Christ's Co-Mission, Inc UPDATE on Prime Meridian Opportunities 2003 #7

Greetings in Jesus' Name. The Lord has allowed safe journey for me in October and for my wife & our friend, Jane, in November to travel to Manya Krobo in Ghana, W.Africa. We thank Him! Berta and I are now back and busy in CT as we recover from jet-lag. God is good. So much has developed since the last Update:

By His grace, Loved By Jesus School has been able to hire a couple more fine Christian teachers and is preparing to cement one more classroom floor, with recent financial support.

PMO had a blessed dedication for our new chicken coop. Dedicating a coop may sound silly, but the powers of darkness hate us over there and we need God's touch every way possible.

Garments Of Praise Shop has opened with excitement. Although we are starting small, the locals like that they can purchase good products at reasonable prices. We either buy in bulk and pass most of the savings on in smaller quantities or we ship second-hand items for resale, similar to thrift shops in the USA. The modest proceeds help us hire Christian shopkeepers, purchase more goods in bulk and eventually be able to provide below cost goods to those in desperate need, probably through local pastors. Note: We avoid hand-outs because of the severe "give-me" mind-set that is pervasive in Ghana. Americans can use money to become temporary heroes but it basically doesn't ultimately help anyone.

Developing part-time jobs for godly Krobos is happening slowly but definite progress is being made as sector leaders are learning how to supervise and workers are understanding the hourly system better. As the people there are faithful, we anticipate God will provide more capital for PMO to develop further. Pray as we encourage more "tentmaking" among the poor Pastors.

- The Lord is allowing PMO: to involve more local Pastors for LBJS weekly chapels and for faculty devotions; to put into service the first PMO laptop for administrative and classroom purposes; to begin a small library in our office of Biblical and educational materials; to experiment with our own production of authentic African batik & tie-dye; etc.
Above and beyond these measures to firmly establish a ministry that answers the cry of Isaiah 61 & 58:6,7... and James 1:27 is our call to respond to Matt.28:19&20 and to see hearts and lives sanctified by the Holy Spirit so that God's Kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

To Him alone be the glory, David J. PMO@CCMission.com

Prime Meridian Opportunities Update 2003 #6

In just a few hours I expect to be flying (delayed 2 days) to Ghana, West Africa once again. Here is a photo of part of Odumase Krobo - my home away from home. Some thatch, some recent homes, ... most rusty.

By the second week of November, I will be headed back to the USA, but the rainy season will give way to dry, parched conditions until about March. Life is difficult for most Krobos.

Sunday evening we will have our monthy Gathering that takes place at the PMO office.

There will be several dear people to meet with over the weeks. Please pray that the grace of God would go forth.
A very special aspect of this my 8th trip is that my wife will arrive for my last week in the Kroboland, along with Jane who will be serving PMO in various capacities. This will be the first trip for both of these brave ladies.
The November Update should be interesting.

Grateful for your prayers,
David J.
Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested.

Update on Prime Meridian Opportunities 1-Sept-03

On this Labor Day here in the USA, I share the following excerpts from my assistant in Manya Krobo to help give you a picture of what PMO is about:
"… To go on without HIM in everything in life is a deviant behavior and it fruit is the vicious cycle of sin leading to eternal destruction. All is about him and nothing after him or before HIM I know is the foundation which we are building upon,…"
"... many are the challenges, that have encounter until now, but the lord has been the faithful one to see ya through all. We are but in Africa, but the lord has made you to come far down from America by transpiring his perfect will into you as a messanger, to bring the tidings to the people. You vision before setting to Africa not anywhere but centered Ghana is About HIM and so if the lord has been faithful in all the ways to this far by giving birth to PMO you have every cause to give that honor to him ...The fact still remains that Christianity is about him and what he wants us to be like, ..."

"The school Loved By Jesus actually tries to build a history to tell the generation to come how the lord has been faithful on the land....
One day in a garden when student were preparing nursery bed, they seem so confuse by no reason why they are in the garden , however, one of them was bold to ask ,sir what is the meaning of this we are doing?...well this our parcel of land, we don't have to wait for some to come and till it for us. So sir does it mean what ever we plant is for us? Definitely it is for us … and when our parent visit us in the school we will show them our bed with the vegetable we will grow by then. . Oh so the land is for us and cultivate it by us. ok student we shall call our garden for us by us. This was to impart knowledge to kids not to be lazy but to work by themselves when they grow up and not wait for someone to shower onto to them."

PMO's outright purchase of the school land was completed in May. Here is a photo of the first gardening at the school in June. I'm so proud of them. Well, as usual "nothing is easy in Ghana", animals came and ate the sprouts. Also, as usual, by His grace we won't give up. Ghana has 2 planting seasons per year.

School starts this month and we would appreciate your prayers for teachers, families and students. Thanks to the VBS that raised money for school desks and maybe even enough extra to help buy some fencing for the garden.

As PMO develops part-time employment for those in ministry, we are thrilled to report the successful beginning of PMO Cement Block-making supervised by a godly Pastor.

The Lord has been faithful,
David J.
Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested.

Update on Prime Meridian Opportunities 27-July-03 #4

We've received some new scanned photos of Loved By Jesus School happenings. Earlier this month several of the students actually took a field trip to the largest man-made reservoir/lake in the world. It is only a few miles from our ministry but this was a very out-of-the-ordinary opportunity for these children. I intended sending a photo or two of the outing, but this other one (attached) from March that I first saw yesterday blesses me -- especially their title.

Krobos, like Samuel (in photo), are often given Christian names in addition to their tribal name. I believe he is in our KG1 class (4&5year olds). Note the LBJS patch on his shirt. The red heart is a symbol for the heart of God reaching the heart of man, at the heart of the globe. The Kroboland is on the Greenwich prime meridian just a few degrees above the equator.

Praise: - We thank the Lord for seeing the school through this year. The students are finishing their exams this week, quote:
"School started part of their final exams this week, and late this week and early next week they will have games with other school like Presby primary, Foreman etc as part of semester programs organize by the teaching bodies of schools in the Odumase circuit, after which they will be another exams. We hope to shine like Jesus in the field of play also to other friends not in the classroom alone.";
- Health of PMO personnel;
- Payroll for July is met and God provides month by month;
- Opportunities to present PMO in Rhode Island, Hartford and to a VBS in Rockville.

Prayer Requests:
- Stephen, Richmond, Adolph, Benjamin, Samuel, Francis, Gideon, Alfred, Minta, Esther, "Precious Children", ...;
- That PMO would be able to develop more "tentmaking" opportunities for Pastors;
- Safe and efficient current construction of poultry coop (on land donated to PMO for 5 years);
- Funds to complete classrooms and provide bathrooms for school;
- Development of a God-glorifying website during August.

Marching in His army :-)

I AM PROUD TO BE THE LEADER OF JESUS ARMY TO THE PARADE

SAYS 4YRS OLD SAMUEL APPIAH

Loved By Jesus School  -  Prime Meridian Opportunities  -  Ghana, West Africa

{ June 2003 PMO Update #3}

Ok, I didn't think I was going to send the I'm-a-poor-kid-without-a-future-can-you-help-us photo, but this morning my devotions brought me to Matt.10:42 and Mark 9:36-41. So, here it is in front of our school. note: LBJS on our school cup.

This week it was reported that our "Loved By Jesus School" has made some great progress and that the enrollment may double for this next school year. God is moving!
As we now prepare, there are various projects to fund including:
providing running water and a bathroom for the school, pouring cement floors to reduce the dust, strengthen the roofing structure, purchase more desks, etc. {To give you an idea, a 2 seater hardwood desk costs less than $25.; a septic system is probably less than $500.; a teacher's pay ranges from $35. to $50. month}.

In addition to PMO's Christian elementary school, we focus on developing long-term economic solutions and joining with Africans to impact the next generation for the Kingdom of God. PMO Ministry desires to develop more employment opportunities for destitute Christians to care for their families, support their churches, to reach the lost, and to disciple believers.
If you or someone you know would like to support these objectives:
A.) We can answer any specific questions about our operations;
B.) We will faithfully oversee any contributions made;
C.) We will provide prayer requests to any interested.

Tax deductible donations may be made by: credit card at www.christianaid.org\540pmo.html or (800)977-5650 or by sending a check (memo 540PMO) to: Christian Aid Mission, P.O. Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906 CAM provides receipts and is ECFA approved. {Feel free to decline being on their mailing list.}

We believe that God's work done in God's way never lacks God's supply. Where He leads we will follow, to His glory.
As we say in Ghana ... By His Grace, David J.

UPDATE 2003 # 2 13-June

Greetings,

Some of you have expressed interest in what is happening with our involvement in West Africa. Some receiving this email have participated in various ways and we say thank you. Some of you may have wondered what's going on in my life/ministry. So, here are some recent excerpts from Ghana:

"This month is full of rain showers down here in Ghana, and so the Showers of blessing will be to PMO this month and the subsequent ones. MAY HIS PRESENCE BE FELT ALWAYS"

"...Despite all new amendment in the school system which has made a great developmental progress in the school, the practical tutelage by little granddaughter of pastor David J... has had an impart on the entire school and has been an antidote to some lapses in the school. Participation of student and masters has been good and there have been few loved by Jesus boys and girls joining the train to Zion where the unseachable love is."

At a recent monthly Gathering of Prime Meridian Opportunities members and guests in Ghana, the following question was asked and answered: "...how is PMO helping destitute? ANS. PMO is not just like Santa Cruise giving gift to people rather help by train people to work and get income with the resource giving to them to also to generate resource to help other also in need."

Please remember these dear Christians as each day is full of challenges and yet their hope in the Lord is steadfast. Thank you for your prayers, David J.

Attached find a photo I took 2 months ago of PMO's Executive Secretary, school teachers, and new sign. Feel free to forward this email to any who you think would be interested. I'll soon send a new multi-photo flyer that is almost finalized.