The Yakubu Family: Life & Ministry (Northern Ghana)

Christmas in Yendi

2012-01-20T16:50:00.000Z

We are often asked the question “how do you celebrate Christmas in Yendi?” Because we live in an area where there are very few Christians there are very few Christmas celebrations. 95% of the people are not Christians and do not celebrate Christmas. However, within the churches Christmas is celebrated in a number of different ways. Some churches make it a large celebration with a big gathering of people (and churches joining together) to share food, whilst others celebrate a little less exuberantly. There tends not to be the long preparation towards Christmas, especially here in the north of Ghana and there is very little commercialism! However, to prepare our children a little for Christmas, as a family we do celebrate the four weeks of advent.

The church building at Jagando on Christmas Day

On Christmas Day we visited a church in quite a remote village. Whilst Abukari was preaching outside, Joke took the children inside the church building (here the building is also too small for the whole congregation) to talk with them about Christmas. Joke brought some advent candles and they talked about how Jesus brings hope, peace, joy, love and light to the world. We shared biscuits and toffees with the children to make our time a little festive. After we had shared the sweet gifts, there were still quite a few left over. Joke suggested sharing these gifts with the local children who do not attend church. However, the children’s leader had a different idea. He told us that if the children who normally do not attend church see that the children in the church have received some gifts, then next week they will join us in the hope that they will also get something. After three weeks or so they will share the rest of the gifts with them and so hope to attract new children to the Sunday school.

The Jagando church congregation


Some of the Sunday School children

After we came home, the activities in our kitchen began! In this area it is a tradition to share food with neighbours and friends when you celebrate a religious or traditional festival. We cooked a big pot of rice and made tomato stew with goat meat. We shared the food in small pans with our neighbours. Abukari also went to the prison where, together with pastors from the different church denominations in Yendi, they shared food and Bibles with the prisoners.

Presenting food and Bibles to the Yendi prison

Sharing food in small pans with our neighbours

Towards the evening we prepared our 'own' Christmas dinner and - as is our tradition each year - duck was on the menu. The next day, Monday, we had a number of visitors. Throughout the day people came to greet for Christmas. We offered them some soft drinks, biscuits and cake and talked for a little while. In the evening we put some meat (goat and chicken) on the barbecue and that brought an end to our Christmas celebrations for 2011.

Enjoying our family Christmas dinner

A BBQ on Boxing Day!

Sending Christmas Greetings......

2011-12-24T16:40:00.000Z

Common Needs - How best can we help?

2011-12-17T15:45:00.000Z

Regularly people ask us if we can help them in a variety of ways and each week brings new and different needs to our door. It is not always easy to take the right decision; should we help or not? or should we postpone our help? Although some of the people who come to us we hardly know or have barely met before, we just give them the little help we can, knowing that our assistance will not be very constructive but that it will soften their current situation. Sometimes the requests are for food and sometimes for money to help pay for a hospital bill, school fees or a contribution towards a fund. There are also situations like the one described below which need a little extra attention, where it is no use continuing to give without searching for the real cause of the problem:

"It is still early in the morning and somebody is knocking on the door. A boy (about 14 years old) enters our house. He comes from a village about 12 kms away from Yendi where he visits one of our churches. He is wearing a school uniform. I welcome him, give him some water to drink and ask him the purpose of his visit. He tells me that he is attending Junior High School in Yendi and that he needs 10 Ghana Cedis (about 5 euro) that his parents are supposed to pay as parent's contribution for his schooling. Because the parents have not been able to pay this amount, the boy regularly gets into trouble with his teachers. The boy, Abdul, says that his parents told him to come to our house and that we would help him. I give him the money but am not too happy about the way the parents have referred him to us.

A few days later Abdul visits us again. This time he is not wearing a uniform. He greets me and then tells me that he needs a new uniform but that his parents have no money to buy him one. I ask him about the uniform he was wearing a few days ago. He tells me his teachers have told him the uniform is too old and he needs to replace it. At this time many people are harvesting their crops, so I tell Abdul he should tell his teachers that his parents have no money at the moment, but that after they have finished harvesting and have sold some of their maize he will get a new uniform. But Abdul does not look very happy. He tells me that he walks from his village to Yendi every day (that is 24 kms a day!) and that his parents do not give him any money to buy lunch. I contemplate, is Abdul really telling the truth or are there other problems? But because I do not want anybody to go hungry whilst we have enough to eat, I give him some money to buy lunch for the coming two weeks.

Students ready to go to school - each school has its own uniform

A week or so later, Abdul is back at our house again. It is still early in the morning and he wears his school uniform. He tells me that the school has asked them for a contribution of 2 Ghana Cedis to print the exam papers for the end of this year. I know that this is a common demand from the schools and give him the money otherwise he would not be able to participate in the exams.

This past week, Abdul came to visit us again. He tells me that he has moved to the house of a family member who lives in Yendi so that he does not have such a long walk to school every day. But again he asks for money to buy food. He has to go to school for another four days before they break for Christmas. I give him the money but tell him that I do not think this is the best way to assist him. Abukari and I have talked about Abdul’s situation during this past week. We agree that it is time to visit Abdul’s parents to find out more. Are they taking their responsibility? Are they so hard pressed financially that they cannot even get Abdul food to eat? Abdul has just entered the first year of his secondary school education and still has a long way to go. What are the prospects for his education? And what about the other children they are taking care of? We hope to be able to visit Adbul's parents soon."

Maize Harvest

2011-11-22T16:10:00.000Z

Abukari is currently in Germany. He has been away for almost four weeks now. He normally takes care of our vegetable garden but in his absence I am in charge. There is a song in Dutch which says: 'the difficult ploughing and difficult sowing is rewarded by you, oh Lord.' This song often comes to my mind as I try to loosen the very hard soil in the garden. But compared to the work most of my neighbours do in their fields, I have no reason to complain. Currently most of the farmers are busy harvesting and processing their maize. It is quite a job! Some pictures will guide you through the process:

When the maize has been harvested, the husk leaves
have to be removed by hand

The maize is carried to the processing machine which produces a lot of dust!

The maize ears are poured into the machine

The grains are coming out

After the maize has gone through the machine, the ears are checked for
any remaining grains

Before the maize can be ground to flour,
the chaf is sifted by the wind

Poverty and Riches

2011-11-01T16:48:00.000Z

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”

(Luke 6:20, 24)

Even an old deflated football is better than none

Daily, we are confronted with people who are poor. This is a confrontation which is not always comfortable as it seems to point to us as being people who are rich and it also challenges us as to what our obligation/response should be to the needs of the poor. How much do/should we share? Is what we share enough? Can we ignore those who are in need because they are just too many to deal with?

Sharing maize with our poor neighbours

Abukari wrote a thesis for his MA in Theology on the topic, ‘In what ways can the Lukan Jesus’ response to the poor address the poor in Dagbon, Ghana?’ As part of his research he interviewed a number of poor people in the area. We would like to share with you some of the statements those interviewed made about poverty. We hope that these statements will help you to understand a little about what it means to be poor, even though most of us will never fully understand what it means to be poor. As one man described it: ‘Poverty is like heat; you cannot see it; you can only feel it; so to know poverty you have to go through it.’

Others explained:

‘A person who is poor is dependent on others, always suffering, all that he does, does not prosper, he is always sick and lamenting. Households with a bad quality of life are always in crisis, and there is no happiness. The response of such a household to the crisis is that they have to consult spirits or gods to see why they are in such a state and to chase the evil spirits away.’

'A poor person has a lot of “ifs” in his life because to the poor person nothing is certain unless it is in his hands. A poor person cannot plan because the person lives at the mercy of circumstances and is very vulnerable.’

‘Poverty means exclusion – poverty is very powerful. Even if the rich man tells lies, it is sometimes taken as truth. Money commands respect, dignity and honour because of what money can do. Money negates character, it covers up bad things.’

On the way to the farm

‘A person who is poor has to go to his farm every day because everything he needs has to come from the produce of the farm. If he wants to buy something tomorrow, he has to go to the farm today to get some yams and sell them, so that he will get some cash to buy what he needs. But a person who has a good life can stay at home and solve his problems there. The poor person has to labour in the hot sun for all his needs. The person with more wealth does not have to leave his house. I am poor but I am still better off than some others because I have an old bicycle and some few clothes to wear but there are people who even cannot afford those. If I am able to one day change my old bicycle for a new bicycle people will know that I now have a better life. But a person who is poor does not even think of changing his bicycle or buying new clothes because he knows his abilities and capacities, he will not dare to dream that dream.’

Happy with some second hand clothing

‘A poor person has no friends, or as a Dagbani proverb says, “The poor man has no lover.” Whatever the poor person wants, he cannot get it. There is no food, no choice when it comes to what to eat or drink and the children are malnourished.’

‘There are certain roles I would have liked to play but lack of money killed those ideas – it puts the light off. I cannot do what I want to do. Sometimes I feel like being chained because I see opportunities or the way I want to go, but when I take one or two steps I am brought back to my knees.’

The goats' project helps to relieve poverty

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus responds to the plight of the poor in different ways. He challenged values inherent to possessions and status. He did not endorse the existing order between the rich and the poor in his time but rather saw the suffering of the poor as a result of injustice in the social order and in need of transformation. What about our social order today? Jesus called people to participate in the new order of the Kingdom of God and so transform injustices in society. We want to challenge you to read this Gospel of Luke and see how Jesus addresses both the rich and the poor. Discover how Jesus reinstates the self-worth and dignity of the poor and gives them new insight into the values of the Kingdom of God. Read how the rich are called to identify with values of God’s Kingdom and to start the process of reversing the material and social situation of the poor in the ‘here and now’. God’s Kingdom in both the lives of the poor and rich should transform the present. Something to think about?!

A few clothes to wear but a lot of fun

People dry their harvest to secure food during the lean season

Transport in Ghana - lesson in patience

2011-10-11T15:00:00.000Z

Last Sunday I travelled from Yendi to Tamale by bus – a journey that takes about 1 hour. I (Joke) do not often travel on public transport, so for me it is always interesting and an adventure to start such a journey as I’m never really sure what will happen! Most of the buses which leave from Yendi do not have a set departure time. The bus will only leave when there are enough passengers. Abukari and the boys went with me to the bus station to wave me good-bye.

Waiting for the bus

When we arrived at the station we realised that there were a lot of people waiting for the bus to Tamale. At least three buses would be needed to transport all the people. Fortunately, Abukari knows somebody working at the bus station and he arranged that we could buy a ticket through him which would ensure me a seat on the next bus. However, it was a long time before the ‘next’ bus arrived at the station. In the meantime more people arrived at the station to join the crowd ready to travel to Tamale. After two hours waiting, there was still no bus in sight. Finally, after about three hours we could see 'the' bus. Relieved people ran to the small office where tickets were being sold. Unfortunately, this bus was not travelling to Tamale. Two more buses arrived at the station but they also had different destinations.

Unfortunately these buses were not going to Tamale

When the bus for Tamale finally arrived, our friend who was supposed to buy my ticket was nowhere to be seen. The bus to Tamale was filling up and I was still sitting on the wooden bench, waiting. Abukari and I started to discuss the option of taking our car to Tamale – as I had to catch a plane to Accra early the next morning and could not afford to miss that flight. Just as we were getting ready to leave the bus station and Abukari was about to ask some people waiting for the bus if they wanted to join us in our car, another bus bound for Tamale arrived. Even though we still could not find our friend who was getting me a ticket, we waited a few more minutes to see what would happen. As this second bus started to fill up our friend suddenly appeared with my ticket and I was sure I could get on this bus.

We are really blessed with our car. We can take it any time of the day and even visit the most inaccessible places in Ghana. Not everybody has that opportunity. Most of the people here only have access to their legs as a means of transport. In the Northern part of Ghana (where the land is relatively flat) people also use their bicycles a lot. However, a bicycle is a possession many people cannot afford. Motorbikes are also popular and for longer distances most people use public transport (a bus). But even using a bus is not always an option. In some villages a truck arrives only once a week, to transport people and goods to the closest market. When we visit any of these villages our car automatically becomes a means of public transport as many people line up to join us when we return to town.

A truck is hardly ever full - even on top of the truck you can find a place to sit

A traffic jam caused by road contruction

An old tyre is a great toy!

Thank God for:

the lesson of patience, even at the bus station

Pray for:

safety on our roads
improvement of the road network so that inaccessible villages can be reached with the Gospel

God's Plan in God's Time

2011-09-21T13:35:00.000Z

On September 10th we visited our church in Worivi. Worivi is a remote village and has a small church. The leadership has led the church with some difficulty over the past years, but thank God they have persevered. A few members of the Videre team also joined us on our visit. As we arrived at the village our car was surrounded by many children. A car full of white people is not a common scene in Worivi. After a while the members of the church gathered and benches and chairs were brought from the surrounding houses to give everybody something to sit on. Two teenage boys were standing at the window at the outside of the church and Abukari called them to come inside.

Worivi village

The service then began. After we had sung, we prayed for the needs of the church and its members. A number of people were sick and we prayed specifically for these individuals. Still people continued to enter the church. The church leader told us that some people from the village had heard we were there and they wanted the Christians to pray for them. They are Muslims who do not normally visit the church – a man with a swollen hand, a woman who has been married for years but still barren, a father with a sick child – but they all came forward to be prayed for. We committed them into God’s hands for healing as well as for open hearts to the Gospel.

Worivi church

Brian, one of the Videre team members, preached from John 4 about the meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman; about living water. This is a story that has so much in common with the lives of the people in many villages in Dagbon; to never be thirsty again, but to be full and filled with Jesus Himself, eternal life.

After the church service the two teenage boys came to speak to Abukari. One of them, Adam, indicated that he wanted to give his life to Christ. Wonderful. Whilst Abukari talked with him, many of the church congregation also listened in and heard what Abukari was saying, including some Muslims. An old woman tried to discourage the boys – it is so hard to be a Christian in an environment where people offer resistance. But the boy was determined. Abukari prayed with him and told him that he would meet with him later in the week.

Last Thursday, Abukari had another talk with Adam and his friend, Mareek. Adam told him that he had visited the house of the church leader in Worivi several times to inform him that he is ready to become a Christian. However, each time he went to the house the leader was not at home. On the Sunday we visited the church at Worivi, Adam was riding his bicycle towards Yendi. When he saw that our car turned towards Worivi, he decided to return to the village. Although he was reluctant to enter the church, because of what other people would say, when Abukari called them inside it was as if God Himself had invited them. Mareek also indicated that he wanted to give his life to Christ. It is so great how God in His time, executes His plan and how many people can be a link in His chain.

Abukari meeting with Mareek (l) and Adam (r)

Last Sunday we visited this church again. However, the boys could not come to church as Adam’s father told them to help with the yam harvest. At the same time Muslim evangelists had come to the village to warn and discourage people about becoming Christians.

Please pray for these two boys, as they will have to face a lot of oppression from family and friends.

The church service last Sunday

Growth that needs our help

2011-09-02T13:45:00.000Z

The village of D.C. Kura is an old farming community in the Yendi district of the Northern region. The village obtained its name “D.C. Kura” from an old District Chief (D.C.) Executive (a central government representative) from Yendi who had his farm in the village and being a prominent person, the inhabitants decided to name the village after him.

Predominantly, those who live in D.C. Kura believe in the African traditional religious system; their religious worldview lies in the belief that the spiritual is imminent and impinges directly on the living. There is a strong belief that people are surrounded by hosts of spirit-beings which are able to influence the lives of the living for good or for evil. These fearful beliefs in the spirit world enslave the people of D.C. Kura as they often sacrifice animals out of fear to appease the gods and their ancestors (their dead relatives) who are believed to have the power to bless or curse the living depending on the way they live.

In 1992, Pastor Azindow saw the need to establish a literacy class in D.C. Kura, as no one in the entire village was able to read in either their mother tongue language or in English. Through the literacy class the good news of Jesus Christ was heard in the village and this brought a dramatic change to the lives of many inhabitants. They came to know the truth, and the truth indeed has set them free (John 8:31, 32). The gospel really brought liberation to the people as many families gave their lives to Jesus. Also many young men and women enthusiastically started to learn how to read and caught the vision of sending their children to school. In fact the current leader of the D.C. Kura Church, Naakiwu Lamba, was one of the first students who learned to read in their first literacy class. In 1994, two years after the literacy classes started, Mark Hagerup (a missionary with SIM) helped D.C. Kura believers establish a church congregation and since then they have continued to experience spiritual and numerical growth.

The church building at D.C. Kura

Abukari with Naakiwu Lamba, the church leader at D.C. Kura

An occasion last Sunday clearly affirmed this when we were especially invited to witness the graduation of students of the Children’s Sunday school class. When we arrived at the church the 14 young men and women who will be leaving the Sunday school were sitting under a tree, rehearsing the memory verses and songs they were to perform during the church service. Under another tree over 70 children gathered who also attend the weekly Sunday school. The church was full up of adults who are part of the membership of the church of D.C. Kura. When the 14 students entered the 24 x 18 ft church, followed by the 70 children to be part of the service it was obvious that the people of D.C. Kura have outgrown their church building. What a wonderful concern to have - the church is too small!!! Praise the Lord.

We are now taking up the challenge to see how we can make space for all these groups in one church building. Can you pray and stand with us as we try to raise $16,000 to build a church that can accommodate both the adults and children and their activities at the same time.

The Sunday school children are gathered under trees outside

Joke talking to the Sunday school children

The church is too small - people are standing in the aisle and many are still outside

Thank God for:

The growth of the Church in D.C. Kura
The leaders and their commitment towards the adults as well as children in the church

Pray for:

This church that it will continue to grow, not only in numbers but also in their faith
Funds to build a new, bigger church
Our trip to Kara, Togo; we hope to be there from 4th-11th September
For the children who will go back to school (after a long absence) on 12th September
For the safe arrival of another team from Videre who hope to be in Yendi from 11th-16th September to train a new group of entrepreneurs in ‘Business as Mission’

Water Day

2011-08-19T16:24:00.000Z

We are back at Yendi - finally home. We are also back in our Ghanaian rhythm - like the flow of water to our house.

Today is 'water day'. On average, once a week, water is pumped through the pipes towards our house. Our water tanks are being filled but at the same time women living close to our house also come to fetch water from our tanks. Most women have big drums in which they store their water. So when we get water through our pipes, they also come to fill their drums. It is also the day when many women wash their family’s clothes because on a 'water day' they do not have to walk far to get water. Children do fetch the water, although usually it is the girls who help with this. However, boys do wash their own clothes and as you can see from the photos - Samuel and Micah help one of their friends washing his clothes.

We are also getting back into the flow of our life and work rhythm. The boys are still on their school holidays. However, as they missed out on the last week or so of school in the Netherlands and they have not had any English classes for quite some time, I am helping them to get back to the level that is required when they return to school in September. Samuel reads quite a bit of English already and Micah is trying to learn the alphabet. He should be able to read and write that before the new school term begins.

Abukari is in Accra at the moment. He is attending a meeting with Ethiopian, Nigerian and American colleagues, on stimulating discipleship making in the churches. It is a continuation of the meeting he attended in Ethiopia last year. During this meeting strategies are translated into activities and participants are being trained in coaching 'disciple makers'.

Learning the alphabet

Ooh and in between all this we celebrated Samuel's 6th and Micah's 4th birthday!

Youth Group Visit

2011-08-06T15:00:00.003Z

Is it only four weeks ago that we flew back to Ghana? It’s hard to believe - the memories of the Netherlands seem to have faded away.... although, there's been no lack of Dutch people here at the moment, as we’ve been hosting a youth group from the Netherlands - 22 men and women. They have worked very hard during the past two weeks. They have painted the 'Home of Hope' buildings, made a football pitch and constructed a house for the guinea fowl. They have done this together with the Ghanaian students who live at the hostel.

The completed football pitch

Working on the construction of the guinea fowl house

It has been a special experience and time of learning for everyone. For most of the Dutch people this visit to Ghana is their first experience of working and living in an African culture. For the Ghanaian students it is also their first experience of living alongside a group of Dutch people – it is hard to understand that the Dutch are really happy with two “bread” meals a day and to see that boys too can wash the dishes!! It has also been a time of learning for Abukari and I, as it is the first time we have had a team come and work with one of our projects. We have tried as best we can to make their stay a good one. Today, our guests will leave Tamale to visit some tourist attractions before they finally return to the Netherlands on Monday night. You can read more about their experiences (in Dutch) at: Sophie's travelogue and Sjaak's travelogue.

Today as a family we plan to travel to our house in Yendi - then we also will have finally reached 'home'.


Interaction between the Dutch and Ghanaian students

Joining in a cultural dance

Back in Ghana

2011-07-22T14:45:00.001Z

Where as many of you are busy making plans for your holiday or have been on holiday already, we are now unpacking our suitcases here. Although....

On Saturday 9th July we returned to Ghana. It is always quite an undertaking. We try to pack our suitcases to the maximum allowed because we want to carry many things which are difficult to get or not available in Ghana, eg: cheese, coffee and particular shoes, clothes, bed sheets, books, DVDs, etc. We spent a couple of days in the capital Accra. Abukari was especially busy organising some papers, as we hope to travel to Togo at the beginning of September and for that we need visas and special car papers. Accra is a big, busy city – which means hours spent in traffic, as well as time spent waiting for the right people, papers and stamps. We all also took the opportunity to have a family visit the dentist!!

On Wednesday we travelled north. We were intending to travel straight to Yendi but during the last part of the journey we had some problems with our vehicle’s radiator and finally after a journey of 13 hours we decided to stop overnight in Tamale. On Thursday we completed the last leg of our journey - another 100 kilometres - to Yendi. Finally, we had reached home! Then the unpacking and organising of our house began. Apart from a few cockroaches, mice and lizards that had found a home in some kitchen drawers, everything else seemed to be all right - even though the house needed a good cleaning after several months away.

However, there was not really that much time to settle in, as last Monday, we packed our suitcases again and returned to Tamale for a three week stay. We came to make the final preparations for the visit of a youth group from the Netherlands who will arrive today and will be helping/working at “Home of Hope”, one of our church projects.

It’s wonderful to be back in Ghana again and great to meet up with family/friends and to be 'home'. We are enjoying the warm weather and all the good things Ghana has to offer.

'Saying goodbye to Opa and Oma'

'Just before leaving the Netherlands we visited the UK where we attended the graduation ceremony at the 'London School of Theology' where Abukari received his Masters in Biblical Interpretation.'

Ghana Day

2011-06-08T15:00:00.003Z

In Ghana we sometimes make the joke, 'In the west they have a clock, but we do have the time.' Well that 'time' does not seem to be on our side at the moment. At the beginning of our four-month furlough we thought we would have so much time, but now our return to Ghana is fast approaching. This has not, however, stopped us from fully enjoying our time here. A recent highlight was the 'Ghana Day' that we held. With help from many people, we brought a little bit of Ghana to the Netherlands with presentations about our work, a literacy class, Ghana made goods, African music, dressing up in traditional Ghanaian clothes, children making African masks and Ghanaian flags, tasting of traditional Ghanaian food, etc. The day was very special to us and we want to thank everybody who joined with us and took part. For those who missed it - well, you will just have to travel all the way to Ghana to experience it instead!!

Making Christ Known

2011-04-30T11:00:00.000Z

One of the many joys of being on furlough has been the opportunity for us to spend time worshipping with our church family here in the Netherlands and also share news of our work and ministry in Ghana. Recently, as part of the Easter preparations we’ve had the privilege of preaching at our local church, Beth-El, in Hoogeveen.

This was a joint “ministry” for us both as Abukari preached in English and Joke translated that “on the spot” into Dutch for the congregation! The full English text of the sermon can be read here, but we thought we would share with you a summary of it below:

We spoke about “Making Christ Known” (Luke 9:18-27, 9:7-9) and the fact that each of us needs to be sure that we really know who Jesus is and what he represents and then allowing that knowledge and experience of him to make a difference in our lives so that those around us can see that we are not just “one of the crowd”, but that we demonstrate the uniqueness of Christ and what he stands for in all that we do and say. As Jesus challenged the disciples when he asked “but what about you, who do you say I am?”, so he challenges us to examine our ourselves and our reasons and motives in life and not just follow the modern secular beliefs that seek to distort our knowledge and belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus also challenges us to take our faith and share with others as part of his “bigger” picture for salvation for everyone from every tribe, creed and nation.

How can we do this? We explored five areas that can help us to put this into practice:

By not following the crowds: Jesus enquired of his disciples as to the “public opinion” of him. What were the crowds saying about this man Jesus and his ministry? Jesus obviously stood out from the crowd because of his teachings and lifestyle (v18-19). The same can apply to Christian believers today. To what extent do we use our faith to confront issues happening in our countries, nations, and our world today? To what extent do we let the Bible speak for us instead of the crowds? As Christians where are our standards? When and where do we dare to say this is right, when the “crowds” say it is wrong? When and where do we dare to say this is wrong, when the “crowds” say this is right? For those of us who are fortunate enough to live in countries that are have freedom, especially in speech, do we as Christians enjoy that freedom when it comes to expressing our faith and who we are in Christ? Will your “crowds” – your neighbours, co-workers, friends and family – ever notice you or see that you are different in your life and opinions?

By knowing him personally: The question of who Jesus is to us forms the foundation of our faith and belief system – Christianity is all about a personal relationship with Jesus and that makes it different from all other faiths/religions (v20). Jesus also warned the disciples that their long awaited Messiah, long expected king would have to suffer, to be rejected by authority and put to death (v22). Jesus went through suffering alone so that we might never go through it alone. He will always be with us. He is our Saviour. He holds the key to our lives and this knowledge gives our lives new meaning and hope. Jesus died for each and every one of us personally. He paid the price on the cross for every sin in our lives.

By enduring suffering for his sake: Jesus also makes it clear that following him is a choice with consequences …... to “take up your cross” (v23). This implies self denial, complete dedication and willing obedience. Self denial here means ceasing to make self the object of one’s life and action. We live in an age of instant solutions, tranquilizers and painkillers. We think that our sophisticated technological advancements can help us avoid pain and give us instant gratification. Our society has forgotten how to suffer and wait. Our self sufficiency seems to tell us that we do not need God any longer. However, we only have to look at the overwhelming natural disasters, wars, famines and manmade catastrophes that occur around our world, to realise that we cannot always control everything. Jesus warns us against making choices that become so important to us that we become slaves to them instead of trusting Him.

By denying ourselves for his sake: In verse 25, Jesus seems to be saying that all the things we could possibly acquire or achieve in this world are worth nothing if we do not have Jesus as our personal Saviour. Our love for the things of the world, such as wealth and status are meaningless without Jesus. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self.” The “very self” here means, what makes you the person you are – what makes you who you really are on the inside.

By not being ashamed of Him in all our relationships: If we think that gaining and loving the world is better than knowing Jesus then we are well on the path of being ashamed of our Lord (v26). In our work places, in our neighbourhood, on the streets, in shopping centres – do people see Jesus in us? Do we stand for Him? Or is Jesus confined to our church buildings? So often, we are too careful and even sometimes too afraid to even share our faith with our children and grandchildren. Let us be reminded and encouraged by the generational passing on and the multiplying faith of Timothy’s family (2 Tim.1:5).

About 2010 years ago, Jesus relied on twelve men called disciples to pass on his message of good news to humanity, and through their faithfulness we were reached. Today, Jesus is still relying on you and me to make Him known. Making Him known is not only the work reserved for the Pastor, Elders, Missionaries or Sunday school teachers. It is also the work you and I are called to do as his disciples. Christianity in Europe is ever decreasing, it is becoming a minority group thus making our task of evangelism even more necessary and urgent.

May we be part of the chain of passing on the message of God’s grace to a lost world.

Please pray for:

For Samuel and Micah to cope in their Dutch schools

That we will find time between meetings to rest and relax

For good health and strength

For a safe trip to Germany for a one week holiday

Praise for:

The time of fellowship with family and friends here in the Netherlands

The opportunities we’ve had to speak and preach in recent weeks

The beginning of our furlough....

2011-04-04T14:00:00.000Z

...... enjoying the Dutch countryside!

Goodbye Ghana

2011-03-08T17:45:00.009Z

Going on furlough is always quite an undertaking. Saying goodbye to the people around us, making sure that the people we are responsible for are taken care of, packing away some things in the house so that dust cannot get into them, thinking about the things we need to take to the Netherlands, travelling to the capital Accra (13 hours by car), applying for a visa for Abukari, buying of gifts, etc. It is with great relief that we finally enter the plane and know that we have reached the last stage of our journey. Tonight (8th March) the boys and I (Joke) hope to fly to the Netherlands.

This last week we spent a few days together as family in Accra.

Samuel and Micah bake a cake for their teachers to say goodbye ......

..... and add a beautiful drawing to it

Playing at the guesthouse

At the guesthouse in Accra, Samuel found a 'monitor lizard' in the bushes. He caught him together with the watchman who enjoyed the delicacy

In Accra we visited the swimmingpool as we don't have one in Yendi

A visit to the ocean hunting for small fish

Busy - Busy - Busy

2011-02-25T14:00:00.011Z

Abukari has nearly finished his thesis! All that is left are a few corrections and, hopefully, by the end of this weekend or early next week he will have printed out his final copy for presentation. Maybe the books will give you an idea about the topic he is writing on.

The boys have also been busy, helping to buy and distribute goats to poor children in the area with the support of Go4GhanaKids in the Netherlands, as part of our ongoing 'She Goat's Project'.

Joke has been streamlining activities in and around the house as everybody is so busy. She also had the opportunity of teaching the children at both the Sambu and Kanimo churches on 31 January and
13 February, during the dedications of their new church buildings. Over 200 children were present at both events- so that was quite a challenge.

By next Wednesday we hope to leave for Accra and on 8 March, Joke and the boys will fly to the Netherlands. Abukari will then follow on the 6 April. We are planning to return to Ghana on 6 July.

Thank God for:

His daily provision and care for us

the grace he has given Abukari to finish his studies despite his busy schedule

the many goats we were able to buy for needy children

Pray for:

the last week in Ghana - that God will help us with all the preparations towards our furlough

safe journeys to Accra and then on to the Netherlands

the impact of the Goat's Project - that both children and adults will realise that God loves them and wants to take care of them both physically and spiritually

The Privilege of Sharing our lives in Christ

2011-01-25T14:15:00.003Z

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

Our Advent Season 2010

2011-01-08T16:00:00.031Z

In this blog we thought we'd look back at and share with you a few of our activities during December.

On the 5th of December we baptised 26 people of two different villages:

On the 13th of December we organised our first meeting for all the women of the BCA churches in the Yendi district. We were delighted that more than 80 women attended the meeting:

On the 15th of December we took a picture of the beautiful sunset in our village:

On the 18th of December Abukari's brother made this car for Samuel and Micah using a fruit of the cocoa tree, old nails, slippers (flip-flops) and the skin of a coconut. No other toys can compete with this one:

On the 20th and 21st of December we visited one of the National Parks in Ghana. We admired the beautiful nature, but unfortunately we did not see elephants. However we saw plenty of monkeys and different kinds of antelopes:

On the 25th of December we celebrated Christmas with a group of friends from Ghana, America, Britain, Romenia and The Netherlands. Everybody brought some food which made a wonderful dinner:

Please pray for:

Another team from Videre that hopes to visit us towards the end of January to organise the 2nd phase of the business training programme.

Abukari's thesis - he is to present the final version at the end of February and this is quite a challenge considering all the many other activities and programmes he is involved in.

Preparations towards our furlough - Joke and the boys hope to arrive in the Netherlands on 9th March and Abukari will follow on 6th April.

Funding for our literacy programme. If we do not get more funding soon we will have to scale down the programme drastically.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-15T15:00:00.005Z

'For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'

(Isa 9:6)

What a reason to celebrate Christmas!!!

As a family we want to take this opportunity to thank you for the many ways in which you have supported us in our ministry and life so that Jesus can be born in the hearts of many Konkomba and Dagomba people.

Have I misplaced my Religion?

2010-11-30T15:30:00.007Z

Every Thursday I (Abukari) give a 30 minute Gospel message on the regional radio station, covering an area of about one million Dagomba people.

Abukari in the studio

During this broadcast, I explain the message of Jesus in the mother tongue of the Dagomba people. Muslims and animists alike listen in their remote communities and houses. I have a mobile phone number which is dedicated to the radio programme. It is through this number that listeners have the opportunity to ask questions, demand further explanation and give their lives to Christ. Sometimes people use it to attack or insult me. This is what recently happened:

One night I had a call from an old schoolfriend, who used to be a fanatic Muslim. He introduced himself (we had not seen each other for over fifteen years) and said that he wanted to discuss a serious matter with me personally. Knowing his background and what he was capable of doing – he used to have the nickname ‘general’ - I was a little scared. However, faith kept me bold and I went ahead to arrange a meeting with him. When we met, I welcomed him with open arms and gave him the opportunity to tell me his mission. He asked me this, ‘Have I misplaced my religion?’ I interrupted him by asking why he thought so. Then he began to narrate, ‘All along I thought I was praying to the true God through Islam, but I now know I was on the wrong path. For over a year now I have had a heavy burden on my heart and I have prayed to Allah to take that burden away and give me peace of mind. I prayed all the different kinds of prayer I know but nothing happened. Last month I decided to protest to Allah by stopping to pray as a Muslim. It was during this period that I heard you on the radio talking about Jesus Christ who calls all who are weary and burdened and promises them rest (Matt. 11:28). That night I struggled to fall asleep but when I finally slept I had a dream about you. You were beckoning me to come to the light. You were reaching out to me with your hand and then I woke up from my dream.’ He put it sharply, ‘this is what I want to discuss with you!’

Initially I was a little bit shocked and surprised but then I gladly explained about salvation in Jesus Christ. I told him to go home and think about it. But like the Ethiopian eunuch, he told me that he was ready to accept Jesus right there and then. I led him to Christ and gave him three booklets from my office to read. A week later he called to say that, one of the books, ‘In Search of Assurance’, was like reading his life story; searching for the truth and finally the conviction that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Please pray for him as he is looking for a Bible believing church to join.

The regional radio station

Thank God for:

The power of the media in sharing the Gospel

The many positive responses Abukari receives

His protection over our lives

Please pray for:

Wisdom in preparing the radio messages

This friend and others with him who have decided to become Christians, that they will find the support they need in growing in their faith

The many Muslims who are searching for the truth and yearning for peace, that their eyes will be opened

Health and strength

Joint Venture

2010-11-14T15:00:00.009Z

In July, Iris from the organisation Videre Microfinance in the US visited us here in Yendi. Videre was interested in partnering with us through their Micro-Business As Mission Program. Iris and a colleague, John, came to assess whether they felt that a program in Yendi would be possible.

Iris explorig the market with Samuel and Micah

The aim of the program is to provide training/discipleship so that Christian believers can develop their small businesses and at the same time have a spiritual and social impact in their communities. Following on from a “successful” assessment in July, Iris and a team from the US will come at the beginning of December to run Phase I of a 3-Phase program for 30 participants. This team of 6 business professionals will spend a week teaching topics such as Biblical business principles, business from God’s perspective, basic marketing and accounting skills. For 4 members of the team it will be their first visit to the African continent.

You can read more about the Videre Team’s forthcoming trip here and also about Iris’s earlier visits to us here and here.

Iris visits Simon one of our church members who has a small drugstore

Iris going round the villages on a motorbike to see what businesses the people in the rural communities are involved in

Below, is a short video clip that Iris took during her visit with us in July. It shows how each “training session” begins with a time of praise and worship. As the camera moves round the group you can even catch a brief glimpse of Abukari!!

We are looking forward to welcoming the Videre Team to Yendi at the beginning of this exciting joint venture between Videre and BCA.

Please pray for:

safe travel for the Videre Team from the US to Accra and on to Yendi

the preparations the Videre Team are making for their visit and the training sessions

the participants – that they will have an enjoyable and beneficial time on the training course

all the arrangements and preparations being made in Yendi for the training and for those involved in hosting the Videre team and the participants

Catching dinner for a village

2010-10-28T14:30:00.003Z

We recently received the following photo story that has been circulating as an email and was forwarded to us by a friend. We enjoyed it and thought you might like to read it as well...........

Python Catcher in Africa

First we wrap our arm in a skin for protection

Then we crawl in the pit

We use modern lighting

There it is

Those must be eggs. Ooh look at that mouth!

I let it take my protected arm. Sort of like noodling for fish

Then my buddy pulls me out with the snake attached

Ain't it a beaut?

It will feed the village for a while

And you think your work is tough... don't you? Better thank God and keep on working!

You can also find these photos on a slideshow version (without the text) here.

Every drop helps determine the content

2010-10-12T15:01:00.002Z

Regardless of social position, our neighbours have a need for the Gospel; to hear the saving Word of God. The good news for the ‘poor’ is for all mankind! With this Gospel we are sent to everybody by God through you. It is a fundamental human right to eat and we also believe that it is a human right to hear the Gospel! In the village where we live and serve the Lord, the people (mostly subsistence farmers) around us annually experience a ‘lean season’ from July to September, when there is a lack of food in their homes. The farmers’ old stock of food is just about finishing and their incoming harvest is not yet ready. This creates three months of severe stress among families as they try to cope with and manage the situation.

Women carrying firewood from their farms to their homes

During this period of food shortage it is common to see women carrying heavy loads of firewood to the market to sell so that they can buy grains for the household. Children and women are worst hit in this difficult season and you see a lot of malnourished, crying and hungry children around the neighbourhood.

Carrying firewood to the market

In trying to live the Gospel ‘in’ and ‘out’ we often share food with our neighbours so as to reduce their plight. Our contribution to alleviating the suffering of those around us sometimes seems like a single drop in the ocean considering the magnitude and severity of the situation. However, we are often encouraged and motivated by the following story about a Starfish in the Ocean:

'One morning an old man noticed a youngster walking along the beach. As he watched, he saw that from time to time the little girl would bend down, pick something up off the sand, and throw it into the water. The old man being curious followed her and discovered that she was picking up stranded Starfish and putting them back into the Ocean. Shaking his head, he caught up with her and said, “Miss, there are thousands of Starfish along this beach. What difference is it going to make if you throw a few back?” The little girl looked down at the Starfish in her hand and said, “it will make a big difference to this one”'.

Indeed, every drop helps determine the content, so let’s do it so that every drop counts. Please join us in praying that we will have the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus in many practical ways, wherever we find ourselves.

Sharing maize with our neighbours (1)

Sharing maize with our neighbours (2)

Sharing maize with our neighbours (3)

Thank God for:

The opportunities He creates to share His love
The abundance we can share from

Please pray for:

Our neighbours and many others that every day they will have enough food to eat
Generosity, that we will give with a happy heart and open-handedly
A workshop on family life which we are preparing toward
A final women’s meeting in a series of women’s meetings that Joke is organising this week
Abukari’s studies - that he will be able to present his thesis in time

Holidays 2010

2010-09-20T15:45:00.013Z

In the month of August we celebrated our holiday. We spent about three weeks in our house in Tamale. It was good te be in a different environment for a while. The boys celebrated their 3rd and 5th birthday. The first maize that has been grown at our house was harvested and we roasted it on a fire outside. We also made a daytrip to the waterfalls at Kintampo - a two hour drive from Tamale. It was all very relaxing and we have been re-charged a little. Some impressions:

Samuel and Micah's Birthday Party

Looking at the moon

Roasting maize

Abukari and Samuel telling each other stories

Visiting the waterfalls

Thank God for:

the good holiday and relaxing time we had

Please pray for:

good health, over the past two weeks we have all been sick

Micah as he goes to school for the first time

Abukari as he tries to finish his studies within the coming months (he is writing his thesis)

a series of meetings Joke is preparing for the women of the church

Discipleship

2010-09-04T14:40:00.002Z

The SIM-related (SIM is a mission organisation - ‘Serving in Missions’) churches worldwide (of which BCA is one) meet together in an association called Evangel Fellowship (EF). In February this year, during one of the EF’s meetings, the Lord put the burden of discipleship on the hearts of leaders. At this meeting the churches saw the need to put ‘intentional’ disciple making as a top priority. Thus the call of EF is to return to ‘‘Radical Discipleship’. This vision and concern was taken further by a committee (of which Abukari is a member) who met in Ethiopia during the first week of August to proactively plan and strategise how to implement intentional discipleship in member countries.

During one of the meetings

In affirming the call ‘Back to Radical Discipleship’ the committee agreed with EF that in many of our churches (including BCA) discipleship has ceased to be a priority. It has been neither intentional enough nor radical enough to produce fully mature Christians…..thus the Church in Africa and beyond is growing wide but not deep; people are repeatedly invited to be ‘born again’, but they are seldom discipled as true followers of Jesus Christ; they are saved but not transformed; they have knowledge about Christ but are not conformed to His image. Many who make profession fall away, while some are lured away from the truth seeking the spectacular or by a shallow gospel that promises wealth and prosperity but denies suffering, persecution and the way of the cross. All around us is evidence that revival is currently taking place on African soil as we daily witness hundreds of conversions in our churches. But the questions we ask ourselves are: Is Africa prepared for that revival? Can we sustain it? Where is our workforce? Do we have men and women who are really rooted in the Word of God who can spiritually reproduce after their own kind? Where are our writers? And if there is revival in our land, why are evil, corruption and HIV/Aids still in the ascendency on our continent?

Meeting with a group who are being equipped to become disciple makers

Our meeting in Ethiopia offered us the opportunity to let member nations begin to see intentional discipleship as the driving ethos of everything its churches and SIM do. In our meetings and visitations of ‘Discipleship-making Centres’ it once again became clear that God gave two important commands to humanity, "Be fruitful and increase in number..." (Gen 1:28) and "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matt 28:19). Looking at these commands, humankind has been faithful in fulfilling the first command of multiplication (physical). Throughout Scriptures you hear that this person lived so many years, gave birth to children and died. The world is now about seven billion people despite wars, diseases and natural calamities. Man will go to any length to fulfil this command, thus the issue of fasting and prayers for children, exorbitant fertility funding, etc. If these experiences are not found in other parts of the world they are certainly here with us in Africa on a daily basis. The second command which is spiritual multiplication has not seen much fulfilment in the life of humanity despite God giving us all that is needed (all authority in heaven and on earth and His presence) to accomplish the task. This is a great challenge for our generation of Christians who live in an age of fast and instant growth, a generation where materialism is starting to suck the life out of the church, and at the same time being surrounded by powerful forces of Islam.

Our week in Ethiopia produced a document with strategies and plans on how to train and equip the Church (specifically SIM related churches) and mission leaders in at least 20 countries on prioritising discipleship. We hope and pray God will use this document to stir the hearts of His people towards intentionally making disciples and that plans will be implemented.

Abukari enjoying the traditional Ethiopian dish "enjera" - a sour tasting pancake with soup or sauce

Ethiopian clothes for Samuel and Micah

Thank God for:

A safe journey to and from Ethiopia

The opportunity to set out strategies to make the shared vision of discipleship possible

Pray for:

Implementation of the plan; that it will not just be another document but that the church leadership will go all out to make this plan possible

For funds needed to train and equip people within the churches

For Abukari as he is to lead the coordination of discipleship throughout Ghana

For churches and individuals (missionaries long and short term) who want to partner with BCA in serving the Lord in the area of discipleship

Help, a snake in the church!

2010-08-04T15:00:00.002Z

Last year we wrote about the "snake shocker". It continues to be an on-going and interesting subject, so here we are writing and update about it again!!

Sometime ago, a church in Alphen a/d Rijn (Netherlands) decided to collect money for the manufacturing of more “shockers” after they read the story on our blog. The “shockers” have been ready for a while and in June we were able to organise a workshop for people from different villages to give good instruction and training on the use of the “shocker” in the event of a snake or scorpion bite. Some participants were still a little doubtful as to whether this “shocker” could really be effective – does it really work? But after they heard stories from several participants who have already used the “shocker” effectively for a number of years now, they became excited about using it. They practised ‘dry’ (that is without batteries) on each other.

A participant telling how he has succesfully used the shocker for many years now

Practise makes perfect, but without batteries!

Workshop participants

To the amusement of everyone, during the workshop, a snake entered the church hunting a lizard. Everybody jumped up frightened and the snake was killed. ‘Fortunately’ the snake did not get the chance to bite somebody – although that would have been the perfect demonstration!

the snake at the church was killed

After we came home from the workshop, our neighbour was bitten by a snake. One of our neighbours knew we had a “shocker” and asked us to treat the bite. This was done successfully. The next day the son of the neighbour we treated came to visit us and asked us how much they owed us for the treatment. We told him, ‘nothing’!

Last week we visited the Chief of our village and presented a “shocker” to him, as there are always people in the Chief’s house so people can be treated there with the “shocker” day and night. The Chief told us that the neighbour we had recently treated with the “shocker” is his sister. He said that the son of his sister came to visit him before coming to us and asked the Chief how much he thought he would have to pay us for the treatment of the snakebite. The Chief told him that he did not think we would ask for any money because as Christians we were not likely to do that. For different kinds of sicknesses people here visit herbalists or diviners for treatment. These kinds of treatments are mostly given in return for cash or kind. People therefore continue to be amazed by the fact that we do this treatment free of charge because of Jesus’ love for them. It is a wonderful way to testify about His compassion – even for people with snakebites.

One of the villages who received a “shocker” sent us a message that since the workshop (a little over a month ago) they have treated about 20 snakebites! Also a clinic in one of the villages where there is a “shocker” always refers patients with snakebites to the church!

Treating our neighbour with the "shocker"

Thank God for:

The church in the Netherlands for donating money towards the shockers
This practical way of sharing His love and compassion with others
The new Chief in our village who is a Christian!

Please pray for:

Protection against snakebites, especially the farmer
That the people will be able to use the “shockers” effectively and that they use it as a means to share God’s love
The farmers, that they will get a good harvest
The Chief, that he will continue to put God first in leading the people

Seeking Jesus through correspondence

2010-07-20T12:30:00.006Z

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand
what the Lord's will is." Eph. 5:15-17

It was a time of immense joy and great expectation when 350 young people mostly from Muslim backgrounds gathered with open hearts to receive teaching and instruction from the Bible. How could this be possible? Call of Hope Ghana runs a Correspondence Course for thousands of students and individuals in Ghana. Every year, we run a “Seekers Conference” and select a number of the students who through our Correspondence Course are desperately seeking to know Jesus.

The theme for this year's conference was, "Redeeming the time and maximising our opportunities." The students were taught how to manage their time and to be proactive in making decisions for Jesus. They were also taken through the causes and prevention of HIV/AIDS and were given some career counselling. In addition, the students were given the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to the books they have read from our centre. Some of the important and challenging questions they posed were: How can I grow as a Christian in a Muslim home? After having read the book, "My grace is sufficient for you" I now want to give my life to Jesus, but my genuine concern and question is, how can I openly declare my faith for Jesus when I am still living with my Muslim parents and fully taken care of by them?

One of the participants whose experience thrilled everybody at the conference had this to say, "When I started reading the literature from Call of Hope, my parents and all the people in our house were very unhappy with me. I normally would hide to read the books, but because of the transformation that the books are bringing in my life, my parents who used to be against seeing the books in the house now pretend not to see them even though they are all over the house now."

When the students of the correspondence course reach a certain stage in their studies they are awarded with certificates

These testimonies echo this life story we heard from one of our communities: A Muslim Cleric entered a Church in one of our communities. The people in the Church were all troubled and quiet. The Cleric asked, ' can I speak?' The people in the Church thought, this might be last day the church will ever meet in this village. The Cleric continued, 'The people in this community steal cows in the night by luring them away with salt. But you have come to steal our children in broad day light with books.' He paused and all the people started to shiver, then he continued, 'but I support you because of the character, moral and behavioural changes it brings to our children and community'.

With this sustainable impact and great expectation for the Muslim youth, we are very grateful to Evangelische Karmel Mission and the partners in Europe and other parts of the world who pray and support this ministry financially.

Some students came on buses from towns as far as 120 kilometres away from Tamale

Prayer and Praise

Praise God for a successful conference.

Praise God for the opportunities that the literature and the “Seekers Conference” provide in reaching out to Muslims.

Pray that we as an organisation, together with you, can be wise in making the most of every opportunity in reaching the Muslim world.

Pray for the Correspondence students that the literature we put in the hands and hearts of thousands of Muslims will continue to yield eternal dividends.

Football Fever 2010!

2010-07-02T14:01:00.004Z

It is almost a year ago that Ghana won the world championship football under 20. Again, the whole world is captured by football and Ghana is no exception. Within our house we all have our favourites. With the connections Abukari has with Germany, through his work, it becomes even more complicated. Up until now we have not had any 'internal confrontations'.

Ghana, The Netherlands or Germany?

However, in Samuel's school all the support goes to Ghana. Every Friday I make some crafts with the children of KG1 and 2 and last week we made Ghana flags. This was an enormous success, so much so that the children of the other classes came to ask me for materials to make their own flags. With the flags in their hands, the children cheered the Ghanaian national team, the Black Stars. Whether that had any influence on the outcome of the match Ghana played against the US we don’t know........ or maybe it’s the result of the many prayers being said in both churches and Mosques for the national team, as here in Ghana you cannot separate religion from football!

Samuel's class waving their flags

hard at work creating the Ghana flag


Micah always joins me when I go to Samuel's school on Friday, although it was not easy for him to get the flag the colours in the right order

10 years - Under the shadow of His wings

2010-06-18T15:00:00.004Z

On our wedding day with some of Abukari's family

On the 3rd of June we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary! Although, not much attention is given to birthdays or wedding anniversaries in Ghana, we always try to make the day a bit special to reflect on the good times and count the many blessings we have had as a couple. This year, we decided to go out for lunch in Yendi and, even though there is not a lot of choice when it comes to restaurants and menus, it was a treat for just the ‘two of us’ to go out together so we really enjoyed it (at the time Samuel was still in school and Micah was taken care of by a ‘daughter’ of ours). Yendi has many ‘chopbars’ where you can eat local dishes relatively cheaply. Food is served from big pots standing on fires straight onto your plate or bowl. You often eat your food outside whilst sitting on a wooden bench.

Food being served in a local chopbar

Yendi also has two or three ‘chopbars’ that are a bit more luxurious. These are called restaurants, as the food is served to your table and there is a little bit more choice when it comes to the menu. We do have a favourite spot, which is a restaurant in the open air under some teak trees. However, the choice of menu was a little limited with only four dishes - three of which were rice based - but that did not spoil the fun.

Enjoying our food at the restaurant in Yendi

Our wedding day never passes without thinking of the miracle of surviving a plane crash on the 5th of June, 2000 on our way to our honeymoon destination. For your and our remembrance, we share below a report we wrote in June 2000, shortly after the accident:

UNDER THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS – A TRUE MIRACLE!

Saturday June 3rd our wedding took place. It was a beautiful day, a real celebration with family and friends. Monday morning we left early because we were flying to Accra to spend a two-week honeymoon. That morning before we set off early for the airport, Abukari prayed. He asked God “to keep us under the shadow of His wings.”

The weather was beautiful upon departure. We could see Tamale from the air and even the road to Yendi. However as we continued toward Accra, clouds began to appear. About 15 minutes before landing the pilot told us to fasten our seatbelts because turbulence was expected due to bad weather above the capital city. While the plane was descending we flew into a heavy rainstorm. The area around the airport was flooded. Just before the wheels touched the tarmac the plane veered unexpectedly to the right and then there was a tremendous noise. As we look back on the following events, it still seems like a nightmare, unreal, as though it didn’t happen.

JOKE’S STORY:
It suddenly turned dark and it felt like I had fallen into a deep hole. Black dust seemed to be falling on me. I don’t know if I have been unconscious or not but I became aware of my own screaming. So this is it, a plane crash. I realized after a short while that I was buried in a chaos of chairs but was still alive. Abukari who had been sitting beside me next to the window wasn’t visible anymore, nor was his chair. Where was he? Was he still alive? At some point I thought I heard his voice, that somehow calmed me. I could barely see three others in front of me, injured and pinned down by the chairs. Parts of the airplane were scattered around and there was luggage everywhere. At one point I remember looking toward the cockpit seeing the nose wheel coming through the plane between the pilot and co-pilot. I heard screams, crying and praying. I felt blood dripping onto me from those above me. I tried not to panic. The only thing I could do was pray. I was in terrible pain. My right foot was squeezed and my chest was pressed between chairs. I felt like I was suspended somewhere. The fuel tank of the plane was leaking aviation fuel on me. Also I could feel the rain falling on me. A thought flashed through my mind, what if the plane catches on fire from all this fuel? But God protected me. I was confident that He was going to rescue me. However, it felt like forever before help came. Suddenly I felt like the chairs were pressing on me even more and I could hardly breathe. Was I dying after all? Would the airport even have a rescue team? Are they equipped for situations like this? How would I ever get out? What if I would need to go to Holland for medical treatment, would I even dare to get on an airplane again? We had been sitting in the second row behind the cockpit. When the plane crashed this section was torn off immediately behind us. The rain was falling on me and I was trapped, unable to move. When the rescue team finally discovered me, I was able to squeeze the hand of one of the team members to let him know that I was alive. The rescue team suddenly appeared with a big saw to loosen the chairs that were piled on top of me. It took several people to free my right leg that was wedge between the chairs. I couldn’t believe that I was all in one piece. When the rescue workers put me on the stretcher, I caught sight of Abukari. This gave me a great sense of relief and comfort. However it was three days later when he was released from the hospital ward before we saw each other again.

ABUKARI’S STORY:
I was sitting by the window. Within minutes of the announcement to fasten our seat belts, I heard this tremendous noise. I wasn’t aware of anything until I realized that I was half in the plane and half out. One leg was elevated with my foot caught between chairs, the other foot was in the mud. How did I get here? Where was my chair? I was sure I had fastened my safety belt tightly. Shortly someone (an angel?) came by and freed my foot enabling me to look for Joke. I immediately called her name but didn’t receive a response. I scrambled around the plane looking for her. But it was all in vain. I observed that the plane was severed just behind our row of seats. Some of the passengers were running away from the plane in case it would explode since the aviation fuel was leaking from the plane. I didn’t think of anything but finding Joke. The only thing I could see was a big heap of chairs in the mud with two injured women on top. The force of the crash had propelled them and many of the chairs forward. I tried to help them, but was unable to do anything. Underneath the chairs I noticed a white leg. I knew it had to be Joke’s. There was no movement and I didn’t know if she was alive or not. It was a terrifying moment. The two women were rescued and carried off the plane. Then the rescue team moved to the other section of the plane where the tail was imbedded in the mud. The rescue workers could not reach the other passengers since the body of the plane was suspended in air. A bulldozer was brought in (construction work was going on at the airport at that time fortunately) to tilt the tail so the rescue team could have access to the other passengers. As I saw what they planned to do with the bulldozer, I realized that this would endanger Joke even more. I ran up to one of the rescue workers and pulled him over to where Joke’s leg was visible. The worker exclaimed “Oh, a white leg!” He then ran back to stop the bulldozer. It took a saw and a few of the workers to release Joke as well as a few other passengers from this horrible position. I was so relieved when I saw her and was amazed that her injuries appeared not to be more serious. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Then I suddenly became aware of my own injuries and was also admitted to the hospital. The tests showed that we had no broken bones nor need of stitches but we did have multiple bruises, abrasions, and deep muscle pain. Despite the shock and physical pain, we are joyfully celebrating the fact that we are alive. In a miraculous way God has protected us. For us it is a confirmation and encouragement that His call to work in Ghana is still as strong as before, perhaps even stronger. We are looking forward to what He has in store for us.

The following Scripture (Isaiah 43:1-3) goes through our minds as we look back on the events of June 5th:

But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says,
Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you go through deep waters and great trouble
I will be with you;

When you go through rivers of difficulty
you will not drown,
When you walk through the fire of oppression
you will not be burnt up.
The flames will not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel
your Saviour.

In the aftermath of this tragedy we heard various reports concerning other passengers. Eight died, many had multiple fractures, wounds, broken bones, concussions and loss of limbs. It made us very grateful that our injuries were minimal in comparison.

Even so we have many questions: Why did others die and we survived? There were many passengers with far more serious injuries than ours. Why them and not us? Can we be happy while so many families are mourning over those they lost? Can we be at peace when some will be handicapped for the rest of their lives? The questions will remain with us for a long time. We can only look to God and believe that in all of this He is with us.

We would like you to thank God with us but continue to pray for complete healing and comfort for those who have lost loved ones. Pray that God will use this witness to bring people to Himself, especially those in Abukari’s family who are Muslim.

We also want to thank all of you who have sent letters, e-mail, notes and phone calls to express your love to us. We know that your prayers on our behalf have made a difference in our recovery both physically and emotionally. This kind of event reveals the depth and caring of the body of Christ.

May you be encouraged that we have a God who knows, who cares, and is in control. Abukari’s prayer was answered: we were truly kept “under the shadow of His wings.”

Abukari and Joke

June 2000

Small Goat - Great Impact

2010-05-29T12:30:00.003Z

A few weeks ago there was a wedding ceremony in one of the villages in which we work. After the service, a girl greeted Pastor Azindow one of our church leaders. She asked him, ‘Do you remember me?’ Azindow gave her a long look but had no idea who she was. She told him that years ago Azindow came to her village and that she was given a goat by the church. At that time, the girl called Agnes had just started the first year of Junior High School (JHS). She told Azindow what had happened since then. Just before she received the goat she had stopped going to school because her parents had no money to continue to pay for her education. When Agnes received the goat, she was also given a uniform, books, a school bag and shoes. This meant she could go back to school. After a few months the goat gave birth to another two goats and later these goats also reproduced. So the one goat Agnes received became a ‘cash pot’ to which has funded most of her schooling ever since. It has been about seven years since Agnes received the goat and she finished Senior High School last year. She temporarily teaches at a private school in Yendi and hopes to continue her education in the near future.

Agnes now working as a teacher

Agnes says that it is her aspiration and motivation to offer help and love to the little ones she is teaching just as the Church through the ‘Goats Project’ helped and encouraged her. Do you know this song? ‘The Father gave the Son, the Son gave the Spirit, the Spirit gave us life and the gift goes on and the gift goes on.....’ The little efforts we undertake together with you in touching the lives of people can have a great impact and do multiply.

Agnes and her class

The ‘She Goats Project’
Children in Dagbon dream of becoming future leaders, however, this is not without challenge. Most of the children’s parents main occupation is subsistence farming and trading. The poverty rate among the people is high, likewise the illiteracy rate, which is about 80%. All these factors have affected the Dagomba and Konkomba children’s education, health, nutrition, basic rights and dignity. In trying to improve the situation of the children we are involved in the ‘She Goats Project’. The primary goal of this project is to help orphans and children from extremely poor families to go to school. The project also helps to promote children’s education in the rural parts of Dagbon. The project is administered by buying female goats and a one-time supply of school uniforms, shoes and books for the children. The female goat is often given to the parents or guardians of the needy children to rear them for the children in the hope that the goats will multiply and the offspring will be sold to increase the income level of the family. As a result we can also speak freely with the parents of those children about the need to send their children to school and practically show God’s love and compassion for the people around us. If you would like to contribute to this project, please let us know. Currently, a goat costs about 30 euro.

A recent beneficiary of our Goats Project

Thank God for:

The way He uses you and us to impact the lives of others

The many children that have benefitted from the project so far

Please pray for:

Agnes and for many other children who received goats, that they will be able to continue their education and in turn impact the lives of others

Ways and means to testify about God’s love

Rain – the rainy season has somehow started but so far the rain has not been enough to plough and sow

Funeral

2010-05-13T14:30:00.006Z

For the past week there has been a display of culture and tradition in our village. About two years ago the chief of our village died. Last week the funeral was celebrated and a new chief was enskinned. Since the position of the chief in the village where we live is of great importance to the chieftancy system in Dagbon as a whole, many important chiefs from all over Dagbon came to pay their last respects. Warriors shot their guns to salute the late chief and make the presence of their own chiefs known. The drummers played throughout the week, day and night, to celebrate the life of the late chief and many visitors showed their dancing skills.

the new chief welcomed to the village

At the end of the celebration a new chief was appointed. The choice is a very remarkable one. The man who was chosen to lead the village and take his position among the prominent chiefs in Dagbon is a Christian and even a pastor of the ‘Church of Christ’!


for this occasion many of the chiefs ride their beautifully dressed horses

some of the eminent chiefs with their elders

warriors with their locally manufactured guns

a big crowd gathers to see the display of the shooting of guns

playing traditional music on cow horns

traditional music played with a kind of violin

dancers and drummers

Please pray:

that this new leader will remain faithful to God and will be able to stand up against any traditional practices which have a spiritual connotation for which he would have to compromise his faith.

that he will be a living testimony to the leadership of Dagbon.

for health - Abukari is recovering from malaria and Micah has the flu.

for preparations for a training session amongst the women of the church by Joke.

Building to worship!

2010-04-30T13:12:00.002Z

For the last three months, church members in the Yendi area have been building two churches, one at Sambu and another one at Kanimo. The building work has been funded by local church contributions and a friend who wants to glorify God by helping to provide convenient and decent places of worship among the Dagomba and Konkomba people.

'the "tree" church at Kanimo'

Since 1999, the church in the village of Kanimo has met under a tree for all their activities. During the rainy season church services and other meetings become difficult. During the dry season the "good tree" naturally sheds its leaves leaving little shade to sit under. We therefore decided to put up a church building to meet all the church’s requirements, as well as serve as a meeting place (centre) for the community in the area of health education and monthly weighing of children.

'the new church at Kanimo'

The church at Sambu was originally built with mud in 1996 and has fallen down many times due to harsh weather conditions, especially rainstorms. Each time we have repaired the damage, but this year it was beyond the repair (serious cracks and a ripped roof) and had become a death trap for the congregation. So with the same vision as Kanimo in mind we have also built a new Sambu church. We believe these strong churches, when completed, will be able to stand the test of time as well as testify to the presence and goodness of our risen Lord in these communities.

'the old church building at Sambu'

'the new church at Sambu'

At the moment we have exhausted all the funds for the buildings and we therefore need your prayers for financial help to finish these two important and strategic multi-purpose church buildings. We still need about 7,000 Ghana cedis (€4,100) to complete the church buildings to the glory of the Lord. If you would like to support this project financially, please let us know. This is the breakdown of the cost of things that still need to be completed:

Cement and labour for plastering & flooring = GHC 2,800
Doors, Windows, Locks + labour = GHC 2,000
Paint + Labour cost = GHC 1,400
Electricity connection (for 1 church) = GHC 800

May the above items and their costs serve as prayer visuals for you as you pray with us.

Celebrating Easter

2010-04-16T13:20:00.002Z

There are several occasions during the year when the village churches gather together to celebrate something. Easter is such an occasion. As most of the village churches are relatively small in number, it is always encouraging for people to gather as a larger group so they can see they are not the only ones in an area where less than 5% of the population are Christians and for them to know that they are part of a 'big family'. It is wonderful as a big group to pray, sing, dance and to listen to God's Word together. It is also just fun to spend time talking, exchanging news and laughing together.

'the outside Easter gathering'

The gathering was organised in the village of Sambu. Sambu is a Dagomba village with a church congregation of about 15 adults and a lot of children. The mostly Muslim community at Sambu only knew that Christians celebrated Christmas, so to see Christians celebrating Easter was new to them. And on this occasion it was not only the 15+ church members who gathered together, but about 400 adults and 300 children! What a celebration and testimony to the death and resurrection of Christ. For many women the message Abukari shared was an 'eye-opener'; they heard that it was women who were first given the mandate to share the news of Jesus' resurrection. He encouraged the women to seize every opportunity to share the Gospel in their daily interaction with others, especially with other women. The unity in Christ was climaxed with the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

'dancing together'

Joke organised the gathering for the children. It was a bit of shock when we realised they numbered around 300, as we had only expected about 100 children. This was amazing as many of the children had to walk at least 4 miles (one way) to be part of the celebration. In fact, most people (adults and children) walked or rode their bicycles over distances of between 3 and 30 miles.

'many people use bicylces and motobikes to travel'

We did not provide a meal for the people but for the children we distributed drinks that we had put in plastic bags and biscuits. Fortunately shops are always open and we could buy more drinks and biscuits for the children to meet the need, but we had to drive back to Yendi (9 miles away) to do so. Whilst the adults gathered outside, the children met in the newly built (but currently unfinished) church building, which was pleasantly cool. We told the children the story and importance of Jesus' death and resurrection, sang songs, played games and made little crosses with the older children. The crosses were quite a challenge as most of the children had never held scissors before!

'the children's gathering'

'enjoying the drinks'

Please pray:

For peace in Yendi. Last week nine people have been arrested in relation to the murder of Yana Yakubu Andani (the paramount chief of Dagbon, now 7 years ago!) and tensions between the Abudu and Andani gates are rising.

Proclaiming the Unknown Cross

2010-03-31T15:15:00.002Z

Many people in the area where we work regularly bring sacrifices to gods; the blood of animals renews and strengthens the covenant people have with these gods and maintains the peace between the spirit world and humanity. Most people have no idea what Christians celebrate at Easter and are suprised to hear that the Bible also speaks a lot about sacrifices. Unfortunately they also don’t know the meaning of Jesus' sacrifice which was 'once and for all' (Heb 10:10).

However, it’s amazing that the symbol of the cross is very commonly used. If, in this area, a baby is born, the people make a symbol of the cross above the doorframes of their houses believing that this will protect the newborn. If people move into a new house they do exactly the same. Before people work the ground, they also make a sign of the cross in the soil through which they call for protection and reverse any curses or misfortune that might otherwise befall them. The origin of this custom is not known but it is widely practised by Traditional Believers, Muslims and Christians alike.

'a cross above a door and window as you can find it in most houses'

Abukari has recorded a radio programme, which will be broadcast this week, that explains the meaning of Easter; he explains Jesus' death on the cross and the sacrifice he offered to humanity and relates it to the customs of the people here. This will cause many people to think and probe their own customs they have practiced for a long time. Addressing the Dagomba people and their religious customs reminds Abukari a little of Paul at Athens where Paul says, "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. For in him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:22,23,28.)

We ask you to pray that many people who will listen to the programme (Thursday night) will start seeking for 'the man on the cross', that God will use this radio broadcast to share His love and work of redemption with the people of Dagbon.

'when we visited a Catholic Church recently, Samuel was trying to reach the cross'

Damba Festival

2010-03-08T17:00:00.003Z

Chiefs on horses, drumming, people dancing and women singing. In this period an important Dagomba festival is being celebrated; The Damba Festival. The festival is spread over a two week period and ends with a big dance at the palace of the Dagomba King. All the chiefs from the villages around Yendi come on their horses to the palace to greet the king, present gifts and so pay allegiance to his leadership.

'Chiefs on their horses'

'the horses are beautifully dressed for the occasion'

On occasions like this we often try to visit the palace as a family. There is always an enormous crowd of people who just like us try to catch a glimpse of the king and the skilful dancers. Samuel and Micah think it’s great – and are especially impressed by the gunshots, which are fired as a way of honouring the king.

'Abukari and Micah are greeted by a drummer. Abukari has also put on his traditional dress for the occasion'

'small children belonging to the drummers' family also come out to show their skills, in return people listening give them a few coins'

Thank God for:

good health

the work we have been able to do over the past weeks

the joy of serving God

Pray that:

this celebration will pave the way for lasting peace and unity among the Dagomba people

for ongoing meetings and training we are involved at this time of year

for energy and protection from meningitis; it is extremely hot at the moment and the weather conditions are ideal for spreading the disease – which has already claimed the lives of approx 30 people in the Northern part of Ghana so far this year

Cakes for Bicycles

2010-02-18T17:00:00.001Z

At the end of last year, in the Netherlands, Go4GhanaKids organised the sale of cakes to raise funds for bicycles for children in Ghana. Last week we were able to give out 20 bicycles, 16 of which were given to girls. The children receiving the bicycles came from 9 different communities.

'Micah inspecting the bicycles'

Most of the children who received a bicycle have just started Junior Secondary High School. Some of these children walked 10-20 kms a day to and from their school. Other recipients are in their last year of primary school and expect to walk long distances during the next school year.

'the proud owners of the bicycles'

Before we gave out the bicycles, we talked with the children about the importance of education and also about the maintenance of their bicycles. We have emphasised that the bicycles are really for them and not for another family member. Most people in the villages would like to have a means of transportation, so for fathers or mothers, brothers or sisters, wanting to have the bicycle is not so surprising. But these bicycles are really meant, first and foremost, to promote education for the beneficiaries!

'dedication of the bicycles and praying for the education of the children'

'listening to a short speech about education and bicycle maintenance'

Most parents were very excited about this gift for their children. The fact that the children can move much faster to and from their school also helps the family as, after school, water and firewood needs to be fetched, so that meals can be prepared. However, more importantly, the children will be much less tired when they come home and hopefully will have some energy and time left after their household chores, for homework. So in the end the whole family benefits!

'trying out the new bicycles'

The fact that more girls than boys received a bicycle is because of the value many parents in the rural communities of Northern Ghana place on the education of boys above that of girls. Most boys who have to travel long distances to their schools already have access to a bicycle (they may already have one or can borrow one from a father or brother). However, girls are really lagging behind. Fortunately that is changing slowly and parents are starting to encourage their girls to also go to school. The gift of a bicycle is definitely a great encouragement in this. As a famous Ghanaian edict says: 'If you educate a man, you educate one person, if you educate a woman, you educate a whole nation!'

'after receiving their bicycle they ride them home to their respective communities'

Thank God for:

the bicycles; it will really enhance the education of the children

our good health at the present time

Pray for:

the education of these children, that the parents will be able to afford all that is needed to let them complete the schools they started

spiritual growth; all these children visit one of our village churches; pray that they will stand firm

training and meetings in this period

Time?

2010-02-02T15:30:00.002Z

A few weeks ago, we visited a church in a remote village. In the rainy season you can't reach the village by car. However, a little bridge has been constructed for motorbikes and bicycles so that the village is not completely isolated from the rest of the world during this period. As it’s the dry season at the moment, when we visited the water in the river had almost dried up.

'the village bridge'

After the church service was over, we were informed that the market truck which carries people from the village to the market in Yendi (every six days) had broken down two weeks ago. For the majority of people in the village who do not have any means of transportation it means that they can’t visit the market.

'market truck'

With our visit to the village and more importantly the presence of our car, the opportunity was created for people to leave the village. A group of women asked us whether we could offer them a lift to Yendi. They had come to the village for a wedding a number of days ago and had not had any opportunity to return to Yendi until now. In Ghana a car is not “easily full” and with a little pushing we were able to carry four of them. It was interesting to realise that the women didn’t seem to be bothered about the day they would return to Yendi. It was simply a case of taking the opportunity that comes and if there is no option you just stay a day longer - making it all quite relaxed!

There is an African proverb that says, 'you (the West) have a clock, but we have time.'

'crossing the river by car in the dry season'

Christmas in retrospect

2010-01-15T14:00:00.000Z

Whilst Christmas temperatures fell in Europe, here in Ghana they rose to almost 40 degrees celsius! On Christmas morning as a family we visited a small church in a remote village. The congregation is made up of two families and a number of children from the village who also visit the church. Fortunately the small number of people did not reduce the joy of celebrating the birth of Christ.

'in church on Christmas day'

Whilst Abukari preached inside the church, Joke gathered the children under the mango tree outside to tell them the nativity story.

'telling the Christmas story to the children under the mango tree'

It was not only the children who listened. A small group of adults from the village also gathered to listen and it was a good opportunity to carry the story a little further to Easter.

It was very encouraging to see how the few adults who are part of this church really tried to make this Christmas celebration special. They not only cooked rice for all the children who attended but also for their neighbours (in the Northern part of Ghana it is a custom to share food at times of festivals). Even though these two families were the only people celebrating Christmas in their village they did not hold back from sharing the message of Christmas with a bowl of rice for their neighbours.

'cooking rice for the church members, children and neighbours'

'all the children received a little bag of cooked rice'

Whilst we were still eating, somebody from the village asked us to carry a sick 15 year old teenager in our car to the hospital in Yendi. He was so weak that he could no longer be transported on the back of a motorbike or bicycle. We suspected appendicitis. His mother and brother accompanied him - and so we served as an ambulance. The next day he was transported to the hospital in Tamale for surgery. We don't know whether he was operated upon, but sadly he died in the hospital in Tamale.

On Christmas night, together with Augustina and Amina (the two young women who are more or less part of our family), Joke cooked Christmas dinner. On the menu was ‘duck’ which seems to be becoming our family Christmas tradition!

'Christmas dinner at our house'

'enjoying presents on Christmas morning'

Thank God for:

the wonderful Christmas we had

the small village Church and the testimony they are to their neighbours

Pray:

that the message of Christmas will especially continue to resound in the hearts and minds of those who are not yet Christians

for comfort for the family of the boy who passed away

health and energy - we all continue to struggle with our health, nothing really serious but it is a little discouraging

As Christmas approaches.....

2009-12-16T16:00:00.002Z

As the time of Christmas is approaching, the weather normally changes here. The atmosphere is dry and dusty and the sky usually turns a beautiful red colour in the evening.

'a Yendi sunset'

As the time of Christmas is approaching, Samuel's school gave a short performance in which Christmas carols were sung and Scriptures about the birth of Jesus were read.

'the school choir'

'Samuel and Micah with Samuel's teacher'

As the time of Christmas is approaching, we pray that you will remember and believe that, 'the birth of Christ brought God to man and that the cross of Christ brings man to God.'

Meeting and Greeting

2009-12-03T15:00:00.002Z

Joke’s father has just spent a week with us here in Ghana. Here are his impressions of his trip:

Meeting 1
In the plane, after 5 hours flying, I am addressed by my neighbour. He appears to be a Lebanese and tells me how the problems in the Middle East are caused by Israel and America. Gradually our conversation turns to Muslims and Christians. He is quite astonished when he hears that Christians and Jews have the same roots and that Jesus was a Jew. For a long time he sits bent forward as if he is trying to absorb it all. His final remark at the airport was: ‘We are still friends, eh?’

Meeting 2
There they are! Joke and Abukari, Samuel and Micah. I am so sleepy that I don’t see them at first. But then, yes! We embrace and greet each other, although the boys are more interested in the plane that is just leaving than in ‘opa’ (grandad).

'enjoying each other's company'

Meeting 3
Hanneke, Joke’s colleague, celebrates her birthday. We visit her, give her presents – and those from her mother – and strengthen our relationship.

'meeting with Hanneke'

Meeting 4
Laughing, Abukari’s father and I greet each other. Though we don’t understand each other, we have the same feelings towards our children and grandchildren. In another room Abukari’s mother is sitting. No chair, just on a mat on the floor. We cannot say much, we are just happy.

'meeting with Abukari's father'

Meeting 5
Paul (a colleague of Joke’s who visited Holland a few years ago) and his wife, Cynthia, are celebrating the birth of their second daughter. We attend the outdooring: for the first time the child comes outside to be shown to everybody. She gets her name and is dedicated to the Lord.

'meeting with Paul'

Meeting 6
Here I am in church under a tree. ‘At home’, because I am among brothers and sisters, but I don’t understand a word. Suddenly I see an old sister who is too old and tired to stand when everybody else stands. But then I see the intensity with which she joins singing and praying. It makes me glad.

'church service under a tree'

'the old blind woman'

Meeting 7
Joining Abukari , we go to the village of Sang to mark a plot of land for a Church project. On the way pastor Azindow joins us. We arrive at Sang and discuss matters with 4 men. Later another man joins us and then we hear that the man who was to arrange the matter was sent out by the chief on another mission. Come back tomorrow they say. Well, what is lost time.....?

Meeting 8
Rahman – Abukari’s brother – his wife Nelleke and their two daughters come to visit us. They are accompanied by Nelleke’s Dutch parents and a family friend. It is Joke’s birthday and we have a nice day together.

'meeting with Abukari's brother and family'

Epilepsy

2009-11-17T17:00:00.001Z

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...The king will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "

Matthew 25:35,36,40.

They are often attacked, have seizures, convulsions, trembling, foaming in their mouths, are occasionally thrown in unwanted places and left with permanently weak bodies and scars. They should be going to school or be engaged in active farming but it is impossible due to their predicament. They are often left to grow up uneducated and have to beg for a living. They are the victims of epilepsy in Ghana.

In the area that we live and work, a lot of children and adults are suffering from epilepsy. This disease leaves hundreds of people hopeless as they face a life of disability in a part of the world with scarce resources for treatments and rehabilitation. For about five years now, the German Institute for Medical Mission (DIFAEM), under the auspices of Dr. Bernd Weigand, and our church (the Bible Church of Africa) have been consistently supplying and administering Phenytoin (a drug used in the treatment/reduction of the impact of epileptic attacks) to about 80 patients in and around Yendi. Over the years most of the patients’ health and situations have improved.

Below are the stories of two patients who have received the epilepsy treatments:

“My name is Fuseini Alidu, I am thirty five years of age, I have had this disease since childhood. I had suffered a lot until I came into contact with the church who introduced me to the Phenytoin drugs for medication. I used to have three attacks in a month. The mode of attack has been that I begin to feel bodily pains, sudden dizziness and eventually I collapse. This happens to me regardless of where I am or what I am doing. For example it can happen by an open fire, on the road or in the bathroom. As a result I have sores all over my body and was not able to ride a bicycle, do any farming or sit among my peers for the fear of attacks. But thank God that in the two years since I started taking the medication I have not experienced any attack, I am quite healthy and can even work in my farm now. To DIFAEM and Dr. Bernd I wish you were her for me to give you yams (a kind of potato) from my farm to show my joy and for the improved health status you have given me, I am grateful”.

Abdulai Alhassan says, “I am twenty two years of age. For five years I have been suffering from epilepsy. I used to have frequent attacks - at least three attacks in a week. I was compelled to be a lazy person, always depending on others for my basic needs and sometimes even begging. I could not do any hard work or step on the wet ground. Since I started taking the medication last year there has been a great improvement, I have had only two attacks. I can now farm, eat well and am now physical fit for any kind of work. I thank God that your medicine is not only helping me to be healthy, but it was through the supply of this medicine that I became a Christian - for the love and compassion of the Christians were so compelling”.

We might want to ask ourselves whether simply distributing Bibles or gospel messages would have had as great/much impact on the hearts and minds of these patients as distributing /supplying Phenytoin sodium has had.

Thank God for:

The support from the people in Germany in treating these patients

The testimony of the church in practically assisting the people in their environment

Please pray for:

The Church – that it will always be ready to assist people in need and so show the love of Christ in the community

The sick –access to health facilities are very limited and there is a real need for more health personnel

For health – for us as a family, as we continue to fall sick with malaria, colds and infections

Ghana ‘World Champions’

2009-11-05T10:00:00.002Z

Just like most other people in the world, Ghanaians love football. Not surprisingly the whole of Ghana was celebrating when Ghana won the FIFA U-20 World Cup by defeating Brazil in a sudden death penalty shootout after the two teams failed to break the deadlock in 120 minutes of football. It’s a very special victory – Ghana is the first African country to win the U-20World Cup Championship!

At the moment, in our house, we also have two famous football players; Van Nistelrooy and Essien, who regularly play against each other.

Fortunately, most of the matches they play against each other are friendly!

Thank God for:

Health, we have all been sick over the past period.

Pray for:

A good time with visitors we are welcoming from the Netherlands this month: Friends of Tahima Yili (7-11 November), Bram van Grootheest and Frans Davelaar from Wycliffe Bible Translators, Netherlands (3-12 November) and Joke’s father (19-30 November).

Continuous good health.

Training and meetings which have been planned during the next few weeks whilst our visitors are with us.

Daily Life (2)

2009-10-18T15:00:00.001Z

A few more photos of daily life here in Yendi........

' a local musician'

'a woman from the fulani tribe (a nomad group) with their distinctive way of dressing'

'a cowboy taking care of a herd'

'sunset'

Daily Life (1)

2009-10-12T13:46:00.014Z

Here are a few photos of daily life in our neighbourhood that are so familiar to us........

'pumping water at a borehole'

'a little girl on her way to the borehole to fetch water'

'a woman just from the farm, carrying firewood'

'a farmer weeding in his field'

Ramadan

2009-09-16T14:30:00.001Z

Here in Yendi, we are in the midst of Ramadan and its activities. The piercing noise of loud speakers of Quaranic recitations, Islamic preachings from the radio stations, the noisy early morning life as most houses are busy cooking and eating to meet the deadline of daylight. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar Calendar. In this month Muslims all around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast. Muslims see this month as the time to purify their souls, refocus on God, to practice self-sacrifice, to make peace, to do away with bad habits – this is essentially to clean up their lives. Just like Paul, I can testify about the zeal and the commitment of my brothers and sisters, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. They missed the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. And this should be a process and a daily affair but not an event (Rom 10: 2 – 4; 12:1-3).

'the Mosque in our village'

The Arabic word for “fasting” (sawn) means to “refrain” and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts and words. During Ramadan every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places, etc. In such a way every part of the body observes the fast.

'the Central Mosque in Tamale'

But what happens after the Ramadan? During the last ten days of Ramadan, Muslims seek and observe the Night of Power (Leyla Qadr), particularly on the odd nights (ie, the 23, 25, and 27). It is reported that the prophet said, “Whoever stays up (in prayers and remembrance of Allah) on the night of Qadr, fully believing (in Allah’s promise of reward) and hoping to seek reward, he shall be forgiven for all his past sins.” (Bukhari & Muslims). Night of Power is a time of intense spirituality, when believers are surrounded by angels, the spirit, and the gates of heaven are open for Allah’s blessings. Again, on the contrary the book of Lamentations assures us that, God’s great love, compassion and faithfulness are not month bound – “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:23). Join us in these few “Nights of Power” as we intercede for the salvation of the world of Islam.

'Muslims in our village gather at a grave of one of the ancestors to pray for unity in the village and drive away evil spirits'

Praises:

For the good health of our family.

For the joy and privilege of reaching out to the Muslims with the love of Christ.

Prayers:

That the lessons of Ramadan will lead the Muslims to Christ in whom ‘everyday is a month of Ramadan.’

That, as small as we are, as Christians in our village our light will be able to shine brighter.

That we will have good proportions of rains for the crops so as not to have floods this year.

Holiday

2009-08-25T13:30:00.001Z

During the first two weeks of August we had a holiday in Accra. We were able to stay at the home of missionary friends who had gone on furlough. Other friends of ours were staying at the same house and together we had a wonderful time. We spent time at the beach, relaxed at the house and celebrated Samuel and Micah’s birthdays at a playground in Accra. Even though the children have a lot of space to play around the house in Yendi, there is nothing like a playground in the northern part of Ghana so this was a very exciting moment for them.

'playing in the paddling pool'

'diving in the sea'

'playing in the sand'

'the birthday celebrations - Samuel (4), Micah (2)'

'fun at the playground'

'with our friends'

After our two week break, we returned home to the north of Ghana and have started work again. Samuel will start school again on 8th September.

Thank God for:

The wonderful holiday we had

Good friends

Please pray for:

Unity in the churches - we continue to have a few problems among members

Our health - we still struggle a little bit with our health, especially Samuel who often has malaria

Protection and strength - we really do experience the fact that our 'struggle is not against flesh and blood'

Student life at Tahima Yili

2009-08-11T13:25:00.011Z

As you may remember last year our dream of a student hostel in Tamale to enable young people from village communities to continue their education in the regional capital came true. In October 2008, the hostel opened its doors to 16 young people on completion of the first building phase (see our blog entries 'Building, Building, Building' and 'A dream comes true'). Since then, the following video has been made about the hostel. It gives a good idea of what the hostel is like, what it means to the students to have the opportunity to stay at ‘Tahima Yili’ and the challenges it is facing. As the video narrative is in Dutch, we’ve given a summary in below in English. We hope it will give you a flavour of what life is like at ‘Tahima Yili’.

The students themselves describe how a place at the hostel helps them in their studies and in their lives. The girls explain how in their villages after school they have to carry firewood/water, cook and sometimes work on the farm. After they have done all the household chores there is no time and energy left to study. At the hostel, even though they do have some chores to do, there is a lot of time left to study. Besides this they also learn to live together with other people, how to keep their environment clean and they learn a lot about God through their daily evening devotions. Sarah (the girl typing) explained that before she came to stay at the hostel, she had finished her first year in secretarial school. Her parents had rented a room for her to stay in Tamale as there is no such vocational school in her village. However, when she was due to start the second year, her parents told her that they no longer had the financial means to rent a room and so she would not be able to continue her studies. Then she heard about the hostel and was offered a place for which she is very grateful.

Alhassan is also happy to be staying at the hostel. He started Junior Secondary School in September last year. In his village, after school, he often has to help in the farm. As there is no electricity in his village, he has no opportunity to study in the evening (the sun sets by about 6.30 pm). He is therefore very happy that he can stay at the hostel and that he is assisted in his studies by Pastor Barnabas (the house parent) as well. When he is asked whether he likes the food in the hostel he has to laugh; he replies that he eats things in the hostel he has never seen in his village before. He is even learning to cook a little!

Pastor Barnabas, their house parent, explains about the challenges of life at the hostel. Besides taking care of his own family with 3 children, taking care of 16 students and assisting them with their homework is quite a job but he enjoys it a lot. The biggest challenge is the lack of certain facilities. Currently there are 7 rooms, 3 of them are occupied by his family, the others by the students. There is no kitchen, library or study room, neither are there storage facilities. Especially now, during the rainy season, this causes difficulties. Another challenge is the needs of the students themselves. Some of them do not have bicycles and walk more than 10 kms a day to and from their schools. For those with bicycles, there are times when their bicycles break down and the students themselves do not have money to repair them. The hostel would also like to buy books for the students to use in doing their homework.

Thank God for:

The facility of the hostel and how it helps students from rural areas and deprived homes

The ‘house parents’ and their family, for their dedication and sacrifice

That a start has been made with building a house for the 'house parents'

Pray for:

The students - that they will excel in their studies

The ‘house parents’, that they will be able to take care of their own children as well as the needs of the students

Funding, to finish the other buildings needed

A viable income generating project to make the hostel sustainable in the long term

Farming and Gardening

2009-07-27T10:30:00.007Z

We are in the middle of the rainy season and every day you can find the farmers on their land. This year, for the first time since we got married, 'we' also farm maize like many of our neighbours. Now that Abukari’s father is too old to work the land anymore, Abukari and some of his brothers are responsible for providing his father's house with maize. For the past few years we have bought the maize for the family. However, this year one of the 'farmer-evangelists' is helping us to grow it and last week we went on an 'inspection tour':

'our maize field inspection'

We have also created a vegetable garden close to our house. Abukari's family used to grow vegetables which the women would sell in the market. Abukari loves to tend the soil at the end of the day and to take care of the plants. Samuel and Micah love to join their father and I enjoy using the fresh vegetables in our meals:

Prayer and Praise:

Thank God for the good rains so far

Thank God for good health

We hope to have a two week holiday at the beginning of August in Accra, please pray for a relaxing time and a safe journey

Discovery

2009-07-13T15:15:00.002Z

For the past four weeks we have had two members of the 'Wycliffe Discovery Team - Ghana' living and working with us. They came to assist us in undertaking a gender analysis for our literacy programme. One of their aims was to discover how they could be used in missions. Cynthia came from the US and Andrea from the Czech Republic.

'Cynthia and Andrea discover the joy of joining in with women dancing in the church'

Here are some of their experiences and impressions:

Cynthia:
After spending much time reflecting on my experiences and interactions here in Yendi and elsewhere in Ghana, I am very certain that all of the circumstances leading up to me working in Literacy and Development with Joke and the office staff were creatively orchestrated by God. Each day I continue to discover more of God’s heart for the Ghanaian people and how He is transforming my heart as I have been working and getting to know people particularly in the Yendi villages. The hospitality and generosity Andrea and I have experienced while visiting villages has been wonderful to receive. Even just seeing on television how the whole city of Accra mobilized to welcome my American president just this past week made me realize that this aspect of hospitality in Ghanaian culture can extend far beyond a typical home to a whole country! I also have learned that there is still much to be done in terms of issues of gender equality, water and sanitation, health, literacy, and rural economic development in the Northern region of Ghana after interviewing groups in villages. I plan to continue to stay connected with LDP offices in Yendi and Tamale especially in light of the work done on gender issues which is something I am very passionate about. I also hope to return to Ghana in a few years to visit, maybe work, with this organization. I’m already thinking of job positions I can apply to back home in the States to help me get more exposed to issues on development. My prayer before and after I arrived in Ghana was for God to help me to not just to survive in Ghana, but to thrive here. I am so grateful that He has more than answered my prayers. I have made some very good friendships in my project area with my host family, office staff, family friends, etc. I’m also very grateful to Joke and Abukari for hosting me and Andrea and giving us a taste of missionary family life, which I found to be very enjoyable.

'Cynthia discovers that calabashes also grow on trees'

Andrea:
Before I went on this trip, I did not know what I was going to be doing. It was difficult for me when I arrived in Ghana because my English was very limited which made it hard for me to not only understand my English-speaking teammates but also people who spoke Ghanaian languages. I prayed continuously that God would help me to somehow understand those speaking around and to me. After one week in Yendi with Cynthia, I found that it was a little easier understanding basic conversation in English. Ghana is a beautiful country, and I am continuing to pray for lowered language barriers so that I can help the people here even more. I am grateful to have been a part of Joke and Abukari’s family life because they have shared their time and resources with me and Cynthia. Also, living with them has helped me to experience a bit of what missionary life is like. Spending time in villages exploring gender issues, cultural norms, traditions, etc., has been a huge and great experience for me. Cynthia and the LDP office staff have helped me to understand language and the issues being studied. I am very glad to have been a part of this team. Not only have I been visiting villages, but I also have been working on translating church materials from Dutch to Dagbani and Konkomba! Every day I thank God for the joy of being here in Ghana. This has been a life changing experience for me, and my eyes have been opened to a whole range of new things, peoples, cultures, and languages. When I return home, I will commit to pray for Ghana, Yendi, Kuga, LDP project, the office staff, and Abukari and Joke’s family because they have all greatly impacted my life in wonderful ways. More than these experiences, I give thanks to such an awesome God!

'Discovering that missionary life can be very relaxed'

'Andrea teaches Cynthia how to ride bicycle as part of the "discovery experience"'.

Good luck, bad luck

2009-06-11T10:00:00.002Z

ZUGUSUG BI LOORA, ZUGUBIEGU N – LOORA

The above Dagbani proverb literally means, 'good luck does not spread, bad luck spreads'. The interpretation of this proverb suggests that we don’t often benefit from other people’s good luck, but we are often affected by the bad luck of others. And this seems to be our experience over the past two weeks. It has been a chain of sicknesses and illnesses which we pass on to each other as a ‘true family’. It all started like this, Samuel had very bad malaria (3+) while Abukari was away in Tamale arranging for maintenance work on our vehicle. It was therefore difficult to get Samuel to the hospital as he was too weak to sit on a motorbike (quite readily available). Finally a local taxi was arranged to convey Joke and Samuel to the hospital whilst somebody took care of Micah in the house. The doctor was shocked that there were so many malaria parasites in Samuel’s blood. He was instantly given a malaria treatment by injection and then later on another infusion was given at our house by a nurse who had come from the hospital. We chose to have him treated at the house rather than have him admitted to the hospital because at this time of year especially there are a lot of mosquitoes about. He has been on quinine for a week now and is really doing well.

Next Joke started to get bad headaches and stomach upsets that really drained her energy and joy. Just after that Abukari found out from the laboratory that he had malaria. And during the middle of last week Micah developed a high fever. Since we were so scared after the experience with Samuel, we immediately started to treat him for malaria but after two days his fever had not gone down. We took him to the hospital for a blood test and no malaria parasites were found, instead he had rather a low HB, but he was prescribed another malaria treatment. However, we were really concerned as his high fever was persisting so we consulted a missionary colleague who is a nurse in Accra (about 700 km distance from where we are). She recommended an antibiotic and praise God, Micah’s fever went down. So it has been several weeks of medication and nursing as we learn to feel each other’s pulses and take each other’s temperatures.

Yesterday (10th June) we again went to the hospital for a malaria test. Samuel and Micah both still have malaria and were prescribed different treatments. Please continue to pray for complete healing.

'the two youngest patients!'

Praise God:

for our life and the ministries that we are involved in here in Ghana.

that our health challenges are normalising now.

Please pray:

for our continued strength and health.

for health personnel in Ghana; the numbers of doctors and nurses are far too low so the work pressure is very high, especially in the rainy season when people fall sick with malaria frequently.

Snakes Again!

2009-05-25T07:03:00.013Z

This time a visit to Samuel’s school class! Every Friday morning I (Joke) go into Samuel’s school (North Eastern Christian Academy, Yendi) to help his class with craft activities.

As you can see from the photos, they are all busy cutting and pasting.

The final result - beautifully coloured snakes!

PRAYER AND PRAISE ITEMS

Thank God for:

The opportunity for Samuel to attend a school in Yendi.

Water! For over a month no water flowed through the pipes in Yendi due to a failure with a transformer for the pumping station. Fortunately, we had just enough water stored in our underground tank to see us through.

Pray for:

Samuel and Micah as they both grow and develop – physically, mentally, spiritually.

For good rains - even though the rains have started early, there has not yet been enough to start the main farming of maize, which people largely depend on for their daily food.

Continuous co-existence between Muslims and Christians, as many Muslims are opening up to the Gospel.

Comfort for one of our American missionary friends, Kim and her two sons who lost their husband and father last Friday (15 May) in an accident with an exploding gas bottle (see here for more info).

Friends and family

2009-05-11T11:02:00.007Z

'playing outside with friends'

'Samuel and Micah with their grandfather and uncle in Tamale. They were all dressed up for a traditional gathering'

Snakes!

2009-04-28T11:08:00.008Z

The rainy season has started. People always look forward with anticipation to this season. The rains bring a refreshing coolness after a long period of heat and dust. But more importantly they are a sign of hope for food; at this time of the year food stocks from the previous year’s rainy season are about to finish. As soon as the first rains fall, you especially see men early in the morning wearing their old clothing and heading towards their farms. Some use bicycles, while others walk. The two tools they always carry are a cutlass and a hoe which is an iron shovel attached to a curved stick with which they plough their land. However, working on the farms is not without danger. During this time many farmers are bitten by poisonous snakes and sometimes this can even prove fatal.

Even in our home we sometimes find very thin poisonous snakes which are able to enter houses under the doors. We had an incidence of this during the past week when one evening we saw a snake in the house and were able to catch it before it had an opportunity to hide in a corner somewhere. This was really fortunate, as Micah loves little creepy crawly creatures like worms, crickets, spiders. He regularly catches them and then shows them to us, full of pride at what he has been able to do! There is not a lot of difference between a long worm and a small thin snake in Ghana, so we’ve now made sure that all holes where a snake might try to get in have been closed.

We are also regularly visited by people with snakebites. This happened twice last week. The first man was bitten on his hand by a thick short snake. The snake was hiding in his yam seedlings. He was able to shake the snake off and kill it and then came to us with the dead snake. The second man was weeding on his farm when he was bitten on his leg by a snake.

"the short thick snake"

Why do these people visit us? A missionary who worked with our church in the past introduced a “shocker”. A “shocker” is a small tool which we can make locally. It is able to produce electrical shocks around the snake bite which neutralises the poison as long as the treatment takes place within about one hour of the person being bitten. The cost of this treatment is about 1 euro which covers the purchase new batteries needed for each “shock”. A treatment in the hospital costs between 50 and 150 euros!

"the shocker"

"applying the shocker"

In many villages where we have a church, we have introduced the “shocker” and of course we ourselves have one for people in our neighbourhood. The “shocker” serves, first and foremost, as a lifesaving gadget but it also gives us the opportunity to build bridges for evangelism; a word of encouragement, a short prayer, something to eat or drink or medical care if the treatment with the shocker is not sufficient..... giving many people pause for thought........

PRAYER POINTS:

Praise:

Thank God for the early start of the rainy season

Prayer:

for a good farming season

for protection for the farmers

for funds to make more shockers (each 'shocker' costs about 10 euros but they are sold to the villages for 5 euros)

that through the love and compassion of the 'shocker service' people will be attracted to the 'Main Shocker' (Numbers 21:8)

Peace!

2009-04-07T16:15:00.001Z

'Tamale Mosque'

Some of you might remember that in April 2006 we wrote about Rahman. At that time he came to visit us in Yendi. When he was quite young he learnt to read the Koran in Arabic. Besides that, he also studied parts of the Koran. Therefore, he could lead prayers in the Mosque and people visited him to ask for advice in times of trouble and he received the title called ‘Malam’. Because he has been given that title, family and people from his community owe him a lot of respect. Over the past few years he has been involved in a dialogue between Muslims and Christians. Abukari and Rahman are cousins and good friends and Abukari visits Rahman regularly. When Rahman visited us about three years ago, a newly built Mosque was inaugurated in the village in which we live and as a pastor (working among Muslims) Abukari was invited to join the occasion. He went together with Rahman. During the speeches the preacher referred to Christianity a number of times. After the ceremony was over, Rahman expressed his surprise about this; ‘why did they not preach Islam and morality rather than warn the people against Christianity?’ This started a long discussion between Abukari and Rahman. They talked for a number of hours during which time they read and referred to passages of the Koran and the Bible. Rahman finally told us that within Islam he misses the real joy and peace the Christians display and that therefore he wants to become a Christian. It was a real breakthrough; for over five years we had prayed for him. It was also a breakthrough because he was so deeply rooted in Islam and because of his position in his community. Since then he has faced opposition when people have got to know that he has become a Christian.

Since that time Rahman has been secretly attending Church and at the same time observing the Muslim prayers in the community Mosque just to keep peace with his family, friends and the larger community. During these years of hide and seek a lot of things have happened. Although Rahman tried to hide his new found faith from family members and friends, his new life in Christ soon began to betray him (2 Cor.5:17); many friends have come to ask him why he is behaving differently these days. His answer has always been simple, 'it is Jesus'. Some of the friends who heard of Rahman's response were quite embarrassed and did not take it kindly, so they decided to incite the community against him by broadcasting or spreading the news of his conversion for their own selfish ambitions. As it says in Philippians 1:17-18, "The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposed that they can stir up troubles for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice”. While Rahman was still trying to hide his faith in Jesus, people in the neighborhood were laughing at him because they heard he was a secret follower of Jesus and of course by his fruits he was a different person.

'after prayers in the Mosque'

Just this last week a senior Imam, who coached Rahman in his Islamic studies and practice when he was young, heard the news. He decided to visit Rahman with three other Imams. In their interrogation, Rahman affirmed what they heard to be true. The senior Imam in his early fifties began to cry and wail uncontrollable, in the midst of his wailing this was what he said, "Even if you were irresponsible and a drunkard it would have been better than becoming a Christian." At the end of their meeting one of the Imams borrowed Rahman's only Bible.... Having gone through all this, Rahman has now decided to officially and openly break the news to the family this next week. He has also made up his mind to start fellowshipping with a Church (with a lot of Dagomba Christians) in the community. Rahman urgently needs your prayer support and encouragement to soar through these unprecedented storms.

PLEASE PRAY:

For Rahman to be able to stand and be bold to the pressures of the family and community.

For his wife Samira who is not comfortable with the situation and thinks it is disgraceful.

Pray that many Dagomba people who have seen the light will be encouraged to embrace it regardless of the storms.

Pray that Rahman will find friends who will help him in his Christian journey.

Discipleship

2009-03-19T12:15:00.000Z

'the members of the church at Sakpe'

Sakpe is a community in the Yendi municipality that we have recently reached with the Gospel. Before their acceptance of the good news of Jesus Christ the majority of these people practiced syncretism (trying to combine different religious beliefs). We visit them regularly to teach them the basic concepts of the Christian faith to set the foundation right. Whilst discussing Bible passages the people raise many questions that are very important to them, even to the extent that some of these issues were real barriers preventing them from accepting the Gospel. These are some of the questions they asked:

How can somebody really die to save others? Within the context of the Konkomba and Dagomba people, they think that Jesus might have made this arrangement (dying on the cross) so that he himself gains something through it - for it to be a selfless sacrifice is difficult to understand.

If I die, who will perform my funeral? This is extremely important to the people in this area. Culturally, when somebody dies, the person has to be sent off well so that the person's spirit will join the ancestors. If the funeral is not performed well the spirit of the person 'hangs around' causing all kinds of misfortune. When somebody becomes a Christian, family members and people from the community (non Christians) do not want to perform the funeral since they believe that the deceased is unclean. It is therefore very important to assure those new believers that the church will take up that responsibility and even more importantly explain that their spirit will go to God.

Can I still marry more than one wife? Most Dagomba men marry at least two women which is accepted culturally and also because of their Muslim faith.

What do I do with my three wives that I married before I became a Christian? We generally encourage them to maintain their wives, to take good care of them and of their children as they have already made that commitment.

Can I use traditional medicine when I am sick? Also an important question. Some traditional medicine can be used without any problems (like herbs). However, sometimes a traditional healer will ask the sick person to perform sacrifices and the blood of an animal is used as a means of efficacy. If that is the case then that medicine cannot be used.

Can I have juju (a supernatural power) to protect myself? Again, these supernatural powers can only be used if animal sacrifices are being made and it is therefore not acceptable within the church. Moreover, when one becomes a Christian the highest Power (God Himself) is the one who protect us.

Thinking about all the questions the people raised it made us realise once again that after people come to faith in Christ they need to be taught regularly. We cannot just take it for granted that they have understood everything by becoming Christians. There are thousands of people like the community at Sakpe whose salvation 'depends' on our response and commitment to the words in Romans 10:14, 17, 'How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?...Consequently faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.'

'because nobody within the church can read at present they use a hand wind tape recorder with cassettes to listen to the Word of God when they meet and there is nobody around to teach them'

A family holiday

2009-03-03T12:15:00.000Z

A few weeks ago we had visitors from the Netherlands - Pastor Riemer Venema and Henk Bouwmeester from the Baptist Church Bethel in Hoogeveen (our sending church). We always enjoy visitors and like our guests to feel part of our life and work here. It is also wonderful to be able to speak Dutch whilst sharing a good cup of Dutch coffee together. Of course we also welcome the 'real' Dutch goodies like cheese, coffee, 'stroopwafels', liquorish, syrup, etc. The children also thought it was great, as they enjoyed the extra attention given to them. We will write more about this visit in our next newsletter.

As we took Riemer and Henk back to Accra by car (a journey of about 9 hours on 250 km unmade and 250 km tarred road) we decided to stay in Accra for about a week for a short family holiday. Life in a big city like Accra is a quite a change from our relatively rural life in Yendi. The big attraction of course is the Atlantic Ocean, diving in the high waves or playing on the beach. We also enjoyed looking at all kinds of goods which are traded by the beach sellers to the tourists and being amused by the drummers and dancers who try to make a little income. With a cold bottle of coke and a chicken kebab it is a perfect place to be.

'Accra beach'

'by the ocean'

'watching the waves'

But that is not all. What would you think of a visit to a supermarket with real departments for bread, vegetables and meat? The biggest supermarket in Yendi is about 5 sq metres. Sometimes the supermarket is full of goods but at times the shelves are nearly empty. However, in Accra there are shopping centres. This time we discovered a new 'shopping mall' with about 20 shops! We could not believe our eyes. There was one store which sold drills for our drilling machine, shelves for the walls, curtains, furniture, china, lamps, paint, car and bathroom accessories and foodstuffs. Goods in these kind of shops are usually sold at European prices and we mostly limit our shopping to yoghurt, chocolate, raisin rolls, cornflakes and cheese cookies. The children were also all excited when they visited a toyshop and Samuel found DVD's of Bob the Builder and Peter Post. A visit to the capital is also a good opportunity to enjoy pizza, french fries, a hamburger or a cup of cappucino. A visit to the hairdresser has also become part of the Accra excursion. Micah is starting to talk and one of the words he says is 'car'. He could not get enough of it in Accra, so many cars together! In Yendi only a few cars pass during the day time, but in Accra you can spend hours in traffic.

'before haircut'

'after haircut'

With the holiday over, last week we returned to Yendi and from the 1st - 8th of March Abukari is running two workshops in Tamale. The children and I have remained in Yendi. Over the past three months Micah has had three asthmatic attacks. With medication from the Netherlands we are trying to get these attacks under control but up until now we have not been able to do so and last Saturday he had to be admitted to hospital once again. Yesterday (Monday 2nd) he was doing much better. Please will you pray with us so that we get better insight into what triggers these attacks and what we could do to prevent it?

Christmas under a mango tree

2009-01-08T13:50:00.003Z

Can you imagine being a child living in a remote village, far away from a tarred road and a town with running water and electricity? Can you imagine that you would only leave that village to go to a nearby village on your bicycle or to walk to the farm where your family grows its crops? Can you then imagine what a great adventure it is if somebody comes in a car and drives you to another village to celebrate Christmas with children from different villages? The enthusiasm of the children alone when they entered the car was worth all the time and energy the preparations of the Christmas celebration took.

'Christmas under a mango tree'

Together with Paul (a 'Bible Church of Africa' leader who oversees the children's work) we organised a Christmas celebration for children in two villages. In the first village 75 children attended and in the second village just over 30 came. The ingredients of the celebration were simple; singing songs, listening to the Christmas story, learning a memory verse, playing games, making a bracelet, and eating rice and sweets. We all enjoyed it.

'singing together'

'learning a memory verse'

'playing games'

'the bracelets'

After the celebration a father with his son came to speak to me. I think the boy, Tingila, was about five years old. According to his father, about four years ago Tingila fell in a fire. His toes, left hand and shoulder were burnt badly. Even though the wounds were treated in the hospital, Tingila lost part of his toes so that he can only walk when wearing socks and shoes and without them he would fall. Could the church help Tingila? The first thing that came to my mind when this father spoke to me was the text from Acts 3:6, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' Together we prayed for the healing of Tingila. Paul and I again explained the meaning of Christmas to him and indicated that the greatest gift God has given us is Jesus Christ. We further promised to see how the church could help them and encouraged them to visit the church in their village.

Thank God for:

the christmas celebrations we could organise and the possibility to share the Gospel with many children

the presidential and parliamentarian elections which were peaceful

Pray for:

the children who joined the Christmas celebration, that they will understand the true meaning of Christmas

Tingila and his parents, that God will do miracles in their lives

the new government of Ghana

Christmas Greetings!

2008-12-23T15:32:00.000Z

'From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the Lord is to be praised.'

(Psalm 113:3)

As the sun sets over the year 2008 and we are getting ready for the festivities of the season, we want to wish you all a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A practical example.......

2008-12-02T11:59:00.002Z

In our last post we shared with you the amazing testimony of Azindow, one of the Pastor’s that Abukari works closely with in the Yendi area. The Christian community that Azindow lives and works amongst also has a powerful testimony to tell and the following story is one example of the greatness of the Lord that we serve:

A traditional religious leader in the village where Azindow lives was not very pleased with the establishment of a church for the ‘Bible Church of Africa’ in his community. He complained that his eldest son had become a Christian and would therefore no longer serve the traditional gods and involve himself in related traditional practices. The spirits of the gods seemed to be powerless to bring his son back to the traditional belief. By calling on these spirits this religious leader has tried to destroy the church. In this way he hoped to make the church building collapse and scatter the Christians. However, all attempts proved futile.

The religious leader did not give up easily. He called on another religious to bring in more spiritual forces to fight against the church. This leader assured him that he would be able to destroy the church building within three days. He promised that the church would either collapse or a huge storm would blow of the roof of the church. At first the church was not aware of the presence of this religious leader. It was only after two days that somebody warned the church members for the intention of this religious leader. The church quickly came together and ‘whispered’ a prayer to God. Their prayer was: ‘God, if you are truly the God we serve, fight for Yourself.’ God answered this prayer. On the third day, very early in the morning some kind of confusion erupted between the religious leaders and part of the community to the extent that the people of the village chased the traditional leader out of the village. And the church building still stands! This experience has strengthened the faith of the Christians and their trust in God and has worked out the opposite of what the traditional leaders had in mind.

Please pray for this community of believers; that their faith will continue to be strengthened as they seek to serve the Lord in their daily lives.

'A traditional leader wearing amulettes around his head to protect himself'

Come to me....... you will find rest for your soul

2008-11-14T16:38:00.000Z

‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’(Eph. 6:12).

Abukari in reaching out to the Konkomba and the Dagomba people in and around Yendi works closely together with Azindow. His story is so remarkable that we thought it would be interesting to share it with you.

'Pastor Azindow and his family'

Azindow is from a village close to Yendi and is a Konkomba by tribe. He is married and has four children. When he was a child he did not have the opportunity to attend any formal school but when he was 20 years old he joined a Konkomba literacy class. He obtained two certificates, one in Konkomba reading and writing proficiency and one in English. Azindow came from a family of idol worshippers. The Konkomba in general believe in gods or spirits which direct their lives. In many families you will find a stone or carved image representing gods or spirits. They regularly make a sacrifice to these gods to appease them and then put some of the blood of the sacrifice on the image they have. They invoke spirits of the dead or the ancestors as a source of power.

It was in this environment that Azindow grew up. In 1981, Azindow’s brother was “married” to two gods, gulimade and kundi. This means that he became the owner of these gods and a medium through which the gods would speak to the ordinary people. He had to swear allegiance to these gods and went into a covenant with them. But two years after he received those gods he fell sick and died. It was then that Azindow became the sole owner of these ‘powerful gods’. Azindow had to follow the rules and regulations of these gods, bring sacrifices to them to appease them and by so doing he was able to help people by consulting these gods on their behalf. People from far and near would travel to Azindow’s village to seek help in marriage, sickness, preventing tragedies and to be empowered in their businesses. Azindow could make people become successful in their businesses in no time but with a price to pay.

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called: those he called, he also justified: those he justified, he also glorified.” Rom. 8:29-30. Azindow gives thanks to God for his mercy in delivering him from the bondage of idol worship. In 1989, a Christian friend constantly told Azindow about Jesus Christ and in response Azindow was urging him to accept his gods by telling him of the wonders of his gods. But one day Azindow was miraculously touched by the words from the book of Matthew 11:28-29, which says, “come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”. On hearing that verse Azindow realized that the money and time he spent in sacrificing and appeasing the gods were a heavy burden on him. The words “you will find rest for your soul” kept ringing in his heart and with much resistance and opposition from the gods he slowly but confidently gave his life to Jesus in 1990. What a relief it was no longer to live in fear of repercussions from the gods if he did not fulfill the obligations in serving them.

After Azindow became a Christian, he denounced and broke all the covenants and contracts he had with the gods, burning all the artifacts of the idols and became fully committed to Jesus Christ. Azindow was encouraged to always pray and read his Bible, if not the powers of the small gods would torment him. Eight years later, in 1998, as a result of the gleaned education he had (night literacy classes) he gained admission to attend a Bible Training Centre at Chaina (a training centre of the Bible Church of Africa in the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana) and obtained a certificate in Biblical studies as the first step to equipping himself for the Kingdom of God. Even before he went to the Bible Training Centre, the Lord used him to establish four Churches for the Bible Church of Africa within the Yendi district. After completing his training, he came back and together with the Yendi team he took care of churches in the Yendi district in nourishing them with the Word of God. Eventually more churches were planted. Altogether the Lord has blessed the ministry in the Yendi area with about 20 churches among the Dagomba and the Konkomba people.

'The church in Azindow's village'

Since Azindow became a Christian, many people have seen the protection Christ has given him and the blessings of Christ upon his life. That has encouraged many people to also give their life to Christ. Why? Because initially people had told him that since he rejected the idols he would die, but when they saw that he continued to live many of them also burnt their idols and gave their lives to Jesus. They are part of the church today.

Notwithstanding all these challenges of ministry and personal development, Azindow saw the need for acquiring further knowledge and skills for the ministry, so he decided to go to Maranatha University College (MUC) to learn more so that he would be well equipped to train others as 2 Timothy 2:2 urges us. In the churches in the Yendi district and beyond emerging leaders need to be taught and nurtured and church administrations need to be developed for the holistic growth of the body. Despite the fact that Azindow never had any formal education as a child, he graduated from Bible College with a Diploma in Ministry just last week!

'Pastor Azindow and his wife at his graduation ceremony'

'Abukari with Azindow at his graduation ceremony'

Thank God for:

how He has changed Azindow’s life and through him that of many others
the sacrifices he makes for serving God in establishing and nurturing churches in the Yendi district
the wonderful co-worker he is in our ministry

Pray for:

protection of Azindow’s life and that of his family as he is engaging himself in a spiritual battle
sensitivity to God’s calling, knowing where He leads him and doing what He wants Azindow to do
a good working relationship between Abukari, Azindow and the other co-workers in the area
wisdom in helping to lead the churches and nurturing them
more financial support for Azindow, his family and ministry. Besides his work as a pastor he now has to farm for enough income to support his familiy and ministry, more financial support would give him more time and opportunity to reach out to those who have not yet heard the Gospel.

Impact

2008-10-25T10:00:00.002Z

Last week a consultant from the Netherlands visited us to help the team of the Dagbani Literacy Programme formalise the system of monitoring and evaluation and also review our latest Strategic Plan a little. The meeting sessions were good but long. Because we work with many different donors, they have specific requirements on how we evaluate, report and eventually measure the impact of our work. Of course for ourselves too it is very important to know whether we are achieving our aims and objectives. At the same time it is difficult because not everything is measurable. For example, how can you measure the true impact that reading and writing skills have on the life of an individual. It is probably immeasurable.

'literacy programme planning meeting'

One of our learners once said after receiving a certificate: “What I have learned, no one can buy in the market. Even if somebody would take my certificate, what I have learned will still be mine.” The self-respect and confidence somebody gains through being able to read and write is indescribable. Not to have to thumbprint in signing a document but writing your own name gives a sense of pride and self-worth.

'a literacy class in operation'

Also, it is often the members of a literacy class who advocate for the needs of others in a community. Mbanaayili is a village about 14 kilometres from Tamale. For a few years now the Ghanaian Government has introduced a ‘National Health Insurance Scheme’ (NHIS). The Scheme is especially meant for the poorer people in the rural areas. But the inhabitants of this village like many others did not take part in the scheme because they did not understand its operation. One evening, during one of the literacy class sessions in this village, the learners started to discuss the Scheme. At the end of the discussion they decided to call the community for a meeting and invite a representative from the NHIS to give them more information about the Scheme. After this meeting, many people got interested in registering for the Health Insurance. However, there was another problem. For the women and elderly in the village the distance to the nearest office of the NHIS was too far. The village therefore suggested that the representative leave a number of registration forms with the learners of the literacy class so that they could help to register those who would not be able to go to the office. The representative agreed and those who were appointed to do the registration were even paid a little for it! Today, out of 200 households in the village, 160 have registered. In this village literacy has played a major contribution to the access to health care. This is just one of the numerous benefits literacy has and the impact it can have on the lives of people.

'women discussing problems in the village'

'A dream comes true'

2008-10-16T11:30:00.000Z

We have dreamt about it for years – a home for young people to support them in their education and their spiritual growth. Since last Monday, 15 young people have been given a place in such a home, ‘Tahima Yili’ or in English ‘Home of Hope’ because of the assistance of a group of friends in the Netherlands, ‘Stichting Verrekijker’. Wonderful!

'Tahima Yili'

The young people who have been accepted for the first phase of the project come from remote villages where opportunities for a good education are limited. For these young people (aged between 13 and 20) and their parents this is also a ‘dream come true’; better education, parental care and guidance.

'the first students coming to live at Tahima Yili'

'interviews'

'meeting with parents and guardians'

'interview Panel'

So far, 7 rooms have been built; 4 are for the students and 3 for the house parents and their family who live with the young people.

We had to buy a watertank for Tahima Yili to store water as the waterpipe is not flowing in the area of Tamale where the hostel has been built. Trucks with water will have to supply the hostel. Just to give you an impression of the size of the tank we put Samuel in front of it.

The young people come from different religious background. The parents and guardians who came with the children for the interviews before being accepted into the hostel were very excited when they heard that Tahima Yili offers more than just accommodation (see our blogpost, Building, Building, Building for more details). For Pastor Barnabas and his wife Lardi (the house parents) a huge task lies ahead as they lead and develop the project providing support and guidance to the youth. Besides taking care of their own 3 children, it is a great responsibility to also take care of another 15!

This is only the first phase of our plans for ‘Tahima Yili’. You can read about our other plans for this project on the 'Stichting Verrekijker' website. The website is in Dutch, but you can use the Google translator to read it in English, click here: 'Stichting Verrekijker in English'.

PRAYER POINTS

Thank God for:

The completion of the first phase of the building
Barnabas and his family who are going to lead the project
Stichting Verrekijker and all the people who support the project
The opportunities for the young people that this project offers

Pray for:

Barnabas and his family - that they will be able to lead the young people and make the house a home
The young people - that they will feel at home soon and that they get along well with each other and their house parents

The education of the young people - that the schools they are visiting do offer good education
The spiritual growth of the young people
The future plans of the project
The Project Board in Ghana and Stichting Verrekijker in the Netherlands

Please also pray for Joke’s back as she is currently experiencing a lot of back pain

Birthday Celebrations!

2008-09-22T15:57:00.012Z

As we wrote in our recent newsletter, Samuel and Micah celebrated their 3rd and 1st birthdays last month. So we thought it was time to update you a little bit on their daily activities:

Micah is a very active little boy, the more action there is, the more excited he gets. He is the best climber in the house and climbs anything he thinks is possible. He adores Samuel and copies everything his big brother does. If he sees a bicycle or even a motorbike he wants to sit on it and tries to ride it as well. He talks to us a lot and although we don’t understand his language yet, we do recognise some words, such as 'dag' (bye in Dutch) and 'naa' (a greeting in Dagbani).

Samuel is the big collector; sticks, stones, tins, leaves, etc, all of which he carries into the house and in his eyes they have great value. He loves fresh groundnuts (peanuts) and maize (corn). He loves playing outside with his Ghanaian friends but also enjoys playing alone with his train, building blocks or other toys. He loves colouring and painting as well.

'Micah with papa on the motorbike'

'Samuel and Micah riding on the bicycle together'

'having fun on the tricycle'

For Samuel and Micah’s birthdays we had a sandpit built. Not only do Samuel and Micah enjoy this but also our neighbour’s children enjoy it. Last week I counted 23 children playing in it!

'playing in the sandpit'

Last week Samuel began attending a new school, 'North Eastern Christian Academy' (NECA), which has been started by the Baptist Mission in Yendi. He is still adjusting to the new teachers, children and school environment. The school itself is very different when compared to many other schools in Ghana, especially in Yendi. A lot of schools in Ghana are teacher centred and often the numbers of children in the classes are high. This school tries to focus more on the children and the classes are much smaller so that there is more individual attention. As the school has only been open for one week there are still a lot of challenges to get things well organised but it promises to be a good learning environment. They even have toys for the younger children to play with, they read books with them and do crafts. This might not seem surprising to you as I think this is normal in all Western schools but in Ghana this is quite exceptional.

If you are a teacher and a Christian and would like a challenge you can come and work at the school as a volunteer for a while!

PRAYER POINTS:

Thank God for:

The lives of Samuel and Micah and the blessing they are to us
The new school in Yendi
The many children they can play with and the people who take care of them when we are working

Pray for:

The physical, emotional and spiritual development of Samuel and Micah
Guidance in raising them in a cross-cultural environment
The staff and children at Samuel’s new school; that they will all adjust well in the new environment

When 40 minutes became 24 hours!

2008-08-23T10:20:00.018Z

What was meant to be a short trip of about 40 minutes turned out to be a muddy journey of 24 hours. Last week we had a meeting in Tamale about the hostel 'Tahima Yili' (Home of Hope) with some of the committee members. One of these members lives right on the other side of town and had no transport to get home, so I (Abukari) decided to take her in the car after the meeting. Her house is on the outskirts of Tamale and in that area no roads have been constructed yet. Even though we were aware that certain places are impassable at this time of the year because of the heavy rains, we were so busy discussing issues concerning the hostel that we forgot to dodge a certain place in the path leading to the house. By the time we felt the car sink away in the clay ground it was too late. Having just loaded the car with floor tiles for the extension of our house in Yendi there was no way the four wheel drive could pull us out.

'scene of the calamity'

What should we do? Fortunately the mobile phone network was working and I could reach a tipper truck driver. He came to my rescue. Getting close to the car he turned his truck but unfortunately his tyres also started to sink away in the mud and before we even had a chance to undertake any rescue the tipper truck was as stuck as our car. Abu, the driver of the truck, called one of his colleague tipper truck drivers. He gave us hope again. Over the telephone he assured us that never ever in his career as a driver had he become stuck with his vehicle. Quickly he made his way to our stranded vehicles. Observing the situation and being directed by a number of onlookers he brought his truck closer and closer. But in the last move to put his truck in the best position to start pulling, the mud started to swallow his wheels as well. Frantic efforts to save the situation on part of the driver did not render any result. In the meantime it was 8.30 pm, very dark and we were all very hungry. We decided to give up for the day. We called a friend who lived not too far away from the place of 'disaster' and he came to give all of us a lift home.

The next morning we went round Tamale to find somebody who would be willing to hire out his tractor for us to continue our rescue efforts. By 8.30 am we were back at the scene with a tractor, two monkey jacks, stones and two men to operate the equipment. Friends and family had heard about the adventure and some of the strong men came to see what they could do to help. A farmer on his way to his land got off his bicycle, shaking his head when he saw the stranded vehicles. He said, 'I was planning to go to my farm, but when I saw this there is nothing else I can do than help to get the vehicles out.'

'the rescue team'

Then the heavy work started on the first tipper - digging, putting blocks and branches under the wheels, pushing and pulling. At some places the men sank up to their knees in mud. Eventually, at 11.00 am the first truck was pulled out. Around noon the second one was back on solid ground.

'the rescued tippers back on solid ground'

That just left our vehicle and at about 2.00 pm in a second effort to pull our car out - which was successful - the tractor got stuck! It was at this time I got access to a camera to give you an impression of what the situation looked like. Eventually, after 4.00 pm all the vehicles were out of the mud and we all drove back to better roads. By 5.00 pm I finally got back to the house with an extremely dirty car. Even though it was hard work and a long day we had a lot of fun together sharing big stories about cars being stuck!

'rescuing the tractor'

'our car back on the road'

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Good health; all of us have been sick a number of times since we returned to Ghana at the end of June.
Protection against floods; it has been raining a lot in the Northern part of Ghana as well as in countries North of us. To prevent flooding in Burkina Faso they had to open a dam yesterday, which will affect the rivers in Ghana in a few days to come. The government has already warned people living and farming close to the rivers to evacuate their belongings and harvest any crops which have been matured (instead of letting them dry on their stalks like corn). As the rivers have already started to flood in Ghana as well people fear another disaster like last year's flooding.
Finishing and opening of the hostel 'Tahima Yili'; we hope to open the hostel for students at the start of the new school year (first week of September) and there is still a lot of work to be done. Pray also for the selection of students, that those who are in most need will be admitted (see our blog entry Building, Building, Building - 13.02.2008).

Take this Bible, learn from it......

2008-08-04T09:06:00.008Z

“Who are my mother and my brothers?”, he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-34.

The above Scripture manifested itself in the life and death of Mba Yakubu. The late Yakubu became a Christian in his early fifties in Kayong, a traditional Dagomba village in the Yendi district. He was the only Christian in this close knit community of about 600 inhabitants. For 18 years he had to walk 32 km (one way) to a nearby village for a Church service each Sunday. He was despised, insulted, rejected and ridiculed by family, friends and the wider community. Last week the Lord called Yakubu to be with Him.

However, the whole village said they would have nothing to do with his body because he was a Christian. So, an SOS message was sent to us (35 miles away) informing us of his death and we immediately organised ourselves and went to bury him. On the day of the funeral about 100 believers spent the night in that remote village, dancing and singing to celebrate the life of the dedicated departed servant of Christ.

'dancing to celebrate the life of Mba Yakubu'

During the funeral service most of the people from the village came to satisfy their curiosity (of witnessing a Christian funeral for the first time) and we had the opportunity and privilege of presenting the Gospel to them. We also challenged them to love one another and to live in unity. Their astonishment was that for the sake of one man hundreds of people from all over the region had gathered – in Christ we who were far away from each other have become a family. It was a great testimony and witness of the brotherly love of the minority Christians in this part of our world.

'an offering taken during the funeral to be shared with the brothers and widow'

On his sick bed, Yakubu had called Abdulai, his brother's son and handed over his Bible to him and said, 'Take this Bible, learn from it and let your life be ruled by it'. Together with all the Church leaders we prayed and committed Abdulai to the Lord's care. The young man has since started fellowshipping with the Church of which the uncle was a member.

Yakubu with his life has sown a seed and we pray and wait for a bumper harvest.

PRAYER POINTS:

Please pray for our health as we battle with malaria this month.
Pray for the wife and family of the late Yakubu that the testimonies they have heard will propel them to faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Abdulai that he will be committed to the way of the Bible and like Elijah and Elisha he will receive a double portion of his uncle’s spirit.
Pray that the people in Kayong, who have shown interest in the life changing message of Jesus, will be brought to the light.

Furlough Fotos!

2008-07-06T09:43:00.013Z

Well it has been a while since we last wrote an entry. From today onwards we hope to feed you again on a regular basis with news from Ghana. After a very good and intensive furlough period in the Netherlands we finally arrived back in Yendi last Saturday. We had a very good and pleasant journey until the last stretch of 100 km from Tamale to Yendi. The last hour of the journey we had a burst tyre, a stone in our windscreen and such a heavy downpour that we had to park the car at the side of the road for a while. Fortunately the burst tyre and rain shower did not coincide so we did not get soaked.

This first week we are trying to get settled; unpack, clear dust and organise our office. Hopefully by next week we are back to our old Ghanaian routine. The children are adjusting well – Samuel is very excited to be back in our own house and surroundings but the Netherlands and all the people he met are still very fresh in his mind and he thinks he can just visit any of them at any time!

Here are some of our furlough photos:

'Latest family photo'

'Enjoying snow at Easter'

'Abukari enjoying new herring'

'Enjoying a short holiday at the beach in the South of Ghana before returning to Yendi'

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Thank God for a wonderful furlough and a safe journey back and a good adjustment especially for the children

Pray for us as we try to pick up our work and other daily activities, so that we are able to catch up quickly and find a good new balance between family life and work.

The Yakubu Family: Life & Ministry (Northern Ghana)

Christmas in Yendi

Sending Christmas Greetings......

Common Needs - How best can we help?

Maize Harvest

Poverty and Riches

Transport in Ghana - lesson in patience

God's Plan in God's Time

Growth that needs our help

Water Day

Youth Group Visit

Back in Ghana

Ghana Day

Making Christ Known

The beginning of our furlough....

Goodbye Ghana

Busy - Busy - Busy

The Privilege of Sharing our lives in Christ

Our Advent Season 2010

Christmas 2010

Have I misplaced my Religion?

Joint Venture

Catching dinner for a village

Every drop helps determine the content

Holidays 2010

Discipleship

Help, a snake in the church!

Seeking Jesus through correspondence

Football Fever 2010!

10 years - Under the shadow of His wings

Small Goat - Great Impact

Funeral

Building to worship!

Celebrating Easter

Proclaiming the Unknown Cross

Damba Festival

Cakes for Bicycles

Time?

Christmas in retrospect

As Christmas approaches.....

Meeting and Greeting

Epilepsy

Ghana ‘World Champions’

Daily Life (2)

Daily Life (1)

Ramadan

Holiday

Student life at Tahima Yili

Farming and Gardening

Discovery

Menu

Good luck, bad luck

Snakes Again!

Friends and family

Snakes!

Peace!

Discipleship

A family holiday

Christmas under a mango tree

Christmas Greetings!

A practical example.......

Come to me....... you will find rest for your soul

Impact

'A dream comes true'

Birthday Celebrations!

When 40 minutes became 24 hours!

Take this Bible, learn from it......

Furlough Fotos!