The Tulsa and Austin components of the team

Coming home

hi to everyone. Everyone got on the flight for Amsterdam. So far we are all healthly. Thank you for your prayers. David, Dani, Heather and I are staying in Amsterdam for a couple of days, the rest of the team is returning home. As you can imagine we are having a variety of emotions when we reflect on our past week. We are all doing some deep soul searching and listening to what the Holy Spirt is telling us about our future commitment to Ghana. We are forever changed. Ghana will always be a part of us.
I am at the hotel and just had a minute to read all the comments on the blog. It brings tears to my eyes. You are the BEST church family ever. Thoughout the week we thought of you often and cherished all your prayers and support. You lifted us up to allow us to do more than we ever thought possible. The Ghanaian people saw the love of Christ, some for the first time.
We don't know what God has in store for us and our relationship with Ghana, but feel that it will be a long term relationship. Please continue to pray for our new brothers and sisters in Christ, in Ghana.
Phyllis

Tuesday

hi from Africa. We are getting ready for shopping and departure. Everyone flys out later tonight. We didn't have a computer while we were in the bush. In short, we treated a king and queen mother, chiefs of the tribes, and many many people. Over 150 patients on Monday. The service was very uplifting. Cary, Katheryn, Charlie and David gave a message about Christian fathers, mothers, family and community.
Please pray for safe travels. I am running out of computer time. So I must sign off.
God Bless all of you,
From the Ghana Team

Well..a lot has happened since we last blogged. As Americans we have little comprehension of how much we utilize because of its ready availability. In our time here in Ghana we have not only used up our internet minutes which you purchase as you would a pay as you go cell phone but we also used up our water in the entire Shiloh Guest House. Ghana does not have running water. It is pumped from a well, stored in large containers which you purchase from the water company and pay for it to be delivered. Apostle took care of us as he does all our needs which enables us to do the medical missions, preaching and teaching while we are here. The second medical clinic was in a village not far from the first one Rebecca wrote about. The numbers at the first clinic were overwhelming. We gave many who were unseen numbers to come to the next clinic as the second village was a walkable distance. Rebecca (Nurse Rebecca as she is now called) helped quell the crowds by giving general medical information about how to make your own rehydration solution, how to properly boil water to wash your face each night and answered many questions of the Aged who hung on her every word. The second clinic we were more organized and able to increase the amount of people seen but still many were left wanting. As the medications ran low and the crowds were still so great, it broke our hearts and left many of us wondering what type of impact we could possibly have. Apostle told us that what little you can do, you do because how do you save a soul unless that soul is still living in the next 3 weeks. We can not see everyone in the clinic but there are many who will be saved. At each clinic, Belinda Love and Milt Olsen pray with each patient either before or after they are seen. We have some now who are not only saved by the medicines that they receive but also by their accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives.

Friday was the medical clinic at the church and the all night vigil ending the 14 days of fasting for Financial Freedom. When Apostle Odai asked for testimonies there were many. One man stood up to say that he had been an alcoholic for the last 12 years. He beat his wife and mother-in-law. At one point he earned what would be $450 in U.S. dollars. He spent the entire amount in alcohol. At the medical mission, he gave his life to Christ and begun the struggle to stop drinking.

Skip has also great successes to report. One of the ladies that applied for a micro-loan told the story of how she had saved up $6. She had a trade business that she ran from only a chair and a small table in the street. Thanks to the Micro Bank she received a $100 loan for her business. She now has a flourishing business in a container and is continuing to increase her inventory and profits. Just as she has received a blessing of the microloan, she is blessing her church for the items of which it has need.

Saturday we went to the Bush. Seeing the well being drilled and the many children was one of the most relaxed medical clinics we have had. There was time to teach the children some of our songs and walk through with them the bracelets of salvation.

Through all of this each day our team has led children services, youth services, gave testimonies, preached to the point of wonderment that Apostle Odai has the endurance and strength that he does. It can only be God’s strength in him. The church feels so very blessed and in comparison to the villages. Out of what the church here receives, 70% they put towards missions in the villages and the Bush. That bit of news staggered us. In all that we have seen and done here the main thought I am left with personally is just humbleness. I am so small in comparison to all the Lord is doing in and through his people.

We are going to the Bush now and spending the night for the last two nights. We will see you all soon. We may need showers!

Wednesday

Today was a tough day and probably changed all of our lives. More people poured into the village community area today than we could ever see. David and Phyllis saw 141 people today, some with aches and pains, many with eye problems, many with malaria, and many dehydrated and malnourished children. There were 150 people waiting when we closed down at 3:30 who are supposed to come back tomorrow to a new clinic site not far from today's. Then we will also have the people from the new area coming. We did see all of the children and mothers though. The children are so beautiful and trusting. Their mothers love them so much, just like we love our children. We had so much help that was there from Pastor Odai's church. It was such a huge blessing. Milt preached a sermon to those waiting using the new megaphones that Pastor's church bought. God even provided those when they were needed. Belinda and the staff prayed for patients, Chase and Cary did intakes and Nicole kept everyone outside on the porch and those doing intakes organized. Clara, Heather, Charlotte, and Felicity did blood pressures and temperatures. Dani took care of heart rates, weights, malaria tests, blood sugar tests, wound care (for the man who fell in the gutter), blood pressure, and took care of the babies vitals. Rebecca did case histories, triage, helped with medications, and as Jr. said was the "senior nurse". Kathryn and Rev. Mary were the awesome pharmacists. All of the girls learned how to do finger sticks and collect blood drops for the malaria tests. Not a squeamish one in the bunch. Charlie, Skip, and Andrew did micro-financing with about 60 people. Milt hung out with Pastor Odai. Everyone had at least one interpreter to help them. It was a well-oiled machine. We were physically and emotionally exhausted when it was over. But God is good and He will give us rest tonite.

We gave out many mosquitoe nets and the packaged food that we brought. Kathryn brought cloth bags and every one wanted one. Tootsie Roll Pops worked miracles.

We have already been rejuvenated at church tonight. Charlotte gave her testimony and talked about her " bad patch or period or time". The interpreter just kept looking at her like , What? Heather also gave her testimony and did a great job. Pastor Odai took something from each of their testimonies and gave a sermon in between.

The food has been plentiful and even better than described by those who came last year. We love that pineapple and papaya!

Well, as we continue to count pills at 11:30 p.m. we covet your prayers for rest tonight, strength for tomorrow, enough medicine to go around to everyone who needs it, especially the Children's Chewable Tylenol for which David is trying to locate more of in the pharmacies tomorrow. Pastor Odai's voice, although it was a little stronger tonight. Maybe he listened to his resident Speech Pathologist. God has protected us from evil, even the village chief came today. He was seen first.
Continue to pray for God's hand to go before us. Some of the men will go to see the breaking ground for the water well in the bush village. We will all see it later this week. Then the men will visit some of the businesses of the people they met with today.

We love you all so much and wish you could each be here with us.
Al, I especially miss you. Clara sends her love. We have an amazing daughter.

All our love,
Rebecca

Wednesday

Tuesday was a BIG day. Quick re-cap after my last post Pastor Odai took us to the fishing village that we will be conducting medical clinic in today. The village is very, very poor. The pastor told us that we were the first missionaries to walk down these streets together, and serve this area. There is a very high concentration of voodoo in this area. We saw several of the voodoo priestesses. They weren't very friendly. We also saw the area where they worshiped 99 gods. Living conditions are deplorable. We expect that we will be treating many infections today. We prepared last night by organizing our meds into individual doses. The whole team was counting pills.......with Charlie as "management".
Charlie and Andrew preached last night. They were amazing. Two totally different styles, both equally inspiring. Six people came forward for Salvation and about 30 for healing. We learned that our friend the Brit, is a very talented preacher. We think that he should make a guest appearance at SHBC.
The youth conducted their own service in the finished pole barn we built last year. Chase took charge of the presentation. Clara and Chase gave their testimony, and the rest of the team answered questions from the youth. We have incrediable children, they have stepped up and spread the word of Christ with boldness.
Last night we were waiting for the missing bag from the airport. We got news that the airport did not to release the bag, it contained medicine and dental supplies. Milt lead us in prayer and about 30 min after, we were told the bag was released and ready to be picked up. God is good!
We are getting ready for breakfast. Please pray for spiritual and physical protection for all our team today as we treat patients in the fishing village and work with the micro-banking program.
Pastor Odai is having difficulty with his voice. Please pray for healing, strength and stamina. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move throughout our day and evening. There are many lost souls, we will be looking for opportunities to witness and pray for the people of Ghana. Pray for those who will preach and give their testimony tonight.
We love all of you and feel surrounded by your prayers.
God Bless all of you.
Phyllis

Tuesday

Hello all. Just now got to a computer. We are staying in a new hotel that the church owns and it does not have internet connection. Everyone is safe and healthy. We had the healing service in church today. Milt and David preached. Rebecca and Cary gave their testimony today and did a great job. We need to go now but I will try and get back on soon.
Love you all,
Please keep praying that Jesus will be seen in everything we do.
Phyllis