"Wawa" II

  Please pardon the double use of the corny title, but I think I have a good reason. As I was thinking about it, I really thought it was a perfect description of Mango. A place where West Africa has been “winning” for… who knows? Centuries? Millennia? The town is beaten town, one of the poorest and most undesirable in Togo. It is a dustbowl this time of year – the most immediately striking thing about the town is the dirt and trash everywhere. It seems like no one really wants to be there. There are 5 main tribal groups in town, and traditionally they all hate each other. Even now, most people walk around with a stony expression on their face. I guess there isn’t much to smile about living in Mango. As one of the missionaries here said, “Living in Mango is like living in hell; it’s incredibly hot and the people hate each other.”

  But things are changing. ABWE has been present building this hospital (which the town leaders begged for) for about 5 years now. Church planters are already at work learning languages, building relationships, and building the hospital. They are also building trust. Now, when you stop and greet someone you are normally met with a warm smile. Children excitedly wave and call out “Batture!” (white person) when they see you. A handful of people in this Muslim dominated town have already come to know Christ as their Savior. The church here is beginning to sprout. It is a young fragile sprout, and does not yet have roots. Nonetheless, for the first time in Mango – there is life, and hope.

  The hospital being built here is called “Hospital of Hope”, and for good reason! In a town with no resources, it offers hope to the sick and hurting where none exists. But more than that, the opportunity to be a beacon for the gospel in this whole region (the hospital will be attracting those from surrounding countries as well, as there will not be anything like this anywhere nearby) will be unparalleled, here at least. During our trip up here, Stephen and I really had the opportunity to pick a lot of people’s brains. We are super excited about the team’s vision and philosophy of ministry. The medical work here is only a part of something much, much bigger. It is a part of the unreached ends of the earth, but it appears God is doing something. He is beginning to make His name known, and He is planting His church. And from Mango, who knows the influence that church could have? The opportunity for evangelism and then discipleship through medicine here is huge!

  We spent some time with Anna, an incredible young missionary lady working here who took us around town to meet her friends. She is focusing on the Fulani people group (she is the only one working with them, and this is the people we are very interested in too!), and so we were able to meet and “talk” with several of them. We reeeaaallly enjoyed that! We also were able to have a lot of meals with the other missionaries, pick their brains about the plans for the hospital and ministry up here. We got to hang out in their incredibly cool pool. We went to market and met some amazing people. We got to help the DeKryger’s unpack, and we got to attend the little church here. In all, it was a privilege. Yes, there are a lot of inconvenient things about the place. The water is not clean (the hospital is working on digging its own well, but has so far come up dry). The dust is unlike anything I have ever experienced. The bugs are annoying. The heat is, well… “uncomfortable”. It’s more isolated and not really as pretty as down south. But I hardly think those things should really be a consideration in deciding whether to move to a place, do you? ;-)

  Pray for Mango. Pray for the missionaries in Mango, that they would not grow weary because life there can be hard! Pray for the people there, that the Holy Spirit would soften their hearts and they would be receptive to the message of Hope. Pray for real discipleship and true strong churches to grow. And pray for us, as we consider whether this place and work is where God is calling us to be. There is a unique opportunity here to combine our two loves – medicine and discipleship. You see, “Wawa” has been true in Mango for a long time. But by God’s grace, West Africa WILL NOT Win Again – God will, through the power of His gospel.