Day 18: A Day of Honor

 This Sunday was special. We sang “10,000 Reasons” and finally performed our long awaited Ghanaian song. Katelyn blew people away with her beautiful voice. Sadly it did not come out how we practiced it but the people still enjoyed it. Dr Ablorh was back from his crusade in Cameroon and we got to hear him preach for the first time. What made today’s service special was when the leaders of the church honored us unexpectedly.

We all got sashes with the Ghanaian flag colors and our individual names across the sides. Caren was the first to be called. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness (Matthew 25:23),” they read out loud. None of us could hold back our tears of joy. It was like Jesus welcoming us into the kingdom. Wow, what an experience. We definitely did not expect that.

After service we were summons into Dr Ablorh’s office where he prayed for each member of the group. We each kneeled on a pillow and he laid his hands on our head. He prophesized over us and gave each of us a word. He told me that I would never be alone and that God was always with me. He was Emmanuel to me. He told Vanessa that she would bare fruit even in a drought. She would never wither but survive. He told Kayli to stop fighting the battle He already won. Kayla was told that she would exceed. He also prayed for the three medical students who are staying with us. Finally he had us pray for him, what an honor! He is such an anointed man of God.

We have been treated like royalty; we got to eat in one of his rooms while we waited for the second service. The second time around we sang our song without any instruments and were able to hit that key that we have rehearsed for so long. It was a hit! I think it meant a lot to people that we learned something in their language. After service we came home to change but ended up singing to aunty Grace, our cook, because she was not able to make it to service. Despite the many times she had heard us practice, it was as if she had heard us for the first time. Tears rolled down her cheek because she was touched. She said we were anointed. We all gathered around aunty Grace, Mercy, and Dina. I know they felt loved and appreciated, as they should.

After singing for Aunty Grace - this was such a special moment!

We later got ready to have lunch at Dr Ablorh’s house. We had yummy sliced yam, peanut chicken soup, rice balls, fried rice, and melon seed with fish. It was delicious. It was nice to just gather around Dr Ablorh and hear him tell stories about ORU students and their divine appointments including how he was accepted to ORU medical school.

Our delicious Ghanaian lunch!

They were only accepting thirty students out of three hundred applicants. The potential students were interviewed on camera and critiqued by a panel. When asked, why should we choose you over the rest, Dr Ablorh replied, “If you chose me, you will rejoice over it for the rest of your life. If you do not you will regret it the rest of your life.” His bold statement definitely made him stand out. But it is true, he has done a lot for Ghana and for the kingdom of God. It turns out that one of the panel members that reviewed his interview years ago took a missions trip to Ghana. Through a divine appointment, this panel member met Dr Ablorh in his office. When he saw his ORU diplomas hanging on the wall, he cried. He said, “ I am so glad I didn’t have to get to heaven in order to see this come to pass.

We also got to witness Dr Ablorh open his creatively wrapped gift of an array of teas, ranch dressing, and a coffee mix from America. His birthday is tomorrow. So the original plan was to go to Coco beach but everything changed in a minute. Dr Ablorh received a phone call and asked Ms. Poore and Dr Catts to attend his council meeting with the President! He was asked to bring four friends and he asked for some of us to come and sing the Ghanaian song. Katelyn, our song leader, randomly named some people from our group and we were asked to practice right then and there. We had exactly one hour to get ready and be on our way. This was all too exciting and unbelievable. The verse came to mind where it talks about a man’s gifts makes room for him.

Dr. Ablorh opening his birthday present!

So the beach plans were canceled and well the other half of the girls were supportive and actually prayed for the lucky half that got to go. We all had to rush and frantically get ready but we made it on time. We were able to get ready in half an hour. We were all excited and rehearsing in the car. Lina also gave a heartfelt prayer for Ghana and its leadership. We prayed that God would have His way in Ghana and for the president to be led. What an Honor!

Kayla, Kayli, Lina, Katelyn and Jennifer headed to the Castle and ready to sing!

We finally made it to the white house or Castle as they called it. It was a secured white building with history written all over its wall. The beachfront was beautiful and the castle looked mysterious. I wondered about its history, I did not know much about Ghana’s government. We were told that there were no cameras allowed and to not speak unless we were spoken to.

As we entered in the room, we squeezed into the few empty chairs in a small chapel room. We got to sit up front and definitely stood out from the rest despite us wearing our African –made dresses. The service was well structured and the Word of God was read. I kept wondering who the President was. When it came time for Dr Ablorh to speak we were introduced as the ORU nursing students that would usher everyone into the presence of God. My heart was pounding. We all crammed to the front and the pianist matched us wonderfully. What an honor!

The service was only an hour long. Towards the end we were informed the President did not make it to the meeting. I was disappointed but later realized that I sat with the President’s Cabinet! We sang for very important people in Ghana’s White house! I never considered myself a singer or privileged enough to get to meet such important people. But God reminded me that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood. Another divine appointment was when the minister of health asked Dr Ablorh about training nurses here in Ghana. Manna Mission is in the process of building their first nursing school. Dr Catts and Ms Poore were introduced to her and we shall see what God does. He truly is in control of every detail and works behind the scene even when we think our dreams are long gone.    

Jennifer Cordon