clair027

     Living here in Ghana, many know me now as “Mommy Robin.”    Little hands weave into mine constantly and I am the semblance of a Mom to many.  At times, this role is enjoyable.  I kiss little ones on their heads telling them over and over how much God loves them.  I look at report cards and celebrate the successes, but also challenge kids to improve in needed areas.  I laugh and enjoy the tight hugs frequently given when we visit the children.      This week, our family is staying at Nyame Dua orphanage in Bolgatanga, Ghana.  We traveled to the northern tip of the country to be with these precious kids.  I have loved being here.  Waking up to children laughing outside the window while sweeping the compound is music to my ears.  Listening to Braden communicate in his strong Ghanaian accent makes me smile.  Watching Franklin pick up Hagar, Sweetie, and Assibi all at once reveals his heart.  ...

Yesterday, as I was driving home, I passed through the toll booth with my small friend knocking on my window.  I rolled down the window for his greeting. “Hi, Mommy!”  grinned Christian.  “Do you want popcorn?” “No, not today, Christian.  I am going to come talk with you one afternoon, okay?” “Yes, Mommy.  I will be waiting.”   (Mommy is a common name for any older light skinned woman.) I watched Christian trot away to the next car and was saddened by his life circumstances.  After asking several people about this young boy, perhaps 12 years of age, I’ve learned he has no parents.  He is living with a woman who sends him to sell popcorn for her at the toll booth.  I am quite certain the profit feeds both she and the young boy. Christian is not in school.  Along with several other children who sell daily at this toll booth.  Their days are spent hawking bread, drinks, plantain chips, apples, and popcorn.  They stand in the dust ...

Guest Blogger:  Mason Beebe, Age 16 yrs.   Being a missionary is hard. It does have many joyful moments and God shows himself to us in mighty ways, but that doesn’t always make it easy. The joyful moments and God sightings give us perseverance and faith that we are where God wants us, which is all we need to endure the trials.            But shouldn’t all Christians be missionaries? Shouldn’t we all experience these trials? If you have truly put your faith in God and do what He asks you to do then God has placed you in a strategic spot for the furtherance of His kingdom. But why do some people have to go serve the poor? Why do some believers have to sacrifice worldly possessions and desires to please God? Is going to church, reading the Bible, and praying not enough?            God has recently been convicting me of the condition of my heart. What God calls us to do is useless if our hearts ar...

Guest Blogger:  Franklin Beebe, age 15 yrs. Living in Ghana caused me to mature quickly.  Living here, many times we lack comforts and conveniences that used to be part of my everyday life in America.   I am so thankful to God for that!  I have seen God work in so many uncountable ways in me. He has shown me how to rely on Him when I am in need.  I am so much closer to my Father and I can feel Him working all around me. When we first began our African journey, I didn’t want to come. I didn’t want to leave everything I knew, and all my friends and family. I didn’t want to go out of my comfort zone to help others. Honestly, I was self-centered on my own wants and desires.  I look back on those days when I would just pout and be angry with everything around me because I wasn’t going to receive to live life the way I wanted.  I wish now that I had spent that time differently.  Everyone only gets one life, so don’t have a bitter attitude when God, w...

Over the past two weeks, we have had the privilege of serving with an amazing mission team from Community Bible Church in High Point, North Carolina.  The team is from our previous home church where our family held membership for 12 years.  Many of the young adults on the team were small children when we moved from High Point!   It has been an incredible time of ministry serving with those we love and those that love our family.  What a blessing this time together has been!  We praise God for His timing in bringing them! Here is a brief snapshot from a Facebook post of what the past two weeks have held: Incredible time with the CBC team is drawing to a close. The Lord has done so much. Many souls have been saved. A professional clown has created laughter in remote, rural villages. A very, very sick little boy was taken to the hospital where, after a week of treatment, a diagnosis has been given. Two deaf and mute children now have the potential for a hopeful fut...