“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”
Psalm 68:19.
Yes, this is the cry of our hearts, our testimony, as we serve the Lord Jesus here in Iture.
Special Visitors
Monday, August 14th, found most of my family and myself bouncing up the pot hole-pitted road to Accra. But none of us seemed to mind the rough ride too much, because this time we were going to pick up “Grandpa and Grandma” at the airport. Glenn and Doris Martin, Cynthia’s parents from Hagerstown, MD, came to spend 3 weeks with us, and what a precious time we’ve spent together—catching up on all the family news, sharing hearts and praying together, playing games and laughing together, and doing God’s work together. It is an unfathomable blessing to have parents who encourage and bless us in serving Christ. These 3 weeks are ending much too quickly. My prayer is that all of us will follow Christ faithfully to the end, then we can spend eternity together with Jesus and all God’s family where we never need to part! Hallelujah!
Opportunities to Exercise Patience
Our communication woes are still unsolved. Our phone service here has been quite unreliable, and none at all again for the past week and a half. We can go to Cape Coast nearby and call out, but others cannot contact us. The phone company has been working on the problems, but the saying still is “Ebia Okyena” (Maybe tomorrow). Our computer is limping along at maybe 60 - 70% working order, and our e-mail supplier has an equipment malfunction, which makes e-mailing very difficult. Bro. Steves are bringing along another computer when they return from furlough next week, and we pray for a speedy solution to the other problems, and for patience in the meanwhile. Praise God, there is never any malfunction of His communication service!
Opportunities to Love
Rastafarianism is a religion that originated among the blacks in Jamaica. They claim to believe in Jesus, but claim He was a black man and a rasta man (rastafarian). The serious ones take a vow and let their hair grow into long, matted locks which they often cover with a huge knitted cap. They hail Haile Selassie, former emperor of Ethiopia, as their messiah. They believe they are spiritual Jews, that Africa is their Promised Land, and that the blacks scattered by slavery are the diaspora which should return or at least unite for the sake of the “Promised Land”. This religion has a powerful appeal for black unification and carries an anti-white attitude, which seems to be growing stronger here in Ghana. This religion is gaining ground here, especially among the youth, through the influence of music. Rasta songs are constantly played on the radio. Our neighborhood here at Iture has at least 4 households of black American immigrants, and most of them seem to carry anti-white feelings. This gives us opportunities to love our enemies. Several weeks ago one of them, a big husky man, confronted our son Michael as he was walking down the road with a friend. The man asked him, “What are you doing here? I don’t like you! In fact, I hate you!” In another incident, just yesterday some of the children went with Grandma to play at the beach, until several of the children noticed some stones landing in the water and on the sand around them. They looked around and saw several men throwing the stones from the black American’s place. I was not home at the time, so Michael went to enquire the meaning of it all, and was told, “You were spoiling our view.” (i.e. “We don’t like to see you on our beach.”) We are praying for their salvation, and desire opportunities to heap coals of fire on their heads.
Bound by Satan
Last month a woman who seemed to be a bit crazy came around the mission house. She didn’t seem to be as far off as many who meander through the streets. We gave her some food and showed her some kindness. She hung around for a week or two, and we had several conversations with her, though at times her talk seemed confused. Finally, we decided we need to either help her or send her on her way, so Cynthia and I sat down and started asking more questions. She was obviously being used by demonic spirits, of which she named 3 or 4. We tried for several hours to deliver her through the power of our risen Lord Jesus, but with no visible effect. Was our faith weak, or was she unwilling? It seemed we could get her so far, but no farther. There were things she would not confess for fear of retribution from the demonic spirits controlling her. Lord, increase our faith and help us to put on all the armor You provide, “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Indigenous Outreach
It is a great thrill to the missionary’s heart to see young Christians whom he has led to the Lord and nurtured, reaching out with the gospel to those around them. The church at Wawase, on their own initiative, began pre-dawn prayer meetings 3 mornings a week for revival. Now they are holding a 3-day evangelistic crusade in Jukwa, planned and executed almost entirely on their own. The church here at Iture also is planning an evangelistic crusade in the adjoining village of Abakam. Our hearts rejoice to see their excitement to share Christ individually and collectively, yet we feel the burden of nurturing them and counselling them.
Prayer Needs
I feel acutely my weakness and failure as I try to be a pastor, business manager, and mission administrator all at the same time. I know I have failed, especially in the areas of visitation and in waiting on God for Heaven-breathed sermons. Pray that I wouldn’t allow secondary matters to cloud our real purpose for being here. Pray that we will maintain a hot devotional life with the Lord. Also, Steve Clarks plan to return to Ghana on Monday. Lord willing, they will spend about a week here at Iture, then go to live at Tamale in the Northern Region for 5-6 weeks. Sis. Debbie Clark is a midwife and plans to deliver Paul and Susanna’s expected baby before they return to Iture approximately mid-October. Pray that God will guide us to know where our family should live after that. The Mission Board is recommending that I don’t take an active role in planting a new church, but be more free to move among the churches as administrator. Also pray for the approval of more immigrant quotas and work permits which we’ve recently applied for, and also that God will provide and select two good used vehicles for us, to replace two that need to be retired. God bless all of you who support this work in prayer and finances, and in other ways.
Needing Jesus more than ever,
Ross, for the Ulrichs
