The Deaconess Who Married a Powerful African War Lord

SUSAN

For personal reasons, I don't care to give out her real name.  Susan was a White American middle class wife and a deaconess in my church (when I was a Pastor).   As I viewed her, she was the kind of person who stopped at nothing to get what she wanted (which can be good in the right situations).  She was also the kind of person who was, like many, attracted to other people's power, position and/or fame. 

During the 1990s, a lot of African refugees came into my church to worship with us.  Susan was at the forefront of ministry to and for them.  The refugees in our church had ties to high places in their government, which was captivating for Susan.  Within a few months, she had made the connections needed to be on the phone regularly with the Vice-President of the African nation.  And in time she visited the VP in his own country.  With the encouragement of her own father, she divorced her husband and married the VP, thus placing her in a polygamous marriage. 

Her father was also very much drawn to others who were famous and/or powerful in his own mind.  For his living, he sold books written by famous Charismatic authors, pastors and laymen.  He sold his books at the conferences these famous Christians spoke at.  Her father also worshiped at the altar of fame.  As I viewed him, he sought to live his life in the fame shadows of famous people (Christians), licking up the crumbs that fell from their plates.

Even today, as the First Lady of an African nation, Susan is not known to most people in the U.S., but many in her husband's country know who she is... I think.  Actually, I am not sure how much the VP wants his people to know one of his wives is an American white lady.

I have not talked to Susan for 12 years.  I saw her husband, the VP, one time at a family event (I was still friends with many in her family), but didn't care to meet him or introduce myself to him.