Nkurakan is a community which can be categorize as a below average income community, is a two hours drive from Amasaman. It has electricity, good school but with no hospital (all medical cases must be rush to regional capital- Koforidua) which is very bad. Nkurakan is one of the villages in the Koforidua municipalities; it has a population of about 15,000 people with the “Krobos” forming the majority ethnic group while “kyerepong”, Akans, “Ewes” form the minority. Nkurakan is ruled by a traditional leader (chief) with his council. The name Nkurakan literally means “first village” for a reason we do not know. The Village is a rocky land and very closed to the “akwpim ridge mountain”. This mountain is said to have settlers (small villages) on it, they have most of their building built on huge rocks. Some people too have their farms on the mountain. Some of the crops the people grow are: cassava, plantain, banana, okro, pepper, tomato, garden eggs, yam, they also have cocoa farms in smaller farms. The people of Nkurakan are not friendly except some few visitors who have resettled there.
Day One (Thursday 26th)
In the month of August of the Lord’s day of Thursday 26th was the set day for volunteers of Hirex Missions. We left Amasaman at about 11:45am but unfortunately, took a different root thinking that we could avoid road traffic but, instead, it took us more than the normal two hours drive journey (it was a long root). We had several encounters with the police who are on the various check points trying to arrest over-speeding. Some we were able to go through without time wasting when they stopped our lorry because of our big banner we had at the back of the lorry. But, some police officers wouldn’t want to look at it but instead, want some money from our driver (Gh 1). Beautifully, everybody, including the driver and his mate (conductor) who was not part of the organization had the T-shirt of Hirex Missions on. Since, it was our first time going there, the two sons of the host church’s preacher (Brother Isaac Botwey) came to meet us in Koforidua to take us to Nkurakan. (Just as someone meets you at the airport to take you home).
We arrived in Nkurakan at about 3:25pm met Brother Isaac Botwey who led us to our lodging place, a nice spacious 4 bedroom apartment (he rented the place for us). After everybody had located his or her bed we them converge again to sing and pray to thank God for our save arrival. We then had a short meeting with Brother Isaac who also briefed us about the culture of the village. From there, he led us to the chief house as requested by the team to say hello to him and also introduce ourselves to him and tell him that we are strangers in his land and we need his protection and support. We met the chief, two of his sons, and one council member. The chief was very happy to see and have accorded him the respect to tell him our mission in his village. We met in a small shed fenced with a dwarf wall which we were told is the traditional court, where cases are tried and settled. After a wonderful conversation with the chief, we then moved to see the market (an open air market) where mainly food stuffs are sold. It has an old sheds with dwarf wall. There is also a newly two story building construction room space stores to be rented to people by the District council.
We met with the queen mother of the market, the leader of all the fish sellers in the market. She is called Mary Okorley an aged woman; she sells a dried salted Tilapia called “coobi” and other smoked fish. Madam Mary has a problem with one of her leg and therefore she uses a walking stick to help her walk. We were directed by a different woman after we asked her a few questions about the market, she stretched her hand and showed us Madam Mary at the far end of the shed to go and see her for much better answers to our questions. We got to madam Mary and introduced ourselves and she was surprised to see us we told her our mission in the village and what we intend to do for all those who sell in the market-to paint the market sheds for them free of charge because Jesus Christ have asked us to do it. Surprisely, madam Mary was offering us some money (less than $ .50p equivalent) as a token of gift, but we realize Our master did not asked us to take money in return any time we do good to people, also, it might be that what she is offering us is what she has sold at that moment. Instead, Lawrence on behave of the team gave her Gh¢5 (about $ 4.00). As a process of studying the village and the people we had some friendly chat with some few people which some include the local members of the church. All are happy to see us and have come to work with them.
Brother Isaac Botwey led us again to see the meeting place of the church we met an elderly man who more or less has his house close to the meeting place which to us looks like he protects the compound of the church. On our way to the meeting place Lawrence saw a woman selling his favorite fried cassava doughnuts called “agbeli kaklo” with dried coconut which is usually eaten along with, he bought some and shared to the volunteers who want to enjoy it. When we got to the meeting place, we saw two signboards (a metal and wood). These signboards broke down from its original place by the road side and were carried to the meeting place and have been placed there for so long. The metal one was dirty and the wooden one was won out, we have to ask one of the brothers who is a carpenter to remove the pieces of the woods and re-cut them into smaller shapes for signposts.
We went back home and low and behold Bother Isaac’s wife called Mrs. Faustina Botwey whom we met in her absence on our arrival. Madam Faustiana had prepared food (Yam and Kontomire-fresh green leaves stew) for us. We enjoyed it so much. As part of our goal on this trip, unity and love among volunteers is needed, we have to eat in twos and threes from one plate. We took our evening bath and at 7pm we were at church (the local church don’t meet on Thursdays but the team had it in our list that we will like to meet with brethren and have a thanks giving service with them for safely arrival of Hirex Missions and also to know some of them. At the meeting Kingsly Asare led the songs of inspiration and prayers: he made us prayed over few areas which include the safe arrival of the team, the village Nkurakan, the local church. At 8pm the church service has closed, all went home. We have to go to bed as early as we could because we will wake up the next day to start the tedious work for the day.
Day Two (Friday 27th)
We woke up as early as 4am brush our teeth, went on open-air dawn preaching while Lawrence and Hayford are doing the preaching, the remaining 9 volunteers are singing acapelar music in popular spots of the village. This went on for one and half hours after which we went jogging (exercising). At 7:30am we have changed into our working clothes, took our breakfast (hot Milo tea with bread). We carried all the items we bought for the painting to the chief’s house and the market. We arrived in the chief’s house greeted him and we asked where we could get water to mix the paints. We were shown the place, actually the water is for sale therefore we gave Gh ¢ 1 (less than a dollar), the team got the water with the help of some of the members of the local church who accompanied us to work in the chief’s house. It was so joy and terrific to see these young boys and girls who have not painted before doing a marvelous work with the guidance of Dominic Quashie (one of the Volunteers) who was our leader for the painting work, because that is what he does part-time for income, therefore, he is good in painting. We spent 3 hours on the chief’s house and the traditional court room. To our surprise, one of the chief’s sons brought a crate of fanta drinks which we tried to reject it but the chief insisted that we should take it because it’s from his heart as an appreciation. From there, we went straight to the market. There wasn’t anybody especially in the sheds selling because Friday is not a market day for the people of Nkurakan. The Market Days are Mondays and Thursday. People from far and near bring their things for sale. It is on these days that you will have some things sold cheap price. Quickly, we started painting because we don’t have much time we also finished it within one hour. There is more paint left therefore, we went straight to the meeting place of the church and painted the inside of the structure and left the outside because it was not plastered therefore it could not painted. After the painting, we decided to cut the wooden won out signboard into smaller sizes for signposts. The brother who was a carpenter has to run home and bring his saw, hammer, nails and other tools to be needed. He did the work very beautifully and we took it to our lodging place repainted it. The other metal signboard the ladies on the team washed it and it looks nice now and planned to replant it the next day.
After everything done and done well we went back and low and behold many women had converged in the preacher’s house to help sister Faustina (the preacher’s wife) to cook. Just as we finished bathing, Fufu with meat and fish soup (pepper soup) is ready for us. Any body who want to have a taste of this food must make sure that he or she is served in this special earthly made bowl called “Asanka” in Akan and “Ka” in Ga. It is through that you will enjoy the real African traditional food. Many Are suppose to eat from it to signify “unity and love” among any group of persons who eat from it.
At about 3:30pm the team grouped into twos and distributed bible tracts and invitation cards to the people of Nkurakan. About, 3,000 tracts were distributed and 150 invitations were also distributed.
Friday is a usual meeting day for the local church and we joined them for singing and prayer in the evening 7pm. We came back home after 8pm to prepare to sleep since the next day is also another hard work.
Day Three (Saturday 28th)
As usual, after our open-air dawn preaching and jogging, both and breakfast the team prepared for personal evangelism the team grouped on twos and three with one or two brethren from Nkurakan to join each group, therefore. Each group consisted of four or five members. We spread into the village and took into every path and entered almost every home to study with the people. Some did not accept us. They showed it by their action and frankly said “I don’t have time”. We made over 50 contacts which each evangelism group took the particulars of individuals we had studies with. We did this in other for the local church to make a follow up after we have left. The whole activity started at 8:30 am and ended at 12noon. We converged in our lodging place and prayed and a good lunch and Lawrence and Dominic designed the newly prepared signposts. At 3pm the team redressed in our football (soccer) jesses and walked to the football field to play with the youth of the Nkurakan. Since, they could not reach to the 11 players they have to encourage some friends to join them to play against us. The intention was that after the game, these friends who were invited to play would be encouraged to come to church. The game started at 3 pm and in the first 15 minutes Hirex Missions made their first score which put the youth of Nkurakan church in their toes and they played with more serious and equalize. They came in to add one to it and after the whole game they had scored us 4 goals while we scored 1. Unfortunate incidence nearly occurred; while playing, some young boys who came to watch the game tried stealing the shoes of two of the volunteers and Kingsly who happened to be the goalkeeper caught them and collected it from them. Actually Lawrence confronted these boys to find out why they did that. These boys started reigning insults on Lawrence.
Upon arrival to our lodging place, we did not even change we took the signposts that we have redesigned , and planted them at vantage points where it will give easy direction to the church meeting place. We plated three signposts with “CHURCH OF CHRIST” written on it. The background colour is white with red colour for the writing. It was so joy while doing this work because the team and the members of the local church who joined us to do this work were all happy because, the direction to the meeting place was quiet difficult to locate (any visitor who is new to the village will fine it difficult to find the church) therefore, this signposts will serve a great purpose. After which we also replanted the big mental signboard we cleaned at its usual place. It position was very close to the market and its really on huge rocks therefore, we have to fine a way to dig small hole, mix cement with water, sand and some stones and put it around the stand of the metal signboards. All these were done with the help of two of the local congregation leaders and the two sons of the Brother Isaac Botwey. We finished it and went back to the lodging place took our batch and had a wonderful “fufu” with fish soup prepared by some women and Sister Faustina Botwey. We admired their services so much that we thank God for their lives so that we could meet them again next time we visit. In the evening around 7pm we spend almost two hours in brother Botwey’s house with his family thanked them and showed our love to them. After which we showed them some pictures of some of the things we did in the village. We also sung acapella songs in the local language to them and the people living close by were watching us sing beautifully.
Day Four (Sunday 29th)
We did not go to do open-air dawn preaching and jogging this time because some have to iron their cloths for worship service. Whiles some of the volunteers are taking their bath others are ironing and Lawrence too is preparing the morning breakfast. Unfortunate, the iron was not working properly therefore, it wasted our time. After everything and we are about to walk to the church, the team asked one of the volunteers (Godsway Dedoo) to pray, as soon as he started he stopped and put us on hold for almost 15 seconds which Lawrence furious and asked him to stay back and sleep (he should not go to the church because he has an appointment to perform (he will be praying the first prayer). What he did shows that he does not want to pray. The team asked him why he didn’t tell us that he can’t pray. Therefore, the team has to change him for the opening prayer at the service. We arrived at the church while many are sited – getting ready for bible class.
Quickly, Eric Nartey (a volunteer) who is the Bible class teacher went to start teaching. He taught on the topic “How will you know that you are going to Heaven” There are several question coming from the members because of the way he presented the lesson which opened their mind to ask more questions. Lawrence also helped in answering the question using scripture. The children class was handled by Dominic Quarshie who happens to be one of the children class teachers in Afiaman church of Christ in Accra. Kingsly Asare, was the songs leader and master of the service. Lawrence Lamptey preached on the theme “The TRNSFORMED PERSON-CHRISTIAN”. Hayford Mensah Lead the Lord’s Supper and assisted by Jacob Amisah and Lawrence Lamptey. The ushers/greeters were Ernestina and Nina.
Church service started at 9am and closed at 12noon we had four first time visitors all females Lawrence had one-on-one chat with them and asked them how did thy find our service. They were happy and said “it’s simple and very educative” therefore they promise to come back again. We asked the church to make a follow-up and know their house and encourage them to come. The attendance was 88 and the giving was Gh 66 (about $50 USD). Hirex Missions Donated some items to the church some are for the poor in the church and some are for bible studies. (Cloths, educational materials and 12 pieces of hymnals “Songs of the Church”.
We had a wonderful group picture, exchange phone numbers and addresses which individuals goodbye, all this while our lorry to take us back to accra as arrived. Sister Faustina Botwey and her women have also gone to prepare some lunch for us before we go. On our way back to our lodging place, the team decided to say good bye to individuals which include an old lady who was sick when some of the team members visited her when we were doing the personal evangelism-when we got to her, she was quiet better and she could speak to us. “We prayed for her and told her that we are leaving and we wished her speedy recovery” we then again to the chief ad say good bye, we also prayed for him and his family, he pronouns blessing upon us and wish as well back to Accra. Two of the volunteers and a leader of the local church when ahead to see if they will see Madam Mary Okorley (do you remember her?), the queen mother of the Nkurakan Market Sellers. Unfortunate they did not meet her they were told she had gone to church (Roman Catholic).
We got to Borther Botwey’s house food was not ready therefore we have to wait for sometime, we used that time to park our luggages into the car. We finished eating, thank the family and everybody, went into our lorry, prayed and depart This time we took the normal raod (the short root) eventhough the road was bad (under construction). We managed to get to Accra within 2 and half hours. The Lorry stopped at Lawrence house and everybody took his or her things and went home.
We thank God for all that he has done for us, individuals and congregations who also supported us with their prayers and funds. We Say God bless you all and replenish all that you have lost for the sake of God’s work in Nkurakan.
