Amy’s Blog

Hospital Christmas Program

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:43:16 +0000

What a joy! Last Thursday we took the school-age children from Beacon House to the local police hospital to decorate the children’s ward for Christmas and share a short Christmas program. I promised pictures so - here we go.

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:19:21 +0000

I’m sitting here listening to one of the greatest Christmas classics - Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and thinking of everyone trying to keep warm in my Indiana home town. I’ll miss my snowy-white weather this year, but I’ll just have to settle for the white-sand beaches of sunny Ghana. We’re preparing for a visit from my mother and are so excited to share the holidays with her!

Our Trek North - Part Two (finally)

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:13:30 +0000

It is now November. Where has time gone? I began my blog on our north trip the day we got back (September 13th) and went in to Beacon House the following day only to be handed a precious surprise. Most of you know we are now fostering a little boy. He was abandoned for three months at the local hospital following the death of his mother. The hospital’s social welfare department contacted our director and asked if Beacon House could care for him. Allen and I were delighted to the be ones blessed to foster. He is doing wonderful! Growing stronger and chubbier everyday. He will be five months a week from Tuesday. This wonderful distraction, however, has left me very preoccupied and a horrible communicator. So, now, as he lays beside me playing toys, I’m going to attempt to pick up where I left off.

Our Trek North

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:29:58 +0000

We made it! 53 hours with eight people packed into our little bush car, but we made it. Thursday afternoon we set off for a 6 hour drive to Kumasi to meet up with missionary friend, Garrett Nichols. Pastor Travis is visiting with us for three weeks from New Beginning Church in Illinois and brought along care packages from family and friends in the U.S.. The Skittles, Sprees, Tootsie Rolls, suckers, licorice, jellybeans and Lays potato chips certainly helped pass the time AND add the pounds. Thank you all! :)

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:37:34 +0000

Hello, everyone. I know it’s been too long since my last post. It’s been an almost surreal experience these past few weeks, so I suppose it is due to a heavy heart that we have been hesitant to write. You know, we were never told this journey would be easy, but we are promised there is One who goes before us, who goes with us, who walks beside us, basically, will never leave us. In the past week we have lost two very precious children. Both battled severe conditions we hoped they might overcome, but in the end their healing came through a new and perfect body in the arms of our Saviour. I’ve said many times this week, “God, I don’t understand.” He is sovereign and in all things has a plan and purpose. I don’t doubt that. In Philippians 4:4-6 Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“ I love this verse. The Lord is near so we WILL rejoice. He has us here for a purpose. Sometimes it‘s just a little hard to see through the haze. Please keep praying. These children are such a gift and we want to care for them in the best way possible.

I sat in the classroom on Friday trying to explain to the children what happens to us when we die. They could not understand why their friend would not be coming back. The Lord gave us a very sweet and simple picture of this life. As I’ve mentioned before, we have been using a reward chart in the classroom to encourage positive behavior and at the end of two weeks we leave the orphanage compound and go for a “fun day”. One of the older girls innocently asked, “Madam, when we reach the blue line next can our reward be a trip to heaven to see our friend?” What a precious request. I was reminded that our whole life is a bit like a reward chart. “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is only temporary. What is unseen is eternal.” Our goal, our “blue line”, is a heaven promised to those who believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ. I shared with the class that our friend simply got to jump ahead on his chart. But, for those who believe, we fix our eyes on an eternal reward, a perfect heaven that waits for each of us. Pray for their tender hearts. Who knows what life has handed these children. I’m sure they’ve seen more hardship in their few years than I’ve seen in my lifetime. All I know is when I asked who will believe, every child raised their hand. Oh, to have their simple faith.

“Lord, create in me a clean and pure heart. One that stands before you unashamed, that knows your every promise and boldly stands in the gap for those who have not yet heard. God protect these little ones. May they hear and truly know that you are God.”