We got home about 11:00 at night, dark out of course. Suzanne opened our first security gate that is about six feet from our front door. Upon opening it, she let out a scream, very loud and very intentional. I got the feeling that I didn't want to walk around the corner and see what she was seeing. But, I did... There was a black snake laying across the path to our front door. Black, three feet long and moving very, very slowly. So there I was, standing in shorts, flip-flops and hanging onto a tray of upside down pineapple cake. Not exactly the "striking" position one hopes to be in when encountering such a foe.
So I did what anyone else would do...I called my security guards over to take care of the problem. Now, Africans HATE snakes. Thankfully my guys knew how to get the job done. One picked up an ax handle and ran over and bashed it's head it. The other one stepped on the tale with his book so the snake would not move. After striking the head several times, they looked at me and asked me if I wanted to pick it up. I respectfully declined only to get the question "do you fear snakes?" I answered that the snakes in America were different...they just smiled and nodded at me. I don't think they bought it.
This was one of several snakes killed on our compound over the last several weeks, but this is the first that we have seen up close and personal. The scary thing is, another American who lives on our compound with us had just been in our house about five minutes before we got home. She just ran over to drop off some clothes for washing...in her bare feet!! We just praise God that nothing happened.
Serving Jesus,
Bob and Suzanne
