describe how wonderful it was to see and hold the children. I'd love to post pictures but, due to a super slow connection, that won't happen until we get home. There are 8 children there now. We got to see Baby Grace. She is about a month old and weighs less than five pounds, but praise God, she is doing well. She is eating and sleeping normally. One of our team members, Tayler Insuaste, got to spend a lot of time with Nathan, her sponsored child. He was introduced to her as her new brother. Tayler picked him up and he snuggled right up to her and went sound asleep. She's a good big sister. All of the team members enjoyed holding and playing with the children. The children were a little shy at first, mainly because of our white skin, but it didn't take long for them to warm up to us. We left there knowing we had been blessed.

Friday Update
Wow, what a day we have had! We woke up to the most beautiful African morning, with birds singing in a giant Kapok tree situated in the middle of the compound. We enjoyed a home cooked breakfast of eggs and toast and then headed out to the village of Karanga meet Mukarimatu Alabani, who is the World Vision sponsored child of the Wilkinsons. This little girl was precious in every way. She was so excited to receive the gifts we took her, especially the soccer ball. Right before we departed, she stood up and sang a song for us. So cute!

We ended our day with a tour of the Savelegu/Nanton World Vision Headquarters where we visited our friend, Simon, the director. It was wonderful to see the mailroom full of letters from sponsors in the US. World Vision is who they say they are and they do what they say they do.

On our way back to Seed Ministry, I received a phone call telling me that our 11 supply boxes arrived. Praise God! Pastor Mohammed rode through the night on a bus to bring them to us and we thank God for him.

I am now at the home of Rev. Pat and Mom Peggy Ozment to sort the boxes while the team went on to Seed Ministry to rest and have dinner. There is no internet at Seed Ministry, so postings may be few and far between.

Tomorow we will visit Kushibo, home of Heritage Baptist Church. We will meet the new chief and also see the grinding mill for the first time. Of course, we won't be able to leave there without visiting the schoolchildren.

Tomorrow night is our first crusade. It is in Sankpem village, where most of our ministry will be. We will be showing the movie "The Hope". Please pray for God to move in a mighty way among these village people. This is the village that desperately needs a water well, but more than that, they need living water.

We will try and post more later. Thank you for praying. Everyone is well and good.

Arrival in Tamale, Ghana, West Africa

Wednesday pm (US time) - Team arrived safely in Accra, Ghana. Everyone and everything (all boxes and luggage) made the trip without incident. If you count your blessings ONE-by-ONE, you are now up to 39 (14 safe missionaries, 14 pieces of luggage and 11 boxes of supplies).

Team will be in bed by 9:00 and will get up at 4:30 to take the next leg on to Tamale. Great start to a wonderful trip.

Thursday am (US time) - Team has now made it to Tamale. Flight was smooth (and on a big plane, 50 seater). Everyone is well and no one seemed nervous about the flights.

Team took a tour around Tamale upon arrival. They will go to Ghana Bible Society and the orphan home this afternoon. Please pray for baby Grace. She is about a month old and about 5 pounds. She is struggling to survive.

Pat and Peggy met the team at the airport as well as other Ghanian friends. Lots of hugs and kisses with renewal (and new beginnings) of friendships.

Baby Grace Update

Baby Grace is out of the hospital and doing better, but she still has a long way to go, which means we still have a lot of praying to do.

Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for Grace.

Baby Grace

Please pray for Baby Grace. She is three weeks old and just arrived at the orphan home. She is very weak and not doing well.



Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" Jer. 32:27

Baako's Bicycle

A few weeks ago a woman I know sent a card. Inside was $100 and this message:

......... buy a bicycle with the money and find someone that needs a bicycle and will ride the wheels off going to tell the people about Jesus.

This is Baako and his new bicycle. He preaches in as many as 10 villages and he always had to borrow a bike.....until now.

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Rom. 10:15