“Forbid not the little children"

[Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana] Our journey this morning was into the most remote village I have ever been! After a brief ride down the main highway, we turned off onto a dirt road and drove for miles and miles. We stopped at one school where the students were all waiting in their classroom(s) for the day’s studies. There was one problem for the kids – there were no teachers present! It seems that this to too often the norm for the remote village schools. The teachers, although paid by the government, often fail to show up on time (and sometimes not at all) because of the difficult conditions in many of these places. Our team told the students that we would return shortly for a program and that they should go and collect the villagers to come and hear what we had to share with them. We got back into our Land Rover and continued down the dirt road.

After about 10 minutes we turned off the road into an open field which led us into the bush. We drove and drove through the bush – sometimes with no reminder of even a path. Eventually we came upon a cluster of mud huts where we stopped and asked a few questions. The lady of the place spoke clearly to our pastor and apparently told us that we had missed the fork in the road. After a “photo op” we got back into our vehicle and turned around.

“Wow!” I exclaimed to Pastor Ebenezer, “I missed the fork – I didn’t even see the road.” After a good laugh, we reminded ourselves that this is the reason we come to Ghana, “To go where others refuse to go!”

After, what seemed like an eternity, we arrived at the village school. This open-air, straw roofed, building was the education center for the 20 children who lived in the village. At first, I must confess, I was feeling frustrated that we had traveled so far for such a small group of children, but the Spirit of the Lord reminded me, “Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 19:14) We shared the gospel program with the same passion and conviction as if there had been 1000 students assembled. When the invitation to Jesus was offered, all 22 people (1 teacher and 1 villager was gathered) present invited Jesus into their lives! 
Over and over again pastor Ebenezer proclaimed, “I am so happy we came to this place!” Yes, these sweet people are all precious in the sight of Jesus and now have a wonderful place in our hearts.

On our travels back to the dirt road our capable driver Narh, a Ghanaian himself, kept telling us, “I could not live in this place, I would die! It is too far. It is far, far-far.” Eventually we made our way back to the first school where we had stopped and as promised, the students and called the villagers to join us for our school program. This school saw over 150 individuals indicate their decision for Christ! Thus far, in 77 different ministry venues we have witnessed 20,575 people express publically their commitment to Jesus Christ.