Jeff's Journal

                          October - November 2006

 

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

 

"Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brethren." (Acts 15:3)

 

Our desire is to also bring you great joy by giving you news of the Lord's continuing work in saving the Gentiles in our century here in Africa.  So grab a cup of java, and sit back and enjoy.

 

NEW ADDITIONS! 

 

We've had four new spiritual babies born into Christ since returning! Praise God!   Volunteer workers make a huge difference for our mission, and in return, many of them have been saved. In saving others, we really do get to be saved ourselves: 

 

-  Melissa Wegner: As I reported in my previous Jeff's Journal.  A business graduate from a private school near Chicago, she was overwhelmed with truth she was hearing in my preaching/teaching and decided to be immersed into Christ shortly after arriving here.  She has been a fantastic addition to our mission team, and we thank God that Laura Swift sent her here. 

-  Brent Sears:  After her immersion, another volunteer from the "Show Me State" of Missouri, decided to do likewise.  So on November 10th, Brent, homeschooled and coming from a strong family of ten, was ready to step into the water after carefully considering his spiritual need. 

- Bruno Godson Kumedjira:  Then, a few weeks later, another "foreigner" who'd come to be part of our staff, Bruno Koumedjra who is the new husband of Amy Morris, made the same awesome decision.  Hailing from a small village in Togo, Bruno also came to obey the gospel after much thought and study. 

-  Victor Paintsil:  The only resident Ghanaian, with a name like that, it seems essential that he truly be a spiritual victor in Christ! Unlike the other three, Victor was immersed by Caleb Lantame, not I.  This was after doing personal Bible studies with Caleb through several of the study booklets, and coming for the preaching for several years.  (Victor has two younger sisters in BCA, but he never attended.)  BICA

 

BICA - BOMSO INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

We welcomed Binoy's disciple, Sabu George and his (now) 16 year old son, Benjith, to our home in October.  They had come all the way from Kerala, India, so that Sabu could learn about our school, and place his son in it as a student.  What great faith to take such a big decision.  Benjith lives in our home and is doing great in all respects.  He will become a powerful worker for God's kingdom in India.  His dad was convinced to do this because of my visits to Kerala, and the things that he saw in my family and in Binoy that convinced him of the need for joining the spiritual revolution.  He preached some excellent and encouraging messages in five or six of the congregations.  Please pray for Sabu, who is now pumped up, spiritually, and back in India preaching and teaching wholeheartedly the whole counsel of God, and trying to work out starting a Christian school for his people.

 

GOOD NEWS ON BUCKMAN'S CANCER TREATMENT

This young 10 year old is now looking really good after receiving chemo treatment for severe cancer in his brain.  Please continue to pray for him.  He is now attending our new Christian (ACE) school recently started in the village of Atia.  His parents are very grateful, as is his older brother Richard, a senior student here in Bomso Christian Academy.  We are also so appreciative to Rhys and Sharon Thomas, Britney's parents of Fayette, Missouri, for appealing and gathering together the funds ($3000) from the Fayette congregation for his treatment.

 

NEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL STARTUP IN ATIA

Christian education is the hope of the world, and of Ghana.  We are excited about the 38 students enrolled  in this new school.  Amy and Bruno found an apartment there, moved to the village - no small task - and are running the school daily, with William Amoah, the preacher there assisting.  I appreciate villager parents there who have had the faith to support this plan.  We also appreciate IDES, which gave us $14,000 to refurbish the old school building and though much work still remains to complete it, to make it useable for this purpose.  They have also supplied money to feed the poor students a nutritious lunch each day.  Amy's willingness to live in the village is commendable and a great example to all.

 

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL STARTUP IN PAAKYI NO. 2 PUT ON HOLD

Although we had hoped to also get another school started in this village, the people there did not have the same faith as in Atia.  For one reason, there is no N.T church there yet.  We had hoped that they were ready, but when push came to shove, they backed off.  Please pray for Kwaku Twum to rethink his desire to partnership with us in this great ministry.  He also took his daughter from our school and placed her elswhere - St. Monica's - for unspiritual reasons. (A more "prestigious" school.)  It always hurts to see this happen.  Our school is small and non-government sponsored, and some parents fear that being out fo sync with "the establishment" will hurt their children's "advancement" up the social ladder some day. These children's spiritual welfare is put second and so they are yanked out - despite the excellent track record of our graduates and wonderful, spiritual and internatioal staff.  At least we can sow much good seed while we have them with us.  In a country where AIDS is killing up to 19% of the sexually active adults, we rightfully fear for those who are allowed to rub shoulders with "bad company that corrupts good morals."

 

STRANGE HEALTH ISSUES

If facing one's mortality is good for one's soul, my soul has had much good done to it.  Twice I was given wrong readings on lab tests that sent me to the local clinic in a hurry to get things straightened out.  The first was when I was told that I had 3+ on a malaria test.  This is the highest number (and thus the worse) of parasites in my blood that I've ever seen.  Usually, with such a high test result, there would be a concurrent high, high fever and even a coma.  But in a subsequent reading, I only had a few - crisis averted.  After several weeks, I still felt bad, and went in some typhoid tests at the advice of a medical worker friend of mine.  The first said that I did have typhoid, but not very severe.  I started my antibiotics, but felt pretty poorly.  Another test was done at the local lab, and my reading was astronomically high, and I was told to see a doctor and that I would probably need to be admitted and put on IV's!  Once more, a subsequent test run at the local clinic showed otherwise.  We praise the Lord who heals us and delivers us from all of our infirmities and forgives us of all of our iniquities. 

 

BCA POWERLIFTING CONTEST - SQUATS, BENCHPRESSES AND DEADLIFTS.

Developing strong character can be assisted by developing strong minds and mental focus.  There is nothing much better for that than trying to stand up with 400 lbs. on your shoulders!   Our students lift:1. all natural - meaning no pill poppin; and 2. raw - which means in powerlifting parlance without any powerlifting equipment - such as special rubber suits or knee wraps or such.  Our staff, including Brent Sears, Attah Osebreah, and Godwin Wonder also competed against the older students, winning through their hard work. Such leadership by example produces strongly motivated young people. One girl deadlifted off the ground, 265 lbs.!!  One young man benched 240 lbs.Staff member Godwin Wonder had the greatest total, adding a huge 430 lbs. deadlift at the slim body weight of around 169 lbs.!  All students over 13 participate. The contest started at 3:00 p.m and was completed after dark at around 6:15 p.m, on Monday, November 20th.  Now on to the basketball season. 

 

THANKSGIVING DAY: A HUGE HOSTETTER HOMECOMING

We praise our God forever for allowing the Thomases to join us from New York in time to celebrate this year's Thanksgiving Day.  For our family, this is also a big holiday on our calendar.  We butcher our own corn-fed turkeys, make multiple pies and other traditional dishes, and I always give a special address explaining the meaning of the day from a spiritual perspective, along with some special Thanksgiving songs. Then there are games and fun activities, or naps for those less energetic.  Our two grandkids surely made the occasion more joyful than usual - and noisy!  What we are doing - bringing spiritual freedom and help to this poor African country - is what America is really all about: sharing with others the fantastic blessings of God upon her.  The Thomases round-the-world ticket made this possible at little extra expense.  We are their home church, and their visits here bring much evangelistic fervor and missions spirit that will reap rich dividends in producing awesome African evangelists and missionaries in the near future, and even some now.

 

 

AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A PERMANENT MISSION SITE

My Lebanese businessman neighbor, Terek, who has been a friend for over 16 years, and with whom I have done business and lifted weights and preached to, approached me with an offer to sale us his recently deceased father's property. This entire industrial complex included a big house, (never lived in) that was two story and 80ft. by 80ft. in dimensions, meaning it would be perfect for all of our family and most staff to move in, plus working wood working and nail making factory,(that have not been used for about 6 years) with about four acres attached, in the middle of town.  His price?  Only $700,000 (without the machines) to purchase everything, that would be perfect for our mission needs for the next 75 years.  Our volunteer, business graduate Melissa Wegner, said that she knew of a mission in Chicago, somewhat likes ours, that did the same thing.  I think I might be able to lower the price to $500,000 or $600,000.  If there were only 100 men and women with the faith and ability to pledge $5000 each over the next 20 years, with God's help, or $250 each per year.

 

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE POOR

Who do you know, personally, that is so poor that a tooth brush or a tube of toothpaste is a luxury item?  Or a new bar of soap?  Many of the children in our school are that poor.  I appeal for any special funds that could be used for buying such gifts for some of our poorest children.  $5.00 or $10.00 would make a very nice Christmas gift.  If you are able and interested, just let us know and we will purchase items here and give them out before our school goes on break on Dec.20th. Perhaps some of your children would like to join in the fun.  They can send their pictures to us via internet.  Our connection time has improved lately to make this possible, for one or two pictures without any hassle.  We will also likewise post pictures on our website: www.gloryinghana.com  so you can see these children.  Share the love of Christ at this appropriate time.

 

 

VISITORS

We will be welcoming to our mission visitors from New York, Prof. Sherry Dingman of Marist College, along with Dr. Vernon Murray.  Also, from Germany, Eszter Dienes, a friend of volunteer staff member, Renate Sieburg, is coming in January. Also Brent's sister, Alyssa, is also coming to join our staff.  We are especially excited about Steve Icenogle and Jay Wilson coming in from Montana for our Family Camp preaching rally, which runs December 21st - 24th.

 

 

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 

Have a wonderful Christmas season, as you celebrate the reason for the season, the arrival of King Jesus for the liberation of Satan's sin-slaves worldwide by the mighty works that He did.  May you be able to win some souls through their interest in the true story behind the celebrations. Love and peace to all of you in His Name above all Names.

 

Jeff Hostetter