If the Lord Does Not Build the House …
A Ghanaian-American Couple Establish Libraries in Rural West Africa
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The Bromleys state, “Behind the funding and volunteerism and charity is the love of God for each person. In the early years of the mission, there was a severe lack of school textbooks throughout the country. While this situation has improved somewhat, there are very few schools today where every child has a textbook. Rather, it is common for a class of thirty pupils to have fewer than 10 textbooks for each subject. Hence, the library is a valuable community resource allowing not only research, but also the opportunity to learn to love reading and the acquisition of knowledge. God had a plan for Ghana that was deeper than any national budget or school administration. God loves each child personally. We believe God wants each person to know His love, even in places where opportunities seem to be lacking and personal needs seem to be neglected. God has not forgotten any person. His light reaches into every corner. This vision is what we share with the rural poor.”(from Preface)
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About the Book
Hilda and Kirt Bromley have set up fifty-three libraries in rural communities in Ghana, West Africa. Responding to a call from the Lord, the Bromleys trusted in Him to provide. They set up a nonprofit organization, collected books, raised funds for shipping, and then traveled to Ghana to meet with local communities to help set up their libraries. The Bromleys view the work as a mission from God to provide opportunities for people in rural areas where textbooks and educational resources are very limited. “The Glory of God is the person fully alive” is the motto of Books for Africa Library Project.
This book relates the experiences of this mission from its inception in 1996 to the present time, working with rural communities setting up libraries. There are also stories of Hilda’s childhood in the British colony of the Gold Coast, her youth as a national runner honored by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, her intercultural marriage with Kirt, and their work with AA and Al-Anon in Ghana. Their stories relate the faithfulness of God from the time when the Lord first spoke to Hilda, “Go build Me a library in Kukurantumi.”
About the Author
The Bromleys met when Kirt was a US Peace Corps volunteer stationed in Ghana. They were married in 1969 and have two children and five grandchildren. They currently spend half a year in Ghana setting up libraries and helping victims of HIV/AIDS and alcoholism through the distribution of information on these diseases.