Reaping a Harvest

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

As we enter the fall harvest season with cooler weather (though it's actually getting hotter in Ghana), I've been reflecting on the long period of hard work, weeding, watering, and pruning necessary to achieve a successful and plentiful harvest. It feels like Etwene is currently in this phase, waiting, working, and refining with the hope of witnessing God bring about a spiritual harvest in our students, abundant provision for this ministry, and fruitfulness in all our lives. I'm encouraged to remember that this is just a season, and the harvest season will arrive. We must remain diligent in our efforts and trust the Lord to provide and act in His timing.

Planting

In August, the boys relocated to a new rental apartment. Although we had hoped to buy a property, God's timing often differs from ours. Nonetheless, He provided us with a beautiful new apartment that offers a bit more space. It's part of a compound with another family living in the downstairs apartment. The boys have been learning a lot from Mr. Emma and Nana Ama, who have been very welcoming to six young men. The Lord also enabled us to acquire some new and better quality furniture, so the boys have a place to gather and sit together. We are truly grateful that God has placed the boys in an improved environment, which will hopefully allow them to grow in new ways.

Watering

This is a crucial aspect of life that we often overlook here in the States. While we have witnessed the Lord nourishing the boys spiritually during what has felt somewhat like a drought, they have also been grappling with literal water issues for a long time. The old house was without water for most of the past six months, and the road to their location was so poor that the truck couldn't deliver water to them. This was one of the main reasons we needed to relocate them. Our new place is connected to Ghana Water Works and has a large poly tank that trucks can access if water delivery is needed... Praise God! Our excitement about having running water through the pipes was quickly dampened when we realized that Ghana Water Works is now experiencing severe issues with the pipes, leaving them once again without direct access to water. However, the good news is that they can have water delivered, so they at least have access to it! We are very grateful for that, at least.

Pruning & Weeding

We all experience periods where we plateau or become a bit too comfortable, sometimes feeling slightly entitled. During these times, the Lord often gently prunes these aspects,

which can be uncomfortable and challenging. Recently, we've felt the need to tighten some house rules, raise expectations, and set higher standards for the boys. We've introduced new household chores, a kitchen rotation for cooking meals, and a focus on living in community rather than every man for himself. These adjustments have been new and occasionally a bit painful :) Please pray for compliance as we prune certain areas and remove weeds that are trying to entangle and stifle growth in both spiritual and practical ways.

Waiting

We have been in a phase of waiting for God's perfect timing in several areas. Our property search has been on hold, as we've been waiting for a bank account to be finalized and for some staff restructuring. Now, we need to find a reliable agent to assist us in our search. Please pray for us as we take this next step and trust God to provide the perfect home for Etwene. Another area where we are waiting for God's harvest is in securing one more full scholarship ($6000/year for one student) and two half scholarships ($3000/year each) to ensure all the boys are fully covered for a year. If you can meet any of these needs, please contact us! You will have the joy of getting to know your student personally. We also always welcome monthly donations of any amount to help with unexpected life events. You can easily donate online through our "DONATE" button at the top of this page.

Prayer

We understand that God is essential for our growth and prosperity, and without Him, Etwene cannot thrive or yield the fruits we wish for. We have initiated a monthly prayer session every second Wednesday at 12pm CST. This is a wonderful opportunity to pray alongside other Etwene supporters, as well as our staff and students. If you wish to join this important time, please reach out to us at admin@etwene.com.

Anticipation

Though the current season can be tiring and at times disheartening, our hope rests in God's promise that He will bring a harvest if we persist in doing the work He has set before us. We eagerly await the harvest God has in store for each of our students and for Etwene itself. We pray that each of you will witness the fruits in your own lives as you diligently follow Jesus every day.