Visiting With a House of Hope Orphan and Her Caregiver

This morning at Pastor Senyo Cudjoe’s home in Ho the African Missions team had an opportunity to meet and talk with Rebecca Azamela an orphan currently sponsored through the House of Hope initiative under the Heartbeat for Africa (HBA) Foundation. This program gives sponsors the opportunity to provide financial support of $20 per month to orphan children living in rural villages around Ho. There are no administrative costs and therefore the full amount of the support goes directly to a care-giver. These individuals have been screened and have agreed to not only use the money for support of the child but also to ensure the child attends school and church. Pastor Senyo’s staff from Biblical Discipleship and Growth Ministry follow-up quarterly to ensure all conditions are being met and that the children are thriving.

Rebecca’s caregiver, David, has cared for her for 3 years in addition to raising a family of 3 other children with his wife. Rebecca who is 8 years old, was in her school uniform because David was taking her to class. Although very soft-spoken and shy, she told us her favorite subject was English and then, when requested, sang a song she learned in school. We were able to take video of the interview which will ultimately be placed on the HBA web site to encourage others to provide a “House of Hope” to other orphan children in this country. It was heart-warming to see how well Rebecca was being cared for and loved. To be able to see first-hand the fruits of this program makes us confident that sponsors are making a real difference in the lives of children who otherwise would have very little hope. Putting one’s faith into action is the call God puts on the life of every Christian.

James 1:27 - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

Day 7 - Sunday, March 16, 2008 “Palm Sunday” in Accra, Ghana Shows God Unites All People

We had the privilege of joining the members of New Covenant Baptist Church in celebration of Palm Sunday. Pastor Senyo chose this church as he and Reverend Chris Tekpo have been friends for years.

Pastor Senyo opened the service with a song of adoration and prayer in his native language. The Worship Leader, Esther, filled our hearts with songs of worship and praise. The reading from Mark 11:8-10 and the sermon from Matthew 21: 1-11 told of Jesus asking his disciples to untie the donkey in the village and bring it to him. Rev. Chris stressed the meekness of Jesus, unlike a warring king on a horse or in a chariot, He arrived on a colt as a peaceable king. When Jesus entered Jerusalem in this manner, He affirmed his humility and fulfilled Old Testament prophesy. Nine adult celebrants and nine children enacted Jesus carrying the cross tortured by a Roman soldier. Other children portrayed a King, a prosperous man, and a scholar demonstrating where man looks for affirmation of his success, prosperity and status. Jesus, on the other hand, drew His strength and identity from his Father. This reenactment also reminded us of Jesus’ pain and suffering as He paid the debt for our sins. Jeff Wesley was invited to give an exaltation after the sermon. After greeting the congregation with the Ewe word , “weso” or hello (one of two words he knows) he read from Jeremiah 31:7…Shout for the greatest of nations! Shout out with praise and joy: “save your people O Lord, the remnant of Israel” He made the point that we are great not because we are Americans or Ghanaians but like Judah we are great because we are God’s people, His body, and His bride. We must live our lives in that confidence and not in our own strength. After services we visited with Rev Chris and his family. Rev Chris discussed the 10 year history of his church and the close proximity of a mosque and the outpouring of animosity toward his congregation.

We returned to the hotel for a brief lunch, packing and a quick shopping tour thru an open air market. We found all types of artwork, wood carvings, jewelry and clothing to refill our empty suitcases.

We then traveled to the airport to meet Dayo Obaweya, a coordinator for Community Health Evangelism, “CHE”. Dayo is from Nigeria and Is responsible for 18 counties. CHE is an international organization called Life Wind which is focused on community transformation. This coming week, Dayo and Ed Harrow will conduct a CHE Vision Casting Seminar for BDGM’s field leaders. While traveling to Ho we learned more about CHE’s mission, goals and accomplishments throughout the world.

This day prepared us for the emotions of Passion Week. We heard of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem that would lead to His death on the cross but ultimately His resurrection and glorification. We were so encouraged by the joyful worship, dancing, and example of sacrificial giving of Pastor Chris’ congregation and the way they embraced us. We realized even though there are vast differences in culture and worship style we all love and desire to adore the same God.

Eph 2:14-16 - For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles (all nations) into one people…He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us…Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of His death on the cross and our hostility toward one another.

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

Good Samaritan Orphanage: Pastor Senyo & Augustine Cudjoe’s Vision

Today the 3 members of the African Mission Team that are also board members of the Heartbeat for Africa (HBA) Foundation met with HBA’s 5 Ghanaian board members and Pastor Senyo Cudjoe an Ex Officio board member. During the planning phase of the meeting, Pastor Senyo was asked to rank his priorities for 2008. His first priority is the Mobile Medical Clinic that has just started and was blogged on Day #3. His second priority is the Good Samaritan Orphanage (GSO) which is still in the planning and development stage. The GSO began as a vision of Senyo’s wife, Augustine because of her desire to reach out to the large number of orphans in the Volta region of Ghana. Senyo felt lead to come along side her to make this dream a reality through his Biblical Discipleship and Growth Ministry, a faith based Ghanaian non-governmental organization. The land for GSO, a 111 acre parcel approximately 7 miles outside of Ho, was in large part gifted to BDGM. Many of the members of Pantano Christian Church have pledged over a 2 year period to donate to this cause. Now that the land has been surveyed the paperwork is going forward to finalize the deed and title which is a much more lengthy process in Ghana with many large family groups often having claims on land.

As this process plays out and the team visits other active orphanages for planning ideas (see Day #4 and #5 Blogs) with Senyo and Augustine, we pray the Lord will lead us to lay the foundation as an “expert builder”. Just as Paul laid the foundation of the Corinthian church on the rock of Jesus we desire to help Senyo also plan this orphanage on the rock of Jesus, to the glory of God. We are now contemplating drilling a borehole well, crop options, placement of the farm and orphanage on the land, lay-out of the orphanage, orphan-care structure (dormitory style or individual homes with house parents) and on and on. We have just begun and are anxious to move forward but most of all we desire to move in God’s timing and His direction and excited about where He will lead.

Psalm 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

Your Africa Missions Team
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

A Drive Along the Ghana Coast-Cape Coast Castle and the Village of Hope

Day 5 is a transition Day for the team. We left Ho at 7:30 am driving to Accra, the Ghana capital then, on to the town of Cape Coast, about three hours North West and then returning to Accra, stopping at the Village of Hope orphanage. We arrived back in Accra at 8:30 PM. In all we spent nine hours driving. It was great-the traffic coming into Accra from the West is bumper to bumper for 25 km.

Our story for Day 5 is three fold. First, imagine being one of 200 adult Africans being held in a room 30′x30′ for three months with no sanitation facilities, running water, lights, or cooling. Human waste and dying people piling up in one corner of the room. Such are the dungeons of the Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedish, Dutch, and British starting in the mid 1600s. According to history the African people were held in the fortress and when their time had arrived the strong and healthy were led through the “door of no return to the ships waiting to sail to Europe, the Caribbean or America. Many did not survive the trip and were thrown into the sea to be carried deep into the ocean. The fort ress still stands today just as it did nearly 400 years ago. Now it is a historical site and symbolizes the suffering, death, and tragedy of the African people.

Second. On the flight into Accra Ed sat next to a young Liberia Girl who spoke openly of the 14 years of civil war in Liberia and the fact that today the country is populated by many who left the country and are now returning. This young girl has spent the last 18 years of her life and was now returning to see her family who remained. During the trip to Cape Coast we drove past a settlement of Liberia refugees that were living in extremely poor conditions. It was only one day before the trip that Ralph Epperson from PCC had e mailed our team to look into providing children’s Christian books and bibles for this very refugee camp. The photo shows the demonstration for freedom at this site which is held daily. We unfortunately did not have the materials to give them but it did confirm to us for Ralph the desperation of these people.

Our third story is about the Village of Hope Orphanage which we toured on our return trip to Accra. This Orphanage is seen by Pastor Senyo as the model for the Good Samaritan Orphanage to be built through the grace of God in Ho. The orphanage receives 80% of its sustaining support and most of the development costs came from the Church of Christ. The children live in family cluster homes of 24 children with one home family. The children all take their meals and sleep in their respective homes. But otherwise they have freedom throughout the 25 acre campus. The “house mother” cares for the home, the “house father” works in some capacity at the orphanage. Facilities are in place for mission teams for short term service. In fact a team of youth from a C of C church in Memphis were their teaching and playing with the children.

As we think of the suffering of Christ at the cross this week let us also remember that it is because of Christ that we can live in the power of the resurrection beyond the tragedy of this world.

II Corin. 4:8-9 - “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

Editor’s note: this post is a few days old, but the email containing this information somehow never made it back to the States. Here is what happened on Day 4.

Today we visited Drifting Angels Orphanage to speak with Mama Elize Assam in order to help us plan for the development of Good Samaritan Orphanage and the farm that will help sustain the operation. We met with Mama Elize and her husband Kafui at the orphanage and Elize Grace Farm that she began in 2000. Elize, a native of Togo, fled to Ghana due to political oppression which cost the lives of all 5 of her immediate family. After settling in Tsito she had a vision from God to help the needy, mainly orphans and the elderly. During a trip to Accra, she encountered 2 boys, ages 5 and 7, selling wares on the street. When she asked why they were not in school they explained they were unable to pay for tuition. They further explained that they were helping their mother who worked in exchange for a place to stay. Mama Elize, having no mon ey, took all 3 back to Tsito and this was the genesis of the Drifting Angel Orphanage that ministers to the needy, elderly and orphans of Tsito. To help sustain the orphanage Mama Elize began Elize Grace Farms both to feed the orphans and sell produce for other expenses. The 65 acre farm produces maize, cassava, okra, peppers, cowpea, mangoes and they also process palm nuts into oil to support 29 children, ages 1 to 18, and a handful of needy seniors.

Members of Pantano Church have committed to support the development of Good Samaritan Orphanage in Ho, Ghana under the supervision of Pastor Senyo Cudjoe and His Biblical Discipleship and Growth Ministry. He currently has 119 acres that have been surveyed for the orphanage and a farm that will support the operation. During this planning stage, Mama Elize encouraged us to drill a bore-hole well for irrigation before starting the farm with crops of maize, cassava, and cowpea. However her strongest words of advice were that no matter the plan we must completely trust in Jesus for the results.

Psalm 10:17-18a - You hear, O Lord the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed…

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

The Dream of a Mobile Medical Clinic Becomes a Reality and Pastor Senyo Cudjoe’s Dream Comes Full Circle

Wednesday morning we traveled to Vume Kpoviadzi for the first Mobile Medical Clinic funded jointly by Pantano Christian Church and the Heartbeat for Africa Foundation. This clinic was organized by Pastor Senyo Cudjoe’s Biblical Discipleship and Growth Ministry and ministered to 256 people. At 9:30 AM, the BDGM team of Pastor Cudjoe and 3 of his administrative staff members, the 4 members of the PCC African Mission team, and a volunteer team of 2 Ghanaian doctors and 4 nurses from the regional medical facility and two community clinic nurses arrived to conduct the free clinic. Pastor Cudjoe began the clinic with a brief evangelical message which was followed by a basic health care lecture and question and answer session by one of the nurses focusing on the causes and preventative measures for malaria. Beginning at approximately 11:30 AM until 5:00 PM the doctors and nurses worked non-stop to see each of the people present. First the patients were given an initial screening to determine their health issues and also to obtain their vital signs. Then the patient went through a consultation with one of the doctors or a critical care nurse for a diagnosis. Finally the individual was sent to the mobile pharmacy for prescription medication. Those are the facts of the day but here is the rest of the story.

Vume Kpoviadzi is the home village of Pastor Senyo Cudjoe’s father. Although his father died in 2000, his home was passed down to Senyo and his brothers. Senyo’s uncles and aunts still live in this village of 1300 and in fact his eldest uncle, Israel was the first member of the village to attend college and returned to build the first home with a metal roof. Most importantly, after Senyo became a Christian he was led to minister to the rural people. He pastored his first church in Vume Kpoviadzi in 1995 and was living in a traditional mud hut with a grass roof during this time. In fact his wife, Augustine, gave birth to their 3rd daughter, Jessica in that same hut. Senyo often says his heart is for his people and today he said, “in Ghana your source (meaning your home village) is where your heart lives”. Today Pastor Senyo Mawufemor Cudjoe had a chance to minster to his people in his home village and his heart was full of God’s love for them.

Matt 25:34-36 - Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. . . I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

Houses of Hope Bringing Hope

Heartbeat for Africa Foundation is fulfilling its vision through the Houses of Hope sponsors by providing food, clothing, education and spiritual training to the orphans of the rural villages of Ghana. Throughout the day, while visiting 3 different villages, we had the privilege to meet with 13 sponsored children and their caregivers. Imagine the surprise and delight when Ed and June met their two sponsored children. Later in the day we interviewed two children that we met last year. At that time it was obvious from their words, demeanor and dress how desperate their situation appeared. Now after a year of being sponsored, our interview revealed two well-dressed, happy children full of hope.

In addition to the sponsored children, we met seven unsponsored children that are shown on the HBA Houses of Hope website. We need your help to bring hope to other orphaned children of Ghana.

Matt 19:14: But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

Water harvesting tanks are bringing life to the villages.

PCC members provided funds for water harvesting tanks that were built in 2006, 2007 and 2008. This was the first year we had the opportunity to visit the tanks built in previous years and see them in use. It was amazing to see the community eagerly collecting water from the spigot for drinking, washing and bathing. As the women walked away from the tank with their large pans of water on their heads it was apparent that God had blessed the fruits of what was provided by Pantano people. When clean water is not available the alternative is using stagnant water from a pond or water hole in the ground. We had the opportunity to see a young girl collecting water from a water hole and pouring it bowl by bowl into a large pan to be carried back to their home. It took this girl 30 minutes to fill up the large pan with muddy water. God has shown our church where he is working in Ghana. The task ahead is enormous but our God is bigger and desires to empower His people to carry out His work.

John 7:37-38. “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said streams of living water will flow from within him.”

May God bless and keep you,

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

What a blessing! When we arrived at Tucson International we found our scheduled 12 AM flight canceled - Oops! However, because of this cancellation all assigned fees for two additional bags and three over weight bags, to 70 lbs, were waived due to “airline inconvenience.” This saved us $450 dollars of God’s money. These bags contained over 150 lbs of medications for the mobile medical clinic and bibles for Pastor Senyo’s ministry and for the orphanage. At midnight we were bused to Phoenix for a scheduled 4:30 AM flight. After another delay we departed Phoenix and were able to make our Delta connection to Accra, Ghana from New York.

Accra, Ghana. On arrival in Accra, two hours late, and 24 total hours of travel, we had no idea how God was to orchestrate getting our bags through immigration. Pastor Senyo had it all figured out. We were met by a Ghanaian member of parliament who, after helping us locate our bags, led us through immigration as the Israelites walked through the parting of the Red Sea. Not one of us were questioned nor our bags opened. Yet all around us nearly every person was having their bags opened and inspected.

We as a mission team and life group had been praying for God to be glorified in making sure these prescription medicines would be able to be brought into Ghana without incident. He answered our prayers beyond expectation.

John 15:5,7  - “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing….If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it would be given to you.”

PCC Africa Missions Team 2008
Ed, Jeff, June, Marilyn

We arrived safely today at the Accra Airport. Our flight out of Tucson was cancelled on Saturday night and we had to take a bus to Phoenix to catch a Jet Blue Flight to JFK. Sound like a hassle… God was in control as we arrived at JFK in plenty of time to make the flight to Africa, and… Jet Blue waived $450 for our excess and overweight bags, and also gave the team a $100 per person credit on a future flight. All turned out well. I’ll post photos tomorrow of the arrival and who met us to “pave the way” with our four bags of medicines and our trip on Tuesday to the village of Wukpo.

God bless you all.

The Missions team in Ho, Ghana.