Erma Grove Dormitory Completed!

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University Mennonite Church (UMC) and Maple Grove Mennonite Church, in Belleville, are jointly supporting a project to complete the Erma Grove female dormitory at the seminary. University Mennonite has contributed more than $21,000 towards the project. The dormitory is now completed and the slide show above shows fruits of this project--a brand new dormitory--ready for residents.

Project Background

In the 1980s Erma Grove was a Mennonite missionary at Good News. Colleagues of Ms. Grove, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kraay, write of Ms. Grove: "While we were in Ghana as Lutheran missionaries, we worked hand-in-hand with a Mennonite missionary, Miss Erma Grove. She was instrumental in keeping the school going during some really difficult economic and political times in Ghana, and worked steadfastly for many years teaching and encouraging the students and Independent Churches."

The current principal, Dr. Thomas Oduro, writes, "The thought of building a dormitory in honor and remembrance of Ms. Erma Grove came when we were told of her home going. Madam Grove, as she was affectionately called, was a Mennonite missionary who taught at the then Good News Training Institute for over a decade. At some point she was the director (the principal). In fact, she taught me when I was a student at the Institute. She taught the vice principal, too.

"The foundation of the dormitory was laid in 2001 by a Mennonite team of builders led by Wendell (Kwame) Schroneger. The first (ground) floor was completed in 2005. There are seven rooms, a kitchen, and a students' hall in the first (ground) floor."

In May 2007, Fran Osseo-Asare from UMC made an initial visit to GNTCS, and carried videotapes and greetings from UMC and Maple Grove to the seminary. She met with Thomas Oduro, the principal, Humphrey Akogyeram, the Registrar, and Bruce Yoder. She took pictures of the dormitory, which had met a setback by a recent storm that had caused damage. She carried photos and videos from the school back to Maple Grove and UMC and shared them at a joint "Ghana" meal prepared by members of both congregations and shared at UMC in June of 2007.

Support committed by the churches in August of 2007 allowed the school to repair the damaged Erma Grove women's dorm. and proceed with completing the second floor.

Slide Show of Construction Phases

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Dr. Oduro, writing in April 2009, continues, "The upper level has 13 rooms, including a kitchen and hall. There is also a room for a library. All the rooms in the dormitory are fitted with bath and water closet. That is our way of showing respect for students of the seminary who are almost all adults. When the dormitory is fully completed it could be hired by churches who would hold workshops and seminars when the seminary is not in session.

"As I am writing I can hear the carpenters singing and roofing the building at the same time. The roofing should be completed by Wednesday 29 April."

If you would like to help support this project, you can write a check to University Mennonite Church, designating the gift to the "Ghana Erma Grove Project."