A little planting, a little watering

  Well, this will be my last post from Togo. Once again, the time is drawing to a close… hard to believe! But I am ready to come home, in the sense that I feel like our time here (for this trip, I mean) is wrapping up and coming to an appropriate closure. We accomplished what we were hoping to, learned a lot, and have much to think and pray about for our future. And let’s be honest… there’s nothing like being in your own bed, and having your own home to “homemake” in! Not to mention having your toddler in her own room…

  This post will probably be a little random and disconnected, as I just wanted to write about a few experiences that stick out to me that haven’t fit into any other blog posts. Some of the ABWE churches here (or former ABWE churches I should say, they are actually independent now) have started a network of Christian schools in Togo. The issues with the school system here in Togo could take up a whole post in itself… suffice it to say that it is a very needed area of ministry (though the Christian schools struggle in many ways too). There is a young missionary here named Christy who helps these schools – there are 14 – by training the teachers and helping with curriculum development. One of the schools in a village (Bodje) about an hour from here is particularly struggling, and the teachers there decided to have a Bible club every Wed. afternoon in order to reach out to the community (the teachers, by the way, are Togolese – not missionaries). I went along with Christy and one of the other short term ladies (Donna) to help teach the club. We had about 80 kids, all eventually packed in to an itty bitty (maybe 25’ by 25’?) concrete structure. But that was after the most disorganized, rule-breaking, hilarious Awana games I had ever seen, all around a faintly chalky circle scrawled in the schoolyard dirt =-) Now, I know that plenty of those kids were there out of curiosity to see the “yovos” (white people), or out of hope to get a craft, bouncy ball, or lollipop (which they got!). But they heard the gospel, and that contains the power of God for salvation! Who knows where and when and how God will later bring that to mind and use it in their life? And really, it was also just plain fun to hang out with so many eager, enthusiastic kids! Especially when they sing =-)

  Another favorite thing I’ve been able to do is give some of the nursing students here (they have a nursing school to train Togolese nurses) some “conversational English” practice. I was asked to do this but honestly wasn’t super excited, because when you speak almost no French and the person you are talking to speaks very little English and you are supposed to sit down and have a conversation… things can get a little, well, awkward. But I loved it! I talked to two nursing students for over an hour, about all kinds of things – family, nursing, etc. They asked me about nursing in the US and various other things, and wrote down the funniest English words to remember on their little notepads. When we had been talking for awhile and I was about to say something like “Well, we should wrap up”, one girl (Filomen) then asked me to tell her how I came to know Christ. After 10 minutes of me stammeringly trying to share my story in the simplest English words possible, I was then able to hear from them in their sweet halting English how they had come to know Christ as well. And seriously, I had the best, deepest conversation with these two students. Due to language barriers, I don’t often get to have “real” conversations with the people here – it was such a blessing to me to be able to do so! And to see them truly overflow with joy as they talked about how they came to know Jesus and how He has changed them! And you know what? Both of their stories started with something like “My family did not go to church or know about Christ, but when I was a child two men from the church came to my house and talked to me…” I could not help but think of the kids in Bodje. One day, will they also have a similar story to tell?

  Finally, I will close with one brief thing I have been thinking about and learning. To quote a corny phrase (because apparently I love corny phrases) – “There is no ‘I’ in team”. If I view my time here merely about what “I” have done and accomplished, I will be discouraged. I didn’t really share the gospel much, personally. I didn’t have too many “quality” conversations. I didn’t save any lives, and I’m pretty sure there won’t be any Togolese talking about how eternally grateful they are that I was here. In general, if I view ministry as about me – I will either be falsely inflated and proud, or full of discouragement and self-pity. But if I see my time here as just part of what the entire team here in Togo is doing – and even more importantly, as just a little part of what God is doing in the world – then I find its meaning. The smallest acts of love – whether kisses blown from an enthusiastic toddler, giggles shared among children, friendly greetings from one mom to another, or even an encouraging arm squeeze – have meaning in light of the gospel. God uses many things to open up closed hearts. Some plant seeds, some water, some even get to reap, but God causes the growth. And not only am I ok with that, I rejoice in it. My little bit of planting and watering have meaning, because God is at work here causing growth.

  Please pray for our traveling on Friday/Saturday. We will leave here about 10am Friday (5am EST) and arrive home (hopefully!) at 11-something on Saturday morning. I think that is about 31 hours. That is a looooong time with a toddler. Evelyn was quite sick over the weekend, but is ok now. Please pray for all of us to stay healthy, be well rested before we leave, and of course – for Evelyn to SLEEP on the flight! Thanks so much for all of your prayers and encouragement, everyone. Looking forward to seeing many of you soon!

P.S. – For those requesting pictures, don’t worry – we have many! We will post them as an album soon after we get home.