Jeff's Journal

                          January/February -  2007 

 

       All the spiritual news and views from Kumasi, Capital of the ol' Asante Kingdom in Ghana.

 "Go, therefore (since Jesus has all authority) make disciples, immersing them in the name of the Father/Son/Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have taught you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt.28:19-20

 

Thoroughly Saving Africans Forever Vrs. Just Playing "Missionary"

       Jesus' directive to the apostles hasn't been abrogated, the last I checked.  Anyone really determined to follow His clear command will soon be faced with the need to have Jesus along with us for the ride.  For one thing, just making a genuine disciple of Christ rather than a "rice Christian" who is in it for the missionaries' money and stuff is no small thing.  Finding real truth seekers, without using all kinds of gimmicks and technological razzle-dazzle showmanship is like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack.  But once one such person is located and actually immersed into Christ without any overt coercion, pushy persuasion or a watered-down demand for repentance and submission to Christ's total Lordship, then the real work begins.  Such a person must not simply be taught everything Christ commanded, but taught to observe all things - to actually, habitually do Christ's teachings.  This all requires the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and the strength of Samson, so to speak.  And it must be done with seemingly too little time, money and personnel, of course.  And you've got to love it - doing all with the right motive, the right attitude and the right method.  Pray for us!

 

 Two More BCA Students Obey the Gospel!!

      Evangelist S.Y Omane, who many of you readers know, was thrilled to hear that we'd immersed his nineteen year old daughter, Sherrie Omane, named after my wife, last month.  Sherrie has struggled being a student somewhat, and could have dropped out several times.  Persevering with her and encouraging her to stick with it has paid off.  Now pray that she can develop great study habits and also find God's will for her life's journey.

     Preceding her in submission to the tomb/womb of new birth into Christ, Douglas Fofie (also 19), like the Romans in Rom. 6:17, also obeyed from his heart that form of teaching to which he was committed, and the old self was crucified with Christ so that his body of sin was done away with, so that he will no longer be a slave to sin. (Rm.6:6)  (Can you tell that I'm memorizing Romans?  Great stuff in there!)

   How we thank God for these two young people making the most important decision of their lives. As Solomon warned, when he was old and worn, "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them." (Eccl.12:1)

 

 Akwaaba, Hanna Ruth Hostetter!

      On January 21st, 2007, our grandchild number three arrived with much fanfare and challenges!  After assembly, on Sunday morning, Brittney decided it was time to go.  Going the normal route down the main road towards Accra ...oops, can't go that way...( they were blocked at the turnoff by roadwork), so going back to town, they then head down a very bumpy side-road through UST campus, a real "jungle" track. Then, arriving breathlessly at the local clinic, they find the midwife is absent.  Not a problem, another one takes her place, and the Indian doctor, Dr. Dipen, comes over, in his cut-off T-shirt since it is Sunday evening.  Good thing, too, because the umbilical cord was wrapped around Hanna's tiny neck!  Again, not a problem, the good doctor takes care of it, and within less than 90 minutes of leaving the house, all is finished, with mom and baby being visited by nearly the entire Bomso church.  As you can see, prayer is very, very important.  Things could have turned out much differently.  I also appreciate my son keeping a cool head throughout.  Also my wife, who once more acted as co-ordinator and assistant midwife to yet another baby born.

 

 Other Highlights

 - Alyssa's Arrival.  Brent Sear's sister, the next in line to him of seven siblings,  came from Missouri to volunteer her services to our ministry on January 25th, with Sharon Thomas.  Homeschooled, she is a very sweet and easygoing young lady (19), and a blessing to us all.  She is teaching seven small children to speak English, using ACE's " Speaking English" course.  They are quite a handful!

-  Keziah's Arrival.  Our international school added another student from faraway, as this 13 year old from Helena, Montana joined us, coming in on the flight with Alyssa and Sharon.  Miss Moore needs plenty consistent discipline with love, and to be given a purpose to excel.  Here she can find it.  Please keep her in your prayers.

- Bolgatanga Trip - We left Kumasi early Thursday, February 15 and visited the North, spending some time viewing elephants, crocs, and other wild animals, before heading further up to Bolgatanga to visit the saints there with Abraham Ghasie.  On the way out of the game reserve, we nearly had some big trouble.  Evidently, the battery was ruined by the incredibly rough washboard road.  I nearly stopped to rest after driving 50 miles on this road, due to a very sore neck, (exacerbated by malaria parasites, which I only later found out, were attacking my blood).  But for some inexplicable reason, I didn't pull over until we reached the Shell gas station at Tamale, the Northern Region's capital city. (Which, being a very hot-t place, we call Hot Tamale, pronounced like the Mexican food we all like).  Trying to start the engine, we found the battery had gone caput.  By God's grace, we had a friendly Moslem help us to nearby workshop - don't think of an American type of place - where they diagnosed and fixed our problem after about 4 hours.  At the end of that time, a man who wants to start a butchery shop, and had lived in Charlotte N.C for 22 years came up and started a conversation.  I was able to sow some spiritual thoughts in this man, and who knows? Perhaps he is the reason we needed to stop here in Tamale.

- Basketball Season - Our BCA boys and girls have been playing the local high schools in Kumasi, with about an equal number of wins and losses.  Only one game, the boys very first this year, could be called a blowout.  It is great to see Jeremiah - with the boys, and Melissa - girls - working so hard with these young people to go up against much bigger schools and more than hold their own, while showing great character at the same time.  For many of our students, this is the first organized sports that they've ever experienced, with all the positive stuff like teamwork, mental toughness, and so forth.  We also had a very hard-fought staff game, which we won - barely - in the last quarter.  The heat was so intense it took me five hours for my body to cool down!  Jeremiah has to spend time finding an available court (very few) for us to use, and then go and actually pick up, or pay the transport for, the opposing teams usually!  Often he drives them to and from their schools. 

 

 Celebrating Two Big Anniversary's - Ghana's Fiftieth and Jeff & Sherrie's 26th Wedding Anniversary

      As I type this, the parade commemorating Ghana's Jubilee Anniversary - Ghana@50, as they billed it - is showing on TV.  What saddens me is that the Ga juju man poured libations to the ancestors before things got started.  Then an Moslem and Anglican army chaplain (separately) prayed to .... whatever deity they think was listening.  How can God bless any modern nation that doesn't acknowledge His only begotten Son, both publicly, with the lips. and privately with the heart?  And how can God bless a nation that still openly worships the ancestral gods?  Jesus came, died, rose and then took His seat of power and glory at God's right hand, the power position of the universe, the throne of David, two thousand "earth" years ago.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  We pray for more grace and mercy to keep seeking the few who want to worship and truly serve that king in the midst of total religious, political and social confusion that prevails across this sin-darkened planet. 

    We do truly thank God for the incredible freedom that God has preserved in Ghana, in 1966 liberating her from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president, a communist who wanted a united Pan-Africa under Communism.  It was his fall, through a military coup, that allowed my father, Richard Hostetter, to come here from Rhodesia then.  He brought me with my brother Tim and our mom. 

     Then again,God delivered Ghana from J.J Rawling's 20 year military and "civilian" rule of blended socialistic, pro-Khadafi (Libya's tyrant) and Castro's Cuban style communism. We lived through most of his rule, and am very appreciative that his plans failed, and Ghana has remained open to Christian missions until now.  For awhile, Rawlings wanted to expunge all Christian missions from Ghana. 

  Today, the per capita or average yearly wage of Ghanaians is only $450!  That means that the average Ghanaian, (and many are not even that), makes less than 50 cents daily!!  This is why we still need help from Americans,to get the gospel out here, and also do some necessary benevolence.  Your special donations, or investments in this ministry, are tremendously important.  Every one of the poorest countries in the world are in the suffering continent of Africa.  All of us having the right spiritual focus understand that America has been allowed to develop her great resources to get the gospel out worldwide.

    On a much happier and more positive note, Sherrie and I celebrated our 26 years of marriage last week on February 27th.  What a great Christian lady my wife has been, living and working under often very difficult "pioneer' circumstances during our first years, with handwashing of clothes; no electricity or phones; cobras and army ants invading our house in Sunyani; and many, many sickness and so forth.  House guests by the dozens, children like Roseline, Abby, Jackson, Jefferson, Alima, Keziah, Lisa and others added to us without being born of her womb.  And me, her most daunting challenge.  Together with this excellent partner, we had pulled the plow of Christian service together.  I only wish I could present to her a gift worthy of her loyal service!  But I am confident that the great glory that awaits, and honor and immortality in Christ will far outshine any sacrifice she has or any of us can ever make.

      Thanks to all of you for your continued support and prayers for this mission.  We appreciate it so much!  I have now sitting on my desk so many requests by our African evangelists for aid in housing, transportation and church development that it could crush me.  Yet I believe that our God will continue to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, through you and others.  Keep shining brighter and brighter until the dawn rises fully and Christ comes again.

 

 Peace and real joy In the mighty name of King Jesus, our glorious Lord and God!

Jeff Hostetter