Lead Me Home

“His grace has brought me safe this far…”

4:30 am is early. Especially when the night has been spent alternating between sweltering and needing a sweater. While our accommodations in Kumasi were reportedly a three star rating, the air-conditioned rooms regulated much the same way the music systems here do – full blast or off.

So, there you have it – some suffering for Jesus – ideally it becomes more comic relief than actual peril or persecution. I gladly sweat for the sake of the call.

We were back on the road by 6:00 am and life had already begun. Children walking miles to school have to get an early start. Physical laborers also out by dawn to escape the unforgiving heat of the African sun. We dashed and dodged on through the fog, the jungle roads, the small villages, and people selling whatever was available.

About two hours into our journey the truck started “missing” – when you are in the middle of nowhere – car trouble is not an option. There is no AAA in Africa! We prayed. I checked the clock and calculated Central Standard Time, “Father, wake up Your warriors, we need to make it home!”

The reality, as well as the unreality of it all sank in. What if… surely not… okay Plan Z, into action – get those people praying. With each pothole we hit, with each acceleration of the engine, the problem grew more evident. We made it into the capital city and we praised God for the distance and asked for a parting of the “Red Sea” of commuter traffic that was still before us.

After 45 more minutes and a 20 mile stretch of desolate highway, we exited for Tema. At the stoplight the soon failure of the engine was obvious. “But Lord… we are almost… there…” The truck turned down the roads with our beseeching over the belching combustion. We finally turned into the Fulton’s compound and as the iron gates (which bear the Ginayme national symbol meaning “except for God – nothing”) shut behind us – the truck died.

We all turned to look at one another and laughed. Surely, Allan’s foot had just slipped off the accelerator, or putting the gear into reverse had slowed the gas flow. After 15 minutes of trying to revive the engine, much thanksgiving and praise, it was very clear – He had carried us safely as far as we needed to go.

His grace (and mercy) had lead us home!