Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Well, several folks have reminded us that our newsletter is a bit late. Please forgive us, as we have been consumed in attempting to establish a ministry here as well as maintaining our household. We continue to learn that progress happens slowly in Africa and activities that evolve in days or weeks in the United States require much more time here. This is especially true in the formation of relationships with people. We have learned that making friends in Ghana is a very difficult task and not one to be taken lightly. However, God has blessed the family with health and lots of time together.

The last academic year was a tremendous success for the children as they thoroughly enjoy the academic challenges of Ghana International School. They are passionately known as "the Americans" amongst the international students. Brandon, form 3 (or grade 9), is preparing for the IGCSE curriculum that adheres to the British educational system. Thus, we are conducting "career planning" conversations with Brandon as he readies himself for the entrance exams into the heavier academic courses. Marcus, form 1 (or grade 7), is blazing the trail this year as class representative and honor roll student. His telephone usage has increased in proportion to the difficulty of his secondary school homework assignments as he and his friends discuss what the teacher "really said," nightly. Justine, class 4, is holding her own as she is heavily involved in the drama club and tells us that she is one of two lower-grade students allowed to have a major roll in the upcoming spring play. She is the Social Studies Prefect and ensures that the class is decent and orderly at all times! Gar is attempting to organize a youth track club, as Accra lacks organized amateur sports for children. Justine is an aspiring sprinter who handily beats the boys in class 6 during afternoon games!

Last spring Wendy was appointed Young Adult Volunteer Site Coordinator for Ghana. In this capacity she will be responsible for supervising the activities of at least four young adult volunteers who will serve various ministries within Ghana for the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). This is a very exciting position, and the PCG is equally excited about hosting young, dedicated missionaries. A current goal for Wendy is to establish the program with the PCG and at a later date increase the number of potential host organizations. Wendy has been extremely busy planning, negotiating with potential hosts, traveling to the United States and the United Kingdom for coordinator meetings, and attempting to maintain a relationship with the Northern Outreach Program Women’s Vocational Centre. The women at the center have made tremendous progress, as the current class of apprentices graduated on 25 November 2000 and the sale of batiks have increased.

As a result of our contact with the women at the Vocational Centre, we were blessed to participate in a new ministry targeted to the market "kayayoo" girls. The girls, 8 to 18, at the market have migrated from northern Ghana in search of employment, generally because their families cannot afford to care for them. The word "kayayoo" comes from the Hausa word "kaya" meaning "load," as the girls are hired by market customers to carry groceries on their heads in the hot sun. This particular ministry meets in the evening, about 8 p.m., after the girls have showered and eaten, to teach Buli (their native language) as well as the Bible. Most of the girls are illiterate and their situation is difficult as a result of the economic and physical exploitation they encounter. For example, 35 girls live in a ten-by-ten-foot room that has neither windows nor a screen door for ventilation. The rent for the room, which is paid nightly, is 35 times the normal price for such quarters, since the girls cannot pay the standard three-years rent in advance. Thus, the landlord earns in one night one month’s rent from the girls. Additionally, their security is non-existent because the door to the rented room cannot be closed for want of oxygen; thus, the older boys rape the girls with frequency. Lastly, the sessions begin late because the queue for the common shower where the girls bathe is approximately 80 girls deep. These are terrible conditions, however, the girls come to the Bible and language sessions with an enthusiasm that is contagious and with a sense of humor that truly reveals their stolen youth. We are attempting to remain active with this ministry, but it has been somewhat difficult, as a communication issue challenges us with the leaders of the ministry and cultural boundaries limit our engagement with the girls.

Gar continues to participate, when his schedule allows, in the life of the Accra Ridge Church where he occasionally teaches the Bible exposition class. He also attends and participates in the activities of the Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Centre for Missions Research. Earlier this year, Gar attended a consultation for reaching the unreached peoples in Francophone Africa. There were evangelists and missionaries from several countries that were working to develop strategies and alliances to carry the gospel to the many language- and people-groups that have not yet heard the good news of Jesus Christ. At this conference, Gar really felt like a missionary, as he was in the presence of so many committed Christian laborers who were focused on carrying out the Great Commission in the 21st century. The Presbyterian Committee for the Self Development of People has sent Gar throughout Ghana and Togo to conduct interviews of groups applying for grants to start community-based businesses aimed at alleviating poverty. This has proven to be quite an experience, as communities are attempting to generate income through sustainable business ventures that will allow their members to have access to some of the necessities that we Americans take for
granted—school fees for children, food, clean water, etc. Around Accra, Gar is on the Financial Advisory Committee of the Board of Directors for the Ghana International School.

Merry Christmas.

Yours in Christ,

The Kelley Family

The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 33