Transform Conference & more

     Tomorrow marks the first day of the last half of the school year, and we have seen men begin to be transformed as they are taught the truths  from God's Word. As we look over the landscape of the world today, we see an all-out attack on the authenticity, authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Our desire is that we can train these men to rightly handle the Word. On just about every car and banner alongside the road we see advertisements for miracles, healings, and deliverance services, but the Word tells us the only offensive weapon we have in our Armor of God is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. So our focus should not be on signs and wonders, but how we can understand and apply the unchanging Truth into our culture. May God grant us wisdom so we can spread the Truth without letting ourselves get in the way.
     We have just come through an amazing time of refreshment as Luke Kuepfer came to Ghana to speak on several topics. We opened up the chapel in the school for 4 days of seminar, in which Luke covered UnveilinGlory (Cat and Dog Theology), Missions 101 (based on the book "When Helping Hurts"), and Lead Like Jesus. Some of our friends from Cape Coast journeyed to Accra as well. The result was homes full of encouraged people, great food, and discussions lasting long into the night which resulted in much coffee being brewed in the mornings. The seminar ran from Monday to Thursday, and then on Friday Luke trained 16 individuals to be Lead Like Jesus facilitators here in Ghana. Luke's desire is to always begin training people to take the message onward, like the ripples move outward in the water after you drop in a stone.

Luke washing all the attendees feet following the Lead Like Jesus encounter

Brittany and Luke enjoying banku and groundnut stew

     Luke was joined by his daughter Brittany, who spent the evenings teaching English to 24 children from the village of Terno. She really did a great job and the children loved her. We would return to the Bible School after supper, where she was joined by her helpers, Mike Martin and Isaac Iddrisu, to manage the class.

English class meeting in the new classroom

Brittany explaining nouns, verbs, and so on

     Saturday we headed to Cape Coast to tour the slave castle. Although I have toured this several times, it still amazes me how depraved a human being can become to treat another human in such a disgusting way. They even built their church on top of the male slave dungeon, where down below up to 1,000 men were struggling to survive, with the stronger ones chained to the walls. It was heaven on top, hell down below. It was so bad that only 1 out of 5 survived, a fact that leaves everyone puzzled based on economics alone. But according to our guide Kwese, it was done to break their spirits. After the tour we went to Conrad and Katie's house for a wonderful lunch of rice and ground nut stew. On our way back to Accra we stopped at Jon and Juanita's place for a quick tour of their farm before arriving back at Ron's for supper.
     We attended Pastor Felix's church in Boi on Sunday, and as usual they treated us with minerals after the service. We had an afternoon program in Adeiso, so we dropped off the family and grabbed our packed lunch. We picked up a van load of guests on the way to Adeiso, stopping in Medie, Dobro, and Ayaa. The goal was to have Pastors Isaac and Samuel do their first Lead Like Jesus encounter with the pastors of our churches bringing their elders and board members. Isaac and Samuel took turns teaching through the material, although we got a late start due to rain. Luke listened through an interpreter and gave them feedback during the breaks. We were very happy with the way they prepared themselves and the way they presented it. We were off to a good start! We didn't get through all the material and so we will return and finish up with the material at a later date.
     After some final discussions on Monday morning, we took Luke and Brittany to the airport to continue their journey to Egypt and Uganda. We were so blessed to have them here. He really encouraged us to continue on, to strive for God's greatest glory, and to follow the patterns of the greatest Leader of all time because the best is yet to come!
                                                             ---------------------------  

 I have been involved with the men's fellowship with Elim's International Church.  Yesterday we traveled an hour and a half to Kinder Paradise children's home/school in Pram Pram, near Tema. There were many games planned, including basketball, volleyball, tug-o-war, football, sack races, and a nine-legged race. They also had bouncy houses for the little ones, popcorn, juice, sno cones, and even a cotton candy machine! I am not sure how many times my children went through that line. I was team captain of the "Sharks", and we had a blast as we came up with our war cry, our special dance, and competed in the various games. We managed to scratch out a second place finish with an award for team spirit! The day ended with a water balloon fight and a time of worship. The children really enjoyed interacting with one another, and even the adults had a lot of fun, sunburns and achy muscles aside. Since Kinder Paradise is in sight of the ocean, Richmond got to see the ocean for the first time! Next time we promised to let him swim in it.

Arranging the kids into 8 groups

Billy, Kinder Paradise director

Cotton candy!

Mike with some new friends

Team Shark! 2nd Place and trophy for team spirit!

a good man

It seems to me

it is possible for a woman to find a good man.

And it is possible for a woman to find a faithful husband.

But for this woman to have found a good man who is honorable

And a faithful husband who is a servant

And a teachable father to his children.

This is a gift from God.

I am thankful.

the kitchen or the keyboard

More than once a day I choose between the kitchen and the keyboard. Between distraction and production. Between one world and another.
I've been reading recently on a mom blog ( http://moreformissionarymoms.blogspot.com )about  how living in a second culture requires a certain amount of detaching from your first culture. All while creating that all important third culture for your family. I've been doing that for the last 2 years & it's a whole other post but lately I'm feeling like I'm taking a guess at each one and leaving each undone at the end of the day.
The blog is silent, the ants are winning, and I've no energy to read the requested pile of story books on my 4yo's bed.

It's easy to think my husband should be the one pouring out his heart for ministry and sharing culture stories here. What he has to say would, it seems, be much more interesting. Mental knowledge that my call in the 'kitchen' mission field is just as vital as his isn't enough. Knowing it and showing it in my attitudes & words are two very different things.

That's a hard perspective for me when I'm simultaneously coaching subtraction with regrouping, breastfeeding, trying to savor my one-cup-a-day coffee, hearing someone in the fridge (big deal when the light is off & leaving it closed means the food won't spoil), hearing someone banging on the gate, & telling my dear 4yo daughter I really do want to come see her tree climbing feat...and I will...soon. Today I got it right. Subtraction finished with a better spirit in the afternoon, I got to the gate before the veggie lady, Grace, gave up on me, the fridge-stalker settled for a banana, and the tree-climber performed her stunt later for me with no broken bones or bark brush burns. And Leila has grown to almost 10 lbs. Good evidence any chaos around here isn't distracting her from what she needs. ;)

This week I has the opportunity to support Jon in a more visible way. Once during the 10 week term, the students gather for an evening of fun. This week we planned a movie night with a meal of fried rice with salad, pineapple, and popcorn. I planned for about 11 adults, making what seemed like a huge batch of fried rice with fresh red pepper, ginger, garlic, veggies, beef, & egg. I always have ingredients to chop since eat almost all fresh local veggies but this was a few more than normal.
(Frozen and canned are available for higher price and are usually of lower quality. Though it means the variety is less, we adjusted to staples of carrot, cucumber, green pepper, cabbage, tomato, lettuce & a type of green bean. Occasionally, eggplant, squash & cauliflower can be found as well.)

Since finding bus transport after dark takes longer, we covered the classroom windows for an early movie showing that would allow everyone to get home in good time. Right now one student is using the dorm and the farthest student comes from Adeiso. It seems word got out about the fun night. A few more showed up than expected including workers, children & one random church member who no doubt smelled the rice from the village. :)

As is the custom, the cook serves. I was paranoid I was giving them the wrong amount. Too little, since they like a rather large serving of rice( - it isn't a ball of starch as banku or fufu) or too much since it was made by an obruni- what if they didn't like it? Call me paranoid but a guest did spit out a cookie at my table once because it was too sweet. I was also praying it would reach all the extra bowls I needed to fill.

I'm thankful to say it reached with just enough to spare that one student asked to take the remaining for his son at home. So I think the quality was okay and God made sure the quantity reached. By movie end, all the food was finished.

If you've ever watched Flywheel, you can guess their favorite part. When the car dealer returns the overcharged money to the customers, one happens to be a lovely African American. They laughed and hooted at all her reactions. They understood her. I could only imagine what they were thinking when the main character and his wife are crying out to God. Um. Quietly, with a few tears & prayers. Pretty sure our students thought that was the worst acting they ever saw. Who repents like that?!

In this place where relationships take priority to schedules & personal interests, we see the value in this time spent together. It's lesson we are still learning and want so much to never neglect. And I was  thankful my kitchen missionfield got a work out.

At the end of the night, the food had been okay, the movie was fine.
 It was the people that were great.

sweeter than strawberry pie

How much  there is to say about a new life. A new lady-in-waiting.

Leila is adding spice to our life and sweetness to the quiet moments.

Enjoy!

(And we'll both pretend little girlies are always so sweet and lovely. Except when there not. Which is the way life is & adds to her personality. Her opinions are loudly expressed & her wishes are rarely  delayed. )

Ah, we love this bit of sugar & spice.

 

 

One week old....

 

 

 

One month old

 Sugar...

 

and the spice.

 

Easter 2013

 

He is Risen!

Although well versed in the Resurrection miracle, Rory wanted Jesus in the tomb for the picture. We decided it was the moment before God raised him from the dead. And those other people, well, his actors are a little early on stage. It was a great visual to keep the Truth in front of us through last week using baked salt dough & a tomato paste can.

 

  

This year we celebrated Easter with three of our churches who gathered for 4 days of services hosted by the Terno branch of CFC at the Bible School. 
It was delightful to see the three churches that joined together this year share parts of the service, taking turns with worship, preaching, & keeping order. One woman was tasked with going around tapping the sleeping youth on the shoulder. Another man & woman documented offerings & attendance. Young boys brought cold water bags & bottles around. Multiple translators were needed for translation into 3 dialects.

A large Sunday School class met under the 2 huge mango trees. Grace, Pas. Samuel's wife, does a wonderful job with the children. They even had their own worship time, the line of them dancing around the driveway followed by the drummers.
So many times in other services here I've been completely distracted by things foreign (still!) to me. The sweat dripping the children's chins, the length of the service, the type of songs sung and even the assortment of clothing that appears at church. Lately, those things have faded from my attention & I feel more focused on participating when I can & holding an internal worship & prayer service of my own when I cannot.

After the service, baby Abenah was the main attraction. Leila was born on a Tuesday, her Twi week name is Abenah. This is how we introduce her to our friends here. They would expect her to have an English name as well but laugh with delight at their new sister (which she is, since she was born in Ghana). Thankfully, Abenah was awake & calm as she was passed from Pas John & Cynthia to many others & then to 11 yr old Jessica to have her little pink arms stroked & her cheeks pinched. I've met Jessica before as she attends the church at Terno. She was so sweetly persistent to holding Leila, fending off the older women so well she got two turns!

As soon as Leila started to squeak from all the rumpus, the nearby women all began to instruct me that the 'this baby is hungry! ' and grab their chest (as if their English wasn't good enough). She had a full belly...but they were guiding me according to their ways. :) In their houses there are no nuks, few toys, few snacks & no schedules. So you breastfeed on demand. At any squeak at all. That reason & also I'm sure they were curious to see if I'd take care of business in front of them. The myth is that white woman are so rich they always buy formula & don't breastfeed. Not this momma. And if they'd have wanted a show, they missed it, as I fed her during the church service.

 

 

 

Pastor Joseph & Lydia and their church family from Asamankese. Their son Desmond is at the far right in yellow plaid.

 

Pastors Joseph, Samuel, John, Isaac, Emmanuel & Jon 

 

We took some group pictures after the service. This is something we enjoy doing for them. It's easy for us, we can even get prints at mall, but something they have little access to. Last time Jon got the prints for free! The guy at the counter saw a movie on Jon's flashdrive he wanted to watch so they 'traded'. Actually, Jon gave him the money anyway but that's how things work here. Always room to barter.

By 2pm we were enjoying a family Easter dinner at our coworkers ,the Bontragers. 5 families from various places in the States, a noisy children's table of 11, & a meal of turkey, mashed potatoes & more, an egg hunt & conversations both hilarious & serious made the classic family dinner.
These friends, they are family!

A season of change

Written about 10 days ago & posted now due to our electicity being off quite enough & the Internet connection being difficult. Thanks for understanding!  

 

Dry season turns our little weed patch into sandy dirt & our orange tree to twigs

I'll admit to missing living in a 4 season climate. The change of seasons has many routines back in Pennsylvania from the flowers in spring

to the warm summer nights

 to picking out fall pumpkins 

to the crisp breath of winter air.

The driest part of dry season is ending here in Accra. The rain carved craters on our dirt street have been softened by the erosion of the dry powdery dirt. A very occasional rain comes. No gully-washers yet, but it has been enough to put water in our well. An item we give thanks for often. Just like the hot summer sun seems far off to many of you, the cool breeze of rainy season seems a far off change for us.

 

But this seems to be our year of changes. It would seem so tidy to give a list of the easy & the difficult, the for better & the for worse. The reality is even the most joyful change contains the bittersweet. Every bend in the path bringing new & exciting leaves something familiar out of sight behind us around the dusty bend.

 

God has this year chosen to add a fourth blessing to our home. This new little girl is a delight. The sweet unfolding of newborn development is a gift that has draws us all.

But I will tell you not every cry is sweet. Newborn tempers flare just as pre-schoolers do. And when attention is going one direction, as newborns sometimes require, 4 year old people revolt with sassy words & bruising fists.

At our house, Mom (me) begins the mornings. And so when Leila keeps me sitting so she can start her day with a full belly, the day starts later than it should. The bread lady still knocks at 6:15, Jon still leaves at 7:10 & the boys still wake up hungry. Meeting all that in your PJ's just isn't an option.

  

We have managed to hang onto our school time. The time seems to change daily, but we are excited to be half way through our school year. We had a late start thanks to furlough last fall & plan to finish 2nd grade in July & start 3rd grade & kindergarten in September.

 

 

This week we'll say goodbye to my Mom. Her weeks here have soothed the change of routine. But what a change for her! She has endured trading her quiet house for our hot, sticky, noisy one with grace. Despite unreliable electricity & other inconveniences, we've managed to get some housecleaning finished, tomatoes canned, sewing projects completed, freezer defrosted, market visited, games played, & baby held!

The bittersweet comes in the time this week when she'll return to spring-hopeful Pennsylvania & reacquaint herself with 'normal' life. That would be life with constant electricity, Internet access & the occasional need for socks. She must go, we know, but she'll be missed!

About a week before Leila aerrived, Mom & I did the weekly Bible School cleaning.

This year brings the end of service in Ghana for the two other families we serve with here. Gary & Joy will return to Wisconsin in July & Ron & Audrey to Indiana in August. Familiar working relationships & friendships are about to change with new staff. Please pray for us as we adjust to new 'family' here. That is what we've become for each other as we work & play together. We wish each of them peace & confidence in the Father as they plan their next steps. God's plan for ministry is just as vibrant in the States as it is in W Africa.

Visiting CFC board members Elvin & Ruth Martin with the Sauder & Bontrager kids.

 Jon's first term as CFC Bible Institute administrator is completed. He has taken this new role beginning January of 2013. Prior to this his role here was very flexible. Working with the pastor's association meant a different schedule every week. He would also assist the building project & school as needed. Now all those flexible items are fit around a four day-a-week Bible School schedule. Add in weekend services & time for this little family & the week is full! Jon will tell you he is enjoying the Bible School & it's variety of students.  He has been able to make the unofficial beginning of a technology class for the attending students. They asked & he was happy to help. Currently, one day a week they stay late for the class. Working it into the existing curriculum is in the future. This is currently the only class he is teaching. Otherwise he keeps busy managing teacher schedules, student applications, village outreach & church support through films & seminars, keeping supplies stocked &, just for fun, cleaning every Tuesday before school starts for the week.
God always makes a way for us to grow here. We had no idea that Jon's willingness to pick up 3 of the students who live near our junction would be one of those things. Now he not only hears about their lives on the way to school, but they can answer questions for him as they travel home together.

And for us. After 2 years of making Pokuase our home, we are no longer new here. The list of lessons learned has grown. The change is now that we are looking at 'lasts' as we anticipate returning to the states early in 2014.

How tempting it is to crane our necks to look back around the bend. To wonder what should've been done differently, done better or not done at all. Jon & I've purposed to look ahead, living this year out with enthusiasm & looking with anticipation to the next steps we'll take in 2014. Changing cultures again is another best/worse situation. Although the children have been asking when we'll go back to American to live "forever" , they get teary over leaving Accra & not knowing if or when we'll return.

This year our roles will again change as new staff arrives. We are praying for God's call on lives, a raising up of unqualified servants who are wlling to let the Father be their Teacher. We also pray for God's call to bring someone with a teacher's passion to take the work of the Bible School forward in administration & teaching.

Leila Evangeline

                                                        Waiting...
                                                        
                                                        waiting...

                                                        waiting...
                                                    
 Walking what felt like miles in the hot, dusty corridor outside our room.
Feeling willing to do anything to sustain the contractions that had been coming intermittently for weeks thanks to illness, heat & caring for my family.
 Hearing the mosque call to prayer.
Offering snatches of Ps. 139 as timing to my steps.
You hem me in behind & before. You lay Your Hand upon me...

 

 

 

 

 

 

A labor of love that began with 4 hours of light contractions and then started in earnest at 11:30 am on March 5, 2013. The physical labor ended at 2:50pm when a little girl took her first oxygenated breath in the delivery room of Egon German Clinic, Abelemkpe, Accra. The truest labor of love has now begun as we begin the journey of shepherding another soul.

We are happy to introduce Leila Evangeline Sauder.

March 5, 2013 at 2:50pm

6lbs 8oz, 18 inches long

Her first few minutes were quiet. A few squeals proved healthy lungs, but she took in her surroundings with calm eyes.

 .
Annabelle & Angela, the midwives who delivered Leila are overseeing her first set of clothes We agreed to their recommendation of removing only facial vernix, leaving the first bath for the next morning.  A choice we now regret since the bath oil they use has given an ugly rash to her sensitive skin. Lesson learned.
They were also present during labor. They were working in the adjoining building. Jon was my 'call light' to get Angela when I knew the time was now. Then they stationed themselves outside my door until I wobbled past them to get to the delivery room, saying this baby is coming. Don't think them negligent. I was happy they didn't hover & they were happy to help when needed. :)

 The fun of a few phone calls back to Pennsylvania.

In 2 hours we had walked to another building & climbed to the second floor to find our room for one night. We brought it many things from snacks to towels to diapers to a sleeping mat for Jon. No provided meals, white towels or deluxe cable nearby. Our simple room had hot water & air conditioning as it's best features. We enjoyed it very much. A few blood pressures taken, a few cursory checks of Leila were all that interrupted our quiet rest. I was left to knead my own fundus (just for you, Bethany,Becky & Danielle ;) ), take my own meds & marvel at our new daughter.
The sweet housekeeper did offer to hand wash my laundry & then kindly requested that I finish my 'bafing' so that she could turn off the hot water heater.
Looking back, I realize how anxiety giving that quiet atmosphere could have been to nurse-Sara. I believe God laid His hand on us these last few days, covering us with His peace. We were resting in His promise. He had hemmed us in behind & before. It didn't depend on how we were feeling about life at the moment. The last few weeks had brought more moments of frustration & impatience than I care to recount due to lack of water, electricity & unending heat. And wanting this pregnancy to end!
We were able to rest. Peacefully.

 A proper welcome home began with shrieks of delight from two of our neighbors who are young mothers. Gifty & Patricia were delighted with my 'very white' baby.

 A long awaited look at the little girl who, according to Max, makes the teams even. :) Though he did think she'd need to be bigger than cousin Chayel to play ball with him. More big sister/big brother pictures soon. They crowd around for every new squeak.

And last but never least is the servant of the house, my mom Lucille. This is the lady who threw her schedule to the wind and hopped a plane to Accra to serve us. She's holding back the tide of dirty dishes, laundry & grumpy children. The last 2 weeks have earned her a place in a comfy chair with a cold drink & sweet Leila. We are so thankful she's here!