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Affiliat* of
Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722
Barbara Barkes
339 Wiltshire Drive
Accra N, Ghana
Gray,TN 37615
WestAfrica
tvbarkes@yahoo.coiD
During the Christmas vacation, four students, another teacher and I took inventoryof the library. It took us four and a half days and revealed many, many errors, omissions and missing records as well as missing books. Correctingthose problems (except the missing books) fully occupied me during the weeks I had no computerto use. The old library typewriter had just been serviced and it served well. There are still catalog cards to be refiled, but I am ready to resume processing new books on the new library computer.
FUND-RAISER HIRED
On December 1st, Mr. Yaw Boamah began work as college fund-raiser. It has long been recognized that substantial support must be raised locally to enable the college to meet the need for increased staff and other logistical support. Mr. Boamah is a flilltime employee and has been assigned his own office and computer. Since he has worked successfully in this position for another Christian organization, the Board of Directors
have faith that he will do well.
SCHOLARSHIP SUPERVISION
At the end of first term, our scholarshipmoney was able to help five students finish paying their fees so they could take their exams. This period also revealed some who were committed and hard-working, but needed regular help. Three missionaries, with input from Ghanaian colleagues, are making the decisions as to who should receive help. Beginningwith the January term twenty-four students are receiving either full scholarships or fees-only scholarships. The moneycomes from many different sources. It is a responsibility undertaken on faith as we never know exactly how much money will come. It is my job to liason between the mission and the local treasurer and to keep contributors of scholarshipmoney advised as to the progress of those they help.
PRAYER POWER
Thank God for: safe travel to distant churches during Christmas vacationand for daily safe travel between the two campuses for those who live on the new one; Brian Jennings* return to Ghana and resumption of his teaching; funds available for scholarships and continuing construction; hiring of a fimd-raiser; library progress;
good health.
Petition God for: physical, emotional and spiritual strength for the preparationfor moving the college (students, library and offices) to the new campus in July and August; flmds to acquire necessary new furnishings for the library, classroomsand dormitories; God's guidance for my personalprepration for furlough
and what comes after.
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Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722
Volume 8, Issue 11
Dear Friends in Christ,
March, 2003
It's good to begin with the most startling news. After seeing how my neglect had piled up the library work, and after experiencing some relief from stress by retiring from teaching, I prayed about a possible return to Ghana for two years to give the mission a better return on the investment they made in my library degree. My family in the U.S., my adopted family here in Ghana, tiie other missionaries, the college administration, and the
elders of first Christian Church, Orlando, Florida,
have not forgotten how to use it! Most of the work needed to get the shelved books in good order is done. The mission has purchased a new desktop computer that will be part of the library office, but I am using it at home until I leave for fiirlough. Installing all the software has taken time, and the
my living link church, have all agreed to the plan. The Orlando church will continue my living link support, and my prayer is that supporting churches and individuals will continue to uphold the expanding work of African Mission Evangelism.
FURLOUGH PLANS
This school year closes on July 18. We then have three weeks to move the library and offices and classroom furnishings to the new campus and get everything set up for the opening of the new school year on August 11! I will stay for one more month to be sure the library is running smoothly and to get my house in order, then leave for the U. S. early in the second week of September for fiirlough. Exact dates and plane reservations are not set, but I should be in Orlando, Florida by the beginning of October. That will be my base for six months during which I will be available for reporting on the work being done ill Ghana through African Mission Evangelism and Ghana Christian College. In April and May 20041 will travel to points north of Florida with a return to Ghana possibly in June 2004. These plans
are all subject to the will of God.
LIBRARY PROGRESS
Since the college is growing faster than missionary fimds and student fees can support, it became imperative to hire someone whose fiilltime work is fimd-raising locally. Mr. Yaw Boamah, who has successfiil experience doing that in another Christian organization in Ghana, began work on December 1, 2002. He has his own office equipped with a computer and printer and is laying groundwork for building local support base. He is __
married and has two children.
Although our Treasurer, John Dadzie, has served well in that role and in doing many other kinds of business for the college, the growing complexity of the work required us to look for someone with advanced training to serve as Business Manager. We also prayed for a dedicated Christian who was willing to work for a more modest salary than many businesses and even non-profit organizations are currently paying in Ghana. The Administration believes they have found such a man, and if he accepts the contract offered him, he will begin work May 1. John continues to serve as Treasurer.
CHURCH AFFAIRS
Many of the books ordered last year have arrived and are piled up in my dining room. Sometime in November, my laptop computer was attacked by a virus and eventually rendered unusable. An inventory of the library was planned for Christmas vacation anyway and a computer was not needed for
that. We wanted to discover which books were
the Northem Volta Region for a multipurpose weekend. In the truck we carried many belongings
of a bride-to-be as well as the cake and other
goodies for a wedding celebration. On the rough patches, the battle cry to Kwame, who was driving,
was 'Save the cake!' At the village of Keri, we were welcomed by brethren. A meeting was held with two representatives of those who hosted last year's national Easter convention to determine the effect of the convention upon the church. Although a nascent effort to establish a second congregation in the town collapsed, the first congregation had received a few members from that effort and gained about twenty members otherwise. They were also pleased with the increased awareness in the whole
missing, so that when the titles are put into an electronic catalog, we wouldn't add inaccurate information. Not only did we discover which books were missing and grieve over their number, we
uncovered hundreds of errors, omissions, and inconsistencies. Because there was no computer to process new books, my mind was free to work on
old problems. The old library typewriter was serviced and worked very well for incidental library
typing as well as other letters and documents. I
community of the presence of the Christian Church. As he had promised, the chiefhad given them some landfor a ftiture permanent worship structure. They
are now meeting in a classroom.
enough to get us to the next town with a proper 'vulcanizer,' who repaireda valve stem as well. We delivered peopleand yams to three different locations before reaching home in the evening thankful for a happy and safe trip.
PRAYER POWER
Aftersupper, we shared part of the evening service ofthe regional convention being held there. We were surprised by the cold temperature toward evening and had to borrow jackets. Since the service started very late, we were excused before
the end to go and rest from our journey.
graduate of GCC. The filthy truck had been washed and the bride was brought to the convention ground in it with purple and white streamers and horn blaring. After the simple but verynice wedding ceremony, the service closed and we visitors joined the family members and pastors who were served a
nice meal.
Sunday evening, three of us did the planning for this year's July leadership retreat. Monday we returned to Accra with a big load of yams for family and friends. Our journey was delayed by a very serious flat tire. The spare tire didn't have enough air in it but by the grace of God a man in a village where we stopped had a bicycle pump that pumped the tire
Petition God for: timely and adequate preparation for the move to the new campus; protection from armed robbers for those living at the new campus; fimds for a library security system; good response to Dorothy's announcement of a return to Ghana; patience for the times when email is not functioning.
In the joy of the Lord,
Dorothy Eunson
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Knoxville.TN 37920-0111
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Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722
BarbaraBaikes
339 Wiltshire Drive
Accra N.Ghana
Gray.TN 37615
West Africa
tvbarkes@yahoo.com
May 2003
CONTRIBUTORS AND PRAYER PARTNERS
It hasbeen a long time since I said anything about thenew campus. The classrooms have ceilings, lights fixtures andfans. Thebuilding alsohas ironrailings around all the verandahs and steps, and it a clockin thetower. It is very handsome. The exterior of the library/administration building (the 2/3 of it thatwe are starting with)has beenfinished with a stonefacing, complete withtwo pillarsin the fi:ont The interior terrazzo floors are bemg polished. Since wehaven't enough money to build a dormitory, some ofthebig classrooms will beused as temporary dormitory rooms. The August short term course will betaking place onthe old campus at the sametimethe new semester begins at the new campus. Thatsituation necessitates the construction ofnew beds and classroom furniture. The steel bender/welder and carpenters are working hard on thisproject. The area all around these two buildings (classroom andlibrary/administration) hasbeen cleared of brush and graded. Some grass has been planted. The area now resembles a campus. Some picnic-style tables
have been built for the future eatingarea.
NEEDS TO BE MET
Thecompletion of the septic system, the digging of another well, andthe construction of a cafeteria (shelter for eating) mustbe accomplished before the move is possible. Weare praying andwatching to seehow Godwill providetheseneeds. A generous gift of $12,000 froma churchthat is merging with anotheris a timely blessing. Someof that will be used for library furnishings. On the part of the students, pray that manynew ones will applyand that both new and old will find the moneyfor their 'fees and feeding.' The fees have been
increased considerably for next year in order to provide the staffwe need.
BIG DAY IS AUGUST 9
A combination Graduation/Campus Inauguration Day will beheld onthe new campus onSaturday, 9^August.
Plans are being made to make it a very specialday. I am pleasedto announce that VaughnWilliamsofFirst ChristianChurchof Orlando, Floridawill be here for that occasionplus an extra week to see all aspects ofour work here. Vaughn is a member ofthe BoardofDirectors ofAfiicanMission Evangelism.
MISCELLANEOUS
A big electrical stormat the new campus 'fined' the radiothat sendsemailfor those who live there. The spare
radio has been installed, but two are now destined for repairs. The lightning also burned Manuel Adjei's electric meter. There are ahready lightning rods on the new library, but it looks as ifwe need them on all the
houses, too.
Two different small church visits were made at the end of March. We took all my water drums to the first church becausethat is where the Easter conventionwill be held. The second visit was to our "daughter" church. Three ofAbeka's young men led songs and prayers, preached and led communion devotion. I taught them one
new hynm.
PRAYER POWER: Thank God for: the unexpected gift of $12,000; safe arrival in Ghana of Chad and Karen Crook, future instructors ofemergency medical personnel; completion of secondterm of classes; library progress; good health of all the staff; God's sustaining love during the tough times. Petition God for: Funds to meet all the needs before moving day; safe and productive short furlough for David Kalb; safe travel and meaningfiil visit by Dr. Bob Smith and three studentsof Florida ChristianCollegein early May; solution to a printer problem that is delaying the printing of library cards; patience and tolerance for all staffthrough these very stressful; days of preparation for the big change.
In much gratitude and love, Dorothy Eunson
P.S. Contact Mrs. Barbara Barkes at tvbarkes@vahoo.com or send a letter to her home address to reserve
Dorothy Ennson
Box 5722
Barbara Barkes
339 WOtshire Drive
In late February, in order to relieve an overloaded office manager, I volunteered to take on the task of ordering textbooks for third term and for first semester of the new school year (August). We were left with a very short time frame for overseas service. With the expert help of a bookshop manager in London, we were able to get some sent to Dallas TX in time for Ron Rife to pack them in a shipping container which is to arrive the end of May. Some have come by Air Mail, some by DHL, a few by surface mail from England. We have also ordered special library books to help with the new Master's program. We are still ordering and will make full use of willing 'couriers'- visitors who are coming for short visits in June, July, and August and can bring a suitcase fiill of books as their second free piece of luggage! It's a fun challenge.
FLORIDA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE TEAM
For the past ten days a group of three students and one professor from Florida Christian College in Orlando have been here in Ghana. They brought two army duffle bags and one medium suitcase filled with books, both used and new. On three mornings they helped me with some of the processing of those books and others. Enoch Nyador took them on a four day trip up north to visit several Ghanaian missionaries and the churches. Today they are working at the new campus, maybe planting grass. Having them around with their quick minds and quick actions shows me how much I've slowed
down at 65!
Miscellaneous
My auplane ticket for September 11 from Accra to Philadelphia is in my possession.. .The new business manager, because of a delay in notifying his present employers, cannot join us until June 1, but is meeting with us to work on next year's budget...Entrance exams in April yielded fewer applicants than usual because they were three months earlier than usual and because we were slow in the distribution of the new prospectuses.
PRAYER POWER
Praise God for: textbooks and library books that are arriving weekly; eight thousand dollars raised so far for the cafeteria; good Easter convention; Rifes' safe return to Ghana; good health for most of us; God's sustaining grace; mostly good experiences by the students during two weeks of 'practicals'; peace in Ghana in the midst of unrest in many places in
West Africa.
Petition God for: improved health for our Principal, Christian Adjei; more funds to dig a well and complete other preparations for moving day; more scholarship frinds to help needy students pay increased fees next year (August); safe travel and good response to fund-raising efforts in the U.S. by David Kalb until mid-July.
Thank you for your prayers and very faithful support of Ghana Christian College through African Mission Evangelism.
Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722 Accra N. Ghana West Africa
GHANA CHRISTIAN
COLlEGf
Barbara Barkes
Volume 8, Issue 12
July, 2003
Mrs. Aflia Wiafe has served as an adjunct English teacher for several years. As of August 1, she will
be employed fulltime as librarian and English teacher. Since we lack housing on the new campus,
At long last, the college itselfstudents, classrooms, and library^will be moved to the new campus. On Saturday, August 9, a grand combined
both of these employees must be provided offcampus housing. Mr. Isaac Dodoo has been employed as an office assistant. He does a lot of computer work and general office tasks for both the fund-raiser, Mr. Boamah, and the general office.
ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENTS
graduation ceremony and ribbon-cutting and inauguration of the new campus will be held on site. About a dozen special visitors are coming from the U. S. including Jerry Gibson and his wife. Mr. Gibson founded the college in 1966. Cara Snyder of Dallas Christian College will be here. Cara replaced me here in Ghana during two of my furloughs. Vaughn Williams, an elder of First
Christian Church, Orlando, and member of the
Africa Mission Evangelism board of directors, will be my special guest. Dick and Nancy Hostetter are coming for a prolonged visit. The Hostetters served with the college for seven years from the beginning. Their daughter Heather is married to P. C. Cline, our building consultant in charge of the new campus construction. Pressure is high to finish the school year at the old campus, get everything moved to the new campus, and complete construction and finishing touches there.
The college is changing from a trimester system to a semester system. This year that leaves a very short time between the old year and the new. Final exams here are over by July 18. In addition to the teachers' marking of exams, an external examiner has to go over samples of the papers. This is the requirement for accredited schools. That is why graduation has been delayed till August 9. The new school year begins August 11! A second big change is the beginning of a Master's program. It will be a Master's degree in Christian Leadership. The pilot program will include about ten students. All of these will be our own graduates who have akeady applied. Some local adjunct
An April Contributors' letter informed many of you that there had to be a structure on campus in which the students could eat and do some cooking if they
wished. The cost would be about $25,000 and we
did not have the funds at that time. Praise God that
professors, a few of our own staff who are qualified, and visiting lecturers from the Seminary of the
Nations will be the teachers. Seminary of the
Nations is a U. S. based Christian Church mission
during his recent short furlough, David Kalb was used by the Lord to raise that money. The foundation and floor have been poured and the rest will go up quickly. The building may not be finished in detail, but, in addition to being a dining hall, it will serve as a meeting place for large groups. On August 8, the first Alumni Homecoming Day will be held there. It may also have to serve as a temporary chapel once the new school year begins August 11.
NEW STAFF HIRED
which sends U. S. Bible college professors on short term assignments to foreign and overseas Bible colleges to enrich their programs. Dr. Dennis
Gaertner from Johnson, Dr. Steve Hooks from
The February general newsletter informed you that a business manager had in effect been hired to begin
May 1. He could not be released from his former employer until June 1 but has been a part of the
Please try to plan early for me to come and visit and report on the work you supportand/orare interested in. I fly from here to Philadelphia on September 11. The rough dates for speaking are October through
March in Florida or Georgia and then points North after that. It is best to contact Mrs. Tom Barices by mail or by email: tvbarkes;'^'vahoo.com. I will be in Cincinnati for the National Missionary Convention
from November 19 to 23. Our exhibit is No 640, so
look us up.
PRAYER POWER
and used, for our library. On three mornings they helped with some of the processing ofthose books and others. They did some landscaping work at the new campus and went up North witii Enoch Nyador
to visit several Ghanaian missionaries and churches.
Thank God for: money for the cafeteria; good health in spite of weariness; successful completion ofthe last year of school at the old campus; the printer problem that was not a printer problem^the card
stock had absorbed moisture; arrival of the satellite dish for IT on the new campus and clearing ofthe container that brought lots of books, used computers for our new computer lab and much more. Petition God for: improved health for our Principal, Christian Adjei (he is suffering a lot from an ulcer); more funds to dig another well before the dry season; more mental power for me to plan visual presentations of the work for furlough; a grand celebration on August 9 ifyou get this in time! And a safe flight home on September 11.
At the regional convention I noticed that no one was present from one of the Tema churches. At the same time, two oftheir former members who now
live in Accra and are in Abeka Christian Church,
In June, our team visited-aa,Bwe. tillage abouttwohours away. We worshipped with them and then loaded the truck with 80 sleeping mats that we had
ordered earlier in preparation for the July leadership retreat. It's a good thing we covered it very well with a heavy tarp because most ofthe trip home we drove through heavy rain. Kwame was very tired
when we got home.
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Knoxville, TN 37920-0111
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Dorothy Eunson
Box 5722
Accra N.Gbana
West Africa
Volume 8, Issue 13
October, 2003
Ghana Christian College is now functioning on its new campus in a new school year with ano&er new stafmember, has registered a new name, and is beginning to plan a new school altogether! Stay
tuned!
TBDEMOVE
Cara Snyder and Richard Hostetter; the college founder, Jerry Gibson; and, representing supporting churches, Ron and Kaysia Key from Valley View Christian Church in Dallas, TX and Vauglm
Williams from First Christian Church of Orlando,
With the help ofthe Lord, we did it! The school has actually moved, the campus inaugurated, and the new school year and new Master's program begun. Halleluiah!
Moving from the old campus to the new one was strenuous for everyone. Seeing that our more than 5500 books were moved was my main responsibility. A visit to a local box factory to purchase 91 boxes to supplement the few we had already collected saved the day. A visiting youth group fifom the U. S. did most ofthe packing according to a careful plan on July 21, and the boxes were ferried to the new campus via pickup trucks. The new librarian and some students began the unpackingon the other end and the visiting youth assisted on the second day. Many more hours were spent on subsequent days to get everything in perfect order.
Florida. The tired missionaries and their guests celebrated in the evening with carry-in fiied chicken and pizza in the library. We broke the rule of 'No food in the library' before school even started.
NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Three days later on August 12, classes began for both undergraduate and graduate classes. At the very beginning there were no proper desks, but some folding chairs and some picnic tables destined
for the cafeteria served until some desks could be
dormitory is badly needed. At least the classrooms are fi:esh, clean and beautifully painted, and the students can go to the library anytime they have a free period since it no longer doubles as a
classroom.
The hiring of a fulltime library clerk also makes the library more accessible.
The cafeteria was ready for use by the end of September, giving students a place to relax, eat, and cook if they so choose. Vendors brought cooked food to sell in a temporary shelter and will continue
to sell in the new structure.
Major items offurniture, equipment, and many boxes ofdocumentswere moved by a large truck on July 28. Much ofthis was first placed inside the new library till it could be moved to more appropriate places. Since the campus is still unfinished, we are very short of indoor storage space. Most ofthe textbooks, student council belongings, and office documents have to be stored in the library storeroom. The August short term course still took place on the old campus, so some
tables, chairs and the old beds were left behind.
GRADUATION/INAUGURATION
A new well was dug just before school began. Although the pump and storage tank have yet to be installed, the well is capable of producing more water than the previous three wells combined. This is a tremendous blessing for which we praise the living God.
GHANA CHRISTIE UNIVERSITY
With a lot ofhard work, things were cleaned up and in order for graduation day and the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the fiont ofthe library/administration building on August 9. Rented canopies, chaursand platform took care ofthe college personnel, graduates, students and about a thousand guests. The Minister ofAgriculture made a speech and cut
the ribbon. Dr. Manfred Kohl from Overseas
Council International made the keynote address. Other special guests were former faculty members
Some of you may already have heard about the change ofthe institution's name. The new name, Ghana Christian University, was registered several months ago, but I waited until it was published in an ofKcial government paper. The change is part of the preparation to develop a new schoolthe School of Community Development. At the end of September a conference was held with representation from many development
organizationsto suggest the content ofth6 curriculum needed to train middle management personnel for their organizations. The whole program will be done from the Christianviewpoint. It will take severalyears to get curriculum, facilities and staff in place, but it is a bright star in the future. The college/university is now required to obtain a Presidential charter to continue to grant degrees in our own name as we have for over thirty years. A general evaluationteam has already visited, and a library expert has visited. Two more teams have yet
to come, and the first team asked us to please suspend the use of the name University until the charter is granted. So our signboard is temporarily
boarded over! FURLOUGH PLANS
PRAYER POWER
Thank God for: the completed move to the new campus and an on-schedule opening ofthe new school year; the installation ofthe satellite dish and the setup of four ofthe fifteen reconditioned computers so far for Internet Access for the Master's degree students (the undergrads must wait till Ihey have an introductory course in January); for Dr. David Enyart*s success^ visit from Johnson
BibleCollege to teachthe inaugural courise for the Master's students; for the prolific new well; for the use ofa Honda Civic for my furlough travels; for
Vaughn Williams' happy visit to Ghana since he is an Afiica Mission Evangelism Board member; for a successful first year ofthe International School of Youth Ministry and a youth conference in Ghana partially planned and mentored by Christ in Youth (700 attended the conference); for my safe flights
home.
I landed in the U. S. on September 13 and will be in Orlando, Florida from October through March
2004. After that I will visit churches and
Dorothy Eunsoi^
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Knoxville.TN 37920-0111
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It has been a pleasure to begin the process ofreporting to supporting churches and renewing friendships within the congregations. So far I have visited eight congregations and four smaller groups within the churches. The making of new friends is also important to the continuing partnership between the churches and the mission. My living link church of First Christian Church of Orlando completed the "40 Days of Purpose" program in the weeks before Thanksgiving. Being in a small group was very helpfiil in getting to Imow six ofthe new members and was spiritually refreshing.
Furlough is the time many ofus have physical exams and eye and dental exams. Most ofthe medical stuffhas now been taken care of, and I have new eyeglasses. Only visits to the dentist remain. I am in good shape physically except for osteoporosisa. family trait^and I am on medication for that.
National Missionary Convention
Many hours of work and some help from the church secretary produced a new display board and an up-to-date brochure in time for the National Missionary Convention m Cincinnati in later November. It was a wonderful convention with record-breaking attendances, exhibits, and commitments to missionary service since the last convention. My part was to serve on a panel considering "The Pros and Cons of Educating National Church Leaders in the U. S." Our own college in Ghana is a reflection ofour philosophy that it is better to educate them in their own country or region except for a select few who would benefit fix)m higher degrees. Actually, all ofthe panel members were pretty much in agreement. Mrs. Barbara Barkes, our Gray, TN forwarding agent, was with me at the
convention most of the time.
The September conference to collect ideas and suggestions from many organizations for the proposed School of Community Development was attended by about 50 enthusiastic participants. After that, the Academic Affairs Committee worked long and hard to come up with names ofcourses to be included. Now they are woridng on course descriptions.
The regular programs will have completed first semester before Christmas. One week there were power outages every day except Saturday and one day the outage lasted ten hours.
Praver power
Praise God for: safe travel to Florida and aroimd the state; an excellent Missionary Convention; a successful semester in the college in Ghana; good health reports; the gift of a new laptop computer. Petition God for: continued safety in travel; funds for new campus construction; safe flights to and from Pennsylvania for Christmas; a productive visit in December to the college by Dr. Mike Flannery, a librarian at the University of Alabama. In Christ's love, Dorothy Eunson at GCC/S