Since our arrival in early February the price of everything has skyrocketed. I understand that you are feeling the effects of rising prices too! The Ghanaians really feel the pressure largely due to the increase of diesel and gasoline prices. I have paid as much as $6.40 per gallon for diesel. The men attending the monthly class are paying twice as much for transport this year than they did last year. I understand this is a global problem but people in a third world country like Ghana don’t have anything in reserve to buy basic necessities because they are living day to day. We thank all of you for your financial support so we can help make a difference. We are praying the Lord allows the rains to continue to come so the farmers can store up some food stuffs for next year. Last year some areas around Yendi experienced a draught. Another year like 2021 will bring major food shortages for this area.
During this month we traveled to the villages of Bitamondo, Attado, Frigmado, and Tumpondi on Sunday mornings. We made some side trips to Nakpa and Jagrido.
Our trip to Bitamondo had a specific purpose; two men of the congregation are polygamist. They have each taken a second wife. These men told us on our last visit to the church they were trying to deal with the matter according to the scriptures but culture makes it difficult to get rid of these women. The men still have not been successful in straightening out their marriages. We kindly told them they were in danger spiritually and the Church should follow the example the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian brethren in chapter 5 of his first letter to them. We pray they will do what needs to be done to secure their souls for a heavenly home. Polygamy is a disease in the churches here in the North. We are continually teaching against it in our sermons and Bible classes.
The trip to Tumpondi is a 3 hour trip. There are 6 churches that Nana Bekum works with in the Chereponi area. All 6 churches were represented at the worship service. We presented each congregation with a used bicycle for the evangelistic work.
The Churches at Attado, Frigmado, Jagrido and Tumpondi had building projects they are working on. We push the matching funds deal when we are asked to help. We provided matching funds for building supplies and promised to help provide building funds for the Frigmado congregation when they are ready to start building. Jagrido got metal doors for their building. Our friend Red made the doors and painted them. Kandie and I delivered them this month. It still amazes me how fast termites can eat up door and window frames; metal doors and windows save money in the long run.
As we passed through Nakpa on our way back from Attado we dropped off a case of grape juice that we had purchased for them. I subsidize the cost of communion juice to help the congregations. It is difficult to find real grape juice. There are a lot of products that are sold for communion but they have a mixture of different juices and in some cases no grape juice at all.
Last year the church leaders requested teaching material that discussed the responsibilities of men and women; especially in the work of the Church. Well, everything that Kandie and I looked at was geared to the American Christian’s way of life. I decided to write my own lessons and make them easy enough for everyone to understand. I presented the Introduction and taught Lesson 1 at the class this month. I plan to teach all the lessons to the leaders and then bind it in a little booklet for them to use for teaching at their home congregations.
The men at the classes reported there were seven baptisms and eleven restorations for the month which is great news! Twenty four men were able to attend the class this month.
COVID UPDATE: At the end of the month the President of Ghana relaxed some of the masking requirements for the Covid 19. If you are fully vaccinated you are not required to wear a mask unless you are in a large group that has unvaccinated people in it; unvaccinated people are still required to wear a mask. He also has dropped the restrictions on the number of people allowed at large gatherings like churches, weddings, funerals, etc. The 2 hour limit that was imposed at these functions has also been lifted.
We want to thank all of you for your strong support of the work here. Without your efforts our work would be much harder. May God bless you for your support!
In His service,
Stephen and Kandie Taylor
