Ghana Field Journal — Missions With the Consfords
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
W’apow mu e, Have you ever had one of those days where there was just a little bit too much excitement? Well, today has been one of those…
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.
W’apow mu e,
Have you ever had one of those days where there was just a little bit too much excitement? Well, today has been one of those days!
Joe took the kids to school and then headed to the border. He made it to the Ivory Coast side without incident. That was when the trouble began. He got the papers for the vehicle. Then, he went to have his passport stamped. The past few times that we crossed the border, they told us that we did not need a visa to go into Ivory Coast. Today, the border was completely different. There were new buildings and a whole new staff. None of the people that we have known for years were working at the border any more. At some point, they have once again started requiring a visa for entry. Joe talked to a guy and explained what had taken place. Joe thought that the man was going to issue a temporary visa because he told him to sit down, and he started writing in a book. The next thing Joe knew, he was in handcuffs. They were going to take him back to the Ghana border to get some type of stamp; then, they were going to make him go back across the border to get our vehicle. Joe talked them into removing the handcuffs and following him across the border in their vehicle. Joe drove back across, and they followed him. Once they got back to the Ghana side, the man told him to go to Accra, get a visa, and come back tomorrow. Joe headed for Accra from the border (about a seven-hour trip). He got to Accra about 7:30 this evening.
A taxi came to get me about 8:30 this morning. It rained most of the night last night; the road was one giant mud puddle. It was quite a ride! The taxi dropped me off at the Siekberts’ house. I went into Takoradi with Jackie and the ladies who have been here visiting. We ventured inside the market circle. We did not want them to miss out on that experience! The sights and smells of the market circle are always interesting! Men were carrying some sickly looking dead animals in to the butcher. We had to make way for the men with the animals. One man carried a pile of hooves right past us. We kept walking and got out of that area as quickly as possible. The ladies enjoyed shopping in the market for the most part, I think. : )
About 1:00, I took a taxi home so that I would be home when the kids got there. Dan brought the kids home in a taxi.
It had stopped raining by this afternoon. So, I watched the kids swim for a little while. Danny started yelling, “Snake, snake!” They all quickly got out of the pool. I called for the guard to come over to the pool to kill the snake. He didn’t hear what I was saying. Gilbert ran over and told him, “There’s a snake!” I’ve never seen George move that fast! He came running with the machete and killed the snake. The snake was a little over a foot long. I asked George what kind of a snake it was. He said, “A short snake.” Well, I knew that much! : ) After he disposed of the snake, then the kids spotted a scorpion in the pool.
After swimming, the kids decided that they were “going to America just for pretend.” They talked George into walking down the hill with them. All of the kids had a backpack. They returned from their big trip about twenty minutes later.
Pray for Joe as he goes to the Ivorian Embassy in the morning that he will be able to get the visa all in the same day without any problems. Sometimes they will issue the visa that day; sometimes you have to go back the next day or on an appointed day.
Nantsew yie!
Joe, Laura, Gilbert, Danny, and Bonnie