Transforming Lives

What a glorious day! Jeff McMillon presented our church family with a wonderful lesson on transforming lives for God. Four people were baptized this morning, giving theirs lives over to God for transformation!!! PRAISE THE LORD!! I am also thankful to Jeff for using my story as a part of his lesson. The short version is...He told about me being raised in the church, being married at 18, divorced at 21, not attending church for about 11 years or so, and then finding my way back. He spoke about how I have tried to let God show me his plan for me. He also told the church about my plans to move to Ghana.

You know, the decision to move really was an easy decision and it continues to feel like the right thing to do. I do realize that I do not know everything it will take to be successful in Ghana, but I DO KNOW that God will lead me.

Matthew 19:26. Jesus looked at them and said, " With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

As Jeff stated this morning, transformation takes place continuously over time. It is not
something that just happens in one moment. I pray that I will always trust in the Lord, my God and live every day in praise to him. I have a tendency to be more than a little self-sufficient. I must always remember He must Increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30. I must learn to rely on God and look to him for guidance. I pray that my personal transformation never stops.

Our God is Great! Allow him to begin the transformation of your life today.

29th IHCF Medical Missions Seminar

I just got back from attending the annual Medical Missions Seminar in Ft. worth, Tx. I enjoyed making many contacts and learning about many resources. There was a banquet last night with Robert Whittaker as the speaker. He has been a medical missionary in Nigeria for more than 25 years. He spoke about many of his experiences including being kidnapped and shot in 2009. WOW. What a great story. I also met Jessica Stroud, Tom Carr and his wife, and a couple of the board members for IHCF. Jessica and Tom will be going to Ghana with me in February. I also had the privilege of seeing my friend, Julie, from HTI.

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing the sick. When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion.". Matthew 9:35-36

Be prepared....

The days will begin to move even faster now. I am leaving in the morning to head for Ft. worth, TX where I will attend a Medical Missions Seminar. It is only 4 weeks until I leave for Ghana to spend 2 weeks visiting a couple of clinics. I have already packed one suit case for my move....it weighs 50.5 lbs according to my home scales. Sure hope it will be a little less than that on the airport scales. It is packed tight and I hate to open it to remove one small item. I wish I could find a way to take it with me in February, leave the contents with someone and bring the empty suitcase back to pack again. Hmmmmm, I will have to try to figure that one out.

I spent last Sunday with my friend, Harvey, who took me on my original trip to Ghana last year. He wanted to hear about my plans. He will be returning to Ghana in August of this year. I will look forward to seeing him when he visits.

Tonight I met with one of the ministers at church, Jeff, to talk about my move to Ghana and up-coming plans. Jeff has made several trips to Ghana in the past to the Village of Hope and has been very helpful to me. I am sure that he will continue to be very involved and helpful
to me.

As I am writing down the names of those who have helped me and the resources I am able to access, I realize that God is right beside me every day...every step...making sure that the right pieces fall into place. I have no doubt that his hand will continue to guide me in this journey. I will strive every day to remember that he is my Guide, my Rock, my Teacher. I will pray, praise, and worship him as I serve.

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30

...to prepare God's people for works of service... Ephesians 4:12

BE STILL.....

One of the goals I often try to reach is to Slow Down and Enjoy Life More. I was hoping that this year would be the year that I could accomplish this goal. Don't really think the Slow Down part will happen. I am already seeing the days passing so quickly.

I have several cross-cultural books which I am reading to help me adjust and hopefully, not make a major foo-pah in my first days there. I am learning so much and really enjoying the information. I will be going to Ghana with a small group from February 18th - March 5th. International Health Care Foundation (IHCF) has a medical clinic in Yendi and another one in Kumasi. These clinics are North of where I will be. I am looking forward to learning as much as possible from these clinics.

I have also heard from Dan in Ghana. He will be coming to the U.S.around the first week of March and retuned to Ghana the second week of April. So, I have informed the hospital that I will be leaving at the end of March. This will allow me a few days to spend with family and friends, as well as make final preparations for my move.

At this moment, I am spending the evening at my friend, Delise Williams, home. She is a Creative Memories consultant and has ladies over monthly to scrapbook. I am enjoying the time with friends while I down-load CD's to my computer. I know I can't take all my CD's with me, so I am down-loading them. Anyway, we were discussing Bible versus, so here is one of my many favorites......

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. Psalms 46:10

Special Message

When I went to Takoradi, Ghana, last August, I met a medical student, Jerry. Jerry assisted us in performing health screens on our busiest day. He was great! Jerry sent me the following message/wish for my New Year. I want to share it with you.

I wish you good health, so may you enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the love of God, friends and family, and peace within your heart.

I wish you beauty of the nature that you may enjoy the work of God.

I wish you wisdom to choose priorities for those things that matter in life.

I wish you generosity so you may share all good things that come your way.

Mummy, last but not least, I wish you happiness, joy and blessings for this new year, welcome to the year 2011 !!!

(By the way, the term "Mummy" is a term used to show respect).

I am hoping that Jerry will assist with the clinic. A major part of my vision for the clinic is that it will be operated primarily by Ghanaians. Jerry has indicated to me that he is interested in stay in Ghana once he graduates. This is unfortunately not the norm. Most medical students will leave Ghana once they graduate in search of more money in other countries.

New Year...New Path

Every year we wish each other a "Happy New Year!". While I do wish for everyone to be "happy" and the "New Year" represents a new place to begin, I am wondering if there isn't MORE we should wish for as we begin the New Year. I have heard some say "prosperous New Year". Does this mean that with prosperity comes happiness? I know there are many who believe that. I am not one of them, however.

For me, this New Year represents not only the start of a new year, but a new chapter in my life. I do not know how long this chapter will be, but I pray daily that My relationship with God is strengthened by all that happens. God has always been with me, but I have not always been the person he has wanted me to be. Although I have been preparing for my new journey, I have been anxiously awaiting the New Year as it represents the beginning of many new things.

My question to me now is this....why do I not anxiously prepare for each and every day or hour? Don't they represent an opportunity to begin? Below is a well known saying which I wish everyone to start each day with...

TODAY IS A NEW DAY WITH NO MISTAKES

May God bless each and everyone one of us, may we live a life which brings HIM glory and honor, and may we love and enjoy one another as if there is no tomorrow.