Indescribable

Our Ghana mission trip has forever touched and changed my life. I wish I could describe to you in words how amazing it was, but it was indescribable. I wish I could show you pictures and then you understand, but the pictures do not give our trip justice. I wish I could write an amazing song about this experience, but there is no way you can comprehend this unless you were with us.

Each team member brought their own gifts and talents to the table each day were there. Charla was an amazing team leader. She had to put up with Ghana time and trust me, that’s not easy. There is no point in wearing a watch--just throw it away. Making plans or a schedule? HA! We all might just respond to that answer by saying, "Let the river flow." Chelsea was amazing with the children. She has an incredible personality and is so great with the kids. She has a skit called the "Life Savor" skit and the response from the kids after she witnessed to them was amazing. She was also a great motivator when it came to working--(and then she got malaria--that’s right...two down 11 more to go!! haha) Chandler, oh Chan Chan, is so compassionate. He was always so eager to get out there and work for the kids. Paul, besides trying to make every single girl mad at him (which was a game--and he failed with me) captured each moment through his camera lens. He constantly used his humor and great personality to make us all laugh during the times we felt like pulling our hair out. Brannan, oh Brannan, let me tell you what. He does the best boom chicka boom you've ever heard. Everyone, ask him to demonstrate. It’s amazing. Brannan is one of the most humble people I know. He was so encouraging to work with. Jennifer is a woman of God for sure. She may be soft spoken at times, but when she speaks, God's words flow from her mouth in to the kid’s lives. Emily has this ability to walk into a village and the kids flock to her. There would be times I could not even see Emily because she would be in the middle of tons of kids handing out tracks and spreading the news of Jesus. It was awesome watching her work those teaching skills to spread God's love. Chad also was so good with the children. Also, there were many of times where Chad would be in the center of a circle of Ghanaian children and he would be having a dance off with one of the kids. It was great. Also, he has a great God voice for the Jonah skit--ask him to demonstrate. He was a great asset to the team and we could not have accomplished things without him. Clint is the most passionate guy I have ever met. Watching him was like looking at one of Christ's disciples doing God's work with compassion, humbleness, and a goal, which was to spread Christ's love through our actions and words. Also, God has used him so much through singing and playing the guitar as well as writing music--that’s right--music! Haley Warner=AWESOME!! She constantly had a smile on her face. Even when we were all frustrated with things, she still had a positive attitude and smile. It was so uplifting. You know how people can click off...Haley was in EVERYBODIES click!! Joel and Patrick got to Africa and it was great to have new energy to the team. Mathias, our leader in Ghana, is one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. So many fun memories: LET THE RIVER FLOW, BAPTIZED BY FIRE, IN YOUR FACE BRANNAN, NOOGIE, HALEY, I HELP YOU, CLINTON DURWOOD DENSON THE SECOND...that’s just some of our memories with him. We could not have done anything without him.

Being back at home has been bittersweet. When we said goodbye at the airport, all the girls were crying except for me because for some reason, I wasn't comprehending the fact that I was leaving half of my group in Africa to go back to the United States. I got on the plane, watched a movie for the first time in 5 weeks, and after the movie I looked at the map and saw that we were flying over the desert and started crying my eyes out. Ask Brannan, he was so confused. It hit me. I'm not in Ghana any more. Half of my team is still there and it was hard.

It’s been tough being back in America. While I was in Africa, nothing could revolve around me. It was God's plan 24/7. Being back home, I realize how awesome it is to be serving the Lord and having my mind and heart only on Him and not on me. I want to go back. I wish I could show you the children’s expressions when we came into their schools and villages. Picture this, we get out of the van, and the children from the village come running down the road with the biggest smiles on their faces and no shoes. Wow. If that wont turn your heart inside, I don't know what will.

God used each one of us to accomplish His mission: for the love of Christ to be shown to the people of Ghana. God didn't need us to go on this trip, but he allowed us to be a part of this humbling experience. God allowed us to work on a church. He allowed us to move pounds of dirt, to break tons of concrete, to sweat a lot of sweat while serving Him. God allowed us to go into the schools, bringing music and skits to the children, and sharing the Love of His son with His people that one day will be first in His kingdom. God allowed us to go to the orphanages and to show the children what their Father in heaven is like. He allowed us to walk into the churches and bring our stories to the people. He allowed us to participate in medical missions for villages that were suffering from diseases. He allowed us to work and move and spread and share His love.

Lyrics to a song Clint and I wrote while in Ghana:

She wakes up same clothes as the day before
Mom's cookin' rice again but its not enough for the family of four
Looks like rain again while it’s hard when you live
In a house with a roof made of straw

But she thanks God for one more day

One day my child the last shall be first and the first shall be last
One day in a city of gold, God will recognize your worth and you will be told:
"Well done, well done my good and faithful servant."

He's felt loneliness for most of his life
Hasn't felt his mother's touch since the day that she died
He's been sick and all alone
Most people don't know what its like to walk this lonely road

But he thanks God for one more day

One day my child the last shall be first and the first shall be last
One day in a city of gold, God will recognize your worth and you will be told:
"Well done, well done my good and faithful servant."

It’s hard to see God in Africa through the poverty
So they put their hope in the place where they'll dance on golden streets


Sending my prayers to my teammates who are still in Ghana moving mountains for God,

Katie Heckel

:)