Don't judge a book by its cover, we've been reminded all our lives. Would it make a difference to you if you saw rough looking characters on a dark alley IF YOU SAW BIBLES UNDER THEIR ARMS?
I hope the answer is yes!
Well, meet Eagle and Hustler, especially visualize Hustler. They were friends, but their outward appearance wasn't very similar. Here is the story about them I wrote last week.
A Story from Sierra Leone
"Eagle"and "Hustler" are both young, skinny young men with plenty of personality and do have a job . Their job is to sell concessions on the ferries that take an hour to cross the estuary that divides Freetown from the airport.
It appears that Eagle may be senior to Hustler since we saw him with the boss counting money from his money bag and doling out wages to other employees.
Eagle first greeted us when he recognized the two white ladies that seemed to stand out. We had been on the eight o"clock ferry and now he was seeing us again at noon.
miss your flight?" He asked. We responded briefly but later had several opportunities to explain in further detail why we were back on the ferry.
Peggy first spotted Hustler with his hair cut close on the sides but with a definite peek at the top of the head. He wore a white sleeveless tee shirt, gold necklace, another shirt unbuttoned, chained bracelet and the biggest sunglasses I have ever seen. I guess you have guessed we named them. Eagle had the word printed on his sweatshirt and Hustler, well, his attire and manner named him. It took him a few minutes of eavesdropping on our conversation to join Eagle in the seats next to us. They had our attention.
There was an attempt to talk with them about Jesus. Peggy started quoting what she said was John 3:16 which actually was Romans 3:23. When I began to correct her, Eagle smiled like he knew John 3:16. Peggy is convinced he did know it.
The long ferry ride gave us lots of opportunity to explore our new friends. Eagle said he had a brother who was a taxi driver and could take us to the Embassy.
When we did disembark, each of them grabbed one of our suitcases and meandered through the crowds protecting us with their sense of authority, never asking for anything from us. They did introduce us to a man they claimed to be Eagle's brother who did have a car, no sorry, a vehicle in Sierra Leone ( pronounced vicle). We had lots of fun with that especially when our driver's car started malfunctioning. Speed bumps were an obstacle that caused his engine to die. A 45 minute ride grew into over an hour and a half. Peggy said,"we are in a pickle with this vicle." You might as well keep your sense of humor.
I think our driver needs naming. "Spark Plug"did have a sense of honor that he would assume the responsibility to get us to the embassy. The only problem being that time was not on our side.
When we began to weave circuitous bumpy back roads our imaginations did start to question his honor. In hindsight we both think he was finding easier ways to get down hills since traffic and up hills were definitely not friends to his car. Spark Plug finally had to cry "uncle" but didn't do so until arriving at a junction where other taxis picked up passengers. That was a short trip which pleased us since the new taxi had its own cacophony of weird sounds coming from its engine.
The number of guardian angels had begin to mount not even mentioning that as we arrived at the Embassy, there was our only true friend in Sierra Leone Franklyn who had been waiting for us, having done all the preliminary work necessary to get the travel documents for next day"s trip back to Liberia.
He had even called Samuel, his friend who had become our friend too to come with his car to take us part of the way back to the ferry. ( Time wasn't on their side either as they both had class 30 minutes before we were to be on the ferry) What was touching to me was that as Samuel put us in the next to last taxi of the day, he gave the cabbie his phone number and asked him to call him when we had safely arrived.
Can you hear the flapping of angel wings all over this land?
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Details of PLAN B "Later" explained about June 5
"Later" 6/5
Tayo as promised was taking good care of us until we got to the desk where they check your passports. He didn't know how much better care he would have to take of us after the agent told us we had used our single entry visa into Liberia even though it was good for 30 days. Tayo made sure that we went to The Gambia Bird agent to rebook for the next day so we wouldn't have to rebuy our ticket. Still there was a fine for our mistake. After that Allisun took over. He tried to help us call Emmanuel in Liberia so they would know not to expect us. He helped us call Franklyn who promised to meet us at the Liberian Embassy. Allisun secured the taxi, got us to the ferry and told us how to proceed from there. All worked well until we were almost on the other side where we were delayed because the President of the country was in the area. At 1:15 we began the taxi ride to the Embassy, a journey that took us two hours ( but probably was a 45 minute trip) and yet our first taxi broke down.Franklyn had been there a long time waiting on us but thankfully had secured the photographer for the two extra passport pictures. This proved also to be a very expensive mistake we made,but thankfully they gave us the emergency visa.
Samuel came back to the rescue providing his car to take us half the way to the ferry. They were concerned that we couldn't make it to the ferry in 2 hours but they also had class at 5 and we surely didn't want them missing class for us. They secured a cab in town who was a good driver and brought us to the landing at the right time so we could EAT. This was our first meal since lunch yesterday. Fish and chips never tasted so good.
Night after June 5 adventure
We are now in the Alisam Guesthouse about 2 minutes from the airport ready for the 10:30 flight in the morning. We have tried to call Emmanuel. He called us at one point today and so has been given sketchy details.
How do we show appreciation to all the people who have ministered to us today?
What were we to learn from this experience? We know that in all things we are to give thanks. We have tried to relax and display cheerfulness when encountering all the people we met, whether the lady that processed our visas or the waitress who served the fish.
We are tired but we are well. Two more days before the adventure going home. I had just as soon it be unadventurous. We have had about all the adjustments and drama we can handle for now.
Tayo as promised was taking good care of us until we got to the desk where they check your passports. He didn't know how much better care he would have to take of us after the agent told us we had used our single entry visa into Liberia even though it was good for 30 days. Tayo made sure that we went to The Gambia Bird agent to rebook for the next day so we wouldn't have to rebuy our ticket. Still there was a fine for our mistake. After that Allisun took over. He tried to help us call Emmanuel in Liberia so they would know not to expect us. He helped us call Franklyn who promised to meet us at the Liberian Embassy. Allisun secured the taxi, got us to the ferry and told us how to proceed from there. All worked well until we were almost on the other side where we were delayed because the President of the country was in the area. At 1:15 we began the taxi ride to the Embassy, a journey that took us two hours ( but probably was a 45 minute trip) and yet our first taxi broke down.Franklyn had been there a long time waiting on us but thankfully had secured the photographer for the two extra passport pictures. This proved also to be a very expensive mistake we made,but thankfully they gave us the emergency visa.
Samuel came back to the rescue providing his car to take us half the way to the ferry. They were concerned that we couldn't make it to the ferry in 2 hours but they also had class at 5 and we surely didn't want them missing class for us. They secured a cab in town who was a good driver and brought us to the landing at the right time so we could EAT. This was our first meal since lunch yesterday. Fish and chips never tasted so good.
Night after June 5 adventure
We are now in the Alisam Guesthouse about 2 minutes from the airport ready for the 10:30 flight in the morning. We have tried to call Emmanuel. He called us at one point today and so has been given sketchy details.
How do we show appreciation to all the people who have ministered to us today?
What were we to learn from this experience? We know that in all things we are to give thanks. We have tried to relax and display cheerfulness when encountering all the people we met, whether the lady that processed our visas or the waitress who served the fish.
We are tired but we are well. Two more days before the adventure going home. I had just as soon it be unadventurous. We have had about all the adjustments and drama we can handle for now.
June 5's PLAN B
What were the lessons of June 5? Maybe some of you will comment and help us put together the pieces of this day spent very differently from what we had planned.
The irony of our picture taken the night before on the beach in Sierra Leone with our new friends by a sign of a restaurant named "PLAN B" We had no idea when we posed for that picture that we were about to experience PLAN B, C and D!
June 5
Fitful sleep knowing I had to get up at 5:30 for a six o clock departure for the ferry. Besides that my room never got dark nor the a.c. get cool. Thankfully though I feel good.
Franklyn and Samuel were prompt. We left in heavy rain. Our plan had been to buy economy ferry tickets 3,000 ( less than a dollar) but our hosts recommended against that plan. First class 10,000 Leones ($4.50) now seems like a silly amount for us to quibble about. I guess we don't want to appear to be rich Americans who can't tough it. Franklin's reasoning ,however, made sense. We would more likely find people who would not try to take advantage of us and possibly could find someone with a vehicle who would be willing to take us from the ferry to the airport. So as we traveled we prayed that God would show is how to approach people respectfully and know the right people to contact. Our Guardian Angels, however ,turned out to be Tayo and his friend Allisun who worked with him. Tayo is from Nigeria but Allisun is from Sierra Leone. Franklyn met them before we even got on the ferry. He introduced them to us. We told them we were only learning their names that they had already been prayed for. Tayo carried my suitcase onto the boat, a real blessing . Not that I couldn't have done it but there were many obstacles to step over. He will share a taxi with us the rest of the way.
As one would expect by now if you have followed these posts, I can't conclude without reference to food. We have pictures of Peggy and me eating our cucumber that Franklyn bought us the other night. I have never eaten a cucumber for breakfast followed by cocoa dusted almonds, but I am thankful for nutrition
We are about to disembark. Until later!
"Later" will take another page. " Later "was a very long day. " Later" finds is still in Sierra Leone. "Later" has us pondering what all this was about. It may take a very long time or maybe never before God shows us what "later" was all about.
Fitful sleep knowing I had to get up at 5:30 for a six o clock departure for the ferry. Besides that my room never got dark nor the a.c. get cool. Thankfully though I feel good.
Franklyn and Samuel were prompt. We left in heavy rain. Our plan had been to buy economy ferry tickets 3,000 ( less than a dollar) but our hosts recommended against that plan. First class 10,000 Leones ($4.50) now seems like a silly amount for us to quibble about. I guess we don't want to appear to be rich Americans who can't tough it. Franklin's reasoning ,however, made sense. We would more likely find people who would not try to take advantage of us and possibly could find someone with a vehicle who would be willing to take us from the ferry to the airport. So as we traveled we prayed that God would show is how to approach people respectfully and know the right people to contact. Our Guardian Angels, however ,turned out to be Tayo and his friend Allisun who worked with him. Tayo is from Nigeria but Allisun is from Sierra Leone. Franklyn met them before we even got on the ferry. He introduced them to us. We told them we were only learning their names that they had already been prayed for. Tayo carried my suitcase onto the boat, a real blessing . Not that I couldn't have done it but there were many obstacles to step over. He will share a taxi with us the rest of the way.
As one would expect by now if you have followed these posts, I can't conclude without reference to food. We have pictures of Peggy and me eating our cucumber that Franklyn bought us the other night. I have never eaten a cucumber for breakfast followed by cocoa dusted almonds, but I am thankful for nutrition
We are about to disembark. Until later!
"Later" will take another page. " Later "was a very long day. " Later" finds is still in Sierra Leone. "Later" has us pondering what all this was about. It may take a very long time or maybe never before God shows us what "later" was all about.
June 4 in Sierra Leone recorded June 11 in Jackson
It's June 11 as I try to resume resurrecting the past week an a half. At lunch today I calculated with Barry that I began the journey home at 11:30 PM Saturday night CDST, on June 8. I rested in my own bed for the first time since then last night June 10!
I feel amazingly good today, but from past experiences, I'm not so naive as to think jet lag won't be an issue THIS time. The body goes through many adjustments going and coming. I am aware but not as aware as I think I probably should be of all the grace I have been visited, from prayers by those of you who read this and prayed for me. I nurse the bites from various insects (hoping they weren't all mosquitoes) Stomach issues were kept to a minimum. I have been surrounded by Guardian Angels, some I recognized but others I'm sure will only be seen with resurrected eyes.
What I've also come to realize is that through it takes about 24 hours to arrive (and longer than that to return home) the trip begins the minute you BEGIN your journey. I hope there will be comments to the new friends we met in airports, in planes and any other place we went between the bookends of take off to final landing.
Now, I will try to copy and paste June 4
6/4/14
No makeup this morning. The electricity went off this morning and there was not enough natural light to bother . Hair goes natural; clothes are dirty from another day of wear. The room is dirty, the air conditioning didn't work correctly last night. We have no breakfast at 8:30 I guess because the electricity has just come back on. I haven't had coffee since I was in Africa. Nescafé instant doesn't rate as a cup of coffee to me.
Franklyn bought us cucumbers last night. That might be breakfast. Here I go again talking about food.
See why Jonah 3 was good reading for me this morning. The plant God gave withered and Jonah complained. Is that me? I am pondering that based on the above paragraphs.
So much for gluten free. It doesn't even seem important. That roll I just ate was divine. I used it to sop up the yoke of the two fried eggs we got at 8:50 after they had told us the cook had not shown up for work.
Just wondering as I conclude the recording of the wonders of this day why so much centers around my creature comforts and yet I can't seem to do justice to the truly important events of the day. Is it just easier to describe food than people? What impression am I wanting to make on you the reader? I can't tell it all so why do I choose some events described vividly and others I can't seem to grasp words to describe?
Yesterday at this time Franklyn I had known in person for a few hours. Tonight I can add 24 to that number. My impression of him last night was good. Tonight my appreciation of him has been grown exponentially. Why? First of all he has taken so seriously his promise to Karen that he would take good care of us. He has held my hand as we have crossed busy streets. He has gotten on the right side of me when in potentially dangerous situations. He has warned me when he thought I was around people who would snatch my belongings. When Peggy and I insisted that we could get ourselves home from the beach after his wife Becky, pastor Alusine Sesay and friend Joyce Johnson were sent on home, he told us "No, I will take care of you." Later we saw for ourselves the wisdom of his decision. We were in a taxi stuck in traffic. He asked if we could walk. Of course we could. So when we had walked passed the traffic block he guided us to another taxi for the remaining trip back to the guest house.
When we told him about EAFC'S latest experiment in raising funds by making jewelry from African coins, he became a man on a mission to get them for us. It might sound like a simple task but believe me, it was not. I won't go into all the reasons this was complicated but it was.
After showing us the city's high points thanks to his friend Samuel who had a car and not only brought us in last night but spent his day with us today, we then had meetings with two whose applications had not made it to the committee, two church elders, his sister Betsy and his wife who had gotten permission from her boss to get off early so she could greet us.
The seeds of EAFC here were born in 2008, and yet I must admit to not praying fervently even when I heard that Franklyn had been sick almost to the point of death for about a year. He received one degree through us, and after working and being sick another year, he is now well enough to begin working towards a masters degree. We got to visit his university and visit with the finance officer who explained some of the banking issues she had encountered. Our visit definitely helped the situation, I believe.
Now I believe EAFC is on the verge of taking off in this country. Franklyn accepted the position of Country Coordinator with pleasure and we got to meet the team assembled beside him to aid in the development of the work in this country. I truly expect to see it blossom in the next few years.
We are honored to be here. We are about to learn "what The Lord has done for me I cannot tell it all". In both countries they sing it beautifully, and it has been for me a continuing compass centering me on True North when my flesh wants to wonder in the mind fields of secret grumpiness .
Thank you Father for letting me be here.
Tomorrow we leave at 6 AM so we can get the 8 AM ferry, to then negotiate for a taxi to take us to the airport for a flight that does not leave until noon . Can see see how the seeds of grumpiness could again raise its head? And yet even in the travel and uncertainties we meet fascinating people, see God's hand of protection on us. I sense prayers of the Saints back home as well as the ones here too.
Good night!!!
I feel amazingly good today, but from past experiences, I'm not so naive as to think jet lag won't be an issue THIS time. The body goes through many adjustments going and coming. I am aware but not as aware as I think I probably should be of all the grace I have been visited, from prayers by those of you who read this and prayed for me. I nurse the bites from various insects (hoping they weren't all mosquitoes) Stomach issues were kept to a minimum. I have been surrounded by Guardian Angels, some I recognized but others I'm sure will only be seen with resurrected eyes.
What I've also come to realize is that through it takes about 24 hours to arrive (and longer than that to return home) the trip begins the minute you BEGIN your journey. I hope there will be comments to the new friends we met in airports, in planes and any other place we went between the bookends of take off to final landing.
Now, I will try to copy and paste June 4
6/4/14
No makeup this morning. The electricity went off this morning and there was not enough natural light to bother . Hair goes natural; clothes are dirty from another day of wear. The room is dirty, the air conditioning didn't work correctly last night. We have no breakfast at 8:30 I guess because the electricity has just come back on. I haven't had coffee since I was in Africa. Nescafé instant doesn't rate as a cup of coffee to me.
Franklyn bought us cucumbers last night. That might be breakfast. Here I go again talking about food.
See why Jonah 3 was good reading for me this morning. The plant God gave withered and Jonah complained. Is that me? I am pondering that based on the above paragraphs.
So much for gluten free. It doesn't even seem important. That roll I just ate was divine. I used it to sop up the yoke of the two fried eggs we got at 8:50 after they had told us the cook had not shown up for work.
Just wondering as I conclude the recording of the wonders of this day why so much centers around my creature comforts and yet I can't seem to do justice to the truly important events of the day. Is it just easier to describe food than people? What impression am I wanting to make on you the reader? I can't tell it all so why do I choose some events described vividly and others I can't seem to grasp words to describe?
Yesterday at this time Franklyn I had known in person for a few hours. Tonight I can add 24 to that number. My impression of him last night was good. Tonight my appreciation of him has been grown exponentially. Why? First of all he has taken so seriously his promise to Karen that he would take good care of us. He has held my hand as we have crossed busy streets. He has gotten on the right side of me when in potentially dangerous situations. He has warned me when he thought I was around people who would snatch my belongings. When Peggy and I insisted that we could get ourselves home from the beach after his wife Becky, pastor Alusine Sesay and friend Joyce Johnson were sent on home, he told us "No, I will take care of you." Later we saw for ourselves the wisdom of his decision. We were in a taxi stuck in traffic. He asked if we could walk. Of course we could. So when we had walked passed the traffic block he guided us to another taxi for the remaining trip back to the guest house.
When we told him about EAFC'S latest experiment in raising funds by making jewelry from African coins, he became a man on a mission to get them for us. It might sound like a simple task but believe me, it was not. I won't go into all the reasons this was complicated but it was.
After showing us the city's high points thanks to his friend Samuel who had a car and not only brought us in last night but spent his day with us today, we then had meetings with two whose applications had not made it to the committee, two church elders, his sister Betsy and his wife who had gotten permission from her boss to get off early so she could greet us.
The seeds of EAFC here were born in 2008, and yet I must admit to not praying fervently even when I heard that Franklyn had been sick almost to the point of death for about a year. He received one degree through us, and after working and being sick another year, he is now well enough to begin working towards a masters degree. We got to visit his university and visit with the finance officer who explained some of the banking issues she had encountered. Our visit definitely helped the situation, I believe.
Now I believe EAFC is on the verge of taking off in this country. Franklyn accepted the position of Country Coordinator with pleasure and we got to meet the team assembled beside him to aid in the development of the work in this country. I truly expect to see it blossom in the next few years.
We are honored to be here. We are about to learn "what The Lord has done for me I cannot tell it all". In both countries they sing it beautifully, and it has been for me a continuing compass centering me on True North when my flesh wants to wonder in the mind fields of secret grumpiness .
Thank you Father for letting me be here.
Tomorrow we leave at 6 AM so we can get the 8 AM ferry, to then negotiate for a taxi to take us to the airport for a flight that does not leave until noon . Can see see how the seeds of grumpiness could again raise its head? And yet even in the travel and uncertainties we meet fascinating people, see God's hand of protection on us. I sense prayers of the Saints back home as well as the ones here too.
Good night!!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
6/3/14Food, dinner, priorities
June 3
We have prepared for this day having learned that most of the preparation must take place the night before since we don't have electricity and the room at 6:45 AM is still fairly dark.
Food! Anyone who has read my blog from 2011 knows that during the first visit to Liberia I visited the topic of food a lot. I had been in Monrovia then a time or two, however, and had seen food in the markets that wasn't available in Yekepa and so assumed this time it would be different. It is; well, kind of! Yesterday morning when all that was served at breakfast was pineapple and later hard rolls were brought out, I asked if I could pay for a boiled egg. That is not my favorite way to eat an egg, but hey, I had had no supper the night before and knew I had a busy day ahead of me. Even in church Sunday I came close to fainting. Thankfully God heard my prayer and the sip of water and sitting down restored me.
Last night the owner of the guesthouse arranged a taxi so we could go to dinner. The dinner was reasonably prices; the taxi wasn't. He charged by the hour and I feel ripped off because he knew that where he was taking us was in the middle of Monrovia which is far from Paynesville where we are staying, that the traffic was heavy and the potholes were numerous. It took an hour just to get th the restaurant. Surely there were places closer. "In all things give thanks" is coming to mind right now. I didn't go to bed hungry and I did have a cool room when we got back.
We have prepared for this day having learned that most of the preparation must take place the night before since we don't have electricity and the room at 6:45 AM is still fairly dark.
Food! Anyone who has read my blog from 2011 knows that during the first visit to Liberia I visited the topic of food a lot. I had been in Monrovia then a time or two, however, and had seen food in the markets that wasn't available in Yekepa and so assumed this time it would be different. It is; well, kind of! Yesterday morning when all that was served at breakfast was pineapple and later hard rolls were brought out, I asked if I could pay for a boiled egg. That is not my favorite way to eat an egg, but hey, I had had no supper the night before and knew I had a busy day ahead of me. Even in church Sunday I came close to fainting. Thankfully God heard my prayer and the sip of water and sitting down restored me.
June 4 in Sierra Leone
June 4
No makeup this morning. The electricity went off this morning and there was not enough natural light to bother . Hair goes natural; clothes are dirty from another day of wear. The room is dirty, the air conditioning didn't work correctly last night. We have no breakfast at 8:30 I guess because the electricity has just come back on. I haven't had coffee since i was in Africa. Nescafé instant doesn't rate as a cup of coffee to me.
Franklyn bought us cucumbers last night. That might be breakfast. Here I go again talking about food.
See why Jonah 3 was good reading for me this morning. The plant God gave withered and Jonah complained. Is that me? I am pondering that based on the above paragraphs.
So much for gluten free. It doesn't even seem important. That roll I just ate was divine. I used it to sop up the yoke of the two fried eggs we got at 8:50 after they had told us the cook had not shown up for work.
Just wondering as I conclude the recording of the wonders of this day why so much centers around my creature comforts and yet I can't seem to do justice to the truly important events of the day. Is it just easier to describe food than people? What impression am I wanting to make on you the reader? I can't tell it all so why do I choose some events described vividly and others I can't seem to grasp words to describe?
Yesterday at this time Franklyn I had known in person for a few hours. Tonight I can add 24 to that number. My impression of him last night was good. Tonight my appreciation of him has been grown exponentially. Why? First of all he has taken so seriously his promise to Karen that he would take good care of us. He has held my hand as we have crossed busy streets. He has gotten on the right side of me when in potentially dangerous situations. He has warned me when he thought I was around people who would snatch my belongings. When Peggy and I insisted that we could get ourselves home from the beach after his wife Becky, pastor Autice and friend Joyce were sent on home, he told us "no, I will take care of you." Later we saw for ourselves the wisdom of his decision. We were in a taxi stuck in traffic. He asked if we could walk. Of course we could. So when we had walked passed the traffic block he guided us to another taxi for the remaining trip back to the guest house.
When we told him about EAFC'S latest experiment in raising funds by making jewelry from African coins, he became a man on a mission to get them for us. It might sound like a simple task but believe me, it was not. I won't go into all the reasons this was complicated but it was.
After showing us the city's high points thanks to his friend Samuel who had a car and not only brought us in last night but spent his day with us today, we then had meetings with two whose applications had not made it to the committee, two church elders, his sister Betsy and his wife who had gotten permission from her boss to get off early so she could greet us.
The seeds of EAFC here were born in 2008, and yet I must admit to not praying fervently even when I heard that Franklyn had been sick almost to the point of death for about a year. He received one degree through us, and after working and being sick another year, he is now well enough to begin working towards a masters degree. We got to visit his university and visit with the finance officer who explained some of the banking issues she had encountered. Our visit definitely helped the situation, I believe.
Now I believe EAFC is on the verge of taking off in this country. Franklyn accepted the position of Country Coordinator with pleasure and we got to meet the team assembled beside him to aid in the development of the work in this country. I truly expect to see it blossom in the next few years.
We are honored to be here. We are about to learn "what The Lord has done for me I cannot tell it all". In both countries they sing it beautifully, and it has been for me a continuing compass centering me on True North when my flesh wants to wonder in the mind fields of secret grumpiness .
Thank you Father for letting me be here.
Tomorrow we leave at 6 AM so we can get the 8 AM ferry, to then negotiate for a taxi to take us to the airport for a flight that does not leave until noon . Can see see how the seeds of grumpiness could again raise its head? And yet even in the travel and uncertainties we meet fascinating people, see God's hand of protection on us. I sense prayers of the Saints back home as well as the ones here too.
Good night!!!
No makeup this morning. The electricity went off this morning and there was not enough natural light to bother . Hair goes natural; clothes are dirty from another day of wear. The room is dirty, the air conditioning didn't work correctly last night. We have no breakfast at 8:30 I guess because the electricity has just come back on. I haven't had coffee since i was in Africa. Nescafé instant doesn't rate as a cup of coffee to me.
Franklyn bought us cucumbers last night. That might be breakfast. Here I go again talking about food.
See why Jonah 3 was good reading for me this morning. The plant God gave withered and Jonah complained. Is that me? I am pondering that based on the above paragraphs.
So much for gluten free. It doesn't even seem important. That roll I just ate was divine. I used it to sop up the yoke of the two fried eggs we got at 8:50 after they had told us the cook had not shown up for work.
Just wondering as I conclude the recording of the wonders of this day why so much centers around my creature comforts and yet I can't seem to do justice to the truly important events of the day. Is it just easier to describe food than people? What impression am I wanting to make on you the reader? I can't tell it all so why do I choose some events described vividly and others I can't seem to grasp words to describe?
Yesterday at this time Franklyn I had known in person for a few hours. Tonight I can add 24 to that number. My impression of him last night was good. Tonight my appreciation of him has been grown exponentially. Why? First of all he has taken so seriously his promise to Karen that he would take good care of us. He has held my hand as we have crossed busy streets. He has gotten on the right side of me when in potentially dangerous situations. He has warned me when he thought I was around people who would snatch my belongings. When Peggy and I insisted that we could get ourselves home from the beach after his wife Becky, pastor Autice and friend Joyce were sent on home, he told us "no, I will take care of you." Later we saw for ourselves the wisdom of his decision. We were in a taxi stuck in traffic. He asked if we could walk. Of course we could. So when we had walked passed the traffic block he guided us to another taxi for the remaining trip back to the guest house.
When we told him about EAFC'S latest experiment in raising funds by making jewelry from African coins, he became a man on a mission to get them for us. It might sound like a simple task but believe me, it was not. I won't go into all the reasons this was complicated but it was.
After showing us the city's high points thanks to his friend Samuel who had a car and not only brought us in last night but spent his day with us today, we then had meetings with two whose applications had not made it to the committee, two church elders, his sister Betsy and his wife who had gotten permission from her boss to get off early so she could greet us.
The seeds of EAFC here were born in 2008, and yet I must admit to not praying fervently even when I heard that Franklyn had been sick almost to the point of death for about a year. He received one degree through us, and after working and being sick another year, he is now well enough to begin working towards a masters degree. We got to visit his university and visit with the finance officer who explained some of the banking issues she had encountered. Our visit definitely helped the situation, I believe.
Now I believe EAFC is on the verge of taking off in this country. Franklyn accepted the position of Country Coordinator with pleasure and we got to meet the team assembled beside him to aid in the development of the work in this country. I truly expect to see it blossom in the next few years.
We are honored to be here. We are about to learn "what The Lord has done for me I cannot tell it all". In both countries they sing it beautifully, and it has been for me a continuing compass centering me on True North when my flesh wants to wonder in the mind fields of secret grumpiness .
Thank you Father for letting me be here.
Tomorrow we leave at 6 AM so we can get the 8 AM ferry, to then negotiate for a taxi to take us to the airport for a flight that does not leave until noon . Can see see how the seeds of grumpiness could again raise its head? And yet even in the travel and uncertainties we meet fascinating people, see God's hand of protection on us. I sense prayers of the Saints back home as well as the ones here too.
Good night!!!
Bookends
Bookends
I see I got one post recorded the brief time I had Internet in Sierra Leone. It is out of sync recorded. Let me try again. As I board planes today for the final leg of this African adventure, I realize that even days traveling like this are not wasted. See what I recorded more than a week ago as we began our travel.
May 31,2014
Why would one ever consider recording a day spent on an airplane? How can that entertain, enlighten, or edify?
Maybe I write to amuse myself as I sit these last two hours before touchdown on the African continent, even though we will still not yet have arrived in Liberia.
Health is maintained through balance between food intake quality, exercise, stress management and sleep. With that in mind it is easy to see that my body has by necessity been stretched. Even though I ordered gluten free food, it has been far from nutritious. Even though we walked and stretched at ever available moment, those moments have been limited. Stress management and sleep have been challenged by crying babies, crowded seats, dry air.
Ok. Lest one thinks I only see the glass half empty, let me quickly change the subject to Annah and Alioh from Zimbabwe, who actually live in Dallas but are returning to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe for two months. Between Dallas and London we formed a friendship that only happens when people share a common love for their God and Savior. We will see one another again, I am sure. Then I rejoice in this last leg of the trip with the empty seat beside me. First class can't be much better; well, maybe their food is.
Last of all I share the book I have returned to repeatedly throughout the journey which won't get finished due to "low Battery". No, maybe I can continue. Peggy has a real copy of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. We are going into a world where the worldview clashes are evident on a daily basis. The loudspeakers that call to worship from mosques are a daily reminder of the presence of two very different views of eternal truth. May God help us as we learn, as we discuss, and as we leave our copies of this book with our friends in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
We are ready to get there!
May 31,2014
Why would one ever consider recording a day spent on an airplane? How can that entertain, enlighten, or edify?
Maybe I write to amuse myself as I sit these last two hours before touchdown on the African continent, even though we will still not yet have arrived in Liberia.
Health is maintained through balance between food intake quality, exercise, stress management and sleep. With that in mind it is easy to see that my body has by necessity been stretched. Even though I ordered gluten free food, it has been far from nutritious. Even though we walked and stretched at ever available moment, those moments have been limited. Stress management and sleep have been challenged by crying babies, crowded seats, dry air.
Ok. Lest one thinks I only see the glass half empty, let me quickly change the subject to Annah and Alioh from Zimbabwe, who actually live in Dallas but are returning to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe for two months. Between Dallas and London we formed a friendship that only happens when people share a common love for their God and Savior. We will see one another again, I am sure. Then I rejoice in this last leg of the trip with the empty seat beside me. First class can't be much better; well, maybe their food is.
Last of all I share the book I have returned to repeatedly throughout the journey which won't get finished due to "low Battery". No, maybe I can continue. Peggy has a real copy of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. We are going into a world where the worldview clashes are evident on a daily basis. The loudspeakers that call to worship from mosques are a daily reminder of the presence of two very different views of eternal truth. May God help us as we learn, as we discuss, and as we leave our copies of this book with our friends in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
We are ready to get there!
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