Jasmund Outreach – Page 60 – P R AY • G I V E • I N V O LV E

June/July 2011

Dear Friends,We Thank God & we thank you!

The two Church bldg’s we’ve prayed for are now complete!

-You also gave support/supplies to the school and to Mama Ladi’s childrens home.
-Once again God stretched us beyond what we thought we could do physically, emotionally or financially. Building, Giving, Teaching, Preaching, Team Building, Blessing and being Blessed.
-Friends and partners here in Ghana sent us with clothing donations which we shared with the churches. Again our brothers and sisters were greatly encouraged by the love of Christ.
-The parents of the Katanga school children raised the money to buy the roofing sheets for the school cooking house. With lumber left over from the other 2 churches we were able to construct the roof and porch on cooking house and a 16′ x 25′ summer hut/covered structure for classroom space at the school.

Some of the Katanga children. We continue to pray for sponsorship for the school.

-Our friend Liz, an American teacher from Accra came up for a week and worked with the Katanga school, Solomon and the volunteer staff for a week.

John & Clement both worked and lead by example during the projects. We’ve been encouraged and spurred on by their humility and servant-hood.

The start of John’s roof: Pastor John on left, Pastor Clement next to gary,
Pastor Jacob (who is serving with Solomon at the Katanga church/school) white shirt.

Pastor John fetch’in water.
Sharing a local energy drink: millet, ginger, hot pepper, garlic, onion and,,,,,,,various spices. Seriously tasty and effective!

John & Joseph near completion. The beginning of “days of celebration”.

Starting work with Clement: You’ve heard of mashing grapes? how about mashing soils to create plaster?

While sharing about Jesus’ basic call to – “Come follow me,,,”
gary will often “demonstrate” in a visual way the principle of “following”, being a disciple of a master, accepting the invitation to become
a disciple of the real Master – The Savior.

Our bodies are aging and changing, we believe that we should use them, while we can, for His purposes and God willing for His glory.
“,,,in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

We usually take photos when we are relaxed or happy. Most of us seldom pull out our camera when we are stressed, distressed, sad or broken:
We have seen God do some of His great work in this season and we have also struggled greatly in our bodies and Spirits through oppositions and difficulties.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.”

“Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.
‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.” Acts 14:22 (Paul)

“i served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although i was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.” Acts 20:19 (Paul)

Pictures do tell stories, however most of our pictures cannot tell how some of our friends have or are suffering and struggling, or of our own struggles.

Please pray for siham, her eyesight challenges are difficult – to say the least. gary recently had typhoid and we thank God for continued protection and recovery.

“Therefore we do not loose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Thank you so much for your love, friendship and partnership.
We love you and we truly thank God for you! Our brothers and sisters here in Africa are rejoicing because of you and they are praying for you. Our friends regularly remind us that they are aware of your love and sacrifice for them in the Lord and that they are eternally grateful. Your brothers and sisters here send their deepest appreciation and love to you!
Thank you, Thank YOU!
In Him,
gary & siham

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Traveling

We will be traveling north to Bolgatanga for a season of various work: building church roofs, a new church plant, working with Katanga School, Bible college and partner churches.

Photo’s from a recent worship night event:

Awesome worship – Christian rap, the ambassadors say, “we don’t rap crap!”

“For we cannot help speaking about what we’ve seen and heard.” Acts 4:20 (Something happened, and it changes everything!)

We are continuing to pray for you;
For you to “see” what God is doing here, and all the opportunities to get involved. That we would all continue to have our lives both shaped by, and focused on His mission. For the teammates to partner with God in this work, and together to do what we cannot do – without you! (To-Get-There we do it together)

In the last few months you have given some various gifts to our friends and forever family: approx 7,500 lbs of food, over 1,000 clothing donations, 2 motorcycles, numerous financial benevolent gifts. free schooling for 70+ children, health insurance for some of the Katanga mothers and children. Dozens of lectures/training/teaching environments.

Thank you so much for your love, help and friendship. Thank you for giving to the Lord. Thank you for praying for us and those we serve. Thank you for sending us on your behalf,,,on His behalf.

We Thank God!

In Him,
God bless you
gary & siham
http://jasmundoutreach.com/

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Building for Eternity

Dear Friends,We thank God that the NGO (Non Profit/Non Gov. Org,) has been established and granted in Ghana. It is called, Building For Eternity Foundation.

The Calvary West Africa Bible College is currently in a rented house. The school also has church on Sundays.

We are praying, planning and hoping to build a campus and church with the Bible college.

As part of the message/graduation we washed the feet of the graduates. The major themes were: “Sent to Serve” – “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (John 8:31)

Jacob is the first to enter into community service/internship. He is now serving and teaching in the Katanga Church/school with Solomon. We are now working towards accreditation/registration for the school. One our friends from home fellowship in Accra donated for the first 6 families in Katanga to receive health insurance. A mother & child are insured for $15.00 and about $3.50 for each additional child. There are now 16 new families insured.

Upcoming projects, needs and prayer: – 3 partner churches

With pastor Clement receiving the blessing of the Chief of Zourango, his Children & great grandchildren for the presence of the church (only a few represented as he has 18 children). The chief is 105 years old. He asked us if someone could come and record all that he knows of his people and land, and all the he has seen. If any of you writer/journalist’s are interested please let us know.

Pastor John with his Bible in hand above. This church is growing and has many children. God willing we are going to help them build the roof in June.
The team of churches plan help and serve each other.

Pastor Evans and some of the church family. This borrowed bldg is the current church meeting place for 40 -50. This brother has similar eye condition as siham, much more progressed.

Pastor Evans had not talked to us about his leg, hardship or suffering. Solomon and the other brothers told us that he has endured more resistance and persecution than any of them.

We asked him to tell us about his leg and asked if we could take photos. He walks or rides a bike many miles on a regular basis, often daily.

We have partnered with 7 pastors/Churches in this new assoc.
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

A dear couple who are friends and partners, donated $2,000.00 towards constructing Clement’s church roof. YEAH GOD!!! God willing, in early June, “we go” for this work!
We are planning to build Both roofs with Clement & John. We also want to do what we can to help Evans. Please pray with us for all the resources to accomplish this work. Please Pray for our brothers and sisters who are following and serving our Lord in remote, Northern Ghana. Please pray for us to have HIS LOVE, wisdom and discernment.

In Him,
siham & gary

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Easter 2011

Dear Friends,We’ve just returned to Ogbojo in the south, from a wonderful time of impact, change and growth in the north. We served in Bolgatanga, Katanga, Zourango, Bongo and Vea. 4 communities came together and lived together for nearly 4 days in Katanga.

We ate, learned, worshiped, relaxed and played together (Fellowship – A bunch of fellows in the same ship!)- In the church, under the trees and in neighboring compounds. We watched the Passion of The Christ film on an outdoor screen, good Friday night, the impact was profound, many turned to Christ.

The following week was a similar program for the Youth in another village area called Vea. We worked/served with some of our friends and partners and also a new team from the Catholic community. 428 youth gathered for a 4 day convention/program. They lived in a neighboring school, the classrooms served as big bedrooms. Many of the children and youth walked 5 – 6 hrs one way to be part of this outreach. There were no beds and almost no food, they were prepared to fast during the days. You provided the food for both programs, the feeding of approx 650 people, over 7 days ,,, “Not a small thing”. The children were greatly encouraged and impacted by this provision! Those serving and cooking and the surrounding communities were also impacted.

We had the privilege to share/teach/preach 12 times in the first 10 days of our 16 day visit and many additional meetings, times of fellowship and gatherings. We returned peacefully exhausted.

It seemed like God compressed time, multiplied efforts, resources and results! Our God is Amazing!!!

Please pray for all the youth from the Vea outreach program. Everyone verbally and demonstratively accepted Christ. Please pray for “Good Soil”, for their protection and growth.

We have much more to share about what “we have seen and heard”.

We will write again soon and share about; The new association of Churches which has now formed, about the upcoming work we believe God is leading us to do and facilitate and the many opportunities for you to get involved, the new Ghana NGO (Non profit, Non Gov. Organization) that God has put together and granted us, called “Building For Eternity Foundation Ghana”, the Katanga Church school which is growing, health insurance assistance to our Katanga children, motorcycles that you’ve provided to our friends/partners, new internship/community service (humble servant-hood) that we are looking to adopt into Pastoral training. Jacob, a student/graduate has volunteered to serve with Solomon in the Church and school and is the first to begin. Please pray for true unity and life changing results for all involved.

Please pray about coming over for a visit/survey trip,,,
Please “come and see” what God is doing and how He may invite and use you to love, help, bless His children and grow His kingdom.

We “Go” because “HE Came”
We “Give” because “HE Gave”.

In Him,
gary & siham

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April – Bolgatanga

Dear Friends,We arrived back in Bolgatanga last night. We Thank God for carrying us as always; record time, no break downs, 13.5 hrs.
Pastors Solomon, Robert, Clement, Emanuel, John & Evans have been working and organizing for a 3 day gathering – fellowship – celebration, starting tomorrow on good Friday. People and churches from surrounding villages and communities are coming to Katanga, arriving even as we are writing tonight. We will live together in the church, under the tree and at Katanga Church member’s homes for the next few days. Tomorrow night after a community dinner, we plan to watch Mel Gibsons Passion of Christ on the outdoor screen.

Please pray with us for the family of believers to experience and share Love & Unity, and for many hearts to turn to Christ!

Motorcycle for Solomon: Vehicle of choice in the North. Loaded on top of car, not as easy as it looks. $850.00 U.S. including tax. Praise God!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,,,”

Our dear friend Jenan’s brother Jehad & his Father Norman donated many new aluminum pots & pans for our friends in the north.
They are Lebanese – Ghanaians, they are wonderful, we love them and thank God for them.

The community at Katanga has built a local mud/brick – kitchen/cooking bldg for the school.

The floor is made with pounded cow dung which is what most local floors are done with, it becomes almost as hard as concrete. They are now praying for roofing sheets as they are donating their labor but struggling for finances.

Clements Church in a neighboring community; local style bldg with no roof for a few years now.

His smile and heart are contagious.

small area in the unfinished church bldg for some shade.

A few of the children from Clement’s community and church.

Clement makes and sells baskets to support himself and the church. Please pray for him.

Today we are overwhelmed – weeping. Today our hearts are broken and aching for our friends and their needs. Today we are overwhelmed with compassion and with Gods love,
today we are under-whelmed with ourselves!

In His love,
gary & siham

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Come and See,,, GOD is,,,

Dear Friends,
We had a wonderful time with our friends in Bolgatanga, Zwarango & Katanga. We believe that pastors Solomon & Robert are serving and leading well.

Solomon & Robert receiving the laptops (loaded with books and bible study software) that God provided through you.

We had a time of challenges & delays trying to leave for the north, we finally determined to leave on March 26,,, no matter what! That morning,,, the car would not start and we set off a couple hrs late; lost the alternator/fan belt, water pump, and a number of other issues along the way. BUT GOD carried, protected and sustained us! we SOMEHOW avoided a massive & devastating accident by a couple hrs or so. We Thank God.

Roadside repairs – Rebuilding in Bolga; 2nd water pump in 2 weeks, timing belt, secondary oil pump, alternator wiring, radiator repairs, rebuilt fuel pump, glow plugs, control board, etc.
In recent weeks we’ve spent approx 70 hrs wrench’in. BUT GOD has built some new and wonderful friendships! It’s easy to behave and respond well in a church. BUT where the leather meets the road (the streets) that’s what counts. Please pray for us to Live it out. To preach the gospel at all times, in all places, whenever possible, and when necessary – use words!

Clothing donations: We thank God for providing hundreds of shorts, dresses and clothing supplies.

“God has made things right between He and us” – “We are free and it’s free” – “We can’t stop talking about what we’ve seen and heard.”

“The word of God is the seed to the kingdom of God”

Dinner and fellowship

The Jesus film in the Local language. 8 new members at Katanga Church. The parents of the school children have come to together to build a local style cooking house to support the children and school. More of the parents are coming to church. A man who opposed the church and his own mother, (she’s now an elder in the church) is now attending church and has been with Solomon and the children for more than a week. Please pray for him, for his life to show the love and goodness of God to the surrounding communities.

It is a difficult season for our friends in the north; food, medical needs and clothing are very real challenges. God used you to supply over 6,000 lbs of food supplies to the Katanga Church & school, the Bible college students & Mama Ladi’s children’s home; Rice, maze, millet, beans, gari, dried fish, salt, sugar, onion, pepper, etc… Solomon and the Church family were doing their best to feed the school children, they are now serving a daily lunch, the number of children continues to rise.

We will share more soon. Please pray with us:

Health care relief for Katanga. A mother and child can receive health care/insurance for just under $20.00 a year.
Support the children and school development, feeding program/school staff.
Build bible college campus and Church
Micro finance for our friends to begin new businesses and attain education.

We are praying for lasting, sustainable and transferable models and solutions. We’ve seen that sometimes people just need benevolent help, often the Love of God is most clearly demonstrated by meeting us at our point of need and hurt. Many of our friends have suffered much in recent months. Please pray, Please consider coming over and see what God is doing and what He may invite you into.

In Him,
gary & siham

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March 2011

Two of our dear friends from “Little Dresses for Africa”, sent many dresses and clothing’s to donate. www.littledressesforafrica.org

Siham has shared some of them with friends here in Ogbojo.

Our local friends who have given so generously, have given out of faith and sacrifice. Can’t wait to share photo’s with you of our friends and children receiving these gifts! Some of our Ghanaian friends from the village/neighborhood have also added to these donations and we hardly have room to carry everything north. Yeah God! We give because He Gave!

A little round of, as we often say in Ghana, petty – petty repairs and maintenance: water pump, belts, misc electrical, etc, misc business here in Accra and ready to go north-

We leave at 0400 tomorrow the 26th to Bolgatanga. God willing we will reach there by sunset, approx. 14 hrs.
Please remember us in your prayers: The travel and for our time with Solomon, Katanga Church, Mama Ladi – children’s home and Robert – Bible college.

Our dear friends and ministry partners Gaby & Jenan have helped and blessed us so much since God brought us to Ghana. When we returned recently we found that they had painted the car, new seat covers, floor mats, etc,,, painted the house we live in, both inside and out, cleaned and filled the water tanks, food in the fridge, etc. They have helped and blessed us so much!!!

Some great times of friendship, fellowship in recent days and weeks:

In Him,

gary & siham

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Feb. 2011

Hi Friends,

We’ve experienced a full month with family, friends and teammates. We thank God for the love He has lavished on us, His Children.

Thank you so much to all of you who are serving with us to reach out to the less fortunate, hurting and poor in this world.
Thank you for your love and kindness.
God has continued to encourage, strengthen and provide for us and those we are reaching out to and partnering with.
“Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.” Galatians 2:10

We thank God and thank you, for providing for Pastor Solomon and our partners in Ghana.

Pastor Solomon is sharing Christ and teaching the children of Katanga. We are encouraged to see him using the bldg as a tool serve the community.
Please remember Solomon & us in your prayers.
Please pray with us about God’s will and direction for Bible collage in Bolga.
Please pray with us for the eyes and ears to know how to reach out in the best and most effective ways.

We pray that God bless and lead you as you serve and reach out to those around you. Please stay in touch.

gary & siham

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Jan, 2011 update

In recent days we have received some very helpful and encouraging gifts. Thank you so much for your love and support. Together – we go because He Came! And we give because He Gave!

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Solomon – our tree

Solomon is using the church we (you – we and he) built together, to teach the orphaned and other children of Katanga, who do not attend school in Bolgatanga. He asks for our prayers in the continued outreach to the lost and hurting in his area. This is a very poor community, he is teaching the children for free. These children would otherwise not have opportunity for education. We are praying and seeking counsel for meaningful & sustainable solutions to the poverty among our brothers and sisters.

Chilren of Bolga & Katanga.

Rice sacks double as school bags.

Just before Christmas we had a time of reunion/gathering with friends from Ghana, and spent a week with Annie! They graduate from their colleges this year. They are an extraordinary group of people with hearts of compassion and service, some are planning to serve in humanitarian work or similar. Most of them served in some way while in Ghana; orphanages, schools, with us, etc. We believe that God did something in all of us, and we’re forever impacted. We thank God and truly treasure the time we’ve had with each of them.

Friends, Fun, Forever Family, Fellowship… A bunch of fellows in the same ship!

Friends in an accident: Rolled 5 times, we thank God for no injuries!

While traveling in Ghana in 2010, various bolts broke off from the engine, misc. parts fell off; Such as the starter, alternator, power steering pump, radiator,
A/C, exhaust, air filter, horn, bumper, home made roof rack, wipers,,, pretty much anything that can break off or fall off,,,has.
Temporary repairs & re-attachments were made with wire, tape, rocks, rubber, epoxy, machete, wood, etc.

God sustained, protected, provided and kept us going. “In Him we live and move and have our being.”

Where is that thing? What’s that? Where? how? what???

Thank God for carrying us!

Sometimes,,,the old girl just needs some air,,, and T-L-C

fetch’in diesel

Our Annie,,, she is missed by all,,, especially us!

Eric & Steve, friends and co-laborers!

We are excited about what God has done in 2010 and what He is doing and where We are going in 2011.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

gary & siham

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friends in Christ

Life in recent weeks: Family, friends and grand kids

-Siham helped our Rob & Nicole and family with a house move/unpacking.
-Our Julien, Theresa & family moved from MI-NJ. We made a trip out to help/unpack.
-Re-roofed a friends house. Gary was gifted a Chaplain training school, travel and accommodations in NM.
-Visited our Chris & Ai in VA. (Our dear Ai accepted Christ.)
-6th grand child Sophie was born early, is now home and doing great.

Rode 4,400 miles on motorcycle, visited friends & partners in various states. (didn’t get rained on once, yeah God!)
God blessed us with wonderful places to stay, provision, love, fellowship and encouragement along the way through our dear friends and family.
We thank God for the motorcycle; The only thing we own other than some tools and personal items stored with a friend.

We thank God for the freedom & privilege He has given us to “Go” -“into the world and share Jesus” .
We continue to learn how to “let go”, as we have wrestled & grieved in new ways with feeling a bit more disconnected in the states, not having a house, furniture, car, income, etc.
We Thank God for you, our family and friends who have been so inviting, welcoming and good to us.

2 Corinthians 6:10 says – “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
God continues to teach us to be more secure in Him, as we grow less secure in this world. Secure and insecure at the same time…the paradox of truth.
Thank you so much for all you do to serve God. Encouraging and supporting us, as together we reach out to the poor, lost and suffering.

Please continue to pray with us: How to help our friends in the north and most effectively share God’s love with them. Please pray for us to know and follow God’s lead in everything. Also praying about serving opportunities in other area’s of the world.

Thank you again for your love and partnership. Thank you for giving while we are stateside. Thanks to our family and friends, our living expenses while stateside are minimal. God willing, we will soon purchase tickets for our return.
In Him,
gary & siham

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