Rachel's Experience so far...

Hey SHBC fam and whoever else is reading this! Like Steve had posted before I arrived here on Saturday (a day later due to delays of flights) God has been working in amazing ways! Saturday was more of a resting day for me to get caught up on sleep. Saturday was Odai's brothers funeral so a good number of church members from Maranatha came and supported him (this reminds me of our church ;-)! )  So after they had a cook out in which I was able to see familiar faces and fellowship with them. On Sunday I attended the church and was able to speak to the youth group, they call it Cross Roads. Monday was a long day. We began at 4:00 in the morning which is about  midnight in Oklahoma ( threw me off a little bit! ha ha) we drove for about 2 hours to a village called Winneba (where we will be having a medical mission and a crusade) there we met with the sister church pastor and the other church leaders to plan for the crusade. It was really cool to see this side of the mission. All the planning that goes in to making the crusades and the medical missions possible is a little overwhelming! Never the less it was a really awesome experience to be able to hear Odai's vision! While we were talking to the pastor of the sister church he listed that one of their concerns is raising money. People tithe, but very little, which is hardly enough to keep the church going in a city that is really needing a church like Maranatha. One of his concerns was not having enough money to buy a megaphone. The way they project their  voice to the church is through megaphone, no sound system. As of right now they only have one and are needing more, but cannot raise the money to buy one. So like Steve mentioned, if anyone would like to provide in that way you would be blessing a wonderful ministry! A megaphone, which means not much to us can help "win souls" (the way pastor odai says it! ha ha!) Then we saw the site where the church they are building for Lauren, we then traveled to 3 more villages, villages that the team coming up today will be going and the team in july will be going. So never the less it was a good day, but very long day. Later that night I was again able to speak to the youth! I can already tell God is going to do awesome things in the youth ministry there just keep them in your prayers. Then on Tuesday Me, Junior, Elvis, and Odai went and spoke on the radio station. The host wanted to ask me questions, questions about myself and questions about the youth ministry in Oklahoma. Pastor Odai also was able to talk about what we will be doing in the next couple of days. We also gave a number for people to call if they wanted to donate. When we left a couple of people called to donate! God is good!! Afterwards, we went to the church to attend the prayer service. There God worked in incredible ways. I guess the morning of Odai had a dream that a Muslim would attend the service and give his life to God. When he was up talking he asked the congregation if a Muslim was attending and there was. At the end of the service he gave his life to Christ! God is Amazing! To experience his healing grace is refreshing. Yesterday, Me, Ruth, and Elizabeth went and taught the children at two villages. We talked about moses and sang songs. One of the kid started crying in fright cause he had never seen a white person before. The children were so joyful and precious So that was also a very long day. Last night we had another service and then we came home to sleep. Today, Pastor Odai wanted me  to rest SO I AM!! ha ha! So I can be rested for the rest of the group.to get here! Im excited to see what other things God has planned, I know it is just the beginning!

Keep Praying praying praying!! I think some huge things will happen on this trip and Satan will be trying so hard to lead us off of Gods plan, so pray that everything we do and say will be glorifying to God that not only the people there will be changed but us as well! love you so much and so happy to be part of this church body!

Rachel Hester