We Thank God,
that we are home for the holidays.
A number of friendly folks have wished us happy holidays. We can’t help but wonder, holidays or Holy-Days?
The beauty & wonder of Christmas – GOD CAME TO US!
HE GAVE – His all for us.
May we give our all: All that we are and all that we want – to Him. “Your life is not your own, you’ve been bought with a price.”
“Where I am, My servant will also be.”
Holy-days?
Days – filled with the awareness that God is with us, of what God has done for us (“IT IS FINISHED”), what He is doing in the world around us and what He wants to do in and through us.
Just as - “The word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” -
May the word become flesh (in us – in our lives) and move into our neighborhoods, especially in these days -these Holy-Days.
“The Christian life is literally the life of Christ being fleshed out in our lives.” Vance Pitman
“The Christian life is nothing less than the life He Lived then, being lived Now, by Him – In me.” Ian Thomas
We go because He Came,
We give because He Gave.
God is not looking for ability, He is looking for availability.
It’s not that our friends are,,, well,,, not incredibly able and talented,,, they are! “God is faithful and He will do it.” Mother Theresa said, that she was but “a pencil in the hand of God.”
We are the first to acknowledge that God has us in way over our heads.
We know this: The body has many parts and all the parts belong to all the other parts.
We need your help. Please pray.
Please consider coming over and see what God may do, how He may use and lead you.
God has provided a 5 bedroom house. We are in an area where there is much to do!
Ghana: -The church/school roof in Garu (near Bawku) in our friend Pastor David’s community, was completed just before we traveled. -The West African Bible Institute now has land just outside Bolgatanga. Prayer, planning and campus development are “on the way coming”. -Our dear friends and partners – Pastors Solomon, Clement, John, Emmanuel, Wilson, Edmund and Robert are serving and leading well. We look forward to not just serving & working but doing life together when we return. Many of our friends are following, enduring, perservering and serving Jesus in ways and conditions that are humbling and convicting. Often they just need authentic relationship and fellowship to encourage and strengthen them,,, to keep going.
“Anyone who gives a cup of water to one of my disciples, will not fail to receive,,,”
Before making the move to north it became clear that the 1997 Hyundai Galloper was too tired for what and where God is leading us. It’s been said, that you have to count the age of a vehicle worked in Africa, in dog years.
Even though it was an on going labor of love, it was an effective ministry tool, it served many friends & communities and it took us on many journeys, and into some “hard to reach” places.
2009
2010
2011
2012
Please pray for: Our friends in Ghana and the lost in the north, for the graduating students and new church plants, for a dependable vehicle, rest, refreshment and equipping while home.
Happy – Holy – days
In Him,
gary & siham
Posted via email from Gary’s posterous
We have now relocated “home base” near Bolgatanga in northern Ghana. We are close to both Burkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east.
We are also close to Pastors Solomon, Clement, John, Edmund, Emmanuel, Wilson, schools and other churches we are partnered with.
Pastor Robert and the West African Bible Institute are within walking distance.
- We are praying, preparing and planning for next year and traveling/serving in the countries to the north.
Please pray with us about this expansion into “new fields”
Awesome time at conference/Church environments with friends at the Kumasi University.
Over 800 amazing students and future leaders.
Mission team – send off/commissioning:
Communion:
We thank God!
Please pray for our brothers and sisters at the Campus Christian Fellowship. The future leaders of Ghana, the Church and the Mission.
We love you,
gary & siham
Posted via email from Gary’s posterous
The rains have been exceptionally heavy this season in northern Ghana, bringing some flooding and most of the crops yielded poor harvests. The rains have also remained longer than usual. The landscape is still green where it is usually dry and brown by now. The heavy rains delayed the drilling of the well (bore hole).Again, we thank you all who gave towards this water project in Gbeega, Pastor Clements community.
Some cool partnership work: A dear sister raised money by walking for dollars. Our grandson Jack’s kindergarten class raised funds through a mission awareness project. Our dears friends & partners 8 year old daughter gave from her piggy bank, Life Care ministry and a number of others gave significantly.
The bore hole construction was successful. Many “Yeah God” stories through the process, culminating with the celebration where the gospel was heard and responded to. - “Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Broken - Hurting – Outcast
Modern day – ”Woman at the well”… “If you knew the gift of God,,,” – Jesus
Clement & Rashid
Approx 150′
Drilling through granite.
Fresh, clean WATER!
Our dear brother, friend and partner in the gospel – Clement
Our happy sister – “No more fetching water from too far.”
Constructing the apron.
Setting the pipe & pump.
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”
“Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Harmony with God life, better life, endless life)
Many of the people are still in Idol worship and sacrifice on alters and shrines. The Chief (107 years old) asked for, “The truth to be taught to our people”. “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. For they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
“So Paul took his stand in the open space,,, and laid it our for them. It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, TO THE GOD NOBODY KNOWS. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you are dealing with… God does not live in custom made shrines or need the human race to run errands for Him… The unknown is now known, He’s calling for a radical life change…” Acts 17 The Message
We Thank God! We Thank You!
gary & siham
Posted via email from Gary’s posterous
“God can do anything, you know -
far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!
He does it – not by pushing us around – but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20 The Message
We’ve returned from a leaders training/discipleship in Cape Coast, a large fishing area. 14 teaching/training environments over 4 days.
The theme – To Follow is to Fish. “Come follow me and I will make you a fisher of men.” – Jesus
Once again, we are reminded that God is not looking for ability – just AVAILABILITY.
We believe, the best we can do – is surrender,,, to Him – Surrender to His great love.
God used you! God is using you! Thank you for your love and partnership in the gospel! Thank you for providing for the needs of others!
The last couple of months have been full — of Gods activity around us. We’ve traveled nearly 8,000 kilometers, numerous trips, outreach, teaching environments, etc.
Our dear friends Mark & Mary served with us in August: God used them ,,, His hands, feet, eyes, ears and heart!
Recent benevolence and outreach: God Provided a generator, two motorcycles (Pastors John & Clement), numerous seminars and conferences, aid to the sick (including surgeries). God Provided Katanga school support, God Provided numerous gifts to Pastors/new church plants who are serving in difficult circumstances and environments. God Provided the money for a water well in Pastor Clements community. God’s Providing the materials to finish the roof construction on a Church/school in a new partnership area in Garu, just south of Bawku. God used you to Provide love and help in the Name of Jesus!
Gods work around us:
A Ghanaian sister accepted Christ with Mary
A young engaged couple from Europe: One returned to Christ and one accepted Christ as Savior.
Katanga Church Community – nearly entire church came forward in public repentance, turning and putting their full attention back on God!
KunKua Church Community – 12 baptisms, including a father and 2 sons.
Bea Church and 3 other communities. “God opened doors that no man can open” - many heard and responded to the gospel; Gods love and gift of salvation, forgiveness and acceptance.
Siham & Mary facilitated 2 woman’s Gatherings/environments. The turnout and responses where awesome.
Marriage seminar with Pastors & wives in Bolga: Transparency, Authenticity and Open Confession among our friends – Resulted in Renewal & Re-commitment.
Recent graduates from West African Bible Institute (Pastor Robert & School) who have returned to their country of Mali, are reporting salvation’s and baptisms. This is HUGE!
While teaching in a local Church in our neighborhood ,,, all came forward in repentance & surrender.
“God is faithful and He will do it.”
Repentance: TURN and put our full attention – back on God! —- CELEBRATE!
Garu, just south of Bawku. The school/church where you are providing the roof.
“You wash your front and we’ll help you wash your back where you cannot reach.”
Elders responding in prayer.
”My Father is always working.”
”Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life,,,”
”They asked Him, ‘What must we do to do the work God requires?’”
”The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” – Jesus
What a great day for Clement and community.
A motorcycle has come, and greater than that,,, WATER IS COMING… “LIVING WATER” IS WHAT IS NEEDED!
Brothers and Sisters – Publicly Identifying with Christ: The suffering, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus!
Baptism: Father and sons – and 9 others. - Yeah God!
Yeah God! YEAH GOD!
Thank you so much for your love.
Thank you so much for your help and partnership.
Please Pray: For our brothers and sisters in Christ. For “good soil evangelism” and fruit that will last.
Please Pray: For those who don’t know yet,,, what God has given them.
Please Pray: For us to have wisdom, discernment, obedience and faithfulness.
Please Pray: For the resources to put wheels on the gospel in a greater way. We need your help.
Please Pray: For us to be sensitive to what our Father is doing and where He is inviting us to be with Him.
We love you.
We Thank God for you.
Please let us know how we can pray with and for you.
In Him,
gary & siham
Posted via email from Gary’s posterous
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