Just a month ago marked the fifth anniversary of our first time in Ghana.

I honestly can not believe that is has been five years since we stepped foot into a country that would become such a huge piece of our hearts and lives. Of course, celebrating a big number like this always makes me reminisce and look back over my journal of what sixteen-year-old Bekah was feeling at that time. I honestly don’t think I quite realized what it meant for a family of six to pack up and move to West Africa for a year. It felt normal to me, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Yet, in the years after our trip, I would realize more and more how out of the ordinary that year was.

Please do not hear me saying our family is superior or super Christian because we moved to Ghana without any hesitation or fear. Ask Dad. There was plenty of that. As I grew older, I realized what kind of details one needed to think about and plan when moving your family half-way around the world. Raising the money alone is enough to throw many missionaries for a loop. Praise God He provided complete funding in four months time! At the time, I did not process what that amount of money meant or even the quickness of raising the support. But now, I realize with amazement at the sheer amount of money God provided in such a quick way. We had prayed for open doors if God wanted us in Ghana; and fling open the doors He did. 

Why the trip down memory lane? Because in 42 short days, we once again have the opportunity to travel to Ghana (Dec 14-31)! For me, returning to Ghana is not just a “cool opportunity” to go on a mission trip. The trip isn’t always easy; it is not the most exotic place in the world to travel either. However, that is not the reason I go to Ghana. For me, it is a chance to see people whom I absolutely love; who have stolen a piece of my heart. It is an opportunity to experience a vibrant country that is on fire for Jesus. It is a place where I have seen God mold and shape my own life, and countless others. 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." As Jesus sent out His disciples in Matt 28:19-20a, we feel this call personally in our daily lives but also in our time in Ghana.

We do not have the answer. We do not have a cure for malaria or medicine to help the Deaf hear. We do not have enough food to feed the hungry. Our two week trip will not alter any of the deeply rooted systems or cycles that exist in our broken world. We do not go on this trip to try and accomplish a task of building or completing a project. We go for the people. 

We go to sign with the Deaf community that has been pushed aside. We go to teach children how to play baseball while using the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. We go to love on mothers who are sewing to provide for their families. We go to hug and play with children that live in orphanages. We go to build relationships and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ, praying that God may be glorified as we go and make disciples. 

Would you “go” with us? We need our brothers and sisters here in America to partner with us; we could not do this trip without you. How can you partner with us? We most importantly need prayer. For our team; for the people we will build relationships with in Ghana; for the various outreaches we will be participating in; for safety as we travel; and most importantly that the love of Jesus would be shared wherever we go. Thank you for your prayers! 

We look forward to sharing with you about our trip and how we saw God move in and through us!

Love, The Ochs