Schools, Market, Banku and Cedric

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Good morning everybody!! It's Wednesday July 30th at 7:18 AM. We will head to Logba Tota this morning. About a 3 hour drive, but if traffic, which is "CRAZY," prevents it, it might take 5 or 6 hours.

Yesterday was a FULL day, with getting supplies, delivering them to two schools on Community 4 and then lunch at Richie's, where I experienced Banku. A mashed corn ball that is very dense. I took a few fingers full of the banku and then dipped it into a soup made from okra, some greens, tomato and a tiny crab. It all tasted sour. Both the banku by itself and the soup. Slimey and sour. But it was an eating experience that left me satisfied and I would do it again.

Anita won't touch it and has no interest in it! She had Yam and we all shared pineapple and Anita's favorite drink here, Faygo Pineapple!!! I stuck to water (pronounced Wah-Tah)

Here's some more pics



I just HAVE to get in a mix it up with the kids. They LOVE to meet you and I believe that shaking their hands, shows they you are indeed interested in getting to know them, rather than just looking at them and taking a few pics.

The kids here are very well disciplined. There are scriptures on every wall. They pray and play and learn. Sounds a lot like what the USA used to be like.



Cedric is a boy that fell into a fire some years ago. His family did not have the funds and he was going to have to leave the hospital. Davi Trotti, a GOOD woman who has traveled to Ghana with Anita and on her own many times, stepped up and met the need. I was telling Cedric, in no uncertain terms that, "GOD is Especially Fond of You!"



Teachers with much appreciated supplies


Banku


Angelic Anita with Evelyn and Richie at the market bargaining for supplies for a party we will throw for 70 kids at a school in a remote village in Logba Tota.


Anita and crew of Evelyn, Richie, Chief Takyi (Tachee) and a delivery boy, with supplies for Logba. I still don't know how they put all that in the trunk of this tiny car.




Anita walking through the outside part of the Ghana Market

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Wish I had time to post more. I have a lot of videos I need to get a couple up to you tube so you can see AND hear this experience.

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** We're waiting on the van for this morning's trip and I thought I'd take advantage of the down time and share some interesting things I've witnessed here.

The men here will urinate almost anywhere. As you drive along the road, you'll see numerous men, most turn their back to the road, but not all, standing there just shooting into the breeze so to speak. It becomes funny after the initial shock.

The food certainly is for a different palate than we are accustomed to in the USA. Things here are either bland, spicy or sour.

Everyone has a spirit of Akwaaba (welcome). People will just shout out, welcome to Ghana, or Akwaaba. As we walked through the market place, as busy as an ant hill with bodies scurrying in every direction, and exciting with sights, smells and sounds, we hear "Obruni" (white person) and "Obolo" (fat). I took no offense at it. There's a gracious plenty of heavy folks here too. Anita took a hit to the heart from it though.

The other morning Rev James and I just went for a walk around this ever and fast growing neighborhood. we stumbled upon a school yard that he did not know existed. we met a teacher and I inquired the cost. It is $13 per term. there are three terms per year. So $54 per child per year. These kids are from poor homes and some are homeless.

I thought how dreadful it would be if a kid could only attend one or two terms because their parents could not afford the rest of the year. I felt GOD tell me, "You can help."

Remember the change I rolled up? Well I reached in my pocket and handed them $50. It was graciously received and I'm told it will go a LONG way there helping the children.

The head master came to our home this morning and asked for me, as I had left my card with the teacher. He explained that my gift was an answer to many prayers. That some of the children and parents live in the local dump and scavenge for food and stuff to sell for money to meet other needs. He says these kids come to school filthy and use a piece of twig to scrape their teeth.

Folks, this is what I came to Ghana for. We have a busy schedule but this is something that GOD led us to and I feel it way down deep. The school is being forced to be torn down as it is old and rickety and the neighborhood is being molded into a high dollar community. They have been given some land by a chief. I want to help this school!

I want you to help me help this school! Please commit this to prayer and ask GOD to reveal your level of commitment to it. I'm crying as I write this and praying the Holy Spirit convict you to share this with others. I am going to make a video of the people in the dump and hope it rip your hearts out for them.

The name of the school is "Gates of Jerusalem Academy." Please consider saving your change for a year and allow us to use it for the benefit of these kids. Anita and I have agreed that we shall visit there again to inquire of immediate needs we can meet with what resources we have now, before we leave Ghana.


I Love every one of you so very much that my heart aches, I miss you and give thanks to GOD for you!

Yesterday, 7-29-08 was my son's 27th birthday. Happy birthday David Lee Waters Jr., !!!

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Peace out -

David Lee Waters Sr.,

Orphanage - Market Shopping

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What a way to start the day !!





Today we go purchase and deliver $200 worth of supplies for the Eban House Orphanage. I am happy to report that the suspects in the brutal attack and rape of the care taker there have been caught and identified and are in custody.

I left some things out from yesterday. We were given coconuts while meeting with the Chief and Elders of Potwabin. We also bought and brought home, Plantains, Yams and Pineapples. (See picture)

We paid $4 for 20 Pineapples!! Is that incredible? I'm in heaven!!






We get to go to the market today and shop and bragain with the vendors!!! Anita has been looking forward to this. And we go to some schools and to the Eban House Orphanage.


Anita gathered supplies at the market for schools and orphanage and trip tomorrow to Logba Tota


Anita got some material for Victoria (Richie's wife) to make some African outfits


Eban House Orphanage


We didn't get to the orphanage until nearly bed time for the kids. Do you think they were excited to see us?




Anita and her new kids

Well, tomorrow is a long long journey for us. Headed to Logba Tota to two remote villages that are newly evangelized. We'll see about providing school supplies and placing Wells there.

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Love you all, I'm tired. It's now 11 pm and I started this morning at 6:00 AM.


David Lee Waters Sr.,

State of GRACE, Potwabin Reunion, Elmina, Calabash & Canola

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Talk about homecoming !!! I got to meet the little girl, well, not so little any more, she's 15 years old now. But Grace is the one that Anita had written about that she could not forget. Grace had a....

Well let me just share it in Anita's words:


GRACE
by Anita Tarlton
Wadesboro, North Carolina
Written in June, 2003

Grace.

Her name is Grace.

I saw her for the first time last summer. She stood apart from the other children, watching us as we walked through the dusty paths in her village of Potwabin. Her eyes never left us; they were deep pools of brown that locked into mine. She was about 8 years old.

It was only after I returned to the USA that I realized I didn’t know her name. Her eyes had never left mine, yet I had not asked her name. I thought of her often throughout the year, wondering how she was.

I was thrilled to learn that we’d return to Potwabin this year. While the team’s main purpose in the visit was to bring food and clothing to the children and more firmly establish ties between the church and the village, *my* main purpose was to find out that little girl’s name. We drove as close as we could, but had to leave the van and walk because the road had washed out about a half-mile away. As we approached the town, I saw children clustered on benches beneath a make-shift palm-branch shelter that served as their schoolroom. I scanned the crowd of children until I found her.

She was easy to spot. When I asked, “Ye fro we sen?” (What is your name?), her eyes sparkled and then her hands fluttered to her face as a reflex. She replied, “Ye fre me Grace.” (They call me Grace.)

You see, Grace has a cleft palate. Her nose and mouth combine create a hole in her face. I wondered how on earth she’d survived, how she’d learned to eat, how she’d learned to talk. How she had learned to cope with being “different”.

Grace. Her name is Grace.

We held hands as we walked through her village. We ambled past mud huts topped with palm leaf roofs, and past the goats grazing in the sunshine. We walked among the mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers who were going through the daily routines in the hot sweltering sunshine of an African midday. I wondered how much – if any – those routines had changed in the past hundred years in this village that had no electricity, running water, or automobiles. I felt both honored and humbled to be guided through this village by this precious little girl, Grace.

Her name is Grace.

As custom demanded, we sat and visited with the town’s chief and elders. Grace sat in my lap, clutching my hand. Her eyes sparkled and smiled into mine. When it was time for us to leave, I felt that all-too-familiar ache in the back of my throat as my eyes stung with tears that blurred my vision. She walked with me back to our van, squeezing my hand along the way. I slipped a little money into her hand, instructing her to give it to her mother. As we drove away in the dust, I watched her waving at me until I could no longer see her.

I wonder sometimes.
I wonder why I feel so overwhelmed at times.
I wonder why God takes me to these places and connects me with people in the way He does. I know He is ultimately in control, and has a plan; yet, still I wonder.
I wonder if Grace knows I care about her.
I wonder if Grace knows I have seen her in my thoughts hundreds of times.
I wonder if Grace knows that I pray for her every single night.

Grace. Her name is Grace.


Author’s note:
Grace lives in Potwabin, Ghana. This is a small village near Mankessim. I have maintained contact with Grace through Rev. James Godlly at Christ Harvests the Nations Ministry in Tema. If you feel led to help Grace, please contact me at weministry2@gmail.com, and I will put you in contact with Rev. Godlly. God bless you all for the work you do.

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GRACE, TODAY
Anita A. Tarlton
June, 2005

I sent Grace’s story and photograph to many people and organizations, trying to find her some help. Eventually, I received an email from a lady at Operation Blessing, a part of the 700 Club. They asked how to get in contact with Grace; they had a doctor in Ghana that could help her! Praise God!
A quick telephone call overseas to Rev. Godlly connected the him with the doctor. A team of people from Operation Blessing, including the doctor, were taken to Potwabin to visit Grace and her village. Grace was taken back to Tema where she was examined. In March 2005, she underwent surgery to repair her face! She is currently having speech therapy and taking extra classes to catch her up in school.
But that is not the end of the story. The Operation Blessing team noticed there was no running water in the village. A part of their ministry includes digging wells to provide water. Because of Grace, the village now has a well with clean running water! And now, that they have a well, the government of Ghana is allowing them to receive electricity, and the preliminary wiring has begun for that project.

All because of Grace.

Today, Grace is a beautiful, happy 12-year-old.


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Well, happy to update you with news from 2008 and the state of GRACE !


Grace and Anita reunited.



The Well at Potwabin



I got to handle the goat-gift to us from Grace's Mama. Looks like BBQ B4 we leave!! Oh, I gave the chief, my hat!


I finally learned what Calabash is and here it is growing. A gord used for various scooping, drinking and holding liquids. Though Wikipedia says it grows on a vine, this variety grows on a tree.

I also learned and saw a nut from which Canola Oil is pressed out of. Fascinating!

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We visited Elmina castle which is where the point of no return for many men and women took place in the slave trade many years ago. I really just don't want to glorify anything about this disgusting place and it's atrocities. If you want to know more, check it out on the web. Below is one link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmina_Castle



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Can't end on a sour note, not me, The Eternal Optimist!

Anita had a GREAT day. Your prayers have been answered and we believe we have a solution to the malaria pill nervousness.

It was a wonderful day, full of adventure, joy and sadness. Beyond the van driver scaring the bejeezes out of us, we're looking forward to going at it again tomorrow!


Peace out -

David Lee Waters Sr.,
Ghanaian in the making!

Over Flowing ~ Too pumped up to sleep !!, TY Emails

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The other night I tossed and turned. I felt as though I was wrestling with GOD about what to say to these people when I had the opportunity to speak at church. Well, it went well. Many said they were touched or it was a powerful message. It blows me away. I'm not a preacher, yet this is the second time to Africa and once again, they're calling me pastor/preacher Dave.

It's just neat to be part of a message coming together even if I did have to lose some sleep over it. It is now 5:44 AM Monday July 28th and I am wide awake. The rest of the house is deftly quiet. Only the clicks of my keyboard and outside in the distance, I hear Roosters, are breaking the peace that surrounds us here.

Anita always described "Ghana Time," to me. Things happen as they happen. Hey, my eyes open, my feet hit the floor and I'm ready to go.

I met Chief Tsasky (cha-chi), and I don't think I spelled that correctly but it's close. He is a jolly man whose smile is infectious. The people are kind and warm and make you not want to ever leave. They are hungry for the Lord and have servants hearts. I don't know if I'll ever be able ti FULLY describe what I feel here, but the essence is captured very well in Anita's book.

Please pray for Anita as she has been feeling a bit shakey. Slightly dizzy / nervous. You'll notice an out of the ordinary type-o's on her blog at http://www.anitatarlton.blogspot.com/ I believe it to be from the Malaria pills. She is very sensitive to things and is having a bit of a rough go of it with concentrating. She normally takes the once a week pill but we are taking the daily pill this trip. I felt it the first day but got beyond it. She's just not 100% and very much appreciate me being along side. It's really an honor to be with her here. There place where GOD ripped her heart out and planted it. She will forever have a home here, as will I now too.

We have not made it to the Eban House orphanage yet or purchased the supplies that your donations will afford us to do. When we arrived we were informed that the orphanage had been robbed and the care-taker was beaten and raped. Please pray concerning this. We will be meeting Anita Gillispie, who is from the USA and flew over, arriving today. She is the one that our Anita met online through her Ghana group and hooked us up with Eban house for the future.

We are worn out tired at the end of the day. We're fed well and the fresh/cold pineapple and mango is a special daily treat. I finally had rice water!! (rice watah). It is a rice porridge. They put sugar and milk on it. I said GOD is doing and I shall do a NEW thing. So I put Milo on mine and Rev James tried it and liked it too. Hey a lil' chocolate powder on anything is good!

Well, let me share some more photos.


Anita and Victoria. Richard's wife and mother of our grand kids Lil' Anita, Christabel and Jr. She gave me a hug I can still feel in my soul.


This is a woman with a mission. She studies the map to be familiar with the land she loves and GOD sent her to.


Chief Tsatsy. A good man and I really dig his outfit!



The New road to the site of the future worship and training ground of Christ Harvests the Nations Ministries.


Possibly the cover of the next book? Two Steps????

We met Rev Joseph who has planted three churches in the region we want to place wells in. He is about to plant his fourth in just two years time. His first started with 3 people and now has an attendance of 70. He is following the multiplication principles I learned from Pastor Ralph Moore in Hawaii.

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Thank You for the emails. It's a bit tought to respond but, Tam, Sylv, Aliza, Wendy and Pam, THANK YOU !! I appreciate very much your feed back on the blog and your kind words and prayers. MUCH NEEDED Indeed. Still need to hear from back home, ya know?

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Peace In !!! :o)

I have the most awesome wife, friends and life, I LOVE YOU ALL !!!!


David Lee Waters Sr.,

Akwaaba, Come Sit - Watch Baby TV

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Akwaaba, (Welcome in Twi). Though English is commonly spoken here in Ghana, Twi is the native lingo and fun to learn. Ye Fre mi David (My name is David). Mi da si pi (Thank You). (the i sounds like e, Mee Dah See Pee.

So, when you come WITH us next year, that's right, YOU! You will be made to feel welcome. You will find a new extended family waiting to Welcome you with open arms from the eldest to the youngest. In fact, Rev. James' 2 yr old daughter, as I'm sitting here typing this, just turned in her tiny little chair and said, "Come, sit, watch baby TV." In the most sincere childs voice full of the Akwaaba Spirit that lives in these people.

This has been a most excellent experience. Walking the pages of Anita's book is just EXCITING ! As Anita meets people she has not seen since 2005, her last mission trip here, I hear the name, I'm able to place a face with the story and the pages and it's just a time of huge smiles and great joy.

As Anita preached today, it is a "Homecoming!"

I spoke as well and shared some testimony of being shot and the word GOD gave me to share was "Believe." It starts with believe and then you act on what it is you believe.

I believe that rev. James' vision is authentic and will be realized and it moves me to act upon it. I have much to share with you that GOD has laid on my heart. I hardly slept last night wrestling with GOD about what to say to these people today. I had to one word, but what about it.

Well, without telling the whole thing, look up the 1st and last instance of believe in the old and new testament.

Genesis, Habkuk - Matthew and Jude.

Rev James (RJ) is INTENSE !!! Man o man it was an awesome service today and time after time we have sat and talked and it has been confirmation to each other of our union for a common goal.

Here's some photo's for you -


Our Hostess, Mary Godlly and daughter Kelsie, morning time still sleepy


Anita, Me, Rev James...


Anita Preaching her Homecoming.


Anita and Mexican Petunia. These are the same flowers that are by my mail box back home!


The Asomaning Family. Richard & Victoria with kids Lil' Anita, Christabel, Jr and of course your love and mine, Anita


Anita is welcomed Home, by Evelyn, who has made every long range trip Anita ever made here. She is an appreciated friend and family


Abigail - At the beginning and end of the day, our much appreciated cook and just a vibrant and joyful soul to know

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Tomorrow we go to Potwabin and see "GRACE," the one that Anita wrote about. And continue on to Elmina to visit a relic of a slave castle. The "Point of no return" for many men, women and children.

Peace Out -

David Lee Waters Sr.,

First Impressions, Walking the book

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We got here 2 hours late and it's humid! The people are as warm and friendly as any you'd ever want to meet. We have an air conditioned taxi that takes us anywhere we need or want to go, somone to do our laundry by hand and we're treated like Royalty.



Richie mat us at the airport. Richie is Anita's GOD son and the father of her namesake Ghanaian grandchild, Lil' Anita and Christabel.



We're staying at Rev James (RJ) Godlly's home with his wife Mary, two children Alexandra (Lexy) and Kelsie. Abigail cooks for us and is superb at it. Of course I had to get my paws in there...




RJ is a 39 yr old man with a vision. It has come a long way since Anita's first visit in 2001 and it has a long way to go. I believe in it and GOD is doing wonderful things to make it happen.

Like a 97 yr old guy told me, if GOD is in it a little is a lot!

Anita is in her element and walking the very same ground that she wrote about in her book, "Two Watches," is almost surreal.



It was meant to be and it is the culmination of prayers and destiny. Since we met, we were meant to come here TOGETHER and we are here.

I wish some of you were here with us. I believe some of you will be next year!
I'm praying that and YOU are going to LOVE IT !
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Tomorrow we preach at "Christ harvests the Nations church. The next day we head out to some remote villages where we want you to help us raise the funds to install Wells.

Soo we'll go to the new Orpaanage "Eban House" too.

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Love ya, thanks for all the prayers -

Peace Out -

David Lee Waters Sr.,

With a lil' Help from our Friends, Ghana Bound,

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We're sitting in the Charlotte airport at Gate A1. It has been smoothe thus far. With a LOT of help from our friends, we're gonna make it.

Brings a song to mind -

GOD says you're gonna make it
God says you're gonna make it
GOD says you're gonna make it

You're gonna make cause the Master's on board!

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A very old man, 97, once told me, well okay, t=old folks repeat themselves, he told me many times, "If GOD is in it, a little is a LOT!"

When I was headed for Swaziland in 2005, I came to the airport about 5 hours early. Is that "Ready to GO" or what? But I had to wait for 4 hours for the ticket counter to open up, before I could check in and head for my gate. About 30 minutes before that, I saw on the flight schedule board, that my flight had been delayed, then cancelled. I was FREAKIN' out! I called Anita, whom at that time I'd only met in person once, at 4:30 AM. That's in the morning!

I finally got re-routed through JFK, which is where we're headed today. Today has been wonderful. We had everything packed and ready to go last night. We had breakfast and showers and loved on our grrrrAnimals, Scarlett, Sadie (who ate the cat's food twice this morning, as well as her own) Zkitty, Jazz and Springsteen.

Amanda, Anita's eldest daughter, drove my truck, the bed full of fully packed luggage. I mean we weighed them out folkks. Two bags each. Mine checked in at 49.5 and 49.6 pounds. Anita's at 48 and 40. I believe GOD arranged for it all to fit and be within weight.

I'm carrying all the stuff Anita's friend "Cat," brought over for the orphanage. Coloring books, crayons, pencils, bubble liquid, stuffed toys. I also packed all the candies we'd bought at the dollar store yesterday too. (I got some sour ones, just to wathc their little faces).

Anita said she and good friend Davi passed out dum-dums one year. You know the smaller version of tootsie roll filled suckers, that don't have the tootsie roll inside that the rich doctors give you when they've tortured you with a needle.

The kids just looked at them wondering what they were. Davi unwrapped two and put one in her mouth and one in a little boys mouth and Anita says his face just went, "Oh, ahhhh, mmmmmm" and the other kids followed suit! They'd never had a piece of candy in their lives. Probably have better teeth, huh?


So, the sour should be fun. :o)

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So hey, every one of you. We are soooooo appreciative that I'm tearing up thinking of each of you now. YOU made this possible. GOD in your hearts. The prayers, the donations. The Spirit that we all share. If I never communicated with you again, I'd want to say three things.

WE LOVE YOU
WE APPRECIATE YOU
and read "The Shack." That book will do a lot for you.

Of course I'd ask for you to continue what we're doing and go to Ghana to plant Wells, in remote villages, care for the orphans, testify about JESUS!

Our prayer for you is that you come to know more and more each day, the never ending love that GOD has for you through Christ Jesus. And your hearts would feel the same flutter and your eyes sparkle as you speak of the wonderful life you have with Christ in it!

Amen

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Anita and I have been wanting to do this WITH someone, to share this experience that GOD has placed so deep in us that it's undeniable. And today, with a LOT of help, it is being realized. We are so grateful for you all. We're so incredibly blessed, we're over flowing and that is exactly how we should be, as we enter into a mission.

THANK YOU !!



FYE - It's always better to share the experience !




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Peace Out -

David Lee Waters Sr.,