"Annual Report from Abetifi for 1880"

Reporting on the personnel on the station, the little Ramseyer child died in June, Dilger arrived in January. Mid-August Sakyi the catechist was moved to Begoro - he had himself asked for a transfer. In his place came Phillip Kwabi. Commenting on the change Ramseyer writes that Sakyi, despite their advice, always left something to be desired in his work. Kwabi is not as gifted as he was, but he has a desire to do his work, and a love for it. He has not got involved with other activities. His friendly way of doing things has made him many friends. The community has increased by 17 to 41. 13 people were newly baptised in Feb 1880, and only one has lapsed - an Asante who had to be excluded from the school because of disobedient and improper conducts. There were 10 more baptisms on Christmas. 3 'young people' and one woman are from Mpraeso (the woman is the wife of the elder of the community). The youths from Mpraeso are living on the mission station - two more underwent a long course of instruction, but discontinued it for no specific reason. Others among this group of baptisms were a house-boy of Dilger's, and a servant-girl of the Ramseyers, who been with them 3 years, and had given them much joy with her quiet character. She had persisted against considerable family opposition - unfortunately since her baptism her mother has died and she has had to go back to her house to help her sister look after the children. (Her Christian name is Salome).Another is Martin Dako from Pepiase - an ex fetish-carrier who was earmarked as his uncle's successor as fetish priest, but gave up his connection with the fetish despite family protests when he discovered his younger brother was trying to poison him. There were also 3 boys from the boarding school, whom Ramseyer had kept back from being baptised earlier. Two of the young men in the community had to be excluded in the early months of the year for following the flesh. They have appeared penitent and attended services regularly, but Ramseyer is afraid that their enforced stay in the town will have not helped them to live up to Christian standards. During the year they lost their first member of the community through death - Isaak Tieko. His hometown was Agogo in Asante Akim, but he was a pawn of a man in Kwahu. He died suddenly with a high fever and abdominal pains. Although reserved in his speech his quiet character and childlike faith caused the missionaries great joy. In the community here and there small steps of progress are to be seen. 'One point on which I lay especial emphasis is that our Christians should be always busy’. Like most of the Africans here they are not used to persistent work, and like to spend two or three days in each week laying around. At first they cannot understand what the object of it all is, but after a while they see that the object is to help their growth in grace. 3 of the Christians have houses on mission land now, the rest want to, but their heathen wives will not let them. Preaching journeys have been many - most of the towns and villages of Kwahu have been visited several times. There is evidence that this is having its effect – already they have baptised people from Mpraeso and Pepease, and a man from Aduamoa has been attending Sunday Services regularly. And when in Obo they heard that Mpraeso was to have a resident catechist, they petitioned for a teacher. Obo with its 5-6000 inhabitants would make a fine field for mission work in itself. He gives finally the latest political news from Kwahu. At the time of writing the report he was in Aburi having been advised to bring his wife to say there by the Governor. Dilger was waiting in Begoro to see what would happen. But they have just heard that a meeting of the Kwahu chiefs has decided to remain independent of Asante, and had sent 3 messengers to the Governor to inform him that rumours to the contrary were false.

05.02.1881

05.02.1881

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