The month has seen an increase in rainfall which is always welcomed. One chief that we visited this month said his area would be able to harvest groundnuts (peanuts) by the ending of next month. This will allow more food to be circulated among the people and put much needed money in the pockets of the villagers. The increase in fuel is playing havoc with the economy. Currently the price of diesel is 12.00 Ghana Cedis/liter which equates to $6.67/gallon. It is comforting to know that as Christians we have a never changing God in this ever changing world.
During the April monthly class the brothers requested when we visit them that after service we should talk to the congregation about family planning. They said there is confusion in their home congregations as to whether birth control is scriptural or sinful. The people shy away from using birth control because they need children to work the farm and care for them in their old age. There are a lot of old wives’ tales that scares people away from family planning. All of the congregations that we visited this month were very receptive to our discussion. The topic always generates lots of questions. I talk about “Child Spacing” instead of “Family Planning.” The people seem to be more receptive to “Child Spacing.”
The first Sunday of the month, May 1st, we visited the small congregation at Waddik. Due to the difficulty of reaching this village during the rainy season and the pandemic it had been several years since we visited them. Their mud ball church building has collapsed since our last visit; they want help finishing a cement building they started building many years ago. We explained the matching funds program and that we would help when the church makes a plan and decides what they want to do.
On May 8th our destination was Yowando, southwest of Kulkpeni. We met under a tree which was very nice since a cooler breeze was blowing. I was asked to speak about how the congregation’s money should be spent. This is a general problem not only faced by the church but by the country as a whole.
We made the 2 hour trip to the village at Mulipido on the 15th. This village is where Daniel Batoln, one of the evangelists, lives and works. I taught a lesson from the Parable of the Sower. Their church building is small so we met under a tree. As the sun moved the people had to move their benches as well to keep out of the sunlight.
The church at Jakpumba invited us to visit them on the 22nd. The Church building needs some major renovation. The termites have dug under the back wall and foundation causing the back wall to drop down and crack the floor and corners of the building. They are hoping to build another structure during the next dry season. The women told us they are working in other people’s farms to make money to contribute to the new building. We told them we would match the money they had when they are ready to start their building project.
We worshipped with the congregation at Mpeasum on the 29th. This used to be one of our longest trips but the new road leading to Bimbilla made the trip shorter and smoother. I was asked to speak about the responsibilities of the husbands and wives. I also discussed child spacing and the need for the husband to be understanding of the wife since she is the “weaker vessel” according to 1 Peter 3:7. I made sure to remind the men the women’s bodies are not as strong as men’s but their minds are equal. The congregation is hoping to build a cement block structure in the future.
We had a great monthly class with 28 men attending. We finished the lesson that we began last month entitled “The Husband’s Responsibility to His Wife.” There was so much good discussion on the subject. This is a topic that is rarely discussed in this culture. Equality is a difficult concept to grasp when you have been raised in such a male dominated society. As the culture of these people’s ancestors dictated the husband can physically beat his wife. Ghana now has “Human Rights” which can help protect the women. We also talked about the need of the husband to include his wife in decision making when it comes to family matters. It will take some time for the people to get used to the biblical way; we will keep encouraging the brethren. The men reported that 4 people were baptized this month.
Please keep us in your prayers as we will be leaving for Alabama on June 9th. I’m sure the brethren here would appreciate your prayers as well. We look forward to getting back to family and friends and seeing some of our supporters. Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support of the work. It is greatly appreciated!!
In His Service,
Stephen & Kandie Taylor
