2013.02.12 14:24
James & Denese Forkkio Newsletter (2-12-13)
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It is a hot and dusty day as we approach the village of Gomashekope outside of Aflao. There is tension in the air as there has been a disagreement earlier between members of the mission team. Because of this disagreement two other members decide to not join us on this field visit. When we arrive at the village, we take a moment to pray for the two yeveshi women that we are about to encounter. Neither of the two are Christians and it had been some time since ECM worker Judith had been able to follow-up with them since their liberation in 2010.
After exchanging pleasantries in Ewe, Judith proceeds to state the purpose of our visit. We begin with a prayer by Judith that is then closed with a chorus of “Amen” by all. With Judith translating to the women and Mary translating to James, we proceed to share the Gospel. 10 meters away in the background, there is a young woman breast feeding her infant. She gazes sternly at us as if she is wondering what we are doing here. After questioning the former yeveshi women, we learn that neither of the two women knows anything about Jesus Christ nor do they know anything about the Bible. So, James begins to expound beginning from the book of Genesis.
After some time, it becomes clear that these two are not interested in hearing the Word today. One woman abruptly leaves the conversation and begins to feed her chickens. Then, she begins tending to a pot that she has on her fire, while the other woman listens halfheartedly and looks longingly at her friend who has escaped the incessant drone of their Christian visitors who will not keep quiet about this Jesus person. Soon, the other woman returns, at which time, as if on cue, her friend promptly chances her exit. She begins to fiddle around with her household goods in her quest to find a reason to elude us.
Finally, as we close our presentation of the Gospel, we look at each other and despairingly ask if either of the women is ready to accept Christ today. The two begin to thank us for coming and say that they have heard our message and will reflect upon it. So, we begin to gather our things and begin our departure. As we are preparing to leave, Mary greets the young woman who was nursing her child. The girl suddenly breaks into a smile and asks Mary, “What church are you from?” Mary explains that we are not from any church, but that we are missionaries sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, Mary asks the young girl, if she knows Christ. The girl responds that she knows of Jesus, but very little.
Her name is Ameley Tokor and she has twin daughters. She is from Togo and has moved to the Aflao area because of her Ghanaian husband who at the moment is living in Accra. They have been attending a church, but she knows very little about the Gospel. James begins to explain about the good news of God’s grace towards us as sinners and how we no longer have to be separated from God, if we will only accept the sacrifice that was made for us by Christ. James explains to her that the love that God has for her is even greater than the love that she has for her little daughters. Using John 11:25-26 and Roman 10:9-10, we then ask her if she wishes to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Ameley says yes. And so, we pray with her.
How marvelous is our Father! We thought that our visit in this village was a failure, but the Lord had someone else in mind when we entered the village of Gomashekope. No one else accepted Christ on this day, but we felt the joy of the Holy Spirit throughout the day because of how the Lord showed us that His will is sovereign and that we can do all things through Him. February 19th marks the one year anniversary of the day that we first arrived in Ghana. It has been a tumultuous time, but we have been blessed in that we have been able to witness the Lord’s work in the lives of many. A week ago, we witnessed our first water baptisms as many gathered on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea to be baptized. Since we have been here, we have witnessed 16 souls coming to Christ. We have listed their names on the next page, so that you may pray for them. Please do not be concerned with the fact that you cannot pronounce their names correctly. It is their remembrance in prayer that matters. These are babes in Christ and they will need our constant prayers as they try to grow in the midst of a perilous battlefield.
Thank you for being part of our ministry. We appreciate each of you. May God richly bless you!
Love,
James & Denese
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