BMM Ghana

Mapes Memos in September Mapes Memos September 2011

VBS was held in August of this year. At three different location. Read the attached letter

Ghana Gazette VBS 2011

Mapes Memos

An Ordinary Boy: Whose Greatest Ability is Availability

Frank was just one of the kids in the neighborhood who played at the house, attended Bible Club, and never called a great deal of attention to himself, to the extent that it has been hard to find pictures of him as a child. As the years rolled by, we moved to a new community, and we didn’t see Frank all that much! Then one day when I was at the hospital on a visit, I met his mother near the emergency room. She asked me to come in and pray for Frank. He was a very sick teenager and later was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Some of you helped to pay for the doctor bills and medication that he accumulated over a number of years.

When it was time to start high school, Frank had missed so many classes in math due to doctor visits that he opted to study for one year in hopes that he would be able to get into high school on the science program. He hopes one day to be a doctor. He came to the house and got some math books and tutored himself through 2 years of math and was able to place well enough on the exam in math that they allowed him into the science program. Since Frank’s father had deserted the family and his mother could not pay for him to go to high school, we asked for help to get Frank through high school.

When we returned home from furlough in 2007, Frank came by to visit and told me that he had learned to play the trumpet. I gave him a chance to play mine, and sure enough, the boy has a gift with music. He can play almost any instrument by ear that he puts his hand to.

For a while Frank would come out to Jinijini with me to help with the Bible Club there on Wednesday afternoons. After our 2008 mission’s conference, Frank asked me if all missionaries had to be preachers. I told him no. There are such things as missionary hospitals and so there are many ways that a person can use his talents as a missionary. I think Frank was afraid that his problem of stuttering would get in his way of being able to preach. It was exciting to learn that God was working in his heart. After finishing high school in Ghana, one must wait one year to get the results of your senior exams. During the time he was waiting for his results, his Grandfather found him a job at the Bui Dam Project.

The Chinese have the contract from the Ghana government to supervise the project, and there are many Chinese working on the project. When Dan learned that Frank was working on this project, he remembered a Chinese Bible he had. He brought it out to Frank and asked him to pray that the Lord would direct him as to whom to give the Bible. A few days later Frank texted us to let us know that he had given it away, and that the man had come back asking if there was a way that he could get some more Bibles.

Sometime later, more Chinese Bibles arrived and we told Frank that there were in Berekum. When he was able to get a day off he came and collected 20 Chinese Bibles. They went like hot cakes and a few days after he left Berekum with the Bibles a text came in saying “3 Bibles left can you believe it. A man was chasing me today for a Bible”

When we left Ghana in May 2010 Frank asked if he could have some DVD’s with Chinese subscript and we allowed him the use our portable DVD player so that he could share them with the men there. Since our time in the States we have been able to purchase some tracts, ICR materials and DVD’s that present the Gospel for him to share. In October Dan was given money by a missionary to China who was home due to medical needs in his family. Because this missionary family wanted to do something to help Frank, their gift purchased nearly $500 worth of books, tracks and DVD’s to send to Frank for his ministry.

Recently we received this e-mail from Frank._Hi madam i have not gone for books yet. I want yo u guys to remember these Chinese people in prayers. (Mr.Gym, mr.Chin, mr. Leo, mr. Tarzan and others who’s names are not known) I hav e approached this mr. Gym twice with the answers in genesis and one of the bibles. At first he refused to take it but as time went on he too k it. Aft er he read the books, i asked him and he told me those books are very good. I told him about the gospel and how to receive Christ and he told me i should give him more time to think about it. The second time he also told me he now believes there is God and Yesu but I should give him more time to think about it. Madam i don’t know what is stopping this guy from receiving Christ he is also about to go to china for about three months before he comes back. So pleas e remember this guy in prayers. I know people who are interested in the gospel but the time to get them and talk to them is the problem. Hope God will make a way .

xtend my greetings to david , grandpa (allen adler), pastor and the girls. Have nice day and coming christmasssssssss ._

We have been so excited to see how God is working up there in the Bui Dam Project. Thank you so very much for your prayers not only for us but all of those we minister with there in Ghana. It’s exciting to see God working and directing our various steps. It’s been wonderful to seewhat happens in our lives as we allow the Master Weaver to take the ordinary threads of our lives to weave His masterpiece. We are about halfway through our furlough time. Karis, Grace and Hannah will travel with Dan from January until the first of May. The family is doing fine. More later! May you have a blessed Christmas.In the service of the Master Weaver,

Mapes Memos from Townsend Mt

We just wanted to write to you a quick update about what is happening in the lives of the Mapes. Our summer has flown by. During June we spent time getting Charity ready for adult life. She got her driving license, car and two jobs all in one week. She is working at Cowboy Coffee And Steak House in Townsend as assistant cook and as a cashier at Wal-Mart in Helena. She enjoys both of her jobs.

Around the Fourth of July we enjoyed a little family camping trip

and then by the 6th Dan, Karis and Grace were on our way to Ohio for the Annual BMM Conference. During the conference Dan and Karis received their 20 year pens. On the 16th we began a race with time to get across the country and be at Lake Blaine Baptist Bible Camp by the afternoon of the 19th with a quick stop in Townsend to change our suitcases and pick up Hannah. We had two good weeks of camp. One week with senior high and one week with the junior girls.

This week we will be taking David to Faith Baptist Bible College to begin his freshman year of college.

have been praying that he will receive a transfer from Helena Wal-Mart to the one in Ankeny. IA. Just this morning he received word that the transfer had gone through. Praise the Lord with us. Dan and I will be taking David as well as another freshman student, Thomas, whom we have ministered with during camp the last two summers.

In Ghana this week Emmanuel Baptist Church Berekum will be holding VBS at three different locations. One will be in Berekum proper, one in Jinijini the church plant that they are working in and one in Brenyekwa where we are planning to start a new church plant in 2011. Please pray for all those involved in this endeavor. We have started visiting our churches and have enjoyed meeting with a number of our Montana churches in August. We will be with Faith Baptist in Jamestown ND on the 22nd and then Ruby Valley Baptist in Sheridan the 29th of August and then on to Texas for most of September.

Thanks for your prayers for us and the ministry as it continues in Berekum in our absence.

Check out our website to see what is going on in Ghana. www.bmmghana.com

Dan, Karis, David, Charity, Grace and Hannah