But now, I'm beginning to understand.
Finding time to write is an enormous factor here. There are many reasons. We are on the "go" most of the time. Additionally, our home is without power often causing a new challenge. Our Internet credit rapidly decreases as we upload photos, and sometimes our server is down. There always seems to be hurdles to jump in order to post something on our blog. I am also realizing that honestly, sometimes it takes me several days (or weeks) to process into words what I am experiencing. I think our entire family feels that way.
This past weekend was a weekend filled with challenges and praises. We were helping with two outreach events in dark areas. We sent an email to some friends asking for prayer covering. We needed it. For those of you who emailed your encouragement and prayer support, please know that we read them all!! Thank you. Your support was tremendous and we believe YOUR PRAYERS affected the events of this weekend leading many to Christ. We faced numerous challenges with travel and equipment, but the Lord revealed Himself to many and we were all kept safe from harm.
On Friday in we traveled to Village D for a full day of celebration, medical outreach and a gospel presentation to the people. It was a day to truly celebrate all that the Lord is doing here.
Our day started with an extravagant ceremony dedicating the new well. Drums, dancing, and testimony to our Lord filled the morning. (I will save you from having to see pictures of me trying to do the African dance where you flap your arms like a chicken... Let's just say, I attempted it, and made many people laugh hysterically! Oh embarrassing!)
Righ, Sydney and Keenan Oleary were in country to join in the dedication. Additionally, the three FTO volunteers (Amanda, Diane, and Katie) were also part of the memorable day. Feeding the Orphans provided the finances and Meaningful Life International co-ordinated the drilling. It was a picture of partnership bringing two organizations from opposite sides of the world together for God's purposes. This was the first well provided through Feeding the Orphans Change for Change campaign. What a joy to see it dedicated and in operation!
Righ cut the ribbon with the village chief, then Reid and Righ pumped the first bowl of water. As the water poured from the spicket, tears flowed from my eyes. Seeing these two men standing side by side here in Ghana pumping fresh water was like a dream come true. God has called Reid and Righ out from their comfortable lives into lives built on trust and obedience. These two men lead their families by faith, and I stood amazed to see them bringing living water into this village standing together. They have spurred one another on toward lives truly lived for the sake of the Kingdom. Today was a culmination of our years of friendship with the Oleary family. What a blessing!
There was a line of women at the well all day long drawing water. Some are still forced to walk over a mile with the water on their heads, but this clean water will sustain them and keep them healthier than before.
Last month, I blogged about some of our struggles here. Village D was one of the villages I blogged about. Knowing the battle we were stepping into, I sent the email below to some friends asking for prayer covering. To help you gain a glimpse into this village, I am sharing with you a portion of the email:
In Village D, there are shrines in front of every home for the idols. It's a very, very hopeless place. No church presence, the one that was in the area has been abandoned. Children are ridden with parasites and worms. No visible form of income other than farming and weaving kente cloth. However, we are dedicating the well (FTO provided and MLI coordinated the drilling) on Friday night, then showing the Jesus Film. This will be the first movie most people have seen in this village. The mud huts will surround the screen Friday night. Children here are petrified of white people because they have never seen white skin. Please pray for God to move on hearts Friday night. Reid is headed there tomorrow to help with the groundwork for Friday night. It is a long drive, and the last time we visited this village we were stopped by police five times with an arrest threatened. Oh, the battle is real...
Everyone here needs your prayer covering - even a fast on Friday or Saturday would be encouraged. We are asking you to pray specifically for -
1.) Souls to be touched by Jesus, and lives to be transformed by His Truth
2.) A full restraining of our enemy from having any freedom during these outreaches. May He not distract people from the Truth in any way. May He also not have any power to keep people from coming whom God has planned to be there.
3.) For God's Spirit to reign down for His Glory alone
4.) For our words, actions, thoughts to be only from Him
5.) For protection for everyone involved with the outreaches (before, during, and after the events)
Psalm 115 is the passage Reid used for family devotions this morning. It provides a great leading for you as you pray for these two Outreaches. We are grateful for your prayers. We know the Lord hears them and answers. By praying, you are engaging in the most powerful work for lives to be transformed by Christ. We need your help in the spiritual battle. Please fight in the war for souls through your prayers.
To Your Name Give Glory
115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
9 O Israel,[a] trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
14 May the Lord give you increase,
you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
16 The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!
After Friday night, we were able to send this praise report to those praying at home. this will give you a glimpse into the challenges faced here to bring the gospel to the outlying areas.
Dear Prayer Warriors,
I wanted to send you a brief update to THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYER
COVERING! We are rejoicing this morning over TWENTY new lives saved
by the power of Jesus Christ!! THANK YOU FOR BATTLING FOR THESE
SOULS!!
We faced challenge upon challenge yesterday. There was difficulty
regarding our departure so we left over two hours late - arriving to
many who had been waiting for us since morning. We had an amazing
dedication of the well complete with drums and dancing. We
distributed medicine for worms, parasites, ringworm, and malaria
(because of the generosity of a little boy in Knoxville, Timohty
Lumsdaine), and then began the preparations for the Jesus Film and
invitation.
Challenges met us again as we began to prepare. The tire on our van
had to be changed, then the dvd of the film would not be read by our
computer. After several hours of searching for a computer in the
remote area - one arrived by motorcycle! AND, as a specific answer to
prayer, we were not charged for the use of it! The film started an
hour later than scheduled, but the 94 who remained were blessed.
TWENTY RECEIVED CHRIST AT THE INVITATION GIVEN BY THE PASTOR!
TWENTY!! Additionally, we were stopped by the police several times
going and returning home, but every time we were allowed to go without
a bribe! Thank you for your prayers!
We arrived home to no power, but it has returned this morning! We are
headed out to Village N in a few minutes, so please continue to pray. We
rejoice with you over the great work our God is doing! We can FEEL
the POWER of your prayers. THEY ARE COVERING US and we are grateful!!
Thank you!!
"For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine our of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ,"
2 Corinthians 4:5-6
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