first and only time we heard any of the handicapped children cry or complain. In the three days we had been there, we would walk by them bent over a huge stainless steel pot washing dishes or scrubbing clothes. Their hands were bent and deformed, but they would always have a huge smile and would be working diligently. We would see them stumble or slide out of a wheel chair, but no tears or complaints. Most of the handicapped students had left for summer break earlier that day, but we noticed one little boy dressed in the MTC uniform sitting all alone on the curb at the edge of the play area. We sat on the curb beside him, put our arms around him and tried to communicate to find out if he was hurt. His name was Prince. He wouldn't tell us what was wrong. He had a pair of sunglasses he had gotten from VBS. He kept turning them over and over in his hands. A group of young boys from the village were playing nearby. As soon as they saw white people, they gathered all around us. They told us the boy's name was Prince. He was crying because his mother had failed come to pick him up. He continued to wail in the deep pain of someone who was forsaken. This was heartbreaking for us. We prayed with him, asking the Lord to help his mother make her way to pick him up. The workers called him for supper and he hobbled off on his club foot. We did not see him anymore that night, but he was on our minds continually.

 

On Monday (6th), the team traveled to Apam. The VBS workers ministered to 2000 children in an outdoor setting with little shade. Their numbers increased every day. We understand the need for all their meetings to strategize crowd control. They did an amazing job.  

 

While they taught the children, we met with the local pastors and wives for training in marriage on Monday and Tuesday morning. At first, we were disappointed at the attendance, and again wondered if we were making any sense. Our translator, Godfrey, was very enthusiastic and seemed to grasp and enjoy the teaching. At the end of the morning, the floor was opened for questions. We could tell by the questions that the pastors sincerely wanted to grasp and apply the material. They repeatedly expressed appreciation for the sessions. On Tuesday (7th) the word had spread and attendance increased. We passed out What is Marriage? and Time for Three books to everyone. Later that week, one of the pastor's wives told Pastor Joe, "I got really mad with my husband and started to react the normal way I do, then I remembered what we were taught at the marriage seminar and I had to stop myself and do what Sam taught."

 

The team traveled back to MTC for an afternoon VBS with 3-400 children from the local village there. Sam joined the girls on the puppet team a couple of afternoons before he came in to prepare for the evening sessions in churches. The girls said that his puppet's mouth didn't open a lot, but it really had a lot of action. This was a fun break for Sam and the girls enjoyed having him on the team.  

 

The Monday evening session began with lively worship which led into the session on purity. Attendance was very good. Godfrey translated and the reaction of the crowd showed us they were intently listening. We told them that worship, no matter how vibrant was worthless if it did not include obedience. The passage on Joseph's life taught not just that extramarital and premarital sex was wrong, but how to resist it. We concluded the service with a challenge to maintain lives of purity from that day forward. Each person who was willing to verbally commit face to face with us was given a ring that glowed in the dark. The lights were shut off and about 50 singles could see how their purity could be a light shining in darkness. Please pray that these young people will be diligent to stand by their commitment to the Lord in a culture that promotes promiscuity.

 

We leave on Friday to take a few days of vacation and minister at a church in Utah. After we return home on August 27th, we will send out Part 2 of how God blessed in Ghana.