Difficult teens?

Our third school was different than all the rest. It was a very large school, but we spoke only to the middle school children. When we arrived and walked up to the school, there were many students who laughed at us. They were not being mean, I think they were really just excited, but it made the boys very uneasy. As we entered the room and they quieted the kids down, I could tell they were going to be somewhat rowdy. After all, they are teenagers! There were kids outside every window and a crowd outside the door. The room inside was packed. As I looked around the room, I prayed to God, “Lord, please give me something that will speak to their hearts.” “Go to the Word,” came His quick reply. I opened my Bible and there was the Book of Revelation with Chapter 1 verse 2 underlined. I understood what He was telling me. This would be a different talk. I told Rev. Wisdom I planned to do something a little different and asked his approval. He nodded in agreement. I had already asked all three boys if they wanted to share the meaning of the colors and all three did not. It was not an easy audience and they knew it.

I read the scripture out loud. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

I then asked who could tell me what Book of the Bible it was from. I explained there was a prize for the one who could answer correctly. “Matthew, Acts, 1 Corinthians, Psalms”...they guessed and guessed but no one was correct. I prayed for God to give someone the answer. A young girl about half way back raised her hand and said, Revelation. I handed her a 1 Cedi bill and the whole room exploded. It took a few minutes to calm them down. I explained that the lesson I wanted them to get was that reading and knowing the Word of God PAYS in many ways. I had their attention. I knew the Spirit of God was on me and I just started talking. The audience sat perfectly still and very quiet. Their ears were open and I knew God was planting many seeds in their hearts. The more I talked, the more God seemed to tell me what to say. He was talking to a group of teenagers who were facing the temptations of life. He knew where they were and spoke directly into their lives. I knew this message was specifically for them. God was speaking to them and I believe they knew it too. We gave them an opportunity to ask Jesus in their heart. Sister Florence took over and prayed in Ewe with them. I prayed over them before we left.
There have been days as we have traveled that I have wished for home or doubted we should have left and then there are days like this when I know we are being used by God in ways we will not understand this side of eternity.

Please pray for these teenagers. Pray for teenagers all over the world. God knows what they are going through and is ready to carry them through in His truth.

Ghana Teenagers

Hotel Makavo Aflao, Ghana

This morning the rain was light, so we visited three schools. The first was a school of about 100. Harrison shared the Gospel and even showed what skipping was. As part of sharing the Gospel, we explain that the Bible tells us the streets of Heaven are paved with gold. (The meaning of the color yellow on our wristbands)

God lives in Heaven and wants us all to be there with Him. We then tell them we are planning a skipping party in Heaven down those streets of gold. When we all get there, we will all skip down the streets together. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

You only need to make sure you will be there!

Headmaster Phillips leads a precious pack...

The second school had about 120.

Headmaster Phillip was quick to profess his faith in Christ to us.

The children sang us a song of welcome.

They had several boys playing the drums.

I felt like God was smiling on these precious children as they worshiped Him in song.

Reid told a little about our mission trip and Hatcher shared the Gospel with the children.

There was such a sweet spirit about this school and I wanted to stay with them longer.

God’s healing Touch

Ghana
It’s 4:00 am.

About two hours ago Hatcher suddenly woke up with a stomach ache.

I immediately put my hand on his stomach and prayed for God to heal him.

One trip to the bathroom and two vomit false alarms and he was back in bed.

................Reid prays for a baby and mother our first day in Ghana.

I prayed in the Spirit the whole time. After getting back to bed, he fell into a deep sleep. I put my hand on him. He felt clammy and I prayed again asking God to make his temperature normal.

I couldn’t go back to sleep and so I began praying. I prayed for Ghana and each person we have met here. I prayed for Rev. Wisdom and all the church leaders in this region, then for our church back home, our Pastor Joel Sellers, the Sunday school teachers, our deacons….the list continued and I prayed as God brought people to my mind.

As I prayed it occurred to me how healthy we have been on this trip. So far we have visited 8 countries and have had simply one fever and one vomiting session. We have had numerous times when one of us has begun to feel sick. Our family ritual has become to immediately lay hands on the one ill and pray. If I don’t think to do it, one of the boys will. More times than I can count the illness just fades.

Even prior to this mission trip, there have been numerous times when one of the boys would have a fever in the night and shortly after prayer, it leaves. I have learned that God still heals today. We are called to pray and trust God.


Suddenly Hatcher awoke again. He shared a dream he had and then said simply, “Mom, I feel better.” My reply is always the same… Thank you Jesus!

I heard another voice in the dark and it was Harrison. “Thank you God for water…” his voice faded and I knew he was dreaming. “Did you hear what he said Mom?” Hatcher asked. I had not and sat up to hear better. Harrison started again, “Thank you God for water and for healing up….”. I thought he was thanking God for making Hatcher better and then he finished, “…for healing up Aletha.”

Hatcher and I both responded, “Thank you Jesus” and giggled.

Aletha is my dear cousin who watched the boys for several weeks while we were last home. I don’t know that Aletha is sick, but I do believe that God has healed her up!

“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength.” Psalm 8:2

Please pray for those you know who are ill and give praise to God for all those you know who have recovered from illness. Also, pray for God to open our eyes to His healing touch.

No Money!

Hotel Makavo
Aflao, Ghana
By Gloria Gault Geary

No Money!

We have been here four days and the only money I have had was 25 euros (which equates to about $39). I discovered this money late Monday afternoon. I am amazed that I haven’t been more fretful about this. After Rev. Wisdom picked us up at the airport, we drove straight out to Aflao. It never occurred to me we might have problems getting cash. The ATM (there is one here) and the bank do not accept credit card, debit cards or traveler checks. I emailed home to have money wired to us. How grateful I am for internet on this trip.

Of course, it helps that Rev. Wisdom knows the hotel owner (they don’t take credit cards either) and he and the church have provided for our food and water. Before this trip, I don’t think I could have handled being in this position. I am constantly reminded that God is in control and He provides for our every need. In fact, several times in the last week or so this verse has been brought to my attention.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

The best part is that the first day Rev. Wisdom sent over a huge jar of peanut butter!

We haven’t had peanut butter in over three months.

The boys were thrilled!

My how God does provide and He provides the good stuff too. Thank you God for providing for us.

Prayer and Laying of Hands on Patricia

Later in the afternoon we visited one of the ministry team’s wives, Patricia. Patricia had just suffered a miscarriage.

She and Emmanuel want four children and this was her second pregnancy and second miscarriage. The whole team surrounded her, laid hands on her and prayed.

Please pray for God’s health for her and that they would be blessed with strong children.

Hospitol Ministry with Sister Florence

Please pray for the sick in Ghana.

Pray for God to heal hearts and bodies.

Pray for all who suffer physical illness.

After the hospital we went to a school of 750 children.

I was amazed at the number of children they had.

We had not brought enough bracelets and Hatcher and Coffee (the driver) had to make a run back to the hotel to get more.

Reid shared the Gospel and we encouraged them to be missionaries right in their neighborhood by sharing with others the meaning of the colors on the bracelet.

Sister Florence stood up and shared a song that was exactly what we had just taught. So we all learned a new song. The school children were enthusiastic and eager to learn.

Ghana Hospitol Ministry PM

Afternoon
We ran into several Muslims who allowed us to pray for them and several we witnessed about Christ to. We went through the men’s ward and the TB ward (the children did not go into that ward) and another ward where the illnesses seemed most severe. It was hard for all of us to continue through and pray, especially for the boys.

The toughest part was when we entered the children’s ward.

There were several children I wept over as I prayed. Next to every child was their mom sitting right there with them and I prayed over those moms too. I know the pain of seeing your child sick and hospitialized and my heart went out to all of them.

Ghana Hospitol Ministry AM

Aflao, Ghana
Our Third Day in Ghana
Morning

Rev. Wisdom and his magnificent crew picked us up this morning and we rode straight to the hospital. We were greeted by the administrator of the hospital who warmly welcomed us. We prayed over him before we started the visits.

Our first stop was a group of pregnant women. I loved the fact that the hospital had gathered these women together for missionaries to come speak to them. We shared from the Bible and Florence (my interpreter) shared that she didn’t think many of them knew Jesus. So we shared the Gospel and offered for them to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts. They prayed and I knew many were receiving Jesus for the first time.

As we prayed over them, I felt led to encourage them to pray over their children. There is a mighty power released when Mommas pray for their children. God has a special ear tuned into the prayers of mothers. I can’t explain it, but I know that when I pray for my children God leans in and cups His hand to His ear to make sure He doesn’t miss a breath of what I say. I tried to explain this to them. Many nodded and several smiled their agreement that they too knew this.

We then asked them to lay hands on their bellies as we prayed over their children. I truly believe that one of the most important things we can ever do for our children is pray over them. We are called by God to teach them about His Word. Our actions speak louder than our words and when they see us praying, it speaks to their hearts. Even more importantly is when they hear us ask God to pour out His blessings on them. These prayers are seeds planted in the hearts of our children that God will nourish and grow.

The Bible tells us: speak to them as you lay down and as you get up…. This was a joyous time for me to pray over and encourage Moms-to-be.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

As we left the maternity ward we visited many others wards of very sick people. I have taken my children numerous times to hospitals to visit the sick. In New York City we visited a hospital for the terminally ill. This visit was different for all of us. The patients here are extremely sick and their need for healing is much more obvious than we have ever seen. We would walk into a ward and there would be 8-10 beds of sick people. Our group would split up into groups of 2-3 to minister. We would talk with the patient and determine if they knew Jesus. Those who did not, we would share the Gospel and give them an opportunity to ask Jesus into their heart.

Many of the patients did accept Jesus on the spot.

Witnessing in Ghana

Just a quick update ...we are in Ghana...Aflao City.....on the coast of Gulf of Guinea.

It is hot and we have spoken at several churches, schools and orphanages.

They love the bracelets and we have given out probably 1000 in the last two days.

Pray for strength for us and for us all to be good witnesses.

I am humbled by what we complain about since being here. (expect a new "gratitude list" soon)

No access for my computer....so will be able to communicate rarely.

Know we are good.

Love you all...thanks for your prayers.