Thursday, October 21, 2010

My Dad's Birthday, Meetings, Mosque, Checkpoints and AK-47s

Here I am once again wondering where the time is going.  I hear so much about the fall season passing by in a most beautiful way at home while here the temperature has been relatively cool for the last couple of days but the higher temperatures return as of tomorrow it looks like.  I sent a happy birthday note to my dad today.  I pray that he's having a great day...I know that the weather has really blessed him but I wish we could be there to bless him too.  It won't be long and we'll be seeing Halloween and then the next day we'll be at home...in November of all months...wow! 

We held meetings in a far away place and will be going there for a few more times.  It seems a rougher part of town with terrible streets filled with pot holes and poverty that seems far more obvious then the place we currently are.  It actually reminds me far more of the Ghana I knew 20 years ago.  The church we were in has some major problems.  You know it though nobody talks about it and that makes everything more difficult.  I so admire my mom who doesn't let that phase her one bit.  She taught well and everyone of the team did such a wonderful job.  There wasn't even one fan in this open church so once twilight hit the mosquitos came in...made me so glad for the repellant we all wore.  We were doing a sound check when the evening call to prayer at the local mosque started.  It brought so many things to my mind...most of them bad.  Experiences I knew from my time in India that were anything but pleasant...9/11...many things which I think I've kind of buried.  The meeting took a lot of energy but we finally finished and we began our long journey home.  Seeing the difficulty in the lives of so many people, the poverty and every day difficulties that many of us in America know nothing about.  Not the kind of difficulty from not finding a job for a month...no I'm talking about countless people living in barely above homeless conditions.  If there was a winter here I think many would die.  We hit two checkpoints on the way home that brought back even more unpleasant memories.  There were many soldiers and police with their AKs at the ready.  I was relieved that they didn't stop us.  Years ago so check points never were uneventful and could easily lead to arrest.  I think it's better now but none the less those old memories made this a stressful thing especially since my wife and children are with me now.  Here I am in Ghana, God remains able to bring us back as He's sent us out.  Tonight I'm home with Lovely and the kids because Gabby has had the runs for several days.  She's been eating and seems to be pretty much herself aside from that but we didn't want her to have an accident on the long journey to and from that church so here we sit tonight.  Tomorrow I teach in that church so there will be no day off tomorrow.  My prayers for the team that went will continue off and on until they all return safely.  This my friends is a different world.

38 comments:

  1. Good to see your post! October sure is going fast. The heat the bugs and still you press on. You amaze me Joe. Sorry to hear Gabby has diarrhea. I am surprised the rest of you don't have it. Change of food and the heat can do that. I hope her spirits remain high and gets better soon. May the check points keep letting you go by. I pray your preaching will give them hope and courage. Bless you my friend.

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  2. Toodie it's great to be heard! October is buzzing on by, I can hardly believe that when we get home we'll be only a few weeks from Thanksgiving! Gabby will recover I'm quite sure, she doesn't act like she's ill and that's a real comfort to us but we will continue to observe her. You're right that we've had plenty of reason to have that ourselves. Lovely did have a bout with it as have others on the team but me and the other children have done very well though we've eaten African food. Bless you for being such a dear friend...I can't tell you how comforting it is! You're one in a million!

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  3. Hi Joe, thoughts and prayers with you. A thought provoking blog. thank you - god bless - Nita

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  4. Dear Joe . You all remain in my prayers and I cant help but have a few tears and feel humbled by your calling, the calling placed upon you to serve God the way you do . Stay safe my friend. Keep the kids safe and Lovely also.
    We miss you all and I can not wait until your back on US Soil
    Lisa

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  5. God Bless you all and keep you all safe. Also my Prayers for all who come to risk what they have to hear you and the others as you spread the news that they so badly need to hear and that they too shall and can be saved by the Grace of our Most Amazing God.
    Im in Aww Joe at how God calls and no matter what we go. We all do or most.

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  6. Greetings Nita, glad you stopped by, may the thoughts this provoked also promote faith. Blessings to you as well.

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  7. Hey there Lisa, I've seen many wonderful things on trips past but this one is in a category all its own. I'm so glad to be involved with such a venture. I know that God is doing some amazing things and though it's not easy it is well worth the pain for the reward. God's grace has shined this entire trip and the prayers continue to make a magnificient difference. God bless and keep you. It won't be long now and we'll be back in America again wondering where the time went.

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  8. I can't imagine what it's like there, but I pray that God's angels continue to cover you and your family and the team. I hope that Gabby is well soon and it doesn't go through the family or team. Joe, thanks for visiting Amy's video and commenting. Be blessed and safe.

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  9. Oh golly I forgot to wish your Dad a happy birthday...."Happy Birthday Joe's Dad!"
    It will be a wonderful Thanksgiving this year my friend.

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  10. So great to see a post! I think we should all have to do a missions trip like this.. we need a new perspective on what we have and don't have.. our "needs" vs our "wants". I think it would amaze us what all we have.
    Prayers for strength and power for your team. Expect miracles wherever you go!!
    hugs to all,
    Jean

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  11. May the strength of God continue to walk with you. It is times like this when I am glad I can call on the strength of God to see me through the darkness.

    Read someplace that the Islam/Christian conflict may boil over in Africa before other parts of the world.

    It is disappointing that the Moslem's do not understand that Ishmael was the product of slavery. Whereas the Christian lives under the grace of Christ and are not slaves to the law.

    Peace of the Lord be with you.

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  12. God bless and keep you all Joe, you and the family and whomever else is on the team. I think of you all daily and hope all is well and that the visit and teaching will be fruitful.

    I so loved every word our Sister Lisa said above here. I echo those words and that love and those prayers.

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  13. Thanks so much Carole! Have no idea what I'd do without you guys! Quite soon now this trip will be a thing of the past but it will never leave our hearts. There's nothing like being carried on the wings if so many peiple's love I can tell you that for sure!

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  14. John I surely receive your prayers. How right you are about Islam. They simply don't understand the reality of the scriptures. The power of grace has been shining brightly. I teach in that church next to the Mosque tonight so I certainly appreciate the prayers and grace!

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  15. Jean, miracles are exactly what I expect! I can't thank you enough for your support. This trip is winding down but it will never be forgotten!

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  16. Thanks Toodie! You're right, thus wll be a Thanksgiving to remember!

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  17. Iam sorry about Gabby that by the time she will recoved 100% get well.
    It sound you have face to very touch time that nobody in this side of world people konw that?
    Hope time goes by easier for you.
    Iam glad your mum doing alright:-)
    Please take care Joe! you have a big responsibility on your shoulder....
    Big Hugs,
    Michiko

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  18. Worry not Michiko, Gabby is much better and in the hands of God for sure. Prayer has made a huge difference to not just her but all of us and I believe that will continue. I looked at the calandar and notice that we've got about nine days left...we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

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  19. Hi Joe,
    Time goes by fast.. soon you will be back home.. the memories of your trip will always stay.. you know that better than most of us.. Happy to hear that Gabby is doing a little better.. you sound tired Joe..
    keeping you all close in prayer.
    soft hugs Hope

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  20. You're right Hope, time does move so quickly. This is one of those trips that has seemed to be in a time capsule all the time we've been here and now it's sort of like I can feel us speeding up to rejoin time as we know it in the US. I feel very mission driven on this trip. I know that when that mission is done we need to get back home...that in and of itself is a mission. Anyway, God bless and keep you...I leave soon with the team and I preach tonight...don't forget us in prayer.

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  21. Hi Joe,
    A glass of tepid water mixed with a teaspoon of sugar can help Gabby with her stomach. Helps stop the diarrhoea. Hope Gabby's health will soon improve.
    Hugs Lady Jude

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  22. Gabby is much improved now fortunately my friend, thank you very much. This next week seems the most brutal of all since being here...I hate end it like that but I don't see a way to do it differently right now.

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  23. So glad to hear all is going well still. What stories you will have to tell you church when you get home. Glad to hear Gabby has improved. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayer may you continue to stay safe.. Hugs Carrie

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  24. Stories to tell for sure Carrie. Last night we had at least seven black outs throughout the service and then I taught. My dear African brother had a nasty fall and injured his leg and elbow...he got home and was bleeding through his shirt so he had to go around 1 AM to get stitches. The traffic was as monsterous as I've ever seen it anywhere in the world last night. Trucks and cars of all sizes crawled or didn't move at all. I know I'm in Africa when I look out on a truck and there's a goat perched on top of a bunch of stuff looking down on us. There was a truck overturned along the route that they were struggling to turn back up so it could get out of the way. The Africans seemed glad to have something to do in the middle of the terrible jam...it did provide some entertainment to be sure!

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  25. JOE.. I could sit here a long long while and read your words.. it brings us right to where you are and how things are in that "other world" you are in. I didn't know you had updated here, so I am glad I happened by and checked it out. Please know we all are praying for you and your family's safe return. God be with you as you minister to those who need the word. : )

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  27. Caroldee, I truly am glad you stopped by. I couldn't resist updating a little here. We are almost done with this trip in fact I teach for he last time today. I'm weary now and ready to come home. Prayer has lifted my head more than once here and I'm so thankful for your help in that. Now we tie things up before finally getting home on the first of November. Blessings to you my friend!

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  28. Hi Joe,
    I think you will be back at your home within a few days time? hope you have a good rest and your family needed one too.
    Thank you for stopping my space.

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  29. Hi, Joe, it won't be too much longer until y'all will be home. We'll be looking for your return. Thanks for visiting Kassey.

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  30. Bless you Joe. I'm so proud of you over there doing what you love and reaching the word to the people.

    I sounds like a life of hardship for those folks. I admit that my life is far easier and it makes me a little bit embarrassed that I feel sorry for myself and my lot in life with the Fibro, when my lot is so much better than most.

    Take care and be blessed, we'll welcome you with open arms on Monday!

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  31. Hey Michiko thanks for stopping by. I can hardly believe that we will likely be home by the time I get time to be on the Internet again. I'm looking forward to the week we have to rest when we get home believe me. GreatGranny, my friend, I loved the picture of your kitty...that looked like one unhappy cat! It will be good to be home and be able to visit you as I'd like...not so easy here.

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  32. Juli, I have to say that I appreciate you very much. It's easy to be swept up into our own misery even when it's little compared to other people. Nobody is free of that but seeing it and being effected by it is something I consider a painful blessing. God bless you my friend, home in a two days now...well, not including the long flight home.

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  33. Thanks very much my dear friend, I appreciate it!

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  34. Well Joe hopefully you are safe at home or near there by now. Have a safe journey. How different it will feel when back to all the modern conveniences. May you all remain safe till snug in your own beds again.. Hugs Carrie

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  35. It's the strangest thing ever Carrie. I know the drill because I've done all this before but I don't feel the same inside at all. The whole world seems to have a new look to me now. I hope to start posting on Thursday as usual. God bless you my friend!

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  36. Joe, it has been months since I've been around and now reading back through your blogs and now into Ghana, whew, I am astounded beyond words. Half of me feels scared for your safety, the other half is joyous that you are able to fulfill such a wonderful destiny in bringing God to others. There is real beauty in that. You and Lovely and the kids are very, very special in this world. Without you even realizing it, think of this legacy that you are leaving for others. I really salute you, Joe :D
    Working my way backwards through the buffalo and the mountain goats, oh wowwwww, they are GORGEOUS. Here I am just looking at the pictures, but being such an animal lover as I am, I've already "named" every one of them, lol.
    Joe, I am so glad to be able to catch up with you again and know that I am adding my prayers to everyone elses to keep you and your family safe. What a journey!

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  37. Wow Jenny, I can't thank you enough for stopping by! It is so great to reconnect with people like you. We just arrived home a couple days ago and are trying to recooperate. We are all pretty much on African time so we've been going to be early and getting up very early. I was up around 4:00 AM today but thought I'd just go ahead and start my walking and praying before the sun rose...I'm so glad I did! I can't express my thanks enough for your kind words on my past blogs as well. From the bottom of my heart: thank you!

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