The Story of Michael's Scars

   "He is so sick he is not even crying anymore", the mother told the fetish priest as she held the baby in her arms. After performing his rituals and invoking the spirits, the screams came in the infant's mouth - his face was being cut and scared as a symbol that that life had been consecrated to demons. Michael survived the sickness and that day.

   Years later, as a teenager, Michael came to love and know and gave himself completely to Jesus Christ. All the bondage from the past was broken as he grew in the Word and understood that God had created him for a purpose.

When we met him, Michael was... 

                                              Read more... 

Current system of collecting (rain) water at the clinic

Spending the night in the ward

In these last months, Andrew has been working hard to get things up and running at the clinic, with many meetings and professional assessments at the site (electricians, architect and plumbers) to find out how to better equip the buildings - specially with running water - and to construct our home. In the meantime, we found out that the road from Amakom to the main road has never been worse, and that the clinic staff is actually isolated at this point - no cars will venture to make it to that side (we can't thank God enough for a four-wheel drive vehicle!!!). We are excited to be able to, in the process, connect with the local church and meet some national men and women completely dedicated to serve their communities, no matter what the circumstances are!

So Andrew is spending the night in the ward, at the clinic, as I write. No, he is not sick! But since he has meetings with some of the chiefs of the villages of Bosumtwe area early (as early as 5am!) tomorrow morning, he decided to avoid the two hour drive and greet some of the staff at the clinic tonight. Pray with me as these meetings have a very important spiritual meaning - we declare favor and victory through our King!

One year mark: baby steps

August is finally here! One year has passed since our arrival in Ghana. Luiza has been a good reminder of the months that are behind us, as she changed so much in this time. She learned to sit up, to give her first steps and at this point, she is running all over, chasing our cat and dogs! She is also venturing in unexplored territories (our yard) by herself, and rejoicing in new sounds that she has been capable of producing - at the same time she is listening to English, Portuguese and Twi... I never thought I would be able to identify so well with my daughter in this time of her life, as my mind also works (I wish as fast!) to learn a new language, to produce new sounds and, inevitably, as I venture out with baby steps into unknown territory.

As we continue to pray and press forward to the goals set before us,

we remain in HIS service,

Andrew, Juliana,

Lucas and Luiza