Ghana Field Journal — Missions With the Consfords
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Bonjour, Please be much in prayer for the Ivorian nationals. Joe just talked to Pastor Maximin Ake on the phone, the national pastor of the church in…
Missions With the Consfords
Ghana Field Journal — Serving the Lord for Over 25 Years
These daily journal entries document the Consfords’ missionary life across Ivory Coast and Ghana. Over 1,630 entries capture the church planting, the hard days, the answered prayers, and the everyday reality of following God wherever He leads. Browse the full archive or join the Consfords as a prayer partner.
Bonjour,
Please be much in prayer for the Ivorian nationals. Joe just talked to Pastor Maximin Ake on the phone, the national pastor of the church in Anyama. Most of the inhabitants of Anyama are gone. Max went to Anyama from a village to preach on Sunday. He said that he can’t find anyone. Only ten people came for church. Max is now back in his wife’s home village with his family and the orphans. Daniel, who lives in a village outside of Anyama, has been going to the church in Anyama to preach for the other services. They are trying to keep the rebels from taking over the church facilities by making a presence known. The church people are so discouraged and disheartened. Joe came back in the room crying when he finsihed talking to Max.
Joe went to the vehicle office today and found out that it is next to impossible to import an ancient vehicle. They want more money than the vehicle is even worth. So, we will just keep renewing the car papers at the border for the time being while we explore other options.
Joe took the vehicle to the guy that worked on the pump and got the timing problem fixed. That guy had worked on the injectors too and had never actually put the new injectors on; he had kept them. So, he did that today.
When the mechanic put the new head on, he used the old cam shaft seal (This is Joe’s terminology; I have no idea what that is!) which caused oil to leak into the alternator. Now, the alternator is ruined and has to be rebuilt. The car is running much better now; that is a blessing! Now, all we need is an alternator, which they have already removed and sent to the shop to have it rebuilt. Oh, and the radiator sprung a new leak- just a little more JB Weld should do the trick!
I did pages with the boys today for school. Joe and I are taking a trip to Accra tomorrow. Kristine and Becky are going to stay with our kids. We will leave Thursday morning and come back on Saturday. So, I had a lot to get done today in preparation for leaving tomorrow.
Joe took our passports to the immigrations office this afternoon to get a 90-day extension on our visas. He had to walk about five miles before he found a taxi. He said that it takes a long time to walk five miles in Africa when you are passing by people that you know and you have to stop and chat with each one so as not to be rude.
Joe was talking to a Lebanese friend today. He told Joe that he ought to write down what happens to him every day. Joe told him that we do and showed him our blog. The man was so excited that he would be able to read about our “adventures.” He said that his life is so boring.
By the time Joe got home, he was about to pass out. He fought with a taxi driver about the price for the ride all the way home. The driver agreed on one price before Joe got in the taxi, but he changed his tune along the way.
We listened to a sermon at home tonight. It was entitled “The Best Is Yet To Come.” It was a blessing and an encouragement.
Danny’s foot seems to be doing okay. He has a giant blister on the bottom of his foot and a few smaller ones on both sides of his foot. He likes having it all wrapped up as long as it isn’t wrapped too tightly.
A demain,
Joe, Laura, Gilbert, Danny, and Bonnie