Nearly a Brawl

Debby and I had planed to spend the week of March 24-30 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but once again it just didn’t happen. (Acts 16:6-7) Because of the adoption of the twins in Benin, we had to spend more time there. The judges were on strike in Benin, but on March 25th we were finally able to meet with the judge.

Picture of a taxi in Ghana. Not all bush taxis are as well marked or in as good of condition as this one – but it’s an example of what a “bush” taxi looks like in Ghana. Most are old Peugeot 504 or 505 wagons in the francophone countries we work in.

On March 27th we made the trip from Cotonou, Benin to Accra, Ghana. As usual we used a “bush” taxi. This is a car and driver that takes you a distance – city to city. In this case it is Cotonou, Benin to Lome, Togo. Then you cross the border into Ghana and take a different bush taxi on to Accra. I have done this trip countless times with seldom any problem. (Last year we did have a taxi break down on a hot, nearly deserted road.) This year almost every time had some complications. This last time was no exception. My African pastors most times don’t like us traveling by ourselves because of things that can happen. The US embassy warns us to avoid large angry crowds. (I nearly got caught in one in Abidjan in 2000 and had to drive through some stuff to get out quick.)

This time Bill Chapel, Debby and I loaded our stuff and ourselves into the taxi and started off from Cotonou, Benin. Well after we left the driver had to get his friend and give him a ride to Ouidah – not something normal. He didn’t have to go into Ouidah, but just dropped the guy on the side of the road. The driver got back in and was about to start the car when a motorcycle carrying a women with her goods to sell, lost the smaller basket from the top of her head into the road along side our car. Her papayas were immediately smashed by the traffic and Debby turned to tell me what had happened just outside her window.

The Taxi driver said in French, “They hit us.” He got out to talk to the motorcycle driver and his friend grabbed the motorcycle driver and tried to start a fight. It appeared that at any moment fists would fly – but thank God, they didn’t. There was a lot of shouting and an angry crowd began to gather. We gave it a some time and then I stepped out of the car and tried to get the driver to leave it and take us on to Lome – it didn’t work. We waited in the car a while longer. Again I braved the crowd and stepped out into the fray and tried to settle the thing. We determined that the only person that had suffered real loss was the woman that lost her goods into the road. So I gave the driver money to give her – she only screamed and cried more. Someone said the driver himself needed to give something to her himself because his friend and him had really ruffed her up in the tussle with the motorcycle driver.

Back in the car and with no progress, Debby did what had helped in a number of our on the road “hold ups” over the last few weeks, she began to sing, “We’ve come this far by faith…” Now we had been praying and all – but this thing seems to work, so Bill and I joined in. The crowd started to settle down. We stopped singing and praying and it started up again. So we sang again. Finally the driver reached in the window, got some coins, gave them to the lady. Then he was able to get in the car and we headed down the road. Thank you so much for your continued prayers for us.

We stopped for a quick visit with the pastor in Lome that we call the “Bishop.” Then we went through the border checks into Ghana and got another bush taxi. About sunset we arrived at the Baptist Guesthouse in Accra, safe and sound. Then we had to follow my tradition – have a good supper – Popaye’s Chicken. This is not the Popeye’s Chicken you find in America – this is a Ghanaian chicken chain and it’s the best chicken anytime, anywhere. Maybe some day I can take you there.

We really want to Thank You So Much for praying for us!

The Twins

Here is a picture of “Uncle” Fred at the orphanage with the twin girls on his lap. Debby’s cousin, Becky and her husband, are trying to adopt them. Please be praying that this all works out and that it can be an avenue for other of the children to be adopted by loving families in the USA and Canada.

These 2 girls are twins – but not identical as you can see. The one on the left was born “Ella” and on the right is “Estella.” Ella is bigger and is the introvert that holds on to Pulcherie’s (the director of the orphanage) skirt all the time. Estella, on the other hand is the classical extrovert. You see the smile on her face and she loves to sing and be the center of attention.

Their mother was very sick and the father was not around when they were very small. Grandma (the mom’s mom) brought them to the orphanage shortly after it opened, because she couldn’t care for them. Their mother died shortly after that.

On Friday, March 28th they were 4 years old. Debby and I took them to a restaurant in Cotonou for their first Birthday Party. They ate with plates and silverware and drank from cups with straws. There was a play area with slides, things to ride on and the like. They were all smiles and giggles.

This is one of the little side / extra things that Debby and I are involved in with our teaching ministry in Africa. It is a joy to see these girls get adopted. It is a joy when you go to the orphanage and see the children with smiles and singing.

Thanks for sending us and supporting us.

Missing Second Testimony from Parakou Meetings

When you see the pictures in the blogs from Africa, you may notice that there are no pictures of me (Fred). That is because I am the one taking the pictures most time. Really, I was there… really. So, here is a picture of me at the meetings in Parakou at the church of Pastor Augustin that Debby took.

You may have noticed on the blog titled “Parakou Testimonies – March, 17-21” that only 1 of the 2 testimonies of Debby was there. Here is the other story.

After I (Debby) finished speaking on forgiveness, I saw a remarkable sight. From the far right I saw a young woman, in her mid twenties, come crawling across the room on her hands and knees. She crawled right up to an elderly woman and placed her head in the lap of the older lady. The pastor next to me started to cry. He asked me if I understood what was happening. I said no. I didn't know the significance of this act. He said let me tell you the story.

This was a mother and daughter and several years ago the daughter had run away leaving the family in disgrace. She was angry with her mother for some unknown reason and refused to speak to her. She had threatened to kill the mother by poisoning and other means. The mother, stricken with grief had, just the day before, come forward for prayer. She was forgiving her daughter and asking God to bring her home. It was the next day that I saw the young woman crawling on her hands and knees.

The whole church saw this as a miracle of God's mercy and grace. The young woman sobbed and sobbed, crying to her mom, "Please forgive me …please forgive me. I am so sorry."

The next day, the mother stood before the church and said, "I never dreamed God would do such a wonderful thing for me. I never dreamed, that the great God of the universe would come and do such a thing just for me."

Isn't God good?