Today we visit the city center of Ouagadougou. We drive into the town which is full full full of motorbikes, scooters, and bicycles. I cannot imagine driving here, I think I would be so timid everyone would hate me. I would just be so afraid of hitting someone!
We are going to Bro Aristide’s office for a while, then we are going to see the US Embassy and their presidential estate.
Bro Aristide’s office also contains the VGR Library for Ouagadougou. It is a simple room with English and French sermon books. It has a desk for 1 computer. The computer is for the brother to work on translations for the local language here.
We sit in Bro Aristide’s office for a while. We look at the plans for the new church at the land we visited yesterday. Bro Aristide is an architect. We have also seen some of his buildings as we drive, occasionally we have stopped at some in progress buildings so he can answer questions and instruct the foreman.
Perhaps a couple of hours later we depart. It was ok that we spent that much time there, there was AC in his office. Today is SO HOT. I saw 108 degrees on my phone. Ay yi yi. We descend the steps and return to the street. This particular street is full of cell phone dealer shops. It also seems to be a place for biking parking or rental. Oh look, a sweet looking child. Drat, she has a can, and I made eye contact. “Monsieur? Monsieur?” Of course, she is not asking anyone else, just me. I remind myself this is not the purpose of my trip.
Then we go to the supermarket. Tomorrow we travel a good portion of the day and we need to buy travelling snacks/lunch. Something that is precooked and such. We enter the only modern grocery store I have seen since arriving. Oh Look! Another white person! Wow, I haven’t seen another white person in over a week. Not that this is a big deal, but it helps to understand what is about to happen. We grab some shortbread cookies, some bread and other such items. We checkout and depart the store. When we arrived there were not too many people, just a couple guys trying to pedal stuff. A fly swatter, a bathroom scale, what must be lottery tickets although I am not sure, are among the items for sale. As we depart the store, there are, well, I want to use the word hundreds of people because that is how it felt, but it cannot have been that many. There are some elderly women with cans. “Monsieur? Monsieur?” Apparently word gets around quickly when a white man enters a store. It’s a big deal, and everyone comes to get a piece of the action!
I think it would not have been possible for me to have visited a market. I surely would have caused a ruckus just to have walked through.
Back in the vehicle, we head over to see the political area. It was neat to see the US Embassy and to see the stars and stripes flying! Then we pass by their presidential area. I suppose if I lived in D.C. I may want to take someone past the white house and such, but I really don’t require visits to see presidential palaces. Still, it is something to do.
As we drive around, Bro Gilbert gives us another African Proverb.
“If you walk behind the elephant, the dew will not wet your clothes”
I cannot remember how this one was applied. Bro Gilbert hates it when he begins talking like this and I take out my phone and start typing these notes. I reassure him I have left the crude one about using the toilet in the river out. It is his fault for talking so much! He also dishes it out pretty good, usually in Bro Jeffrey’s direction, so I don’t mind firing a few back his way. All in good fun.
We head back to Bro Aristide’s house for our lunch and rest. Lunch was chicken, rice and green beans again like the first meal I had here. Good, I was feeling great Tuesday, today my stomach is a little off again. It is 108 degrees, who can eat?
I go to my room for the AC, goodness I’m tired!! I take a couple hour nap and feel a little better. It’s time to prepare for service. What to preach tonight? These people have heard 6 of my sermons already. An evangelist has to move on soon or transition to a more pastoral anointing and mode!
I sit in the pastor’s study and put my head against the wall so I feel the air move from the fan the best.
Lord, let me feel your anointing once more. Let my faith rise for myself so I will not feel so bad.
I begin to just praise Him and I feel quite a bit better. How prayer and praise can just lift our spirits!
I preach on “Behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”. We cannot truly repent until we behold Him. Until we see His holiness, His goodness. Then where can we behold him? In Christ, in other believers, in the mirror if He dwells in us. I was really feeling quite a bit better as I preached. I had to get a little happy a couple times and run across the platform.
We close the service with a prayer line as some the believers requested prayer before service. After the prayer line we sang “I command my hands”. The people enjoyed this song and wanted to sing it again. It felt like we were closing out another convention. It was so nice.
After service the young people were asking so many questions “Why doesn’t Bro Joseph have a camp for us in Africa?” and other similar questions. I tried answering the best I can. I have no idea how a camp or event could be held here. The logistics astound me. Bro Cyprian’s daughter gives me a present for my daughter. I don’t know what it is, it is wrapped all pretty. Unfortunately, I will have to at least cut the wrapping paper somewhere so I can answer the airport questions truthfully! One brother has a question. “That small picture of Bro Branham” (it’s a 5×7 actually…) “I really would like one of those”. AnnaMay gave me that picture so I could use it in preaching. I probably still want to use it some of the remaining six sermons or so I am to preach. Denying this brother my picture was harder than ignoring the little girl with the can downtown. I will send Bro Gilbert enough pictures for his entire congregation when I get back.
Returning to Bro Aristide’s house, we have a light meal of fried chicken, fried potatoes, and fried plantains. I only eat the plantains and potatoes. Eating has become more of a chore. Don’t misunderstand me, the food is tasty at Bro Aristide’s house. It would be enjoyable under normal circumstances. I’m only eating because I know I need to eat.
We have prayer together in the living room, asking God’s blessings on tomorrow’s journey and to be with each of us as we part ways, trusting the Lord to meet again soon, preferably in the rapture of the saints.
I call AnnaMay to say good night and discuss the day some. I’m so tired, there will be no writing about my experiences tonight, perhaps in the morning. We are to leave around 5AM.
(Written the next morning on the road between Ouagadougou and the Ghana border.)
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