Blessings in Bosomtwe & Beyond

Painful Goodbyes - Grieving

For me, Andrew, it's been an intense time of grieving as I leave a work that I have poured so much into, enjoyed immensely and grown so much through.

The work continues, as I stay on the phone almost daily to make sure that Project 611 (clinic construction) continues as we committed to finish, the clearing through customs of the new 4x4 ambulance, and the sale of the truck we have used these last years there.  Long distance work now that we have left. We have letters to write to folks that have worked with us, and work to be done to look into what our next mission work will look like.

Would you pray for us during this time of change?

 

Pictured: Juliana was giving a blessing, word of encouragement and prayer with construction workers at the new Inpatient Care Centre.

We were deeply moved by the affection and emotion as people grieved our departure, showed their gratitude and appreciation.

On Monday, the day I flew out, Michael (project manager/missionary with us), came to Accra to give me a gift from the chief and elders of Amakom, a new beautiful Ntoma made from Kente cloth, and sandals.

Receiving this gift, a very nice and super costly expression of thankfulness, from the village where we have lived and served is an enormous joy to me. It was very hard for me to have the meeting of farewell with them the week before.  They and I shed tears.

Prayer Request

Greetings from the Jernigan family in Ghana!

This is not the kind of update I was expecting to write you. And neither is an easy one to put in words.

In our last email we shared with you how construction at the clinic was moving so well, how blessed we were to host our dear Irish friends and how our family was adjusting to life back in the village.

Since then we received disturbing news concerning my medical license that compelled our family into a new twist. I say ‘twist’ because that is one of the words that can describe how Andrew and I have felt while going through a major transition phase that affects our presence in a country that we grew to love. We are carrying the peace that passes all understanding, but we would like to ask you for your prayers as our family gets ready to leave Ghana. The leaders of The Mission Society are aware of our situation and our status as missionaries remains unchanged.  We will be exploring our next steps with our leadership in the times ahead, and will be keeping you up to date. The Inpatient Care Centre will be completed soon, the wells for villages with no water are moving forward, and the new 4x4 ambulance arrives this month. It’s all a beautiful gift from God to the church and the people of the area. It has been a privilege to be agents of our Father’s love with you in the villages of Lake Bosomtwe.

Please stand with us, in faith:

•     for strength and safety in these next weeks,

•     for the necessary paperwork to come through without any delays, 

•     for Rebecca, our dear and precious intern, intercessor, Lucas’ teacher and friend as she relocates to the capital city (Accra), to minister with the Mozley family, colleagues with The Mission Society,

•     for our kids that are already so resilient, to be able to say healthy goodbyes looking forward to what is coming next

•     for the friends and patients around Lake Bosomtwe as they grieve our absence,

•     for the final stage of construction at the clinic to be finalized – for provision of the necessary funds and for encouragement for the workers on site,

•     for the Methodist Church Ghana to be able to find a doctor or nurse (that has a calling to serve the poor) to take over the work in Amakom

       and finally,

•     for the staff at the clinic as they continue without us the task of serving the community and sharing Christ’s love.

We apologize for the lack of details at this point, we will let you know more as we have a departure date set.

We love you with the love of Jesus and are grateful for you standing with us in prayer, in Him we have the victory,

Andrew, Ju, Lucas, Ana Luiza, and Nicolas

"Happy are those who fear the Lord.  Yes, happy are those who

delight in doing what he commands.  They do not fear bad news;

they confidently trust the Lord to care for them."

Psalm 112:1,7 (NLT)

If you feel led of the Lord to give an extra gift this month, please designate it: Jernigan Travel Fund to cover unexpected expenses. Send to The Mission Society, PO Box 922637, Norcross, GA 30092, or call 1-800-478-8963 to give by credit card by phone. Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Growth in Ghana

Today as I write I am blessed by growth on multiple fronts.

One. The construction is moving forward rapidly.   During this week the walls are being plastered in the Inpatient Care Centre, plumbing being installed, ceiling and roofing put in place and painting beginning.

Two. Video/singing/preaching have taken place and lives drawn closer to Jesus in Duase and Dompa this week, led by Michael Bentum (Ghana, the project manager), James Sarpong (Ghana), Louise Monroe (N. Ireland) and Rebecca Hillman (California, USA).

Three. Nicolas is healthy and growing (pictured below)

Four. Our family is growing spiritually as God gives new perspective and guidance through the help of our leadership.

Five. The clinic capacity is going to BOOM this weekend as a team from Charlie and Mary Kay Jackson lead a team from Dunwoody, Georgia, USA in a medical and construction outreach trip.  We expect 200-300 patients each day for the visiting doctors, nurses and pharmacists to attend to while the other team members will be laying ceramic tile in the new Inpatient Care Centre.  They are keeping a blog about their trip, click to read.

Showers of Blessing!

Nicolas was born on the 14^th of June at Lake Bosomtwe Clinic, with the help of the Angelina, the clinic midwife and Georgina, one of our health assistants, weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz., after less than three hours of labor! We were both fine and I was able to ‘assess’ him from the delivery table (no, I am not a super woman, but I could tell from a distance how well he was!) and give him a 10/10 Apgar score – once a pediatrician, always a pediatrician!  In a moment of temporary insanity (that is what happens when you deliver your baby in an institution where you are the medical superintendent – no one is going to argue with you!) I was able to walk to our house, a 100’ distance, 20 minutes later, followed by our improvised but very committed local prayer team (Andrew, Michael, James, my mom and Juliana) as we heard our interns Holli, Rebecca and Louise cheer from their porch with excitement, and as rain poured out on us. It was an unforgettable moment of extreme and overwhelming joy.  Nicolas is growing and adjusting very well to life in Amakom, being loved without reservations. Lucas and Ana Luiza are both very excited to have him around and, although it has been hard for Luiza to  loose her official title of baby, she has enjoyed being my ‘helper’ and big sis! We give thanks to our Father for a safe birth and for His presence with us, holding our hands!

About the name

NICOLAS (victory) ARAUJO (Juliana’s father’s family name, and also hers and the kids middle name, in a Brazilian/Portuguese tradition of maintaining the family name with the generations) JERNIGAN.

How surprised those around us seemed to be when we told them our baby boy’s name, even months before he was born! In Ghana, it is the norm to wait many days, sometimes weeks after the birth, before a child is given a name, which is done in a so called naming ceremony, an outdoor party when friends and family are invited to come and witness (click here to read about this tradition of Outdooring). But as much as we want Nicolas to be called by his name, what prevails in the end is his Ghanaian name, Kwame (in the Ashanti region of Ghana, it is the name given to a boy that is born on a Saturday), to us a true compliment and reminder of his African citizenship.  Some, like our friend Michael, even insist on calling him ‘Shower of Blessings Kwame Andrews’ since the minute he was born a torrential storm followed, and persisted for many hours. Rain is often a spiritual sign of blessings, in a land that carries dry seasons that may mean empty stomachs to those that need their crops to survive.  May he indeed be a blessing to those around him, and one that brings blessings wherever he goes, in the victory of the cross!

Posted by Juliana Jernigan

Michael in Ministry in the Villages

Over the last couple of years you have read of Michael if you have been reading our newsletters and blog. Today I give you an update since I have been reading the blog writings of current interns (Louise, Hollie and Rebecca).

Michael has been super busy in the work of clinic expansion, yet also in preaching in villages on weeknights and Sunday mornings. Last Sunday he gave the message in a congregation that met in a school building since their sanctuary was destroyed by a horrendous tropical storm in March. I'm glad that today he has the weekend off and is at his home church (Living Water Assembly of God in Kumasi). Next Sunday, he is scheduled to preach in two churches.

Read this from Hollie's blog:
"Michael is the ultimate go to guy and most of the day consists of hearing people call out ‘MICHAEL’ and him saying ‘YES’ and running to fix the problem no matter what it may be. He is licensed in electrical work and is the project manager for the construction on the clinic. When he is gone from the village you can feel the absence of his presence because he is always smiling and you can hear him singing very loudly on his porch which is a stones throw above our house. One night we heard him singing for literally 3 or 4 hours and would occasionally stop to laugh at his persistence and his absolute love for the Lord. He is sold out. He is a Ghanaian missionary to villages and has a love for people that is contagious. He has often led crusades where he translates for hours the Jesus film and hundreds have gotten saved through his ministry."

Another blog entry from Hollie records one of the evenings in a nearby village:
"Michael, who leads the program, calls to those who want to give their lives to Christ and many hands go up. He then asks the people if they want to be healed of any sicknesses and the same amount of hands go up. As he and the girls are praying for these people I start singing There is Healing in this place, Nothing but the blood of Jesus and We are standing on Holy Ground. A sweet presence of the Lord is there and in the dark, with only the light of the moon, people are turning their hearts over to Jesus and then being healed. It is miraculous and powerful."

Pray please, as he would like to attend the Harvest School of Missions (3 month school, classroom and outreach) in Mozambique. It would require sponsorship for the airfare and tuition once accepted. It's meant to prepare missionaries for village mission work - which is his heartbeat call from the Lord. We praise God that we get to work alongside a young man who is completely in love with Jesus. He moved out to work with us at Lake Bosomtwe and we praise God for His life.

The Office

On this scorching hot day in Amakom on the Lake I'm quite protected from the heat as I work away for hours at my desk. Today and yesterday have been long days in the office, actually it's the most time I've spent in here since our return. Currently we have an administrative intern, Louise Monroe from Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the months of June and July. Hollie Combs is here for the same period for a service internship as well. Rebecca Hillman is here beginning a longer period of serving in multiple capacities. They have been in Twi classes all morning with one brief break where Louise and Rebecca came and chatted a bit.

It's been especially busy as we are gearing up for a season of visiting work teams, their projects, and the logistics of each team. Planning and purchasing takes quite a bit more work here than expected. Louise snapped this picture of me at the desk yesterday as I was working on the projected costs for the clinic expansion which is the building project of the N.Irish/English team that comes in July.

I've also been in touch with Father Stephen McWhorter quite a bit this week since this past Sunday the opportunity was given at two different churches to give toward bore holes and the work of mercy ministries here. A phenomenal response came, so I've been researching now what it will take to fulfill the needs that can be met by these generous gifts. New challenges for the ministry here present new levels of faith.

The boat motor of the government boat we use for outreach recently had to be sent to Kumasi for repairs and it is coming back today to be put in service again. During it's demise the need for the larger clinic boat to be restored and functional was broached - and now funding has come to get it operational again. It will help so much when larger teams are here this summer (the Irish, the Georgia, and the Cincinnati teams) that require two boats each day. The resulting challenge now is that the boat house is not large enough for two boats, so I'm working on enlarging it and adding a storage room (for lifevests, fuel cans, fuel tanks, and supplies).

A days work, and it's only almost one in the afternoon on Thursday (the due date for our baby to be born...will he come today?).

The Picture Project

In collaboration with Rev. Steve Buchele, Brett & Leigh Anne Harris, and the visiting team last week from Alabama a brilliant idea of Steve's was able to come to fruition. Referred to as 'The Picture Project', click here to read and view this beautiful photo article.

Greeting the Chiefs

While the work outreach team from Alabama was here I took the opportunity to do some necessary political business while also introducing them to local tradition. Each village has a chief (similar to mayor, but also judge), an okyome (an advisor, liason and spokesman for the chief), elders and assemblymen. On Tuesday, we went to greet these men in our village of Amakom (pictured top,right), then after that we traveled to our neighboring village of Atafram (pictured on the left). The chief of Atafram is a sub-chief, meaning that he is the chief over the area (many villages) and has higher authority and the ability to go directly in to the Asantehene.

Our next visit was on Thursday morning. The team came by boat to the village of Dompa, while I drove and met them there. It was an overdue visit, my first time to greet this chief and elders. The visiting team has brought gifts of rice, oil, hats and a new torch (flashlight for the Americans reading this post). We were received very well.  (pictured below, Michael Bentum standing with me as we explain the purpose of our visit) There were many questions about the clinic and how we can assist them with getting a bore hole (well) drilled since it's a town of 2000+ people and they have no well at all.  Last year they had a cholera outbreak (and have had many other years we are told) and over a dozen died, over 70 admitted for treatment. It's a valid request, yet we don't have the funds yet to have this need met. After this meeting the chief asked us to speak to the community...this led to a two hour, town hall/court room style gathering where people were given the chance to share their grievances, questions and concerns to me. I was not expecting it, nor did I expect the type of questions that came. I praise God that the team was there with me, and that God certainly gave wisdom and discernment for the correct responses to  the questions.

It was here in Dompa that I preached this past Sunday and afterward we and the whole congregation went to the homes of two shut-ins to pray for them, give them a summary of the morning message and care for them. An offering had been taken up for them during the morning service.  It was truly a meaningful and specail aspect of the service to me, and the visiting team.

'Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.' (quoted from 1st Peter 5:12-16, NIV)

The god of the Lake

Standing in my kitchen doorway I heard,

"Yaw is dead, doctor. He died while still in the boat, almost to the other side of the lake."

"Did you bring the body back?" I asked naively to the man who was driving the boat that day, not expecting the answer that I heard.

"Of course not, I would never cross the lake with a dead body on the boat, or the god of the lake would not be happy. Everybody knows that."

       Yaw was seventeen and had sickle cell anemia, combined with malaria and a few other complications. I knew he needed a blood transfusion as fast as possible and that we didn't have any available at the clinic or in the nearby villages. I knew that the family had decided not to take him to a different hospital to receive blood because the figured they would not be able to pay the bill. After the last six months working here at the clinic and getting to know more about the struggles the families in this area go through, this decision did not surprise me. But what came next did.

       Yaw's family had to bring his body by tro-tro (local word for a van that usually fits more people in it than should), on a one hour journey back to his village, right by the clinic. Why? Unwritten spiritual laws that have been engrained on childrens hearts, generation after generation. Laws that teach fear of spirits rather than of the One that created the lake. I was told, had it been done, certainly a cow would have had to have been sacrificed to the god of the lake to appease the spirits.

       That evening after hearing the news, I grieved for our young friend Yaw, for the lack of resources at our clinic, but more than anything, for the spiritual darkness that comes with idol worship, a very strong reality surrounding us.

       Since then I have been able to rejoice in the fact that what was meant to bring division in our staff has been actually a reason to celebrate the One true God of the lake, the One who has brought us together, loves us and has a perfect plan. Please pray for the clinic and the body of believers to remain strong in His love and unity, true to His Word and always grateful for His sacrifice for our sins.

Juliana

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Taken from the Bible in the book of First Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 4-7.

A cool Saturday in Amakom

The wind is blowing and I couldn't help but go out an look at the thermometer a few minutes ago. It's 73° F(22c°), very comfortable. I just brought in some tomatoes from the garden and our lettuce is almost 3 feet tall, no not growing in heads. Almost unbelievable as tall as the lettuce is that it actually is lettuce - not Iceburg lettuce, but it makes a decent salad.

  Ju is in the clinic with patients and I'm here with Lucas performing a harmonica concert while I write. Life is good, it's simple, it's far away from ... most things and people we know. It's a good life, very different, yet good.

On Monday we have two Dutch almost doctors (final year of med school) coming for a week to work here at the clinic, then on Tuesday morning a Canadian nursing student is coming to visit for the day.

Construction is continuing on the patient ward as roofers are working on installing a new long span steel roof, carpenters will add a new ceiling, and tile installers will put tile in the toilets and showers. The house where we will live is about 80% completed; painting is being finished up today, then on Monday masons will repair some walls, plumber will put in a sink and lavatory, tile installers will work on the kitchen, and more. It's happening...bit by bit (kakra kakra in Twi).  I think we will move into it in two weeks.

Luiza has just curled up next to me asking for my attention so I will end this note to you all. She was up most of the night last night (therefore, so was her mommy - I was not aware as I slept in her room and she slept in our bed with Ju). I'm grateful that it's not malaria, just a virus giving lots of diarrhea.

We are living for a great God, the amazing and all-powerful God that loves us so. I hope you know Him and are serving Him. Jesus is coming back and we must be ready, we must be serving Him and surrendered to His voice, to His use, to Him. Hey, drop us a note sometime. Thanks for your prayers and for dropping by our blog site!  Andrew

Really Back into Life in Ghana

We are back....

Staff devotions were great today - I could really feel God speaking through me and people were moved closer to God and challenged - I sure was.

Immersion into life in the village hit us a bit harder this time after 3 weeks away in Brazil. It is a different world and we are adjusting to re-entering it.

Today I am in Kumasi for two days of construction purchasing, buying pharmaceuticals for the clinic, supplies for the family, renewing insurance, etc.  It takes a lot longer to get things done, yet patience is truly a virture.

Thanks so much for the prayers, for the support, for the patience that many of you have extended towards us as we haven't made contact since our arrival back in Ghana. Life and the many facets of it, the busy-ness of clinic and project work kind of caught us off guard.  Grateful to the Lord for His strength and love.

pictured: children playing table tennis on the porch in Amakom

Let the children come

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. But when Jesus saw what was happening, he was very displeased with his disciples. He said to them, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! Foe the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God.' Then they took the children into his arms and placed his hand on their heads and blessed them. (taken from the book of Mark, chapter 10, verses 13-16, NLT).

Early one morning we went into Amakom for a meeting and these children followed curiously and observed. I was reminded of the role of the children in these verses and the value that Jesus placed on them. It challenges us in our serving here.

New Doctor on the Way?

A spontaneous shot taken by Kirk Matthews as he captured our 2 year old Luiza copying her mother.

Life in the Bosomtwe/ Atwima/ Kwanhuma District

 

An insightful look from the BAK district site...

"A substantial amount of household income of about 54.5% is spent on food, which does not reflect a typical rural district in Ghana. Income is relatively higher in the industrial sector with a monthly income of ¢56,547 while farming and trading are behind with income of ¢49,276 and ¢49,494 respectively. With an average household income of ¢73,983 a month, the per capita income of individuals comes up to ¢14,796 a month. This gives an indication of the low standard of living in the district. The average monthly household expenditure for 1996 was estimated at ¢40,354 with food accounting for 66.26%."  ¢49,276 = $5.30, the rural monthly income in our area according the the district government.

Technorati Tags: Bosomtwe/ Atwima/ Kwanhuma District, Lake Bosomtwe Methodist Clinic, Amakom

Purple Tub

Buying a bathtub for the kids is a lot easier here, and so is the installation.

A Communication Problem - SOLVED!

Originally written two weeks ago, updated today.

It has also been in this time that we have realized that the need for communication is vital. Amakom has virtually no cell phone coverage or phone connection. We know that it is time to get internet so that we can have phone service and keep in touch without driving 1.5 to 2 hours to Kumasi.  The cost for this will be $150 each month, and initial cost of about $3500. It will greatly enable our family, staff, interns and teams to work effectively in this remote location. Email us if you will sponsor this need.

Pictured: Our home, the village of Amakom

As of last week we had received $35 in monthly sponsorship for internet, and $500 toward installation. Then, on Friday... we had one more person emailing a sponsorship monthly - not sure of the amount.  It will come, we believe it will happen.

As of this week... the installation/sat dish/receiver of $3500 has been paid, $500 pledged for the annual maintenance fee, and $35/month toward the monthly costs, and $200 toward additional equipment (modem)!  Only $65 for monthly costs are needed as of May 24th!  God is supplying the funds through folks who care and really are helping!  Thank you!

So... it's been installed and I've posted this to the site using our internet in Amakom.  It's totally amazing and a surreal experience to have internet here.  Wow, work is SO much easier.  In 2 1/2 days of working in the office with internet Ju and I both have gotten an amazing amount of work done. 

Thank you SO VERY MUCH!

April: Heat, Canned Tuna and Dona Eliana's Mission

Have you ever been so hot that your brain turned voluntarily to stand by mode? Here, some people blame it on global warming, others El Nino. I,  Juliana, have been blaming ECG (Electric Company of Ghana) for my daughter’s heat rash - and on my more spiritual days, praying for their employees. First of all, it is known to all in Ghana that we are going through energy rationing (click here for more info on Load Shedding). But on top of it, the days we are scheduled to have power, we more than likely just receive half current electricity, enough to run a few fans, but no fridge. And would you believe, to make matters worse, during a stormy night two weeks ago, lightning struck one of the light poles that held the power lines, about half a mile from Amakom. To the nationals, it is all a joke, waiting for ECG to come and fix it. To me, spoiled oburoni (foreigner), it is very hard to laugh about it. And rather, I see it all as no coincidence, but reason to call for an army of prayer warriors to intercede.

And yet, no fridge. That are many things we can do without, out here in Amakom (2 hours from the big city, with all the veggies and groceries), but refrigerated food is definitely not one of them. It is amazing how fast bacteria and fungi grow in this ‘oven temperature’ – who needs Petri dishes? It is true that canned tuna and vegetables and peanut butter can keep you going for a while. But after 2 weeks of this diet you start looking at the neighbor’s chickens and goats with different eyes…And for the first time in my life I actually considered raising chickens and goats, added to my dream of having a beautiful and happy vegetable garden – with time, as priorities change.

Just so you can have an idea: one of our patients that survived cholera (do you remember Kwame?) visited us recently and brought us a goat as a gesture of gratitude (other patients brought us chicken, but I am sorry to say I had to give them to Angelina, our neighbor and midwife at the clinic, since our two dogs enjoyed three of her chickens for supper!). I wished you could have seen the joy in the eyes of those of us that enjoyed the stew made from the goat! It was a sight to see… Andrew and I were surprised by some of the staff members that had just feasted on it, coming down the hill behind the clinic, singing praises to Jesus and blessings over us for sharing the goat with them. Yes, meat is a delicacy around these ends! I even caught myself dreaming over Beef Jerky some time ago and was very glad to receive three packages from friends from the  US that came to visit us. The children and I shared them in fair amounts and enjoyed every bit! It is funny to think I never even considered buying them when we lived in the US and actually used to despise it due to all the nitrates…

So as we dream with cold water the Lord works all things for good of those who love Him: working in my heart to teach me about his grace and working in Brazil to raise enough funds for a generator for the clinic. My mother, Eliana, called me one of these days and told me it had become a burden in her heart to raise enough money for us to have a generator. A mother thing? I asked myself, trying to understand her heart, on the other side of the  . ‘No’, she told me. ‘I just know I am supposed to do it, and I don’t dare to disobey my Father’. So she diligently went on, after praying specifically for a list of names, calling some businessmen and some friends. ‘I never had to ask for anything in my life. I have no idea what I am going to say, but I know the Lord will give me the right words as I meet all these people.’ And He did. Two weeks into this mission, she was able to raise two-thirds of the total amount of money. It is left the one third necessary to install it, an incredible amount of $7,000 (Would you sponsor this?). Let’s just say people think we live where nobody wants to go. We are excited with the perspective of being able to keep cool – our minds and our food – and to have lights as I examine patients that come to the clinic in the middle of the night or to power a nebulizer to an asthmatic patient in crisis. I thank my God for a mother that knows Him as her Savior and friend. I thank my God for her obedience to His voice. As I wait in faith for the ‘last third’, I know that somewhere out there, someone else will hear His voice and dare to step out a very comfortable zone and ask people to give, daring to believe in His faithfulness.

So, from power to goats to generator… I hope I was able to give you a few colors of the picture of living in Amakom, in a hot month of April, that tasted like canned tuna!

Corruption Confronted

Today has not been the easiest day and it seems the trite greeting of 'how are you' has come from every person.  In the efforts to get a police report so that the insurance can begin their process of opening a claim for our 4x4 Nissan Patrol (truck), the inspection officer asked for ¢5,000,000 cedis ($550) as his payment for processing the report.  He was not happy when we would not cooperate, and today on returning to him he decided to take Michael's drivers license away.  Once he decides to have his report typed, then we can pick it up and take it to the insurance company so that they can begin considering what they will do.

Pray for us in this time please.  It's a bit trying. :)     Andrew

Truck Wreck

On Saturday, Michael (our assistant, staff member) left Amakom at 5:30am to go to Kumasi to load up with lumber and electrical supplies and bring laborers for the next week.  On his way back, in a very small village called Mim he veered off the road and when he pulled back on the truck hit a bridge which smashed the front into the engine, bending the frame in the front, it blew the tires and bent the rims as the truck ran over the bridge pieces.

No one was hurt!  Ju had a strong sense the day before to be praying for his driving and did, then woke up that morning and prayed with Lucas, Luiza, and myself for him on his trip to town.  God was faithful and protected him.

We ask for your prayers for the process with the insurance company, finances, etc.

During this time a colleague has let us use their retired 'team' van.  Pray for good functioning for it and that it can withstand our roads.  If you would consider a special gift toward our Vehicle Fund, it currently has $3000 in it, it's an ongoing account for repairs, future purchases of 'team' van, or replacement of our current 4x4 (such as if this is totaled).  If so, designate it as The Mission Society, 'Jernigan Vehicle Fund', or call 800.478.8963

Peace between the Villages

If you have been reading our blog for a while you may remember that in February during a football (soccer) tournament that we had organized that riots and violence began in the last match of the first day.

In a meeting with some chiefs they have expressed their sorrow, and explained to me the reconciliation process that they have been going through.  The two villages have even played a mock game and the church leaders and village elders all came together with the chiefs and have 'talked it out' so that the disagreements of the past may be resolved.

Some of our friends have been emailing wondering what the latest was on it, so I hope that you will continue to pray for these two villages that peace will prevail.

Lightning on the Mountain

Last night as I wrote in my journal by the light of my cell phone display the lightning outside gave me the impression that there was a disco ball flashing light all across the mountains.

We are doing well and working well, yet not getting to post to the blog as much as we've not been near the internet a lot lately.  I'm in Kumasi today to buy medicines as to prepare for possibly more cholera patients, along with getting money, washing clothes today, buying groceries, and replying to a hundred emails or so... and sending an email update out to all our friends and family. 

We thank you for your continued prayers and hope you will continue to pray and support us.

'Come Mommy, there is a man dying'

Today as you read your email I (Andrew) would like to take you into our day yesterday.   Michael and I pulled out of Amakom by about 8am to go to the village of Bekwai to get some matters taken care of, filled our truck with folks needing a ride along the way and then on the way back did the same.  One of them was a mother with her son who was about  12 years old. She had to go get him from school since he was sick with malaria. When I got to the junction of their village they assumed I would drop them there, yet the thought went through my mind that if Jesus were driving, he would take them all the way - so I did just that.  I got there and having let them out of the truck and pulled away I was chased down and stopped saying that there was a terribly sick man, can I take him with me. I had learned on that drive that there was a cholera outbreak in that village that we had not known about yet, and this man seemed to me to be almost dead. I am glad that I took this lady and her son all the way to her village, the village of Dompa.

 

So, I (Juliana) had just put Luiza down for her afternoon nap when Michael came running inside the house, looked in my eyes and said: "Come, `Mommy`! There is a man dying. We brought him from his village where three people already died and many are very sick. They say it is cholera."

 

So I walked the short distance between our house and the clinic to find Kwame, a 28 year old man, very close to death because of severe loss of fluids (diarrhea and vomit). I had never seen a case of cholera before, but after examining him it left no doubt on my mind that Kwame was my very first one. And so after an aggressive and very urgent initial treatment I went on, the hard way, exploring the storage room at the clinic, trying to find enough IV fluids, ORS (oral rehydration solution) and the right antibiotic for him while Andrew and Michael drove to Kumasi with a list of supplies, getting ready for more patients. Cholera is a bacterial infection spread by the fecal-oral route, or by infected food or water, and just like many other diseases it can cause outbreaks where standards of sanitation and personal hygiene are low. What is unique about cholera is the speed with which severe dehydration occurs and the fact that if untreated it can kill in a matter of hours.

 

We had no power last night and as I held the flashlight to examine my patient, lightning was flashing outside and reminded me of the need for a generator. Kwame had leg cramps due to the lack of potassium on his body, a very common problem with cholera. It was only after I searched the whole clinic looking for some form of potassium that I decided to pray. Lemons, orange and bananas have potassium... We had no bananas or oranges, but we do have a lemon tree in our yard! So I added the cheapest form of medicine into his ORS and some cold water. Today, less than 24 hours after his arrival Kwame is still very sick, but receiving the necessary treatment and already started making requests: "I want more of that cold lemon water that doctor brought me in the middle of the night". For the last few hours, as I realized the basic needs surrounding us I was reminded of my call to move to Lake Bosomtwi with my family, a few years ago - a call to love. 'Love will make all the difference'. Love today for Kwame is to be here, at the clinic in Amakom, Ghana, with a smile, a confident hand, inexpensive IV fluids, clean sheets, a bar of soap and some rolls of toilet paper. Love for his wife is to provide food, a chair to sit on and a bed to rest while she cares for her husband.

 

As I, Andrew, read the words of Juliana as she shares our call to love I ask for your prayers for our work, for our family, and for God to work through us.

 

In His service,

 

Andrew & Juliana

Lucas and Luiza Jernigan

Life in the Village

The sound of a rooster outside your bedroom window on one side of the house and a goat calling for food on the other side of the bedroom - these are the new chimes of our village alarm clock. If my connection were faster I would type a book in this entry on the blog, yet I must go and hope that this actually works succesfully. Pray for us as we have friends arriving this weekend, then the team traveling here next Monday/Tuesday. It's a busy week ahead :) Gratefully, Andrew and Juliana Jernigan

Progress in the village

1 Week in Ghana, lots of work in Amakom

We got in Kumasi on the Thursday the 7th, and it's been BUSY!  On Friday I drove out and spent the day with Michael (ministry team member/electrician) and Victor (pastor/artist) to see what can be accomplished in the next 9 weeks.

I realized that the task ahead is going to be busy and very time consuming.  On Monday I bought 20 gallons of paint for the walls and ceiling of two small houses on the church land, one of which we will stay in until we have the funds to build a mission house.  We have a team from Sylacauga, Alabama, USA coming Feb. 13-20, and another in the summer from Ireland so they will stay in these as well. 

On Tuesday Ju and I both went with two electricians, a pastor, and a plumber to spend the day assessing the work ahead, Tuesday more buying for the work and on Thursday a day of electrical work began and I and a friend painted.

Thursday night I realized that I would need about $11,000-14,000 in the next 8 weeks before our first team gets here and I KNOW that God will provide it.  It must come from other funds than our regular support and I believe it will be here for each expense.  Funds are for 2 refrigerators, 2 stoves/ovens, lights, ceiling fans, pump for the bore hole, water tanks, pipes and labor (5 days), electrical work, tiles and labor, painting, carpentry, supplies, wow!  It's coming together!  It's exciting.

The team in February will be here to host with us a 12 village football/soccer tournament - should be hundreds of people from the area villages involved, lots drumming, singing, and fun times.  We will have 3 days of extra medical care, free medicines and vitamins, and lots of good exposure for the clinic and a lot of lives touched, yet SO much work between now and then to make it all happen.  Last night I found out that a colleague will come to video and take pictures all week for a video and dvd, great news.

Thanks so much for your prayers and let us know how you would like to be involved and the questions that come to mind ok!  We hope to hear from you.   Andrew and Juliana Jernigan

Come Work With Us in Ghana

Are you the one that I am writing this note for?

We are looking for people willing to move the village of Amakom and work with us.  It may be for 1 year or maybe many more.  Whether you are skilled professionally or very willing and available to hear God call you to come, then we ask you to pray about moving to Amakom to serve God and the people of the villages on Lake Bosomtwi with our family. Ask your pastor and contact us.

Do you want to try it out for 3-4 weeks and see what it could be like? 

Do you want to bring a group for a work trip or a mission exposure trip?

Email us now

"He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." Jesus said in Luke 12:31 (NLT)

'We will pray to our gods' said the sub-chief

It has taken some time to think through the implications of the meetings with the chiefs that took place on August 1st. Being there at night renewed my enthusiasm for living there as I lay in bed listening to what seemed to be a symphony of frogs and crickets singing, and waking to song birds loudly chirping.

The hospitality by the clinic staff was almost overwhelming as they gave up the best bed on the hillside for me and made my meals.

Yet, as I have had about two weeks now to process these formal meetings there is one statement that rings in my head as the most profound. 'We will pray to our gods and you pray to your God that you will move here and that it will all go well with you' said the chief of Atafram, a sub-chief of the Asantehene.

It has taken a lot of thought to realize that in moving to Ghana, getting ready to live in Amakom and serve the villages of Lake Bosomtwi - that it is this man and all the others like him that I owe. I owe him a debt of grace. My mission in life is not for numbers of converts, it is for people to see Jesus through my life and be drawn to their creator God by what they see in me. It's not through words that I can speak, messages to give, but through actions and words not spoken that he will know the kind of person this obruni (person from across the ocean) really seeks to become.

Walking from Amakom to Adgaman, then to Atafram and on to Ankaasi then back to Amakom that day greeting to chiefs, elders, linguists, council members, and others was a humbling experience.

In the Bible, in Romans 13, Paul writes about love. How that "if you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the commandments of God's law" and that is what I want to accomplish with these neighbors in the villages that are all within a 5-10 minute walk from where our house will be built. They offered the labor of their people for our home as we come to offer our labor for their well-being at the clinic and in their villages. They are grateful that we are moving there. It's a call for love. Love for the chief that prays to his gods, love for the fetish priest that curses our work, love for the people of the villages of Lake Bosumtwe is our hearts cry today. I want to love my Father, so that I can in turn love his people that live here. I want to receive His love, so I can give it out.

To Greet the Chiefs

Tonight I sit at my desk reading in Acts as Paul writes of his trips to various cities and think of my journey tomorrow.

In the afternoon tomorrow I plan on driving to Amakom at Lake Bosomtwe to spend the night at the clinic. A friend will go with me, a missionary colleague (Lloyd). We will get up early on Tuesday morning to tackle the purpose for this trip.

The reason to go is to meet the chief and elders in four different villages on that side of the lake. It's the next step into our life and work in the region.

I know that God will give me the words to say. It's a formality, yet in the spirit realm it is shaking the mountains there. I go in the name of the Lord and I am His ambassador - what more do I need really. What a joy and priviledge it is to represent the King of all creation as I go to meet, to greet these chiefs.

My prayer is that I do represent Him well, that my words are as the very words of God. May they see Jesus when they see me, that they will sense the presence of God when we are meeting with them and be drawn to their Father.

I'm not sure what it will be like exactly. I'm not sure where I will sleep, what I will eat, or how - but I know who holds my hand and who protects me and that is all that matters.