Forwarding Secretary

Clarence A. Bangs
Box 41
Henry, Illinois 61557
NICHOLS NEWSLETTER
Edgar & Mabel Nichols
P. 0. Box 1977
Kumasi, Ghana
West Africa
In September Edgar began teaching two classes at Ghana Christian College.
The subjects are Church History and Pauline Epistles. This has proven to
be an enjoyable experience, though it means flying to Accra Tuesday
morning and back on Friday. That was up until a recent change in schedule
made the first flight reach Accra too late. That means leaving Monday
morning or taking the "fast car" Tuesday morning. The "fast car" is
supposed to travel the 175 miles from here to Accra in four hours, while
it takes the rest of us at least five hours. The roads are often washed
out by rains and there are no road repair crews for quick repair.
AFRICAN SERVICES
We continue to hold services in the garage. Benjamin Mintah preaches
and David Boakye interprets in the local dialect. Most of the congrega
tion is made up of young men and boys. One would think that this would
draw in the girls, but here it doesn*t seem too. They all love to sing.
The neighbor children come to Join in and they Just beam all over as they
sing the melodic songs in their own language. Songs are accompanied by
Benjamin on a small accordian and castanets and clapping. The evening
youth service is conducted more "American style". After the lesson the
young people are given a chance to ask questions. Hands go up all over.
Some of the boys from Catholic backgrounds are searching. Here are some
of the questions asked: "If you are baptized in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit even as a baby, won't that save you?"
Benjamin explained that well and must have gotten his point across as the
next question was. "If you have been baptized as a baby, who is to blame?"
There was good discussion over this one. Another asked, "When you pray
and pray and your prayer isn't answered, why? and how long should you keep
praying?" The question that Just about stumped the preacher was, "Satan
causes so much sin and wickedness in the^worId, why doesn't God get rid _ .
of him?" Discussion on that subject was continued until the next week.
Wouldn't you love to teach an eager group of boys like this?
THE CLINIC
The clinic at Afrancho is going well now and averages 40+ patients a
day. We had to dismiss our head nurse for un-Christian behavior, but
were able to obtain another. Dr. Heman, the Ghanian who supervises the
work at the clinic, is hoping for the time when we can have a TJ. S. doctor
and Christian Hospital for these needy, hard working people. The clinic
is able to take care of most of the expenses now but we still must supply
the salaries of the workers.
ADDED FINANCES NEEDED
We have had many financial trials these last eight months, as our
(Continued on the Back)
support dropped to a third of what we need. Here is a list our monthly
needs:
Clinic expenses S500
Farm expenses $ 45
Namponga and Kumasi
Church expenses $ 70
Truck payments #105
Living Expenses- #275
Travel $ 40
ms
Actually, this will just barely get us by. To operate smoothly, we
should be receiving at least #1,000 a month. Will you take this challenge
and help us?
VISIT OF DAUGHTER
The biggest thrill we have had in many months came when we saw our
daughter, Dorothy, alighting from the Pan Am jet at the Accra Airport on
the 15th of November. Of course, we had been anticipating this event for
some months and the two weeks she will spend here will pass all too
quickly. She is on her way to Johannesburg to take care of her nieces,
daughters of Robert and Phyllis Mills. The Mills will soon leave for a
short furlough in the U. S. and we will be anticipating a visit from them
as they stop by on their way home.
The problems between the G.C.C. professors and the Universal Christian
Churches are not as yet settled but the work continues. Please pray about
this that the Lord's will might be done. Pray that God will give us
strength and wisdom to carry on as long as we are needed.
Yours in His Service,
Edgar & Mabel Nichols