Pastor Reinke and Dacia are traveling and conducting Deaf training.   They headed to Texas on 4 February and will also be in the Phoenix area for 3 weeks before returning to St Charles. 
Pray for success and safe travels.

Pastor Reinke texted that they spent most of the day today at the hospital helping to get things done for Rev. Amos before leaving tomorrow for home.  We compared the 100 degree temperature there with the 7 degree temperature in St Charles/St Peters.  
Pastor texted that they were waiting for "one more thing" and then they could leave the Seminary and head to Accra overnight so that they could catch an early morning flight to start the journey home. 

Two hours later the ASL-2 class at Lutheran High School was able to video call with Pastor as the entire group was leaving for Accra.  Pastor narrated as the van with ?? 22 people weaved in and out of local traffic.  It was quite a phone call and the LHS kids LOVED it.  

Pastor told the kids that he would see them in class on Monday.  We sure hope so. 

Thank God for this very wonderful and fruitful outreach trip!!
Please also pray for Rev Amos and for safe travel home for everyone who participated in the training this year

We have been training and teaching and studying and WOW!!  The deaf are asking questions and questions and questions and questions!!!!
 
It was a sadly joyous day for us at Accra, Ghana where we have been meeting at Concordia Theological Lutheran Seminary to train deaf students for work in the field of harvesting souls that Jesus has won. We were sad to say goodbye but happy to have the opportunity to share in God’s abundant word. The life saving Gospel is always worth meeting and discussing.
 
The deaf did many memory verses. I was astonished at some of their Signing of long and hard verses to remember! Who says the deaf can’t memorize? Wow! It was great to see. The deaf of Liberia and Ghana did heaps of homework and well on tests. Many of them struggled but were happy and joyous at the end to have learned.
 
All the deaf want to go back home and tell other deaf the Good News that Jesus has died on the cross and has come back to a glorious life that we might die to sin and become born from above! Many deaf wanting to lead, teach, and tell everything about Jesus and his wonderful love. One of the goals is to have the deaf come from all over Africa and meet to train and equip themselves for the Lord’s call to ministry. The deaf Lutherans are working on it! I can vow to it! Praise God! Goodbye everyone see you next year and for God’s glory! Amen!

Last Day of Training for this year's visit
and prayers for Rev Amos 

Today is the last full day of training for this trip.  Visits and necessary meetings tomorrow and starting home on Friday.  
We received word today that Rev Amos is still struggling.  

Prayer Warriors!
Please join in prayer for Rev Amos Bolay, Trainer of Pastors at Evangelica Lutheran Church of Liberia.
He accompanied the deaf leaders of the Lutheran Church in Liberia to training with Rev John Reinke and Rev Bud Palmer in Ghana.
He has been ill since his arrival. Medical professionals are now asking for blood donors for him.  
​
Below is a picture of Rev Amos in the local hospital 

This is how the meal is prepared 

​Saturday January 4th was another happy Ghanian day! It was cool 97 degrees or so with a good amount of humidity. We had hot Oatmeal for breakfast, spaghetti and fish for Lunch. The sweat I have achieved here is phenomenal.  We worked on Zoom again and our WLGA’s of course then more fish dinner.
 
We did some “word” Signing sessions also; how they Sign here and how Americans Sign it. They Sign “insult” much different from us. They Sign it one handed and looks like texting someone. They Sign “decide” like we would Sign “disease.” You gotta “decide” or you got a “disease.” Hmm!
 
We ended the day by going and buying minerals, Maltas, Fanta Orange, and a Vitamin B drink. There were 31 of us 26 adults and 5 kids. We did mostly Christmas songs and Sign Memory verses. It was a blast. Then we literally walked what seemed like the borders of Ghana. I carried an umbrella to protect from the Sun. I was so happy to get back. It was sweltering in the Sun. Whew! Update you soon!
 
Osofo Bud (Paul Hammer) Palmer & Osofo John Reinke
 

Today in Ghana, we worked on technology - making sure the deaf from Liberia and Ghana could do Zoom Calls to the USA. It went good considering the deaf don’t have make experience with computer laptops. However, they all have phones with credit chips for minutes. So, using their everyday mobile phones has helped them prepare for the laptop experience.
 
The Deaf ladies wanted make shirts for us.  We gave the deaf ladies money to make us shirts from scratch (beginning with cloth only). This is a normal practice and helps keep the deaf women in business.
 
We watched the Jesus Signing Movie again from Amazon. I think the deaf learned some new things. We stopped the tape this time and gave a fuller explanation of what was going on in the movie.
 
We did more on the WLGA stories; tax collector and pharisees, Jesus feeding the 5,000, tax collector and the pharisee going to the temple. We have been forcing them to memorize Bible verses like Genesis 3:15, Matthew 28:18-20, John 3:16. They do a really good job. I love JB the wife of Diamond. She is a hute! She struggles but when she gets it she is just so happy. She make ya laugh at her success and joy.
 
Osofo Bud (Paul Hammer) Palmer & Osofo John Reinke

We thank God for internet access!!
 
Our Deaf are FANTASTIC!!  They are working and doing a great job.  They continue studying all the time and into the night.  They are very eager to learn and ask MANY questions!
 
ZZ and D-queen both deaf young women asked so many questions today. I felt like I went through the whole Bible with them. It was great! They ask about heaven. Where did angels come from and how did they become evil. We worked on many WLGA’s (What is the story, Law, Gospel, and Applying the story to today) stories; David and Goliath, The unforgiving servant, the book of Hosea, Genesis 3:5, on and on.
 
We miss our deaf back in the US too! We called Vicar Johnny S the deaf here miss him. It was wonderful to see all the faces light up as we did video back and forth. We even have one or two deaf mothers with us holding babies and studying God’s Word. It is kinda crazy if you think about it. In the USA we would have daycare and whatnot. It is much tougher here but the mothers don’t seem to mind and continue to learn about their Lord and Savior!
 
We thank God for the online access with ABC Deaf materials
After many years struggling to find a way to teach, this is working GREAT!  Please pray for God to continue opening this online training!
 
Someone asked and Yes, we do pay for food and transportation for the Deaf while we are here.  The Deaf are all worker priest – they do all of the ministry with very little support.  Our goal is to cover all the costs of the training and their time with us. 
 
We want to clarify we met Osufo Daniel Kofi Arkoh, a Pastor of the ELCG (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana).  We put our foot in our mouth. Sometimes we do not understand cultures fully.  So, we apologize to everyone who we might have been offended, especially, Osufo Donkoh the President of ELCG. We know and love him as our brother in Christ! We see him in person while we are here!
 
Good news, Rev Amos from Liberia is doing much better!!  Thank God!  All of the people we work with here are very supportive and want the Deaf to learn and grow in faith and ministry. 
 
We thank God for all of your prayers and support!! 
 
Osofu Bud (Paul Hammer) Palmer & Osofu John Reinke

Welcome to a new year! Hard to imagine being in such a different place than Ghana, Africa. They celebrate the new year like everybody else just a little bit less extravagant. The Ghanaians dancing and singing are a tad bit louder with the drums and all, but fun was had by all.
 
Today we taught the deaf about the names of God, Elohim, Adonai, and YHWH. We also taught about the Angel of the Lord which often means God, himself.  We used the ABC Deaf materials for the leaders to study and practice sharing the Bible Stories.  Plus WLGA practice for preparing the stories.  Osufu (Pastor) Reinke showed a movie from Amazon about Jesus where all the actors used Sigh Language. It was awesome, hardly a dry eye in the place. One of the deaf girls, Jessica, caught me crying and Signed are you wiping. I couldn’t deny it! Ugh! I guess pastor have hearts too! The deaf loved the movie. The wanted more Jesus movies but it was time to hit the hay.
 
We teach from 8 AM until we drop somewhere in the night or until the deaf are too pooped to go on. One guy said tonight. I can’t think anymore, maybe I will be better in the morning. Made me laugh!  Ya know Reinke is a crazy man like the Energizer Pink Bunny!
 
Rev. Amos the head pastor from Liberia is suffering with a very puffy foot and ankle please pray for him. We are thinking about flying him home but might cost $500 to $600. We are such a tight budget. I hope we can make it. Pastor Reinke has a lot of pressures. He is the “Shell Answer Man.” Every unsolvable problem comes his way. Somehow, must be the Lord’s help, he manages to come up with good answer! I am glad is not me! I do the best I can to help him but doesn’t seem like much. The Rev. Dr. always to have that silly smile on his face tooling along without a care in the world. Praise God for all He has done here. I sure hope the deaf take over. I pray God give them fortitude and strength. Please keep praying for us, the deaf, the hearing, and Rev. Amos!
 
Osofu Bud (Paul Hammer) Palmer & Osofu John Reinke

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