Today was a scorcher: 40 degrees on the thermometer with intense sunshine. Our JK/SK teacher, Frank, asked Joyce and I about “sunbathing for Vitamin D”. This was something he had heard during his lectures last weekend and he wondered what “sun-bathing” could possibly be! He was also wonderful explaining some cultural issues we deal with.
Ebenezer shared today that although the village chief does not share our faith, he helped clear the land for the church and is excited for it being built. It is known that where there are Christians in a village, the village develops for the better. Quite the testimony!
The roof of the church is six sheets of tin from being complete; the interior walls are all parged; one exterior wall is about two-thirds complete; and the latrine foundation was started.
In school we learned that our JK/SK children love spiders. It was fun to see the Grade 2 class marching around the school yard with tambourines, and to see the large smiles and hear the thrill of the Grade 3/4 class as they ran out of their classroom with their pinwheel craft today! The area school supervisor paid us a visit today and praised the work we were doing.
The excavation team had another ‘weak link’ to take care of with the track chain, but a good six hours of work was done with the dozer. Barring any additional delays, Phil expects the pond in Teselima may be completed tomorrow so they can take care of another couple of projects that David has in mind.
We expect everyone to be back on site tomorrow and are praying for continued good health and strength to finish strong. Phil asked us all to pray that as they finish up the pond, they hit water where there used to be a well, as this would be a real blessing. It would ensure that when the pond fills in the rainy season, it will never run dry. He gave us permission to share this request here so that you can join us in praying for this!
Thanks again for your comments!
Kim
Harry&Eleanor Bell says
HI Pat,Doris &Aaron,
Another note from “The Mag”.It seems the theme is still the same SNOW SNOW and more SNOW along with very cold..You won’t believe the snow banks.
Our Bible Study and Arc Meeting were cancelled to-night.So far church has been a go but attendance has been down.
God bless you on all the rewarding work you have done and will be doing.We miss all of you,but love the updates.As I am writing this Your ‘Wildy Wednesday” Grid news arrived.What a newsy update.It was so wonderful to read it.
Keep safe .Love Eleanor and Harry xoxoxo
Wed.Jan.29th 10:30 p.m.
agnes says
Well. I think that you guys are the new snowbirds!! There is snow in Florida! so enjoy all the sun you can get and load up on vit. D
All is well here though many of us are ready to throw in the snow shovel. Glad to hear that despite the set backs you are accomplishing what you set out to do. God does look out for his own and that is evident with you all and us here.
Hope all will go well on the last few days you have left.
Nancy Woodruff says
How neat to open the computer today and see “Toasty Tuesday” heading! Although we all would love some of your heat extremes on either side are hard to adjust to.
I can’t say I share the love of spiders the children do 🙂 .
I have really enjoyed reading about your team work and holding you up in prayer. The whole teams willingness to leave the comfort of home and venture forth in God’s name is a witness to us all. I see many days ahead where I will want to sit with a coffee and just listen
and listen to Doris’s experiences.
May God bless you with whatever the need is as you work to finish this project !
Love and hugs especially a big one for Doris 🙂
Nancy
Bev says
Once again I love getting up in the morning and reading your reports and just like Susan, I can imagine being there – sun bathing, with you all. I loved pinwheel day! Watching the children running all over.
Do the children in Babator love the colours green and yellow, like they did in Tinga?
So glad to hear that the pond in Teselima is almost finished and we will pray for water. May God’s glory be seen in ALL the work that you are doing.
Nolan wishes he was there with you all.
Carol Peterson says
What a coincidence! One of my students made a pinwheel yesterday to demonstrate his comprehension of a reading passage, and then he taught a classmate to make one. They are both reading well below grade 4 but can decipher diagrams better than me and they are very artistic. This illustrates how we differentiate all the time in a class of 23 but not sure you could do that in classes of 40 plus, or 80 plus. I also had my trusty tambourine out yesterday helping my students understand that one syllable is one beat (quarter note) as they wrote new lyrics to familiar tunes. To Frere Jacques we had “I like winter, I like winter, yes we do, yes we do”…simple stuff. But we also had another wintry song written to Michael Mitchell’s “I’ve Got Canada in my Pocket”!! I wonder if all of you will bring home a little Ghana in your pocket? Certainly in your heart, you will. There is an African proverb that says once you get a little African soil on your feet it never comes off. It’s true, I think.
It’s only -13 at 6am today so I’m hopeful that we can have outdoor recesses today- I really miss them so I can only imagine what my students are feeling. I have a few students fighting with each other though, so I know they need to get outdoors. Our frosty portable is warm again but the grade 5 boys tell me it’s too hot, the ones on their way to the principal’s office, that is.
I just paid our propane bill from late December (74 cents per litre) and they tell me that it is now $1.05/L so that’s the cost of low supply from the refinery and c-c-c-cold temperatures. Enjoy your +40 while you can!!
I am warmed by your writing each time I read it, Kim. You and your team are making a definite difference in Ghana that will last and last. Way to go!!
God’s blessings on your day, evening and night!
Carol
Jean says
Thanks Kim.
All our best to the whole team. We will donate some snow to help fill the pond or at least pray that it always has water.
Rachel Bell says
I know you are probably tired of hearing about the weather here but I would really love some of that heat due to the snow drifts that are taller than me in places! So glad to get a phone call from Aaron and Auntie Doris! Sorry we missed you but it was great to hear your voices even if we did not speak directly to each other. I pray for small miricals for the team each night. Not only for the people you are helping but you as well. Even when the machines are frustrating and the weather is hot you are all doing great work in God’s name! We will continue to pray here for all of you. Getting the updates is the highlight of my evening thank you so much for taking the time to do them! All our love Connie and Rachel
Susan Fockler says
Thank you SO MUCH for these wonderful updates! Between your blog, Brenda’s updates on Sunday and Floyd’s calls, I can almost imagine being there. It sounds like your team is making a tremendous impact on many lives, including those of team members. Floyd says he understands why I want to continue to return, so I am thrilled! And Phil is asking for pond prayers – wow! I can’t wait to hear the stories in person. Be blessed, as you are blessing,
Love Susan
Ron and Ruth says
Thursday – nearly 10 pm. Greenbank time – We pray you are having a restful sleep, — and awaken refreshed for the tasks of a new day. Prayers for new strength and health and safety in your day and that you will be witnesses to answered prayer as we join in your requests.
Love and hugs to Aaron ( Mrs. Barfoot is following your adventure) and to Brenda , keeping an eye out for him!! Hi to Bonnie and George and all the “Noble” clan and every member of the team, – prayed for each day from Phil to Pat on the “yellow page” list. Blessings to all as you see God’s agenda accomplished! -xo Ron and Ruth