Ghana Trip July, 2006
Travel with us to West Africa! Our mission is to share the good news in Ghana alongside Ghanaian Christian workers. Charlie will conduct two conferences to train evangelism leaders and to train pastors and other Christian leaders.
NOTES: Use the slider on the map to see the journey taken, select an image below to enlarge it.
Jun 29, 2006 - Leave Dallas/Firt Worth for Ghana via London
Jun 30, 2006 - Arrive and rest in Ghana
Jul 2, 2006 - Preach in church in Accra, Ghana
Jul 3, 2006 - Begin 5-Day conference training evangelism leaders while team shares the gospel.
Jul 9, 2006 - Preach in church in Accra, Ghana
Jul 10, 2006 - Begin 4-day conference for Christian leaders while team share the gospel.
Jul 13, 2006 - Depart Ghana late at night
Jul 14, 2006 - Arrive in London for 2-day recreational jaunt
Jul 16, 2006 - Return to Dallas/Fort Worth
May 31, 2006 - Getting ready to go to Ghana
Our team is getting ready to go to Ghana to evangelize and train Christian leaders. There is much to be done before we leave on June 29--passports, visas, shots, training, and support raising. Some members still lack support, so we ask for prayer.
Some of the Ghana team with Fred Amoah-Darko and Charlie.
June 21, 2006 - Making progress with one week to go
Well, we leave soon for Ghana and it seems things are falling into place. For my 2 conferences I expected to pack 50 of my discipleship workbooks. I was asked to bring 250-300. Seems there is much enthusiasm for the conferences and people are getting the word out. Those in Texas met last night for some last miunute info. They are willing to carry over 250 lbs of books and literature for the cause of Christ and GraceLife is willing to donate it. At this point, the total team need is about $4300, but that's a long way from the original $19,600! Please pray and stay with us on this mission!
Our host in Ghana, Fred Amoah-Darko
June 25, 2006 - Dedicated to the Lord
On Sunday, June 25, Burleson Bible Church prayed and commissioned the five members of our team who attend church there.
On Thursday before, our host in Ghana asked that we bring 250-300 of my discipleship books! We had originally planned to bring about 50.
But word about the two conferences has spread and enthusiasm is growing. A decision to bring this many books will cost GraceLife almost $3000.
It will also mean that the team will have to haul almost 300 extra pounds of luggage. This will be a big hassle when we change airports in London,
go through customs, board a bus for an hour drive, and check in again. But we know how much literature is appreciated by the people of Ghana.
Each book means a life changed and a ministry expanded to countless others. GraceLife and the team will "soldier up" and do what needs to be done
for Christ's sake. We'll trust God to cover the cost and patience needed. At this point the team only lacks about $1400 from its original goal of
almost $20,000. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness! Please keep us in prayer. We depart Thursday.
Sending us off with prayer
June 29, 2006 - Ready to Depart
All the bags were packed along with 250 books and 500 booklets and we are ready to leave. Just time for a final photo from this side of the Atlantic.
Everything is checked in fine at the airport. Now we just wait for our boarding. My devotional before we left was from Philippians 2:4-9. I challenged
the team to put the interests of others on the team and in Ghana first, and to become servants like Christ to meet the needs that we find. I hope to
update this journal very soon from Ghana. Stay tuned.
The Ghana mission team ready to depart.
JR and Julie talking to Ghanaians
Micah makes a new friend
Darreck, JR, Carly sharing the gospel at night
July 4, 2006 - Hungry for the Word in Ghana
It has taken awhile to finally get online. Such is life here in Ghana. We have moved a very busy pace since we arrived Friday night.
Travel went well, but was very wearying. Our bodies are beginning to realize "we are not in Kansas anymore." Sunday I spoke to an enthusiastic church.
Our group was not prepared for a 3 and a half hour service! I feared the groups bottoms and bladders would not endure to the end! I began teaching Monday
morning and found out that they wanted me to teach evenings also. I am having to improvise and come up with more messages on the fly. But I will do
whatever is needed. The people are hungry for Bible teaching so I am happy to help them anyway I can. Meanwhile the team has been meeting the
neighborhood and sharing their faith. We all went out last night for a film showing and gospel presentation. We talked to people about the gospel
afterward. See the photo. Today I trained evangelism leaders in the Gospel of John. Tonight I will teach Romans and Living in the Family of Grace.
Tomorrow will be more the the same. Our health and spirits are strong. Pray that this continues and pray for fruit that remains.
July 6, 2006 - High speed ministry, slow internet
Yes, it is difficult to get online. Tried twice for over 2 hours over the last week and didn't succeed. I hope this message gets on!
Ministry is at an exhausting pace, but Friday night we finally had off and today we had an outing. But tomorrow morning I will be in church over 6 hours and preach twice. I have been speaking 3 or 4 times a day. Some of this was not expected so I am putting things together on the fly. Also an LCD projector was made available, and they really enjoy the powerpoint presentations, so I have been hammering those out late at night. The work is hard, but harder not to do it. Some of these Christian leders have traveled far for this training. Some locals have to work during the day, so they asked if I could speak at night also. So I am. It is an indescribable blessing to see eyes opened to the grace message. They are seeing grace, security, and assurance, and they are rejoicing in it!
Meanwhile, the team is witnessing on the streets and seeing fruit. But God is really at work in their lives as they do. They have shared some really neat things in our evening pray times.
The people here soak up the preaching and teaching and devour the literature. We are giving them Dear John, How to Share the Gospel Clearly, Living in the Family of Grace, and Living Water (Gospel of John with notes).
Some problems with running (not) water make life a little difficult and sticky in this climate. But we are well fed and healthy. Today the group tried a new dish, fufu, which is the substance of a sticky raw dough that is dipped in stew and swallowed without chewing. No one choked, in fact all liked it.
I can't wait to share some testimonies from the Ghanaians in their own words, but this will wait till I return.
I am sending this without photos so that you can at least read the report. Then later try to upload the photos, but that takes forever here and sometimes kicks me off.Please pray for us as we enter our final days here. Thanks. Charlie
Some of the evangelism leaders at the conference
The house we are staying in
Caitlin gets up close to Ghanaian termites
July 13, 2006 - Last hours in Ghana
It is Thursday, 3:00 PM and we are 4 hours from leaving for the airport. It's time to pack.
It's been a wonderful time here watching God provide for us, use us, and use our Ghanaian friends. Just as I thought,
God has probably done the greater work in us. We leave behind good friends and I'm sure our departure will be tearful on both sides.
Thanks for traveling with us this far.
Guess who lost a bet on the USA/Ghana soccer game.
We took a last opportunity to share with some Muslims
Itinerary
