Our Town Takoradi/Sekondi

 

 

 

 

Our Pets

 Our pets: Femur, Ringo, Taffy and one new Turtle we haven't named yet!

Taffy

Femur

Ringo

Lights Out!

It has been an interesting week to say the least. We have had lights on during the day and then off at night or vise versa. We also had a birthday this week. Matthew turned 13 on Friday, August 31. With the lights going off and on and you don't know when, it's just lights out! I went ahead and baked anything needed for Matthews birthday the night before. The washing machine has been running at all hours of the night. I got a lot of it done to....hang outside to dry and of course it rained all day. ha ha

Matthew 13 yrs.

Labor Day! Wow was that today? Well needless to say we labored. We did school and cleaned the house as usual. I didn't even realize it was a holiday. We don't get all the commercialized items reminding us of the holiday, so I must say we miss a lot of them. I hope you enjoyed the ending of summer. September is my favorite time of year. I do miss the changing of the leaves and drinking apple cider, hay rides and pumpkins. The only fall leaves we get is when we cut down the banana leaves and trim the flowers.

playing in the banana leaves

Ministries in Ghana

Currently I am teaching a teen girls Sunday school class. We have 4 girls who come faithfully, but as you can see in the picture there are more that don't come on time for Sunday school. We try and do a ladies fellowship once every three months. We used to do them every month, but as our schedule gets full we have to cut something back. Ladies visitation used to be Tuesday morning. Some things have changed that, the only day open is Saturday afternoons now. We have had to delay, due to the ordination preparations and our trip to Kumasi.. Getting back on track. (I hope) ha ha ha 

I used to teach the children's Sunday School and Jr. Church. I really miss it. When we went on furlough we turned it over to the nationals. So I have not gone back to teaching. My daughter, Naomi is helping and teaching a little bit. Our son Matthew is also going to begin helping with children's church. We are in the process of starting a Bible study in a new area, so eventually we will leave the church plant we are currently at. So sad, but, we won't be to terribly far away, just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Teens

Naomi teaching S.S.

S.S.

Naomi singing, and me, attempting to get a sound out of that stick with the holes in it.

Visitation

Teen Class

Pringles Club to 1.50 GH Club

My kids are doing much better on their reading. They all got Pringles this last time. When Mack went to pay for our over priced Pringles, he changed his mind, and now it is down to a candy bar or a small ice cream. The kids are not to excited, they loved their chips.

We started school once again. In Ghana it makes it hard to start school, because all the kids have off the month of August. They start school the beginning of September. So all the kids want to play with our kids.

It has rained all this week. I thought we would get a little bit of a break. I get all the clothes on the line and then, it begins to sprinkle. I have left them up if it is just sprinkling because it usually stops. Our driveway is full of grass growing in between the bricks. We haven't had a chance to get to it, and if it continues to rain, their is no point. I just hope we don't have to mow it. ha ha ha.

Our Yard/Play Ground

I thought you would like some pictures of our yard:

When We Never Have to Say Good-bye!

We have been in Kumasi for 6 weeks, helping a fellow missionary as they had to fly home. Sunday is our last Sunday. Just as you are beginning it is time to say good-bye. I told the kids in Sunday School, next week is our last Sunday, but I may surprise you and come back sometime. I hope to find all of you still here. I also said, if I don't see you again, I will look for you in heaven. We have enjoyed our time here in Kumasi, BUT, we are also anxious to get home. We miss all the people at our church, there are boys and girls there also.

I think we have all come to realize we love being in Takoradi. It is not as big and busy as Kumasi. There is still a lot of work to be done were we are. I am thankful for God allowing us this opportunity to minister in a different area.

dried cameleon

boys made a bottle cap shooter

playing hop scotch

A Little About Me

I have been a missionary on the field of Ghana, West Africa for 8 years. I have been in the ministry with my husband for 16 years. My husband was Assistant Pastor at our home church before coming to Africa.I have 4 children; Naomi 14, Matthew Jr. 12, Joseph 10, and Nehemiah 5.

Naomi, Jackie, Mack, Matthew,
Nehemiah and Jospeh

The Family with our  two national pastors; Prince and Koasi

Matthwew, Naomi,
Nehemiah and Jospeh

I was saved when I was 9 years old and made sure of my salvation when I was 18. I met my husband when I was 19, he came to our church to be the Assistant Pastor. We got married a year later in 1996. We bought a house and continued serving the Lord in our home church. In 1999, during our missions conference we surrendered to Ghana, West Africa. We sold our house and spent 3 years on deputation We arrived on the field in November of 2003. I had 3 children when we arrived.in Ghana. Once we got to our house in Africa I sat down and cried and cried and cried. I think I cried for the first week we where here. I thought what in the world am I doing? Three small children and in a strange country. Did I say I cried? After I got over the initial shock, I decided I can't sit here and cry for the next few years. I began to make my house a home. We arrived on the field with only our suitcases. Praise the Lord the landlord of the house we where renting left his couch and dinning table. We borrowed some beds from another missionary until we could get some. We began slowly to adjust and make due with what we had. The Lord moved us to another place in Ghana 6 months later. This time we had beds, but no couch or dinning table. However we didn't have to wait long. Our home church sent our container and after 9 months of being in the country we had some of our familiar belongings once again. I had my fourth baby on our first furlough back home. I am thankful for God allowing me to serve Him.  

My Kitchen!

My Kitchen

Pounding Palm Nuts for Soup

Ground Hog and some Beef

Palm Nut Soup

Palm Nuts

Boiling the Plantian and Cassava

Palm Nuts

Pounding the Plaintian and Cassava (FUFU)

Fufu with Ground Hog and Palm Nut Soup

Nehemiah helping with tortillas

Naomi Carving a watermelon

Group on the rope bridge upove the forest

 

Ordination of Prince and Koasi

 

Home Church in Ohio

 

Two Preachers

May 20, 2012, Prince and Koasi were ordained into the ministry. They are two great preachers of God's word. They have had a great teacher/preacher. My husband has spent the last 8 years in teaching and training these two men. God gets all the credit, we are just a tool being used for His glory.

We had our home church, Chippewa Lake Baptist Church, in Medina OH, come for a visit. They were here for the ordination services. They got to work in VBS and they also held some medical clinics were they were able to share the gospel. We did a little sight seeing and had a great time of being together.

It was an encouragement to see the guys reading their Bibles in the morning. My boys look up to them. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Ps 118:8 We need to look toward the Lord, because men will fail you, BUT, it sure is nice when you have some Godly people to help you run the race and encourage you along the way.

It is raining season. We prayed for our well to be filled up while the group was here. We didn't have any problem with that. The rain didn't cause any trouble for the group. They were in a village called Kojo Krom, passing out John & Romans and was going to show a film once it got dark, but it decided to rain instead. So they headed back to the house.

We had 9 from the group plus our 6. It was a blessing having them here at the house for 12 days. Your church family is special. I just happen to have two of them.

Cupcakes Without the Paper

I made cupcakes for Macks birthday back in January and took them to the church to share. Well I noticed everyone eating the paper, ok, chewing on the paper to get off all the cake that gets left on them. I made cupcakes yesterday for the ladies fellowship. Prince met us at the car because he knew we would have food. (laughing) Naomi hands him a cupcake with no paper on it, he says, "yes, these are better, no paper." He then began to tell me a story. Cupcakes where brought to the place where he works and one the men he works with asks him, are these good? Prince says, "If you don't want it, I will take care of it." I guess the other man never ate a cupcake. Once he took a bite he realizes how good they are. He continues to eat and then begins to eat the paper (chew it) trying to get off every bit of cake left on the paper. I started laughing. I never realized. I began to explain what the paper is for, he says yes, but it wastes so much. Then I came to the conclusion if they are going to eat the paper, it doesn't matter if we touch their cupcake while handing it to them. It is a good thing because I ran out of those muffin cups anyway!

Yikes! It's Good To Be Busy!

Where to begin? Our room we meet in for church, needed a fresh coat of paint. It took  a few weeks, how? It's only one room. I am not quite sure, other than they don't know how to paint? We also painted the benches the kids use. Some kids got paint on their clothes, oops, I guess the paint wasn't all the way dry by Sunday. Easter is this Sunday, next Sunday is CBBC's 5 year anniversary. We are putting on a play called "Stay in the Castle" we did this one before, but it's time to pull it out of the archives. We are trying to get together some special music for the ordination services in May, it would help if any of us had any musical talent. Also the Sunday school kids will be doing some verses and songs. We are also having some folks from our home church coming for a visit. We asked our Pastor to come for the ordination in May. So trying to get the house in order, plus the church activities. Oh, boy!

Well Naomi is the only one who got "Pringles" for reading her books. The boys tried, they read 2 books, but didn't quite finish the last one. So we will see who makes it this next time. I told Mack I should get Pringles I read at least 3 books since then.

Mack and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on March 30th. As I was doing my devotions, I usually write down the date and what the Lord showed me out of the chapter of each book I read. I started writing down the date 3/30/96...ha ha no, it's 2012. Mack took me to dinner by myself. We left the kids! That is so strange. We are NEVER without the kids. It was nice, but strange. Naomi will be 14 in May so I think we can start to leave them? It is just a new phase of life we are getting into. Their all growing up so fast.Sniff.

Ghana's Independence Day

It is a warm day here in Ghana. This morning the girls and I went on visitation. Today we had 7 girls show up, because they had a day off of school. It was nice because everyone was home today. Then we looked around the market a little. The Navy gives free boat rides for Independence Day, so tomorrow we as a church are going  for a boat ride. Esther has invited two girls to church, they have come the past 2 weeks and they also where among those who came for visitation. This is the time of year for black berries, ok, not what you think of as black berries. They are more like a seed. You peel off the shell and suck on the fruit inside and then spit out the little seed. They are quite good. A lady gave me some today. Naomi loves these, the season for these last until May. Then we went to visit Cecilia and Evelyn. Cecilia's mom was home and she gave me some Kenkey to take home. Kenkey is a fermented corn dough, wrapped in Plantain or Banana leaves. The taste reminds me of sour dough bread which I love. So Kenkey is not bad. I prefer it over Fufu any day.
http://www.betumi.com/2009/08/recipe-12-kenkey-ghanas-challenge-to.html


Today Ghana is celebrating 55 years of Independence from the UK, they gained their independence in 1957.
Ghana was the first black African country to become independent.

In 1960, Nkrumah declared Ghana a republic and himself president for life in 1964. He banned all opposition parties.

He was deposed in 1966 by a military coup while on a trip to Peking. He later died in exile in Romania in 1972.

There followed a period of unstable government with one coup after another, culminating in 1992 in a referendum on a multiparty system. Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, who had already led two coups against the government, was elected president.

His supporters credit him with stabilising a turbulent political scene and leaving a legacy of democracy.

He retired in 2000 and President John Kufuor was elected. Ghana was the first black African country to become independent.

Pringles Club

I am trying to get my kids to read more. In school they had a Pizza Hut Book it program. Many of you may know of this. Where if they read so many books by the time required they get a free personal pan pizza, from Pizza Hut. My kids loved that. On a couple of occasions we all got to go out to eat at Pizza Hut. The kids getting a free personal pizza. Mack really enjoyed not having to pay the bill.  So we came up with the “Pringles Club”. If our kids read (we haven’t decided on the number yet) so many books by the date allowed, we will get them their very own can of Pringles potato chips. You say, Pringles? My kids love chips and we do not get isles and isles of potato chips. We get one little section which consists of Pringles, Master Chips (generic Pringles) and occasionally we find snack bags of lays or something. The last time they got Pringles was for Christmas. I know we are terrible parents. However it is something my kids will work towards, to get their own Pringles. Find something to motivate and encourage your kids. Some kids I guess you would have to buy a super duper toy or an expensive gadget. My kids…Pringles. I am thankful that my kids aren’t spoiled and have everything. Then they wouldn’t be satisfied with a dumb can of chips. If we are not careful, we are not satisfied with the little things. We want more, more, more!!  Bigger, better, MORE!! Be thankful for what you have, no matter what it is.

 Pr 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Before returning to Ghana after our furlough, we purchased a Velocity Cruz tablet. So we wouldn’t have trunks full of books to lug to Ghana. I am new to all this technology. It comes already with a Kindle App. We were looking into Nook books before we left and my husband wouldn’t buy a Nook, he said read it from your computer. To make a long story short, I go the PC App for Nook and ordered a few books. The last minute he bought a Cruz. Come to find out we couldn’t get our Nook onto it. Once we arrived in Ghana I ­started finding Kindle books and even got registered with the library. So far I have not bought any books from Kindle, all free!!  Just a side note, buy and figure out your gadget before coming to the field. You can’t just call up somebody and ask, HOW DOES THIS THING WORK? If any of you have some good reading material we can borrow from your Kindle and or good books to purchase for the kids, ages 10-14. We would appreciate any information or a good library that we can get access to, that has Kindle ebooks.

God gives us the best, before we even know we have it. We think we have all the answers. We think we know what is best for us. We may not think it is the best, but later we find out it was. What are you doing with God’s best? Your spouse, kids, ministry, home? Don’t mess up the best. God has given them to you to increase it, not destroy it. 

Matt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Just like a parent we want the best for our children, so does God.

Do More in 2012

Mack has challenged us as a family and a church to do more in our personal Bible reading. The kids are getting older so they can read more than the did last year. We have been writing down how the Lord speaks to our heart. It amazes me as I read the Bible, how God says the sames things in different books. I have read a book in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament but I guess I never payed much attention to their message and how God shares with you the same theme. I was reading just to read. Getting something out of it, yes, but not looking for the one things in both passages. Anyway it has been exciting. I know I am just 10 days into it. Mack also downloaded Alexander Scourby on my phone, so I can listen to him. When you listen to him it helps me to understand it more. Today's devotion was about the Rich Young Ruler, who didn't want to give up what he had to follow Christ. I have nothing, but with God I have everything. I am so thankful for those who have given up something, so that I could have. Christ being our greatest example.

Will will have the church address this Sunday night. The youth has planned some youth activities for this year. We are going to be busy. Sounds fun! We have a lot happening in the next 5 months.

School! ugh! I didn't like it before, I don't like it now! I am not the one doing school, but overseer. 4 different grades. HELP! I have a blessing though. We had to order 7th grade English because what we did have was outdated. So thanks to the Consfords, his parents came for a visit. We were able to have them bring the new DVDs and some teachers books for that class. Thank you Ginger and Dad? (don't know his name, sorry) Then another missionary had the new teachers edition text book, which we needed and didn't know it, until yesterday. God has the answer before we even ask. AMEN!

Getting back to Tuesday ladies visitation after the 2 week break we had. It was hot today. Priscilla is doing better at the flute! She is making a noise!! Her goal is to play a song by May. Doesn't have to be a long one just a song. She has learned 5 notes so far, she will be working on those this week. Changing fingers is her exercise and playing those smoothly.

Christmas, A Nap, Pizza

I hope you all had a good Christmas! We enjoyed our time with our church family. We had a Christmas party at the house on Thursday the 22nd. Prince and Priscilla cooked up some good fried chicken and we had cabbage stew and rice. It was the best I have ever had. Everyone played volleyball and the younger kids played with the bikes. I think they liked the swings the best though. It was so funny listening to them scream as they swung. You know how you get that little tickle in your stomach when going to high. Well the funny part was they were hardly swinging at all. For Sunday we passed out goodie bags to the jr. church kids. They were filled with popcorn, juice box, cookies, and some candy. I got my ss class a little bag with a pen and paper in it, for their bible. Naomi and the some of the girls sang for the morning service. I taught jr. church. It wore me out. I haven't taught in a while, but I wanted to do a Christmas story. They can have it back next week. ha ha

We came home and had lunch. We went to turn on the air conditioner in the living room, but it wasn't working. So we all decided after lunch to hibernate in our room with the air and watch movies and pig out on cookies and junk. Good plan! However, I fell asleep. It was an unusual way to spend Christmas that is for sure. Once I revived, everyone wanted me to make pizza, so off I went. It was good day, all and all.

This week we have been lazy! We have enjoyed our time off of school and just being together. Mack was busy on Monday, so on Tuesday we cooked out and played outside all day. Prince preached last night. We have the best Preachers in the world.

We are going to have a Sat. evening service and pray in the new year. Then we will have Sunday morning service as regular and no evening service, because we will have already had our evening service on Sat. A little mixed up this week.

Have a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Wishing You Where Here!!

Getting ready for Christmas. However this in our hottest time of year. The Harmattan has begun. It is sand storms from the Sahara Desert. It just blows and covers EVERYTHING! You can dust and sweep and 10 min. later it looks like you haven't cleaned in months. It is really fun trying to keep things clean. So lets put up the Christmas tree!! When we take the tree down, we shake the dust out of the tree before we pack it up. JOY!! 'Tis the Season!

For Thanksgiving we went to another missionaries house. We enjoyed the fellowship. However someone sent us pictures of last Thanksgiving with our family." Wishing you were here." Last year all of the Siekbert missionaries where home at the same time. So we all enjoyed our families being together for the Holidays. For my family we had to have Thanksgiving the week before. When you don't get Turkey for 3 years, then you get it twice for the same holiday. GREAT!

We had a great service on Sunday. I had 7 in my teen girls Sunday school class. We usually have about 4 faithful ones. I would rather have a few faithful than 100 who don't really want to learn. I began teaching Priscilla the flute. I will let you know on the progress, practice, practice, practice. I am not so good about practicing either.

Nehemiah turned 5 on November 28th. He learned how to ride a two-wheel bike. He also got a big wheel for his birthday. He is to short for it though. So the big kids have been having fun on it. Poor Nehemiah. GROW! I am thankful for my kids. They are a big help. Naomi helps me a lot in the kitchen. The boys help with the outside work. We have no watchman in the day or night. So the yard has become their job. I never realized how fast it gets dirty. I can't keep up with the inside and outside. It's not just cutting the grass, it's a lot more. We have been trying to get rid of the grass growing in between our brick driveway. We have sprayed it with round up but now we have to scrape up the dead grass, we have 2 driveways and they are long, little by little. We are trying to get it cleaned up for our Church Christmas Party. We are having it at the house. We are going to play, volleyball, basketball, have food, and then watch a movie.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

Growing

Last Sunday I had the privilege to lead Evelyn to the Lord. Evelyn has been coming to church since we have been back from furlough. I believe she came while we were gone also. I started the teen girls Sunday School class and Evelyn never payed attention. I guess it was funny to hear a while lady talk? As each week progressed she started listening. The Holy Spirit led me to ask of the girls salvation experience. Evelyn didn't have one. I began to witness to her so she would understand. Cecelia sat there listening and smiling, because she knew what I was saying. Evelyn prayed the sinners prayer. I did not pray and her repeat after me, I asked her to call upon the Lord. I believe she did. I asked her to make it public during the church service. During the invitation she came forward. I was so happy to see her again this Sunday. The devil would love to stop the seed from growing. God encourages us and let's us know He is still there. He is still working in hearts and lives.

My kids have been busy in the neighborhood. Naomi is selling some of her unused toys to make a little money. I must say the kids love her. She sells them pretty cheap, but she makes a little from it. She has also made some acquaintances with people passing by. The boys play soccer in the afternoon with a couple neighborhood boys. They have invited them to church. I hope they will come, so my kids will be encouraged.

We are planning our Christmas Church party. I can't believe that. It is getting really hot here and Christmas is far from my mind.

Prayer

We just finished up our Revival on "Prayer". The Lord has burdened my heart to pray more. Mack talked about Intercessory prayer, I am so glad people pray for me. Naomi sang 2 songs for the Revival. I know she didn't get her pretty voice from me. Priscilla and I have started going visiting on Tuesday mornings. We are trying to get a Bible study started for some ladies, but right now that doesn't seem to be working out, so we have just been witnessing and talking to some ladies. Trying to get some friendships started. We are trying to plan a teen girls activity for next month and then it's time to make Christmas cookies!!!

My oldest sister and her family need your prayers. She fell and crushed her bones in her legs and in her arm. She has had one surgery to put in medal plates and things into her leg. She will be having another surgery today for her arm. They will have to have a hospital bed at the house and she will be in a wheelchair for 3 months. My dad and step-mom are helping with the kids, getting them off to school, etc. Please pray for their finances with the insurance and things. They also need to have a ramp put in at the house. Being at home, I know for me would be the worse, because you see all the things that need to be done, and you can't get up to do anything. Pray that everyone at home chips in and does their part.

We have been back in Ghana 4 months now. Mack has fixed the kids swings on the swing set. They where wood and they rotted, so the kids have been playing on the swing set this week. Our female dog, we hope is going to have puppies. Naomi is excited about that. She already has names picked out. It won't be until the end of Dec. or 1st of Jan. Next month we have been in Ghana 8 years as missionaries. Trying to get ourselves ready for the holidays. The warmer weather is starting to come. It has been a dry week this week and you can feel the weather changing. As most of you are bundled up for the winter, remember to pray for us as you wish you were warm, and I will pray for you as I wish we where cooler!!