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Kintompo Falls
Taking a lunch break 5hrs into our 10hr drive north. My mother came for a visit and got her monies worth in stories to take back home. April seemed to be a month of surprises and shifting sands. I’ll mention just a few.
After a night of torrential rains I and three others set out in the wee hours of the morning. We drove through unfamiliar, rural territory, up and down hills on 2 track dirt roads all the while wondering if my SUV was going to make it through the next water logged valley. We were driving for hours through a place with no cars, no houses, no villages, and no phone reception. Why? To make a long story short ... a special girl, in a desperate situation, needed special help. Our efforts paid off and we had a happy ending to a very stressing story. The Lord was faithful - so was my car!
Ophelia, Cynthia and Grace had a week of final exams. For the next six months they wait ... Students have to wait for several months to hear if they qualify to continue their formal education or need to make other plans for their future. Often times they sit home and wait, only a
few are able to get a job. In our case, an American friend and teacher joined us for a week (after their exams). We held a Teachers Training Seminar to prepare the girls to teach 2nd & 3rd graders in Apebouso. The girls are back with their families in their home village of Apebouso. Their younger brothers and sisters attend our school so the girls have added interests to help out the best they can.
A multi-purpose family trip took us to the north of Ghana for an African Safari. It was complete with its own hair raising surprises. This trip was to celebrate my mother’s upcoming birthday, my dear friend’s birthday and the completion of the girl’s final exams. We had a great mix of 11 people, a comfortable vehicle with A/C and a friend skillfully prepared with road trip games and prizes.
We set off early in the morning full of expectation and excitement for what lay ahead of us on this trip. Our excitement began far too soon. Just two miles north of town, during the dark hours of morning, rainforest on both sides, we rounded a bend in the road and met a patty
On Safari
Glad he didn't try to come in the room! wagon, doors open, blue and red lights flashing and moments later ... guns firing. In which direction we did not know for it was too dark to see the policemen. Mom asked, "Were those gun shots?" Kirk replied, "Yes!" Most of our travelers became very quiet. Cynthia (16) softly exclaimed, "Oh my heart". Sitting in the front seat, I took a mental survey of my body. Surprisingly, lacking any fear, my thought process went something like, "So am I going to die of a gunshot wound? I wonder what that's going to feel like?" Isn’t it funny how we react so differently in potentially dangerous situations. Further down the road we learned that police were searching for armed robbers who had attacked a small scale mining operation. These were our warning shots. After learning that bit of info we realized - those men that ran past our house huffing and puffing while we packed the car ... they were the thieves!"
The next morning at 7am we were to assemble for the safari outings. I had decided to stay back and simply relax quietly in the room, alone. It wasn't long before housekeeping came and went. Soon after, I
hear a door BANG. Figuring it was from the next room I didn't bother to uncover and open my eyes. Moments later I heard the door BANG again. This time I lifted the cover from my eyes to have a peek. Much to my surprise I was not alone. I was looking at a baboon sitting on the bed! Yes, he had opened the door and proceeded to help himself to anything he found of interest in the room. I know what to do if face to face with a grizzly bear, black bear, wild dog or owl. But a baboon?! He wasn’t aggressive towards me. None the less my mind ran wild with questions of what is the right thing to do in this situation. For me to get out of the room would mean going closer to him. An option I wasn’t interested in. Shouting was of no use as the compound was empty of people. Armed guides and tourists had all gone out looking for animals. After a few minutes, that seemingly took hours to pass, he had made his choice and left the room with his prize. My mind raced through our inventory of food and
Faker!
Don't be deceived by the sweet pose. supplies. He chose ... the bag with surprise birthday party supplies. Yep, there went the party! He made off with the cakes, cards, streamers, tape and scissors. We now had an armed baboon on the premises. I later overheard one young boy informing his mother that a group of baboons were eating a cake. I piped in, "Yea, that's our birthday cake." The remainder of the day the boy sang happy birthday to the baboons!
Another surprise at months end; arrangements easily and quickly fell into place allowing me the freedom to spend the summer months with my family in Michigan. Kirk remains in Ghana, well cared for by our crew of fabulous kids.
I say, "The Lord prepares our future." Others might say, "Everything happens for a reason".
Until Next Time
Christine
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