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Ministering Adventures in Ghana
By Anita Sargeant
February 20, 2006
On Tuesday afternoon, January 3, 2006, Bro.
and Sis. David Norris left me at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis
after helping me to overcome any difficulties connected with taking all of the
goods that I packed in my suitcases. In addition to taking supplies to some of
the missionaries, my heart wanted to take things for the nationals and my
luggage would not contain all that my heart dictated. The kind gentleman at the
American Airlines desk didn’t hold me to all of the restrictions that he could
have and as the Norrises and I stood there barely daring to breathe, he weighed
and reweighed his decisions before he finished off the paper work and called the
next person.
The plane lifted off in St Louis then landed in Chicago, where I boarded an
international flight for London and then on to Accra, Ghana.
Welcome to Africa
Twenty-five hours after I started, I stepped into the steamy, humid night air of
Accra and walked across the tarmac to the terminal. Etched above the door of the
terminal was the word “Akwaba,” meaning “Welcome.”
I heard the word welcome again and again
during my visit as this is the greeting that they most often use. They are a
gracious and a genteel people speaking their tribal languages among themselves,
but also speaking English with a British accent. The British influence from the
distant past permeates their culture. They are a beautiful people, very dark,
with wide flashing smiles, carefully groomed manners, and helpful habits.
I soon observed that they are a religious people with a deep trust in God. They
are open with this and it is the norm, rather than the exception, to see phrases
displaying their faith in God on their storefronts and on their cars. Because so
many of them have lived close to the earth in that tropical climate with little
or no electricity or running water their habits are “early to bed and early to
rise.” Early morning prayer meetings are common in every segment of the country.
It is a part of their culture. After those early morning prayer meetings, they
meet the challenges of each day struggling to overcome the problems that
endeavor to crowd out their very existence.
Constant Struggles, Early Deaths
Their biggest problems as a society are the polluted water and the lack of
proper medical treatment. So many people die early in life that they don’t even
grieve many of the deaths. A person is counted worthy of proper grieving
processes only if they have lived long enough to deserve it. Babies are buried
often in shallow graves with little or no ceremony.
It is no wonder that as we ministered to
them medically I observed, and have forever etched on my heart, the desperate
faces of young mothers with small children. Three small babies came to the
clinics that probably would still be in the hospitals if they lived in America.
One example was a 25 day-old baby born prematurely and the other two were 11
day-old twins. I am not sure how much they weighed but even wrapped up in their
blankets, they felt as though they weighed as little as three pounds. The faces
of the mother and the grandmother that held the twins were riveted on the faces
of the health care professionals and not once did a smile of pleasure cross
their desperate faces as they struggled with the knowledge that there was only a
slim chance that the seemingly healthy, but tiny and frail twins could survive
the elements they lived in.
Deep Faith vs. Western Materialism
In their society, Western culture is painted by the media as worldly and
somewhat perverted. It is shocking to observe. One national asked me if it was
true that Americans do not attend church much. I paused before I answered
because compared to their culture we, as Americans do not. We are overcrowded
with wealth and take such things as electricity and running water for granted.
The sufficiently commodious hotel where we stayed the most did not have a dryer
to dry their towels. They ironed them dry. The room they used to do this in was
not air-conditioned. The employees that did these jobs on that third floor close
to my room were just happy to have the job and any little tip or candy that I
gave them was received with evident pleasure and thanks. I felt like some rich
lady that was far removed from the real facts of life.
Their deep faith in God and their dedication to the God that they serve is
evident in their exuberant worship. They have a follow-the-leader style of
dancing and worshipping that is refreshing. Everyone becomes involved and they
take turns so that there is no confusion. When it was the missionaries’ turn, I
enjoyed participating. I sensed a deep hunger in the hearts of the saints for
continued revival in their land and for the supernatural. Those that do not know
God are ripe for harvest. Those that do know God are hungry for more teaching
and more power through the Spirit. The potential is staggering.
Ladies Conference Ghana-style
The Ladies Conference, which started before I arrived with a welcoming service,
was followed by a service at dawn the next morning and every morning thereafter,
as is their tradition. Since many of those attending the conference stayed on
the church grounds during their visit—sleeping on mats in the parking lot, or on
the floor of the church—early and late services were not a problem. The
missionaries were protective of our health and strength and did not ask that we
participate in all of their activities or partake of their food. The nationals
are understanding of this and view us as frail or fragile and treat us as
precious saints from America constantly finding ways to make us more
comfortable. It is a humbling experience.
For instance, when we drive up to a service, we arrive a bit late because the
nationals prefer it that way and they are in full commotion when we arrive. They
rush out to the car and when the car door opens, someone is standing there ready
to carry our belongings. Whatever is in our hands—purse, Bible, briefcase—they
take it, smiling but often without a word, head out for the platform of the
church while we are expected to follow. They put your belongings near the chair
they expect you to sit in and with a big smile motion for you to sit down. To
try to change anything connected to this process would be considered the height
of rudeness. This was reenacted whenever we arrived at a service regardless of
the area. It is their tradition and their way of showing respect.
The Sunday service marked the grand finale for the Ladies Conference with the
missionary preaching and 12 receiving the Holy Ghost. Six others had received
the Holy Ghost in the services held at dawn of the Ladies Conference making a
total of 18 filled. It was my privilege to be involved in the altar service on
Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
On Saturday, my niece’s husband’s family who lives in Ghana, came to visit me
and to bring me gifts. I had taken them some gifts also. They traveled over 160
miles to see me and one of the national pastors from Accra brought Solomon’s
mother, Mrs. Ofori-Ansah and his brother David to the hotel where I was staying.
The four of us had lunch together in the hotel restaurant and then the pastor
excused himself and the three of us went to my room and visited for several
hours. We had a lovely time together becoming better acquainted, sharing
information about each other’s countries, and sharing nuggets of truth from
God’s Word before we prayed together and they left. It was an honor to meet with
them and a highlight of my trip.
Mercy Medical Meeting Needs
Sunday night the rest of the Mercy Medical team from the states flew in and
Monday we took the huge jars of meds and began to count them out into
individually labeled packets for distribution. The most commonly needed meds
were malaria and worm medicines. This was anticipated and we literally counted
out hundreds of them. In addition to this we counted out vitamins and minerals
to give for preventive measures and strengthening and many others including
several kinds of antibiotics and creams. We separated all of the meds into four
batches for each of the four days of clinic, loaded up in the vehicles and drove
to Koforidua where we stayed until the next morning when we drove out to the
village where the clinic was to be held. Many of those waiting for us had been
there since 5:30 that morning, hoping to receive the help that they needed.
Wednesday night we went to area churches, some of us attending one and some of
us another. Three received the Holy Ghost in those services.
After two days of clinics near Koforidua, we went on to Ho where we stayed and
set up at a nearby village for Friday and Saturday and then attended services on
Sunday, again splitting up into two groups and attending two different services.
In both places the nationals were there before us doing much of the preparation
work that had to be done. The General Superintendent and his wife, Reverend and
Sister Tei, were right by our side the entire week, interpreting, organizing,
and transmitting faith. They are tremendous Christians and I learned to love
them dearly.
My involvement was as a receptionist for the
pharmacy area. As the nurses and their interpreters met with each family filling
their prescriptions and explaining the treatments, I made sure that each family
was treated fairly in their turn and that the lines were organized so that there
was no struggle for the people to know when and where they should go. Also, at
this point, many of them had been there for literally hours in the tropical heat
and my burden was to extend human kindness to them so that their last experience
with our group was guaranteed to be pleasant. I was asked to watch for those
that might try to come through the lines more than once and to keep an eye on
the meds. I asked for the number that they received originally assuring us that
they had indeed come through the correct processes before receiving their meds.
I learned that the Ghanaians are very respectful and regard someone’s property
as almost sacred. A thief is considered almost as bad as a murderer. The people
would take the law into their own hands if they thought someone was trying to
steal something. Because of this we had no problem with our belongings
disappearing even though the poverty level of the people was very evident.
However, any little thing that we discarded was quickly owned by someone else,
especially our empty water bottles.
Monday found us back in Accra and off to the
markets to do a bit of shopping and sightseeing. We had so much fun and I
brought home some treasured souvenirs.
Tuesday evening Tei met with the team to express thanks from the Ghanaian church
for our coming. He presented each of us with a special kente cloth carefully
embroidered with a welcoming message from the national leadership. It was a
particularly touching ceremony, and I was reaching for some tissues.
Never the Same Again
This experience was life-changing for me and I will never be the same. The
dramatic combination of the spiritual and the physical needs being met
simultaneously was played out as I watched the groups first register and then
with card in hand they were transferred to a holding area where they received a
Bible study and individual prayer and then on to consultation and then to
pharmacy. (The children had special children's classes all day.)
I felt strong and healthy most all of the time and only one of our team members
contracted malaria. He was immediately descended upon by the health
professionals and received help. The spiritual implications as a result of this
effort will only be tallied in eternity. Any part you played with prayers or
financial support will not be overlooked. Giving to
Compassion Ministries through the United Pentecostal Church is truly a
blessing around the world.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2006 Anita
Sargeant
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Anita Sargeant
lives and works in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
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