April Newsletter

Persistent calling upon the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, nothing is impossible with God!-Jim Cymbala

STORY:
Nalerigu (where Julia and I live) is a bustling metropolis of 7-10,000 people. Individuals have moved to Nalerigu from surrounding villages because of the hospital and hope of employment. The surrounding villages are much smaller than Nalerigu. This month's newsletter focuses on village life in Northern Ghana. The pictures taken are from a small village (population 150) located twenty minutes from Nalerigu.

Village life in Ghana is a slow paced life revolving around agriculture. There are three seasons: planting, harvesting, and resting. On average, farms are 2 acres and families grow corn, beans, and yams. Most families live on less than $2 USD per day. Marriages are polygamous. Husbands typically have four wives. More wives ensures more children which ensures more hands working on the farm. Women and children are viewed as second class citizens. Children attend school until the age of 12 at which time boys join their father in the fields and girls join their mothers in the home or selling in market. There is no electricity; families wake at 4:00 am for morning sacrifices or Muslim prayers and go into their family compounds when the sunsets around 6:00 pm. Everyone is spiritual. Everyone lives in fear of the spirits; a typical day is filled with hours of thinking how to appease the spirits to ensure they provide a good crop, good health, and more children. The farther away you go from Nalerigu the more likely it is the villagers have never seen a white person. The children will run and scream when they see my white skin. Many will attempt to rub the "white paint" off my skin while I am talking.

God is at work in the villages of Northern Ghana. The villages are rural and tough to reach; however, the people are open to the Gospel and hospitable to strangers. God is at work drawing people to Himself in the bustling metropolises and in the villages.

PICTURES:

A Piper montage.

Shot Day!!!

This is Sliding Rock. Sliding Rock is located 20 minutes outside of Nalerigu. As the name implies you climb to the top and slide down. We have sliding rocks in America but most are surrounded by water; not a corn field!

Everyone preparing to climb.

Children from the village. They were able to scamper up the rock without any help.

I struggled up the rock;

but have no fear I made it!

What you lookin at?

Julia and Piper were so strong they were able to hold the rock up while we played.

During dry season most villages look barren as the fields await the rains and next years crops to be planted.

Typical family compound; surrounded by the African plain. 

Time to pose for a picture

Children love to pose for pictures.

Sharing a Bible story in Maumprulli with the children from the village. They weren't quite sure what to think about a white man speaking their language.

Children heading home after a long day of playing on sliding rock

Mom? Another picture?

Those eyes are going to break some poor boys heart

Diva baby

Presenting the chief of the village a present after he allowed us to come into his village. Village chiefs run their local village and make decisions which affect the entire community.

How we play during hot season.

DEVOTION:
What happens to babies who die in infancy?
The Heart of a Man: Principles from Nehemiah

PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Julia's sister and cousin are coming to visit April 10-16th. We are very excited to spend time with them and introduce them to our home. We have a busy and fun schedule planned. Please pray they have a safe flight and arrive safely in Tamale with every piece of luggage which they left with. Pray we have a sweet time of fun and fellowship while they are here.

2) A custom which is important in Ghana is called a "Naming Ceremony". Infant mortality rate is high; therefore, children do not receive a name at birth. Parents wait a few weeks to see if the child will live and after the child has proven he/she will live a naming ceremony is conducted. A naming ceremony is a great honor for the parents, host of the ceremony, and child. Piper will be receiving her Ghanaian name on April 15th. The witches of Gambaga will have the privilege of naming Piper. Please be in prayer for Piper's naming ceremony. Pray her naming ceremony goes well and she is well behaved during the day long celebration. Pray we use the ceremony to speak/demonstrate to the women God's love.

3) We have purchased our plane tickets for our return to America. We will be back in America on July 2nd!!! We are excited to eat a hot dog and watch fireworks on the 4th. Pray we make much of Christ in our last months. Pray we equip Nationals to carry-on our ministries after we leave. Pray I find a job before returning to the States.

4) April 20th is Easter Sunday. The weeks leading up to Easter are filled with Gospel moments. Pray we take advantage of Gospel moments. Pray we are bold in evangelism using every opportunity to share the message of life.

5) I am discipling a young man on how to start and strengthen new churches and share his faith with Muslims. His heart is breaking for his unsaved family members and people in his village. Pray God lights a fire under him to take the Gospel to his family. Pray he develops into a Godly husband, father, and employee. Pray he catches a vision for church planting and plants a church in his village.

PRAISE:
I have been taking the INH treatment for my exposure to tuberculosis everyday for the past two months and have had no complications. Everything appears to be working. Seven more months of this treatment and everything will be fine. Thank you for praying for us throughout this issue.

Thank you for holding the rope for us!

Serving Him,

The 3 Welchs