Outreach in Shai Hills

This Saturday morning, everyone (well, the staff and older kids) here at CORM loaded into the bus and headed for a church in Shai Hills to do a community outreach event. It was a short trip, because we are only a few miles away from the church. The event was a partnership between City of Refuge and the church's pastor, Rev. George Gbeki, and was primarily focused on children. Two CORM volunteers who are working on internships planned the event, and we all helped wherever we were needed. We started by checking all the kids in according to age groups, and gave them wristbands so that they could receive lunch. Then we had songs and worship for the kids, and worked on memorizing the theme scripture, which was 2 Corinthians 5:17 -"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come."
Then Robert and Aaron, both teens at CORM, gave the morning message, sharing about Saul's conversion on the Damascus Road, and how knowing Jesus makes us a new creation. Both of the boys say they want to be pastors, so it was really neat to see them get to start living out their calling!
Then we broke them into their age groups (as best we could!) and began passing out meals. We had enough food for 300, but knew we would be short because we used up the 300 wristbands well before all the kids arrived. It was hard having to turn kids away, but it happens often at this kind of event because it is just so hard to know how many kids to expect. I believe there was easily 400 or more, and probably at least another 100 adults. 
The main thing is that we were able to share with them the Gospel of Jesus, and show them the love of Jesus as well.
Cayle

As the bus was taking us to the outreach, Kassidy commented on the houses we passed on the way. She commented that most of them were "mud huts". She was right and it was a good opportunity to talk about how blessed we are at City of Refuge. Our home here is simple by many people's standards, but so much more than most in this country can afford. 
Many of our school children come from the Shai Hills community. Some of our teachers. as well, and it was good to see faces faces that we recognized and have little ones give us sweet hugs. I was helping with the 3-5 yr. olds and as we started worship, one of the little boys in my group was crying pretty hard. I asked a couple of children (that could understand me) to ask him what was wrong. I hesitated to touch him or pick him up as some of the children at the outreach seemed afraid of the obrunis or foreigners. (This is one reason I think it's a great idea to have our teens from CORM to help with outreaches.) He still did not stop crying, so I finally just scooped him up in my arms and held him. He snuggled his face right into my neck and after about 5 minutes calmed down so much that I thought he had fallen asleep. I was frustrated at first because I could not speak his language to figure out what was wrong. But in the end I realized even if I could not speak verbally so he could understand, my arms and hug conveyed the most important message of all: that he is loved, not only by me, but by Jesus. I hope his heart at least understood that. 
Dawn

This is the view outside the church

 Getting ready for the program to start.

 Robert and Aaron giving the sermon

 Time for food!

 Mommas and their babies

Blessed by a visit from a medical team!

This week, on Thursday, we had a medical team come to CORM to do medical evaluations and checkups for all the kids and staff at Faith Roots International Academy. It was really great to see each of the kids get checked over and receive some basic medications to make sure they are healthy. We were blessed to learn that for the most part, the kids here are in very good health. There are a few of the kids who have some vision/eye problems, and we do have three children here who are HIV positive. 

I spent part of my day between classes just watching as the kids came to the makeshift clinic set up in one of the rooms at the school. It was just a great feeling to know that the kids were getting the kind of care they needed to make sure they stayed healthy, and to catch any potential problems.
     

 
        While the medical team didn't have the equipment or medicines to treat serious issues, they were able to diagnose and treat most of the problems they found, which in itself is more than most kids ever get in the villages. The team also brought news that a Ghanaian doctor who is head of a hospital about and hour and a half or two hours from here had agreed to be the pediatrician for the children here at CORM and Faith Roots. He had planned on being here for the checkups, but couldn't make it, but it's so good to know that there is a Christian doctor not terribly far from here who is willing to help this way.

The team that came was a group of five, three from the U.S., a Korean/American missionary who has been in Ghana for six years and a Ghanaian volunteer. They were a great group of people, and Dawn and I got to sit and talk with Troy and Jammie Tompkins, two of the team members. He is a Doctor and she is a Nurse/Practitioner, both from Tucson, Arizona. They are an awesome couple with a genuine heart for serving The Lord. They are with an organization called Heartbeat For Africa, that does outreach in many parts of Africa, but the focus with this trip was Ghana. Troy and Jammie had been in Ghana for the past two weeks going through villages doing clinics, and CORM was their last stop. It was awesome to watch how loving they were with the kids, and it was evident that they genuinely cared about each one. 

When we sat and talked, it was evident that God was moving in their hearts. I asked them a lot of questions about their ministry and what they do. There was one particular question that I had saved for last. I asked them what makes a couple of doctors give up their personal vacation time to come to Ghana to do the same type of work they do at home. I already knew the answer to that question, but I was interested in hearing their story. They said the main priority in their lives was to honor God with their gifts and abilities and to follow where He leads them. They said they felt like their next step was to leave their jobs for full time missions! How awesome! They were interested in our story as well, and we had a great time of fellowship. They are an example of radical, Christ-like faith in action, with a desire to serve an awesome God!

Pray for Troy and Jammie as they seek Gods will for their next step! You can find out more about the organization they serve with at: www.heartbeatforafrica.org.
Cayle

Encouragement in struggles

I need to be honest and confess some things. I've struggled this past week or so here. It seems like everything hit me all at once. The reality of being so far away from people I love. Missing the things I like to do. Feeling isolated and alone, even with all the kids and staff around. Feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. All of these are things that Satan uses to bind us in chains of doubt and fear. And as hard as it is to admit, these things point to a sinful heart that is full of pride. And while I'm revealing some of my own struggles, I know that we all struggle with these kind of thoughts and feelings from time to time. 

Its frustrating to be able to see and identify things in your own life that you need to surrender, and yet feel like you just can't get away from them. I spend a lot of time in scripture here, but its easy for me to get immersed in the stuff I need to study for church and bible studies so this morning I spent some time praying and just searching scripture for answers and encouragement for me. And for those of you who might be thinking "Why wouldn't you be doing that?", if we are honest, we all struggle with this from time to time. And if you ask anyone who is in ministry, you will find that its very common to get so immersed in what you are doing, that your own needs sometimes get neglected. I'm skeptical of anyone who says they never have this struggle. Not saying its right, its just true. 

So here is the encouragement that God showed me in His word, and I pray that it encourages you as well. I found myself in Psalm 51 where David is crying out for mercy and forgiveness, and looking for strength. and in verses 16-17 he says: "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Then I read the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 4:13 where he says "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength", and then in Ephesians 3 :7-9, he says " Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things".

I realized that I have been trying to rely on my own strength to handle all the things I have been dealing with. This is so easy for us to slip into. Paul realized that the only way he was being effective in his ministry is by acknowledging that his own efforts would always fall short. And David knew that none of his outward actions would please God, but only the condition of his heart.

My prayer for you as you read this is the same as for myself- that we will sacrifice to Him our broken and contrite hearts, and allow Him work through us with HIS strength, and not our own. Amen

Cayle

Making a difference

Friday was filled with such sweet moments. A day off school for midterm break. A visit from a sweet young lady I haven't seen for over 2 yrs. An afternoon of Cayle and a new friend singing praise and worship songs in the guest house living room. Edwin, Gamali and Amenyo asking me to read "You are Special" by Max Lucado, followed by a conversation about the way God created each of them and how special they are. And a great conversation with one of our short term volunteers. 

Some days though, I feel so unqualified. I wonder how in the world I can make a difference. I look at the faces of not only the CORM kids, but also the school kids and wonder how God will use me while we're here. I look at the sweet faces of the kids I've already come to love and think, even if I only speak into one child's life, it still matters. There are so many kids at school that I know need someone to love them. I think of Angelo, a boy at school whose parents are deceased. He is being raised by his aunt, but asks repeatedly to come live at CORM. He comes to my room after school and is so shy and sweet that I want to hug him. Then there's Christabel. She's such a funny, energetic girl. I have been reading "Charlotte's Web" to her class. She came to my room and opened the book and read the first page aloud with such animation that I couldn't help but laugh. As I leave school, little ones waiting for the 2nd bus route will run up and grab my hand to walk along beside me or give me a big hug. These kids matter. I want them to know that. I want them to know that the God who created them loves them with wild abandon and that they are "fearfully and wonderfully made". Over 180 kids at Faith Roots Academy NEED to know that! I hope and pray that God will use not only me, but the staff and volunteers they come into contact with to SHOW them the love of Jesus. 

How about you? You may not be in Africa, but there are those that you come into contact with that may not know how much God loves them. Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone and SHOW them? I pray that you will realize that no matter where you are, what your "job" is, or your age that you will go through your day with eyes and heart open to where God wants to use you. 

Dawn

Building Projects

       It has been very interesting to watch the progress on the building projects that are happening here at CORM. There has been a small crew of 4 or 5 men who have been working very hard on our projects here. Everything is done by hand. All of the gravel and dirt is moved by shovel and wheelbarrow. They pour a concrete footer and then build the foundation with blocks. The picture below is the completed foundation for the our apartment house. The stuff in the center that looks like dirt is actually a kind of stone and gravel that compacts very tight. When it is compacted, they will build a form around the outside of the foundation and pour a 6 inch slab on top of it for the floor, and then begin building walls of block on top of that.

The next two pictures are the completed foundation for the new church

    The last three pictures are are of the progress on the third wing of the school. This is what they have been working on for the last couple weeks, and have been progressing pretty nicely, especially considering they mix all the concrete by hand and move it in wheel barrows! I have been fascinated by the way they mix concrete to pour sections of floor. Once a section is done, they layer the sand, cement and stone in a huge pile right on top of the floor, and then place a hose with water just trickling out on top of the pile. After the pile has begun to soak, they start mixing sections of the pile with shovels and scoop it into wheelbarrows, until the pile is gone, and they just continue until the slab is finished. They can actually move pretty quickly doing it this way

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 All of the buildings here at CORM have been built using this method. Definitely different than in the US!!

Technology: Love it or hate it.

Technology is a beautiful thing...when it works the way we want it to. Living in Ghana, a place considered third world, you learn to love technology for everything it can give you, and hate it when it doesn't work the way its supposed to. Right now as I write this, the kids are outside watching a movie being projected on the side of the house with a new projector. They had missed out on friday "movie nights" for the past several weeks because the projector that we had been using decided it had lived long enough and died. The kids hated technology then. Tonight they are loving it. And they don't even think about it. In America, we are so used to depending on our "devices", and we are so fortunate that when something doesn't work, we have a backup, or often have multiple ways to handle a problem, especially when it comes to communication. Things are different here in Africa, so I thought I'd try to explain how things work here, especially internet and communication.

We knew when we left the States that one of the first things we would need when we got here was a phone. Our old cell phones wont work for international calling.  We knew if we got smart phones, we could use them for internet access also, so we bought a couple of Androids. You then have to buy a small card called a SIM card from one of the several wireless companies here to make the phone connect to a service. We did all that, got the phones home and tried to use them to connect to the internet, and they wouldn't work. It turns out that the place that sold the phones needed to activate some kind of code in them in order for them to connect to broadband. They didn't tell us that. So we waited for almost a week and a half till we  could get back to the store and have them activated.

Now for the interesting part about how the internet works here. To get air time for either calls or internet, you have to buy credit. Credits can be purchased almost anywhere. Mostly from hawkers along the road. I have no idea how they get it and how the money thing works. All I know is that you pay for a card that has a scratch off section under which there is a code that you enter into your phone, and it earns you so much air time or data credit, whichever you choose. If you get a 10 GHC(Ghana cedis)card, which is about 5 US dollars, you can split it and get around an hour or so of international calls, and 200 mb of data usage. Not bad for the call time, but if you know data, 200 mb isn't that much, and you can go through that pretty quick. Uploading pictures uses more data, and so does spending mush time surfing pages that continually have to reload. We have to be careful not to spend too much time on facebook or just surfing if we want the credit to last. We try to check our facebook and update everyday, and have found that 200 mb will last about a week and a half to two weeks if we don't use it excessively. 

We also have the same basic system with a wi-fi modem that receives a broadband signal and allows us to connect our laptops or iPads to the internet. It works ok, but we have found that it takes about 80 GHc worth of credit($40) to last a month, with 3 or 4 people using it for emails and blog posts, or finding info for study,etc. 

So the first problem...it's expensive. Between Dawns phone, my phone and the modem, a months worth of access is around fifty dollars. That may not sound all that expensive if it were good high speed, but that brings up the second issue... this is Ghana, and the signal is broadband, so its not always very fast. I don't understand the whole 3G and 4G broadband thing, but most of the time here, the little receiver sign on the phone or modem says "edge" which apparently isn't real good. Remember back to the old dial up days- thats close! We have learned to write emails and blogs offline, then copy and paste so we don't lose them or to make it quicker to be on and offline. 

We also learned that, because of the way this all works, it is almost impossible to use things like Skype or FaceTime to communicate with family, because its just not fast enough, and uses too much data.

Other challenges with technology here: frequent power outages. Sometimes everyday. Little fingers that like to push buttons and click things when they shouldn't. Power here is 240v instead of 110v, so everything has to have plug adapters, and some things just wont work. Things are just different. And as I finish writing this, Dawn is trying to send and email, but cant because one of our laptops will not connect to the wifi. We have tried everything and it just wont connect, and now the other laptop will not allow her to transfer the document from a thumb drive because the word program was apparently a trial version and expired, so it cant read the document. What good is a laptop that doesn't even have a basic word program!? The iPad we have connects just fine, but doesn't have a USB port to put the thumb drive.... grrr.....SO...

For us here, technology can be so frustrating, but at the same time, it is a blessing to have whatever connection to home we can have. 

In whatever form it comes, technology is one of God's "common graces" that we thank him for, even if it doesn't always work the way we want! 

Cayle

Culture

Cultural differences can be very difficult and frustrating to understand, especially when you are actually living daily in a culture that is so different from what you know.

I found myself in a very frustrating situation recently with one of the boys here at City Of Refuge Ministries (CORM). Meshack and a few of the other older boys had decided to skip the morning assembly before school one day. Typical teenage stuff. They just went and hung out at the back of the school until it was time to start class. Not a big deal, but they did disobey the rules, and deserved the punishment they received. 

He came to me and wanted to talk, and I could tell he was upset about something. Actually, for a couple days he had been very quiet and seemed distant, so I knew something had been bothering him. One of his friends was with him, and as we sat down together, they were both very quiet. I asked what was wrong, and after some awkward silence, he started to ask me the "hypothetical scenario" questions. I knew he was talking about himself, but I let him continue and spent several minutes trying to understand what he was asking me. Finally, he managed to make his question clear.

He admitted to the school issue and agreed that he shouldn't have done it, but his concern was that there had been some other issues happen with some of the other boys, and he had somehow been implicated in them. He felt really bad that he was being included in something that he had no part of. He was afraid people would think he was "bad" kid because of this, and he didn't know how to deal with it.

I have gotten to know Meshack as a very gentle, soft spoken teen who is very good at taking care of the younger ones. He has a caring heart, and is very polite. He is NOT a trouble maker by any means. I really like him, and I'm very thankful that in just about 5 weeks, he has come to trust me enough to come to me to talk. We got the situation sorted out and he felt better.

The thing that I had the hardest time with is understanding what it must be like to not feel the freedom to talk about life issues at a time when he needs that the most. I really feel like part of my role here is to fill that void in their lives the best I can, and lead them to Jesus in the process. Pray for all the kids here, and dads, sit down with your kids and make sure they understand that they can come to you without fear. It's more of a blessing to them than you may know.

Cayle

WELCOME!!

     Hey Everyone!
We have started a new blog site so that we could post our thoughts in a more organized way, in one place. We are still going to continue with our facebook updates, and emails, but we thought it would make sense to make a place where we could post all of our thoughts... things that may be devotional, personal observations, or just our random thoughts. Rather than cluttering up inboxes and facebook walls, you can come here to read details about our life here in Ghana, as we live a "life by the Spirit".
Cayle and Dawn

The Outsider

Living in Africa has been quite an eye opening experience. For the first time in my life, I have truly felt like an outsider. Not an outsider like a Michigan fan in Ohio...oh, it's way different than that. I mean an outsider as in "you don't belong here". Don't get me wrong. Here at CORM, I feel completely at home. Maybe a little awkward at times, but I feel completely accepted here. But when you travel outside the little "village" that is City of Refuge, things are different. That is, if your skin is white. 

I've been to Mexico and got some looks and felt a little out of place, but nothing like here. In a sea of black skin, I stick out like a sore thumb! Everyone stares, and you hear people calling "obruni" which is one of their names for a white person. 

I had a funny experience a couple weeks ago. Carissa and I went with Auntie Tyna and Auntie Lucy into Tema. We took a "TroTro" which is a kind of minivan/taxi. At one stop, a woman with a very small child got on and sat beside me. The baby wasn't even much more than a year old, but he was very curious about me. Every time I would be looking away, I would feel a little hand rubbing my arm and pinching at me. If I looked at him, he would look away and act like it wasn't him. I wondered if I was the first white person he had ever seen.

Later, when we were in Tema, we tried to get a taxi, and after Tyna spent a couple minutes in a fairly animated conversation with one driver, he threw his hand up, and drove off. Turns out he wanted to charge twice as much because I was with them. I was stunned. 

I thought of the blacks during the civil rights era, and had a new understanding for how they must have felt. Now I was on the "other" side, in a place I didn't know. I thought of the scripture that says we are "aliens"- strangers on the earth and in that moment, I longed for my heavenly home, where the things of the earth fade away. And then I thought of how we are COMMANDED to love others... no matter where they are from, no matter where I am on the earth, and no matter what color their skin is...even if I'm the outsider.