"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV)
“But from above, in the eyes of God, sorrow and joy are never separated. Where there is pain, there is also healing. Where this is mourning, there is dancing. Where there is poverty, there is the Kingdom.”
by Henri Nouwen
The doctor had been working for hours seeing patients after the long drive from Kumasi. She remarked that this one child needed to be referred to a hospital because it was in need of a transfusion. Afrifa, the laboratory technician, heard this and quickly told her that 'no, we can do it here' - the doctor was totally shocked! It was the first time that it's taken place here since we purchased the necessary supplies and tests from a donation by a church in Alabama. Wow, how great it is when we can be there to provide the needed care, love, and support for a child in need.
A little later on in the day, I had been checking out the constructions progress of the Inpa
tient Care Centre (workers pictured) that is underway and as I was approaching the road on the way back to the office I saw surveyors with their tripod and scope set up right in front of the Outpatient Building! After greeting them and welcoming them here I asked what they were doing...working on improving the road. Without much further inquiry they said it would be gravelled and tarred with a deep roadbed, widened, and done properly - a contractor has been selected. Later I 'googled' and found this article from a Ghanaian Parliament floor discussion on the improvement of our road. It's slated for 1st quarter of next year! WOW!
Upon returning to the office I had a meeting with Sammy Adu, the administrative accountant, who let me know that with the expansion of the laboratory the status of the facility must be upgraded in order for us to be reimbursed by the National Health Insurace Scheme. We are able to be an accredited institution due to our memb
ership in the Christian Health Association of Ghana.
Later this month we will be receiving a QBC
Autoread Plus, QBC Centrifuge and Workstation, along with the Paralens system for malaria and blood parasite detection (some funds were received for this, more $1000 is needed if you would help, e
mail Andrew). In addition, with the building of the Inpatient Care Centre (sponsored completely by churches and individuals in Northern Ireland), our status will need to be upgraded since we will have an Operating Suite (operating theatre, minor surgury/small procedures room, post-operation monitoring recovering room) in order for claims to the National Health Insurance Scheme to be paid. The status required is 'hospital' - this is huge news!
On Tuesday, Juliana is to meet with the registrar of the Ghana Medical & Dental Council regarding her medical license - we are expecting a breakthrough!
Many days lately we have seen victory in situations and as we approach these new things this next week, we go confidently trusting Jesus. He is our strength and joy.
"Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. As long as ever you can."
"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn"
...both are quotes by John Wesley (English Revivalist/Evangelist 1703-1791)
I'm radically challenged for hunger, spiritual hunger for the presence of God, work of God in action here in the villages, to see
those around us so desperately seeking Him and hungry for the ways of God and results following.
I was moved as Michael and I ministered from the Word in Dompa two weeks ago. People are hungry for a move of God. There was an air of expectancy, and it was exciting to be able to be the voice, the hands, the face of God to the people that day. As I reflect on that quote of John Wesley when he said 'catch on fire with enthusiasm' I think on my attitude
so many times when going to speak to people. Do they see enthusiasm? Do people see a radical lover of Jesus? I hope today they see more of a radical lover than yesterday, and the next even more, each day more and more.
Juliana and I are on a track to radical extreme living for God and ready for where ever He leads us. Lately it's been so wonderful to hear from the Lord in such specific ways, be warned of upcoming things ahead of time, and see God work in the people around us. Our Father God does the impossible, and it's so easy to loose consciousness of the God that invades the impossible.
The response of David in Psalm 27, verses 7 & 8 is a cry that I echo today, it says, "Listen to my pleading, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me' and my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming".
Pictured: YaYa, the breadseller from Dompa, taken at the Sunday Community Service on the 20th of July. She walks two hours to the clinic through the villages with a smile, laughter and a very large aluminum bowl filled with sweet tea bread on her head. We often buy it for the patients and staff when she arrives at the clinic, so she stays on the bench under the tree for a couple of hours spreading her contagious joy. She is a lay leader in her church and attends the Church of Christ in Dompa, always with a loud and cheerful greeting when she sees me - giving me another reason to smile.
Today as I held hands with workers and prayed before they began working on the Inpatient Care Centre construction I again was reminded of the passage I read yesterday and then again this morning before getting out of bed.
"Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors. Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild
the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes." Isaiah 58:9-12 (NLT)
Last week I arranged for a meeting with the chief and elders of Dompa, the largest town on the shores of Lake Bosomtwe, where we have been desiring to drill boreholes. Consultants came from Accra for bore hole sitings and research, the N. Irish team presented gifts, and in turn they gave a beautiful sheep as a gift of gratitude to the team. The next day it was cooked and quite a tasty stew was prepared for the many constuction workers, clinic staff, team and our family. During the meeting with the chief I had asked permission to have a community church service the following week and they granted it.
So, on Sunday, we drove by truck while the team met us by boat in Dompa. Hundreds of people came and it was a beautiful sight to see. It was clear that many that were present do not normally attend church, while others represented the Church of Pentecost, New Apostolic Church, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Aventist, and Methodist churches of Dompa. Although only a small percentage attend church regularly here in this remote and isolated (due to limited road access over the mountain) town, between 400-500 people were in attendance (including the chief and a number of the elders).
Pictured: Michael Bentum and I praying for the church leaders from each denomination present in the community service.
We enjoyed seemingly hours of such beautiful worship in Twi (local language) and a few in English (by our visiting UK team) and then a time of all the children (probably 200) come forward to sing with Hollie Combs leading them in local worship choruses. The account of the day is also told on Rebecca Hillman and Louise Monroe's blog.
It was after this that I called those who were sick and wanted prayer forward to be anoint
ed and prayed for healing. I was aware of the presence and leading of the Lord as I prayed. I was so in hopes of a miracle of instant healing, especially since one was completely deaf (pictured), yet nothing happened visibly this time. Since I have experienced miracles of healing I am more 
and more willing and ready to ask of our Father. It's His desire to see people restored to the way he designed their bodies to function.
While I am writing on this subject I
encourage you to order the DVD titled Finger of God, it's an extraordinary documentary by a skeptic of miracles (much of the footage is from Africa).
I mentioned Michael Bentum praying with me, he also did the interpretting and preaching with me. He has been working with us for over two years and just last week received word that he has been accepted to the Harvest School of Missions from October - December of this year. It's a phenomenal training program for rural ministry in Africa that takes place in Mozambique at the Pempa mission base of Iris Ministries (members of H.I.M.) Would you consider helping sponsor his coursework there? He is in need of the funds for the travel there, tuition and outreach. After the school he plans to return to the work here with us in the villages of Lake Bosomtwe. If you would, email for info on how to send your check.
In church yesterday I shared how that when Ju's takes Nicolas out for a walk here the ladies have called him 'obolobo', meaning chubby and fat baby.
We are grateful for a healthy boy that is one month old today.
Lucas and Luiza are so sweet with him and he is getting love from everyone.
We are grateful to announce the birth of Nicolas Araujo Jernigan on the afternoon of the 14th of June in the village of Amakom at Lake Bosomtwe Methodist Clinic (where we serve in ministry)
with the assistance of the midwife (Angelina)and a health assistant (Georgina). Ju walked back to our house about 20 minutes after delivery. Nicolas weighed 3.7 kg (8.2 lbs)at birth and is strong and healthy. He and Juliana are doing very well.
We know many of you were in prayer with us for a safe delivery so we thank you for your love. Labor lasted for about 2 1/2 hours, which was a great answer to Juliana’s prayers. On our side, we had our prayer warriors surrounding the clinic in those hours.
A tropical storm with heavy rain downpour came as Nicolas was born, which left those waiting outside worshipping and thanking God soaking wet (including his grandmother from Brazil, Eliana, who is visiting).
'So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.' Romans 15:13 (NLT)
It's often so easy when not taking our thoughts captive to allow hopelessness and discouragement to rule. If we let our mind, our conversations, our interactions be formed by our weaknesses rather than from a transformed and renewed mind then there is no way for us to be full of peace since we are not living in the believe of Him but in reaction to our beliefs of ourselves.
What a powerful verse, and prayer that Paul prayed. We can take this and make it our prayer, our hearts desire for each other. For that matter, it should be our prayer for ourselves as well. Our relationships will be so much more fruitful is we are living in this mindset from the Kingdom of God rather than the way of the world imagining that our relationships are fragile and operating through insecurities that have weighed us down. Having the hearts desire for HOPE, that God will KEEP YOU happy and FULL of peace since we are BELIEVING in Him, OVERFLOWING with HOPE through the POWER of the Holy Spirit. Wow, a great verse to meditate on today.
The writing for today from Oswald Chamber's devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, online version is excellent. Click here to read it now.
Pictured: Andrew & Juliana, yesterday was the due date for our baby boy to be born, our third child.
During our time in the USA this Winter/Spring we visited many existing ministry partners and established new relationships. We received an email from Rolland and Heidi Baker (missionary members of H.I.M.) that invited us to the Revival Alliance Conference where they and Che Ahn, Bill Johnson, Duncan Smith, and others would be speaking. It was at this conference that we were introducted to Harvest International Ministry. Harvest International Ministry (HIM) is a network of likeminded people that come together for a common purpose, to spread the love of Jesus and equip the saints. It's an apostolic network of churches, missionary organizations, ministries, church networks, missionaries and marketplace ministers committed to loving and helping each other fulfill the Great Commission.
Today we received word that their executive committee welcomed us as members. The partnership brings support and prayer covering from a network of pastors and churches that we greatly respect. We are blessed to be in ministry with them. HIM is led by an outstanding minister Dr. Che Ahn and the executive committee (Che and Sue Ahn, Mark and Anne Tubbs, Rick and Pam Wright, Terry and Cheryl Edwards, Dennis and Lynnie Walker, Brian and Candice Simmons, Charles and Anne Stock, James and Michal Ann Goll, Jill Austin, Lou Engle, Paul and Joyce Tan, Wesley and Stacey Campbell) it's board of directors is a group of respected leaders (Che Ahn, Peter Wagner, Cindy Jacobs, Bill Greig, Sam Caster, Paul Tan, Rick Wright, John Park, Jeff Wright, Angela De Forrest, Mark Tubbs).
As God has called and equipped us to advance His kingdom in the villages of Lake Bosomtwe and beyond, we are blessed to have this partnership in ministry adding so many more churches and believers praying, interceding for the people we are here to love and care for in this mercy ministry at Lake Bosomtwe Clinic. Praise God for each of you in the churches that currently partner with us as missionaries with The Mission Society, and for those new partners in ministry through the H.I.M. network of churches, ministries, missionaries, and marketplace ministers.
Ephesians 4:11, "And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (ASV)
We have been back in Ghana now for 18 days and it's been a wild transition back into the way of life. It's been quite an adjustment this time to get acclimated back into how things work here.
Today we are just overjoyed because we know that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, doing exactly what we are called to do and are victorious! We will see the Kingdom of God advancing in this place, in power and might, with people living and loving His presence.
We are very grateful for those of you who are praying for us, especially during this past week as it's been a bit intense re-entry. It's so very wonderful to be walking with warriors, not alone, but with a winning battalion of super fighters with us. Thank you! Thank you Jesus for the overwhelming peace in the middle of challenging situations. He is our great strength. Ju is doing very well in the pregnancy.
Psalm 33:18-22 (Amplified)
Behold, the Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield. For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name. Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.
About a week ago we were interviewed for the podcast from The Mission Society, click here to listen.
Today as I was seeking the Lord I was deeply moved to pray like I have never prayed before for the people that do not know the Lord around Lake Bosomtwe, to pray for transformation, freedom and healing. Am I willing to do whatever it takes to see them serving Jesus?
Just a few days ago I received an email from Michael that he and others shared the gospel in one of the villages on the lake that does not have a church of any kind and about 100 people showed up to listen, and most of them responded to give their lives to Jesus.
John 20:21 speaks loudly to this as it says 'Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you"
He has sent us, He has sent Michael, and the other workers on the mission to serve and see hope and joy, healing and deliverance, songs of peace and visions of God. May His will be done.
Will you fast, will your pray like you never have before for the restoration of the villages around Lake Bosomtwe back to their creator, their loving Father.
If you will, let us know.
Juliana writes:
"Being the only doctor working at the Clinic makes the workload sometimes overwhelming, not only to me, but also to my kids and husband, that don't get to spend so much time with their mom. But not to worry, since my son Lucas, our five year old MK, found out a true treasure: the power of prayer. It all started one night when we were praying together and he just burst out in tears to the Lord and told Him he really missed his mother and would like Jesus to make everybody in the villages around the lake well so nobody would come to the clinic the next day and he would be able to spend all day with his mommy, having fun together.
On the morning I went down the few steps walk to the clinic expecting to see a full load of patients occupying the benches by the front door but, to my complete surprise, found only the nurses and the clinic chaplain chatting on the same benches, instead. We all looked at each other with a puzzled look as we waited for a while for the patients to come. On that day, they never came. Instead I had a whole day to stay at home and enjoy my family. Lucas did not seem amazed at all when I told him what had happened (and even gave me the look that said 'why are you so surprised, mommy? Don't you know we prayed about it??' with the cutest smile on his face) and just rejoiced with the gift. Since that day, he has had a few other requests of more time with his mom, all beautifully and uniquely answered by His Father.
'Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.'
Matthew 18:2-4 (New Living Translation)
We have been in the US now for 2 1/2 months on our 6 month homeland assignment and I am still in culture shock I believe. It seems that there are so many people that are religious. I have met so many that are following a lot of other messages while holding the Bible, rather than the true messages of the Word.
In Galatians 1:8-10, Paul writes, "Let God's curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. I will say it again: If anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomes, let God's curse fall upon that person. Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant." (NLT)
I am challenged by these words since we are speaking in so many churches and groups while in the US. I want to make sure that I am living to surrender more to him, than living to please myself and live a more comfortable life. Being sincerely religious can become a habit for us so easily. Larry Crabb (in his book SoulTalk) writes of this trap like this
The god of convenience:
Get is reasonable right
+
The god of cooperation:
Life will work reasonable well
=
Religion: You can make your life work in a way that satisfies your soul.
There are so many traditional church attenders that are completely religious, that have a solid grasp of this combination of the god of convenience merged with the god of cooperation. It is much simpler to submit request for cooperation from god so that their life can be more convenience and comfortable. I ask myself as I reflect on these things, and ask you, if we can look at our view of God a bit closer. Are we living to please Him or ourselves?
God inspired Paul to say that God's curse will fall on those that are living for anything other than the Father. I am deeply moved to surrender more into His hands and long for ways fall deeper into a love life with Him.
All loved by God, do YOU, do I love them all? Let's pray for our friends, and our enemies today. Love our enemies, bless those who do things we don't like. Wow, it's revolutionary. Are you revolutionary? Can we renew the revolution like this type of behavior?
Francis of Assisi said,
O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
The truth from the word that speaks on this is also found in the book of James, chapter 3, verse 13, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
"For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being." Job 12:10 (The Message, The Bible)
One day recently Juliana took this picture of an amazing work of art of God, this moth. Can you see the artistry, the snake, the month, the camoflage. What a masterpiece His creations can be.
This morning I am sit writing notes of gratitude to some friends that shared financially with us when we visited in the churches we spoke in this week. It's a privilege to be able to be part of this work in Ghana and then be able to share about how God has changed us through serving there.
Earlier today I read a verse in scripture that says,
If I knew..everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be?
I think of these words and a picture comes to my mind of my wife, Juliana. It was the last Friday at Lake Bosomtwe Clinic in Ghana before we left for our homeland assignment. She came to staff worship and devotions with a bowl of joloff rice and banana bread for a little girl who had recovered remarkably from severe malaria. During the three or four days that she had been an admitted patient on the verge of needing to be transferred to a hospital, this child had not 'connected' with Juliana while she had been caring for her. Now, on this last morning as the 20 staff sang for 40 minutes with hearts of joy and praise, this little girl came and lay on the bench next to Juliana with her head in Juliana's lap. It was a gift, a parting gift, for Juliana. A good lasting memory of the love and care that God has shown this child, who would be going home healed and had made it through another severe malaria infection. Praise God.
What good are we without God's love? None.
by Jon Birch
Jesus was furious about the religiosity of some of the 'church folks' and said to them...
"So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
'What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." Luke 14:41 & 42 (NLT)
by Jon Birch
There are some things that make me want to talk to God even more and then do more or what He says in the Bible. Living the way of life, showing it and really doing it - that's my goal. What do you think about these thought provoking cartoons?
Would you take three minutes to watch a video right now, click here to view it, and see if you are swallowing a belief system that is contrary to scripture. It is hitting life hard where we live in Ghana, but everywhere. Take a minute to watch this please and ask your Father if you need a heart check up on your thoughts toward Him.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." Compassion — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT).
"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. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten." Psalm 112:1, 7-9 (NLT)
What an amazing passage to draw you into the life with God. Wow!
Pictured: view from our dining room of Lake Bosomtwe
'Cure the sick who are there, say to them
"The Kingdom of God has come near to you
."
Luke 10: 9
pictured:
Juliana Jernigan (pediatrician) serving a patient at Lake Bosomtwe Methodist Clinic in Amakom on Lake Bosomtwe, Ashanti region, Ghana, West Africa.
Would you join in the work. We need additional staff at the clinic and for work in the villages of Lake Bosomtwe. Would you come?
Would you give to help us continue?
For those of you that
have been walking this walk with us since the very first days will remember
that one of our bulk purchases before we came was diapers. As I shared the need
to collect diapers for my 3 month old baby Luiza that was about to come to
Ghana and grow diapers sizes in a place where these are a luxury and a hard to
find treat, we had packages of diapers of different sizes brought to our door, to
our blue house in Sylacauga, Alabama. Some where just left there, others
delivered with smiles and even tears as we packed and started saying good-byes.
Others were bought with donations from our Sunday School class and friends that
we made along eleven states in the US as we spoke in different
churches. Well, if you are one of these people, you need to read this report.
Luiza and I are very
grateful to you - but we are not the only ones. I have been sharing diapers
with different moms that I had the privilege to meet in these last two years.
If you had to wash poopy diapers, many ones every day, clean the house, take
care of the other (many) children and cook meals, I am sure you would
understand their smiles filled with gratitude as I handed them packages of
‘napkins’ (word for diapers in here). It meant one less to do in their busy
days, but to me it meant a whole lot more than that: it built bridges for me to
share God’s love with them. And so I did, one by one and I must say I was the
one inspired and blessed in doing it. I would mention to them where they had
come from, ask for prayers for our supporters and give glory to our Lord. The
more I gave away, the more diapers I had in our garage in Kumasi.
GhanaBut why hadn’t I
shared this with you until now? Well, the time to move to Amakom came and as we
packed our clothes and furniture and toys I realized we still had an amazing
amount of diapers left, mostly sizes 4 and 5. By age 2 most children in Ghana
are potty-trained. So I looked at the boxes of diapers and wondered… Cholera
came and we had many children, all ages, with highly infectious watery diarrhea
in the ward. One of my problems was to establish how many bowel movements they
had had in order to know how much iv fluids to give them – numbers, just like
dates, are not something valued in this culture, and some of the moms were just
exhausted after a while. I brought boxes of very fine diapers to the ward and
distributed them, 12 to each child, two times a day (and had to teach the moms
to use this high t
ech Velcro thing!). It became easy to me to determine how bad
the diarrhea was and easy to the moms to care for their children. Almost two
months into the epidemic, did we run out of diapers? No, we did not! And we
won’t run out of hope or His love either!
Blessed are the ones who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of God is given to them. (Matthew 5:3, NIV)
Pictured: This 2 and a half year old boy is one of the patients that recovered very well and was discharged 48 hours after this picture was taken.
What Would Jesus Do to Touch Kwame's Life?
I was praying for Kwame, who had been rescued from the midst of a plunge toward death by cholera. Ju and I were up early praying and seeking God for the day ahead of us. As I talked to the Lord about him I was impressed to wash his feet, dry them, have him lie down and rub his feet with lotion, praying and sharing with Hm.
Michael, woke at 2am with Kwame on him mind, prayed and prayed more for him. So, when I asked Michael to translate and pray as well while I did this strange act of ministry I was comforted to know that Michael was in complete agreement that it was from the Lord.
Kwame completely recovered and went home well within a day or so, yet what is the impact of his stay at the Lake Bosumtwe Clinic? How will his time of treatment and care affect his life. How will an act of a challenging word while some foreigner washed, dried and moistened his feet, caring for him? Pray with us for Kwame.
As we are living it out and realizing the various beliefs of the people in our area I find myself looking for more information.
Today as I researched I came across an article from February 2, 1942 in Time magazine. Click here to read a piece of history from that day. The words used, the premise made, etc reflect the time the article was written.
During this last week while the team was here we had
SO many great pictures taken. For the sake of friends and 
relatives, I've posted a few here for you to view.
She turns two years old on March 17th, while we are away at an international conference for medical missionaries. Luiza is wonderfully 2!
She was really happy to have a life jacket for the boat that was just her size, brought by this team, bought by a friend in Alabama, also pictured holding alphabet cards sent by another friend - so well cared-for!
Lucas is four years old and last night as the four of us lay on the bed in our hotel r
oom in Accra after our friends left earlier that day returning to the US, he said 'Oh, it's so good to be home'. 
What a great thing! Last week, he would grab someones hand and say lets go home (go up the hill to our house).
Home must be when you feel loved by the ones around you.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Being aware of the need to constantly work toward cultural sensitivity takes a complete intentional effort!
Traveling down the winding dirt roads on the way home it is easy to zoom over the hills 
with you mind on the next activity rather than on the people walking on the roads that I'm passing. They often are carrying logs for a fire, baskets of food, goods to sell, or a child on their back - and I am becoming away that even though these villages may be a 3 hour walk from our home and the clinic, they know who we are. Most of them know now that I am a pastor and that Juliana is a doctor - that we are missionaries.
One day this week as I filled the truck/suv with people that were walking along the road to give them a ride the realization hit me that I must build bridges and go slower each day. It may add 30 minutes or an hour on to my trip to town or back home, yet it will be sending a message of care rather than that we are too busy to care and racing by leaving a wake of dust in the face of a tired man or woman.
As I had up to 12 people tightly sqeezed in our truck with local music playing, I greeted each in Twi and blessed them as they came in and when they left - they were shocked by this simple act of kindness and I was convicted of the urgent need for sensitivity each day in every way.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Ephesians 4:2
'...what does the LORD require of you? To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.' (Micah 6:8)
Scripture is clear on the instructions to believers on taking care of the poor as a necessary part of the chosen life. There is no option about it, it is one of the foundations of the life chosen as a Christian. Would you accept the Micah Challenge? Read about it and decide if you can do your part in making it possible.
“Perhaps the most critical social task for the church in our generation is to offer a compelling alternative to the unjust imbalances in the world economic order and the value of its consumer culture…We need to create a coalition of compassion.” - from the Micah Declaration
In our work in the villages in Ghana we are working to see that these scriptures are applied and in turn see that we do something to make sure that the scriptural challenge to each of us and that the Micah Challenge is met.
If you can support our work in prayer, visiting to help, financially, or even becoming a local advocate for our work in your area - it can make a big difference in the lives of many people.
"James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor--the very thing I also was eager to do." from Galatians 2:9-10
'Cure the sick who are there, say to them "The Kingdom of God has come near to you." ' Luke 10:9
Today as I deepen my soul on the journey I am challenged by two things. One, by the words of the newly appointed Director General of the WHO. Secondly, by the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew.
It has just been reported by the AFP on Yahoo News - `Margaret Chan of China, who was elected to lead the World Health Organisation, pledged to put health of Africans and of women worldwide at the heart of the agency's work.
"I want us to be judged by the impact we have on the health of the people of Africa and by the health of women," Chan told the WHO's 193 nation assembly in her acceptance speech. "Our work must touch on the lives of everyone everywhere but we must focus on the people in greatest need," Chan said.
The new director general said the two groups were the key indicators of the performance of the WHO because of the huge burden of disease in Africa and the decisive role of women in families and communities as carers and educators.
The former Hong Kong health chief and WHO official in charge of communicable diseases was voted in by 150 member states in the agency's assembly following her nomination by the agency's governing body over 10 other candidates. "The first special session of the World Health Assembly ... appoints Dr Margaret Chan as director general of the World Health Organisation," announced Ivo Garrido, Mozambique's health minister and WHO assembly president Chan, 59, will serve from January 4, 2007, to June 30, 2012, he added. When she takes office, it will be the first time that an official from China has headed a UN agency.
US Health Secretary Mike Leavitt welcomed the arrival of a "strong leader," saying she had a "proven record."
The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) called for a renewed drive to open up access to affordable and effective medicines for millions of people in poor countries, who otherwise have little treatment for infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
The clear mandate for our family is from the words of Jesus when he said “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added,
Our task is great, and the resources are abundant and available. The challenge is for the right people to care, to step forward so that our vision and the vision of the chiefs of Amakom, Atafram, Ankaase, and Adjaman can come to be reality for their children - their families. These are the four closest of the 43 villages that we serve from the clinic in Amakom. Will you step forward today to do your part? It is a great thing to care when you discover the place that takes your life, your blessings and transforms other peoples lives.
We need you to invest in our work, will you consider it? Email us today with any questions. Pray for us, visit us, come work with us, and continue to give to make our efforts go further.
We are back in the UK - all four of us - and Juliana left early this morning for class at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Our family has been covered by prayers and so many have cared for us in this last week, thank you.
The last week I have spent a lot of time on a passage I'd like to share with you. It reads, "Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel." It's found in Philippians 4:7, click it to read more.
On Friday of this week we will leave for ministry this weekend in Northern Ireland with giving the message at a church on Sunday morning, then returning to Liverpool after church. Monday I (Andrew) will travel to London with Lucas and Luiza to leave the next day to Belo Horizonte, Brazil for 2 1/2 weeks of ministry and family time with Juliana's family - they have never met Luiza!
Our Father is giving us such peace during these exciting times of being able to serve Him each day. Thank you for your prayers and support!
We are here in the UK until December 6th to further Juliana's training for ministry at the Bosumtwi Clinic in Amakom, on our return we need to begin work on a mission house, mechanization of our bore hole, 
and team/staff housing work. Would you be part of it, it will take quite a few people joining us to reach these expenses. Designate the gifts to 'Project 611' to The Mission Society. Ask us any questions that come to mind. Andrew Jernigan
Our family needs your prayers please.
On Friday my niece, Gabrielle Jernigan, died from a tragic accident at their home on her 6th birthday.
Juliana, Lucas, Luiza and I are in Wichita, Kansas to care and serve my brother and his family (David, Sara, Samantha, Alexis, and Talon Jernigan). My parents who were visiting us in Liverpool have flown here with us as well.
Please pray for comfort and peace during this time. Pray for a perfect memorial service on Friday evening at 6pm in Wichita, KS that I will be organizing. If you have questions, you may call 316-686-5900 to leave a message for me (Andrew) and I will call you back.
The family requests memorials be made to Northfield School and marked 'Gabrielle Jernigan scholarship fund' and The Mission Society, notation: Jernigan Project #611, in her honor to fund the work of Andrew & Juliana Jernigan to their medical mission work in Ghana, West Africa. Both in care of Fleener Funeral Home, PO Box 763, Greensburg, KS 67054-0763
Thank you for your friendship and care,
Andrew Jernigan
Ancestrial Spirits - Possession - Rituals - Ghosts - Supernatural - Dreams
As we embark into life in Amakom on Lake Bosomtwi I am moved by the relevancy of a b
ook I'm reading now titled World of the Spirits by David Burnett. So, I highly recommend this to any of you who will be coming to visit us or who want to know more about the world in which we work. It's written in a clear and easy to read perspective. It focusses a great deal on our people group, the Asante Akan people, so it is not just a general reading on the supernatural spirit realm, but also of our area. The stories are split between India, Papau New Gunea, and Africa, yet comparative with Western Christianity.
As I read it I get a greater understanding of why the people we live and work with do certain things. I feel that it is essential if you are coming on a church team to visit or work alongside us that you read this book, each member of the team. It is a good read and you will learn from it, yet a bit entertaining as well from an outsiders view. Insightful in the Ashanti beliefs regarding dreams, ancestrial spirits, elders, worldview, death and funerals. If you in the middle of it, it's live rather than entertainment.
Pray for us for protection, wisdom and that the power of God and the Holy Spirit will be visible and transformational in the people that encounter us. If you read the book, let us know what you think.
God said in the book of I John 5:3-5 "Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn't difficult. For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God."
From 5-7 Each Morning
Ju and I have been been renewed and refreshed as our time in Liverpool as given us the energy to regroup and pray and study for about 2 hours each morning. I'm reading the book titled Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince, along with reading the word.
The material and concentration of it in the programme that Ju is in (Diploma in Tropical Medicine) is quite heavy and oppressive. The tests almost weekly, the laboratory sessions, the manner of the social student life, and the change of pace being away from Lucas and Luiza much more (10 hours a day) has required a deeper calling to the Lord.
We are in spiritual warfare in Ghana and aware of it, yet here it is at a different level. I'm not sure if it's the masonic powers, the strongholds of medicine, strongholds of tropical diseases, or the territorial aspects of life in Liverpool, and the fact that we are moving forward with the work at Lake Bosomtwi. We are victorious we know that! It's encouraging to know that we are doing great things in the Kingdom and able to proclaim as Jesus said to do, that 'the kingdom of heaven is near'.
As our temporary home in about 2 blocks from the Mersey River with a park alongside it called Otterspool Promenade, we are enjoying being able to take walks and play with kids in the windy cool fall air.
We ask for your prayers as we will be ministering on two Sunday mornings in October, details forthcoming. As well, we ask for prayers for my parents as they will minister here with us all month in October.
We were able to visit a church this last Sunday that was very welcoming and challenging just down from our house. It is Grace Family Church. Last week I got to attend Aigburth Methodist Church, also in our neighborhood for a friendly welcome and a good cup of coffee afterwards.
How lovely is your dwelling place
We've arrived in Liverpool, England and tomorrow Juliana goes to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool. I set out to find our 'dwelling place' tomorrow.
Today I read a great Psalm that I'll share with you. Read Psalm 84 with me:
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. Even the sparrow finds her home there, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young - at a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my Kind and my God! How happy are those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Happy are those who are strong in the Lord, who set their minds on a milgrimage to Jerusalem. When the walk through the valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains! They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. O Lord God Almighty, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Israel. O God, look with favor upon the king, our protector! Have mercy on the one you have annointed. A single day in your courts is better than a thousand any where else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who do what is right. O Lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.
So, as I face going out tomorrow to find a 'dwelling place' for our family I go with joy and peace knowing that the Lord, the God Almighty will guide me to the perfect place. I trust Him with every aspect of our lives. Let's step out into a deeper trust of our Father. He longs for us to surrender more to Him, to draw close to Him, and He will come closer to us.
Click here for info our our local team, Liverpool Football Club
Would you support us in our work as missionaries to Ghana?
View a video clip of worship at the mission clinic with staff and patients on the popular site YouTube, just click here.
Paul writes in one of his letters "When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. and I pray that Christ will bemore and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his mighty poer at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen." It's in this prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3:14-21 that I find a way to pray for you who read this and for myself in our daily walk.
What an amazing God we are living our lives to please. The power and the depth, beyond understanding, of our God gives us inspiration to live a life that would show His love and mercy to others.
Written by Andrew Jernigan
Today I feel like I can identify with the disciples in a scenario I read in the book of Matthew (Matthew 14:13-21). The friends/disciples/followers/devoted workers of Jesus came and told him that where they were working was a 'desolate place' and that 'it is getting late'. They told him 'send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves'.
Can you picture this scene? As I reflect on it I think of how that I would probably responded the same way they did when Jesus said, 'That isn't necessary - you feed them.' "Impossible!" was their response.
Have you been in a seemingly "Impossible!" situation when you knew that you were to obey God, yet it didn't seem like it would be something you were able to do?
Lately both Ju and I have come to realize that these are not impossible situations that we are in at all. We have come to the awareness that we are to live each day with the calm resolve that Jesus will provide what is needed to do what is necessary.
It is really comforting to know that we are not on a conquest to conquor the world, but rather that we are in a life to love people wherever we are, be that in villages on Lake Bosomtwi, Kumasi, Accra, Liverpool, Belo Horizonte, Wichita, Cincinnatti, Birmingham or Sylacauga. We are on a journey of love. God is love and we surrendered our lives, our rights, over to Him so that we can reflect him - so that tells me that it is necessary to be fully equipped to reflect love in life.
If the Master says to do something and the response that comes to mind is Impossible!, then reconsider. He knows what you are capable of doing through His strength. Let's do the impossible, let's reflect His love, His character - in surrendering to Him that is possible to accomplish.
