Hi dear friends,

GOD MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

It’s newsletter time once again, and many beautiful things the Lord has done, including adding a year to my life this month! Indeed, He moves in mysterious ways.

In July CEF conducted a trainer of trainers class (TCE 1) class – TCE stands for Teaching Children Effectively, something that all ten prospective Sunday school children wanted to do. I was invited to give the devotions and teach a few classes as well. Thank God everything went smoothly. I seem to enjoy giving devotions even more than teaching the actual lessons, I wonder why. When the training was over a graduation ceremony was organised for them, and the graduands showered a lot of gifts on us three teachers in appreciation of what we had by God’s grace taught them. Among the gifts was a particular saucepan I had been looking for for a long time. There is joy in serving the Lord. A line in the old Methodist hymn says “Make you His service your delight, your wants shall be his care”!

MYSTERIOUS WAYS IN A SPECIAL SCHOOL

A door opened for me to start ministry at New Horizon Special School for the mentally retarded, so towards the end of the third term I began going, but not without a bit of trepidation, because I had almost no experience with mentally challenged children. Thankfully, my experience with preschoolers came in handy, and I just taught them as if I was teaching preschoolers. The first day I taught, I just couldn’t resist asking God why. True, God doesn’t answer questions beginning with “Why”, but I asked him nevertheless: “Why did you make such beautiful bodies but with brains that don’t work properly?” Well actually God did answer in a way I really didn’t expect. At the beginning of a new term I arrived one Tuesday morning as usual, and they were having praise and worship which I joined. There was a visiting minister so I wasn’t teaching that day. As we sang and clapped there was such an overwhelming sense of God’s presence; it was so moving. It was as if God was saying “I am here, this is my doing”. The passage in Isaiah 45 came to mind.

Isa 45:9 "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'?

Isa 45:10 Woe to him who says to his father, 'What have you begotten?' or to his mother, 'What have you brought to birth?'

Isa 45:11 "This is what the Lord says-- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?

When the Almighty speaks, who can respond? I meekly confessed my unbelief and praised God instead for the work of His hands. They are such miracles in themselves, such a happy and accepting bunch of people - created in His image for His purpose. Truly my God works in mysterious ways.

Please continue to remember me in your prayers.

Akos

God is His own interpreter, and he will make it plain!

June 2009

It’s time for a midyear update, just to let you all know I’m still around. A lot has gone on since January. I have continued going to my two nursery schools faithfully, although at one time I was sorely tempted to stop and look for ‘a better’ place, like a primary school, to go to. I also went on a mission trip with the National Union of Anglican Students (NUAS) which greatly challenged me.

After one of the preschoolers who used to come to my Good News Club died suddenly in February, I realised that God was showing me how VERY important ministry to preschoolers was, and I repented of my sin of looking down on these little ones. Since then, I have given my all to ministry to preschoolers, and take it extremely seriously. I know my little girl is rejoicing in heaven right now, because she heard and received the message of salvation.

Now a short report on the mission trip. I was invited by a missionary friend of mine, and was very happy to go. We first went to Danfa near Dodowa, and we were comfortably housed in the Medical Students’ Hostel there. I was a little taken aback when I saw the itinerary though. I remember complaining in my diary after the first day, when I woke up tired and irritated. Here’s what I wrote: I’m about ready to go home now! Ei, this isn’t easy at all. We are allowed to go to sleep at 10 pm, then my group wakes up at midnight to pray till 1:00 am. After all that we wake up at 3:45 am. Help!!!! I want to go home! I’m a tired, unhappy mess! And this is only the first day. There is door to door evangelism twice a day and other punishing schedules.
I’m happy to say that the tiredness and irritability died that day, and for the next 5 days God gave me strength on wings as an eagle’s. I took part in most activities after that. Truly, I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. Thirty plus children came to know the Lord through the combined efforts of the children’s committee.

Halfway through the week, we all moved to Danchira, a village somewhere beyond Kasoa, where the ban on drumming was still in force. We were told we wouldn’t have the liberty to clap and pray etc. like we had been doing. We would sleep in a classroom and wake up extra early to rearrange the desks. Also there was no electricity or potable water. I know I wasn’t the only one who was a little apprehensive as we left.

When we were finally there and had unpacked all our belongings from the bus, the first task was to go on a Jesus march through the village to announce our presence. I wasn’t able to go very far, but when we got out of the compound, we saw a wonderful sight that made all my fears disappear. I'll forever regret not taking my phone along to take pictures. There was this beautiful cloud that had come down low and had rays pointing down at it from heaven. It was the only cloud on that side of the sky, and it was shaped like the head of a lion which had opened its mouth and was roaring. Others said it was the head of a lamb! Now, how can the head of a lion look like the head of a lamb at the same time? It’s impossible in my books. But this was to remind us of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lion and the lamb, who triumphed over death and hell and won the victory for us on the cross of Calvary. God gave us a powerful reminder that He had already won the victory and we were only to go and pick up the spoils. What a mighty God we serve! I came back from that mission trip a changed girl. PTL!!!

Akos

Ps: I would value any feedback you have on my newsletters. Thank you!

Newsletter for January

And are we yet alive,
And see each other’s face
Glory and praise to Jesus given
For his redeeming grace.
Praise ye the Lord!

Dear Friends,

God is Alive!!

A year has come and gone, and what a year it was!! I’m sure we all had our high points and low points, but the fact that you are alive and reading this now is evidence of God’s goodness. 2008 was good for me; it was the year that I re-started climbing the academic ladder. It was totally unexpected, a friend of mine told me about a new course that was being run by Trinity Theological Seminary, and things just clicked into place. I became a diploma student in Holistic Child Development from February to November. I’m proud to say that I am now better equipped for the task ahead.

We were to graduate in the second week of November, but there was a little delay. Then, on the 24th of January, our graduation came on with the majority of us getting diplomas. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me. That was not the only surprise though, there was more in store. I was awarded the “Best All Round” prize, and all the guests were told that the project work I submitted was “one of the best”! It was a complete surprise to me, and thank God the tears that were threatening didn’t fall (my tears don’t stop in a hurry). What a great testimony!! When all seems lost, just rest in Him. It sounds like such a contradiction, but our part is just to stand still and see the glory of the Lord. God will sort it out for His children; He always does, even if it takes 25 years. Ask Abraham!

Camp 2008! Alive in Christ!!

In December I was invited to a Children’s camp which was being run by International Needs at their Vocational training school situated at Adidome in the Volta region. It was a teens’ camp, and I was to be a camp counsellor, which meant I was to reach out to children who had needs and counsel them. Not being previously acquainted to the children made it a bit more complicated, but I talked to a few, since I was in charge of a small group.

The theme for the camp was “ALIVE IN CHRIST!!” and there were 100 children/young adults from 5 schools started by International Needs. It was more of a vacation for me, I must say, since I was really very well taken care of.
Once there I was asked to give a talk to the whole group on the 4th and 5th days, quite short notice, but God was good. Overnight I had a message to give, and I was pleasantly surprised at the reception of the young people. They loved it (especially when I got to the part about relationships). They asked some very frank questions too! The following day, I talked for only 10 minutes since I was suffering from a bad throat infection which was getting worse with each day. Every day I could see God looking out for me in all that went on. I thank Him for the opportunity.

Well, 2009 has just begun, a brand new year and we can only look forward to the bountiful blessings in store for us. Please continue to remember me in your prayers.

Blessings,

Akos

See my graduation pictures here -> http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15780&l=7992f&id=1090069808