Introduction
Helping you to understand what went on the field is our priority. Whatever your thoughts may be as you read this report, welcome you Hirex Missions International. And for those of you who have been involved in mission or several years, thank you for paving the way.
Hirex Missions International is nothing new now. This is our second mission trip, this time round there has been a tremendous improvement or progress in term of number of Volunteers participation. Last year there were 11 young Christian volunteers between the ages of 17 and 32. This year we were 23 volunteers between the ages of 16 and 33. In this report, I am going spell-out the day-to-day activities of the trip.
Day One
Wednesday 17th August, All the volunteers met at a spot where we would be boarding a bus at about 11:15 AM. A bus (School Bus) which had been paid for already disappointed us after waiting for it for over 6 hours. The director of the school we paid the money to was nowhere to be found. Therefore, the money (Gh¢ 330 equivalent to $200) we paid was locked up. We tried all that we could to get a different bus to convey us to Gomoa Tarkwa but didn’t get one. We have to talk to the volunteers to understand the situation and we all agree to sleep so that in the next morning we could go while one of the Christian brothers called Ebenezer Agbemeka helped us by arranging for a 33 sitter bus for us. Volunteers who came from far distance have to go with volunteers who lived in Amasaman to spend the night. This means that our journey did not materialize on Wednesday 17th August as was planned. We made some phone calls to inform the chief and the elders and the host church in the village about our inability to arrive on
Day Two
Thursdays 18th August, at about 7AM the new arranged bus has arrived right at the Heritage Christian College old campus. In the next 30 minutes we have finished packing our luggage in the bus. Exactly at 8:25 AM we have left Amasaman. Interesting enough, when we left Amasaman Hirex Missions International has no money on us because our transport fare is locked up with the first bus arrangement (We are not worried because the school bus is in Amasaman and we could go for it when we return from the trip). Also, we have the organization’s ATM Card (Visa card) which we intend to take some money from a bank when we get to Swedru – the next big town which has different banks. Because we have told the driver that we do not have money on us but we would get some money from the bank when get to Swedru he accepted our proposal. Unfortunate for us, none of the banks in Swedru has ATM Cash withdrawer machine. And from Swedru to Gomoa Tarkwa is about 1 and half hours drive. It means that, After Swedru, we are entering into villages along the way and there are no banks. Volunteers are going to be starved and we would not get money anywhere to pay this driver who also have charged us GH¢ 400 - $300 USD. Quickly, I have to put on my laptop computer connect my wireless modem send a mail to Scotland, UK to the brethren there to plead for their help. As soon as I sent the mail my battery went off (how would I check for the reply?). I quickly asked volunteers in the bus if any has a laptop, Hayford Mensah (The Benevolence Director of HMI) said yes, but the battery too is low.
I prayed to God to help with the situation other than that we would not be able to do anything and volunteers would be disappointed. On our way, Eric Nartey (the secretary to HMI) felt stomach ache therefore, the bus has to stop and we walked in to a close pharmacy to get him some medicine. When we arrived I asked him how he is feeling. “I am ok now”, he said. We arrived at the village at about 11:53AM quickly I took Hayford’s laptop and connect my modem and got the internet connection (because, that was another prayer of mine to be able to get the network and I did, even though it was very slow) when I went into my mail box I found a mail from Derek Brown the accountant for Castlemilk church of Christ who have wired £600 GBP via western union. I thank God so much that I referred to this event as a miracle. So I told the driver that “I have to go with you to Swedru on your way back home to be able to cash the money and pay you also” Therefore, after talking to the volunteers to go ahead to start the day’s work (Work on the church building) whiles Hilda, Vera and myself -Lawrence rash to Swedru to get some food stuffs and other things. Things went okay and we also arrived with food items which could take us through our stay in the village. After the work at the church’s building and getting some lunch for the volunteers, we all went to see the chief and the elders of the village to tell them our mission in their village. Unfortunate for us, we did not meet the chief and some of the elders rather met with the queen mother, and the Assembly man (a representative from the village in the District assembly) of the village. The queen mother and the assembly man were happy of our arrival after which we met with some of the leaders of the local church. All this while the preacher (Ebo Wilson) and two other men from the church were escorting us to all the places we need to go.
We have to come back and prepare for open air (evening) gospel preaching and film show around 5pm. Since we had a projector we made great impact on the people. Lawrence Lamptey preached on the topic “The Love of God: (John 3 16) after 45 minutes gospel film (“the passion of Christ”) show. We have to close at 8:45 pm unknowingly as it was that time the people started trooping on to the campaign ground. Brother Ebo (the village preacher) has to alert us that the village people normally come out in the evening after 8 pm (e.i. closing too early).
We celebrated two birthdays: Vera and James at this night and went to bed after having a short devotion led by Nana Kwasi Asiamah.
Day Three
Friday 19th Auagust, the day’s activity started with dawn preaching and singing accaplla music. Lawrence, Paul Amisah, Nana Kwasi and Ebo Wilson went to the village information center (it was a small room where microphone and machine and 4 speaker horns erected outside that building) At about 4 AM we were there after the village announcer had finish making his announcement for the people of the village, we took over; Lawrence Lamptey preached about the plan of salvation. Out of the 3 who were preaching from the information center, the rest of the volunteers were walking through the village and singing. We had some brethren from the village church join us to sing. At about 6:00AM preaching and singing has ended and volunteers went on jogging to keep fit or 45 minutes. Have to get our own water from a close by. The water is for sale 0.10 Gh p (ten Ghana pesewas) per a bucket. Each morning we have to fill two big drums in other to reach what it needs to be used for.
After taking our breakfast, we went straight to the chief palace to give a new look. We bought the paints for the painting of the palace this took us 3 hours to finish. After which we were asked by some of the elders and the village preacher to paint an old but strong building which was used as a post office for over 52 years old. Ebo informed us that the community would like to use it for a community Library. As soon as we finished the painting of the old post office, “fufu with goat meat and pepper soup was ready for the volunteers prepared by some women of the village church.
While enjoying our specially prepared “fufu”, others including Lawrence were prepare to carry the items to the center for the film show. This time around we have to close a bit late. Since we want to meet the people’s need, we spoke on Basic Health care. Daniel Oti, Eric Nartey, and Hilda Sefa (all volunteers) who were since students did a very good work by speaking to the issues with basic health care. This began with a film about Jesus Christ “the passion of Christ”. This time we did not close at 8:45PM rather, 9:45 PM. Every night, before bed time we come together and have devotion. (Sing and pray and thank God for the day’s work and ask for His protection throughout the night.)
Day four
Saturday 20th August. As usual we started the day with five minutes morning devotion and as usual Lawrence, Nana Kwasi, Paul and Preacher Ebo went to the information center to preach whiles the rest of the volunteers sing vocal songs through the village. This took us one and half hours. (Preaching at the information center come with a fare. We have to pay Gh¢ 5 Cedis ($3 USD) each time we preach for 45 minutes). This time Nana Kwasi preached on the topic “One Day”
We joined the others to sings and invite people to come and worship with us on Sunday. At about 6AM we all took on our heels to jog and exercise for fitness. One o the sisters from the village church drew our attention on a sister who was sick for the past 4 month she is called Dorothy. We spent almost one and half hours singing and praying for her while Lawrence put his hand on her.
The same way too, has to go and get some water for bathing and cooking. Had our breakfast. At about 10am we held a special programme for the children in the community whom we were told are selected children and being giving special attention by an organization called “COMPASSION GHANA” These children are abandon, destitute, orphans etc. which compassion Ghana support through the Methodist church in the village to give hope. After talking to the authorities they gave us the opportunity to play with them. We organized a colouring competition, thought them children songs, and Origami (paper folding). We bought them crayons, pencils, and coloured papers to be able to continue what we taught them. The children were happy and wanted us to stay and continue the activities with them but, we could not because of our next programme. Lunch-rice with stew and egg was ready we enjoyed it to the fullest and got prepared for football (soccer) match between Hirex Mission Int’l Volunteers and the Gomoa Takwa church of Christ Youth. It was very joy to see people started trooping on to the field to watch the game. Daniel Oti (a volunteer) was the referee and he did a good job (no partiality). The village team won the game. The first goal came as a result of a mistake of two defenders of HMIV it proceeded with the second goal which made the coach of HIMV (Lawrence Lamptey) began to shout on his team and rearrange the position of the team. They scored the third goal but we were able to score one before the first half break. We came back from the break with fresh mind but luck was not on our side even though Lawrence the coach has to change and come to play and the goal keeper – Gabriel Morrison has to be substituted to play while James (a Nigerian with the volunteers) who was playing decided to catch, the village team still scored us 3 more goals which made them the winners of the game with 6 goals against our 1 goal. The whole game came to a wonderful end at about 5:12pm with relationship created. After taking our bath and supper we became so late to go to the part to set our thing or film show and talk. But we were able to do that. Unfortunately, for us the film show could not continue because our projector develops a slight fault (the fan in the projector was not working). It kept the machine turning off automatically any time we put it on. But still that did not discouraged us we still did what we are suppose to do. Eric Kavi (a volunteer) used scripture to teach the “importance of Education”: why we have to take education seriously. Christ being educated in Carpentry and in scripture “grew in wisdom, structure, and had favor before God and men” Luke 2:52. Almost all the night we spoke to the people there were so many questions the people were asking about best they can improve their Christian live, in health and education. Since Saturday was our last open air preaching, we also gave them opportunity to win a book (“The Agony of the Cross”) for themselves. The questions came from the topic we talked about. There were ten copies: 5 for male and other 5 for females. Brother Ebo Wilson was also given the opportunity to speak to His people about salvation and he did extremely well by torching the issue in the people’s language. Closed with a prayer led by Hayford Kumah Mensah.
Day Five
Sunday 21st August. This time we did not go for dawn preaching and jogging. Because we want to have enough sleep and be able to wake up strong. Anytime we go on a mission we talked to the congregation there to give the volunteers the opportunity to lead all the worship activities: a
- Bible Study-all classes
- Preaching
- Lord’s Supper and Giving
- Lord’s Supper assistance
- Prayers-all prayers
- Singing (worship leader)
All these are being done by the volunteers except the announcement. We call for this because it is an opportunity for the organization to train these volunteers how to lead in the worship activities. Some of them are not given the opportunity to do so at their mother congregations and they are happy to lead in these activities.
Eric Nartey taught the old convert class while Eric Kavi assisted by Joseph Owusu taught the visitor/non baptized class. Dominic, Ernestina, taught the children class. There was no new convert class. Dorothy, Hilda, Evelyn, Vera served as Greetings/Ushers. Kingsly Asare led the singing during worship, Lawrence Lamptey preached Hayford Mensah Led the Lord’s Supper assisted by Nana Kwasi, Paul Amisah and Samuel Asare. Opening prayer was said by Christopher Asare, Intersectional Prayer was said by Hayford Mensah and closing prayer was said by Nana Kwasi. The church service ended with attendance of 115 adults (this include first time visitors) and 72 children. Lawrence introduces the volunteers to the congregation. Had a group photograph with the congregation.
The executive of Hirex Missions Int’l had a closed door meeting with the leadership of the local church. We thank them for their support and told them of the few short comings on side of the local church. And encourage them to continue to do the good work started by the volunteers. Finally, we presented some money to take care of needs. As we prepare to pack our luggage and wait for our bus, we went round to say good bye to the opinion leaders of the village and went to visit Dorothy the sick woman we prayed for; miraculously, met her quite well she thanked us so much and asked that we pray finally for her. We also gave her some money to go to hospital. We were also asked to go and see another woman of the church was sick and receiving healing. Some of the volunteers bought some food staff which is expensive in Accra. By time we got to our lodging place, “Fufu” was ready and we enjoy it, the bus arrived and the driver joined us to “make justice the food”. After eating we board the bus and left Gomoa Takwa at 3:34pm. Inside bus was another birthday celebration Hayford Mensah. On our back home, we visited Swedru International Bible Institute where we met the Principal and some o the students. He talked to us by encouraging the volunteers and prayed for us. We left and arrived in Accra, Amasaman at 5:43pm. We thank God for this wonderful and successful trip.
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