John is my friend in Ghana who helps people who come to him in need. He is a minister who serves others with deeds not words. I have known him for perhaps ten years or more now. I have written of him here many times.
John is presently living in the arts center area in Accra, though much of his service has been in the nearby Buduburam Refugee Camp.
I woke this morning to find my phone filled with desperate messages from John. He says that half of the art center burned down last night. I am not sure just how much was burned but he sent me many photos and it looks like a widespread fire. I can’t find any news of it online but it certainly happened.
John’s home was destroyed. his guesthouse where he lets people in need stay for brief emergencies was burned to the ground. Favour, the seventeen year old Nigerian girl who just gave birth, was staying there. They lost everything but she and the baby are safe. The Small Killers, the boy dancing group, are okay. John’s music partner Okra and his small boy are okay. More than that I don’t know.
John was badly injured in an unsuccessful attempt to save his things. He only has the clothes on his back right now. I don’t know how many others in the neighborhood were burned out.
I am just writing this quickly as a bulletin. I will try to get more information but John is almost incoherent right now so I can’t push him too much for details.
I don’t know if I am allowed to ask for help here again, I have done it so many times, but John is homeless and there will be much need there.
The ironic thing is that after John and I chatted last night, while this fire was happening without my knowledge, my furnace tripped off twice and I had to push the restart button each time. This has never happened before. It is running fine now.
I don’t know if this affects Anabel, the four year old orphan John has been caring for.