GLORIOUS DAY!

One word to describe today? GLORIOUS!

Wow! Made it out to a village, Avagoeme, and worshiped our King with believers there. Lots went on during the service but one of the neatest things was at the end of the service when a man brought his sister to me where I was sitting in the back of the service. He said she is coming to church but she doesn’t have “full-faith.” He told me that while she claims Christ as her savior, she still has some ‘small gods’ in her house that she believes are watching out for her. He asked if I would give her some encouraging words to help her to be faithful. I can’t think of very many times this has happened in the States.

At first all I could think of was how ill-prepared I was. Everything in me wanted to tell her how the Lord had come through for me in soooo many ways and give her an accounting of each. But I knew that wasn’t what I needed to do. So I just prayed according to the promise inlaid in scripture…that I would not worry about what I would say but that the Holy Spirit would speak for me. I was reminded of Acts 16 or 17 where Paul is talking to the Athenians about the “unknown God” they worshiped. He described the One True God and explained to them that He set all things in order so that they may “seek Him and perhaps reach out to Him and find Him, although He is not far from each of us.” I read the scriptures in the Ewe Bible (although I didn’t understand it, she did!) and it was ABSOLUTELY a sweet moment. I so wish there were more of those where I could share Jesus one-on-one!

And the heart of the brother was truly encouraging! He even asked if I would travel to her house and meet one-on-one, to which I responded, “YES!” probably to the dismay of my driver, haha!

But that wasn’t all that made the day GLORIOUS!!

The day continued with the sharing of coconuts which children climbed the tree (machete in hand) to cut down. The top was cut off for us and we drank the milk then they were cut open for us and we ate the soft coconut on the inside. This has been done for us in villages since I first traveled to this region in 2007 but I so much enjoy it in Avagoeme because some of the people speak English and they are patient with my Ɛvɛgbɛ (Ewe Language). So we sat and visited and enjoyed the coconuts and when I thought we would be getting ready to leave, a table was brought before us. A woman in the village had prepared chicken and rice along with fish and shrimp soup and banku. Needless to say, we ate WELL! I think I’ll end up gaining weight here instead of “reducing!”

One man had to leave for a meeting, leaving me with my interpreter/driver and another young man who is the leader in the church. The three of us managed to eat all of the food and then we sat visiting for an hour or so. They were gracious enough to include me in most of the conversation although they did speak Ɛvɛgbɛ here and there. They confessed that they were speaking in “parables” because they did not want me to know what they were saying. I took that as a great compliment that they were wary of even my limited Ɛvɛgbɛ vocabulary! For sure that means that I’m making progress!

During that time I also learned something that to some would be disturbing but to me it was a good thing that I know. Godson. the guy who drives me around, and interprets for me, and teaches me the Ewe language has obviously become my right hand man. When I go to market he doesn’t just drop me off and wait, but he walks with me everywhere I’m going to make sure that I am getting the best deal and not being taking advantage of and I’m not in harm’s way. He has also begun to work with a pastor here in my village. The pastor, James, asked me to join himself and leaders from the four churches he pastors for a meeting. I stopped by the first day and they were going over some materials that included some personal spiritual reflections. I noticed the tendency for these men to point to others’ lives in their village but not to honestly look at their own lives and possible strongholds. So I shared one of my own with them.

I told them something I’ve not shared with most people in the States… As I spoke in one church just before I left the States, a man approached me and told me how beautiful he thought I was and then asked if I was afraid to travel alone, afraid a man might try to hurt me. I honestly responded with, “No, I know God has called me and will watch over me.”

After that evening, for a week and a half I had vivid nightmares. A few people were praying for me during this time. I finally reached a place where I realized I needed to acknowledge my new fear and decide if I would truly trust God to watch out for me. I saw that there was a responsibility that I had to be ACTIVE in my faith and denounce strongholds and lies and allow the Holy Spirit to guide me in wisdom. So I explained to these seven men what that looked like as far as confession of sin (in the form of fear) and repentance and the freedom that resulted.

In a way I was definitely uncomfortable sharing that story and didn’t know why I would feel led to share THAT, of all things! The men seemed to brush it off and continue with the lesson and I began to wonder if I should have kept my mouth shut!

Little did I know that it sparked a conversation with the men after I left just a few minutes later. Today, after our meal, I was privy to that conversation as these two young men began to explain some things to me. They began to explain the situation that I was in by default, being a white, foreign woman. Again, they did it graciously and respectfully. Godson told me of a situation that took place earlier this week…

We traveled to Sogakoƒe, the larger village, to make some photocopies for the Pastor’s meeting. As we entered the internet café, the owner was busy so I waited to greet him and drop off some items. As I waited, a young woman walked in behind me and Godson walked in behind her. There were two young men who were also waiting by the door. In Twi, (another Ghanaian language) they asked how I was doing. I told them I didn’t speak Twi but that I was “fine.” I walked past them to greet the owner. As I moved on, Godson waited for me by the door. While he waited for me to finish talking he overheard the two young men talking about “befriending” me and stating their ulterior motives. They were unaware that Godson and I were traveling together and that he spoke the same language they were speaking. He didn’t say anything to them but he hurried me out of the building. Godson never mentioned what happened until today, after having expressed my fears and faith in the Lord on Friday. The men were in agreement that more should be done to look out for me.

So for now I will not travel outside my (smaller) village without an escort, unless I’m jogging in daylight of which I will report the course I will run. I was also instructed not to shake hands with men as much and not to shake anyone’s hand at all after dark, whether or not I’m with an escort.

Now that may all sound intense, but for me, it just speaks of the way the Lord provides. My fear was squashed before I set foot on Ghanaian soil. I knew that the Lord would provide for me and protect me and the conversation today was substantial evidence that the Lord is doing exactly what He reassured me He would do! He has provided extra security and more insight with which I can use wisdom to address certain situations I might not have otherwise understood! The fear has not returned and I continue to look forward to the ways God will work in the next couple of months.

After our meal, we were able to visit with the woman who had prepared it. She asked what she could cook for tomorrow and was just so excited that we were there! She expressed her expectation for me to continue to come to their village. She also taught me how to say “mosquito bite” and “cook”!

After our adventures in Avagoeme, I called a friend from Sogakoƒe to come and visit me and eat some of my okro stew and banku. The only help I had to have was at the very end of the banku process during which one divides the banku into serving sizes. My friend stayed for a couple of hours and enjoyed it. It was fun cooking because I always draw a crowd when I cook and that makes for quality visiting time between women!!

I was also able to visit with my neighbor, Teresa, this evening about the conversation I had with the young men today. She also expressed some concerns that she had and shared with me different ways that she has been looking out for me. I had no clue that she walks around my house and checks my windows to make sure they’re secure. She also calls out to make sure I’ve locked myself in.

All in all, good food…good friends…good times…great God!!