Visiting the Gushiegu Outpost

We spent this past weekend at Gushiegu. If you follow the blog you will see that Gushiegu is one of the Seed Ministry outposts. Right now there are 24 clubs in the area and the coordinator is a man named Matthew.

It takes 3 hours to get to Gushiegu. To get to a club around Gushiegu, it may take up to 1 1/2 hours to drive. The terrain is farmland that is mainly for animals. The huts are spread apart which is different from around the Tamale area.

We were only able to visit 17 clubs because that is all we could reach by bus. The remainder can only be reached by motorbike. Emmanuel was quite nervous seeing some of the paths, but because he is such a good driver (best in the Northern Region) he had no problems.

On Sunday we visited a church that was 1 1/2 hours from Gushiegu and was located deep in the bush. It was nice to see the church here, even though the majority of the villages practice traditional religion. After Toby preached we visited the Bible Club that meets at that village. One of the exciting things as we went from club to club was to see that the leaders were using the training tools that Seed Ministry and the team that came in December gave them.

'Connecting' at Gushiegu

While in the Gushiegu area we saw many Bible Clubs. The gifts we were giving were toys to the boys and pillowcase dresses for the girls. Some generous team brought some small Connect Four games (the box says BINGO but they are actually Connect Four). We knew when we gave out those 100 Connect Four games we would have to explain the rules, so we saved those for the last clubs visited. At one club we gave 25 away and explained to the Club Leader the directions for the game. It took some time, but he seemed to understand. On the way to the next village Toby said, "Let's just give out the balloon whistles instead of handing out the game." Little did he know what was in store :) Emmanuel parked the bus and we saw the children gathered under a thatched shelter. Wouldn't you know that under that shelter was a old large Connect Four game that the village men were playing! It was so funny! We said, "Ok Lord! We know where you want these games to go!" There were around 70 boys there. Just enough for those games that we had left. Toby and Emmanuel asked the children if they knew how to play that game. All the boys said, "Yes! We play with it all the time." The boys were so excited when they realized that they were getting Connect Four games! The game that is in the picture with Caleb is the old game that the villagers were playing when we arrived. They lost the stands to the game a long time ago so the people hold it or stick it between two pieces of wood. How amazing! Joy was still laughing about the game when we took the picture with the girls and their pretty dresses and the boys with their games!

Randy and Suzy Speak Out!

From Randy and Suzy Hines as written by Suzy about their experiences in Ghana (written on Saturday):

"Our ministry in the short time we have been here has blessed us and we hope others. God has allowed us to see His many works being accomplished through His servants. Our ministry "family" has expanded past Toby and Joy, with their wonderful care and love, to pastors and their wives who have consecrated themselves while being a minority in Northern Ghana. We have witnessed people hungry to know who Jesus is and others in villages who had never heard the words Santini (Satan). One head chief said, "I have always believed there was one God. You have explained it so that I could understand it." He was grateful that people cared to pray and send someone to share the Good News. He and 36 people excepted Christ!

Today a prayer has been answered but I realize the hand of God is working fervently. Let me explain. Randy and I were in a village that did not have a school or Christian church. God somehow led us there because we were to be visiting a Christian chief from another village instead. Randy and I began sharing, the adults were filling the room up. The chief wanted the women to hear and if I didn't take the children they would miss out. A pastor was our interpreter. I promised to take the children out to allow more room. We were told there were no English speaking interpreters in the village!

Once outside the hut, I turned right, getting my bearings. Six children were coming and I thought, "Lord you know I need an interpreter." I walked to an empty circle of stones and walking toward me was a young man with an MP3 player! His eyes were soft, his mannerisms polite and quiet, and he could speak English! The elders and chiefs did not know his abilities but God did! I asked him to help and he was helping me lead 180 children with 4 girls helping us. "Ewal" was his name and he did a miraculous job with the children. Every child made a salvation bracelet and learned the words and signs to John 3:16. Ewal stepped out on faith, was given materials to use in the village that day, and one week later rode 8 miles on a bicycle to a strange church with his brother and 2 friends. We were touched to see this shy young man put his faith to action. He was able to meet the area club leaders and the local Christians.

Today, 2 weeks later , he has traveled by walking and catching a ride (it normally takes almost 2 hrs by truck). He is attending a club leader Foundation Training at Seed Ministry, which is a requirement of all possible club leaders. This is just one sweet, sweet story of how Seed Ministry touches lives. With a minute budget, great faith and a God who hears our prayers and loves us more than we can imagine, Randy and I saw a young man with Christ in his heart open himself up to God's work.

What if I had stubbornly stayed in that hut just listening and not gone out to seek an interpreter?

Oh, by the way, 17 adults accepted Christ that morning! You may think that's not many, well, tell that to the lady who raised both hands up to the air and began crying for joy! Tell that to the young mother who held my whole left arm so very tight because her body was shaking with joy! She was supposed to be quiet--after all, she was in the chief's palace!"

--Praise the Lord for what He has done through the faith of Randy and Suzy! Maybe this has touched your heart to share Jesus with someone!

Evangelizing, Painting and ...Camels?

When the South Fork team left, they left a part of their team. Randy and Suzanne, a husband and wife from Kentucky, are staying with us while they use their many talents for the Lord.

In the U.S. Randy and Suzanne own a farm and Suzanne is a teacher. They have used their knowledge and experience to gain the attention of Ghanaian farmers, teachers, wives/mothers, and children. They have gone to many villages, walked from hut to hut, searching for anyone who is sitting and then they start to share the Good News of Christ. Randy and Suzanne have seen many Ghanaians repent of their sins and profess their belief in Jesus Christ. PRAISE THE LORD!

Another ministry that Randy and Suzanne have accomplished during their stay here is the painting of church buildings. In the past 2 weeks they have painted 4 buildings! What an encouragement this is to the pastors of these churches. Suzanne even made her own stencils so that the name of the churches could be painted neatly!

While painting at a church on Friday, Randy and Suzanne were surprised to see a man on a huge camel riding up to the church. Randy got a ride on the camel, while Suzanne stayed very far away! The children at the church were so excited to see the big beast! When Randy and Suzanne left they saw the man riding with 2 other men on camels. Some of the Ghanains say that these men are from the desert country north of Ghana and came down to visit.

What tender hearts for the Lord Randy and Suzanne have, to come spend time with the people here, paint churches, minister to the people's needs, and share the love of Christ! Thank you Randy and Suzanne for all your hard work!

Thank You South Fork!

We said goodbye to almost all of the South Fork team last weekend! What a whirlwind of a two weeks that has been. The team visited 2 outpost areas and saw many children. They were such a blessing to all of us here at Seed Ministry and a great encouragement to us all!

South Fork left a part of themselves here. Randy and Susan will be staying with us for about a month. They will be doing evangelism in villages and also will be painting some of the churches that need a coat of 'Seed Ministry green and white'.

Thank you to Pastor Jonathan, Phoebe, Machelle, Ricky, Cynthia, Allen, Randy and Susan for all your hard work! Glad you made it back safely to the US.

Carnival Time at Seed Ministry!

Who doesn't like to play games? We thought it would be a good idea to use this team to throw a big Seed Ministry Carnival for all the children who live in and around the Seed Ministry site. We expected around 200 children. The Parkers were ready, but they knew they needed a lot more help, so the Southfork team (the Elite Eight) were called into action. The job was still overwhelming, so when all else fails...put the Seedlings to work!

It was a great time for the team to interact with the great young people we get to work with. In the end the carnival was a huge success with no problems. Everyone was relieved when the last of the 279 children came through the gate! We saw so many smiles because of the games and prizes. (Not to mention that all 279 children heard the gospel that day)
As the children came to the gate they were met by Thomas and Emmanuel. Thomas explained what the children would be doing and he sent 20 children in at a time. The children walked to the baptistry area to listen to a Gospel presentation by team member Phoebe. The children were then led out to the game area where 6 games were set up. After they received tickets for a job well done, the children went to the summer hut to claim their prize. They were also given a balloon by Cynthia as they walked out the gate!

We started the carnival around 10 am and closed the gate at 1:30 pm. Later on that day many more children came to see if the carnival was still open. What a wonderful outreach for this community!

On the road with the Southfork Team!

We went on the road with the Southfork Team this week! On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we traveled 4-5 hours away to an area called Salaga. Many Bible Clubs have started there in the past year. The team visited schools, clubs, churches and some surrounding villages. It was great to see them telling the Good News of Jesus Christ to anyone that would listen. The team would search out a group of people standing around and start witnessing to them. They were well prepared and not ashamed of the Gospel.

Salaga will get a little more attention from Seed Ministry this new year. Toby, Joy, and Emmanuel, along side Stephen the Area Coordinator, will be visiting the clubs and giving more training to the leaders.

In the first picture Ricki is giving a piece of toffey to a little one. The second picture is some village children meeting with the Team "inside" Stephen's church. The third picture is of Randy using the bus as an easle to hold a Story Cloth while he shares some pictures of his farm with those who had started to gather around.