Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 286
268 I, with my family, was in Pakistan on leave approved by markaz; such leave was granted to central employees every five years. I had not completed my leave period when I was directed by markaz to proceed to the Gambia immediately. (I had the Gambian Nationality). Complying with the directive, I arrived in London, met Huzur and left for the Gambia. There was no Pakistani Ahmadi brother in the Gambia; all of them had been called back in view of the gravity of situation. I stayed in the Gambia for one week and then went to Senegal. Previously I had resided with my family in the Gambia because of some legal issues. I performed my duties of tabligh and tarbiyyat from there. Anyway I reached Senegal, rented a house in Dakar and started my tabligh and tarbiyyat activities with cooperation by some Senegalese muallims. My family was still in Rabwah. I visited a Gambian minister who had come to Senegal and was staying in an hotel in Dakar. We spoke on various topics. During the conversation the minister said that if I needed any help for anything he would happily help. I returned home after the meeting. One day I rang the minister and after exchange of customary greetings, I told him that I was a Gambian national and my family who had Pakistani passports needed entry visa so that they could join me. The minister said that I could see him in his office any time I wanted to and he would arrange visa for my family the same day. A few days later I went to the Gambia and reached the minister’s office. He received me warmly, called his secretary and, pointing to me, told him to do my job immediately, and that I would stay in his office till the job was done. After this emphatic order, the