My West African Adventure

For those that have not heard or want to hear again, I am going to give a rundown of my recent mission trip to a small country in West Africa.  It is lengthy, but a lot happened.   Please be praying for the people of this country and for myself as I seek the Lord’s guidance in the decision to take the next step towards full time missions. Thank you all for your prayers during our trip, it was truly blessed and God answered the prayers in mighty ways.  Any concerns I had before I went were taken away completely. 

Friday, 9/5/14 the adventure began.  Early morning arrival at the airport after a workout to start the trip right, thanks Lisa Foil.  I woke up at 4:15 am knowing I would not see a bed again for another 36 hours.  The first step of the journey was smooth sailing.  I was concerned about bags and security as I was carrying a laptop, two hard drives and other electronic equipment for the missionaries there; all of this with a broken foot.  God paved the way as I was given TSA pre check, did not have to take off my boot for my foot or take out any electronics J.  Flight one completed, Charlotte to Washington, DC Dulles without any difficulties.  Our team was to meet up in DC coming from three different airports.  One member was delayed and our team leader left me a voice mail saying PRAY!  For some reason her reservations had been cancelled and she was told the flights were full and they would not book her to DC until she had seats on all of the flights.  I sent out a text and many of you prayed; thank you and God showed up in a mighty way.  With less than 10 minutes to spare a seat “opened up” and she was able to be booked and on her way.  We all met and headed from Washington, DC to Brussels, Belgium for another layover and then on to Dakar, Senegal for a short stop and finally our final destination.  27 ½ hours of flying and layovers. 

9/6/14, we arrived.  We were picked up by some of the full time missionaries, their son had traveled back with us.  We were taken to the mission house in the capital, Banjul for soup, sandwiches and beds.  We were spoiled with beautiful accommodations and even had air conditioning, it was HOT and HUMID!  I delivered everything I had brought for the missionaries running the guest house in Banjul, they had been evacuated from Liberia and were trying to make a new temporary home in The Gambia.   I did experience the call to prayer that is heard throughout the country several times per day, it was an eerie sound but served as a prompting for me to pray for the lost in this country. 

9/7/14 more travel.  We were in the capital but needed to get to the village where the clinic is.  I had been warned this would be an adventure.  The country is small and divided in half by a river, we needed to be on the other side.  As the crow flies it is about 40 miles.  I always think of miles equaling time, not in Africa.  This river that divides the country runs 300 miles and has no bridges across it.  So, we had to take a ferry ride.  The ferry in the capitol is very busy so we elected to drive to another town over 100 miles away to that ferry crossing and then drive back on the other side of the river to our destination.  I learned quickly there is no fast going here as the police stop you every 10 miles or less to ask about your papers and hope for some bribes.  Took us a little while at the stops as our driver had forgotten his driver’s license and we do not pay bribes.  The fact that we were a car full of Tubab’s (white people) going to the NGO (non government organization) with doctors (1 nurse, 1 PA and 1 NP) helped our progress a lot.  The fact that we were covered in prayer made it a safe journey.  As we pulled up to the ferry there was a line of 125 (the 10 year old counted) semi trucks waiting to get on, we were escorted right on without delay.  By the way, the ferry only holds 2-3 semi trucks and a couple cars so the drivers will sometimes wait for several days to cross the river.  They do have hammocks under their loads to at least get a nap in.  After 6 hours we made it to the compound and met the other missionaries (remember, I said it is only about 40 miles).  We were shown our house which had all we needed including an elaborate system for power.  There is no electricity, so they have solar panels that charge car batteries and then each room has a 12 volt cigarette lighter in it that will allow you to run a fan (praise God) and charge things.  There is an inverter for some lights and other electronics, but you have to be careful not to use up the stored charge.  We had church with the missionaries and I was given the opportunity to share my testimony and what God is doing in my life as well as my prayers for the future. 

Monday started off with a special blessing, a gorgeous sunrise.  As I got up and looked across the fence to the vast flat lands around me I finally realized, “I am in Africa”.  I quickly felt at home with the missionaries and in the country and my prayer became “God, I don’t want to make things happen, keep me calm and show me what your next step in my life is”.  Please continue to help me pray that prayer.  The clinic ran much of the day.   I had the opportunity to work alongside Sara the only full time medical missionary who was there when we were.  The language barrier was indeed frustrating, the national language is English but most villagers do not go to school and do not learn English.  The majority of the people where we were spoke Wolof a verbal only language very difficult to learn.  The people are a very social and friendly people, but they are lost and my heart breaks for them.  As I returned to our home for a break I saw our house lady going to the house also, again so frustrated I did not know the language.  I had been told she was a believer and wanted to encourage her, I pray she heard my heart.  She  does speak some English and the first words she said to me were “I am a believer and I have learned to hug”.  Wow, what a blessing to be hugged by her.  Until that moment I had not even realized that they did not hug or touch each other, this is a huge step and an outward sign of her belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.  She continues to grow in her faith and even has a group of ladies that comes to her house weekly that she shares with.  Please keep MK in your prayers.  As we finished up the clinic for the day a little girl came in after having fallen into a bowl of very hot food, she had bad burns.  Literally she was scooped out of the food to our clinic, after some Tylenol (the strongest stuff we had) and a bath in the sink we could work on her.  What a blessing we were there to help care for her.  When I left the wounds were looking much better and I felt more comfortable they would not get infected.  We also had a little girl with a leg wound from a donkey cart injury that was badly infected.  We saw her daily and she was tough; by the time I left I was confident her leg would be saved.  Not bragging on our work, just that God had us in the right place at the right time with the right supplies. After closing up the clinic and a late lunch and needed nap (it was Hot) it was visiting time.  Every afternoon from 5-7pm or so everyone in the village goes visiting.  We walked into the village and visited with some of the locals, they all wanted to see the Tubab’s.  I could really see how God could use this social time to share about His saving grace in a non confrontational manner. 

Tuesday was another clinic day with some very special opportunities including the privilege of praying with a man who has a chronic infection in his leg and has had it for many years.  He has been shunned by the community as they feel this is a demonic possession.  We spent time with him and I was able to wash his foot for him, all I could think of was Jesus washing the feet of the apostles.  I prayed as I washed and I believe he is open to the gospel.  We discussed the opportunities for him in terms of treatment and we realized and shared with him there was nothing we could do, but Jesus Christ the great healer could work it out for him.  We prayed with him and I ask that you would join me in lifting up I* in prayer.  We went into the village again in the afternoon and were treated to a ceremonial tea (the picture is of us drinking tang, the appetizer before the tea) and lots of time visiting with the ladies of the village and their children.    

The following day, Wednesday was a day off from the clinic.  We had the opportunity to spend time relaxing and enjoying God’s word and His creation.  We were especially blessed by a full rainbow over our compound.  We went into the market to spend time with the villagers and to do a little shopping.  I was very grateful for our 4 wheel drive as we did some serious mudding.  There is only one paved road on our side of the river and there were torrential downpours nightly.  I was a little worried we might get the car stuck in some of the holes as they were much deeper than they looked.  A little off roading into peanut fields helped us keep going.  Prayer time with the missionaries that night, what an honor to come alongside them and lift up to the Lord their struggles, their needs and their vision for the future. 

Thursday was another busy clinic day with prenatal checkups and childhood immunizations as well as some sick kids.  We said our goodbyes to the local staff and they all asked us to come back and to say hello to our family and “all of America”, so hello everyone.  We had the opportunity to have dinner with the missionaries that live in the village and see their different way of living.  They have limited water at times, so during the nightly thunderstorm their son was in charge of standing in the rain and gathering as much rain as possible in buckets.  We then had the opportunity to have dessert with Sara, the medical missionary.  She shared many of her struggles and joys on the mission field.  Sara is a young single woman so I was able to ask her a lot of specific questions about the transition to full time missions as well as the preparation and what daily life looks like for her.  It can be lonely, so please pray for all the missionaries. 

Friday was a down day, packing, preparing and reflecting with lots of visit and goodbyes to the missionaries and the villagers who all want us to come back.  We had been planning a bonfire for Friday, but every night had been full of thunderstorms so we were not hopeful it would happen.  God blessed us yet again.  After Friday pizza night, no take out here, all home made we had a bonfire.   Looking up into the sky with no clouds, no lights, no buildings, no mountains I felt very small.  I knew God was right with us and despite feeling small in His vast universe I felt overwhelmingly blessed.  I was tired and did not get good pictures, sorry.

Saturday started our journey home.  Again awoke at 4am to start a very long trek.  This time we were not bringing a car into the city, so we took the closer ferry direct to the capitol.  As we drove up to be dropped off with our suitcases there were many cars waiting and hundreds of people. I had been warned that it would be a mad rush onto the ferry with our stuff and that people would also be trying to steal our bags during this process.  Again, we were specially blessed.  By now my foot was hurting quite a bit and we asked if we could have a little special help.  We were allowed to be dropped off in the car line instead of with all of the other people and we got on the ferry before everyone else.  This allowed us to safely get on the boat and get seats with our stuff.  We got across the river and hopped in cabs to the mission house.  Then it was off to be tourists, a little shopping and a nice meal out.  We had a short break in the air conditioning of the mission house and enough time to shower and change before heading to the airport for our long journey back to the states.  As I checked in at the desk in the capitoll I found out I had an extra special blessing, a free upgrade to business class.  My seat reclined nearly flat and had a massager.  Needless to say, I slept well and the flight attendant had to wake me up when we landed in Brussels, Belgium. 

Sunday, we had an 11 hour layover so we took the train into Brussels and did some sightseeing.  Not a lot was open early Sunday morning, but we got some good pictures and a coffee and Belgian waffle.  The travel continued to Washington, DC and eventually Charlotte where I arrived in my bed at 12:15 Sunday night, well really Monday morning.  Thanks for picking me up Lisa Parrish, not sure I could have driven home, I was beat. 

What an awesome opportunity.  For those of you who read this far thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed sharing the adventure with me.  Each of you who prayed and / or supported were there right alongside me every step of the way.