Harvest

Today was Harvest at Kalsagri Methodist Church. As an American, I think of harvest as bringing in the crops. Maybe selling some to make money. I think of something to do with the autumn season. Oh, not here. Harvest is a fund-raiser. People are given notices and envelopes in which to put their donations. Then, members of the church bring items to the church to auction off. Since the growing season has ended recently, there was plenty of ground nuts, maize, hot peppers tomatoes and yams to sell. There were other things as well, especially since I don't farm. So, I didn't bring something I grew to sell! The auction started with a bottle of water, since water is life, it is everything in this hot and dry land. Then, the fun began with people bidding against each other. Oh, it was exciting to watch! At the end of the day, the church raised 508.95 Ghana Cedis, about $132 from people who can barely feed their families. What a miracle! Thank You, Jesus! The church was given a matching gift, so that now there will be money to meet their financial obligations and maybe have money left for their Easter Picnic! I am so proud of them.

Harvest

In Ghana, harvest time is very important, not only at the end of the farming season, but throughout the entire year. When I first attended a Harvest in 2007, I had in mind what most Americans would have in mind. After all, it was fall, and I imagines celebrating the crops that grew by the grace of God, during the season. But, no, when a "Harvest" is held, it is much different than what I had pictured in my mind.

 

On May 12, the Babile Methodist Church had a Harvest. During the month before this took place, envelopes with the name of the church, the date of the Harvest and other pertinent information printed on it, were given out to church members, community members and any other people who might be interested in financially supporting the church, since a Harvest is a fundraiser!  

May 12 came and I rode on the back of a motorcycle to the Babile church about 1/2 hour away. The church service was great. Surely, the presence of the Lord was in this place. The Very Reverend Ernest Baiden gave a very Biblical sermon on giving. Then, the "festivities" began. First, the normal offering was taken. Then, the envelopes were given. Next a plea for money was given, starting with anyone who could give 50 Ghana cedis all the way down to 1 Ghana cedi. Each amount was pleaded for separately.

 

Now, the fun began! People brought items from home to sell, to auction off and the proceeds would go to the church. There was millet, Guinea fowl eggs, groundnuts, both in and out of the shell, corn, water sachets, rice...You get the picture. It was so much fun to watch and listen to the bidding. When I saw the groundnuts, I KNEW some would be mine...let the bidding begin!

 

I had to be patient, as the water, millet, rice, cassava, even the eggs were auctioned off first. Finally, they came to the shelled, raw groundnuts. The bidding started at 6 Ghana cedis...it went to 7, then, 7.50, 8, 8.50...I finally bought my bay of groundnuts for 10 Ghana cedis (about $5.35 USD). (I took them home and roasted them a few days later. I will be eating groundnuts until the end of June!)

 





After the auction, there was another plea for money, this time, each church represented came forward to place their money in the collection box. The goal was to see which church would "win" by putting in the most money. Of course, Kasalgri, my church, won by 5 Ghana cedis! It was a close race, announcing a winner, then more money given, announcing the new winner, more money given, etc.

At the end of the day, a total of 1580.70 Ghana cedis were given. And, because of a donation by Wesley UMC in Erie, PA, that amount was matched. The church will put a new roof on and start putting in louver windows. It was a wonderful day. Each person there contributed to the cause. They worked hard to raise this money. And, now, after so long, there will be a roof on the church. No more dodging the sun and the rain. Praise God for His provision!