Akwaba. Greetings from cloudy, breezy and pleasant Ghana. You may be tired of hearing this but any day in Africa that you can start with water pressure and hot water is good.

Breakfast has changed. This morning there were tomatoes in my omelet or scrambled egg. Traffic was back after the holiday but it only took 33 minutesto get to the seminary. Once more the streets were full of people and all the shops were open.

My day went well although two students are still not here. The one is to get here tonight, but the other is still with his hospitalized wife. Please keep Charles Dickens and his wife in your prayers. We are not clear what she is hospitalized for. Some in the class are making tremendous progress in their fourth year. They are hungry to learn and eager to ask questions.

My technological challenges remain. The mic on the donated lap top is not working properly. I looked on line last night and I may have found the problem. I will have to look more tonight but it seems that the original Vista mic program may be incompatible with Windows 7. I skyped Darcy and Daniel last night but could not talk. I could hear and see them but not talk. They were referring to me as the Mute. They talked and I typed messages. Gordon laughed about me being The Mute.

As you can tell I am home earlier. (It is now only 5:45 or 12:45 in Milwaukee.) The traffic was not too bad and Gordon had to go to Tema for meetings and prepare for the funeral. He dropped me off here for tonight and I will have chicken and chips. I long for the good Ghanaian food I ate the first two years before the cooks left or became sick.

Tonight I will spend some time writing out the evaluations of the class presentations from the notes I have made in class. If I can do most before I go that would be best.

On Sunday I am being trusted to preach at St Paul's. I say trusted because I will be expected to mention the thanksgiving we have for the man who died. Sunday will be the celebration service when the whole family comes to church and gives thanks to God for the life of this man. It is the third and final day. Friday night is the vigil for the family when they sit around the casket mourning. There will be a service for the family of about one hour. It is not a public visitation like we expect. Saturday is the service and trip out to the place of burial. I will be at church at 8 and by the time the burial is over it will be late afternoon I am told. The text is Matthew 14:13-21, the feeding of the 5,000, which will provide a wonderful opportunity to preach the Gospel. I will be sharing details of the funeral events with you this weekend.

Tonight I would usually be in church and I think of all of you who will gather at the altar tonight. May our Lord bless and keep you from all harm.

Pastor