Harley, Jayne

Comments by Sandra Collins The Harleys modeled self-sacrifice and

compassion all their lives. Randall was a professor at Peabody who taught people how to teach the blind. Jayne was one of his students and became a teacher at the School for the Blind in Donelson. He never lost his desire to be among and to teach African-American children and adults, whether in Africa on multiple trips or in Nashville’s Inner City ministry, where he tutored, attended worship, and volunteered at camp year after year. His compassion for others only deepened. Every year after Jayne died, he would call us to ask about a list of charitable groups who had sent him letters. He wanted advice on which ones he should donate to. The list was very long. Jayne was his loyal partner in works of compassion as you see in this essay she wrote for the Otter Creek bulletin.

From an article by Jayne Harley in the Otter Creek bulletin, August 20, 2000

Mission Trip to Ghana

Randall and I spent two weeks attempting to share the gospel of Christ in Elmina, Ghana, West Africa with a team of five other Americans organized by Jim Corner of the World Bible School. Otter Creek has sent teaching materials and Bibles from WBS to the Elmina church.

Our introduction to the people of Ghana began on the airplane ride from Zurich to Accra, the capital city of Ghana. A fellow passenger born in Ghana, now an American citizen, shared information about the country and about how to exchange currency, plus friendly conversation to help pass the long hours of a tiring airplane trip. She made sure we had someone to meet us and called later to offer assistance. Her kind, gracious manner was typical of the Ghanaian people we met.

Our work began the first morning we were in Elmina. Frank Hotorwoshie, the local preacher that Otter Creek has helped to support, had scheduled a group of prospects and arranged for them to be transported to our hotel. We taught each person with an interpreter. Several male members of the Elmina church who could speak English volunteered to interpret for the American team. We also went into a few surrounding villages where Frank had arranged with a local preacher in each village to schedule people for us to teach. They were also responsive! From the group of people Randall and I taught thirty-five people were baptized. The American team taught 582 people, mostly small groups or one-on-one, of whom 228 were baptized. Many of the converts were baptized in the Atlantic Ocean. We were within view of the Atlantic most of the time.

Randall went to a local prison the two Sundays we were there with Frank. Frank preaches each Sunday afternoon to the men in this prison. A large group of men were baptized. Each man was given a bar of soap. Frank also attempted to gather a change of clothes for some of the men who only had the worn out clothes on their backs.

My busiest day was the second Saturday we were there. A women’s Lectureship was scheduled. Women from the Elmina and surrounding churches attended. About eight-five women sat in a very crowded, hot public school

classroom, some with babies on their backs, from about 9:30 am to 2 pm. Their children who could walk were outside with a small group of adult women caretakers. I had been requested to present two lessons, each followed by a lengthy question and answer session. Their questions reflected they were really attentive listeners. I was humbled by the level of attention and respect they gave. Most of the women I taught could not read, so oral teaching is especially needed for their spiritual development.

The last Sunday we were there was an exciting day. A new church building was dedicated. Part of the money for construction had been given by a church in Texas. The building was filled and a group sat outside. A loud speaker that OC had supplied was put to good use.

We visited the sites for the dyeing of cloth that Carolyn Maddux, Carolyn Rogers, and I sold at OC. A lot of work goes into each piece of cloth! We also visited a Polytechnic Institute that teaches recruits and produces a variety of machines. Frank has requested that OC fund a pilot program of training men to produce a grinder machine to sell in Ghana.

We were blessed by working with the Christians in Ghana. Although they don’t have many of the things we take for granted such as indoor plumbing and electricity, they were receptive and generous with their time and talents. Americans who can survive for a while without all of our material comforts have a wonderful chance to open the doors of other cultures, share our faith in Christ, and experience the rich diversity of people in this world. I think that is so much more fascinating than viewing the many buildings and monuments that men have created. I strongly urge more Christians to see how most people in this world live. It will change your life.