Sunday is coming!

Well, it seems that it has been quite some time since there was new information posted here on this blog! It's not that nothing is happen; quite the opposite. And I find myself here blogging for Sara, part of some negotiation we made long ago of which the details I can't remember.
People often ask us how church is going for us. There are certainly a lot of adjustments we have made as far as church goes. It seems so long ago that we spent our last Sunday at NCMF, and some of the things we encounter now almost seem normal...
Our dedicated director made a nice schedule for us, detailing what Sundays we have free and what Sundays we go to the village churches. Usually we go to a village church 2 times a month, visit the children's home Kinder Paradise once a month, and have a free Sunday once a month. We as a mission want to support our churches in every area that we can, from regular church visits, Jesus film showings, and the medical clinics and crusades, which by the way are scheduled for November 1-13 this year. Most times I am prepared to bring the Word, but we don't always let them know we are coming, and enjoy listening to them preach. The worship time is amazing, and you can feel the presence of the Lord in the place! I wish you could all see them worship, from the small, intimate worship at our pastor's meetings, to the large worship services during the crusades, where the dust rises to the heavens from the joyful dancing. For some reason, we think of David and the Psalms as we see them making such a joyful noise. They will ask us to participate in the front, and although we feel out of place with our irregular movements & lack of rhythm, we join them and enjoy it.
However, this has not come without some needed adjustments for the children regarding church. First, there isn't any Sunday School, except when we visit the International Church on our free Sunday. Secondly, there are a lot of distractions for little people. Most of our churches have a canopy with a dirt or sand floor, making it almost impossible for the little people NOT start digging or driving their toy or pencil through it. Also, it is not uncommon for animals to wander past the church, even passing through on a regular basis.
Last week at Kotoku, there was a large group of goats wandering around the church. There was an obviously amorous billy goat that was attempting to win the affections of a small female, who was running around baying at the top of her lungs. After several trips around the church and surrounding buildings, she was able to duck under the one guide rail at the front of the church at a high rate of speed; however, the lovestruck male tripped and crashed into the service after his lady, prompting the preacher to stop as he yelled and chased them out of the church.
But every part of their service is an act of worship, from the opening prayers to the offering. They are an example for us. When we were doing the baptism at Asamankese, we entered a village where a man was begging for the Word of God and to be baptised. Pastor Joseph and his church now are in the midst of a 7 day fast, where they are praying as to how they can best reach this village for Jesus.
Pram Pram is a great children's home where we visit the 3rd Sunday of the month. There are probably 150 children, and after the very sincere and happy worship time, the ladies take the smaller ones out and Ron or I will share with the older ones. This place is close to Tema, so it takes us about an hour and a half to get there, so afterwords we go to Comme Ci beach for a picnic and the children swim in the ocean. It is a relaxing time where we can talk, fly kites, and just rest before the long drive home, during which we hope the children can rest for a few moments.
And then our free Sunday; we usually try to go to the International Church in Accra, where they have a regular (for us) worship time and preach in English. The children enjoy Sunday School and meeting other expats.
We also enjoy listening to messages from NCMF online, which the tech team has so graciously provided for us. There are times when we don't want to fight traffic or be hassled by the police, and just stay home on a Sunday morning. The children love singing, and we listen to a service online or even can call in and listen live, which keeps us in touch with what is happening back home.
We were privileged to have senior pastor Dave Myer reside with us this past week. His son Adrian will be living with us, helping out with youth ministry, tract distribution, and even taking in some classes at the Bible Institute. Dave generously packed light so he could bring items over for us. Sometimes it's the little things in life that helps get us through. Max is examining the Lancaster Intelligencer Sunday Comics. "Thanks, Grandma!" Max's only comment was, "Boy, I wish I could read all these!"

Because Dave also wanted to visit the pioneering Groff family, we traveled out on Friday for a visit. I met another brother, Conrad, in Saltpond to explain the process of the S.A.L.T. micro loan program, which we are praying as to whether we could incorporate this into CFCI.

We then traveled back to the Groff's, where we went out to this Keke's beach resort for an evening meal, provided by Dave. The cassava fish, even though it took an hour and a half to come, was terrific. We ended up leaving Dave at the Groff's Friday night and drove up to Conrad's in Elmina for the night. We arrived after 10 PM planning to leave the next morning. Events led us to change our plans & stay until Sunday. We hand washed Friday's clothes for Sunday & took advantage of Conrad & Katie's hospitality.

We enjoyed meeting some of the people in the village, and even tried our hand at shore fishing. There is a reason they call it fishing, not catching. Anyway, I was able to sit and talk with Conrad for several hours regarding the details of this type of program, and I really appreciate him as a friend and brother. We visited the Deeper Life Fellowship Sunday morning, which was streamed from Nigeria, which was a good service except for the fact that it started at 7:30 AM. The Groff's and Dave came up for lunch, and then we traveled home to our abode here in Pokuase. We have started the "big pour" up at the land, where 100 yards of concrete need to be mixed in the mixer and handed up to the second floor in head pans where it is then dumped into wheelbarrows. We are excited to see this happening, and to be able to use the first floor rooms once the concrete is poured. Pray for safety as they work on this big project in such a hot sun.
So, pray for Adrian as he settles into this crazy house. Pray for us as we look at ways to expand the Pastor Association here in Ghana. Pray for Sara as she makes this house a home. Pray for the children, as they learn to live in a new culture, and Max as he does school.

We are grateful to the Father that He has given Sara and I 10 years together today. Sara had a plan to leave the continent for our 10th. Goal accomplished! Although we didn't get to spend the day relaxing or doing something special, we are taking a moment to realize we made it to Ghana in the service of Jesus, and that makes every day an exciting adventure.
Thanks so much,
Jon

Nsawam Central Market

Every mother of young children knows the sweet delight of a shopping trip without her little helpers. Audrey & I traveled north a few miles & walked the streets of the Nsawam Central Market blissfully without small responsibilities. Already a spectacle, we talked & laughed our way through many purchases. It is a practical place, streets are lined sections of fruits, vegetables, staples, meats, fabric & household things. Open Mondays & Thursdays, it was teeming with people, carts & vehicles. The picture below looks peaceful. But when large trucks, taxis & pedestrians all enter at once, we were careful to keep out of the mayhem of horns & shouting. This delightful lady was more than happy to cut two lengths of fabric for me. Elle & I are feeling drab & are excited for some skirts & dresses in Ghana fabric. She is laughing because she said it made her nervous that she was cutting while I took her picture. And, just so you know, you all are blamed for this! I say, " I just want to show my family & friends in America how you do this!" She was a good sport. The women just behind her was not so happy with me. :) She is selling wooden paddles, basically a giant wooden spoon, & I think I need one. The folks here use them to made banku. The fermented corn dough that is mixed with water &, while it is cooking, beat with the paddles til it is sticky. I was thinking I could find other uses for it. :)

The fabric shop below was set in a row of seamstress shops tucked under a tin roof and entered by a single file path. I don't consider myself shy or tentative, but my fellow Ghanaian shoppers were passing me by constantly. It was often a tight squeeze, but they rubbed hips if needed, kept walking, never stopping loud chatter with their friends. These ladies would do just fine with a Walmart cart on a Friday night. :)

The fabric I bought here can't be scene in the picture, but, never mind, take a look at the little guy at work with momma! She took full advantage of her little salesman & sold me some green print for GHc 4 per yard.
The ladies in the background are fitting on clothes. Sans dressing rooms, shoppers wear bike shorts under their skirts and fit on items wherever there is space. Audrey & I each bought a few items of clothing at a different stand. We opted for the old fashioned hold-it-up-&-ask-your-friend method. It worked out just fine & we were very pleased to find skirts for a few GHc. A seamstress apprentice at work. Apprentice's work under supervision, paying their teacher for the learning. At the end of the training, they often contract to work for them as a paid employee, but only after about 6 months of unpaid time. She rolled her eyes at me when I asked if I could take her picture. I loved watching her spin the hand wheel while managing the fabric and thread.

Oh, snails. Audrey & I are drawn to them out of disgust & horror. They wiggle, they stink & they belong in the backyard. And yet here they are very much for sale. At GHc 1 or 2 each, they are a treat purchase for the buyer. We watched a sale, as the woman dug out the snail with a skewer and squirted the juice, a crazy blue-white color, & the body into a bag. We soon realized our interest was making a scene and we moved on to more appetizing things. I believe our next purchases at a dry goods store were t-roll (toilet paper), crackers and oatmeal.

Last, but just as interesting, is a new way to flavor the soup. These tasty roll ups are cow & goat hide. Why would you need those tiny squares of boullion when you can get all the flavor you need from those chunks of hide? And have a chewy morsel at the bottom of the pot!

I was so fascinated, the woman was annoyed. Margaret, my teenage friend, says it is very tasty & very healthy. I'll believe it when I read the nutrition details printed on the label. Hah. :) :)

Thanks to Audrey's promptings, I am an adequate barter-er. I rather enjoy it & will have to train " Is that your best price?!" out of my vocabulary someday when I enter America again. Less things here are able to bargained for than I expected. Many prices are set. So, no, I'm not haggling over every banana. :)

It is, honestly, a relief to laugh so much, spend a little on our families, & sweat over our heavy bags & just what alley we parked in. I even drove us home, stopping for yam with pepper sauce & Nsawam's famous ( in Ghana, anyway) sugar bread from a street hawker. Her only disappointment was we didn't buy the mystery meat that went with the yam!