We have had a lot of firsts the last few days. Some not so good, but it has been interesting.

The part that is great is the leaders.

We had a really good day teaching and talking about future plans with the deaf leaders. They are eager to try new ideas to reach out, especially the young deaf. They will be meeting each week and planning to add a Saturday Worship. This will help with some of the younger deaf who are getting jobs and cannot come on Sunday morning. They are planning to continue going to the 3 schools and add at least one more the fall. That will be a challenge. They have several youth who will be traveling to the schools and will teach what they learned these two weeks. The young deaf were at the house tonight getting the books ready!

Some of the various bummer and great things happened recently.

We had our stuff gone through and some things stolen. Alan lost his alarm clock. Not sure who did it, so we will need to lock everything up better from now on. We also had a few of the deaf guys went drinking and showed up very ‘happy’ They were very glad to be in the classes and celebrated a little too hard. First time I heard a deaf young man here singing and signing Jesus songs over and over and over again.

My first time, we got stuck in a mud hole with the truck at the game preserve –bummer. The roads to the preserve are the worst! Have not changes in 7 years. It is the rainy time and they are very muddy and you cannot see where the potholes and ruts are. They are also very slippery. Everyone practiced our prayer life!

Alan and Barbara almost reached out and pulled the tail on an elephant - yah!
Tomorrow will be a very busy day. We will have worship in the morning with baptisms – yahhhhh!!!!
Then meet with the evangelists for lunch.

At 4 pm we go see an architect about the site plan for the deaf school. Then we meet with one of the educational directors to see what we need to do to get accredited in Ghana. For an SS (High School) and hopefully University that will have our Evangelist and Pastor training. Something like our colleges and seminaries in the US.

Then in the evening we will have a final meeting with the Kumasi property staff. Monday morning we go to Accra to meet with Dr. Fynn and make sure we have everything set with the ELCG.
Then final arrangements and fly out on Tuesday evening. God has really opened doors with this deaf school idea. I continue to pray and I ask you also to join with us and pray, if this is God’s will, then He will guide us and bless this project.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I thank God you are there to work with us!
God bless you.

Your servant in Ghana,

Pastor John Reinke
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Alan’s Ghana Update:

Last Thursday we had dinner with all leaders, students, evangelists and enjoyed.
We went to Mole National Park and stayed at motel with Amadu yesterday. This morning we took pictures of elephants, wart hog, and deer then we went to drive though wild animals field with guide but our truck struck on mud road. Guide man went to get help and we waited about 2 hours that we were middle of wild animals field. Guide man and other man had tractor to pull truck to get out from mud. We thank God that we are safe.

Tomorrow morning we will have worship. Then we will have three different meetings. Next Monday we will leave from Kumasi and go to Accra for meeting with Lutheran Ministry. We will stay at Accra for a night before we will fly to America.

Blessing,

Alan