A journey begins...

Today team Ghana is traveling to Africa! We are excited and anxious to get there. Part of the team spent the day in Washington DC on a long layover while other team members (like myself) are still trying to get to DC through various airports. The whole team will finally be together in DC tonight before our flight takes off for distant shores. I (Zack Yarbrough) am ironically sitting in a airplane seat that is a part of a display in the Chicago airport... waiting to sit on the same seat inside an airplane in a few hours...

Also, (and this is for free), there is a dinosaur in the Chicago airport between concourse B and C.

Could you tell that I have a seven hour layover with not much to do...?

I promise, much more interesting posts are to come. Stay tuned.

-Zack

This is It!

So this is the whole team. We leave on July 9th. It is so crazy how fast this summer has went. please comment or ask questions when ever you get that urge! See you in Africa!

His name is Jordan!!!

"I am a Junior at Sterling College. I play tennis. I enjoy the Discovery and History Channels. I like frosted flakes. Sometimes i get on Facebook for long periods of time." -----Jordan

Well that is what he had on his Facebook page but that is not all I'm writing. Jordan too is at camp so I get to write what ever I want.

Jordan is one of the coolest people you might every know and folks I'm not just saying that. There is a line outside his door of people waiting to just hang out with him. But being the laid back, down to earth, slow to speak so that he might take in everything kinda guy he is, he will just trow a party for everyone in his hall way. Though he takes his time with his answers some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth is shocking, profound, and hilarious.

A little fact about Jordan that may or may not be true is that he likes to have PJ dance parties where ever he goes, its his way of saying I am here and I did not forget something to sleep in.
Some of the things he is bring to the trip is a kind heart, a new way of looking at life, and mad dancing skills. Oh and I said that Emily will change Ghana, with Jordan Africa will never be the same. God will truly be known through him and in his wake he will leave Joy (Because he is so funny people will be laughing for years to come).

Emily!!!

Hello everyone. I, Salima will be writing Emily's first post. She is currently at a camp and has not gotten the chance to write anything. So I get to put what ever I want lol.

So Emily is a current student at Sterling college. This is her first time mission trip with Sterling and her first time over seas.

Few facts about Emily:

1. She LOVES GOD and is going after him with her whole heart

2. She has the loudest and most contagious laugh I have ever heard.

3. She is probably the whole reason we never get things accomplished at meetings :)

4. Ants are in her pants?

5. She can out sing anyone one on our team, well kind of I think its a tie between her and Zack

6. If she had to eat Chocolate or a really crazy looking native food Emily would go native all the way.

7. When we have a history question we turn to her first unless it is about the 13 original colony's then you should stop listening and go straight to Chris.

8. She might get lost in the airport but all we have to do is close our eyes and listen for her laugh.

9. If you need to be taught the Ghana handshake Emily is your go to girl

10. Ghana and the people of Ghana will never be the same when she leaves that place.

Oh and if there was one thing she could take home from Africa she said it would be a goat so that she could have cheese when ever she wanted it.

Hello...

Hey everyone! I'm Scott Hicks. I'm a Christian Ministries (youth emphasis) major at Sterling College and I just finished my freshman year. I am from Lincoln Nebraska originally and found a new home at Sterling College and I love it. I originally was unsure whether or not I should go on this trip due to my recent diagnosis of diabetes last August, but God ensured me everything would work out and it has so far and I am trusting fully in him. I am super pumped to go to Ghana in just 1 month from now. I have been on several mission trips before within the United states, but never internationally, so that makes this trip that much more exciting being able to do God's work in a culture completely different from my own. Thank you everyone for your support and I cannot wait to see what awaits our team in Africa!

Hey Guys! My name is Amy, i'm 19 and just finshed my freshman year at Sterling. The start of my first year in college has been surrounded with opportunities to serve God; one opportunity was to be on the Ghana mission team.

Last summer, God greatly laid on my heart the desire to go on a Sterling mission trip, specifically Africa. When Ghana presented itself, I could not say no. My late Uncle Larry was a missionary in Nigeria and started a church, which my family still keeps in contact with. He died before I was born, and i am sad to not receive a chance to meet him personally. I would have greatly enjoyed learning and talking to him about his missionary work in Nigeria, therefore I am eager to experience a similar experience in Ghana; to see God work through myself and the mission team!


Our team recently went through ropes training. We were able to work together in solving tasks to prepare us for situations that may arise when we are in Ghana. I love all my teamates, and i'm very thankful that God put me on a team with such amazing leaders! Love Ya'll :)

Ghana Go Back!

Well Hello Friendly Followers!

I'm Mr. Swihart, a co-leader of the team. I was part of the trip that went to Ghana last year, and I am super excited to return to the warm hearted people of Takarodi, Ghana, West Africa. I hope to reconnect with many people that I met and made connections with during the first trip.

After 5 years here at the college, I believe I'm nearing the halfway point of my Elem. Ed. degree. I love hunting, fishing, and sports. Thank you for supporting our team, whether financially or spiritually, through prayer.

Hello my name is Chris Amazing Penner ...

Hey everyone I'm Chris. I'm the youngen on the trip. I'm only 18, but I have a huge heart for missions. I am a Christian Ministries Major with an emphasis in missions. I have been to Peru twice. The first time I was there I felt God calling me to be a full time missionary. So this will be an awesome experience to gain some knowledge of what it will be like in the mission field. I love everyone on my team and wouldn't trade them for anything. While we are there we will be the body of Christ with the people of Ghana and work with them in different forms of ministry. I know that God will use me in the best way that He sees fit. Well thank you all for your support. Watch out Ghana because here we come with Jesus at our head. :)

Hello. My name is Zack...

First of all, if you are reading this, thank you. Thank you for your support in following our team blog. We truly appreciate your prayers. That being said, my name is Zack and I am one of the leaders of our wonderful team. I am 21 years old and am a junior at Sterling College. I am a Math/Physics Education major and am minoring in christian ministries with an emphasis in worship. I am the president of our Praise Band Association and also lead one of our bands myself. I am involved with a youth group here in Sterling as a counselor of some 9th grade boys. In summary, I'm a busy guy.

This will be my third mission trip at Sterling College. In 2008 I traveled to Nicaragua and in 2009, Peru. I have a passion for missions and I am thrilled about this trip to Africa. I am confident that God has incredible plans for our team in Ghana. Plans that are far beyond my imagination or my expectations. As we continue to prepare and count down the days (72), I look forward to doing God's work for his Kingdom this summer. Stay tuned for more posts/pics/videos to come!


-Zack Yarbrough

Hi my name is....

Salima! I am a co leader for this great team.What is funny is I was not going to be going on this trip at first. But then things changed and I was put on this team. I feel this team is perfect I can really tell that God has hand picked it! I am pumped for this trip and I am ready to do the work that has been planned for us from the beginning!

We have a full team of eight crazy college students and we are ready to be used in Ghana. What I am looking forward to the most is teaching. If you do not know I am an Education Major so anything that involves teaching makes me really happy. When we go over there we will be teaching the students and the teachers! That never happens and I'm not sure about all the details but bring it on.

I am going to the one place I have wanted to go to since I found out there was a world outside of my backyard! We still need your support in every way so we ask that you keep us in mind as you go throughout your day!

Love you all!

Salima