October 2008
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Ghana Mission  

2008

Is Just Around The Corner
Oct 17-31 

Dear Partners and Friends, 
 
As I write to you today, our Ghana mission team is about 20 days from departure to West Africa.  It is hard to believe that this will be my 6th personal journey to the Gold Coast region of Africa.  Years have now begun to pass by since the first journey I made there in November of 2004 with my old friend Roger Mattox, founder and president of Oasis International Ministries.
 
To this day, Roger and his ministry continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and focus upon tabernacle construction in Ghana and I am very happy to see his ministry continuing to flourish.  God planted a seed in me to minister in Africa, Roger Mattox watered that seed, and four years later I find myself joyfully serving God in a ministry that is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and also showing the love of God to others by helping them with basic necessities of life.
 
Little did I know, that once I accepted the call to go to Africa, that it would literally change the course of my life.  Every year since 2004, I have made the sacrifice of leaving my own family - who needs me more than anyone else - to travel thousands of miles away to a place still struggling with widespread poverty, lack of easy access to potable water, killer diseases, hunger and other challenges too numerous to mention.  Thank God that progress has been made, and I am seeing improvements for my friends in Ghana, but the vast majority of people living in rural Ghana need tremendous help with so many necessities of life.
 
This year I will be traveling with three other courageous individuals:  Bret Carroll, who serves as an officer on the board of HGM, and is a fellow Rotarian;  Tracy Leach, who serves as the administrator and webmaster for HGM; and Cindy Gamso, who is pioneering HGM's efforts to assist with medical missions.  With our journey to northern Ghana and the various projects we have across the nation ranging from Basayonde, Kukurantumi, Penyi, Darwenya and Kormantse, our team has been kept small for economy and necessity to endure a rigorous schedule.  Please keep us in your prayers as this team tends to the humanitarian projects at hand, and also spreads the gospel of Jesus Christ along the way.

     

Jason expresses appreciation to  a local pastor for his efforts, and presents the pastor with an award of appreciation. 
The Team
The Ghana 2008 Mission Team this year includes four members:
 
Jason Rapert - Founder and President of Holy Ghost Ministries
 
Bret Carroll - Holy Ghost Ministries Board Member and fellow Rotarian
 
Cindy Gamso - Holy Ghost Ministries Medical Missions Director, 2007 Ghana Team Member
 
Tracy Leach - Holy Ghost Ministries Administrator, 2006 - 2007 Ghana Team Member
 

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  A Note from HGM

Medical Missions Directors

Greg & Cindy Gamso

 

 
As I prepare to embark on my second trip, but the first dedicated Medical Missions trip to Ghana West Africa, joy and excitement fills my spirit at the possibility of offering to others the greatest gift I possess-- God Living In Me!  
 
Since our last trip to Ghana in 2007, Greg and I have collected medical supplies graciously donated by a company in Pocahontas, AR.  I will be taking these supplies to stock the medical clinic in Kormantse and other places as God directs our paths.  
 
Jason and I have been in contact with UNICEF in Accra discussing the distribution of malaria nets to villages in remote areas that we will be visiting this year.  
 
I hope to be able to visit other clinics while ministering in other areas of Ghana this year, to get an idea of how other medical clinics operate while meeting the needs of their people. 
 
During this trip, I also plan to communicate with other medical personnel in Ghana in efforts to find what their greatest medical needs are.  
 
In the future, Greg and I hope to be prepared to bring a team of doctors and/or nurses to Ghana and set up a temporary clinic and provide medical care to villages in need.   Please be in prayer that Greg and I listen as the Holy Spirit directs our path, and that we forever allow God to guide our footsteps so that we may follow his direction.  
 
Romans 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep.  
 
Sincerely,
Greg and Cindy Gamso
Medical Missions Directors

The Mission

Humanitarian Projects
 
There are several projects that HGM earmarked for completion in 2007 that we hope will be completed or near completion this year.  I must mention that The Iovino Family Foundation gave generously by granting $30,000 to HGM last year for water and sanitation projects that are a primary focus of our efforts. 
 
We will be working to complete the following water and sanitation projects:
 
Darwenya:  Public KVIP Toilet System

Kukurantumi:  Water bore hole and pump for the Alcoholics Anonymous halfway house located in the community - which will also serve nearby villagers and farmers
 
Basayonde: Water bore hole and pump to serve the village and school located in northern Ghana
 
Kormantse:  KVIP toilet system for various churches
 
Development Projects
 
We will be working to initiate the following development projects:
 
The Mike Pike Orphanage.  FUNDING NEED, ORPHANAGE:   $100,000
Acceptance of land gift from the villages of Kormantse 1 and Kormantse 2 for the construction and development of the orphanage.
 
The gift is large and therefore we have accepted the gift with the intention of exploring the future development of a secondary school to serve the community, establishing partnerships with medical teams to introduce programs providing better access to medical treatment and disease prevention, inviting international aid agencies and development organizations to help establish alternative sustainable agricultural projects, and encouraging NGOs to help further educate and equip the people in the surrounding communities to become more independent and increase their standard of living.
 
Our commitment to the people of the surrounding Kormantse community in the Central Region is long term and will be a focus of HGM for decades to come.  We foresee this area becoming a model example of what can be accomplished when the people, the community, the government, NGOs, faith based organizations and civic organizations cooperate together to bring sustainable progress to an area that is struggling with multiple challenges.
 
                                                                             
Ministry
 
We will also be undertaking direct ministry projects in October 2008, including the following:
 
Aflao & Penyi: Revival and ministry crusades.

Kormantse: Preaching and teaching in local churches.  School visitation and village evangelism. 
              
Accra:  Preaching and Teaching at the University of Ghana (Christian fellowship) and RingWay Assembly of God.
 
Salt Pond: Southern Ghana Bible College, Holy Ghost Ministries Scholarship program will be funded with $3,000 for the 3rd year in a row.  This scholarship program was the first permanent scholarship program implemented at SGBC.  I would like to thank the Sain family of Texas for their continued support of this program which allows men and women to be trained to serve in ministry.
 
Radio Tower and Transmission Equipment.      FUNDING NEED: $20,000
 
This project is intended to complement the educational curriculum of SGBC by providing functional radio transmission equipment which can be used to train students to utilize the technology in their ministries upon graduation.  A portion of land being gifted that adjoins the college will hopefully be utilized to see this project come to fruition. 
 
Dormitory Toilet Remodel and Update.    FUNDING NEED: $30,000
 
Obuasi: Adullum Orphanage visitation.
 
Basayonde:  Ministry with Missionary Garrett Nichols.
 
 
Jason presents a bible to a friend he met earlier that day.  Their meeting was nothing short of God's divine plan. 
 
Jason and some team members were walking on a dirt path when they came upon this Muslim woman caring for many orphans.
 
After some conversation, Jason and the woman knelt together right there on the path and she asked Jesus into her heart.
Listening to the Holy Spirit 
 
FEAR NOT GOD IS WITH YOU
 
During the past several weeks, the United States of America has been shaken severely - commercial banks failing, investment banks failing, insurance companies failing - leaders faltering under the weight of a financial crisis that has sent fear rippling across the country from Wall Street to Main Street. 
 
On September 29, 2008, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped an historic 777 points in one day - the worst one day drop ever on the market index.  With an upcoming presidential and congressional election pending, the politicians are blaming each other for the fallout that has resulted from laws that were passed encouraging, and in some cases requiring, banks to lend money to people that simply did not have the capability to pay the money back long term.  Those failed policies began to erupt when these people began to default on their loans putting local banks and mortgage companies under pressure.  Then the securities that were backed by mortgages that were packaged together for investment purposes began to struggle when the loans began to sour.  In short, a domino effect that started with people being loaned money when they should not have been, has spread to local banks, regional banks, national banks, investment banks, securities firms, international banks, insurance companies, government agencies and has threatened to totally disrupt the American economy.  Many people are gripped with fear.
 
Luke 21:25-28
 
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
 
Today we live in a time foretold by Jesus as recorded in Luke chapter 21.  Men's hearts are failing them for fear.  I have heard stories of men being hospitalized after suffering losses in the latest financial carnage, women selling their assets in the throes of the market downturn and people surrendering to fear rather than living by faith.  I am here to tell you that as Christians we should not give in to fear and those that sell it like snake oil.  If you make your decisions out of fear, then you are not living by faith. 
 
Please pay attention to me for one moment.  Intellectually, severe bear markets in which the major stock indexes lose 20% or more of their value have occurred thirteen times since the end of World War II - this bear market is not new, it is not different and it too shall pass.  However, in each of those 13 bear markets there were fear mongers preaching doom and gloom right up until the recovery has always come.  Earlier I told you that the DJIA dropped 777 points in one day - the worst one day drop in history.  What I did not mention was that decline was only a 7% one day decline, which is dwarfed by the 22% decline the market endured on Black Monday in 1987.  The markets have declined about 26% in the past 11 months, while the bear market of 2000-2002 was a 49% decline in the overall markets.  Intellectually, and most important factually - the current economic panic is not nearly as bad as we have seen it.  The point is that FEAR is what has gripped the world and though the world may shudder, Christians should not wilt with worry. 
 
Now, please pay attention to my next point.  Spiritually, the signs of these times should cue Christians to do as commanded by Jesus in Luke 21 - we should "look up" because our redemption draweth nigh.  Praise the Lord!  If you are spending more time listening to bad news, reading horrible newspaper reports and spreading fear, rather than praying, studying God's Word and looking up - please stop acting out of fear and start living by faith.
 
Christians have a lot of work to do in this world to fulfill Matthew 28:18-20.  If we allow ourselves to be moved by fear rather than faith, lost souls across the world will continue to suffer in bondage.  We must continue to do the work of the Lord, witnessing to the lost and caring for our fellowman.  Ministries do not accomplish God's work on passion alone, it takes money to reach the lost, feed the poor and care for the orphan.  If the devil can scare Christians into hiding their money under the mattress, he has dealt a severe blow to evangelism of the world. 
 
Rather than give place to the devil's fear, we need to "look up" and be ready for Jesus, be good stewards of our assets and do all we can to fulfill the Great Commission.  Just as God took care of the children of Israel when plagues befell Egypt, and delivered them from Pharaoh, He too shall take care of those who cling to Him.
 
Jason Rapert

What Can You Do To Help HGM?
  
The work that HGM does for the Lord is His business.  We have faith that everything God has called us to do will be accomplished.
 
I Thessalonians 5:24, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
 
Our greatest need is for you to be open to do what God puts on your heart.  Please listen to the Lord and act upon His guidance.
 
We ask that you pray for Bret Carroll, Cindy Gamso, Tracy Leach, Garrett & Kelly Nichols and Jason Rapert, as they minister in Ghana during October.  Pray for safe travel, healthy bodies, saved souls, successful projects and God's favor for everything they put their hands to. 
 
We appreciate each and every one of you that send HGM support for scholarships, water projects, sanitation projects, evangelism, feeding projects, orphanage projects and medical missions.  Your obedience to God and support of this ministry allow us to continue to press forward.   
 
 
 If you would like to donate, you may send your gift directly to:
 
Holy Ghost Ministries
P.O. Box 10388
Conway, AR 72034
 
or donate on our secure website at:
 
 
Friends and partners, as you have read, we have many projects and ministries being undertaken by HGM.  We have teams already planning to journey to Ghana in 2009 to continue working and building upon the foundation that has been laid since 2004.  I sincerely ask that you keep all these matters in your prayers.  God has never failed to supply the funds needed to continue His work in Ghana.  I rest in Him, by faith, knowing that He will supply all that is needed to accomplish every project and program that we have committed to Him.
 
Thank you to all of the monthly supporters, churches, organizations and civic clubs that have joined with HGM to make these projects become a reality for the people of Ghana.  God bless.
 
Jason Rapert