The month of November was very hectic. The first two weeks were spent back in the States to help our family lay to rest the body of my oldest brother Jim. Jim’s death was unexpected. Upon our return to Ghana on November 13th we hit the ground running. The seminar was scheduled to take place on November 29th – December 1st. This report contains many of the details about the seminar.
The first week we were back in Ghana was spent getting the apartment ready for the visitors who would be the speakers for the seminar. The floor in their bedroom had to be painted. Then all the other items that had been stored on that side after the roof removal and rain incident earlier this year had to be shifted to another room so the women could clean the room from top to bottom.
We purchased 4 months of the supplies for the Child Center. We always leave extra supplies so the children lack for nothing when we are in the states on leave.
We spent several days running back and forth to Kulkpeni working with the masons. We needed to get one of the church building veranda enclosed so the women and children would have additional sleeping quarters for the seminar. We hauled 400 concrete blocks, cement, sand, gravel, scaffolds and masons in the pickup and the Motorking (when it was running). We got the block up but we will have to do the plastering and painting later.
We visited the congregation at Jagrido on Sunday the 18th. After services we asked if anyone had any pigs for sale. We needed them for the seminar. We were in luck; a man had a nice hog that weighed around 250lbs. After we agreed upon a price we gave him some money for the hog’s upkeep. He said he would kill the hog if we paid for a bullet.
On Saturday, November 24th, we went to the market at 7am to purchase the rice, corn, guinea corn (sorghum), canned tomatoes, ginger root, Maggi cubes, oil, onions, spices, and all the other items needed to feed the people at the seminar. We thought that if we started early we would beat the heat but we did not finish buying stuff until 11am. The old van and green pickup were loaded. We took the supplies straight out to Kulkpeni.
The week of the seminar was spent printing programs, hauling supplies to Kulkpeni, and getting the rooms ready for the guests. We also prepared all the payrolls and divided the money for the bills to be paid while we are out of the country.
The Sunday before the seminar we visited the small congregation at Kulkpanga where we worshipped under the tree at a brother’s house. There are only five adults that attend but a number of village children were present so we were happy to get the chance to teach them.
On Wednesday the speakers for the seminar arrived via the bus lines; Brother Richard Gyan-Mante from Sunyani and Brother Joe Andam from Obuasi were tired and dusty after their long trip. These men are Ghanaians preachers. Bro. Richard has visited us before but this was Bro. Joe’s first trip. Before he arrived he was worried about what he was going to “eat” at the American’s house but after the first meal his fears were gone!
Thursday began the seminar. Richard spoke on the subject “The Matured Christian in the World of Sin” and Joe taught the subject “Accepting the Christian Challenge”. The seminar was slow getting started because the church members have to depend on local transport to get to Kulkpeni.
When the last lesson was given early Friday evening Brother Richard offered the invitation to those wishing to be baptized. Kandie drove the pickup and I drove the old van a half mile down the road to the Daka River; twenty-six people were baptized into Christ. We checked the river for crocodiles before the men entered the water. Four men baptized the people. The lights from the car shined out on the water so everyone with us could watch. It was a sight to behold!
We were up at 3:30am Saturday morning to take Bro. Richard and Bro. Joe at the bus station to start their journey home. It took them about 12 hours to get home. They were impressed with the seminar and promised to come again and help with the work in this area. At the close of the seminar 417 people had been registered but the people from Kulkpeni had not been registered; this pushed the number to almost 450. We thank all of you for your support of this event. The brothers and sisters expressed their gratitude for such a fine seminar.
The evangelists and church leaders report that eleven people were baptized during the month of November. There were thirty-three men that attended the seminar in lieu of the classes. Due to the holidays class will resume in January. In December 26 people were added to the church.
We left Ghana on the 4th of December and arrived back home on the 5th. We thank everyone for their support this year. God has truly blessed us and the work. We hope you are blessed as well. We look forward to seeing some of you while we are home for the holidays.
In His service,
Stephen and Kandie Taylor
