Author: Move Africa Team

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Child Support Development Projects KVIP Latrine Partner Info Water Collection & Wells

Celebrating Klokope

Throughout the years we have seen God do so many amazing things through our continued partnership in the Volta Region of Ghana. One opportunity was in the village town of Klokope. The village had been promised help with development in the past, but nothing had come except for disappointment, so the first visit was not very exciting. Beginning with support for the orphaned children through caregiver families the relationship began. This is the note we received from Senyo celebrating what we have seen God do from that point on:

“Good morning and Fountain! In His Light we see light, we see blessing, we see opportunities and healings.
What a joy unleashed on the people of Klokope by the Jesus Christ all because of Move City Church’s willingness to venture into far away Volta Region of Ghana, Africa in fulfilment of the Great Commission.
Hearts, for that matter, the souls of the people of Klokope are saying thank you God for the visionary leadership of MCC who defied all odds to invest their time, finances and prayers on their behalf.
Those prayers are seeds that were sown in their hearts and also for their needs that have been ignored by the authorities for years if not centuries since their great great grandparents came to settle there.

To Togbe Larry Andrews and Pastor Jesse Colburn who were the first responders. Then, Ron & Sue Stevens and Josh & Morrisa Berkley, Sister Courtney, April Wood and Emma Keninger who were second responders. Pastor Allan Bushnell and Patricia Bracken who were the third responders with the Reinforcement Base Team as backer of The Move City Church community, the people are saying: May the good Lord richly bless you, keep you all safely united and answer all your individuals, families and ministry’s prayer needs in Jesus mighty name.

The people are saying since the first day Move City Church, elder Togbe Larry Andrews and Pastor Jesse Colburn stepped into Klokope their needs of many years began to receive attention.

1. Rain Water Harvesting Tank
2. Children support
3. Electricity came
4. Kindergarten teachers were paid
5. Ten Seater KVIP
6. Borehole completed
7. Kindergarten Building was re-roofed
8. Now the road has just been open for easy access.

They are filled with thanksgiving to God for your lives and praying God’s blessings upon you all from on high most importantly the leadership team of Pastors and the Elder Board whose visionary initiatives we seeing the goodness of the Lord today.

Because He cares,” – Pastor Senyo Mawufemor Cudjoe

Today we are celebrating all of the blessings that God has allowed for Klokope over the many years of investment, trust, and partnership. These projects and accomplishments were not the work of one person, but have happened through the work of local contractors in Ghana, local volunteers in the towns, funds from individuals, oversight and motivation from the local church (Fountain of Life Chapel International) and ministry (Biblical Discipleship and Growth Ministries) and even attention and support from the government of Ghana.

Please celebrate with us and consider partnering in some way to see more of these things in more towns in rural Ghana in the future!

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Development Projects

Klokope School Roof Repair

We received news from Senyo that the repair work on the roof of the school house in Klokope had begun and been completed. This building is used for education of Elementary children, and also serves as the means of collecting water for the water collection tank of that town.

“The contractor this morning completed the re-roofing of the Kindergarten building at Klokope. The people of Klokope planned cleaning the Rain Water Harvesting Tank tomorrow. This is because there are intermittent rains so they don’t want to miss any of it.” – Senyo

On this day Senyo and Sue walked around the school and talked about the need to repair the roof due to it’s poor condition and because of the rust contamination running into the rain water harvesting tank. They also talked about the fact that there was no longer a school teacher in the community, due to the government relocating her. So all the school age children were taking the long walk to another community for school.
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Testimonials

MISSION TRIP TESTIMONY – APRIL WOOD

When Pastor Jesse announced there were still openings for people to join an upcoming mission trip to Africa, I thought “What a great opportunity for Jon and I to serve the Lord together!” We immediately agreed to go to our first meeting that day so we could see “what it was all about” and then talk about it more afterwards. Our good friends Sean and Angela even volunteered to take care of our three children before we even knew if the trip was possible for us. The whole idea of going on a mission trip together was spur of the moment but we were trusting God to open doors if it was His will.

Now Jon only needed to do two things in order to be able to go. He needed to get approval from his boss at work and he needed to request 10 days off from a group called B-troop, a volunteer opportunity that he had committed to almost a year prior. The approval from work came easy, but B-troop just couldn’t change their schedule to work with the dates Jon needed off. We were both so broken hearted! It was obvious Jon couldn’t go, so I didn’t give it a second thought. I figured we’d just try again next time. But then Jon told me I should consider going without him. He said, “B-troop is my obstacle. Not yours.” Now if you know me well, you would know that I like to live in my very small comfort zone. Going on a mission trip with a group of people I barely knew at the time… to teach women and children who don’t speak english… about things they have never heard of before…in a country I had never been before…without my husband even there……THAT was DEFINITELY out of my comfort zone!

I prayed for God to give me a clear answer on whether I should go or not. I couldn’t imagine doing something so big without Jon right there beside me. But God spoke to my heart. From the beginning I believed that if it was God’s will, then He would send us…both. But I never once thought, what if He only sent one of us? God made me realize that if Jon and I were to go together, I would lean on him, instead of Him, to guide me through the trip, or to help me when i’m feeling lost, or to step up for me if I didn’t feel capable of doing something. So although my flesh was still unsure, I eventually decided on going without him. For days I kept thinking I have no idea what to expect or what I would be doing there, or if I would even be good at it if I did know. Needless to say, I had built up a lot of anxiety about going! But a couple days later, a wise man saw my anxious heart at church and said “You will have no idea what you are doing. Nobody will, not even them!” And that was my confirmation from God that this was going to happen and that I needed to go alone. After that, everything fell into place fast!

The last week before leaving was a blur and nothing seemed real until we finally landed in Ghana, Africa. I felt my comfort zone disappear and my anxiety was no longer there. I felt God’s love cover me and He gave me peace and excitement and wonder all at the same time. These feelings stayed with me for the next 10 days (maybe even longer!). Although I might have gotten nervous once or twice while teaching, I never once felt a restricting comfort zone or a pounding anxiety attack. I heard God speak loudly and clearly and I felt His presence among the people there every day! It was one of the most amazing blessings God has given me. I was able to see people come to Christ right before my eyes!! I was able to see others worship Him with passion and joy, and they had so much love within their hearts that they couldn’t help but share it with those around them. They had no comfort zones or anxiety about sharing God’s love and joy.

My heart will never be the same. I have fallen in love with everything about Africa, especially the women and children I now know and hope to see again soon. Because of this trip, God has renewed and filled my heart with even more love for Him. He has given me the confidence to continue to step out of my comfort zone in the future. I’ve always known blessings come in obedience, but this mission trip definitely opened my eyes to things I never knew I could be blessed with.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

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Development Projects KVIP Latrine

KVIP in Klokope

One of the opportunities that was brought to our attention in the village town of Klokope was a need for increased sanitation in the form of a multi-seat composting latrine or sustainable outhouse (keep in mind there is no running water to these remote rural villages!).

The current situation for the entire community was a shared hole in the ground, with a small structure for shade.

There was a plan already in place with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, a local contractor and material available, along with architectural drawings for what was called a “Kumasi Ventilated-Improved Pit” or KVIP for short.

Work began the day we received and delivered the funding for Phase One. The people of Klokope began clearing the land, and preparing the materials.

Soon after the ground was prepared, bricks made, and supplied gathered, construction began.

Finally the project was completed, and the people of Klokope have since then enjoyed the blessing of dignity and sanitation in this area. We are grateful to God, the generosity of so many, and the hard work of the local community to care and invest in the well-being of themselves and others.