Epik Missions

Ghana Trip March/April 2011

2011-03-13T21:45:00.002-04:00

This years trip has shaped into something I never imagined. From the multinational contingent to the new places we will be traveling to in Ghana, it is all new. The chiropractors on the trip are:

John- Australia

David- Canada

Farsh- Canada

The students are from Sherman Chiropractic College:

Jasen- Virginia

Ryan- Pennsylvania

Charles- Ghana

The director of the documentary :

Tim- Canada

What an ensemble of personalities, locations and opportunities!

In Ghana, we are planning to travel from Accra, the capitol city, to Takoradi. There we will meet up with my dear friend Joseph Opoku. I expect nothing but amazing results. God is opening up new opportunities in other regions as well. Sunyani could be remarkable for us, but travel to that remote location may be an issue.

Check back next week as I update the blog before the trip.

Next trip

2011-01-06T11:32:00.000-05:00

Epik Missions will be serving the people of Ghana March 26-April 3, 2011. If you are interested in joining Dr. Chad Hawk on this trip, contact him as soon as possible at 434-872-9440 or chad@epikmisssions.org. The trip is limited to 10 chiropractors or chiropractic students.

Trip details

Cost:

$1,500 (USD) Cost includes: transportation, lodging, and dinners while in Ghana. The cost of the trip does NOT include airfare, travel visa, breakfast and lunch. Most breakfasts are included in the cost of the lodging but cannot be guaranteed.

Dates:

Depart Atlanta March 26

Arrive Accra morning March 27

Depart Accra morning April 3

Arrive Atlanta afternoon April 3

Airfare:

You must travel on Delta departing from Atlanta. The group always departs and arrives together. Rochelle DeBaun, (Rochelle@peacefrogstravel.com) at Peace Frogs Travel, MUST handle your booking. The cost of the trip will vary from $950 to $2,000+ depending on your location. The sooner you book, the cheaper it will be.

Deposit:

A $750 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place on the trip. The remainder is due thirty days before departure.

Please contact Dr. Hawk with any questions. If you would like to speak with others that have been on past Ghana mission trips, please email chad@epikmissions.org.

Select Few

2010-11-09T14:54:00.002-05:00

I am in the process of selecting 5 or 6 highly qualified chiropractors to join me on my next trip to Ghana. We will be filming the documentary during this trip. If you would like to be considered for this trip, please contact me at my office 434-872-9440 or email me at chad@epikmission.org.

Several things to consider before applying or inquiring:

-You will be working VERY hard. You may adjust 2,000 people in a day.

-It may be very hot and humid.

-You will be on camera.

-You must have excellent adjusting skills.

-You must be able to fund your trip and take 2 weeks away from your office.

If you are still interested, please contact me.

Chad Hawk, D.C.

Epik Missions HD documentary

2010-10-26T12:40:00.002-04:00

I am pleased to announce that in 2011 Epik Missions will be filming a full length, high-definition, documentary on the impact of chiropractic care on individuals and an nation. Canadian, Tim Kohoot, has been selected as the director. His unique knowledge of chiropractic coupled with his artistic talents and eye for capturing the human perspective, he will share a story that has never been told through this media before. The film crew have worked on HBO and National Geographic films in the past along with years of additional filming experience.

A live documentary is a dynamic process and impossible to script. My goal is to capture the stories and present chiropractic, healing, faith, and hope in a new light. I am certain that the viewer will be encouraged, educated, and empowered from viewing this film.

Beginning today, I am raising funds to support the filming of this project. A total of $125,000 will be necessary for all phases of pre-production, filming, equipment, post-production and marketing.

If you would like to donate to the making of this film, please contact me directly at chad@epikmissions.org

Auction!!!

2009-03-20T13:52:00.002-04:00

Great news! Dave Matthews Band has provided a pair of tickets for four shows. Two nights each in Charlottesville, VA and Atlanta, GA. All proceeds will go to funding mission trips. Bids will start at $500 for a pair. Please let everyone you know who is a DMB fan.

We will also be posting pictures of fine art to be auctioned off. Once again, all proceeds will go to mission trips.

I hope to have the new Epik Missions website up next week with all the goods posted. Keep checking back and start bidding.

First Deadline for June trip is coming quick!

2009-02-18T10:49:00.002-05:00

The first deadline for the June '09 trip is February 15. If you are registered and have a deposit in by the 15th, your place is locked in for the trip. Please contact me if you have any questions. chad@epikmissions.org

2009-01-21T08:46:00.000-05:00

June 2009 Trip

2009-01-21T08:24:00.003-05:00

You have to be excited! I am. There is so much buzz about this trip that I can't imagine how powerful it will be. So here is what you gotta do. Download the June 2009 info packet, read it, and send me your info back. Then I will get in touch with you. 1 plane ticket and a visa...here comes Africa!

Ghana office

2008-12-24T09:32:00.002-05:00

Things are moving forward for the office in Accra. All the equipment and Dr. Peter are ready to go. Once the presidential elections are resolved, then we can get started on getting the practice up and going. Amazing.

Video of June 2008 trip

2008-09-30T11:17:00.002-04:00

If you would like to see a video put together by Jason Petty, Epik Missions' "missionographor", click the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/epikmissions/sets/72157607586116942/

This video always moves Dr. Mark to tears!

February 2009 Trip

2008-09-29T14:25:00.004-04:00

If you would like informaton about the February 2009 trip, please email me at chad@epikmissions.org and I will forward you an e-packet.

Humanitarian of The Year

2008-09-23T21:38:00.002-04:00

I am humbled by the support the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, specifically Dr. Patrick Gentempo, has show in the work of Epik Missions. I was given the Humanitarian of the Year Award last weekend in Chicago at the Summit Conference. I am deeply touched and very grateful for such recognition.

February Trip

2008-09-23T21:36:00.002-04:00

Information regarding the February trip will be posted on Thursday September 25th. Sorry for the delay! Working with the airlines to get days they will be flying to Ghana.

Facts about the Mission

2008-07-02T14:45:00.003-04:00

Over 10,000 people adjusted in 6 days.

7 schools requested our services and over 3,000 children adjusted.

The entire Eastern Region's Fire Department was adjusted.

A Member of Parliament invited us to serve an entire community at a local Health Office.

6 different tribal chiefs were adjusted.

7 churches opened their doors to our services and had their congregations adjusted.

Over 2 dozen stroke victims sought care and noticed improvemets.

One deaf child regained her hearing.

Thousands of lame were able to walk normally again.

Pictures

2008-07-02T10:35:00.002-04:00

2008-07-02T10:05:00.000-04:00

Peter’s Entry (6-27-08)

June 22 – Arrived in Accra, Ghana at 8:30 AM. After meeting with some of Chad’s friends we traveled to Koforidua and began adjusting the first group of Ghanaians. I was stationed at a Methodist church with Paul Opoku jr. He delivered many health care classes while I adjusted about 150 people in a tiny, cramped, hot, and humid room. Tomorrow I will head off solo to the cities near Lake Volta and adjust people in the small communities.

June 23 – Met with Sosu who is the MP’s (Member of parliament) personal assistant. He drove Paul and me to Akosombo and we met the MP, Honarable Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, who is also the Deputy Minister for Tourism of Ghana. I adjusted him and his staff before we went to Anum and adjusted about 200 people at the health office. It was very hot and humid here. The room was again very tiny as I was able to adjust about 5 people at a time.

June 24 – Sosu told me he had to turn off his phone last night because people kept calling with success stories. Today we went to Akrad and met with the deputy chief of the community before adjusting at the local community centre. There were at least 100 people waiting in plastic chairs for me at 8:30 AM. By noon I had seen 350 people, including a little 8 year-old girl who was no taller than 1.5 feet and had many extra joints and bones in her extremities. She could barely be touched without pain. I was able to adjust her neck with my hands and her spine with the integrator. She was much happier and had a smile on her face when I was finished. Her pictures are precious.

June 25 – Adjusted 300 students and teachers from 7:15 – 7:45 AM at the Akosombo primary school. They were just lined up about 30 at a time on one long bench and I just worked them up and down the benches until they were all finished. We drove back to Koforidua and met at another school and adjusted almost 400 more children before heading to Winneba.

June 26 – Went to St. Paul and Uncle Rich Primary schools where we adjusted about 360 and 1020 children and teachers, respectively in 2 hours. This was absolutely amazing. The children were lined up in 4 rows of seats, with anywhere between 30 and 80 children in one room. We each took a row and had some rooms adjusted in less than a minute. The video and pictures are amazing. Later today we had some R & R time and went to the beach. The beach and immediate areas around the beach were beautiful.

June 27 – We all met with the Chief Executive Director of Winneba today to discuss Charlottesville, VA and Winneba becoming Sister Cities as well as setting up a clinic here. The meeting went very well as a friend of ours here, Joe Bami, was crucial in making good connections and aggressively making the action happen.

My Thoughts
Winneba is certainly the most poor, typical “African” place we will see. People are naked, homeless, dirty, and there is a distinct “sick” smell amongst the city. This just indicates the absolute necessity for care here. People are very ill, yet the incredible part is they are still very kind and friendly despite their peril. We encountered a few little children who upon seeing white people, absolutely freaked out. Their faces of shear terror were priceless. The funny part is just moments later after going to their friends or family, they were waving goodbye and smiling seconds later. I wish we could have spent more time in Winneba adjusting more people… they need it. All in all this has been a very humble experience. I am a patient, respectful person anyway, but the people and settings I have seen here put my life in perspective. I am very thankful for everything I have and will certainly remember the villages and communities here when things go “bad” back home.

The adjusting has been a trial as well. Some of the rooms I was stationed in were very compact and quickly heated up

Chad’s

There so many wonderful opportunities that have occurred each and every day. Whether it is an opportunity to learn, someone to serve, a friendship to be made or a personal challenge to work through, everyone has been tested. We all have been tested physically. Mark, Peter and I have never adjusted so many people in a day. Jamie has had to learn how to perform adjustments. We all have had to accommodate to gallons of sweat pouring out of our skin from the high humidity. It is not as hot as the last time I was here, but the rainy season means an hour or so of rain followed by stifling moisture in the air. Emotionally, we have been stretched in ways that have allowed to us grow and improve as a person.

Aqwaaba (welcome) from Mark!

This mission has just continued to provide our team with opportunities to serve...both the people of Ghana and one another. Since my last entry we have served thousands more people in Koforidua and Winneba, and now we have returned to the huge metropolis of Accra to complete our journey. In Winneba, we served several schools and nearly 2000 children in one day. We also had an opportunity to visit the beach and relax for awhile. This was a great opportunity for our team to refresh and share some stories about our experiences. On our last evening in Koforidua, I also had my first opportunity to preach at our host family’s church. It was such a wonderful experience! There was such life and energy there, and we were blessed to just worship with them. All of these experiences have stretched us physically, emotionally and spiritually, and as a result, we have each grown in our own way. Praise God for the miracles we have seen, the love we have shared, the warmth we have felt from our Ghanaian friends and the support we have enjoyed from each other. I look forward to what will be accomplished in Accra before we head home, and I really look forward to sharing some detailed experiences when I return home. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers, we feel them everyday, and we look forward to seeing you soon. Love, Mark.

Ghana

2008-06-20T09:26:00.003-04:00

The team traveling to Ghana will be leaving tomorrow from JFK and flying to Accra. This years team is an amazing group.
3 chiropractors Peter Strauss, Mark Howarter, and me (Chad Hawk)
1 chiropractic student Jamie Peeler
1 layperson Jason Petty

Our outreach is increasing daily with emails pouring in from all over Ghana requesting our services in their towns. We are so honored to serve all of these people.

The plan is to update the blog each day. However, with limited internet connection, I don't know how consistant we will be at updating the site. When we do get access, I will make sure to add the previous days entries.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Saturday June 21, 2008

Everyone made it to the airport! What a relief. It was great seeing my dear friend Mark again. We were in Chiropractic school together and have stayed close friends over the past eight years. He and I went to Guatemala together in 2004 on a mission trip. Jamie is the new face to the group. She is a student at Life University in Atlanta and in three more years she will be ready to open her practice. She is taking her quarter break to go to Africa and serve those who have never had exposure to chiropractic care. She’s got guts and a vision for service.

Jason and Peter round out the team. Peter and I have been talking for weeks about this trip. He needs it and wants it. I know he will be a different person when he returns. Jason is taking a BIG leap of faith. He is the only member of the team that is a layperson. He is here to serve. What a purpose. What a goal. Once again, an extraordinary man. God has placed amazing people on this trip. I can’t wait to see what happens in all of us. We will return different people.

Sunday June 22, 2008

We started the day off at Victor’s house in Accra. Victor, Charles and Joe-Baami began their subtle and persuasive way of educating the four “newbies” to Ghana’s customs. It was so much fun to watch and listen to the “old men” share with the group. We were fed lunch and then sent on our way to Koforidua…after adjusting them and a few friends.

In Koforidua, our group was broken up and dispatched to different churches to serve. Peter took the United Methodist Church. Mark and Jamie went to Ascension Presbyterian and Jason and I went to New Creation Baptist and another Methodist church. We each served about 250 people so 750 to 800 were taken care of last night.

Sister Dorothy fed us rice, fried chicken, salad and spicy stew. This was a welcome meal after a day and a half of travel and work with little sleep.

Monday June 23, 2008

What a power packed day!!! We were rockin’. In the morning we saw about 800 to a 1,000 and during lunch we served 1200 children at school in about an hour and a half. It is amazing what you can do when you are purpose driven.

Peter and Paul, a local host who helped me last year, traveled to Akosombo where the nations hydo-electric plant is located. It supplies all of the electric power to the nation. Peter is going to have his hands full. The Deputy Minister of Tourism and a Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman District, Honorable Kofi Osei Ameyaw invited one of us to take care of all of the employees at the plant and adjust the town (pop. 30,000). Can’t wait to hear what it is like for him.

From the mouth of Jamie…
WOW! That pretty much sums it all up. As we entered the village of Koforidua, locals came out in the droves to welcome us. What a welcome. The first day of adjusting was a slow start for myself. I was timid and scared. What should I expect when I learn my first technique on a bus, traveling about 40mph going up a mountain and getting thrown all over the place. So I did a lot of welcoming, and with the help of Joseph, our interpreter, explained what chiropractic care was all about. I met some really awesome kids from the nearby school who came to hang out. One of the kids, Dickson, has been helping me interpret. And taking lots of pictures for us. He is really smart for 11. He came back to help us today also. I think he decided he is going to be Doctor. The second day has been a lot different. I have been able to get my hands wet. The 150 kids that walked into the church this morning forced me to get over any fears I had. It was an amazing feeling. I got “it” now. Well at least 75% of “it”. The people of the village are so great. This morning they came to bring me gifts. Lots of necklaces and a special scarf that they call a keta. I am about to head to the hotel and get some much needed rest. My arms feel like they weigh a ton. And on a side note… The coca-cola is great. No High Fructose corn syrup.

A little something from Dickson,
I will say that they are very friendly and they Love children. They like to talk with anybody that they meet. This is my first time of using a laptop. I like to take picture.
And just today I have just learn how to take a picture from Jason.

The 411 from Jason,

I can hardly explain the feelings that I have from my trip in Ghana so far. The heart of the people is amazing and they have taken us in at every step, greeting us with warm smiles and words. The team has been amazing and I am so grateful for being included with such an amazing group of people. We have already seen the miraculous happen and we have so much more to look forward to. I wish I could relate what my heart is feeling, but it is hard to convey into words. I only know that God will continue to do awesome works and it is plain to see that we will be ministered to as much as we get to minister to others. Your continued prayers are appreciated and I look forward to all that is still in front of us. God Bless all of you. Talk to you soon. By the way, you can refer to me a Kojo. That is my Ghanaian name. Later

From Mark,

What a trip this has been so far! Chad tried to prepare our team for the level of service that we would be providing, but I think even his expectations have been blown out of the water…opportunities and blessings abound around every corner. For me it started on all the plane rides to Ghana when I spoke to many people about our trip. I even found chiropractors for several of them in their hometowns! After much travel though, we literally went straight to work in Koforidua and some of the miraculous healings that we witnessed could only be attributed to God’s healing hand…the lame have walked, the deaf have heard, and the really sick people have gotten well. Thousands have come. Adjusting over 1000 children in a school today was really incredible…all in about an hour and half (during our lunch break)! It was hot and tiring, but such a huge blessing to work with the children. They are beautiful inside and out. All the people we have met have such loving hearts, and welcome us with such enthusiasm and authenticity. Everyone waves hello, everyone smiles!! We could learn so much from the Ghanaians in the U.S.
Please continue to pray for our efforts in serving the wonderful people in Ghana. Praise God for what He has already accomplished, and will accomplish through us. Pray for our families, especially for Stephani and Emily while we are away. Thank you so much for your thoughts, your support and especially your prayers…we DO feel them and appreciate them. Love you, Mark (also called Kojo).

Chad’s “Thots”:

From singing songs with my Ghanaian brothers to giving health care talks all day long to a thousand kids in 90 minutes getting adjusted, this trip is amazing. The desire everyone has to be adjusted is immense. With the quick smile and welcoming handshake you are greeted with all day long, you cannot help but feel welcome and part of the family. God is certainly blessing the people of Koforidua and us as well.

It is strange feeling at home in one sense, but not being with my family. It causes me to miss them even more and hop on a plane home. I guess the feeling of “home” here causes me to want to be home with my family. Love you Kate, Allie and Harrison.

We have seen over 3,000 people in two full days of work. That is what I saw in 9 days of adjusting the last time I was here. What a blessing to see many of the people I saw last time who had miraculous healings walking in and sharing with me how their life has radically changed. Truly moving!

The word is certainly getting out about chiropractic and the positive benefits of wellness care.