This month has been very taxing on our nerves. October is always a very busy month because it is near the end of the year and there are so many things that have to be done. The report to Social Welfare, getting the Social Security Tier 2 validation number generated and paid, the GNCDC’s yearly audit; not to mention the everyday workings that need to be done at the Child Centre. I forgot to mention we have been having vehicle repairs that have put a kink in our tales as well.
The past two months have been taxing because of the constructing of the wall, toilets and bath houses on the Kulkpeni church property. Contracting, construction and masonry work here is nothing like you would see back home. It is difficult for the people here to think and plan ahead when building anything. The result of this lack of planning means we sometimes make 3-4 trips a day back and forth to Kulkpeni to monitor the work as well as purchase building supplies that were not thought about when the initial supply list was made. We would be in a world of hurt if God’s plan was that confusing.
This month we traveled to four villages located south of Yendi in the Nanumba North District.
On the 5th we went to the village of Attado. This congregation is located as far south as we travel. After services we were given the privilege of naming a little baby of one of the church members. We gave her the name of “Hannah”. We also help an old woman with transport money to have her eyes examined. I suspect she has cataracts. It was an exceptional day; 7 new converts who were baptized into Christ.
The following Sunday, the 12th, we traveled the same road and stopped at the village of Nakpa. There were 166 people present for that worship service. This is one of the largest congregations that we work with.
On the 19th we visited the Church at Bakpaba. Timothy Niligrini was not able to travel with us due to the fact that his daughter, Abigail, had to be in Tamale to register for school; she is going into the catering field. One of the local brothers interpreted for me and did a fine job considering he wasn’t familiar with my English. Before leaving the village Kandie and I stopped at Brother Zack’s house to look at the hogs he had for sale. We struck a deal to buy 2 of his hogs for the seminar.
The last Sunday of the month, the 26th, we traveled to Bakjon to worship. This village is just a mile away the way the crow flies from Attado, where we visited on the first Sunday of October. This is a small, struggling congregation that needs encouragement.
I mentioned in the opening paragraph that we are building on the Kulkpeni property. As of today, the 31st ,they have completed the wall that encompasses the church’s land. We have also, with great exasperations, almost completed two toilet units which have 4 stalls in each building. The builders find it hard to follow instructions which raises the costs when having to redo their work. Most of the people admire the work that has been done but there are still a few complainers that are not happy because their shortcut has been taken away. We are trying to get everything done in time for the annual seminar that will take place in late November. We hope that the wall will discourage the neighbors from pooping on the church’s property.
At this month’s class a total of 32 men were present. The lesson topic was making sure the people who want to be baptized are willing to repent and stop practicing their sinful ways. For example; a man practicing polygamy must stop being a polygamist. Satan has been very fruitful spreading this lifestyle in our area; it is so ingrained in their culture that it is hard for them to stop. I was at the electricity office the other day and a Moslem man asked me how many wives I had. I told him one is enough. He went on babbling saying two was good. I told him to remember the problem Abraham had with two wives; the conversation stopped immediately.
At the end of class I handed out invitation letters for the seminar to the church leaders and evangelists. The men also received a bicycle tire and tube, a dress shirt and 2 ties. They were happy with the gift. Our thanks go out to those of you who help us with evangelism. Many of the men will wear the shirts and ties at the seminar. The men reported that 14 people were baptized and 2 were restored to the Church.
Perry Martin and his wife Gina, from the West Hobbs Street congregation in Athens, will be coming to help us with the work in November. Perry will be the guest speaker for the seminar that will take place on November 20th-22nd. The men are always happy to hear a guest speaker is coming. The attendance last year at the seminar was 550. Gina will get a chance to teach some VBS classes in two of the villages. We look forward to their visit and the extra help.
Thank you for your support of this work. Without your help we couldn’t do what we are doing. May God bless you for your effort!
In His service,
Stephen & Kandie Taylor
