The Changing Moment



Looking at the new ceiling



Looking at the floor



Lo practicing before church

As I said before Buster wasn't impressed with Africa.  He still couldn't understand why God would send his son to this smelly, dirty place.  Of course he enjoyed playing with the kids, seeing the people, driving around the area, and getting the feel of the area; but still he just couldn't see the reason.  He saw the Christian-like sayings on all the Taxis and stores, the churches every where, and modest dress of the ladies.  Why did Joe and Lo need to give their lives here?  We raised the kids to serve the Lord.  This is what we had dreamed about for years, but the reality of the location was overwhelming. 

On Wednesday evening we got ready for church.  The kids were excited to show us their church.  I had visited this church when I was here five years ago.  So much had changed.  The ceiling was beautiful!  The floors were polished concrete.

A few young adults came and a young teenager.  The services began.  Joe was leading the singing with Lo playing the clarinet.  I started listening carefully.  It was absolutely beautiful singing.  It filled the room entirely.  I could sing as loud as I wanted and could not hear myself.  What beautiful singing.  Not us, you know we aren't know for our singing; but the people in church were singing with their entire hearts to the Lord.  The people gave testimonies of how the Lord was so good to them.  Joe preached a very good sermon with teaching points and challenges to live for the Lord.  Our hearts were full.  It was such an enormous surprise, our hearts were full when the services were over. 

"Until I went into the sanctuary of God: then understood I their end."  Psalm 73:17.

As parents we want our children to serve the Lord.  We want them happy.  On the other hand, we really don't want them to face danger every day.  We don't want them that far from home.  But God worked in our hearts that evening and showed us that He had Joe and Laura in Africa for His purpose.  He would take care of them.  He would use them to share the gospel with these people.  He would use Gilbert, Danny, and Bonnie to spread the gospel to the young people.  We trusted the Lord when they left for Africa.  This was different, we could see God working with this faithful family.  

We both slept much more soundly that night as we rested in the knowledge that God was working in this family and church. 



There are lilies in Joseph's yard!



The Market Circle

The boys playing pipes.  Papa was having so much fun!

We needed to get material for the curtains and Velcro.  After another great breakfast Laura made and a good cup of coffee we started of to the Market Circle.  Papa was still wondering why Joe and Laura were still here in Ghana.  Certainly they could find a nicer place to serve the Lord!  He was ready to tell them that he thought they needed to pack up and come home.  He was starting to be able to notice the people instead of just the atmosphere.  As we would drive down the road people would wave and yell, "Pastor Joe"! 

As we started going around the Market Circle we looked at the variety of stores and shops.  When we slowed down or stopped on the road kids would be calling into the windows, "Danny" or "Bonnie".  Adults would wave and yell, "Pastor Joe". 

The Market Circle is one mile around.  The shops are on both sides of the road all around the circle.  At intervals there are entrances into the circle.  There is a maze of little booths to fill the area of the circle.  Joe and Papa kept the kids in the car while Laura and I entered into the maze.  It would take hours to walk the entire area of the circle.  So we started at a little sewing shop just into the entrance.  We asked if they knew where to get Velcro.  They didn't understand what we wanted until I showed them my flip flop with Velcro ribbons on them.  They said they we should try to shoe shop.  It was a booth a few feet closer to the entrance.  I asked for 2 yards of Velcro.  We got it with no problem.  What a blessing.  Next we needed to find some material that would make some bright curtains for the house.  We found some yellow for the living room and pink for Bonnie.  It didn't take very long, but the guys and kids were in the hot car waiting for us.


Oops the trash is overflowing.

That high sidewalk is a cover for the sewer ditch.  Buster looked down into that and saw the water meter for a line to the grocery store.  We are sure that is the main difference between America and other countries.  It is our care of water! 

We headed back home and to work on our projects.  Of course, we had to take a rest too.  The kids really need a rest, not to mention Nana! 



Getting those curtains done

We didn't wash the material before I sewed it because Laura wasn't too sure that it wouldn't fall apart.  She started helping me cut out some pieces that we would use for tabs with Velcro on them.  Laura started getting a headache.  She went on and did something else for awhile while I kept sewing.  The kids wanted to help me so much that they came up with the idea that they could push the peddle for me. 


My peddle-pushers!

After supper Laura tried to help with cutting out again and then she really got a headache and sick to her stomach.  It didn't dawn on me until during the night that Laura must be allergic to whatever was on the material for a treatment.  It could have been formaldehyde or something like that to keep the material from molding and to keep the bugs out of it.  Whatever it was it really bothered Laura.  We stopped and washed the material by hand carefully to keep it from falling apart.  
While the material was drying I went on to other more important things.  Bonnie and I had dolls to play with.  The doll that I sent to Bonnie before had problems with her hair do.  I needed to get it fixed.  Bonnie got a doll and more clothes from the missionary that was leaving the country. 


Bonnie's new doll and doll clothes. 



Bonnie loves her dolls.