Intentional

It is Sunday already? Where do the days go? Thinking of the passing times has made me think that time cannot be wasted with intentionally making relationships and sharing about Christ as time really does fly. We have 4 months of school left but at the same time we only have 4 months of school left. We have students leaving, especially the seniors, and this is the opportunity to impact them the most and make sure they have a strong relationship in Christ before heading to college. I am passionate about this topic at the moment as we just had spiritual renewal last week for the 6-12th grade students. Yes, they complained that is was long and boring at times, but on Friday when they were able to share, a lot of them really spoke out about their faith and the stirring God has put on their hearts.

On Tuesday, the students broke out into small groups and shared with a random group of students and teacher where they were personally with Christ. The teachers then made a list later so we can prayer for each student and help them make a decision to follow Christ. Most of the teachers talked about how the kids were really open during this time and said they had a hard time following believing in Christ and actually following Him. We cannot take this lightly but really be in prayer for our students and take the time to speak to them about where they stand. Even though I do not teach the high schoolers, they are constantly in my room for something or another. Sometimes I only see them for a second, but I really want to be intentional on just encouraging them to read the Bible and seek Christ. Some of them are seniors and it scared me that they are going to the U.S. where they can be attacked openly and be tempted in many ways. They must have a strong foundation now so they can resist.

On Friday, the kids had the chance to share and lucily someone wrote down all the testimonies so we could have a copy who weren't there. Some of the kids shared how they became Christians this week. Others shared how the talk about being kind to their parents made them think differently and they want to make a change to love on their parents and just talk to them. Some of our students are angry with their parents as they had to move to Ghana or other places. Some are angry because their parents are travelling all the time and they never interact with them. These are everyday problems for our students but some of them expressed the need to make amends and forgive their parents. One students said how he is a Muslim but is still searching and wants to know that God is real. God is working on these students and we as teachers need to be discipling these students along to ensure growth. If the students don't go to church or don't have parents who are Christian, it is hard to take the next step of getting closer to God. Some of us are beginning bible study with the high school and middle school students. Please pray that the students will be committed to joining and that we will know how to lead these girls closer to Christ. Pray that we allow the Lord to work in us for His good. We are really excited to encourage these girls in a small group setting.

Well I definitely talked your ear off on that, but I only have one more thing to share. Yesterday, we went with our friend Gomer to the onion market. Just in case you don't know, he is the man who works with the boys from Niger who sell onions so they can send the money back home. We had been in this area once before to do a kids' club in the yam market but this place isn't as crazy. I will do my best to help you envision this quit unique scene. At the front of the market are rows and rows of baskets filled with onions. Behind the people selling those, are large sacks filled with none other but onions. There are then shacks sprawled out in a crooked line containing sleeping quarters for the onion sellers. Some have plywood frames and then are covered with either cardboard, sheets, or plastic. Home Sweet Home. Behind the shacks are the mounds of garbage dumped there that is either smoking or has people going through trying to find something salvageable. This is the typical life to too many of Accra's young people who are just trying to survive. We went there mainly to meet a man who has started a school for the onion boys at night. The area was smaller than my father's church office but 20 guys manage to sit down as the teacher writes letters and sound combinations on the board. It is a plywood frame with cardboard stapled around it to keep out the dust and most of the lighting as it is quite dark in there. They do have one lightbulb overhead and a fan which they only turn on occasionally. There was only an artificial Christmas tree in the corner with a chicken perched on it. I am not sure why the Christmas tree had the privilege of being in the already too small classroom but alas, it contributed to the ambience. The teacher proudfully showed off his best teaching skills to us and we even learned a little Zarma from him. I just have too many languages running through my mind but I do enjoy being able to community with different people group. I loved being in this small schoolhouse as they were making the best of the situation. Here they were just using what they had and giving these boys a chance to learn English. Please pray that I can be diligent in collecting supplies for them to help the English process.

God is working all over the world. Please take the time to thank him that His message is spreading to the ends of the earth. However, Islam is also spreading and we must work towards the Kingdom of God to ensure all people here the redeeming message of Christ.