2.02.2010
Accra, Ghana and the Latest From F.W. Africa
Drivah, give us some Gospel music!!
So started my journey back to Benin from Accra, Ghana where people
love church. Accra's tidy appearance with painted walls and abundant
green space surpassed my appreciation for Lagos' secluded glitzy areas
separated by sprawling tin roofs and swarms of frenzied people in
transit. Accra is an exception to the West African norm. Commercial
construction is booming with cranes towering over multiple-story
buildings. The north side with it's new highway, shopping mall, and
pleasant residential areas reminded me of the nicer areas of
Australian cities.
I found that poeple can be incredibly sweet or incredibly sour.
Before arriving in Accra we had asked another passenger how much it
should cost to get to the area of the sisters Bach. She said she would
help us. When we arrived she flagged a taxi, discussed the price and
then paid the fare before waving us off!!
I accompanied my parents to Accra to see them off on the plane
after three busy weeks together. Our time together began with doctor
visits as Dad arrived with a fever and fatigue that we decided must
have been malaria from a recent trip to another tropical country. He
took a cure and was feeling better a few days later and were able to
catch up with the rest of the special meeting crew in Bohicon. From
there we went north to beloved Parakou for the special meetings there.
I was proud to show my parents around the city on the back of
zemijahn's and was pleased with how well they fit into African life.
We had good meetings and enjoyed visits with workers and friends in
Cotonou, Bohicon and Parakou.
After Parakou my parents and I, along with Allyson, took a trip up
into Park W where we saw many animals and miles of barren flatland.
All kinds of deer, buffalo, antelopes, wild boars, monkeys, baboons,
crocodiles and the best was our last night there when two graceful
elephants came plodding out of the bush to take a drink at a nearby
wateringhole. We sat downwind watching from some 40 feet away as they
sucked water into their trunks and sprayed it into their mouths
twitching their big ears as they drank.
Weeks before we arrived in Parakou we heard that Papa Gomez, one of
the two elders in Parakou and the father of Fortunato, passed away.
The funeral was planned for the Saturday after special meetings and
was very simple compared to the typical Beninoise funeral. Papa Gomez
was the oldest professing man in Benin. A number of friends from
Cotonou came for the occasion. A few were relatives of Pascal who was
in prison and most everyone took the opportunity to go and visit him.
Great news came this past Wednesday that Pascal was freed from
prison. There was no warning and no reason given. After being proven
innocent of a crime that a coworker committed, he spent over 4 years
in prison waiting to be released. He has been with his wife and
children in Calavi since being released.
Kaarina and I have been asked to help Rosanne for a few months in
this southern field that takes in Gbetagbo, Calavi, Godomey (where our
bach is) and Ouidah. We started our first Gospel Meeting near our bach
last evening. Parakou, for now, is without workers.
On the other side of Cotonou the brothers started their mission as
well. It was wonderful to hear of Adebayu, from Togo, starting in the
work last week and speaking for the first time yesterday. That makes 9
native brother workers for French West Africa.
Until next time... Alize
