Sognarigu-Kukuo

Things went well today in Sognarigu-Kukuo. I drove over after breakfast and went directly to Pastor Gabriel's house this time. I even navigated the huge mud pit near the bore-hole well you have to go around to get to his house without stalling the bike or falling in the mud. A woman was washing her clothes there in what looked like a mud puddle and as I approached she pointed where I should drive to avoid the worst of it. I nodded in appreciation (I didn't dare remove my hands from the handlebars) and made it. As I did I called out "m-puhi a pam!" to the woman (thank-you very much!). I got to the church just as Sunday School was wrapping up and had a few moments to collect my thoughts. Then we began the worship service. After some spirited singing and dancing, a few announcements, and a special song by the youth choir in my honor, I stood and preached about "The Journey of Life" from Genesis 12:1-5 (Abraham's call).

I likened our lives to a journey with a beginning, middle and end. We had no choice over the beginning of our lives nor do we have any choice about the end. Death comes to us all; it's the great equalizer. But we can do something about the middle part of the journey; we have a choice about the path of life we are on right now. I encouraged the people to make sure they were on the right path, which is usually not the well-worn, broad path; because God's path is the only one that will get us where we really want to go. The old, well-traveled path will never deliver the goods. God, on the other hand, always delivers. That's why Genesis 12:5 says, "they set out for the Land of Canaan, and they arrived there" (emphasis mine). It was a great day and the people received the word of God gratefully and with open hearts.

This afternoon I got to exercise a little and do some reading; it was lovely. Tomorrow begins another week. It's hard to believe that this time last week I felt so unsure about my teaching, about the motorbike, and about whether I made the right decision coming over here or not. Goals for next week include doing a lot more work on my Dagbani (I've barely begun that) and spending more time with the Lord and with my studies.

To everyone who had a hand in getting me here; whether financially, or through prayer, or by your encouraging words, I say it again: m-puhi a pam! I can't wait to hear great reports about how God has been working in your lives and in our community while I've been away.