You’re Welcome! or Yoezoa (pronounced way zo)!
This is the greeting one receives here in Ghana.
Wow, month number one has come and gone. I cannot say that time flies, because here time stands still in many ways. It’s called African time. A three o’clock meeting might happen at 3:45 or 5:30 for that matter and that is OK. It reminds me of when I lived in the deep South. I believe the heat has something to do with the pace. It’s hard to run, so folks just take it slow. Of course, having a large item on one’s head does not help matters.
This newsletter has a different flavor from the last one. Why? The needs are great and immediate. The focus will be on projects and plans. I will spotlight just a few of the upcoming events with this and subsequent newsletters.
My hope is three-fold. First, but not necessarily most important, is that you will see the practical needs of Afife and our tasks. Second, that you get a personal view of the people here through my eyes and have the questions answered that you would have asked. And third, realize and share in the heart of compassion that God has for these people.
Let’s begin with our batik and tie-dye project. The vision is to train mainly women to learn a skill that will help put food on their table, send their children to school (there are school fees that have to be paid before a child can attend public school), and keep a roof over their head (even a thatched one).
Afife, Ghana
Plans and ProjectsEstablished - Batik and Tie-Dying Classes
Each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 15 women gather under a shelter in the Adopt-A-Village (AAV) complex to create fabulous patterns using the art of batik and tie-dye. They are sponsored at ¢200,000 cedis each month (about $18.70) while in training**. Their teacher, Francis, creates lovely patterns using foam blocks and helps these women, and sometimes men, learn how to set the patterns correctly, mix dyes, etc. At this time, the patterns are done in either one or two colors.
**Due to a current shortage in sponsors/support, we have had to postpone class for the past two weeks. There is no fabric to work with.
After the patterns are chosen, the women spread out the material on tables and melt a large block of wax using propane or when propane is not readily available charcoal is used. The pattern side of the foam is dipped into the wax, and then shaken to remove the excess wax. The pattern is pressed lightly onto the fabric like stamping. They can usually get two or three stamps from one dip.
The teacher checks for accuracy lining up the patterns, using the right amounts of wax, and following the grain of the fabric. The material has to be lifted from the table soon after the pattern is stamped to keep the wax and fabric from sticking. Once the pattern is done, the material is put aside to dry and later dye. Two women work on each pattern.
The next day, the mixing of the dyes is done using boiling water and color powders. These powders are very expensive (¢800,000 cedis or $73 for one kilo) so the more patterns and fabric we have, the less waste. After dying, the cloth is then dipped into boiling water to extract most of the wax from the material and is then laid out in the hot sun to dry. The steps are repeated for each color involved. Afterwards, the fabric is ironed, folded and brought in for approval. Now it is ready for sewing or selling. Colors can also be stamped into the fabric using the foam block.
The students use one square yard of material for practice. These pieces will be used to practice in our sewing classes.
Tie-dying is an art in itself. The same women who are learning to batik are also instructed in tie-dying. They practice folding and tying the fabric in different patterns, mixing colors and then dipping.
The women are evaluated regularly and given a certain amount of time to learn the skills. If they are successful, they receive a certificate and can then train others and are ready, with help, to set up a business of their own. For those who struggle in learning, we help them find something at which they can succeed.
Our goal is to help a family make it without reliance on a welfare system and also to produce good quality products to market abroad where the return on investment is much higher. This will pay for additional training and help many more people here.
Because our supply is limited, we have to build our stock before we can market in any sizable way. In the future, we want to distribute online using direct ordering and shipping. Some ideas in addition to our clothing line are table sets (placemats, napkins, napkin rings), table runners, a beach package (beach bags, wrap skirts and visors) to match. And even the direct sale of material in different size packages (i.e. three different patterns of batik or tie-dye fabric of three yards each) is being considered. Here are some samples of our products. We plan to brighten up our selections as we purchase more dyes.
Immediate Needs for Batik/Tie-dye - We need a continuous supply of dyes, wax, fuel, fabrics and support for the women to continue and grow this training, until we can really begin to market the products. We would like to buy fabric by the bolt. Here in Ghana, like the US, buying in quantity saves money. These women are paid ¢20,000 cedis or $18.70 per month during this vocational training and believe it or not, this helps feed their children. More ways to help is listed in the table below.
Sewing Classes
Sewing classes began today and did we have fun. There were eight women and one papoose. It was great. They are learning how to use electronic sewing machines and the excitement over buttonholes and fancy stitches was great.
We have a group of talented seamstresses who currently use manual sewing machines. These non-electric machines use a hand crank on the wheel to work. We have eight new electronic Brother sewing machines to give to the women who successfully complete these classes. In turn, they will help us with small sewing projects here at AAV. They are not only being trained on how to use these sewing machines, but basic sewing methods such as using and laying patterns correctly on the fabric, pattern size adjustments, etc. Most of these women create freehand without the 
use of a pattern; sometimes the results are less than desirable. These skills will help them create a higher quality product for market.
Sewing supplies are always needed, including thread, needles, and additional fabric. (The sewing machines we currently have are Brother EX660’s.) We plan to use the test pieces of material from the batik and tie-dye classes to train this class. Once they are trained, we will hire some of these seamstresses to create the merchandise mentioned in the batik section. All of them will be able to make money to help support their families with these skills especially in this locale where everyone’s clothes are handmade. But better still, with the additional skills of using patterns, their future can be expanded to reach further.
Adopt-A-Future
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Monthly gift
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Sponsor a woman to learn batik / tie-dye ($20 will go to the woman to help support her while in training, $20 will go toward the trainer and materials.)
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$40.00
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Sponsor a woman to learn how to sew ($20 will go to the woman’s support, $10 will help replenish supplies)
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$30.00
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Adopt-A-Class
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Monthly gift
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Batik/Tie-Dye - Fabric, dyes, wax or fuel
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$20.00
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Seamstress Class -Sewing materials (patterns, thread, needles, etc.)
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$20.00
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Adopt-A-Business
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One Time Gift
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Batik and Tie-dye Business – Starter kit of supply materials to begin a full business (dyes, fabric, string, wax, and fuel)
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$500.00
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Seamstress Business - Sewing machines used to train and then given to the seamstress graduates.
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$500.00
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Additional Suggestions:
There are no sewing patterns here, so if you have some that you would like to donate, please send them to the Ghana address listed below. Woman in this region wear dresses. Only in the larger cities will you see women with pants if at all. Children dress like children everywhere and men’s dress varies from flowing tunics to golf shirts and slacks. Note: it takes at least a month to get any type of parcel here. If you ship to the AAV address in Florida, it can be brought over during mission trips. Please contact Tom Mull at tmull@operationlightforce.com for more information on shipping items from Florida.
September, 2007 Project
Public Toilet Construction in Afife
We have a short-term mission project coming up this September. Public toilets are desperately needed in Afife. The original estimate was over $12,000. Much of the costs were craftsmen charges (labor). Victor Barousse, our Administrator in America, is bringing people over to help build these facilities and is raising some of the financial support for this project. With the additional help of people of the village of Afife, (we already have the councilman’s support in gathering the necessary people) the work on this project will be started and completed during this mission trip. By utilizing volunteers, we will save more than $4,000 from the original estimate. If you would like to help us financially, please designate your contributions to Public Toilet Project-Afife in the memo field of your check. Listed below are specific needs and cost estimates from the contractors. If you would like to actually come and be a part of building, please contact Victor Barousse at the email listed at the end of this newsletter. I have a place for you here.
A Personal View of Ghana
Now I know some of you are wondering how I am adjusting to Ghana. Let me give you a three day pseudo-diary beginning with Sunday just so you’ll be at peace.
On Sunday, my day generally starts at about 3:45am. Why? I don’t know; it is when I wake up. I pray, read and sometimes study until about 5:00 or 5:30 then up to shower. The only problem is the water, if it actually comes on, doesn’t come on until about 6:00a.m. So while I wait, I go to the kitchen and see if I have enough water to make coffee. Now the only problem with this is that we are in a draught emergency right now and electricity is being rationed. It is off right now, as a matter of fact. Thank the Lord for laptops and batteries. So IF I can heat my “water”, then I have a cup of java and wait and pray for water to shower with. (As I write, it has been three days since we have had water.) They do haul water in large plastic garbage pales from the local suppliers (I don’t ask who or where, I’m afraid to, LOL). Then I can take a “bucket bath”. So with my cup of java and my garbage pail of water, I am ready for the day.
Church starts around 9:00 a.m. although that is African time. Remember I told you about that earlier. So at about 10:30 I get to church for service. There is a Bible study that starts at 9 or 9:30 but it is in Ewe, so I wouldn’t understand it at this point anyway. Woa Yra Wo Ha (That’s God bless you too). Service ends anywhere from 1:30 p.m. to
3:15 p.m. Some churches are tin roofs and dirt floors only, so the chickens, lizards and pigmy goats are regular attendees. After church, I drink malt. It is a tradition and it is how people honor their guests. It is non-alcoholic soda that tastes like sweet chocolate beer. We visited some shut-ins after church one Sunday (see picture on last page). The places people live and the conditions are beyond comprehension. I’ll talk more about that in another newsletter. But yet these people have such gratitude for the simplest things. After getting home, I have chicken for dinner. Visitors come and go throughout the week; mostly pastors and their wives. There are lots of very nice folks here.
Monday begins with the questions… Water? Electricity? For how long?, then on to prayer and work. My office is about 200 feet from the house so I walk to work several times a day. If the internet is up, I check email and really enjoy hearing from you. I cannot always respond due to system limitations, but I do when I can. Monday is normally batik and tie-dye class day so I go out and speak with the women. There is one little baby girl (a bit over a year old, who is scared of this white woman). We all laugh at how she screams and pushes me away. I told her mom I was going to get out in the sun until that baby accepts me. That might take a while.
Tuesday, same questions, then off to work. It may be shopping day. The closest “real” grocery store is three hours away in Accra. I thought Aflao would have a store, but as you can see, it’s not true. I will have to take a picture of the post office sometime. It’s scary. I think that is why the mail takes over a month to get here. They only deliver once a week and maybe they never hear from the postal drivers again. This picture is actually within a block of the post office, but this is the main street and the post 
office is not on the main street. Being white and a woman and a driver makes the day fun. Most children stare, but will respond to a wave as I pass by with a smile and wave. Women here tend not to drive so everyone honks at me and men holler when I drive by. I think they are saying, “NUKA WORM NELE???” What are you doing??? Or LOOK OUT!
Because we are very close to the Togo border, there are police checkpoints at almost every village. They will generally recognize the truck and let me through, but when they want to pull me over, they wave me down. They may ask questions (Where are you coming from? Where are you going? What business do you have?) or they want to get married to an American or they want prayer. They carry machine guns, but I think they carry their bullets in their pockets like Barney Fife. I hope so anyway. Last week on the way to Accra, the Pastor was driving without his license. When we got checked and he was found without it, they arrested the car. They didn’t care about him. It took some serious prayer and talk to get the car released. Each week brings new opportunities to meet with my resource people for the projects. We are driving to Ho next week to meet with a woman who has the opportunity to start an orphanage right away. I want AAV to help her get set up. We’ll expand to Afife at the right time, but she has four to five children needing a home now. That’s why we’re here, to partner and work together for God’s glory by being a blessing. I’ll talk more on that next time.
The Lord bless you and give back to you one hundredfold for everything you do.
| Adopt-A-Village Project |
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Materials for public toilet project:
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Unit or total costs
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Bags of Cement (320 bags needed)
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$2,880.00 total
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Roofing materials
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$280.00 total
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Facial board
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$68.00 total
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2×4s for trusses
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$245.00 total
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2×2 wood
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$40.00 total
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WaWa board
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$39.00 total
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3 loads of gravel
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$540.00 total
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6” PVC Pipe – 13’
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$195.00 total
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Nails for entire project
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$60.00 total
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¼ Rod – 3pieces
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$6.90 total
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Board for doors – 16 needed
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$160.00 total
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2.5” Hinges
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$7.00 total
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Bolts needed for entire project
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$35.00 total
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Water
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$150.00 total
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Sand
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$300.00 total
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Steel binding
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$1,390.00 total
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Miscellaneous materials
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$500.00
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Total Project Cost Estimates
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$7,500.00
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If you would like to give to the needs or sponsor through “adoption”, please send your inquiries and/or contributions to:
Adopt A Village, Inc.
PO Box 3535
Plant City, FL 33563
Please contact Tom Mull at tmull@operationlightforce.com for more information on shipping items from Florida.
If you have any questions at all, please send me an email to dww5653@yahoo.com.
If you would like to send a package or mail to me here in Ghana, my address is:
Diane Westcott
Adopt-A-Village Foundation/Ghana
PO Box AF 471
Aflao, V/R, Ghana
To contact Victor Barousse about the Public Toilet project and missions trip, please email him at: matt2414@clearsurfusa.com.
Thank you so much again and God bless…
Diane Westcott
June 28th, 2007
Adopt A Village Newsletter
Afife, Ghana May, 2007
Welcome to Ghana!
I’m finally here and for a while I thought my trip would have to be postponed. My visa arrived at 9:00 a.m. departure morning and off to the Bridgeport to catch the shuttle to JFK airport immediately following.
Upon my arrival in Accra, Ghana, I was greeted by Mary Ellen Ciganek, Director of Adopt a Village and Stacy, one of our many visitors. I also met a friend and ministry associate of Mary Ellen’s, Hadassah on the flight over.
While in Accra, we took a trip to the bank and I withdrew $100, which equals 1,000,000 cedies. It is funny to carry around a bag load of money because 10,000 cedies equals approximately $1 and that is the largest denomination I received. I was given a black plastic bag full of cedies. Sometimes you have to go in with a large backpack just to hold the money. Imagine if the only bills you could carry around were one dollar bills. Now you understand.
While at the bank, Pastor Emmanuel and Richard, the Administrator of Adopt A Village (AAV) came to greet us. We then all took a trip to the fruit market. The fruit and vegetables here are wonderful. We continued on to the grocery store and shopped. I am told it is the best American market around. 
Many brands I did recognize. Then after making one wrong turn, we headed to Afife.
The land is truly beautiful. This part of Ghana is very flat but full of lush green vegetation. The wild animals are few, but pigmy goats are in abundance. At a convenience store, I notice a tree full of hanging nests and many birds had formed a colony of sorts. That was fun to see.
My first week in Ghana
Friday, May 4th – The children at the complex were very happy to meet us and enjoyed the bubbles that Hadassah brought for them.
Saturday, May 5th - For an early birthday gift, Mary Ellen took us over to some beautiful waterfalls. It was about a four-hour drive. The mountains in that area are wondrous. The district overseer’s wife called us during our trip and found out we were heading in their direction so invited us to visit. Pastors Earnest and Grace were more than gracious. They shared photos of their trip to the U.S. and a malt beverage with some meat pies.
We arrived at the falls in the later afternoon. They were spectacular (as you can see) and well worth the drive and walk. What you can’t see in the picture are the thousands of bats hanging all over the cliffs around the falls.
Sunday, May 6th – Church was joyful. All parts of the service have to be translated to Ewe, the local dialect. Pastor welcomed us and prayed great blessings over me; a wonderful birthday indeed! We got out of church about 3:00 p.m. (that is not a typo) and came home to have dinner and rest. No more complaints about service lasting too long in America. LOL
Monday, May 7th - Watching some students learn tie-dye and the art of batik was both interesting and fun. How they do it in the 100 degree heat is incredible.
I met with Godwin and David the IT and electrical persons to get some information about the network and internet systems.
The first downside of the week was during the night when I got sick, but the Lord is faithful. I think my body was just protesting to all the changes.
Tuesday, May 8th - I took the day off to pray and rest. I slept a lot.
Wednesday, May 9th – Richard took Hadassah, Stacy (who is now called Rebecca) and me for a long ride. We saw pig town known for the pigs running around wild. Pigmy goats are a common site everywhere. Then we went on to Keta which sits between the Keta Lagoon and the Sea of Guinea south of us. They mine for salt on the Lagoon. 
After it is piled up, thatch is put over it and run through it so any water is deflected away from the salt. See picture. It is hand-bagged and shipped off on small trucks to sell.
On the way out of Keta, we stopped for some grilled corn on the side of the road. Six ears for 5,000 cedies, about $.50. We took some great pictures of the fishing boats on the shore of the Sea of Guinea. These boats are made of one solid trunk of a tree and it takes about 30 people or so to get them in and out of the water each day. It was beautiful and I had to put my feet in the water. I’d say it was about 80°F. Perfect!
From Keta, we went to another small town. It was market day there. Each village rotates their market days, during which the whole town is a bustle of excitement as people gather with their wares to sell. Most bring and sell their goods from bowls on their heads or from small tables. They continue well into the night using small lanterns. Driving is definitely hazardous at night as people walk along the edge of the road going here and there and with lots of very overweight trucks zigzagging to avoid the many potholes in the road, one prays before and after each trip.
After that, we went on the Aflao, a border town to Togo. Because we are so close to the border, we have to go through police check points at just about every village. Most of the time, we wave and they wave us through, but the police here carried machine guns. I don’t really think they have bullets, but I don’t want to find out. It was also market day in Aflao, so after we stopped at the Post Office to see about mail, and then we picked up some fruits and veggies, chicken and water. We met some young Lebanese men (the only other white people there). They were as happy to see us and we were them. Many of the very little children have never seen white people and are afraid of us.
We arrived home after 4:00 p.m., ate dinner, then went on to church. Mary Ellen is preaching a Woman’s Conference in Dzodze (pronounced Jojah like the southern state). It was a great service. It is customary for the Pastor and his family to invite us to have a beverage after service. We had juice and came on home.
Thursday, May 10th –I have been working on two sewing courses and a Windows XP basics course for some new classes. We will be training some ladies how to use the new sewing machines next week. We have seven brand new electronic Brothers sewing machines, so I have one in my place to learn about it. One need we have here at the complex is for sewing supplies like thread, extra needles, and fabric. We are running low on the fabric used for the tie-dye and batik lessons and which will supply this class as well.
Batik and Tie-dye classes were held Monday – Thursday (except Wednesday since we had no water). They are very beautifully designed. It is a very manual process which takes several days, but impressive.
We have some seamstresses who have large posters of African-designed outfits. They take orders from these pictures, take measurements and make them all by hand. One of our goals is to make these available online in the future. We don’t currently have the ability to supply the demand yet. For now we will take outfits on our returns home and will merchandise them in Florida and on a by-order basis to interested parties.
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Local and Region
Electricity
Electricity in Ghana is in crisis right now. Ghana is suffering from a bit of a draught, and because hydro-electric power is their only source, energy is rationed. We are supposed to lose power once every five days from 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., but many times the electricity is out every day for a period of many hours (3 – 12). We have a generator but the cost for fuel is astronomical.
Water
Another issue we currently have is the main water tank in the village is being rebuilt and the government ran out of money to complete the project, so we have to haul water into the complex. We run out every few days, so we use ingenious ways to bath. Large water buckets are placed in our bathrooms to help us. We had to wait an extra day without water yesterday because there is a shortage of water and our current supplier didn’t have it. There are not a lot of suppliers of good water out there, but they just increased the price of water as well.
The escalated cost of running a generator 12 plus hours a day (about $50 for 12 hours) and refilling the tanks with water are quickly depleting our funds. If you would like to help us with this, I will thank you now.
________________________________________________________________
Spiritual Lessons
On the spiritual side of things, I have been intrigued with learning about Trokosi from a man whose father was a JuJu priest and mother a Trokosi. Afife is one of the hubs for this idol worshipping practice in this area.
I also learned about the marine spirit practice. It is fascinating, but very heavy spiritually. We pray before and after learning of these things. It is important.
There will be more information about this in upcoming newsletters. It is good for people to know that these things actually exist and they are truly real and very powerful in the lives of these people and beyond.
The most wonderful part is that our Lord Jesus Christ is greater than any god or idol or demon in hell. He won the victory when He died for our sins. He defeated the enemy and crushed his head. We now have to help people to understand the power of the one true Almighty God.
God bless you all this week. Please keep us close to your heart and in your prayers. I am counting on you.
Hugs,
Diane Westcott
June 28th, 2007
MARY ELLEN’S REPORT
Where has all the time gone? It has now been more than 2 months since I landed on the shores of Africa. As I walked down the steps of the plane I heard the words of “welcome home” deep within me. By the grace of God I have felt right at home from the beginning. When my curling iron burnt up I could only laugh and say “have your way Lord, burn every ounce of vanity out of me”. It seems as if I go through daily decrease, giving up my preconceived needs and necessities.
Much of the locality that we are in, are centuries behind in development. The way of life is so primitive that it takes your breathe away. Food is often prepared in outdoor kitchens with wood or dried coconut shells as fuel. Clothes are washed in large bowls and you see them hanging on trees or laying on bushes to dry. Walking everywhere is a way of life. Education is not a requirement and therefore only about 40% of the children go to school and less than that get a complete education. Tonight, when you lay your head on your bed, be sure to thank God for it. A great many people do not have beds. They sleep on mats on cement or clay mud floors. Families with 5 or more children live in 2 small rooms with often outside bathrooms and kitchens. The thatched roofs often leak and the clay walls sometimes crumble. While you are thanking God for your conveniences, add these: hot water out of the faucet, air conditioning, shopping centers, washers and dryers, television, INTERNET ACESS IN HOMES, and water from faucets.
I want to tell you what they do have. There is a peace and simplicity of the people. They are filled with a love that flows to all. If there is child in need, someone comes forth and helps. There is a respect from children. They know when to speak and when to be quiet. They respond to correction. You have never been to a prayer meeting until you have been to an African prayer meeting. People come from all over on foot. The last prayer meeting I attended lasted from 9:00 am-3:00 pm. There was praise and worship and prayer. Everyone dramatically participated in prayer. They were diligent in seeking answers from God.
As this is the year of exploration, we are busily exploring how we can best be of help. So much is needed. We are about to acquire an apartment complex that was built for the white man 7 years ago when they came to work on the roads. It has been vacant for 3+ years. It will take some remodeling however, there is so much potential. It comes with 7 offices for our use. We will be able to offer an Extension Campus of Life Christian University. Many of the people are very excited about this. We plan to also have a literacy program for all ages. We have designated some of the apartments to start an orphanage. After the orphanage will come a school. There is so much that needs to be done. Where does one start. I believe we have found a place to start. This complex will allow us to start some of the ministries laid upon Tom’s, Rich’s, Rusty’s, Pastor Emmanuel’s, Pastor Jeff’s, and my heart.
May God richly bless you,
Mama Hope, Mama Morkporkpor
Mary Ellen Ciganek
drciganek@yahoo.com
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TOM’S REPORT
God continually stretches us when we follow Him! I have been operating far outside of my comfort zone in leading Adopt A Village. It is the most rewarding yet most challenging and seemingly impossible venture in which I have ever been involved. Yet, I sense a peace due to the fact I can’t do it, only God is able to accomplish His will.
The trip in July was awesome!
We saw hundreds come to Christ and many healed.
We established many strong lasting relationships that will be developed.
We purchased land for the school/orphanage.
We established Adopt A Village Foundation/Ghana which will enable us to operate in Ghana.
We coordinated medical clinics.
We met business and government leaders.
We engaged legal representation in Ghana.
We leased a complex with twelve two bedroom apartments and seven offices to become our initial headquarters, orphanage, school, and training center.
Most days we worked twelve to fifteen hours with time for only one or two meals per day. It was hot and several of us got sick from either malaria pills or something we ate. It was a wonderful and life changing experience because we knew we were in the perfect will of God and the love we received from the people in Afife and Keta was genuine and special.
We also saw the love and respect that Dr. Mary Ellen Ciganek had already developed with the people. They had given her a new name, Mama Morkporkpor (Mōpōpō), which means Mother Hope. She had given hope to many in the three weeks she preceded us and this has only grown in the last two months. She plans a pastor’s conference for the lower Volta region at the requests of the District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God. The conference will be open to all denominations which will give her the opportunity to expand Adopt A Village throughout the region. In our January trip we plan to expand to Ho and Aflao in addition to Keta and Afife.
Mary Ellen will be returning for a brief visit to the US in November and will be available for a limited number of speaking engagements. Call 813-757-3121 if you would like to have her speak at your church or civic organization and see visibly what Go with estimated costs of $2300 is doing in Ghana.
We are planning our next trip from December 30 to January 9 or 16.
Contact 813-757-3121 or email tmull@adoptavillageinc.com if you are interested in going as space is limited for each date.
Adopt A Village has now been birthed out of Operation Light Force and has it’s own 501 c 3 status. The vision of Adopt A Village required full time attention as does the vision of Operation Light Force. It was also becoming confusing for donors as to where their money was going and both segments were growing too rapidly to remain together. We still work hand in hand and Adopt A Village owes a great debt of gratitude to Operation Light Force and Richard for enabling us to be established.
Great things have happened and are happening, but we are only beginning. We need people, churches, and business to join us and bring about spiritual, physical and economic transformation in Ghana. Our headquarters in Afife is located in a stronghold of idolatry which has held them in bondage for centuries. It is time to change, so become part of Adopt A Village. Read the strategic plans (how you can help) and learn about the Adopt A Village can on www.adoptavillageinc.com . We can supply you with cans ($10 each including shipping and handling) or you can soon download from our website (www.adoptavillageinc.com) Please pray, give, sponsor, go and pray! We need you to become our partner!
Blessing,
Tom Mull
Director
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THE FISH STORY BY RICHARD MULL
“A Fish Story” (with pictures to prove it)
In April, 2004 I was priveleged to travel to Ghana’s Volta Region to hold crusades. Upon arriving in the villages I was struck by the level of poverty and the apparent curse that affected everything. The crops were poor, the fishing was poor, the land and the people seemed to be living under a powerful curse. Working with several local pastors we began to discern the root of the curses. The land has historically been an idol worshipping stronghold. The churches are small, lack unity and have had very little impact on the region.
Our European and American forefathers came into the region and introduced Alcohol, slavery and other forms of narcotics. The people would sell their children to the slave traders for more Brandy. Because of the abuses, missionaries didn’t fare well in the region. Many were killed, buried alive or forced to flee for their lives.
The Lord led me to repent for the sins of my forefathers before the people. As I stood in the place of our ancestors and asked God and the people to forgive us for the sinful abuses, slavery and exploiting their land and people, many in the crowd would often weep. They told me later that they were stunned to see a white man humble himself.
They in turn repented for how they and their forefathers had treated the missionaries and others who came before. Many repented of idol worship and there was a real sense that God was breaking curses off of the land. I asked everyone to pick up handfuls of dirt and pray over the dirt that God would begin to heal the land. We scooped up water and held it up to the lord and asked God to bless the water.
6 months later we sent over a video projector with copies of the Tranformation 1 and Tranformation 2 as well as Let the Seas Resound. These are powerful videos that every church needs to watch. When the pastors of the villages gathered to watch these videos it lead to great prayer and a 21 day fast. On the 5th day of the fast as the pastors prayed over the radio to be heard by half a million people God did a miracle that has greatly impacted this region. Here is “The Fish Story”: These fish had not been caught in this region for over 40 years. There had never been a catch that rivaled this catch. The next day the fishermen caught twice as much. The picture doesn’t do justice to what happened. Picture this for miles down the shoreline and you will see what happened that day and the next day.
The word all around the village was that God sent the fish when the Christians prayed. Transformation is coming!
December 31st, 1969
