A Blessed Walk

It's time for me to share a story that took place the week that Laurel went home. As most of you know, Laurel came home two weeks before I did, and I had posted a few times the day that she left. Near the middle of the morning, I was just sitting around wondering what I was going to do for the next "x" amount of weeks. I'm not sure if I was praying or not, but Joshua chapter 5 and 6 came to mind. So, I opened my Bible and read about the story of Joshua and Jericho. Most of you know the story and the results.

Here's that God was stirring in my heart. Use this story as a object lesson for the children. I'm not sure I really understood right then what God was asking of me but, I just took a step of faith and allowed God to give me the words and ideas about how to carry this out over the next week. I also felt I was to only let Cassie and Laurel know about what we were doing, and ask them to pray for the next week.

The following is a summary of what transpired:

Day One Monday:

Take the kids to "see" mom fly to America. (see previous post for this story) We then walked to the embassy for day one of our walk. I explained to the children what we were doing, and I read the passage of scripture about Joshua and his march. (Joshua 5:13-chp. 6:16). We walked once around the embassy.

Day Two Tuesday:

Up at 7 a.m. eat, clean up and out the door by 8 or so. Walked the six blocks to the embassy. Read the same passage of scripture. Asked the kids to pray after I was done praying. Walked home.

Days Three- Five:

Basically the same. Except, on day four I had a strong sense that we were not praying enough and I needed to "pray" scripture out loud as we walk. Great, when does one begin....... so I start where I like to go when I need to praise the Lord, Psalms. I read, not just any Psalms, but God lead me to ones that fit our situation at the time. I was amazed at what was coming out of my mouth. The kids began to ask questions about our walks....what do we tell people at the guest house? (just tell them we went on a walk) What will people think when they see us walking around the embassy? ( I don't really care, if they ask I'll tell them) What happens if one of the guards stops us, what will we do? (nothing was my reply. just answer their questions)

Day Six....Saturday, the embassy is closed and no one is around, except the guards who carry no guns. The prayer time intensifies to where we are praying all the way around the embassy without stopping. Kids' prayers are focused on just the situation at hand, their visas, the people in the embassy, Mr. Teffera, the man in charge.

Day Seven....Sunday. We need to leave a little early so we get back in time for church. Remember, in the story God instructs Joshua to walk seven times around Jericho. So, we have our work cut out for us. Up just a little early, and we don't get out as planned...ugh! This is going to be close, seven times around, get back, get ready for church. Oh, I'll need to shower because I'll be dripping with sweat. We will need to hustle.

Ok off we go and I'm sensing this will be a different day. We begin with reading the passage that we have read everyday. We pray, we're quiet, we pray again. I'm reading scripture, praying and reading more scripture. I have not worn a watch the previous four weeks, and today is no different. So I don't have a clue what time it is part way through the walk. Oh good a Ghana Police officer in his little booth is sighted. Jacob goes and asks the time. 8:35 a.m. Great, we just stated circle number four and I'm not turing back now. We WILL HAVE to pick up the pace. So, I let the kids know that we must walk faster....oh great with this comes more sweat for me, as if I'm not hot enough! We round corner number two and a guard is walking toward us. Oh no is my first thought. But, this is the back side of the embassy, no guard has been spotted back here in six days. And the camera's watch our every move. We pass and he says, this is the third time I've seen you today, and walks away. Sweet! No foul no harm. We finish the fourth time around and head back to the guest house. I explain that God understands and he will honor our efforts, he knows our heart, it's all good. We make it back to the guest house at 9:10, five minutes until we have to leave, I can do this. Give the kids water, tell them I need to shower, and they can wait for me down stairs by Uncle George and Aunt Trudy's room. Seven minutes later I come down and off we do to church....way cool! But only for about five minutes.....and I'm hot again.

Monday arrives and Jacob says..... "Dad are we going to finish our walk?" I was not planning on this today, but I said yes let's continue. So off we go to the embassy. Now it's 9:30 a.m and the sun is up....it's hot and will be hotter when we finish, better bring water today. Ok, so we have three trips around the embassy to complete, we pick up right where we left off yesterday....praying to the Lord, reading the same scripture. Yet today is the day we will encounter the Ghana Police and the guards who carry no guns, (they really pose no threat to me or anyone, it's the Ghana Police with the power, they carry the big gun) So, on the last trip around the embassy, we remove our shoes, (Josh 5:15) and guess who decides to come out and "see" what we are doing? The guy without the gun....ok this should be no big deal. But he waves over the guy with the gun. Crud!!! But, we have done nothing wrong so it's all good. I'm asked what we are doing and I tell him the story about Joshua in the Bible. He seems annoyed, not with me but with the guy without the gun. So, we walk over to the main entrance to the embassy and another guard comes out and asks questions. He's not impressed at all with my answers. Are you a U.S. citizen, yes. Is this a legal adoption? (no I'm stealing the kids, can't you tell) yes all the paper work in the U.S. and here in Ghana has been approved. We are just waiting for the kids visas to be approved. Where are staying? Guest house about six blks. away. How long have you been here? five weeks. Do you have a passport? Yes. Fill out this piece of paper. ok no big deal, funny that it's a visitor form. I'm not visiting, just walking around outside. Can I go now? Yes you can, have a nice day. So, off we went to finish our seventh time around.

Monday afternoon we were to find out if the forms in DHS would be sent over to the counselor section where the visas are processed. We assumed they would be as the main man who signed the papers was back in town. No phone call by late afternoon, but a friend got the call at 4:50 that hers was done. Ok no big deal, ours should of been done also. We will just go to the embassy on Tuesday and check things out. (you can read previous post to find out details of what occurred next).
Our prayer the whole time was this; that we would be able to fly out on the 17th of March, our papers would be signed, visas received at the end of the week. All of these were prayers were answered. The kids faith in a mighty God was increased because the God of the universe asked me to do one small thing, so that He could be glorified.

I tell this story now because it's part of the story we have the privilege of telling to you, the reader. This story is not about me, or the kids. It's about the God of creation who has called Laurel and I to do something beyond ourselves. Why he chose us will remain a mystery to me. But I do know this, I'm trying to be obedient to the Father. And I would rather live on the edge, (and possibly out of control,) in His hands, than live life being comfortable and content. I hope and pray that our kids will remember the time when God showed up and made himself real to them.

Jim