Ghana Build Team Updates

Partnership
Pastor Gabriel led us through devotions with Numbers 13:30-34: the Lord takes us through difficult paths. When we face big issues, we might see ourselves as grasshoppers, and we might be tempted to believe all the fear-filled reports, yet we have a great God. NEA and its partners have taken on the huge issues of the area, yet huge impact is being made. God never leaves anything incomplete.

Together
Today, everyone was in the flow once again. Shovelling, mixing and hauling concrete continued at the build site, 85 cement mixer loads of it! (the equivalent of 4 ½ truck loads!). Adrian won the newly formed Olympic Games event, moving 50 kg bags of “Super Strong” cement mix. Lynne, Paul and Jacqueline won the “Golden Shovel Award” tonight because of their patient dedication working in the sand pit. Ben O. noted that the afternoon work hours were very difficult as everyone is getting tired and the work is hard, but it was also beautiful and powerful to see God work through the team.

Collaboration
It was Christmas in Ghana today as our lesson plan was based around the birth of Jesus. Manger scenes were enacted in felt and coloured papers, star ornaments were decorated, and Christmas carols were sung. Paula and Adam’s morning class did not want to leave for lunch until they had the chance to sing “Go Tell it on the Mountain” one more time. At the end of the school day, the teachers meet to prepare for the following day, and at the same time they debrief in order to come up with the best plans and strategies for the following day. As Malissa said tonight, “It just keeps getting better!” Isaac, the youngest member of our team, teaches Primary 6 in the mornings at the Carpenter School. He is doing this without a teacher, and it’s a big class! Armed with teaching tools and a soccer ball, he has a lot of fun and manages the class brilliantly. Risi, a young woman herself, works in some of the largest and youngest classes. She is patient and kind in the midst of chaos, and doesn’t stop when it’s time to prepare for the next day’s lesson. Adam, our newly retired teacher/principal is always looking for ways to help prepare us, non-teacher teachers. He ended his day today by decorating his morning classroom with the stars that the kids decorated, stringing lines in the rafters to hang them. We can’t wait to see the children’s faces when they show up to class tomorrow!

Super Strong Partnership.
Super Strong Together.
Super Strong Collaboration.

Prosper shared with us from 2 Samuel 6:22 and observed that in choosing to follow the Lord, others may think that we are foolish. Like a Ghanaian pastor choosing to leave the comforts of his home town in order to share the good news in villages. Like David Mensah leaving great opportunities in Canada and returning to serve his people in Ghana. Like the team traveling to Ghana, not to enjoy the waterfalls and the wildlife preserve, but to lift blocks. In the end it all glorifies your Maker, sweating and lifting blocks for the glory of God will be rewarded one day. All in the name of the Lord.

Pastor Peter shared with us a story of a woman whose motorized tri-cycle broke down yesterday, and she chose to walk into the nearby village. Shortly afterwards, a vehicle struck it. She is praising the Lord, as getting off when she did may have saved her life. Praise be the name of the Lord!

On our first day of teaching, Malissa shared that she had been praying for a long while that God would match up the right volunteer with the right Carpenter and EPS teachers, perfect partners. That we would be exactly what God created one for the other. After our second day in the schools, we have seen God answer that prayer, more than we could ever hope for. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Donna was seen working later than the rest to prepare her lessons for tomorrow, and yet she took time to read to the children outside the training center doors when they asked if she could read them a book before she headed out for dinner, all in the name of the love of the Lord.

Dave reported that the build team started their day in preparation for the arrival of the dump trucks by being road builders as they moved materials and filled in three trenches to allow the trucks access. By lunch, the masons moved on to other work areas as they laid as many blocks as they could before more footing work is complete. Concrete for the footings was moved by “the bucket brigade,” a formation of many human chains. Several wheelbarrows required repair as they broke down keeping with the flow that Dave estimated to be equivalent to as many as 4-5 concrete truck loads just today! All in the name of our great and mighty Lord.

Soale asked to speak to us after our dinner tonight. He wanted us to know about the impact that our presence has made, the lessons our actions have taught.

By God’s grace, all in the name of the Lord.

At breakfast this morning, David Mensah prepared our build group for their first physically challenging work day. He addressed our group as “very tender people“. Considering the fact that many of our team are not accustomed to heavy labour, and all of our team are not accustomed to working under the hot African sun, we appreciated his words of caution and concern.

He also challenged all of us, whether teachers or labourers, to just “get in the flow” of the work at hand. To be present and involved, but not to put undue pressure on ourselves. He wants us to enjoy our time, as we have brought joy to them in their time of grieving.

This morning’s devotion was led by David, the NEA Accountant, and he spoke on John 12:23,24 “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” As Jesus came to earth to lay down his life for us, unless we give Him our lives, we bear no fruit. If you are a branch, and you don’t bear fruit, you are cut off. What fruit are you bearing to please God? Are we increasing His kingdom? Bear fruit for Christ. The Bibles and biblical study resources sent by Westney Heights Baptist Church will bear fruit. Connections made through one of the US team members, will be bringing vital and profit making equipment to the hospital. He asked, “What are you doing do bear fruit? How are we bearing fruit?”

We then pray and laid hands on Abraham. Although he has studied in London for his position as the hospital administrator, today he was being sent to begin a year and a half of prerequisite study in Ghana to be further accredited and to learn more about the workings of the Ghanaian health insurance system. David asked that we prayed that Abraham will be sharp, alert and be reminded that God has blessed this hospital, that he’ll be one of God’s agents in a system where there are “wolves“. John led in that prayer.

At dinner it was great to hear Dave’s build team report. How our trained carpenters were quickly respected for their skillset working with the masons. How everyone found their place shovelling, moving wheelbarrows and moving bricks and supplies. How they will all need to start the day tomorrow clearing a lot of materials out of the way for 5 dump truck loads of dirt to come tomorrow to bring up the level of the interior courtyard.

Ben shared about Ghanaian volunteer Francis from Kintampo, a volunteer from Pastor Daniel’s church that is studying to be a lawyer.

Lynne was tested by being asked to carry the heavy blocks, and although she managed well, her new expertise in providing the proper portions of concrete ingredients to Solomon, the concrete mixer operator, earned her his thumbs up!

Jacqueline kept up the flow with her wheelbarrow.

Today’s felt board lesson was the story of creation, and it was wonderful to hear how so many of the children and teachers were familiar with the story. While some classes acted out their “The Giving Tree” story book reading, others listened intently and responded with discussions about responsible forestation!

The difference between the two schools was seen in many different ways. One of the visible differences was class size. Ellie’s morning class at the public school had 50 students, while her afternoon class at EPS had 5. One of the most impressive differences was that the EPS Grade 1 class recited John 3:16 without prompting when they heard it was foundation of the next activity lesson, and then they started reciting other verses they had memorized!

After sorting through some pretty mixed up laundry, conversations were had, games were played and our evening was spent once again with Soale and Esther, as clothing designs were considered and measurements were taken.

Our prayer is that we all continue to work well while staying healthy, bearing good fruit as we find ourselves “in the flow” of whatever it is we are doing and remaining a “very tender people“.

Per-spec-tive:
1) the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance
2) the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance or positions

Today, we all gained perspective.

David Mensah’s devotional today was based on John 21:1-6. Jesus had been crucified, rose from the dead and had appeared to the disciples a couple of times, and they were found to be in the ‘in-between time’. Feeling abandoned, confused and lacking direction. Unable to sit doing nothing, Peter and two others, decided to go fishing, back to what they had done before they met Jesus.

Casting their nets on left side (the easiest and familiar side when right-handed), they caught nothing after a full night fishing. Jesus, appeared again. Standing on the shore, He spoke to them compassionately, like a father would, as He was The Master now. All powerful. All knowing. And he instructed them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat where their nets were filled with more than they could pull in.

David compared this to how he and all who loved and worked with Noah felt since his passing yesterday. Finding themselves grieving and not sure what to do next, yet, we were soon to show up. Assured that God’s watchful eye is still on them and they are not abandoned. Despite the sorrow, our arrival yesterday afternoon has brought plenty of joy back.

Our devotional time was complete with prayer and singing. We followed David and Brenda outside the gate and into Noah’s home in Carpenter. With glistening eyes, we greeted those there in mourning and Craig prayed a wonderful prayer of comfort and encouragement for the legacy that Noah left for his family and his community. Perspective.

Aaron had a chance to deliver and install a HUGE indestructible vice that his father Ron donated for Jackie. A beast of a unit, it was brought here in pieces… one of which gave cause for concern as Paul had to account for it being in his checked luggage at the airport. Incredibly, Jackie let Aaron know that only 2 ½ days before our arrival, his (much smaller) vice had broken! What perfect timing, and perspective.

Gathering our things back at the NEA gazebo, we embarked on a tour of the hospital site. As David and Brenda led the way once again, the most common expression was of amazement. The intuitive planning and design, the progress thus far, and the overall size of it all! Perspective.

The teaching team then took a tour of the two schools where they will be teaching. Starting at the bright, beautiful new school, EPS, (Empowerment Preparatory School), we visited every class, met the teachers and students dressed in blue plaid school uniforms. We thoroughly enjoyed watching a Grade 1 student confidently lead his class in the alphabet and counting to 30, completely unphased by a dozen of us walking into the classroom. From there we visited Carpenter’s public school and the headmaster, Christopher, introduced us to each teacher and the classes we would be working with there. Time worth taking so that we could better prepare for these coming days. Perspective.

Passing by Esther’s sewing shop, Risi, a sewer herself, noted the non-electric, ‘old fashioned’ hand driven sewing machines the students were using to sew the EPS school uniforms. Later that afternoon, Risi returned to the shop to have her bag repaired and was convinced that when she gets home, she will need to try her grandmother’s sewing machine that is much the same. Perspective.

After enlisting the ‘build team’ to help the ‘teaching team’ in a giant felt puzzle team-building exercise, we embarked on NEA Tour, Part 2. Ostriches, emus, rabbits, chickens and pigs were interesting. We heard about the miracle of the well that Craig and Isaac’s church (Life Church) had funded years ago. How it provides all the water needed for the fishery and the other buildings on the compound. Seeing the enlargement and refurbishing of the mushroom farming facility and hearing about Soale ‘cracking the code’ on the best mushroom cultures, Brad was impressed (and even more convinced there was good reason he didn’t like mushrooms). Perspective.

Stopping at the build site for the dormitory, Soale gathered the plans and they were reviewed. We met Thomas the builder. The immensity of the project had everyone considering where they could best contribute to the build. With Bruce and his drone taking overhead video and photos that were reviewed later in the evening, we gained a better perspective.

Finishing the evening was the opportunity for everyone to choose from lovely fabrics that Soale and Esther brought. Some team members chose easily, and others wondered just how the brightly patterned fabrics would translate into clothing. Fabrics, that until the they are sewn into garments, lack some perspective.

It has been a very big day, yet tomorrow, the real work begins. Perspective.

Thirty-one people.

Ten Americans and twenty-one Canadians from the ages of sixteen to eighty-three have traveled thousands of miles over forty-eight hours safely with the support of many on both sides of the ocean.

These thirty-one have chosen to be the ones who represent the love, prayers and generosity of hundreds, united by the love and grace of their Heavenly Father.

Along the way, Craig approached some men at our bus lunch stop and asked them to show him how to dance. They laughed.

He asked them what they liked to eat.

“Snake”, one said.

They asked Craig where we were all headed.

“North”, he said.

One of the men spoke up. “There is a man up there. He has done a lot of good things for all the people.”

Craig asked, “Dr. David Mensah?”

“That’s him”, he replied.

Continuing north, the bus slowed as we looked to the right to see the church built in Subinso back in 2011. The bus slowed again as we looked to the left to see the new hospital being built for completion in 2021. And looking to the right once again, we saw all the preparation that had been done for the building of this team’s project…a new dormitory to house one hundred guests. Just a small few of those ‘good things’.

In forty-eight hours, new relationships have been born and old ones renewed. Things were lost, and found! Equipment and resources were unpacked and sorted. Laughter was shared, and knowing that if we hear “what sounds like a lion” is really only an ostrich, rest will be found.

Tomorrow we will share our first full day in Carpenter. Morning devotions with NEA, touring the hospital site and the schools where we will teach and offer our condolences to a family who is grieving the loss of a wonderful man named Noah. One of NEA’s first staff members known by many of us who have been here before. A man who is now with our Heavenly Father. United.