Dear Prayer Supporters,
As I sit down to
write this update, I am reminded of the song; “We have this moment” because of
how time never waits on us. I am challenged to try to do all I can for the Lord
today, not tomorrow or next week, although we think that tomorrow or next week
will be a better time. Godwin, one of my good friends here in Ghana lost his
mother a few weeks ago, who wasn’t a Christian. He said he had talked to her
about 3wks before her death and begged her to give her heart to Jesus and live
for him. Sadly her answer was what it is for so many, “I will try to do that
soon”. Three short weeks later she died of blood pressure problems, entering into
an eternity without Christ, very sobering.
“Water problems”… We didn’t realize how blessed we were to get
early rains last year! Not only to water the earth, but it relieves the stress
on the pipe water supply which allows the water to flow into the outskirts of
the town where we happen to live! Let me back up… I was finally able to get the
water company to agree to let me dig up my water line to my house, and with a
borrowed air compressor I pressurized the line and went along cutting it in some
places to try and find the blockage. After much digging and time we finally did
find the problem in our water line. Someone had tried to help themselves to
some water by breaking a hole in our water line and connecting a hose. Well,
when they got the water they needed instead of repairing the line the just
stuffed it full of sand with some kind of stick or rod to block the water from
flowing out on top the ground. As if that wasn’t enough they covered the place
with a very neat pile of sticks so that now one would see the damage, it looked
like a pile of brush. After finding the leak I reported it to the water company
and they actually came out and fixed the pipe! Then I went along and repaired
all the places I had cut the line and that night we got WATER, Lots of water. Unfortunately,
it was very short lived. We had water for about 2wks then it started getting
very scarce again, finally it stopped all together. Sometimes I can get about
10-15 gal. from 1am.-5am. not really even enough to survive. So we are back to
having someone haul water for us several times a week! The best I can figure
out is that in the dry part of the year everyone depends on the “pipe water”
for everything, so the pressure gets drained off the line before it reaches our
side of town. In rainy season people catch water from their roofs and things
because it’s free and the pipe water isn’t used as heavily. Anyway, we sure are
learning that running water is a privilege not a necessity!
Last month we were privileged
to be able to attend a retreat, put on by some misc. Mission groups from the
southern part of Ghana. This year it was close to Cape Coast at a beach! We
were blessed to be able to arrange traveling with one of the other families going
so we didn’t have to use public transportation the whole way there! We have
learned that the best way to enjoy a vacation in Ghana is not to have too high
of expectations… The moment you think “now we are going someplace nice” you
will be disappointed by something! We were pleasantly surprised by this place
from the moment we arrived! Nice roomy rooms and baths, hot water, A/C that
worked, up on a little hill overlooking the Ocean! The meals were fixed to
perfection and the service was great! Then on the second evening we were there
the electric went off about 7pm. and didn’t come back on all night! Needless to
say those lovely A/C rooms were no longer as lovely. Because they were designed
for A/C, there was very little window ventilation! I even went out and tried to
sleep on the porch for part of the night because the rooms were almost unbearable!
The nice generator they had for backup was in the process of being rewound or
something. So, we all had to smile and say, we are still in Ghana!
Language learning
continues to take up quite a bit of our time. I (Chad) try to go to the welding
shop as many mornings as I can, and we still have our language teacher come
each afternoon that we can make it work. For the past two weeks we haven’t had
class because of a death/funeral in his family. Then last week, since he is a
school teacher he is taking a major role in the final exams that are being
given to the students. He says he should be free this week after today? We will
see. These types of things can be a bit discouraging when we think on it, but
we have to come to the place that we realize God is in control and must have a
purpose for the delay. We can become a bit frustrated sometimes at how slow the
LL is going, again we have to do our best and trust that God, in his timing
will teach us the many lessons we need to learn as we go along.
I have also made
several trips to Accra to take care of business and paperwork things. Usually,
going to Accra is a long, all day trip. About 3hrs. travel each way plus
whatever stops I have to make in Accra. We are selling one of the church
property plots to another church and so I have had some running to do for that
as well. On one such trip I had to go to Ho, our regional capitol, and I got to
spend some time visiting with Bro. Seth since he is working there right now. On
this same trip I was also blessed to be able to meet another Missionary family
from Ho area who works in Agriculture and his wife is a Nurse/Midwife! They
came to our house for a visit last Sat. so that we could get better acquainted.
It is really exciting to think of knowing a midwife in our general area, we
wish we would have learned about her a few months earlier. Again we realize God
is in control and he has reasons for EVERYTHING he does, and his timing is
always perfect!
Prayer Requests:
- LL would move forward and that the Lord would continue to open our minds to all the new words and sounds
- Safety on the roads, we realize it cannot be taken for granted.
- Continued heath for the children.
- Wisdom to know best how to relate to the Church here in Sogakope. For the processing of our Quota.
We know many of you are supporting and praying and we are
eternally grateful. I can assure you we are very aware of your prayers! God
bless you for this and may he alone reward you with heavenly riches! Chad and
Elizabeth Martin and family
The evidence of the busted hole in our pipe line
The beach resort in Cape Coast
Jarren at 2 months old
Elayna and Chace
Elayna 3 1/2, Chace 2 1/2, & Jarren 2 mo.
Jarren at 11 weeks
