The Chimes Of Time

GHANA, West Africa,
31 Dec 2014 / 1 Jan 2015

A General Letter

THE CHIMES OF TIME RING OUT THE NEWS, ANOTHER YEAR IS GONE,

At the end of 2013 and for the first part of 2014, two pairs of workers were busy in Liberia. But life is a changing scene, and none of us know what future days hold. Just as my grandmother used to speak of 1918 as being "The year of the bad 'flu'", I think 2014 may well be remembered as the year of the virus, Ebola. Another time when the open door in Liberia has been closed for a season. (The bad flu epidemic of 1918 killed millions of people throughout Europe).

However, workers are scarce in West Africa and there has been no shortage of areas in which to place those who might have been in Liberia. Perhaps we could say that both Ghana and Nigeria have benefited. In Nigeria workers have been able to spend more time in Abakaliki, where there has been some completely new work done in very recent years, and in Ghana it has been possible to work in the Brong Ahafo region.

Sunyani is the regional capital of Brong Ahafo and is completely new to the Gospel. It is an area without friends. Gillian and Chika have been having meetings both in Sunyani and also in a neighbouring town. In addition to their original contact, one lady has attended quite a number of times, so there is something to labour for with hope.

The Accra-Kasoa field is the busiest field in Ghana. The part with [the] most friends and also a big proportion of young folk. Florence and Lorpu have regular attendance at the Gospel meetings at Kasoa and are trying a new area of Accra as well.

Shola and I have been in the Tema-Denu field. There are 6 friends in the Tema meeting and 6 friends in the Denu meeting. Unfortunately the two meetings are 100 miles apart, so our efforts have been concentrated in the Tema area, just going to Denu one weekend each month.

In each of these three fields, places which have never had Gospel meetings before, have been tried and in each case a lot of invitations have been given.

I am reminded of the words in Luke 14, "Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room." This is where workers need the patience of a fisherman.

Now as we enter 2015, the Ebola is still a serious problem, but there are signs that in Liberia, it is gradually being brought under control. (It is still raging in Sierra Leone and Guinee.) Our friends have been able to continue to meet together on Sunday mornings and have kept free from the sickness.

International assistance is doing what the local governments could never have done and we have a very real hope that 2015 will see the door for the gospel being opened again.

THE CHIMES OF TIME RING OUT THE NEWS, ANOTHER YEAR IS GONE, SOMEONE . . . . ?
But some have helped and encouraged us.

Thank you to all who have been so good to keep in touch throughout 2014.
With Very Best Regards to All,
As Always,
ALAN [Cooke]