The Privilege of Sharing our lives in Christ

We often have four young people living or visiting our house. Over the past few years they have all become part of our family. We try to support them in different ways to give them each a future with prospects. As they all started their schooling late, they missed out on a good foundation when it comes to education. They also became Christians at relatively young ages and because of this their families no longer support them and other youth in their communities no longer respect them. God has brought us into contact with these young people and we consider it a privilege to be part of the lives of Amina, Shirazu, Amatu and Augustina. Although, at times, the responsibilities we have for them can feel a bit daunting, we are happy that we can do this because of the love of Christ. We pray that what we invest in them (both materially and spiritually), they in turn will pass on to others and will be a light to their families and communities, now and in the future. During the recent Christmas holidays we were all able to get together – which was a great opportunity to take a picture and to write you a little bit about the background of our less known family members.

With Shirazu, Amatu, Augustina, Amina

Amina was the first person who entered our lives about five years ago. At that time she was still attending primary school even though she was already 17 years old. One of her teachers asked us whether we could help her a little with her schooling as her family did not give her any support. First she only came on Saturdays. At that time Samuel had just been born, so she helped us with some household chores. We assisted her with her homework and later we also supported her in her secondary school. She has a difficult past - her mother was sent away from her father's home when she was only six years old. Her father died when she was about fourteen years old and after that she was looked after by other family members. Sometimes that was done with love and care but often she was not treated so nicely as her father and mother were no longer there to protect her. When she was about seventeen years old she decided to search for her mother with whom she was finally reunited. Up until that time she was never given the opportunity to go to school. After she had visited us for a number of months she decided to become a Christian (she is from a Muslim background). Two years ago Amina finished the first phase of Secondary School and is now attending a vocational school (catering) in Kumasi. Our house has become her home and she spends all her holidays with us.

Amina trying her catering skills on us, a very delicious Christmas cake

Shirazu has been part of our lives for a long time without us knowing it. One day we were working outside when he passed our house and talked with us for a little while. He asked Joke, 'Can you still remember me?' She had no idea. Then he told us that a number of years before Joke had taken him in her car from a remote village where he lived with his grandfather to another remote village where his parents lived. At that time he was seriously ill with polio. His grandfather was not a Christian but his parents were. Together with other Christians his parents prayed for healing. Shirazu regained his strength but as a result of the polio he no longer had strength in his right arm and leg. Because Jesus healed him, Shirazu decided to become a Christian. This happened when he was still in Primary School. At the time we met him again, he had just entered the second phase of his Secondary School education. When you are handicapped in Ghana there are not so many opportunities. Many handicapped people just in their houses doing nothing or they go on the streets to beg. Many at times they are looked down upon. We wanted to help Shirazu to give him a better future. After he finished his Secondary School, he was admitted at a computer school in Tamale. Together with a number of people from the Netherlands we support Shirazu's education and last month or so somebody from America even gave him a laptop. Shirazu needs to practise a lot as he can only use his left hand to work on the computer. Shirazu lives in Tahima Yili so that others can help him with washing clothes and other things he cannot do because of his handicap. Shirazu daily thanks God for the changes He has brought in his life. He really thought he would die. Sometimes he says, 'I could never turn away from Jesus, never! He has done so much for me!' During the holidays Shirazu stays with an uncle in Yendi - but he is a regular visitor at our house.

Shirazu and Joke admiring the new laptop

Amatu came to help us when Joke was expecting Micah. At that time Samuel was not quite two years old. Amatu helped us a lot by taking care of Samuel so that Joke could work. Besides that, Amatu attended private classes because the first time she wrote her Secondary School exams she did not pass many of the subjects. Amatu comes from a Muslim background. When she was a little girl, she was sent to her grandmother's village to help her grandmother with household chores. Her grandmother was a Christian and Amatu joined her when she went to church. She decided to become her Christian herself and because of this her family no longer wanted to support her. Amatu's brothers are still putting a lot of pressure on her to leave her Chrisian faith. It was only when she was 14 years old that Amatu started school. After she had finished the first phase of Secondary School in the village where she lived with her grandmother, she came to Yendi to attend the second phase of Secondary School. She lived with an uncle in Yendi and that is how we got to know her. Since last year she has attended a Secretarial School in Tamale.

Augustina came to live with us after Amatu left for Tamale. She is a member of one of the churches in the area of Yendi and, just like Amatu, attended private classes to upgrade the results of her Secondary School exams. During this time Samuel was already attending school but Micah was still at home. When Augustina came to live with us, she took care of Micah in the morning and prepared food. Even though Micah is now also attending school, Augustina is still living with us and cooks our meals (we eat two hot meals a day). This gives Joke more time to work. It is also good to have somebody staying with us as Abukari travels a lot and Joke has had to rush Micah to the hospital several times in the night because of his asthma. The children love her and so do we. Augustina is currently attending a computer course and hopes to continue her education in September.

Augustina and the boys

Thank God for:

• The joy these young people bring to our family and the help they offer

• The way God has touched their lives

Pray for:

• The future of each of our young people - that God will guide them and us in their future steps and plans

• Abukari's Thesis

• Preparations towards our furlough

• Health and Strength - life seems a little like a marathon at the moment