Recent happenings...

The past couple of days have been pretty cool.

Yesterday i experience another first...first taste of Fufu - a popular local dish made from Casava which we served with ground nut soup. Rebecca and Hollie spent most of the afternoon in the kitchen with Anas preparing the soup and boiling the casava which then needed a strong arm to pound it until it was a kind of doughy paste!! It was certainly an interesting experience and possibly not one i would want to repeat too quickly!!

Holly and Beetrum pounding the Casava to make fufu

The finished product ready to eat with the groundnut soup

Last night we went to a nearby village - Ankase - the show the 2nd part of the Life of Jesus video. When we arrived we were swarmed by children as Michael, James and the 2 girls had been there the night before. Hollie played some games with the children while the sound equipment and the laptop/projector was set up. This can be a very delicate procedure to get the plugs in just the right place!!! Unfortunately just as we were about to start the electric went out...you can be sure of nothing...but thankfully it came back on not too much later...meanwhile we sang songs with the children. It felt as if the entire village was out either sitting ont he stoney ground or on benches to watch the feature...another first i guess...my first outdoor movie!! Michael spoke over the film as it played to help with translation into Twi. It was interesting to watch the people around us to see how they reacted to what was happening and each time there was a transition in Jesus life maybe from childhood to boyhood to manhood there would be a great round of applause. By the time the film was finishing everyone was feeling tired and a little sore from sitting on the ground for so long. But I was not expecting what happened next. As Michael spoke to the crowd he asked them to put there hands up if they would like to be prayed for and nearly everyone there had there hands in the air. It was quite overwhelming and we started to move through them young and old, laying our hands on them and praying for healing, for God’s peace and joy and for the spirit to move in their life among other things. The children especially wanted to be prayed for and occasionally I couldn’t tell if I had already prayed for them but that was ok too if they just wanted to feel the touch of your hand upon them. It was a truly amazing experience and as I stood back and watched the scene all I could do was ask God to continue to break my heart for these people for they too are His children and if the only way they can feel His love is through me…then that’s the way it has to be and if He needs to use my hands as His then they are His to use.

trying to arrange the electrics!

We hope to return tonight to show the last part of the film, depending on whether or not the rain stays away. So I would urge you to pray for the people of Ankase – all those children and adults who are seeking prayer and hungering for the word of God in their lives.


This morning we had the pleasure of visiting the Chiefs of Amakom, escorted by Ebenezer. This was an extremely official affair where the 4 of us greeted and shook hands with each chief and elder in turn, followed by them greeting and shaking hands with each of us. We then had to introduce ourselves, saying where we came from, what our mission was in the village and how long we would be staying. Once more there was a murmur of interest when I said I was from Ireland and Ebenezer explained that I knew Dorothy Parish and Rev Dennis Bambrick. There is a great deal of respect and love for Dennis in the area and the chiefs asked for me to convey a special message back to him. We then presented them with small gifts, there was some banter exchanged including Ebenezer’s step-father stating that he would like Ebenezer to find an obruni (white) wife – despite the fact he is already married (!!) and then it was time to go. It was interesting to be part of such an important local ritual and to meet the men who have authority over the village.

The 3 of us with the village chiefs (there are 2 in Amakom!) and elders

On our way back we decided to help out with some of the manual work going on in preparation for the team coming!!! But we figured it was best to leave it to the professionals!!

Also I found out today (Wed) that I passed all my exams which is a huge relief :)

And Helen Lynn just for you - the seats are all very comfortable at the minute ;o)