clair027

This morning I was convicted in my quiet time with the Lord.  Gently, He revealed a habit I’d fallen into.   Today I began my quiet time in 2 Chronicles.  (I’m reading through the Bible again, so this was where my daily reading was assigned.)  Yesterday, I was amazed to be reminded that although the instructions for the temple were given to David, they were relinquished from David to his son, Solomon. The building of the temple was ultimately led by David’s son.  Not David.  (1Chronicles 22:8-11 and 1 Chronicles 28:1 - 29:19).   As I read about this, I realized that right now I am seeing the fruit of ministry in our boys’ lives more than in my own.  (My perception only.)  Today I realized that the most impactful work here may not come through Reid or myself, but it may come through our boys. God has given our boys opportunities to do things that I could never do.  Our boys are His vessels for tremendous ministry here.  Through read...

Guest Blogger:  Mason, age 15        What an experience this has been is just under three months. It is crazy to think that I actually live in Africa. I would have never guessed that I would someday live in another country. I keep telling myself, "This is so cool." How many Americans can say that they have lived in a third world country? How many youth can say they have lived in a foreign country? I have a really cool life, but it is hard sometimes.      Before we arrived in Ghana, I thought the hardest things about it would be the big noticeable things, such as everyone here being dark skinned, different languages, food, and missing family and friends. I have found that those things are hard, but the little things are what really get to me. I knew that there would be small things that would be different, but I had know idea how many little things there are.      Note to children in America: Never complain about doing the dishes aga...

(Sydney O'Leary is celebrating her 13th birthday today in Knoxville.  Here's a special birthday gift for her from Ghana.  We love you Sydney!) Guest Blogger and Artist:  Franklin, age 14 Happy 13th Birthday Sydney! These are some pictures of me drawing and painting a tree in the Feeding the Orphans house at City of Refuge . I call it "Tree of Hope" because the kids that are going to live in this house came from nothing, but are given hope for their future lives.  I hope this tree will be a reminder of that. Since art is kind of my hobby, I loved doing this project. It was my first mural I have ever done and one of the few paintings I have done. I usually sketch and draw but painting is much more interesting. In drawing if you mess up you can erase it, but in painting if you make a mistake you can't erase it, you have to make do. I was very focused. I had to make my own palette because I didn't have one. I put a piece of plastic around a board and used silly b...

Real thoughts from a real missionary...it ain't pretty...but it's honest... It's hitting me.  We live on the other side of the world.  The.  Other.  Side.  Of.  The.  World. The...World... Everything familiar is gone...sights, smells, language, tastes, conveniences, and, even to some degree, the relationships, are gone.  Living here is H-A-R-D. Over the past week, I've missed home.  Our honeymoon phase is ending, and the cost of the decision to follow Christ here has seemed magnified.  Jesus said there is a cost for following Him, but now I'm recognizing the true cost and sacrifice to follow...and, I confess, it is H-A-R-D. My Dad celebrated his birthday and my family went to great measures for us to be able to FaceTime with him.  Although he could hear our voice, we could not hear his.  (Our computer and phone connections here stink!)  It was our one time to talk to him and I couldn't even hear my father's voice. ...

(This post was started a few weeks back...  Sorry for the delay in posting...) When we lived in Knoxville, our family was blessed to serve at Water Angels Ministry.  We found out about it from the O'Leary family, who now runs Feeding the Orphans.  One of our favorite ways to serve was to help with their Saturday ministry to the homeless children in our community.  This special time with the kids is called Shining Stars.  Each week, the children come and participate in worship, a Bible lesson, a craft and some games.  The photo above was taken several years ago when the boys were leading worship at Water Angels.  Yes, that is Mason playing guitar.  Doesn't he look tiny? As we were preparing to move to Ghana, we had a conversation with Righ and Kristie O'Leary.  We asked them how we could serve them best here in Ghana.  Righ quickly answered, "Do something like Shining Stars with the kids there.  You know, like we do at Water Angels....