On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall on November 9, 1989, I am sharing a personal experience relating to the concrete dividing wall that became one of the most enduring symbols of the Cold War.
In pursuance of my goal of studying medicine, I embarked on an adventurous journey from my little village Mpintimpi in Ghana to the then West Germany.
Before picking up my studies in Hanover, I spent a little over two years as an asylum seeker in West Berlin.
In the course of my stay in the western part of the divided city, I underwent surgery to my left ankle. During my stay in hospital, I got to know Ilse, a German national, who happened to be the physiotherapist assigned to me.
On my discharge from hospital, I became a member of her prayer group. All members of the group, eight in total, happened to be female. Eventually, I became a regular male guest at their meetings.
From time to time, they organised a prayer breakfast, in a rotating manner, in their various homes.
Often after the indoor session, they chose to drive to an unusual spot to continue the meeting there. They intentionally selected the spot—a small hill overlooking the Berlin Wall at an area not far from Ilse’s home. As we gathered a few metres away from the dividing wall, we prayed intensely to the Lord to help bring the wall down.
‘In the Name of Jesus, we are cursing the Berlin wall; it is the work of the Devil and not of God.’ Then, addressing the wall, we cried out at the top of our voices: ‘In the name of Jesus, come down, Berlin wall!’
That the Berlin wall would fall was a prospect, which, to be honest with my readers, I did not reckon within my lifetime!
The night of November 9, 1989–what an epic moment in the history of Germany, Europe and to some extent the whole world it was!
*Those who wish to read a detailed account of my stay in divided Berlin between 1982 and 1984 may read my book:
“The Call that Changed my life” https://www.amazon.com/Call-That-Changed-My-Life/dp/0956473415
or the slightly abridged edition
“Medical School At last” https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Arduous-Journey-Deprived-Prestigious/dp/0956473482
