Last month was all squad month and through a series of events met a missionary named Seth in Sunyani, Ghana. I asked to reach out to him. So Zach, a squad leader for F squad, who typically operates from a yes and willing spirit, said he would join!
I thought of the Unsung Heroes role, a role I’ve been gifted with as a way to glorify God on the squad. The objective is to seek opportunities to connect with people or ministries who need a team/squad to come alongside them. It’s basically a networking role, being a liaison for a ministry and the World Race Office back home. If I (or anyone else) come across a potential partner, I get to meet and create relationships with them, and send their information to the WR Office.
Getting this role had absolutely NOTHING to do with me! It is solely about Jesus, and the unsung heroes around the world serving and dedicating their life to further the Kingdom. And I’ve learned from it that Jesus doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.
On our way to meet Seth I was wondering how this was going to go down… but I’ve come to the full understanding that any expectations while on the WR should immediately be thrown out the window! Because my expectations never will, nor should be, what comes to fruition. My humanity puts such limitations on what can’t be limited by God!!!
We met Seth on a dirt road, and he led us into his home. We asked questions about why he’s there, what his mission is, where else he’s been, what God has done through him in Ghana, the churches, the people, his own family, him, etc. I explained how comforting it was just to be sitting his in home….and gave him a little insight on Havens’ month one. This quickly turned into trying to catch tears before they hit my cheek, which if you don’t know me, is rare. As we continuing chatting, Zach mentioned my passion for foster/orphan care, and my desire to one day open an orphanage(s)…if the Lord permits! Seth then mentioned Gerdhi (pronounced Hair-dee), a woman who he met 3 years ago during a short visit in Sunyani, and it just so happened he visited her again a week prior to our meeting. Gerdhi owns and runs one of the two orphanages in Sunyani. As we started walking out to grab a taxi, Seth could tell I wanted to meet her. So next thing I knew we were in a taxi heading to this orphanage.
A few minutes later we got out at Alafya Children’s Home. Gerdhi immediately invited us into the compound, though we hadn’t called beforehand (nothing like just showing up)! She offered us coffee/water and sat down with us to chat. We talked about an hour before she asked if we wanted to see the orphanage and meet some of the kids! After about an hour I asked if I could come back the next day to hang out with them. She said she might be meeting her friend, but I could come anyway!
The next morning I was so excited, but knew I couldn’t go back by myself. I asked Briana to join, and she agreed even though it was her day off! I was excited to introduce her to my new friends, and when we walked in we were immediately greeted with genuine smiles, laughter and hugs. We were led to the back of the house to find that the kids were doing their laundry, hand washing their clothes and hanging them up on the clothes line. Once their laundry was completed they could play, so Bri and I grabbed a bucket to help wash because we wanted to play!!
About halfway done with the washing, we stopped to greet Gerdhi and her friend, Mariette, for a few minutes. We asked Mariette all about her and her orphanage—she volunteered in Ghana and then moved there after meeting her now husband, Moses. She so openly shared her passion for kids, orphans, “the least of these”, and how she ended up in Ghana. As she shared, she asked all about us, so Briana and I shared what we’re doing, what we’re passionate about, and our experiences thus far on the World Race. Then we dropped the UH seed. We explained the Mission of AIM and the WR, to bring the Good News to all people through the word of Jesus Christ and His love for humanity. We gave a brief explanation of how hosting a team works, and wanted to know if they were interested in potentially hosting one in the future! Both Gerdhi and Mariette said they absolutely needed help with teaching, homework, art, activities, cooking, painting and just loving on these kids. We all teared up knowing it was exactly God’s plan for us to meet them.
After chatting we were led to eat lunch with the kids, and then got to play a few games of table tennis. We knew we needed to start heading back home, but before we left, we asked Mariette if we could visit her orphanage the following day. We let her know we’d have to check in with leadership and make sure we could since it was a ministry day.
Briana and I both asked our team leaders if we could miss ministry to pursue UHs, and were both encouraged to do so! Our team leaders truly get it!! Praise God! So the next morning we headed off to Hanukkah’s Children’s Home. Hanukkah currently has 41 kids living on the property, and that day we got to meet every single one! We played soccer, Bri played the guitar and sang with a group of the girls, and I hit a volleyball around. We played toy piano with a couple of the kids that couldn’t walk. We saw kids unable to move anything but their arms. We met kids unable to see, unable to hear, and we carried a couple kids who couldn’t walk. We witnessed other kids running, playing, laughing, singing, and braiding hair. And we found out that Mariette and Moses, not only own and operate Hanukkah, but opened the a primary school so that all 41 kids and kids in the community can attend school!! As we toured and wandered around the compound, we met most of the “mamas,” the women on staff who take care of the kids. There are currently 5 mamas who take rotations so someone is always on property. And not just someone, but someone the kids know and have learned to trust.
After spending most of the morning and afternoon there, Mariette offered to take us home. It was such a bittersweet goodbye! As soon as we said goodbye, I went directly to our team room for team time, and I remember walking in in tears. It didn’t take long for me to break down…tears of joy, tears of a broken heart for having to leave. All the feels…
Romans 12:15 comes to mind… “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Reflecting on those busy few days, it was a time of rejoicing for meeting everyone, having the ability to potentially get a WR team there to assist their needs, and in that short amount of time, we were able to bring hope to each other!!! But we also mourned in saying goodbye; we mourn for the children who suffer, and mourn knowing there are many children around the world who don’t have a place like Alafya and Hanukkah.
The entire point of this blog is to express our Father’s faithfulness, and how incredible this experience was!!! All for His glory, not mine, but that He would use me. For the first time in a while, it was purely and solely Him…. From beginning to end, not only did He plant the original desire to serve in an orphanage, He was faithful in answering prayers I had been praying from the time I left America, He opened door after door when He led me to Seth through my squad-mates. Through Seth, Alafya Children’s Home was introduced. The Lord led our squad and team leaders’ hearts to understand and not question or hesitate my eagerness to visit these Homes. He so strategically held Mariette back on Thursday so Bri and I could meet her on Friday, so we could continue building relationships and visit Hanukkah on Saturday.
Experiencing faithfulness from the only One who is worthy is an overwhelming and undeserving feeling, but I continue to seek, ask, and be willing to move when He calls.
In Love,
Emily Cate
