DOROTHV EtNSONDorothy EunsonBox 5722

Accra North, Ghana NEWSLETTERMrs. Tom Barkes

662 Golf Course Drive

Elizabethton, TN 37643

Volume 7 Issue 2 January, 1995Dear Friends in Christ,

You have begun a new yearin Christ as you read this. May it be a fruitful onefor thekingdom andoneof personal growth foryou.As I write this, we are finishing up the old year with somevery delightful activities.

REGIONAL CHRISTMAS CONVENTIONS

Just as individual states in the U.S. have their own ^ ^church conventions if they wish, so the churches ~ ^ Hhere have their Christmas conventions by regions if ~ r* uV •'i- .they wish. The Western Region had theirs in ^November and had a number ofbaptisms. ^ j/k

The Ada and Volta regions also had a good ^convention at Dzebetato and thirty-one people werewon to the Lord and baptized. JThe churches of the Greater Accra region heldtheirs in the village of Honi only about an hour'sdrive from Accra. Seven churches and two PaSK!^' ♦ v , tpreaching points were represented. One of the er gpreaching points sent only their minister. One oftheir members was bereaved and they decided theymust help that person with the wake-keeping andfuneral while their preacher went to the convention. We numbered over 100 the first evening, with additional people trickling induring the next two days. One preacher's wife walked seven kilometers with her baby on her back and her bag on her head becauseshe couldn't get any transportation.

I had driven over on Thursday afternoon, the opening day, with five young men who are the "technical team". As soon as wearrived, they had started work on setting up the generator, lights, P.A. system, etc. Another one recruited htrlpers and hauled fourdrums of cooking and drinking water for the convention goers.

Two years ago I accepted the fact that I do not fare well with convention sleeping and toilet facilities (or lack thereof). This time Islept in a $2.20/night hotel 8 km from the village. The "water-hauler", Kwame, woulddeliver me to the hotel each night after theevening service and pick me up about 8 in the morning. I did most of my cooking and eating in the village and was there all day.

In the mornings, three Bible study classes met on three sides of the big open square formed by the bamboo and palm branch shelter.These were the Ga, Twi, and Ewe classes. This one English-speaking white lady sat by herself on the fourth side and read throughthe lessons and looked up all the scriptures! After that she entertained herselfby reading and writing letters. The classeswere quitelively and frequently punctuated by laughter. The six teachers were all either graduates or present students of Ghana ChristianCollege. Four other ministers present were also graduates.

After a lunch break (at least two hours for cooking) an afternoon class was held. Then a longer break gave time for strolls, morecooking and the transfer of the electronic equipment to a site deeper in the village for the evening evangelism. Lively singing,dancing, prayer, and offering formed an integral part of morning and evening sessions. The only time I made a special effort to getan interpretation was during the announcements.

Threeboys who had been in the classon witnessing on Friday went home that afternoon and preached (as theysay) to their father.He cameforward that night at the invitation. There were seven others who gave their lives to Christ during the convention. Thefather and a grownup woman were both members of the fetish of the Thundergod, the most feared of all the gods followed by theEwe people. They fear trouble and death from him if they forsake him. Two other previous worshippers of that god were presentand able to testify that Jesus was their protection and nothing bad had happened to them. All eight converts were baptized after theSunday service. Convention offerings totaled about $85.00 and $230 wasgivento help the Honi churchbegintheir churchbuilding.

Sunday morning, Christian Adjei, the two elders and about twenty additional members of Abeka congregation drove out for theclosing morning service. It was a long but happy service. However, on our way home Sundayafternoon all in my truck agreed thatthose who came only for the Sunday morning "didn't see or enjoy anything>" They meant that the sweet fellowship with peoplefrom various congregations, the classes and discussions, and the shared work can only be experienced if you are present throughoutthe convention. It was s good convention with a fine spirit of cooperation and encouragement,

CAMPUS LAND

The new site was confirmed by the village chief and elders. Then followed a long unexplainable delay by their surveyor in preparingthe site plan and new indenture. Finally we got our own surveyor to prepare those two documents. But when the indenture wastyped, it said 33 acres instead of 30.9! So now there is another delay. Pray for our patience.

2 DOROTHY EUNSON NEWSLETTERSAWMILL SAWDUST

In the September general newsletter I saidthat some money hadbeenpaiddown for a veiyconvenient piece of landfor the business.By the grace of God, the Ghanaianfaculty who are serving as a management team discovered that the site was under litigationandmight not be clear for years, so we quicklybackedout. To date, about60% of what we had paid downhas been returned. Then the"owner" left for the U.S., leaving a promise that he would refund the rest when he returned. We couldn't help wondering if ourmono^ paid for the plane ticket.

A new rental site was acquired and all the equipment moved there. The rate of production has improved and the first payment oninvestmentloans has been repaid. Nowthere is a new crisis. The Customs and Exciseofficialsdiscovered that the sawmill had notbeen registered with them. The business had been registered in every department that the directors had been informed about. Theyhave seven different certificates. But no one had mentioned Customs and Excise. All required government charges had been paidon every shipment. Notaxesor charges havebeenavoided! Sothe C. and E. people are standingonlyon the fact that we don't havea certificate. It's a perfectsetting for extortion,especially at Christmastime. Pleasecontinue to pray.

COLLEGE ACTIVITIES

We finished the first term on November 30 with 95 or so students, having lost a few during the term. Students were soon gone,while teacherswere leftwith exams,papers,gradesand secondterm syllabuses. Nowall that is behind me. Yesterday the AcademicDean, office managerand I had a meeting about our textbook crisis. We were behind in the ordering and there wasn't enoughmoney left in the bookbudget to pay for all we need. Until such a situationactuallyoccurs, my Ghana colleagues are reluctant totake some conservation measuresjust on a warning that such a thing is going to happen. Well, God's timing is the best. Now theyare willing to make changes that earliertheywere not. It will stillbe a tight squeeze, but within a yearI hope wewillbe on an evenkeel.

POTPOURI

Just before the convention I had malaria for the second time since my return. We are so thankful for the drug called Halfan...JeffHostetter has been in the country for three weekswith three college students for a working visit...David Kalb is coming in Januarywith his father for such a visit, also for three weeks...A big order for more library books is ready to mail...Kwame and I refiledleftover Sunday School materialsand made a goodstart on preparing materials for February...The faculty and staffKids' trip to thezoo and Christmas party was successful...Four of us spent the better part of a day going to a distant town for the fimeral of themother of Mrs. Eghagha, one ofour teachers.

A STEWARDSHIP QUANDARY

A cluster of churches 300 miles north of here has asked for old Bibles. When I told them it was cheaper to buy Bibles here than tomail old ones from the States, they replied that they had no money to pay even a modest price. So, brothers and sister in Christ, Ipresent the problem to you. Doyouwantto make a contribution designated "Bible for Yeji areachurches", or doyouwantto collectthe old Biblesand mail them to me for the same purpose. Perhaps you wouldbe happy to have new homes for the Bibles you don'tneed any more. Thank you for whatever help you choose to give.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Thanksgiving: the successful completion of the college's first term; my present good health; good conventionsand souls won for theLord; youngpeoplewhoworkvery hard to servethe Lord. Intercession: restoredhealth for Patrick Cline, Tim and TwylaBright - itseems they all have had mild cases of typhoidfever; clear papers for the new campus land; resolution of the sawmill problem withCustoms and Excise people; love and unity in all the churches; peace in the North - tribal tensions are still high.

I thank God for you and all your Christmas greetings.In Christ,Dorothy

East River Park Christian Church

P.O. Box 250 - 1207 Broad Street

Elizabethton, TN 37643

Address Correction Requested

HORIZONS Mission Services

P.O. Box 2427

Knoxville, TN 37901

illfilillliililllillllllliillMi

Non Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage GauranteedElizabethton, TNPermit No. 183

Mending Nets, Ghana

Dorothy EunsonGhana Christian CollegeBox 5722

Accra North, GhanaFebruary, 1995

Dear Friends in Christ,Good News!

NEW CAMPUS LAND DEDICATED

At last the village chief and elders signed the new indenture. Thetransaction must still be recorded in the Lands Department, but we are truly confident that Ghana Christian College is the legalowner.

The chief and elders asked the college for money to buy a sheep to be slaughtered with accompanying rituals to satisfy their godsregarding the newownership. It took some ofourmena special trip to firmly block the plan. Sotherewould be absolutely no doubtin their minds who the land was to serve and honor, we hired a bus on the following Monday, January 16, and took the wholestudentbotty to the newsite. All the faculty and staffwent, too, and we sang and prayed and dedicated the land to Jesus ChristourLord. Part of the program was to divide into small groups and scatterover the various parts of the 30 acres, praying as we went.Although earlier workers had seen a number of scorpions, not a single onewas seen anywhere that day. This act of faith inspiredeveryone to work together andface the daunting taskofraising money tobuild thecampus. Students andfaculty are pooling ideas toraise monQ^ in Ghana to compliment what must come firom our brokers and sisters in America. Please pray with us, and pray forDavid Kalb as he is the one actively making contactsnow in the U.S.

SECOND TERM ALMOST MID-WAY

It has been a relief after the hectic monthof December to enjoy the routine of teaching and marking papers again. Twofirst yearstudents whowere asked to transfer fromhe degree program into the diploma program chose not to returnto school at all. Anotherof the same class has recently revealed an alcohol problem and will be ^smissed. The rest of us are plodding along with occasionalbursts ofbrilliance.

CHURCH MATTERS

Back in November I started teaching a Jr. andSr. HiS.S. class at 5 p.m. Sunday evening. Discipline in theclass is noproblem at allbutapart firom a core group, attendance iserratic, especially among the girls. There aresomany "house duties" they can be givenand there is no waytheycan refuse. It is a joy to get to knowtheseyouthbetter.

My January church visit was to Oceanview Church in Tema, the one I had missed earlier because of malaria. I taught them oneEnglish chorus, butotherwise justworshipped with them. As previously planned, we brought a whole load ofchildren and sponsorsback to Accraand droppedthem at the zoofor an outing. Theymade their ownwayhome.

PRAYER NEEDS

THANKSGIVING for good health. Guidance and protection for Steve Icenogle as he goes to the U.S. for his first fiirlough. Heneeds to raise money for a vehicle. Pray that God's people will respond to the college's need for mon^^ to build the new campus.Pray for our students that their learning skills will improve. A poor educational background is hard to overcome, no matter howzealous for the Lord one is.

Thanks again for the special encouragement you sent at Christmas time. Far more cards arrived after Christmas than before! Weappreciateyou and are thankful to Godfor you.

In Christ,

M^MI" OrthMtrt.

Dorothy EiinsonGHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Box 5722

Accra North, GhanaAPRIL 1995

FOR CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS

Dear Friends in Christ,

No letter in March? True. Sorry I just couldn't keep up.

STUDENTS HEAD FOR PRACTICALS

Secondterm is over exceptfor marking exams and preparing grades. Afterone week's break for rest, the studentswill be doing twoweeks of practical ministries in the church of their choice. Two of them will be working right here with Abeka Christian Church:Charles Boadi,who is sponsoredin the collegeby Lewand Vida Cass, and Philip Johnson,one of the men from the Liberian refugeecamp.

This term our special week was Mission Emphasis Week. We took up a cash offering and collected an astonishing amount of usedclothing for the ministry of our visiting Ghanaian missionary speaker.

COLLEGE RELOCATION COMMITTEES

Some faculty, staff members, and students have been appointed by the Principal to serve as coordinating committee for the entirerelocation effort of the college. Sub-committees give even more people a chance to make suggestions and have the satisfaction ofpersonal involvement. Investigation is being made as to the cost and procedure of bringing electricity to the new site. Fortunately,the high tension wires are mot far away. About 75% of the property has been cleared; the architects are working on final drawings.

WORKING IN THE VINEYARD

Recently Abeka church has had another case where a young man was kicked out of his uncle's house when he accepted Christ. He isnow sleeping in someone's kiosk. The church will help him buy the shoe-making tools he needs to earn a living.

It was my pleasure to make four visits to out-lying churches in February and March; I'll say more about them in the generalnewsletter in May.

Thank you for praying for my S.S. class; it seems to be less erratic in attendance now. Pray that we will continue to grow.

SURPRISE VISITOR

We enjoyed a weekend visit from Walter Smith. He had been m Nigeria for two months working on an immigration quota enablingmore missionaries to enter that country. He hopes to sponsor an older man to begin studying at GCC this September.

PRAYER TOPICS: Thanksgiving: for health; for Ghanaian co-workers who work sacrificially; for the overhaul on my truck engine;for Twyla Bright's successful trip to the U.S. for a family need; for faithful prayer partners in the U.S.Intercession: for a fruitful national convention Easter weekend at Kwabeng; repentance for a very capable minister who has "putaway" his lawful wife and taken a new woman into his home (his church has excommunicated him); funds for our new campus.In Christian love,

Dorothy

DOROTHY EUNSONDorothy EunsonBox 5722

Accra North, Ghana NEWSLETTERMrs. Tom Barkes

662 Golf Course Drive

Elizabethton, TN 37643

Volume 7 Issue 3 May, 1995

Dear Friends, in Christ.

In just three days, third term begins. This is my last chance to let you know what has been happening.

CAMPUS LAND DEDICATED

In January, the negotiations and 'paper work reached a point where the '. ? . . -chief and elders ofthe village asked the 'I "'-V; •'<v • , ^college for money lo buy a sheep to be V ' f 'v ^ ^slaughtered with accompanying rituals ^ Y ' <•' ' ' * / ^ 'to satisfy their gods regarding the new ^^^-V'•ownership of the 30 g^res.^^ When thespiritual control of land than the pagans Ks,'- ^ ^ ' 'were. The following Monday, we hired _ ^ ^abus and with both pickups took the * ^ h ^ ^whole staff and student body to the new ,site. We sang and prayed and dedicated •.the land to Jesus Christ our Lord. Most I ^^of us had not seen it. so it was a confirmation that the land is real and someday we will have a new campus. David Kalb and hisfatherwere here for a threeweek working visitand hadjust cleared enough of the landfor us to get in and walk aroundand pray!

The Principal has appointed a Central re-location committee to co-ordinate the whole project. Three sub-committees involveeven more people. Even those not on the committees are welcome to make suggestions.

I

COLLEGE AFFAIRS

The second term went smoothly enough, although two students will have to go on disciplinary suspension for the second andthird weeks of this new term. Mission Emphasis was good; time spentafter each session in our small advisory groups provided realreflection and the composition of questions that were treated by a panel on Thursday evening. During the month of April, thestudents had two weeks of vacation and two weeks of Practical experience. Abeka Christian Church had two of these students.

EASTER CONVENTION AND RAIN

The national Easierconvention held in a \'illage a two hour journeyfrom Accra was attended by about 300 . Abeka had 70 inattendance with all but a few beingunder 30 years old. A surprisingly largegroupof 39 came from the Yeji area, abouthalfway upthecountry. Of those, ten were recent Konkomba converts. In thepast two months there have been renewed outbreaks offighting innorthern Ghana between Konkombas and others. On the journey to the convention someone asked the Konkombas where their gunswere. The new Christians replied that now they carry Bibles. It is thisvery Yeji area for whom some ofyou have contributed moneyto buy Bibles. Attheconvention the Konkombas sang and danced two oftheirown Christian songs for the rest ofus. Theirdancingstyle is different from that of the South.

One of the Konkomba men lost his wife, his house and all his possessions in a recent raid, escaping only with the clothes he waswearingat the convention. A few men were able to share trousersand shirts with him to take home.

For the second year, special seminars were heldfor ministers and elders, in addition to the Bible studies for the entire convention.The Youth Bible Quiz was won by Abeka for the first time in several years and by only 2 points!

At the Friday night preaching service, there were twenty responses to the invitation. Unfortunately, rainstorms forced thecancellation of the Saturday and Sunday night evangelistic services. On Saturday, the canopies were blown down and had to be re-erected.

In addition to regular convention offerings for expenses, a love offering equal to $83.00 was received to help a young woman whoneeds heart surgery.

It was a good convention. One of the FAME evangelists who had come from Nkwanta area said he wasvery much encouragedwith the growth and progress of the Brotherhood. One small incident marred my joy: one of the brand new heavy plastic waterdrums I had purchased was stolen Monday morning while everyone was preparing for the homeward journey. I also came homewitha coldand cough, but sincefour others connected withthe college havethe samething, I don't think I got it at the convention.

2 DOROTHY EUNSON NEWSLETTER

SAWMILL REPORT

Let's just say that the sawmill keeps buzzing along from crisis to crisis. At the moment the machine for sharpening the blades isbroken down. By the time you read this, that problem will have been solved. Only about 25% of the mon^ paid for an entangledpiece of property is yet to be returned to us. Two of our staff members make frequent trips for several days' duration to Takoradi tohelp keep things moving. Please keep praying that we will find a way to run it without so much investment of time and energy fromAccra.

CHURCH HAPPENINGS

In February I visited the Mayera church twice, teaching on ways to support missions, and the rewards of doing so. They are ayoung church, but it is good that their education toward helping o^ers is beginning now. They insisted that I take the usual $1.00gift for preachers so that they would be blessed. I brought it home and put it in my benevolent money to help others.

In March, I visited two fairly new churches with friends. I taught a hymn at both places. At Tema (T.D.C.) the church wasworshipping for the first time in a new meeting place. The preacher was very upset because the room for which they had paid renthad been given to another church also (although we didn't see them). We met in another spacious room. A week later, the preachertold me that it was just a trick by the school's proprietess: she was in a room adjacent to ours, listening to everything that went on.She wanted to be sure we're not a "far out" or cultic church before she handed over the correct room. She liked what she heard,including the hymns we sang before the local choruses.

In April four of us visited one of the oldest village churches at Akramang. Over the years they have built their own chapel andare now building a house for their preacher! The preacher asked me to say at least a few words of encouragement before hepreached. I talked about five minutes from Romans 12 on using your gifts for the whole body. When I finished, he stood up andsaid that was his sermon topic so there was not much need for him to preach again. After about five minutes, he was done. Well,sometimes short messages make strong impressions.

Here at Abeka, my S.S. class enjoyed a party at my house during the holidays. They played games and put puzzles together.Mensah made sugar peanuts and used blue food coloring since the red was in short supply. They looked awftil but tasted fine.

Two sources of encouragement are the revival of the Saturday visitation group and the revival of the English Thursday nightBible study. The class had dwindled to three or four, but the Spirit has stirred up some of the former members with the realizationthat without the study of the Word, they cannot grow. We had about a dozen this week, and the teacher involved the class more thanhe usually does. No one was visiting very much except the pastor, but now there are six more of us involved again, and others arewilling to visit at their own convenience.

PRAYER TOPICS

Ihanksgi^ng: for faithful and generous support^; for safe travel and a good~convention; for completion of second term andpreparations for a third term; for the overhaul on my truck; for the revival of the visitation and Thursday Bible study groups; for anew church very near the northern border of Ghana established by one of Jeff Hostetter's PEP students.Intercession: For Steve Icenogle on a six-month furlough; for Heather Hostetter Cline - she is pregnant and has gone home earlybecause of an outbreak of German measles in Kumasi where they live; Barbara Kalb is to have surgery on May 3; David Kalb has anunhealthy triglyceride count; God's provision to help Ghanaian Christians make ends meet. Prices rose in January after thegovernment's new budget and again in March when a Value Added Tax was introduced.GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Love in Christ, Dorothy

Forwarding Agent note: Please send all checks for Dorothy's work or personal gifts to the Elizabethton address. Checks sent toGhana must be returned to me for processing. Thank you very much.

East River Park Christian Church

P.O. Box 250 - 1207 Broad Street

Elizabethton, TN 37643

Address Correction Requested

HORIZONS Mission ServicesP-0. Box 2427

KnoxviUe, TN 37901

Non Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage GuaranteedElizabethton, TNPermit No. 183

Dorothy EunsonGHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Box 5722

Accra North, GhanaJune 1995

FOR CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS

Dear Friends in Christ,

May seemedto be a "regroupyour forces" month. More than half of the month I struggledwith a troublesome cough, and I didn't visit outlying churches at all. It was nice to have oneof our Christian Church students teach my Sunday School class one Sundaywhen my coughwas bad, and another Sunday when I was in a committee meeting all afternoon, He taught myclass sometime ago, so he knowsthe youth already. I was back with them the last twoSundays.

PERSECUTION CONTINUES IN HALF ASSINI

During furlough I wroteyou about the strugglebetweenthe traditional chiefs and theThe Errand Girl, Ghan* independent and "spiritual" churches in Half Assini in the Western Region. The issue has' never been settled in the courts. Some churches still are notallowed to meet in theirbuildings.

The ChristianChurch shelteris in an Ewevillageoutside the main town, so theyhavebeen usingtheir structure. The chiefof thatvillageis againstthem. Bro. Crowffie, the evangelist, toldme this past week the chiefhas tried to force them to tear downtheshelter. In fact, they are building a new, larger one with space for a reading library where they can read Christian booksand doBiblestudy. The chiefhas openly declared his intention to destroy the churchto prove that Satanis stronger. The church is prayingthat he will be won to Christ. At one point the chief asked the church to stop prayingbecausehe couldn't sleep: too many things"that were against him" were wonying him that night.

The chiefs sister, an active member in the Catholicchurch, is also against the church becausethey preach so unequivocally againstidol worship. Shetriesto stop family members from coming. They point outto her sheis selfish andtriesto get theirshareofafishing catch, while the pastor shares what he haswhen they are hungry. So why should they follow her way? Thewoman alsobrought some youth and started tossing benches around onetimewhen thechurch set them up for outdoor preaching. Th^ hadtogotothepolice, who gave thechurch the right to continue. Abeka church is praying forourbrethren there in theirstruggle againstevil forces. Will you please join us also?

STUDENT NEEDS EXPENSIVE OPERATION

Oneofourstudents needs surgery to repair two valves in his heart. The estimate a few years agowas onemillion cedis- less than$1,000- but still too muchfor the family. Now the young man is muchworse. The college tookup an offering and with $200 fromthe RossFoundationwe had about 350 thousand cedis to help. But to our shock, the current estimate is elevenmillion cedis. Thestory will bepublished in thepapers andan appeal made tothepublic. Without a miracle ofhealing ora miracle ofpublic response,the young man will be condemnedto an early death. Pleasepray with us.

PRAYER TOPICS

Thank God for: a new baby boy bom tothecollege driver and hiswife; a profitable export shipment made by thesavraiill; thestrong faith of evangelists in the face of persecutionand hardship.

Intercede for: the churchat HalfAssini; all our co-workers on furlough; the healthand harmonious relationships amongall of usworking here in Accra; help for the smdent who needs a heart operation; good health and clear minds and committed hearts for thestudents, especially those only weeks away from graduation.

Most gratefully,

Dorothy

The Errand Girl. Ghini YEJI AREA REPORT

One of the southern evangelists came back from a working visit to his evangelist brother andthe Yeji church. He said the Yeji church gave 100,000 cedis ($100.00) to the new Konkomba

converts to plant a church farm. From the proceeds they will build their own church shelter. He gave me the information Irequested: they will need 50 English Bibles and 300 Konkomba New Testaments. I'm confident that enough money has alreadycome in to do that with some left for the other northern areas. I urged that people be asked to pay something, even though a token,so they will appreciate and take care of the Bibles. The evangelist finally agreed thai the people would pay a small amount to pay fortransporting of the Bibles from Accra to Yeji.

GRADUATION THIS MONTH

Graduation is on July 15th. Both teachers and students are looking forward to a break. Our Administrative Assistant makes regulartrips to Takoradi to help procure logs and settle problems in the sawmill business. Because of this, we are late making a budget forour new fiscal year beginning August 1. but eventually it will get done. We are grateful for your support that enables us to set abudget.

EASTER CONVENTION PLANNING

Doroth) EunsonGHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Box 5722

Accra North, GhanaJuly1995

FOR CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS

Dear Friends in Christ,

SHOWERS OF BLESSING

June was another quiet month for me. Regular college teaching and regular churchinvolvement. A new Sunday School class was begun several weeks ago for college age andworking young people. Well, actually, some of them are unemployed. Four from my classmoved up. but both classes continue to grow. For this, we give thanks. There have beenseveral baptisms in the church during the last month also.

It is fun to be one of three working on plans for next year's Easter convention. We have our theme, lesson topics, and proposedlesson writers chosen already. The venue was chosen at this year's convention. Quite an improvement over the early years.

PRINCIPAL'S MOTHER DIED

Since Christian Adjei's mother lived in Accra, the whole faculty and their spouses were able to go to both the wake-keeping onThursday evening, and the funeral service on Friday morning. The family provided transport for all of the students and someone(I'm not sure who) provided it for church members. There must have been close to 100 from the church there. One of our graduatespreached the Thursda>' sermon; JosephNsiah. our Dean, preached the Friday morning sermon;both church members and studentsshared in musical interludes. It was an exhausting weekend for the principal and the rest of his family, but funerals, especially forthe elderly, are an important part of the social fabric of Ghana.

PRAYER TOPICS:

Give thanks! The preacher whohad abandoned his wife is now taking steps to bring her homeagain. He has somebig spiritualhurdles to overcome, so keep praying for him and for the Christian brother who cares enough to continue to coimsel him and praywith him. Pra\ that the college relocation committee can make some noticeable progressafter graduation. Prav for SteveIcenogle,Jeff" and Sherrie Hostetter. and Barbara and David Kalb. all planning to return in August.

Love in Christ. A

NW^Wi

The Errand Giri, Ghan»

Dorothy EimsonGHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Box 5722

Accra North, GhanaAugust, 1995

FOR CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS

Dear Friends in Christ,

GRADUATION A SUCCESS

This year we rented an auditorium that was large enough to hold everyone! It was the open-sided chapel of Achimota Secondary School It was spacious and airy, and we hop to use itfrequently in the years till our new campus is built. Nearly a thousand people shared the joy offifteen diploma graduates, seven degree graduates, and eleven certificate holders. Our sp^er,director of an organization called Ghana Evangelism Committee, was one of the best we everhad. He spoke out of deep conviction on the jiccessity of Ghanaian Christians helping in theevangelization of the world. He challenged our graduates to develop that attitude in theirchurches.

We missionaries went out to eat in the evening to celebrate.

THE FACULTY KEEPS BUSY

We spent two full days testing and interviewing prospective students for September. We have accepted 38 so far and will havelate examinations the first week in September.

Another morning was spent entering all grades onto the students' permanent records. We are not fully computerized yet! Eachteacher has his pen, calculator, and bottle of correction fluid.

The August short term course began on July 31. I teach Christian Education the last two weeks. The first two will be spent inthe library except for the time needed to finish the college budget and time to show hospitality to Jeff Hostetter and six guestsarriving on the 9th.

TWO TRIPS

On July 23, several of us visited Agbekope for a Thanksgiving service for the graduation of one of their members. We sang forfully an hoiu* and a half Each visiting church or delegation had to lead a song. There were the usual elements of a Sunday worshipservice, plus a special offering for the guest of honor. Most of it was in cash, but I did see a wrapped box, some coconuts, and a livechicken. The whole crowd enjoyed a meal afterwards.

Four of us then took a couple of men and some children the few miles to their town where the Easter convention will be held. Wehad a plarming time with one of the church members who is a teacher at the training college where we hope to hold it. He was soKnowledgeable and fluent ihat it was a pleasure tc tallcviith him. Wc get home at T p.m. I was sad that! had ritissedmy S.S. classbut learned that next day that they had just conducted their own discussion on previous lessons!

The second visit was made to the minister who is working to restore his marriage and ministry. Thank you for you prayers. Itwas a very encouraging visit. His attitude is much improved. He has started a new congregation but agrees that the goal must bealoving relationship eventually between the new church and the old one. Pray for the growth of his cement block business so that hewill be able to support his wife and two younger children when they come home.

PRAYER TOPICS: Thanksgiving for a successful college year; for the money donated so far for the student who needs heart surgery;for the successful leaders retreat held the last weekend in July at Accra North Christian Church; my health.

Petition for guidance for the Evangelism Committee of the brotherhood as they ponder the future direction in order to establishchurches that can financially support rural and northern evangelism; a loving and cooperative spirit among all of us who worktogether in the cause of Christ; for the safe return of Kalbs, Hostetters, and Steve Icenogle this month.

Thank you for your financial, emotional, and prayer support.

In Christ,

DOROTHY EUNSONDorothy Eunson Mrs Tom Barkes

B0X5722 1 ^1 A f ^ 1 662 Golf Course DriveAccra North, Ghana 1 1 1 Elizabethton, TN 37643

Volume 7 Issue 4 September, 1995Dear Friends in Christ,

GRAND RE-OPENING

On the second day of the new school year, registration stands at 105 students. This sets a new record. Of the total, 39 are first yearstudents. Our registration process was the best organized ever. We had far fewer 50 cent fines for being late that last time, and withfour people handling the financial end instead of two, things flowed quite smoothly.

Brian Jennings has taken two of my class periods to double up on one of his classes in order to finish up before his furlough time inearly November. After he leaves, I'll have double periods for my Christian Education class. My only responsibility on the first day ofclasses, then, was to preside over the chapel service. Our first chapel is devoted to testimonies. Most dealt with conversions andteaching opportunities, but one man gave thanks to God for preserving his life when the bus he was riding overturned. It was"wonderful" that the man seated beside him was killed instantly, but he was spared. It was a good illustration of the Ghanaian meaningof the word "wonderful."

The chapel service wasmademorepleasant by the useof the newly installed, built in P.A, system. No morestrainedvoices to fight thetrafiic noise. The Kalbs" visitor, Mr. Bob Feathers, installed the system.

JULY GRADUATION

'SHS ' t fWe finally found an auditorium that we. could afibrd and that could accommodate

all the visitors that came to celebrate with

those graduating. Nearly a thousand' .-i people rejoiced with the fifteen diploma

|S|k > graduates, seven degree graduates, and• ' eleven certificate earners. Contrary to the

r 0^ i usual promptness ofour Academic Dean,^ ^ t ^ we may have been a minute or two late in

^ 4 •*• *"4 • starting. The band began to play thejf-* i A processional in a tempo that resembled a

jjjHl to. L ' ' *"*'''••fiineral dirge. When "conected", weHi fairly danced up the aisle. That made up•fli *" ^ I for lost time. Everything else went•|||r *i f >1 ii VBil smoothly, except for the fact that the

r' ^ chairman of the occasion came at least 30*' ^^1 p minutes late. The Principal took over,'A and when the chairman arrived, he joined

jgrC^ jiJ ' •/ ySi | ' ' "T^B us on the platform and took up his duties.^ if ^ '*t\: 7. if j't! i-" our main speaker gave a most excellent

1^—nT-nTi message on the necessity for Ghanaian

Christians to accept the responsibility of sending missionaries to their own unevangelized countrymen.

"VACATION" COLLEGE RESPONSIBILITIES

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Christians

Asall teachers do, we spent some days figuring up final grades and then working together at thecollege to record them in the students'permanent files, There were two different sets ofentrance exams and interviews - one early and one late. The short term course tookfour weeks of August; I taught two weeks of Christian Education. The class numbered 56 and met in the chapel. My voice was a bithoarse bythe third dayand I couldn't sing welluntil a week or so afterwards.

On any free day I had, 1worked on the librar>' books. The number \\c got actually shelf-ready was disappointingly small, but our officialmotto comes in here: "Something is better than nothing."

AIRPORT TRIPS AND VISITORS

Jeff Hostetier arrived back on August 9 with six visitors from Montana. We all helped feed them for two days before they left forKumasi. The Kalb family came back from furlough on August 29th. Sherrie Hostetter and herchildren flew in August 30th and five ofthe Montanans left the same night.

CHURCH-RELATED ACTIVITIES

There were several baptisms at the Abeka Christian Church in July and August. One Sunday morning the newest Christian church inTema brought seven converts to the college baptistry for baptism. When Jeff Hostetter and the visitors went to the Yeji church to helpthem preach to the Konkombas, there were over 80conversions. I amstill waiting for theUnited Bible Societies in London to notify theBible House here of the gifts gi\ en to bu>" Bibles for the Konkombas.

2 DOROTHY EUNSON NEWSLETTERMy Sunday School class had three special activities during this period: th^ conducted acleanup project in the chapel and the p^oundsaround it; we had a simple party again here atmy house; we spent one class period trying to patch up the church Bibles. Sometimes wecouldn't find all the missing pages,but we glued in what we did find.

A CHRISTIAN SISTER^S DEATH

In late July, the wife ofone ofthe Christian Church students from Ivory Coast passed away in the hospital after being ill since Aprt.Many had visited her and prayed faithfully for her. Itwas a sad time. Both the husband and wife had placed their membership withAbeka Christian Church. Since her body was not ingood condition, the doctors said she should be buried immediately inAccra. I hadten minutes notice that we were going to have a service inthe chapel the evening before burial. Others had abit more notice, and somecould not be notified. Itwas moving to see how many people gathered and how they felt bound together in the Lord's love because ofconunonsorrow. It wasa veryniceservice with lotsof hymnsingingand lastedfrom9 p.m. to 11.

The next morning a good number joined a few non-members and went to the mortuary ina bus to pick up the body and coffin. Two ofthe college trucks went and five ofthe faculty and staff^ were present. The mortuary was extremely busy, so we had towait over anhour.Someone came out and said that the workers got so annoyed with people pressing them to prepare their body and crowding the room,that they sprinkled formaldehyde on some people to drive them back. Finally, the cof&n was put on the bus and we took a slow tripthrough heavy traffic tothe burial site. Our minister again had a nice committal service. We had also had a short service in the chapelbefore leaving campus. The Women's Fellowship had all signed a card for the lady but it had not yet been mailed, so the mimster readthe message about thanking God for the friendship we shared in Him, and then the card was buried with her along with several simplefloral offerings.

RELOCATION IN THE DOLDRUMS

You haven't heard much lately, have you? It has been veiy fhistrating trying tobring about the final necessary registration ofthe landin the governments lands department. The Principal has done his very best with the help ofone ofthe Ghanaian Board members, buttheprocess is still not complete. We are praying and waiting. Now that David Kalb is back, the Relocation Committee will probablymovea bit faster. Peoplewerejust toobusyduring the "vacation."

HEART SURGERY FUND

One ofour students needs to have very serious heart surgery. The cost will be$10,000 ortheequivalent in cedis. Without outside help,it is like asking for the moon. I mentioned it in the June Contributors letter and three people sent gifts. Thank you for that. Nearlythree thousand dollars' equivalent have been raised in Ghana. IDES is going to match what we missionaries raise. (Note: Please sendgifts to Mrs. Barkes in Elizabethton, not to Ghana.)

PRAYER TOPICS

ThankR for good health inspite ofoverwork during the short term course; for the twenty-two students who volunteered for library work;forthe safe return ofHostetters andKalbs; forthe 105 students sofar. Thanks also thatDavid Kalb's triglyceride count was reduced bydiet and there is no sign of heart disease.Tntercession: for Steve Icenogle trying to raise funds for a vehicle; for the Clines expecting their second child this month in NorthCarolina; for God's guidance aswe seek to teach and live the Word ofGod before our ministerial students, our neighbors and in thechurches; thatwe may befilled with thejoyofHis salvation andbeused to lead others toshare in it.ThankGod foryou who pray andwrite andsupport thatwemay serve Him here.

Sincerely in Christ,

Dorothy

East River Park Christian ChurchP.O. Box 250 - 1207 Broad StreetElizabethton, TN 37643

Address Correction Requested

Urgent NeedsPHmflry^ AHnIt^ MiHHler SS TeachersQuarterlies-no student booksplease!

M/M CarL Bridges

Johnson Bible College

KnoxviUe, TN 37998

Non Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage GuaranteedElizabethton, TNPermit No. 183

Dorothy EunsonGHANA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Box 5722

Accra North, GhanaNovember, 1995

FOR THE CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS

Dear Friends in Christ.

KONKOMBA N.T.'S REACH YEJI

The Errand Girl, Ghana

It seemed to take a long time for the money some of you contributed for Bibles for ihe North toreach the Bible House here in Ghana. At last it did, and our first drawing on that crcdit was 300Konkomba New Testaments and 35 English Bibles requested by the Yeji church.When I saw the 20 boxes, I wondered how the Christian brother of the preacher at Ycji would getthe Bibles up there - 300 miles. Shortly after that, at a new ex-patriate Christian Fellowship thatmeets once a month for singing, prayer, and refreshments, Brian Jennings met a Navigatormissionary who was making a trip to Yeji. At Brian's suggestion, the man agreed to take all theBibles in his pickup. What an unexpected blessing. Our God is good. We ^ 'ill make inquiries othe other Northern missionaries to see what Bibles they can use.

CHURCH VISITS RESUMED

At the preacher's urging, Kwame and I visited the Oceanview church in Tema. I was delighted to see howthey have grown, A husbandand wifewere baptized that day in the ocean which is 50 yards from the church. Another husband, who had sworn he would never set footin his wife's church, was present for worship that day! Praise the Lord.

The last weekend in October, the Accra missionaries made the annual trip to visit the Hostetiers in Kumasi. We had a good time eating,talking, singing, prajdng, and watching a video. On Sunday we all attended the young Fumesua church. It was my first visit there. Theevangelist is ion his last year at the college. David Kalb was guest preacher, Tim Bright gave the communion devotion, and I taught anEnglishhymn. At the invitation, one young man and one mature man confessed their faith and were baptized after the serv ice. One of theSunyani elders is going to school for an advancedcourse in Kumasi is able to visit the church fortnightly to help them.

BOARD MEETING AND CELEBRATIONS

For the first time in the history of the college, the board approved that tuition of 7,000 cedis per term be charged each student next year.We urgently needa full-time secretary and there is no money to pay one. The quality of our school is higher than mostbut less expensive,so this first step is beingtaken to allow the students to paymore of the cost of their education. At today's exchange rate, the tuition is onlyabout$5.00 per term. How doesthat compare withwhat someofyouare paying?

Bob Sheffler and Wayne Meece were here from Ivory Coast to give their report on the TEEprogram that is now affiliated with the college.

After the meeting, we enjoyed a meal together, along with other staffand spouses, to celebrate Kalbs' return, express our best wishes forBrian Jennings' furlough, and to present Christian with a very strong, brand new wheelchair for his 25 years of service with the college.Thank you for helping us buy it for him.

PRAYER TOPICS

THANKSGIVING: that Steve Icenogle has purchased a good used truck to bring to Ghana; for the safe delivery ofHunter Lee Cline tojoinhis big sister Kayla; for our good health mostof the time; for a continuing good schoolyear.PETITION: that the registration of the land can finish itsjourney from deskto deskin the LandsDepartment soon; Steve's sale return andBrian's productive but restfiil furlough in England; for the preacher whoneeds to bring his wife and youngest children home again ( he hadmade progressbut at present seems to have halted again becauseof an unsubmissive spirit); a slowdown in inflation here; tfuit Christianswill stand firm and not become weary; the student who needs heart surgery.

Sincerely in Christ,URGENT NEED: Primary^ Middler and Adult S.S. Teachers' QuarferHes and large size Bible

teaching pictures. We need hundreds of quarterlies and thousands of pictures.

Mending Nets, Ghana

Dorothy EunsonGhana Christian CollegeBox 5722

Accra North, GhanaDecember, 1995

FOR THE CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS

Dear Friends in Christ,

STUDENT HEART SURGERY

Student Emmanuel Addison underwent open heart surgery to replace three valves on December 5*^. In the afternoon of the6*^, the hospital said he was doing fine. We thank God that he came through the surgery, and we pray that he continues torecover steadily. We are grateful to churches and individuals who helped and to I.D.E.S. who gave $5,000.00

WOMEN'S DAY AT THE CHURCH

To draw attention to the services performed by the Women's Fellowship and to challenge new women, a two day programwas held in the church. Saturday evening was Sing Song Night and Bible Recitations for everyone. Sunday morning wasthe usual service of worship but with a few extra activities featuring the women. The women worked hard to prepare andthey enjoyed performing in their uniforms, but now are finding it difficult to find an educated woman who is willing to serveas President next year! Pray for us that our momentum will not be lost.

SALARY CRISIS

We have just passed through a very stressful month. Inflation has run riot, and the Ghanaian faculty and staff pressesAfrican Mission Evangelism (our U.S. tax-exempt name) hard for salary increases far beyond our resources. WeAmericans know that we are blessed with committed, very hard-working brethren. But we do have our limitationsfinancially. Because I have worked most closely with our AME budget and with the college budget on this side of theocean, it fell my lot to figure the math. At last AME came up with a plan to give everyone raises without endangering therest of the budget. We have robbed Peterto pay Paul, but decided Peter is a non-essential that has to be sacrificed. OurGhanaian colleagues have accepted the plan, even though they had hoped for much more. Please pray that God will showus how to fiind the college in the future.

POT POURRI

It was heartbreaking when one of our students stole nearly $1,000 worth of funds from the hostel (dorm) and disappeared.It was money intended for Christian Church evangelists in the North. The family has promised to refund the money - aterrible burden for an average family... There were four baptisms at Abeka last Sunday...Thanksgiving was a day ofworship for the American community and topped off with a wonderful potluck dinner in the evening...Abeka church hasgiven someevangelism training and some house to house calling is being done...Brian Jennings left for fiirlough in Englandon November 3... I turned 58 on November 5.

PRAY, PLEASE!

For Emmanuel Addison, the heart patient...for the preacher who is still working to mend his marriage...for financial needsof faculty, staff, and preachers...for the repentance of the student who stole the money...for the spiritual, emotional, andphysical strength of faculty and staff. Thank God for faithful supporters.

In Christ,Dorothy