"Report for the Year 1886, Written by David Asante"

In the course of the year Asante himself made preaching journeys (beyond the circle of villages around Anumm/Boso/Akwamu) on 18 days, visiting Tschatei, Kayera, Abofrom, 2 Tschokoi villages, 2 Botoku villages, 2 Tutunyan villages, 5 Anvoe villages, 5 Atawuranu villages, 5 Tschome villages, 1 Avatei village, and 8 Awutschita villages. His catechists and teachers together travelled for 110 days. Numbers in the various communities moved as follows: Anum (where he reports 13 houses in the Salem): 3 baptisms of heathen children (father already a Christian), 5 children were born to Christians (of whom 2 died) 8 Christians moved to the town - but one person moved awey, and another was excluded. An increase over the year therefore of 12. Boso: 5 adult heathens baptised, and 3 heathen children, 10 children born to Christian parents. 3 died, 1 was excluded, and 18 moved away from the town - overall therefore there was a decrease of 3 people, and the school numbers decreased too from 24 to 19, though this was because 4 boys went on to Akropong, and one ran away. In Bose they have completed a 4 room swish and shingles house for their catechist. Kpalime: 30 adult heathen were baptised, and 34 heathen children; 2 children were born to Christians, and 3 Christians moved to that town. 1 of the newly-baptised died - the Kpalime community now consists of 76, and they have begun to build themselves a Christian village. The number of pupils in the school has risen from 12 to 20. They have set to work on a chapel also. There is little information on the pastoral situation. Asante writes only in these terms about Anum (except to say that the chief who had troubled the Christians in Boso had died in November). What he writes about Anum is mostly in general terms — though he does mention catechumens being in period of preparatory instruction before the baptismal instruction proper begins. They are learning to say the Lord's Prayer, the Creed and the 10 Commandments.

20.01.1887

20.01.1887

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