I hesitate to travel in Togo more than necessary. Our capital is six hours away, the roads are pretty rough getting down there and run-ins with the police occur more often than one would like. That being said, I had several things that I needed to do/buy in Lomé, so I decided to make the trip down there Monday.
Hardly any stores have special parking for their customers, as most vehicles just park parallel to the street in front of the stores where they are shopping. Thankfully, lots of people use moto taxis so a parking spot is usually not very hard to find. I parked in front of a hardware store where I would do some shopping once the store re-opened after the mid-day break that most all stores take here in Togo. While waiting for that store to open up, a friend of mine told me that the hardware store across the street was open, so we went over there to shop and were just about done when a guy came in telling me the last thing that I wanted to hear, “a motorcycle just crashed into your truck!”
Things could have been worse. At least no one was hurt, the guy did not flee the scene, etc. These are the things that you tell yourself in order to keep a good attitude. The guy said that he had to swerve to avoid hitting someone and therefore smashed into the front left panel of our truck. His three-wheeled moto also gashed the tire and ripped the side of our brand new bumper loose.
The guy wanted to me to change the tire and then go to a local garage to see about fixing the rest of the damage. The only problem is that as soon as you leave the scene of the accident, there is absolutely no way to make sure the guilty party takes responsibility for the repairs. Even though it took almost an hour for the police to show up, they eventually did, and thankfully they did not blame me for the accident!
We spent several hours that afternoon between the accident scene, the police station and then the insurance company, but things seem to be going well. Before leaving the police station, the police did remind me as he was standing in the exit I will have to go down to Lomé again once all the police paperwork is done, and the insurance company tells me that the full cost of the repairs will be covered. The funny thing is, this is the second time that a three-wheeled moto has smashed into me and done serious damage.
We pray for safety out here a lot, especially traveling on these crazy roads, and we would appreciate your prayers for our safety too and for the well being of our poor truck that these three-wheeled motos would leave her alone.
I am glad no one was hurt.
Proclaiming Christ,
Pastor Sean Harris
Berean Baptist Church & Academy http://www.BBCFNC.org Fayetteville, NC 28314 http://www.facebook.com/BBCFNC Office 910-868-5156
Me too! At the end of the day that is what really matters.
Our hearts go out to you. We remember similar experiences in Ghana in years gone by. Glad to hear that you got satisfactory repairs and insurance coverage of damage. God bless! Praying for you and the family.
Thanks for your prayers. We appreciate it so much.
We are just getting around to joining with you in rejoicing over the bounty the Lord poured out on you and “your” orphans, then the news of the 2nd blessing! Why are we amazed when the Lord answers so fully and completely? I think our amazement is an offering to Him for His grace and mercy. Then today..your poor truck, just sitting there so quietly. Results show the different ways He answers/takes care of events amd He gave you the mercy to totally depend on Him to show grace to those involved. Did you ever get your shopping, errands accomplished? Join with us in prayer for a missionary from Bell Shoals building fellowships in Uganda. She is a widow who went to Uganda several yrs. ago with her husband and built a foundation for God’s work with a particular group. On furlough to Brandon Bob died very unexpectedly in his sleep. Bobbi thot that was the end of her African mission but God wasn’t done with her being there. She has returned to the people who had learned to love her and Bob. Her heart is set on a bldg. for orphans..she has located the ideal land..you & Heidi know better than others do of what lies ahead before a bldg. is ready and all that goes before that. That’s why we’re asking both of you to remember Bobbie and her life in prayer. Encouraging news followed your blog from a missionary couple we know in Columbia. After 2 yrs. of intense praying for a much-needed bldg. for their growing church God took care of it the way only God is able to do. They almost literally stumbled upon a house for rent..the landlord lowered the rent twice when he found out Ron was a pastor; then the landlord’s son came into the pix, he knows our friends well, his church had joined with Ron’s on youth trips etc..the bottom line, the rent was lowered again, the landlord was able to cut all the red tape with city gov’t and they occupied the bldg. in no time flat!!! We rejo
We rejoice with you..even with the accident (?), pray for you and love you…Mr. & Mrs. D
God is definitely good during both the times of great blessings and when someone crashes into your parked truck!
I had to stay in the capital longer than planned the next day, but we got everything done that we needed to and then I will go back down again soon to get the truck repaired.
I accidentally hit the post comment button too soon. That is sad that Bob died and amazing that Bobbi is going back to continue the work. What an incredible story of God’s provision with the rent being lowered over and over again! Thanks for your love and prayers! We appreciate you guys so much and for all that you have done in our lives over the years!
Praying for you and your family, and the truck ,as well,
.