Ghana 2010

October 31, 2010                                        Newsletter #4

God never ceases to amaze me – through His creation & through others. 10 Years of going on mission trips, 8 of those years leading teams, and God continues to reveal Himself in wonderful ways, continuously. Each team is different and unique. God puts the right people in the right place at the right time. To watch a group of people, who don't know each other very well (sometimes complete strangers) come together in small living quarters, without all the creature comforts of home & familiar surroundings, is an amazing sight. Many times the only thing we have in common is our desire to GO & serve where God has called us – that is enough. To be blessed to be able to see God in action through the lives of those He has called is a privilege I am very humbled and grateful for.

In the past 10 years God has changed me in ways I never could have imagined. The people of Uganda, who captured my heart in 2000, have become a part of me. God began to birth in me, that year, a desire that I didn't even know was possible. The people, sites, and smells (very unique ones, at times) have become familiar to me and home to me. Ghana is a new frontier, with many similarities to Uganda. The ability to witness, through the eyes of a person on their first mission trip, the same things that captured my heart 10 years ago is like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon as a new creature. It is impossible to come to a foreign land, to a foreign people, by God's leading and not be changed.

The team this year is no exception. They are amazing. In the 3 days since we left NC God has meshed us together. We have become one – with one purpose – to share the love of our Lord and Savior through service, sacrifice, & prayer. I can't wait to see what this week will hold. To watch this team in action – ministering through song, games, sharing of the word, education, medical care, & crafts – To watch God in action through this awesome team. This is the GREAT ADVENTURE – GOD's ADVENTURE! In the words of Steven Curtis Chapman "Saddle up your horses, we have a trail to blaze…"

Cindy

 

You can also follow us on blog: CindyAlbertsonMissions.blogspot.com

 

Ghana 2010

October 30, 2010                                         Newsletter #3

Today is Saturday – Day three of our mission trip to Africa and this great journey continues to advance to the next level. Our team is now complete with two new members that arrived last night from Weaverville, NC - Johnny Byrd and Dan Rose.

We were all up early leaving the Baptist Guest House in Accra at 4:45am in route to the airport for an early morning flight to Tamale. This is where we finally celebrated the long anticipated reunion with Face to Faith Director, Don Honeywell and Seed Harvest Missionaries Bob and Bonnie Parker. After traveling through the picturesque country side from the airport, we arrived at what will be our temporary mission home for the next week. Ministry assignments for the villages we will visit next week were made, Sunday ministry teams were formed and the counting of what seemed liked millions upon millions of pills began. We will be doing medical clinics, bible study groups and evangelistic conferences all week.

The first ministry began at 10:00am this morning as Lena and I ministered to the older children on the compound grounds. We were both astounded as the children shared with us their love and commitment to Christ. The highlight of our time with our group was teaching them the "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus" song, written specifically for this mission trip. They loved the song, learned it immediately and will perform it in a service on Tuesday. We cannot wait for you to see them. Oh by the way, today's performance featured Lena Scott on bongos.

We are all so blessed to have this opportunity to be here and share the love of Christ on the other side of the world. I know today from the children, we received so much more than what we gave. God always has a way of reminding us that He holds every detail of our lives in His hands. Just like we have trusted God to be in Africa, and the children reminded us of God's unconditional love, we want to encourage you no matter where you are and maybe going through to…."Keep Your Eyes On Jesus!" (Hebrews 12:2)

Phyllis Houston-Washington

 

Ghana 2010

October 29, 2010                                    Newsletter #2

Praises, prayers and much faith . . . our first day was filled with them all! First, we were full of praise for a wonderful flight. It was very smooth and seemed to go quickly for everyone. I did not even know when we landed (of course, I was talking and not paying attention!) We all got through customs with no problems and our hosts from the Baptist Mission Guest House and Seed Ministries were right there on time to greet us with their beautiful, wonderful smiles. We were fortunate to receive most of our luggage, however we are missing six trunks. Please keep the arrival of these trunks with most of our supplies in your prayers. We are believing God will deliver them right on time. He knows exactly what is needed and when and we know the Holy Spirit will guide and lead us, no matter the situation.

We all settled in for a brief rest at the Baptist Guest House, then decided to go out for lunch to a wonderful restaurant. So, Cindy, Jeff, Susan, Rhonda, Phyllis, Lena, Mike and myself piled into 2 separate cabs for Frankie's. No problem. After much food, fun and laughter we all eight piled into 2 more cabs headed back to the Baptist Guest House. In the crazy – and I mean crazy – traffic, the cabs got separated and it wasn't long before the ones in my cab realized we were no where near anything that remotely looked familiar. Our cab driver could speak no English and just kept going when we pointed out the map. Finally, we got him turned in what we thought was the right direction and just kept praying. One of my favorite verses kept popping up in my head "…Show me the way to go, Lord, for it is to You I lift up my soul." Ps. 143:10 Finally we arrived back at the guest house – only to discover the other four were nowhere to be found! Cindy and I head back to the restaurant (in another cab) while the other remnant stays behind. We arrive back at Frankie's but no group has shown back up there. Don, who is in Tamale, is giving directions from there! Fortunately, we were able to reassure Don within a short period of time that the others had in deed arrived safely at the Baptist Guest House. Cindy and I headed back in another cab with a wonderful driver who got us there right away. We thanked God for this! It seems the other group had taken an unplanned tour of Accra as well! In the meantime, Rev. Johnny Byrd and Dan Rose had arrived from North Carolina.

We are all gathered together in the living area happy and relaxed. There is much to be thankful for and many praises to God. I will close with another one of my favorite verses – in fact, it is hanging around my neck on my shield of faith necklace . . . "I am always with you wherever you go." Joshua 14:9

Lynne O'Quinn

Ghana 2010

October 28, 2010                                    Newsletter #1

 

How did we get here??? That is a question that each member of this team could answer in a unique way. For me the seed was planted in August 2009 at the annual Global Impact Conference at North Point Baptist Church in Weaverville, NC. This was not my first time at this church's annual mission conference & not the first time meeting Jody & Tom, family members of the missionaries serving in a place called Tamale, Ghana. This time as we talked about their family serving God in Ghana, I felt God urging me to "go". Over the next several weeks, the desire to "go" continued to be churn in my heart. After talking with Jeff we felt that if God truly wanted me to go He would work out the details – time off of work, funding, flight schedule to meet up with friends from North Point, who were going, & Don Honeywell, who would be there leading a FAITH Conference. Minor details – for God. So October 2009 I found myself in Tamale researching having a team come to work with SEED Ministries. And today… here 8 of our 11 person team sit, waiting to board our flight to Ghana Cindy

Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." LUKE 10:2 NKJV
As Cindy said above, it's a seed planted in your heart. This seed is planted by the Lord in laborers the Lord calls to go beyond their neighbor, beyond their friends and family, beyond their comfort zone... it's a step out in Faith in our individual service to the Lord. If we don't, who will? I, we, thank each and every person who loves and supports, who waters the seed in our heart that the Lord has planted. There is no greater satisfaction in life, than to serve the Lord where & how He has called you and He makes this possible through the Love, support and prayers you give. Much Love and Prayers to you all... our journey has become as we have left NC & now wait in the JFK airport to board our Flight to share the Love of Christ in Ghana, Africa. –Rhonda

All checking in at RDU – Ready for our "Great Adventure"

Front L-R: Lynn, Rhonda, Cindy, Phyllis

Second Row L-R: Mike, Jeff, Susan, Lena

Soon..... We will be on our way!

By this time Thursday evening we will be on a plane over the Atlantic - headed to Ghana. At this moment the song, "Great Adventure," by Steven Curtis Chapman comes to mind. What an adventure & privilege we have to be able to go & serve for our Lord & Savior. We would greatly appreciate your prayers. Prayers for us to have God's eyes, heart, hands & feet. Prayers to prepare the hearts of those we will be serving. Prayers for safety & good health. Prayers that we are available to whatever God has in store for us. Thank you to all of you who have prayed & sacrificed to make it possible for us to go!

The TEAM

From Village Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC:

Susan McGann, Jeff & Cindy Albertson, Rhonda Hilliker, Don Honeywell, Lena Scott, Phyllis Washington, Lynne O'Quinn, Mike LaVoie

From North Point Baptist Church, Weaverville, NC:

Johnny Byrd, Dan Rose

Our Schedule

Schedule:

    Oct 28     Thursday    Depart NC

    Oct 29        Friday        Arrive Accra, Ghana

    Oct 30        Saturday    Arrive Seed Ministries @ Tamale: Rest & Preparation

    Oct 31        Sunday    Church & Preparation

    Nov 1        Monday    Village #1: Evangelism, Health/Sanitation/Nutrition Seminar, Children's Clubs, Medical Clinic

                    Evening Crusade

    Nov 2        Tuesday    Village #2: Evangelism, Health/Sanitation/Nutrition Seminar, Children's Clubs, Medical Clinic

    Nov 3        Wednesday    Village #3: Evangelism, Health/Sanitation/Nutrition Seminar, Children's Clubs, Medical Clinic

                    Evening Crusade

    Nov 4        Thursday    Village #4: Evangelism, Health/Sanitation/Nutrition Seminar, Children's Clubs, Medical Clinic

    Nov 5        Friday        Free Day – Johnny & Dan depart for NC

    Nov 6        Saturday    (AM) Depart Tamale / (PM) Depart Accra

                    Susan, Cindy, Jeff & Rhonda head to coast to see Slave Castles

                    Mike departs for NC

    Nov 7        Sunday    Don, Lena, Phyllis, & Lynn depart for Myanmar

    Nov 9        Tuesday    Susan, Cindy, Jeff & Rhonda depart for NC

Counting Down...

In 14 days our team will depart NC for Tamale, Ghana.