Catching Up

I’ve now been officially home for four days.  I would like to catch you all up to speed as to what has been going on in my life over the past month or so…

 

 

From there, I made my way to Africa, alone.  The World Race will be sending the L-squad to West Africa this spring and I was sent to set-up ministry and secure a debrief location for their squad.  I was definitely pumped at the opportunity to go out and just ask the Lord where he was moving and leading this squad.  And to do it alone meant that I would definitely get some time alone with just him and be able to reflect on all that had transpired over the previous 4 months.  I began in Ghana.

 

Getting into Ghana was a little tricky.  I had not previously secured a visa, so I had to pay at the immigration (it was a bit shady), but I got in.  A friend of mine had given me two names: one for Ghana and one for Nigeria.  When I arrived in Ghana, Rev. Isaac Lamptey was there to greet me at the airport,  sign in hand.  He escorted me to the location I’d be staying in Accra throughout my time there.  I spent time with his family, got to know his heart and the vision that the Lord had given him for his nation.  He is very well-connected and already went through the trouble of coordinating several meetings with different pastors from all over Ghana.  I met with the most amazing group of God’s people.  They call themselves Club 2000.  They come from all over the country and take part in various types of ministry from orphanages to prisons to 24/7 prayer ministries.  They are remarkable to say the least.  Clearly, the Lord was working and already paving the way for the L-squad.  Then, an attempt to stifle God’s plans came.  Being that I only had one week in each country, I had to spend time setting up arrangements for Nigeria while I was still in Ghana.  After looking online, I realized that I had to obtain a Nigerian visa before getting into the country.  I looked at the process…and it was a rather difficult thing to do.  One must obtain a letter from the organization sending you, a formal letter from the one receiving you, your passport info and flight itinerary, your Nigerian contact’s passport information, and $130 US Dollars.  So I got to work.  I went to the embassy, they sent me away when I didn’t have everything.  Oh yeah, internet was scarce as well, so contacting all of these people was very difficult.  I arrived at the embassy again two days before my departure and it was closed for visas.  I had one day.  I got there very early the day before leaving, turned everything in, had to pay $50 for an express visa and I obtained it just minutes before the embassy closed.  Talk about God moving.  I would love to say that I had a great attitude about all of it, but honestly, it wasn’t the best.  I was frustrated and discouraged.  I didn’t feel like I was being effective.  I felt alone and isolated.  But that’s when God showed me something that I’ll blog about next time.

 

I nearly missed my flight to Nigeria because the flight had been “reserved” but not yet purchased.  So when I got to the airport, I had to run to an ATM and make the payment before boarding.  Again, it was minutes before the flight closed.  Rev. Simeon Folorunsho greeted me at the airport.  He is also a well-connected man who is a tremendous communicator.  He had meetings all over Nigeria with various prominent people who were also pastors.  I met a veteranarian, professional footballer, and a man in the oil business, all who have hearts for the Lord and his people in this nation.  Ministry set-up was so great there and I fell in love with the people.  I have never seen poverty like I have there.  Women with babies hopping on the back of motorcycles with the babies strapped to their backs, crippled and deformed people wheeled out in wheelbarrows to the streets to beg, trash strewn along the streets, and vendors nearly run over because they were trying to make a sale in traffic.  Not to mention AIDS, water contamination, and malaria.  Take your pick.  There is tremendous need here and the people are hungry not only for food but for God’s love.  After touring around the country I boarded a plane to head home.  Now, African time is a bit different than American time as I’m sure many of you know.  Each one of the three flights I was on in Africa departed over an hour late.  This one was no different.

 

Because we left an hour late, I missed my connecting flight in Morocco.  I was exhausted physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  I broke down.  I just wanted to be home but I was reminded of what God had been teaching throughout this whole time.  I stayed the night in the hotel that the airline had arranged, ate some great Moroccan food, and spent time with the people who were very intriguing.  There is something special about them…

 

I got online to see that several flights were being canceled out of New York due to snow.  Great.  What next, seriously?  Fortunately for me, there is an incredible World Race staff on top of things and finding a flight home for me.  I made it to New York and it never felt so good to be home in the US.  I then made it to Charlotte where my flight was delayed for 3 hours.  I finally arrived home in the loving arms of my parents at 2am.  What a ride!

 

I spent the next week at home and in North Carolina with my family.  My sister and brother-in-law are house parents on a ranch for young teenage girls up there so we got to spend Christmas with them.  They are wonderful people who have a heart to serve the broken and hurting.  We did some horseback riding and did some work on the ranch.  Probably one of the best Christmas experiences I’ve ever had.  It was good to be home with them for sure.  On Christmas day, my father gave me the best gift of all.  He sat there on the couch reading through his notes and the scriptures.  He pensively flipped through the pages as he determined the exact words he would say.  My sister, brother-in-law and I sat awaiting, not really sure what to expect.  As my father finally arrived at what he desired to say, he began.  He started with my sister.  He spoke over her as his firstborn and the kind of woman she has become.  He spoke of the things hidden in her heart.  He revealed how he saw the Lord moving in her life.  He cast vision for her and Hunter as to how he sees the Lord using them in the future.  He prophesied over them and spoke a blessing over their lives.  Then he turned to me.