~ 2008 Interns (This week's entry written by Tulisha) ~
 Wow,we interns are already halfway through our second week in Togo. I'm just taking it one day at a time, but the time goes quickly!
I'm really enjoying when I get to see people for the second or even the third time. Matt and I went with Murphy to Kpotonou during our first week to meet with some of the men that he's training out there. As we left, we stopped by their homes to meet their families and practice greetings. That Sunday I saw those same men at the cluster worship we went to. Then I went back to Kpotonou last week with Christine when she met with the wives of those men (pictured above). I couldn't put into words at the time, but what I really liked was that even though I had been in Togo less than two weeks, parts and even some people were already becoming familiar.
The guys and I have only 3 more days left of language class. We've been given many opportunities to practice what we're learning. And I think that we're in the best environment to practice, not just because we're surrounded by Ewe, but because the people here are so encouraging! Even though I make mistakes, like forgetting how to answer a greeting that I learned on my second day, the Togolese still smile to hear my attempts and remind me of the answer and laugh with me at the goofs. Personally, I hate making mistakes, but I'm really glad for the good attitudes that have greeted me here. It's helped me get over my mistakes a little better.
The next adventure that we interns are looking forward to is Bonding--4 days/3 nights out in a village, each of us alone. It's a little intimidating, but I'm trying to remind myself of the good things--like how we'll all laugh at my limited Ewe and the chance to really see their daily lives. We'd appreciate being in your prayers Thursday through Sunday, especially asking that we'd would have thankful attitudes for the blessings of learning that we're getting.
~ Murphy and Christine Crowson ~ Crowson's Blog
From Murphy - Thank you for praying for Emmanuel and Kokuvi as they went on their "spying out the land" trip last Saturday. They rode their bikes to two distant villages and talked with village chiefs and others seeking those interested in the Way of Life. One village chief flat out refused to allow them to proclaim the Good News in His village. The the second village received them well and invited them to return to speak more about Jesus. As they were leaving the children even chanted; "We want to go to church!" Emmanuel and Kokuvito are excited and are looking forward to participate in the what God is doing in His Kingdom.
Please continue to ask the Lord to bless us as we prepare for our transition to Rwanda in December. This weekend we are going to have our first family "talk" to begin the emotional processing of leaving our home in West Africa to begin a new life in Rwanda. Pray that God would bless all of us, Stephen and Matthew especially, as we emotionally disengage from our life here and embrace a new one across the continent. In addition, please ask the Lord to provide all that we need financially for this transition. You can find a list of our Rwanda Transition Needs on our blog. You can find out more about our future ministry in Rwanda by visiting our Musanze Team's website @ http://rwanda.harvestfields.net.
From Christine - Thank you all for your prayers for me. I am feeling much better. We are having a fun and busy beginning of our summer with the interns here. It is always enlightening to see Togo through new eyes. Pray for the interns as they get ready to bond this weekend. Pray that their eyes and hearts will be open to see and experience the things God has planned for them. Pray also for the ladies and children in Kpotonou. Many of them are sick with some of the same symptoms (cold/ stomach bug) we in Tabligbo have been experiencing.
~ Emily Dunnagan ~
Last Sunday we went to cluster worship in Gbagou Kope with the four interns which was really great. Church was really wonderful this past week. I love the lively singing times and I enjoyed really feeling comfortable in Togolese worship. I understand more and more all of the time. Having the interns around is also encouraging me to listen and work a little bit on my Ewe. Rachel and I got great opportunities to hold several little girls . We each had one on our lap during the end of church services, and then we got to hold babies during the car ride back to Kpeve (pictured left).
Monday was a LONG day of shopping in Lome. Then that night the Koonces hosted us for a game night. Tuesday and Wednesday I taught most of the school day by myself while Rachel recovered from the head cold that has been going around. It has felt like a very busy week, but also one where I felt the joy of living in service to God.
I feel like I really got to know the interns this week. It is so nice to have their voices during our team devotional times and to hear their new perspectives on life and faith.
~ Marty and Louise Koonce ~ Blogs: Marty, Louise, 4T's
It has been a good two weeks with the interns. It is always a blessing for us to get to see Togo and the Watchi people through their eyes. Things that have become so natural to us, such as African traffic patterns, tend to be bizarre to them. Their desire to hear the stories of faith from the lives of the Watchi Christians has been a real encouragement. Their desire to interact and try their new language skills has been good as it is reminiscent of those first attempts we had at speaking Eve.
As our house has had the addition of three grown men for the past two weeks, Louise has been working hard to keep everyone fed. She has been struggling, along with Trevor and Tucker, with a cold, which is something to definitely pray about as it is no fun hosting while being sick.
Marty's work in the villages continues on as he visits mainly Tabligbo, Ahepe, and the Atitogon areas. They all seem to be growing in their commitments to the work. It was especially nice this last week having the interns go out with him, for the leaders of the churches were able to give prayer requests to the interns, who then spent the two hour plus teaching session in prayer for each given church and its members. Which if there is anything we would love to teach the interns this year it is the power of prayer and its role in missions.
As for that, know that with each prayer you pray for the Watchi, God is listening and acting on their behalf, so please keep praying.
Things you can be praying for this week are: health for our household, financial needs for our transition to Rwanda, deep relationships with the interns, and that we would be overwhelmed with love for Jesus.
Tsokemawu from Adankonou Kope needs prayers for his health. Benoit our night guard is on sick leave with high blood pressure (220 over 105). The leaders of Atitogon cluster asked for prayers that they would ber able to carry out the plans they have made.
Afakomi Kope needs prayers as they are trying to move the location of their building down the road a little to Ntounkou Kondzi.
As well, do pray that our vehicle continues to run well and that we can fix the four wheel drive shaft as the rains have definitely arrived. Thank you for the love you show us through your prayers.
~ Rachel Baker ~
The highlight of my week: I got to wear blue jeans!!! On Thursday it started off first thing with rain. We had school inside our house (because the tin roofed school is too loud in the rain) and it was cold. I never thought that I’d say it was cold in West Africa, but Thursday, I honestly got chill bumps when I was outside! It was wonderful. If this is rainy season, I’m pretty sure I love it. Now, it couldn’t have gotten down past 80 degrees or so, but hey, that’s cold these days. Emily and I laughed later that night how nice it was to teach school a full day without ever breaking a sweat. With the rain came mud. The boys decided that they’d color the back wall behind the playground outside brown. Before I knew it, they were covering the wall with mud – first drawing smiley faces and names and then just coating the entire wall. It became a day – long event that they continued to work on anytime they had free time.
 That wasn’t the only good thing about the week. We went out to church with the interns on Sunday and were able to go to cluster worship held at the Gbagou Kope church. It was neat to see the experience through new eyes again. It was such a great Sunday. The church building was SO small and there was a LOT of people there (pictured left). It was fun to be that crowded – it made the experience what it was. The Christians seemed so enthused throughout the entire worship. Emily and I had a group of children just come right up and sit with us. One of the girls kept comparing our fingernails and toenails and pointing out the freckles on my arms. It was funny to watch her expressions. The language barrier is there, but children are still so easy to read in any language. There were kids of all ages this Sunday. On the way home, like most days, Murphy ended up with a full truck of people that we would drop off on the way out of the village. Seeing two moms climb in the back with newborns in tow was something that I just couldn’t watch… so, when I offered, the moms gladly handed them off to me. Emily and I got to hold them with us in the cab until we dropped the ladies off. Holding babies is always a perk! They were absolutely precious!
~ Agricultural Ministry - Laté Lawson-Simlen ~
 God continues to bless the Agricultural Ministry among the Watchi. This month Late is trying something new in the Batoe region: A Fish Farm. Pictured left is a natural "pond" that already has fish in it! Late is teaching Batoe Christians how to dam up the pond and build walls so that when it's flooded this fall more fish will enter and not be able to leave. The pond was already located on a Batoe Christian's land! Until now though, no one even thought about how to use it to raise fish! Praise God for His provision!
Please continue to pray for the well drilling in Kpokede. They hope to find water this week as they are already drilling at 18 meters! |
