In This Issue

Welcome! The focus is on developments in Ghana... read on!

From the directors’ desk

• Real progress is being made at Kotei. Initial interactions with the villagers have helped to lay the foundations for strong relationships, resulting in support and acceptance. In particular the village Chief, presently a “sub-chief” will be promoted to “full-chief” status in November. He is working hard with us and leading by example.
  
  We are so excited about how the Lord has been transforming lives. mat-to-fore is already employing a caretaker, casual workers, and a general assistant/driver. As the workload grows an administrator is needed. A young man who has just completed a degree in Settlement Studies (including administration) must take a year’s national service, which could be with us.
  
  An inspiring story. We met a boy called Elijah, 5 years old, mute and physically disabled, he is always found playing with the animals in the yard and before we came to Kotei, he could neither sit nor crawl. Now, Elijah can sit and is able to hold onto any object and stand!!! He can communicate with his eyes and make sounds to get his message across. The road to recovery has begun but he needs medical attention and an education. We trust this will be provided through a medical project and Child Sponsorship Programme (details below).
  
  In March-April 2008 (exact dates to follow) the official inauguration of mat-to-fore will take place with local dignitaries, MP’s and church members invited. A group from the UK will also be present to represent our supporters on this auspicious occasion.
  
  A BIG THANKS to our honourable trustees for their hard work, loyalty and dedication. To the team of volunteers who came this summer and in 2006 and to all our supporters without whose input we could not have come this far. God richly bless you all. We thank you all for your hard work, time and financial input. We send you lots of love and extend our appreciation. Osei and Florence.
  
  

Village life

• Water – the villagers have taken responsibility for the first well, which is for day-to-day use. People from other villages have started using it! There may be a need to charge a token fee for its upkeep (a common procedure). A second well is supplying much needed water for building work.
• Food – the farm continues to produce crops, some of which are being sold and the proceeds put back into current projects.
• Toilet – Osei and Florence have agreed to give some cement to the village so they can upgrade their facilities – at present they have only a pit version.
• Building - through communal labour the building is now a skeleton structure that will boast a pre-school, nursery/crèche and storeroom. It can also be used as a hall for church meetings. A roof is needed and weather permitting, this single storey building will be complete in November! At present there is no toilet, kitchen or water going into the building. The option of an extension is being considered. An engineer has kindly offered to inspect the structure FREE of charge.
• Education - contact with the District Education Office has yielded positive results; a teacher will be posted to the village for the next school year. In the meantime, a search has begun for someone to stand in the gap until that time. Osei will be doing some preliminary work for a “Peer Tutoring System”, whereby some children are trained to pass on what they are learning to other children and so increase the availability of knowledge. He will be assessing children and choosing tutors for a pilot scheme in April 2008.
• Child Sponsorship Programme - Osei and Florence have taken in 2 children, aged 15 and 10, whose mothers died. They have both been deprived of motherly care, attention and have little formal education. They now have a sponsor as does another child, Emmanuel, an intelligent boy from the village who can achieve much if given a little push.
• Sponsorship covers needs for education e.g. books, uniform, teaching, resources and so on at the cost of around £25 per month. Of the 60 children in Kotei, half qualify for pre-school/primary education. The challenge is to find 30 sponsors so that each one is given the same opportunities... are you able to commit to this?
• Well-being - a house-to-house visitation by Osei and Florence has been completed. This has shed light on people’s needs, some of which are spiritual, financial, physical and emotional. In response to this some support has come from the local hospital and been provided at home…yielding good results. However, basic health and education is still needed, the only medical attention the villagers receive is from the World Health Organisation, who carry out one visit each year to give statutory jabs. A midwife will make a visit after the birth of a baby.

Visitors

• Summer 2007 – a total of 20 people in all, the largest group to date. This resource has helped move projects forward faster than expected and the vision is growing!
• October 2007 - Patron Rev. Dr Kate Coleman made the most recent visit. She toured the village and talked with local people. It became apparent that a hostel is needed to offer accommodation so that future visitors can be close by and more hands on. Not only is this a more cost effective option but the monies can be ploughed back into mat-to-fore’s projects.
  
  Kate Hutton, a Social Health Worker with the NHS in the UK has arrived in the last week to lead the basic health education. Her mother, Penny, an accountant, will help Osei to set up systems for accounts and record keeping, which can then be emailed direct to Jon, the treasurer. She will also be engaged in some preliminary teaching.
• April 2008 – a team of 10 to 15 from The Regeneration Centre in Birmingham will travel to Kotei. The party will include 4 teachers one of whom has training in special needs.
• Summer 2008 – another trip by the young people at Streatham Baptist Church is planned.
  
  A short guide for visitors is being developed and will be made available early next year.

Prayer

• That the Lord grants wisdom in decision-making and that miracles would be witnessed as the love and power of God is demonstrated amongst the people of Kotei.
• Osei and Florence: health check and healing. Material needs: they have no regular source of income. A computer, so that they can set up practical systems and be in communication.
• Clarity on the strategic focus and implementation. Connections with like minded people and access to resources for future growth, expansion and impact.
  
  

In the next newsletter…

• An update on Charity registration (UK), strategic focus for the next 2/3 years, trustees roles and responsibilities.
• Do you have any news, comments or questions? Email info@mattofore.org or post to Mat to Fore, BM 4204 London, WC1N 3XX.

Blessings to you all...