Thanks!

Hello Family and Friends!!!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!! I Pray that this entry finds each of you well and Blessed in the Lord!!!

I am thankful that we did have a Thanksgiving celebration on the Ship the Sunday afterwards. We did not have turkey but had all the other traditional fixings and spreads- one of my favorites- sweet potato pie!! It was good! and made all the Americans feel at home!! They decorated our dining room, so it was Awesome!!!!

Since being here I have continued to be able to visit orphanges and love on the children, visit villages sharing the Love of Jesus, and attend many differnt African Churches, and go on an excursion to Cape Coast! Cape Coast was very nice and I was able to see a part of the African history. The Castles were owned by the Dutch then the British! It was emotional to see the deep dark places and how small the areas were, where they kept hundreds of slaves without food, water, bathrooms, or much ventilation. It was touching and heartbreaking to hear how the ladies were sent up and/or chosen to be Raped and beaten. It was as if you could still smell the odor and feel the oppression as you walked through the Castles!! I was able to Leave with Peace and remember that We serve an Awesome God and even then, He heard the crys of our brothers and sisters as they endured and suffered much!!!

I can't believe that I will be coming home on December 16!!

So many things have happened since I last wrote! First of all, let me say that the Lord is Good All the Time!!! Since I have been here in Africa He has continued to speak to me about His Love, Grace, Mercy, and Most of that He will never leave me! I am so thankful for this time that I have had here in Ghana! I think that I have learned more and been Blessed more than what I have given. Some of the patients that I have had the privilegd to take care of have taught me about Faith, Trust and Joy in the Lord in spite of the suffering and pain that they have endured without treatment and lack of medical care!

Before I left I had a sense that more meant better and that why couldn't some of the patients have more- ie ..home without dirt floors and one with running water and electricity! Coming from a World where More and Bigger is Better it is hard to see past that They need these things and then all things will be solved!!!

At the end of the day I serve the same Lord that these patients from across World from me serves and no matter the situation God has a purpose and a plan for all of our Lives!!! Our job is to be obedient,persevere, listen and to allow Him to grow us, change us, mold us and get us to His predestined Plan for our lives!

So I really came to understand that the time here on earth is not about where we live or how much we have or don't- It is about Jesus! And if we can look Past our current situations and Look to Jesus- He will answer! This life is temporary and where we live is just temporary geography! Eternity is Waiting and Jesus is Coming Soon!!!

I Praise God that He loves us and has counted the numbers of Hairs on our Head!!!

So I say all this to say That I Love the Lord with all of my heart, mind, and soul and He has put on my heart to stay with Mercy Ships until December 2007! So I will come home on Dec 16 and return to Africa on Feb 4 2007! I have resigned from my job. My boss has been very supportive and understands the calling on my Life. Although I will miss seeing/talking to you all on a regular basis- I have much Peace from the Lord and it is Pure Joy to be Resting in His Will at the present time in my Life!!! He is truly Awesome in all that He does!!!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them!

So I Thank Each of you for sowing into God's ministry!! I Pray Many Blessings over your life and for the coming year in 2007!! Thanks for your emails, Prayers, and support!

Please be in Prayer with me for the year 2007 for physical, spirtual, emotional, and finacial stability in the Lord!!!

For anyone reading that does know for sure that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior or wants to know who this Jesus is that is doing such a work in my life!! I Pray that you would contact your local church or email me at

stephanieghana2006@yahoo.com

I Pray that you would not let another day go by without knowing and finding out about this Man Called Jesus! He has a purpose and Plan for your Life!!! He loves you and is waiting on you!!!

If you have a Bible to Read Romans 10: 9-11.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, You Will be Saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to Shame."

For His Glory!!!
love
stephanie
thanks friends and famil- you are in my Prayers!!!


Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, evem to the end of the age.

PLEASE SEE ADDED PICTURES BELOW!!!!