"JUST PEDAL!"

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a President. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him.

But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable...It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, and it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"

I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people I met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says..."Pedal.”

--Adell Keith

CELL CHURCH IN IVORY COAST IN GRAVE DANGER!

The reporter is acting as witness and also as a contracted partner of this church on a huge social and community program in progress for the church.

The Eglise Protestante Oeuvres et Missions Internationales located in Yopougon Kouté was attacked from all sides yesterday [May 2] evening around 9PM [local] by the FRCI [troops officially and directly under the command of Ouattara]. The pastor officially appointed by the church to be in charge of the crisis testifies to the following facts at the scene at this time (we have created some 2500 dossiers of those who have taken refuge in the church):

Preamble: Several times I have reported the distressing situation (sanitary, medical, security…) of the Eglise Protestante Oeuvres et Missions Internationales [www. epbomi.org] located at Yopougon Koute between Nankoko pharmacy and Hotel Assonvon. Direct contact has been made with French Licorne military forces, the United Nations Mission to Cote d’Ivoire, the UN Refugee High Commission, UNICEF, by email and on a benevolent and mutual aid channel on Facebook. (Unfortunately I no longer have access to the recent Facebook files which disappeared today. I sent a request to this service to know who has done this and why it was done.)

Facts of May 2nd, 2011 around 8:30PM – 9:00PM reported around 9:10PM. 54 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN AWAY - YOUNG PEOPLE OF 19 to 30 YEARS TOWARDS the SHELL STATION NOT FAR FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR the BLIND IN YOPOUGON (reported by witnesses trying to determine the facts with the pastors and members of the church in charge of security) The list of these people is in the possession of the pastor in charge.

The Church has been attacked with heavy weapons (a report is being compiled on property damages) Offices were plundered with major damage and theft (cell phones, portable computers, cameras,…) The church health clinic center was ransacked. Emergency medications provided by the UN were stolen.

Two Nissan vehicles, green and gray, were taken as well as one small Peugeot bus. I contacted the UN Human Rights Commission [UNCI HRC] reps in Cote d’Ivoire in the neighborhood of 9:30PM. (I reported the exact hour on the [now lost] Facebook mutual aid channel). I also directly contacted the French Licorne military force. The agent on duty transferred me right back to the UNCI HRC agent on duty who said he had informed the UN Security Council. I gave him the phone number of the pastor in charge for more details. We have had NO return calls from them as yet. The church is being intimidated because the attackers promised to return. We think that this is a deliberate act. I posted this odious act on Facebook. However I do not know if officials have contacted the interested parties for information as the page disappeared this morning. I am trying to find out if it is government officials themselves who have removed this from Facebook or if it was Facebook who did so and for what reason.

Pasteur Dion, President and founder of this Church, has experienced attempted threats of kidnapping. However, he was put in a place protected by pastors and friends. We fear for his life.

We ask everything possible be done to safeguard the physical integrity of those “taken away” as well as present and future protection of displaced members of this church and also with all of the Churches affiliated with the activities of Pasteur Dion [www.epbomi.org]

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[This is the message sent to unicef]

MEDICAL AND SOCIAL URGENCY

WE ARE ALERTING YOU TO THE EMERGENCY SITUATION AT YOPOUGON AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN YOPOUGON KOUTE IN THE “RED ZONE” [Red Zones are areas not yet secured by the government]:

WE HAVE RECORDS ON THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE

2500 REFUGEES - -800 WOMEN OF WHOM 57 ARE PREGNANT WITH 7 IN LABOR INCLUDING 1 MISCARRIAGE THIS MORNING. - 1000 CHILDREN - 700 MEN

WE ARE IN A COMBAT ZONE WITH ROCKET FIRE WHICH HAS NOT YET REACHED THE MAIN SITE BUT IS HITTING ALL AROUND US WITH COMBAT TAKING PLACE ON THE GROUND NEARBY

WE NEED : 1) FOOD AND DRINKING WATER 2) BASIC DRUGS AND MEDICAL EVACUATIONS 3) MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BECAUSE THE ZONE IS OUTSIDE OF WIRED NETWORKS WITH INTERNET EXCEPT FOR CELL COMPANIES GSM, MTN, AND KOZ. 4) NIGHTIME SECURITY

AND WE HAVE NOT HAD A REPONSE FROM YOU TO EMAIL SENT AT THE BEGINNING OF WEEK TO UNCHR