Let The Sparks Fly

Most of us where up and stirring at 6:30 this morning. I said most. Does using the little girls room count? It was close to 7:00 give or take a few, and our lights flickered and flickered, not a good sign. We were now running all around the house turning of switches unplugging items, but the lights where still flickering?????? So we turned off the main switch to the house. Then Naomi says, It sounds like something is burning up outside. So we all go outside. The electric wire was sparking. It would spark in one area then continue down the line. I thought something is going to catch on fire as sparks were falling to the ground. I said who do we call? What do we do? Not much. We wait for one of the neighbor's to do something. After a few minutes, they started to peak their heads out. There really was nothing we could do, so I ushered everyone back inside to begin our day with no electricity. We thought we would be without electricity for awhile, but after the sparks stopped we flipped our electricity switch back on and we had lights. It was the weirdest thing!

Mack, Prince, William, (Tall) Joseph and Matthew went to Cape Coast on Saturday. Peter's dad was becoming King of a village in Cape Coast. It is a week long ceremony and our guys could only go on Saturday. Who knew we where friends with the Kings son? Here is a bit of history of Peter's family. Pretty neat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._E._Ferguson Also Peter's Dad, King George Ferguson also trains paraplegics here in Ghana for the Olympics. This article is old but here it is: http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2012/08/23/ghanas-paralympic-team-moves-to-london-olympic-village/

You might also remember other posts about Peter.
New Beginings
Friends

I Could Do It But...

My kids have a list of chores to do each day.  It would be much easier if I just did it, but I am not helping them. I could clean the house myself then I wouldn't have to argue with the kids, or check to make sure they did their work, and then correct them when they don't. When my kids first started doing chores they where little. Teaching them how to sweep, sweep the dirt in front of you not towards your feet. To walk on the clean part of the floor not the dirty, etc., etc. It really is more work for you. I should have a clean house with everyone doing their jobs. Well...we try. Living in Africa gives a new meaning to clean. A certain part of the year we have dirt blowing in our windows. If you enter our house you will think this lady doesn't clean or dust her house, actually, we just did it this morning. Then we have rainy season and our dogs make a huge mess on the wet porch. When the rains first come they clean the dirty screens and you have a mud mess in your windows. Keeping things clean is quite the challenge. I can't do it all myself. I have tried. I either clean the house and the kids are schooling by themselves or I do school and the house is left to itself. I need help. So as soon as my kids where able to pick up a broom, empty trash, dishes, cut grass, dust, clean their shower, hang clothes. Well they got the job!! We sweep and mop three times a week (we could do more). Do I have a perfectly clean house, absolutely not. It is never ending job. My job is also to teach my kids how do things faithfully and well, something I need to work on also.

Our church went to a youth activity last week. They had a great time. They had Bible quiz's where they picked a few from each church for each team. Two from our church was on the winning team. The biggest quiz was on the book of Titus. Our church WON Titus! They may beat us at soccer but we will win when it comes to Bible!! Amen!

Naomi and Joseph won Titus for Cornerstone Biblical Baptist!!

We started school last week

Trying Again

I had a blog post all ready last week. My computer was (and is not) working right. So my blog was a mess. We started school today! On Friday the kids had a few friends over before school started. Our church has a youth activity this week, with another church in the area. There is going to be sword drills, bible memory, preaching, and different games. They also have to study the book of Titus. My two older kids are looking forward to this.

I have enjoyed teaching children's church. I will be teaching until the end of the month. A testimony I have is about Elizabeth. Elizabeth has been coming to church since she was able to walk. I was teaching two weeks ago and she came up to me afterwards. She said, she wanted to follow Christ and do what is right. Elizabeth is saved. I said, you have been coming to church for a long time, you need to start coming Sunday nights. She said, I do studies for school in the evenings. I told her she has 5 to 6 hours in between church. Can't you get your studies done and then come to church? When we got ready to leave, I asked Elizabeth if I would see her tonight? She said, no, next week. Next Sunday after church she said, I will come tonight. Not only did she come but her sister and a friend came with her. I was excited! She also came again this Sunday night.

Elizabeth will be 11 yrs next month

A few friends over before school begins

Nehemiah lost tooth #2

A Break In Time

We all need a break from time to time. Naomi has been teaching Jr. church for a little while now. I haven't taught in a while, so I am giving her a break. We are also on break from school. Not to much longer and our plates will be full again. The kids have been enjoying playing monopoly. We all played the other night, and dad won. Usually on summer break you hear of swimming, sprinklers, cool lemonade etc. We on the other hand are drinking hot chocolate and hoping our water heater is working for a hot shower. I know what your thinking. Jackie you live in Africa, cold? Yes, we are feeling chilly.

My blog is on:

http://faithfulbloggers.com/directory/category/missions also a great interview with Mrs. Rick Martin at http://www.missionaryonfire.com/023-mrs-rick-martin-podcast/

Nehemiah's little friends

Rebekah, got saved Sunday (the one standing against the wall)

Joseph is preaching on Wednesday, he did a great job.

http://faithfulbloggers.com/christianvirtuessp.pdf

http://faithfulbloggers.com/

Encouraging Places

I wasn't going to write a blog post this week. I didn't really have anything. I received some discouraging news this week from my sister, and some prayer request have been added to my prayer list. I listened to http://www.missionaryonfire.com/ this week and a missionary said he was reading Ps 25. So I read that as well. I also found a great new blog this week                   http://intheway-lk.blogspot.com/ I also found another of her posts on http://baptistmissionarywomen.blogspot.com/2013/07/strange-prayers-and-strange-answers.html#.UfOhOo3IYkx All of these encouraged me this week. So stop by and check out thier sites. It was a blessing to me.

Arrows, Beads And A Trip To The Doctors

When we took Mack's parents back to Accra, we stopped at the culture center so they could get souvenir's. My kids made their own bows and arrows before, so Mack thought he would get them some of the ones they make here. Nehemiah was outside observing while they were shooting at the target. He was playing with one of the arrows, throwing into the ground. Well he missed the ground and it landed in his pinkie toe. I cleaned it out and he went to bed. The next morning he had a red streak running up to his ankle. The wound itself was not bad. Mack took him to the doctors to get a tetanus shot and find some Epsom salt to soak his foot. He is all better and doing just fine. He also lost a tooth. He pulled it out Sunday night after church.  

The kids got some bow and arrows from the culture center

Grandpa & Grandma brought Joseph a Science kit

They brought Naomi a lot of beads

Nehemiah lost a tooth!!

Godly Heritage

Our parents aren't rich. They won't leave us an inheritance. They have left us something better; salvation; the Bible; and a Godly Heritage. Mack's parents didn't grow up in a Christian family. They got saved once they were married. They started going to church on the bus with her sister. They got saved and their children got saved. The raised 7 children. Four boys who are all in the ministry and three girls. One is a pastor's wife, the other two are serving in their local church. The thing I've learned from my In-laws is that God is first above all things. Their preacher was the man of God, and very respected in their home. If their children and grandchildren continue to teach their children the things of God, the heritage will be passed to the next generation. 

 Deu_6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 

Our family with Mack's parent

I hope you've enjoyed seeing a little of our family. Here are some more pictures taken from Mack and Joey's point of view.

Grandpa talking to the crocodile

Joey...see the smart ones on the other side of the gate?

Mack

Naomi

Sunday School

Baptism Class

The family with our two national pastors

The family before headed to the airport

A good shot of the rope bridges

Mom and Sandy painting posters for VBS

Issac, one chosen for being good, got to wear the VBS shirt with Joey

On Their Way

VBS is over, Mack's parents have left, they are on their way to Uganda, to see Mack's twin brother and his family as they serve as missionaries there. Here are a few pictures of VBS and the final week his family was here.

Working on making VBS posters for a contest and also to put up around Sekondi

The theme for VBS was "All For Him"

Poster Judging 

The Winner is...Joseph and James

Nicolas, Robert and William got baptized on Sunday

VBS Bible Time

Some of Abi and Naomi's art work. They had a poster to hold up each day for the lesson.

Craft Time

Game Time

Canoe Trip

We went to the Ankobra Beach area, and they have a canoe trip into a village. The canoe ride was 40 minutes one way. I was a little leery at first because they said there were crocodiles in the water??? PTL we never saw any animals in the water. It was quite enjoyable once we got going. 

All the boats got water in them, so Mack is bailing the water out

Ezra enjoying the ride

Joseph helping to row

Once we got to the village, they gave us all coconuts

The Chief of the village, with Mack and Grandpa. The Village only has 12 people living there. We did have to take a canoe to get there.

We had 5 canoes