Ghana Update: Thursday, Day 3

Day 3

What is the first thing that you picture when you hear the word ‘clinic’? Probably not a long line of villagers standing under a metal roof during a thunderous downpour, waiting for some small help to their large problems.  Today that’s exactly what it meant as young and old filed through our system and received a few pills or some glasses. Each villager checked in at a table and explained their health issue(s) to a translator. They were then directed to the nurses’ station or the glasses station. Leroy Cross was one of the nurses and he shared this, “Everyone was helped in some way and the most common pills given out at your station would have been the ibuprofen.  I thought the day went really well, and things seemed to go smoothly.”

After the medications were given, the people waited in yet another line for some prayer and encouragement from the various team members set up in the counseling area. Each counselor was paired with a translator to meet with the patients.  I was actually able to sit as one of the counselors with Pastor Isaac translating for me.  Since I’m a lady, they only sent women our way.  I was able to pray with quite a few over the few hours that we were there. The second girl that came said she didn’t know Jesus at all. I asked her if she believed in God and she said “yes”, so Pastor Isaac decided to take it from there. He did an excellent job of witnessing to her in the common language and after about five minutes he looked at me and said, “Okay you can lead her. She wants to dedicate her life to Christ.” I wasn’t quite sure how to begin but talking to Jesus comes natural so I just went for it. He translated and she repeated after him. When we were through, we wrote down some contact information so the local pastor can follow up with her. I felt very privileged to minister in this way and I ask that you could all pray for the new converts.

We ended the evening with another crusade where we sang and danced during the worship time.  Our group sang a few songs for them as well. I played keyboard and the team filed up on stage where we belted out “Alive, Alive” yet again. I was surprised that the small keyboard even worked because just a few hours earlier I observed as one of the men unloading turned the keyboard on its side and water poured out from between the keys. The service ended earlier that last night’s and we headed home to devour yet another scrumptious meal of stuffed chicken casserole and seven-layer salad.

The group is holding up pretty well, but there is some sickness setting in from the new circumstances we’ve been exposed to. So we would really appreciate prayers for physical wellness and safety. Thanks so much for reading and caring!

-The Scribe

“Tell me all about your experiences at the clinic today.” –The Scribe’s Proofreader

“It was interesting.  The eyeglass section that I was working in wasn’t very busy, so I got to stand back and observe things.  I entertained a group of young boys for a while.  One man came to the eye clinic and started testing his vision by reading a tract.  “Can you see clearly?” I asked.  He got a huge smile and exclaimed, “I can see SO CLEARLY!” He was overjoyed.” –Maudeen Chupp

“The clinics were great.  We were able to counsel a young Muslim lady.  Pastor Foster was our translator and since his dad was a Muslim, he was able to witness to the young lady.  She gave her life to Jesus right there.  She was holding a baby, and that baby’s future might be different now.  That was a highlight for me.” –Sam Blank

“I helped out with the children. At first there were half a dozen kids, but later when school let out, a bunch of kids arrived.  We read stories to them and played football.  While they played, we took pictures of the kids and showed the pictures to them.  They were really excited.” –Carissa Geigley

“I was working at the registration table.  The language barrier was difficult as usual, but things went really well.  It’s amazing how well you can communicate with a smile.” –Marie Borkholder

We have developed an acronym for our experiences in Ghana: “Tiana”. It stands for “This Is Africa, Not America”.  It’s surprising how often we come across experiences that prompt this phrase.  No bathrooms?  Tiana.  Cats chasing lizards and eating them?  Tiana. 

The team was given some local cuisine before the evening service began.  Pastor Joseph’s wife Lydia graciously prepared some fufu for us to sample. Fufu is a gelatinous blob of whitish material made from smashed-up cassava roots.  The vegetable paste is boiled and then served with a spicy soup-like dipping sauce.  You eat fufu by pinching the sticky orb, tearing off a small chunk, dipping it in the paste, and then swallowing the entire bite whole.

“5 parts sauce to 1 part fufu is the best, so if you figure out how to do that, you’ll be set. You may just need to cup your hands and fill them with sauce.” –Travis Jenkins

“I like to chew the fufu.  Swallowing it whole just isn’t right.” –Kayla Jenkins
“Don’t chew the fufu. It just gets larger and larger in your mouth.  The taste isn’t anything special, so it really isn’t rewarding to chew.” –Jon Sauder

“Jon was right. Chewing the fufu was an awful idea.” –Shawn Graber

The fufu tasted excellent, despite all preconceived notions to the contrary. Lydia is known for making the best fufu in all the land.  I much prefer fufu to banku, a similar blob of starch prepared with fermented corn and served with a peppery fish soup.  Most of the group tried the fufu and were pleasantly surprised that it didn’t taste as awful as it looked.

Tiana.

Thank you for all of your prayers.  Satan is upset with what we’re doing here.  Pray that his efforts would be confounded, pray that our team would have strength mentally and physically for tomorrow’s (Friday’s) clinics and crusade, and pray that God would receive maximum glory for all that is said and done here. May we leave Africa with many new brothers and sisters in the faith.

-The Scribe’s Proofreader