It would be easier to tell the team I’m not coming and no one would question my rational. After all, isn’t there more than enough to do here? These are the thoughts and battles that went through my mind Saturday less than 24 hours before I was scheduled to fly out.
Yet God’s word says “to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” What were the instructions of the Lord? He said go and I had said okay I’ll go. Obedience was the only option for me. Would I trust the report of man or the report of the Lord? Okay Lord I’ll go but I need some money and I need your favor to get past Ghana Immigration. Late Saturday without any prompting from me people began to stop by with money and by 7:00 am Sunday morning I had all the funds to cover my expenses I was expecting and to travel in country. It was the first of several miracles that would take place in order for me to accomplish his call. Ellen reminded me that my true passport is that of a heavenly Kingdom and it’s not limited to earthly governments. With her encouragement I would plow ahead. With money in hand and bags packed I was set to go. I received a phone call from Dennis Hayford, our trip coordinator. He had been speaking with Vincent our FCA contact man in Ghana. Vincent had spoken with the immigration authorities and he said there was no way I was going to get into the country and it would be better to not go. Satan has one tactic and that is to lie to us which causes intimidation and confusion. At that moment, it was working on me. Dennis said it was up to me and he would respect my decision whatever it would be. I needed to spend with the Lord. Once again, Ellen and I cried out to the Lord for His direction. When Dennis called back the only words that would come out of my mouth and I must confess it was with tears were “How will I know if I don’t go”. If I stay home I will never know what mighty work God has in store, and if I’m sent back oh well it’s on Father, not me. My responsibility was to go until I could go no further.
The other picture that became very vivid to me at that moment was the 100s and 100s of students I stand before every semester, what would I say to them? You can trust God until it gets tuff and then you have to choose plans based on what seems best for you. To not go would be to say yes God is great but there are limitations to how much I would trust him. I was going and if I got stopped I would share Christ with whomever I can in the Ghana airport and I will turn around and come home.
But God had other plans in mind.
Miracle number one. Dennis, Del, and Dan were all asked at their points of departure to show there visa stickers before ever getting on the first flight. I was never asked that question not one time. That alone would have derailed the trip before it ever got off the ground.
Upon arrival in the Ghana airport there was a Ghana immigration official after listening to my case said he needed to talk to my host, Vincent. At 10:30 pm Dennis called Vincent who lived five hours away from airport. The conversation that ensued seemed to go on for an eternity but it was more like 10 minutes. After he hung up, he simply said it would be 150.00 dollars and I would have to fill out some forms. And just like that I was admitted into Ghana with my heavenly visa and kingdom passport.
Later the next day I asked Vincent what he and the man had talked about. He said he told the man that several years ago they use to let people get visas upon arrival what changed. The immigration official said that was true but the law had changed several years ago and they don’t do it anymore, to which Vincent replied, “no one ever told me and I’ve invited this man to come and we can’t send him away.” With no human logic of sense but with the hand of Almighty God I was granted the appropriate documents to enter and travel around the country legally.
The ministry to 55+ coaches and the basketball camp with 50 kids was a great blessing and was what I believe is the beginning of a movement that will sweep the nation in the months and years to come.
Thank you for all your prayers and support.
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