Saying Goodbye to Jonathon

"If Love Could be Measured in Tears we Would have Filled an Ocean"

Jonathon boarded a plan Tuesday night bound for the States. Being a private person I never thought that I would post such a writing, but everyone keeps asking how we really are.
Our hearts just found a new hole. Saying goodbye to our youngest really hit hard.

Gin and I stood on the veranda Tuesday and cried silent tears. We were going to say goodbye to Jon in about 4 hours. I did not want him to see me cry, but the emotions would not stop spilling from my eyes. I asked God, "Will it always hurt this bad?" You know telling our children goodbye.

He did not respond, so I am sure that His answer was most likely "yes".

Jonathon visited the orphanage later in the afternoon. The boys, all under 6, hung on him. It was as if they knew that they would never see him again. Jon had a hard time telling them goodbye.

During the last 5 months Jonathon has found a love that is not easy to find, the love of the Africans. It is a love that runs deep in their culture. They value relationships as much as life itself. Many friends came by to say goodbye, their expression of love to Jon overwhelmed us.

As the taxi took off from the front of our house, Jules, one of Jonathon's good friends hugged him and said, "I will see you again in paradise."

Friendships and relationships must not be taken lightly. Cherish every person that God sends into your life.

Please pray for Jonathon as he begins his new life. He will be moving to Omaha Nebraska and serving in Bethel Christian Church. God is doing some great things in his life!

So, "How are we doing today you ask?" Well, please ask us again tomorrow.

Ken

Ok, now a week has past. Jon made it home fine and is VERY happy. We are over the shock and the sun is back out. Thank you for your prayers!

In Retrospect ......

Friends,

Here we are, another week has gone by. There are moments when time seems to be standing still, but then as I reflect back at the months that have already passed, I ask myself, “Where has the time gone?”

I would venture to say my family has settled into what I would call our daily regiments. The life style here is of a much slower pace. I believe this is probably been the most difficult to adjust to. Also, not having our own means of transportation has only contributed to these feelings of confinement. It has taken some time for each one of us to adjust at our own pace. I can only give God the praise for helping us through this period.

Is it all pedals of sweet smelling roses? Has our time here been the utopia of life’s experiences? I would only be lying if I said it was. Truth! This is what I want to convey to you. My heart rips every time I see a small child sitting in the street with his belly bulging from mal-nutrition. Or when I see a human all twisted from birth defects sitting on the street corner begging for just a morsel of bread. With my own eyes, I see on continual bases things like a teen-age girl, using water from a dirty puddle, in the middle of town washing

her hair.

You may say to yourself, these things go on in America as well. But I would say to you not at this great of magnitude. Thank God for America and its welfare system. I know that most would agree that our welfare system is broken and we are only heading for a collapse of the system if changes are not made, but if you could see what I see. Not having humanitarian needs in the fore front of the government system has brought great deficiency among this nation and its people.

Do you know that 80% of the taxi drivers here have a college degree? And believe me when I say there are a lot of taxi and moto drivers. The women that sell vegetables and fruit on the streets for the most part have degree’s as well. Why so much poverty? The infrastructure of some of the African countries, and Togo being one, does not have industry coming in. The instability of the government causes the countries that could come in and help to develop are not willing to take the risk, therefore causes the lack of jobs, which in turn causes the onslaught of poverty. I find myself thanking God everyday that I was born an American at the same time hearing the cries of the people of Lome saying, “Why couldn’t have I been born in America?”

In retrospect, for the members of the UPCI here in Togo, I see great joy, pure worship, and a true desire to serve our Lord. For the people that have found Christ, because of their great hardships, their reverence for God goes deep within there very being.

Our desire is to continue to seek out the people of Togo, and to help take them off of the road of hardship and put them on the road of blessings. Please continue to pray not only for us, but for the people of Togo and the pastoral leadership that is here.
God Bless you all
Ginny

Another Day In Togo

Friends,

The day started early today. What would take just a few minutes in the states takes a few days here. The only thing quicker here is a smile and an embrace.

I had taken a moto to a cross road to meet a friend. Naturally, I was 20 minutes early. Everyone here is 20 minutes late.

To redeem the time I walked to the corner where a woman was selling fruit and I purchased an orange. She peeled the skin for me and cut a small hole in the top. I began to squeeze the juice from it. We do things much different here. I must have worked on that orange for 30 minutes making sure not to waste any of it.

Hundreds of Africans drove and walked past watching this Yovo, (white man), make a mess of something so simple. Juice had poured down my chin and on to my shirt.

An older man in rags walked by asking for something in Eva, the local language. I smiled. He laughed since we could not communicate. It would have been great to have been able to find out his story. Everyone has one you know. Most stories are filled with pain, but lathered in Joy.

Every wild moto ride;
Every smell;
Every taste;
Every embrace;
Lets me know that I am still alive.

Africa has taken my heart and I pray that it will not give it back.

In great African Love,

Ken

Village Life

This village was different than what we had seen in the past, beautiful palm and coconut trees lined the road we traveled. At times it seemed that the truck would topple over from the extreme terrain.








Women sold fish and vegetables from the side of the road. There was barely enough room to pass.
They live on less than 2.00 per day.

We were in awe of the conditions here, no electricity, no running water, the homes were modest at best. Most consisted of mud huts with thatch roofs.The streets were clean, and children played.

Around different areas there were wooded or stone idols. There is a great deal of Fetish worship that goes on in these villages. A tradition that has gone on for several thousand years.





The chief from the village came with his delegation to our service; from the picture you can tell he enjoyed himself. I preached about your faith will always make room for you. It came from the story of the 4 men who lowered the lame man down through a hole in the roof to get to Jesus; it is so true that God always makes room for our needs.

We were able to pray for these men. The chief came in contact with the King of Kings that day!



After the service Gin and I were invited to a pastors home for some refreshments. We enjoyed coconut milk together. After the milk was finished the coconut was opened and we ate the coconut meat from it. Awesome!




Gin and I, through the grace of God, have found where we are the most happiest; among our brothers and sisters in West Africa.

We appreciate your continued financial support. Without it we would not be here.

In Great African Love,
Ken and Gin

A few Pictures!

I finally figured out how to put pictures on our BLOG. I know, I'm a little slow!!!! None the less, here are some pictures of events we have already blogged about.




Ken praying with Pastor Stephen before baptizing 7 people from the Village church of Bagbe. Ken was wearing borrowed pants of a 29 inch waisted African man. Hilarious!

















Pastor Stephen and Pastor Severans children the day we had dinner in their home. Precious!














Sister Vigoreta, Pastor Stephan's wife, and I are in front of the Village church in Bagbe. She speaks English well, and is a new found friend.

Pastor Serveran praying for his Father that just recently gave his life to God.

Hello to all,

I cant believe its Christmas time. I wake up every morning and thank the Lord I have been delivered from the hustle and bustle of retail during this time of year. But it sure is giving me a whole different perspective on what the holidays are all about. We try our best in the states to remember what is really about, the celebration of Christs birth; but living in the American culture, it truly can be a fight not to get caught up in all the gift purchasing. I can only speak for myself. I know I have been guilty.

This year is truly different, and I give God the Praise for allowing our family to experience this perspective of Christmas thru the eyes of the Togolese people. We were invited to the home of the Pastors family. Just getting to this families home was quite an endeavor. Kens journey on the moto itself made me cringe seeing the sea of motos that surrounded him. His body absorbed every bump in the road. We followed in the taxi behind.

The home was void of electric, just a one room cinder building. Basic Christmas decorations was not to be found anywhere; no tree, no gifts. Still the spirit of Christmas filled our fellowship. They went above and beyond to make us comfortable. A box of corn flakes and Fanta soda was served to us as the appetizer. (finger foods) The main course consisted of chicken and yams w/red sauce. All served under the big shaded tree in the middle of their yard.

Thelma, their youngest son of 4 years would sneak up as often as he could to steal sips of our drinks and then giggle and run, while their daughter Iouda stayed on my lap. She just wanted to be close.

They were giving beyond there means, in the spirit of sacrifice. The true spirit of Christmas was found that day.

Merry Christmas to all

Ken and Gin

What A Gift!

Bounjour à toute mes amis et ma femille,

We miss you all very much. We are now beginning to experience some of the discomforts of Togo. The most inconvient is not having electricity. Even now I hold my breathe hoping that the power does not go out as I type this message, for one does not no when it will be turned off. It started about 3 weeks ago, being just 4 or 5 hours at a time. It is increasing daily the time it off. We are now up to 10 hours at a time. A few days ago, Carmen our landlord, bought us a small generator that will allow us to at least have a fan on alternating with the refrigerator. I thank God for this. I was really concerned about our gorceries going bad with it being out for so long at a time. Nobody but the government knows how long this will last. They say that last year it went on for almost six months. SO..... We shall see. But lets talk about some more positive things..LOL

This past Sunday, we had our first opportunity for Ken to preach at a village church. I dont even know how to express to you the how amazing the people. The worship that went forth would put us to shame. For people that dont have anything, have everything. As I followed the leading of Sis. Stephen in worship we single filed in line (the rest of the women following)out of the thached roof building and danced outside around the entire property. The worship went on for over an hour for the people would not stop praising God, and with such intensity. The custest of all is to watch the children dance and worship. Precious!

We are excited to report that 3 recieved the Holy Ghost and 7 wanted to be baptized, one being our taxi driver that we use on a regular bases. (He also recieved the H.G. that day) So off we go to our first adventure of going to the river. We hiked about a half a mile from the property of an elderly man that helped begin the work in this community. We found ourselves taking our shoes off to tregde through some swamp like area to get to the part of the pond that would be deep enough for the baptism. You should of seen Jonathons face when I told him to take off his shoes and to keep walking. HIlARIOUS! Of course Jen and I are all about it and so caught up in the Africa moment I wasnt thinking about anything Yucky. There was a concrete slab that we were able to climb up on once we arrived to get out of the water. It was then when I looked around and really checked out the situation, watching my husband in the water waiste deep I thought about snakes, and leaches. About that time, I saw aonther young african man reach down and pull off of his leg a leech and nonchalantly tossed it aside. What can you do! We were there and there was no turning back. Ken baptized all 7 and then we had to return. So in the water we went interceding all the way. All was good and no leeches attached. LOL

When we returned to the home of this villager, we were resting a bit on our little stools and being cordial to sit and look at each other. It was then I noticed two women chasing this one particular Rooster. It was the biggest one there. After they caught it and bound up the feet, they handed it to the man. He walked over to Ken, bowed and presented Ken this fine rooster as a gift. We were stund. They have nothing and yet give so much. So we gracously accepted the gift and gave it to our driver to put in the taxi to take home. And then in turn, when we got home, we blessed the pastor that had gone with us from Lome to take it home. Im just not ready to be plucking feathers out of a chicken yet.....LOL

The adventures go on and on and I wish each one of you could experience what God is so gracously allowing my family to be apart of. I must be getting off here for now. Just know that we concider ourselves very blessed to be a part of this work here in Togo and cant wait to get to Burkina.
God Bless to you all
Gin