Global Church Advancement (GCA)

Saturday, May 31, 2008

After nearly 24 hours of travel, Nathan and I arrived in Accra, Ghana with all our luggage (!!).  We were tired, but excited.  I remember being nervous waiting in line to go through immigration.  I always think they’ll suspect that I’m up to something and take me in some small room with one light-bulb hanging from the ceiling.  “What are you really doing here, Mr. Ryman?  If that is your real name…”  At that point I would pass out. But, that didn’t happen. 

Everything went quite smoothly and we walked out of the baggage claim area where there was a mob of people standing behind a fence and armed guards pacing back and forth.  Then we saw it, a white piece of paper with our names on it held by a man named Daniel, who works for Scripture Union (a GCA partner organization).  His smile was warm and inviting.  Nathan recognized him from the previous year.  He led us through the crowd over to the parking lot, where a man (that I didn’t know) grabbed tightly onto the handle of my suitcase and said, “I’ll take this for you.”  I said, “No, I’ve got it.”  He tightened his grip and said, “Let go, I’ll carry it.”  I didn’t let go.  So my new “friend” and I walked side by side, both gripping the handle to my suitcase with all of our might.  I didn’t know what to do.  I wondered, “Does this guy work with Daniel?  Does he even know Daniel?  Is this guy trying to steal my suitcase, with me attached?”   Finally, Daniel turned around and noticed that I was a little confused and he told the man to back off.  I later found out that he wanted to carry my bag, so that I would owe him a tip. We got into Daniel’s car (a pick up truck with a big bubble type back, good storage space), and waited for Daniel to go and pay for parking.  We sat there with the windows down, surprised at how hot and humid it was.  Then my old friend from the suitcase-war returned.  He stuck his head in the window and said, “Can you give us a better tip?”  Daniel had given him one Ghana Cedi (about $1 U.S.).  I told him I didn’t have any Cedis (which was true).  Eventually, he left.  He wanted a bigger tip for doing something we didn’t want him to do in the first place.  The gentleman in the next car, with his lip crinkled up to one side and shaking his head, watched me shoo the suitcase man away.  Apparently this was normal.

Daniel eventually returned and we left for GIMPA (the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration), where the CPI was going to be held.   We checked into our rooms and went to bed.  I laid there for a long time, partly because the AC unit in my room didn’t work, and partly because I was in Africa.  Africa!    As I was lying there, I realized that in the same way that I wouldn’t let go of my suitcase, my Lord had promised to not let go of me.  Even when the enemy grabs on to me as tightly as he possibly can, hoping to gain something; my mighty King holds tighter, stronger, and without any fatigue.  I was then, as I am now, in good Hands.  I prayed that the Lord would watch over Hana (my wife) back home and that He would prepare me for what was to come.  I had no idea what I was in for.