One of the most important aspects of our mission this year will be the start of construction on the Mike Pike Orphanage.  As we have shared with you many times before, my friend and Rotary partner Mike Pike died suddenly in November of 2006 at the age of 43.  Mike was planning to adopt a Ghanaian orphan, but never got that chance.  His heart was captivated with the plight of the children in Ghana.  Because of the need for quality orphan care in Ghana, and the continuing AIDS epidemic in Africa that is leaving many orphans behind, HGM has been led of the Lord to build an orphanage in the Kormantse area in honor of Mike Pike - he may never have gotten to adopt an orphan while he was alive, but he can have many, many Ghanaian children through the Mike Pike Orphanage built in his name. 

 At this time, the village chiefs and elders of Kormanste One and Kormantse Two, along with Mfantseman District Chief Executive Robert Quainoo-Arthur, have pledged to   donate plots of land for the orphanage complex.  The HGM Ghana Board of Advisors is currently working with the community to complete the legal work necessary to transfer the property to HGM so that the future of the orphanage and related projects may be ensured.

 Our current plans are to build on the cottage orphanage concept in order to give children a real family experience as opposed to a barracks style arrangement that does not give one a true family environment.  This idea was given to me by Brother Wes Syverson of Tech Serve International, who has agreed to help us in our orphanage effort.  HGM's goal is to begin construction on a facility to house 12 to 15 children, and house parents, during 2008.  This facility would have bedrooms for the children to share, a kitchen, living area and parents quarters, all self-contained.  In addition to the site preparation and construction, we must hire trustworthy house parents and provide for the maintenance of the orphanage and supplies to run the orphanage.  Please pray that God will allow these funds to start coming in now and that we can finish this project in 2008.  We are believing God for $100,000 to get this project off of the ground this year. After the orphanage is built, we will provide the annual funding necessary to keep it open and will also build new structures to help other children as the need and funding materializes.  Thank you so much for supporting this effort.

 We have plans to help Kirt and Hilda Bromley with a water bore hole project for an Alcoholics Anonymous Half-way House in Kukurantumi - the village in which they have their Libraries for Africa project.  I met the Bromleys while journeying to Ghana a couple years ago and have maintained communication with them every few months since then.  They are doing a great work and have need for a water project that can serve the community at large where there ministry is headquartered.  In addition to their library project, Kirt is very active with pioneering an Alcoholics Anonymous work in Ghana which has problems with alcoholism just like we have in the United States.  You may read more about the Bromleys by visiting their website, http://www.forafricalibrary.org/index.html.  Isaac DeGraft and I personally visited the project site and surveyed the needs in November of 2007.

 We are currently trying to obtain final information so that we may complete a KVIP toilet system in the village of Darwenya, complete a water line connection and polytank reservoir for the Kormantse Medical Clinic, construct KVIP toilets for various churches and work with Southern Ghana Bible College to upgrade toilet facilities for their student dormitories.  The Iovino Family Foundation awarded a grant of $30,000 US dollars which is being utilized to fund most of the water and sanitation projects we have currently in process.  We are eternally grateful for their faith in our efforts and partnership to help those in Ghana West Africa.

James 1:27 (New International Version)

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Just a few weeks ago I received word from Nana Akyen II, chief of Kormantse, and the father of my goddaughter Emmanuella, that the little girl had fallen ill with malaria and had to be hospitalized.  She is better now, but the disease could have been prevented with a simple bed net treated with insecticide.  Even my interpreter, Rev. Tony Elegba, recently battled a bout of malaria himself.  He too could have been spared the sickness by sleeping nightly under one of the treated bed nets. 

Malaria nets are available, but must be purchased and then distributed in areas that need them.  HGM has access to areas of Ghana that many times have been overlooked.  Cindy is currently working on getting access to malaria nets and other medical supplies that could immediately help the people in the areas in which we minister.  I spoke with Cindy today and she was excited to report that she has found a supporter within the office of U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas who is trying to connect HGM with organizations that have the supplies, but need people like us to get the resources to the people that need them.  Please pray for Cindy and Greg as they follow God's leading in this arena.  This aspect of ministry is needed and we are grateful for their passion in this arena.  HGM is blessed to have Cindy and Greg Gamso as committed volunteers.  We are committed to giving them the support they need to fulfill God's call in their lives. 

Living Grace Bluegrass Gospel recently ministered in song on KCGS AM 960 radio station in Marshall, Arkansas in April.  We were honored to help the families that own the radio station try to raise support for their ministry there.  May the Lord open the airwaves to more pure gospel.

Living Grace will once again be participating in the Bluegrass Gospel Festival held at Lester Flatt Memorial Park in Otto, Arkansas, on Saturday, July 19, 2008.  Sister Glenda Faith hosts and coordinates this annual festival and we support her labor of love.  Please come out and join us if you are able to do so.

I will be preaching revival services at Living Faith Church on Friday night July 25^th and Sunday morning July 27, 2008 in Festus, Missouri.  Pastor Pat Smith contacted me to book this service recently and we are very excited about what God is going to do in Missouri.  Preaching at Living Faith is an honor and privilege for me.  The late Brother Bob Smith pioneered the church there and was a significant influence in my life during the early years of my Christian walk.  My memories of the services and tangible presence of God during services where Brother Bob was preaching still make me long for another great move of the Holy Ghost.  If you are able to join us in services there, please do so. 

In August we have an invitation to preach in Brooklyn, New York.  Pastor Mark, a friend of my trusted advisor Rev. Isaac DeGraft, pastors a church in Brooklyn and would like for us to come and minister there.  We are excited to go through this new door and see what God has in store.  God is moving all over the world.  We simply want to figure out where He is and what He wants us to do in His plan.

We are planning to return to Ghana in October or November and begin the orphanage construction, conduct evangelism, complete water and sanitation projects, deliver malaria nets to needy areas and expand on our areas of ministry there.   

I also intend to visit at least one new country this year, accepting one of the invitations that we have had to minister.  Uganda and Liberia are weighing upon my heart tremendously, and in my mind I want to go, but I must be sure the Holy Spirit wants me to move in.  Please be in prayer about this effort.

In the next few weeks, we will be announcing plans for a revival crusade to be held in Northeast Arkansas.  For months now I have been praying about the urgency God has placed in my heart for revival to come forth in our nation.  A good friend of mine has offered to allow us the use of his theater in the town in which he lives.  I have not forgotten his offer and now believe that it is time for us to accept the invitation and preach the Word of God, inviting a move of the Holy Ghost to occur in Arkansas like that we have seen in Africa.  I am in conversation with other men and women of God and hope to be able to share with you the dates and our plans very soon.  Please pray that we will move in God's perfect timing so that He will be lifted up and bless our efforts.