One of the biggest things that I learned was that when a family or an individual supports you on a missions trip, they have a vested interest and pray for you and the team during the trip. I felt more "prayed over" during these 2 weeks than I've ever sensed in my life. It was a learning lesson, and one that I'll never forget. I was a little embarrassed at first raising $7000 for our trip, but after I got home, I was so thankful that so many people prayed for us. On the last Sunday before we left, MCC took up an offering and we were able to cover all the remaining outstanding costs for the trip and have enough left over to bless YFC in Ghana.I'm so indebted to several people that helped prepare us for the trip. The missions board at MCC provided expert advice. I'm thankful for the cultural training that we received as a team from members of the church. I'm also indebted to my dear friend Jerry "Maj" Major that works with YFC in Scranton, PA for his leadership, guidance and training for our trip. His experience having gone to Accra, Ghana was invaluable and we couldn't have been so successful without his help.
The trip was life changing nonetheless. Even though I'm writing this over 2 years after our trip, I can still hear the sounds, register the sounds and picture a continent that I've grown to love. We stepped off of the airplane in Accra, Ghana and the huge sign said "AKWAABA." We felt like we were home. I love the red soil of Africa. By the time we left, it was not only on our hands but in our heart.Some of the highlights of the trip were serving in an orphanage and playing with kids that have no families and for some of them...no hope.
Another highlight of the trip was giving a local private school a bunch of supplies that we brought we us (suitcases of school supplies). They surprised us by doing some school worship, which was as close to heaven as I've ever been.
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Mama Jenn sharing with all of the children about the
Love of Jesus and how much we cared for them.
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Worshipping with the saints on our first Sunday who are passionate about Christ was awesome. Not only do they worship their hearts but they worship with dance. They are not hindered by what others think. Their only focus was on worship to our Creator. A 4 1/2 hour worship serve flew by!
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| Pastor Kent and I spoke at 2 different Youth Leadership Training Conferences (YLTC). I spoke on "Understanding the Youth of our Culture. |
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| We were able to do quite a bit of work on the YFC Centre that is used by groups all over Africa. |
Jennifer and I knew that this continent was for us. We loved getting to know the National YFC Director for all of Africa - Patrick Mahama. He was not only a gracious host but has become a close friend. We were able to bless him and the ministry financially. Knowing that we were able to help him was an incredible blessing to us. As the days of the trip neared the end, I felt different. I looked at life different. When we landed back in Chicago, I realized that there are millions of people that will never experience what I experienced. My vision has changed. My heart has changed. The materialistic motivation of this world quickly dissipated and slipped away. I knew I was going back soon, but the question wasn't if...it was when.
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Parick and Betty Mahama
YFC National Ghana Director
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The Ghana Team with the YFC Ghana Board Chairman Abraham Mantey and his family at
their home
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Feel free to download
the Powerpoint slideshow (link below)
that we prepared for our missions trip report
at MCC when we returned:
that we prepared for our missions trip report
at MCC when we returned:
