East Bernstadt: Day 2

What a wonderful day it has been! The EBBC team has been busy today. First, they walked to school! This was a school of elementary aged children that is located close to the Seed Ministry site. Of course the children were happy to see the visitors and in that excitement heard about Jesus. Everyone on the team did a fantastic job.

The team made their way back to the training hall where they finished packing around 2,000 of the 6,000 gifts for the club children!

Shortly after lunch, many of the team went out to teach a Bible Club. Children gathered to see the new faces, sing songs, hear a story and play games.

Next, the team separated into two groups and loaded into the buses to distribute some of the gifts that they had packed earlier. There were many children that gathered to receive the gifts and to visit with the team. The children also showed what they had been learning at club.

They returned to the site and had a quick bite to eat. Then left again to a village that was only about a half hour drive. There are only a few Christians around the area. We helped a Pastor have a crusade by lending some lights, P. A. system and generator. Pastor Norm gave a very clear message.

Continue to pray for the work being done here in Africa. Please pray that nothing would hinder us from sharing the Good News of Jesus.

Welcome East Bernstadt!

We welcomed Pastor Norm and the people from East Bernstadt Baptist Church today to the Seed Ministry site. There are 10 people with this team. As soon as they finished a quick bite to eat, they went right to work! Laughter could be heard in the training hall as the team was putting together Christmas gifts for the many children. They will be going out to distribute the gifts sometime this week.

Tonight the team taught songs to the Seedlings and Pastor Norm gave a Bible story. The Seedlings loved the songs and was involved in the story. Toby and Joy even did some hand motions! Well, at least Joy!

The team includes: Pastor Norm and wife Tanya, Eldon and wife Connie, Donovan, Sammy, Margaret, Robin, JamieLynn, Candy.

All Around Thankful!

I have been thinking about Thanksgiving and wanted to share what I am thankful for the most.

I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who knows all my faults, but loves me despite. The Lord gave of Himself so that I may live eternally!

I am thankful for the parents and in-laws that God gave me. God blessed and is still blessing us with their wisdom! I am also thankful for my family: my husband, my children, my Christian brothers and sisters.

I am thankful for Seed Ministry. The Lord gave wisdom to Bob and Bonnie 11 years ago when they decided to start this wonderful ministry. What a blessing it has been to so many here in Ghana. Countless times we have heard since we have been here: "If it wasn't for Seed Ministry..." "Because of Seed Ministry...". So when I say that I am thankful for Seed Ministry, I am actually thankful for all of you! You who pray for Seed Ministry, give to Seed Ministry, visit Seed Ministry and encourage Seed Ministry! Although you may not see the fruits of your labor here on earth, you will definitely be rewarded in Heaven! Thank you!

Posted by Joy

Praises

8 Month Old Orphan being raised by her grandmother

  

Wahidu and Jacob sharing the bicycle






















Do you ever have those days when you just want to feel sad? I think that is me (Bonnie) the last few days. We have been looking into the best case scenarios for the boys that are now living with us. We knew from the beginning that this would be a short term stay for each of them until better arrangements could be made. But they have joined into our lives here so quickly that  we find ourselves wondering if just keeping them would be a good thing to do. Of course, we know that is not the solution, still it makes me sad to think of them moving away from us. 

There are so many orphanages here in Ghana, all with plenty of children yet Bob talked to a man this week that has been on a waiting list for FIVE years to adopt a boy - not a newborn baby - just wants to adopt a son. This man is a Pastor and teaches in a Bible College. The home life would be good and they would be able to take care of a child. What possible reason could there be for so many children having to live in orphanages while someone waits on a list for five years and still there is no boy for his home? 

There are many injustices in this world and today I sure am thinking about them a lot.  Yet Christ tells us in Matthew 5:44-48 
          "But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way you will be acting
          as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good,
          and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too. If you love only those who love you, what good
          is that? Even scoundrels do that much. If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different
          from anyone else? Even the heathen do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in
          heaven is perfect."

So for today I am going to choose to live by this Scripture and focus on positives and give Him praise for ALL things - those that seem to me to be injustices and those that seem to me to be Good.

And a couple of those Good things are... 


Bob and some children at Kpendua



..the church at Kpendua being almost completed and the children (and adults) that will be saved through that building being there and them hearing the name of Jesus as a personal Saviour.

Caleb and Sule helping clean and paint at Gushegu

..finding a house to rent in the Gushegu

area which will be our Outpost for that Region.

I could add many, many more praises of what God allows us to be a part of every day. But you have heard me say them many times already.

Find a child today and just bless him or her in some special way.

  

11th Annual Tamale Region Seed Ministry Rally

36 Participants were nervous but confident as the Rally began.

 
I wish I had permission to play the song “I Can Only Imagine” on here– but even that does not say enough. I cannot begin to imagine what God is going to do in the lives of these young ones that participated in today’s Rally!

It never gets old. I am just as overwhelmed today as I was at the very 1^st one we did. This was their 2^nd year of the God Story questions. The Tie Breakers were who ever could say the most verses from Phillipians and Colossians.

Here are the statistics…

·        18 zones were represented with a total of 36 participants.

·        They answered all 229 questions with 11 children still in the competition

·        They quoted every verse in Phillipians – 104 Verses

·        To find a winner they had to go to Colossians 1:5



·        A total of 229 questions plus 109 Verses!!!

The winners were very excited to receive animals as prizes this year.

1^st place received 2 female goats, 2^nd 1 goat and 1 hen, 3^rd 1 goat. This will help them start raising animals if they choose to do so or have a very good Christmas meal.



Of course they also got a cash prize to go along with that and a Bible. The Club Leader and Helper received a cash prize as did the Zone Leader along with the TROPHY! The winning clubs received plastic chairs.



At the close of the Rally we fed over 200 for lunch. Look at that Tamale sky!

What an amazing thing to be a part of. The children have worked so hard to memorize all of the answers and scriptures. The Club Leaders have worked hard teaching the children. The Zone Leaders have worked hard encouraging both the Leaders and the Children. Staff has worked hard trying to keep up with everyone and even now as I am typing this they are still cleaning up after everyone.



Helping the ladies with TZ for the Friday Night Sleep Over



Yet all of this is possible only because of the generosity of many who are willing to share their blessings from God with others. We praise God for allowing us to be a part of His Kingdom!