Lomé Togo Crusade

We recently held a crusade in the city of Lome, Togo.

Great faith was among the area churches. An estimated 50,000 fliers were passed out on the streets. The churches did a tremendous job preparing for this event.

The greeters were in position, the follow-up team was ready to capture names and addresses and the singers sang to the glory of God.

People began to fill the field where the crusade was to take place. For three nights we had an average of 3000 in attendance. When the alter calls were made they literally ran to the front hoping to receive something from the Lord.

The bible says that every man is given a measure of faith. The faith that brought them to the front made room for them in the presence of God. There were too many people for us to pray for individually so the people began to pray for one another.

In His mercy and Grace, God filled over 330 with His Spirit, and over 300 were healed instantly. Those who came with lameness walked home without their canes! Those who came burdened down with the weight of the world, danced in the presence of the King of Kings.

He is faithful to hear the cries of the people.

Lome, Togo will never be the same. The hand of God has left His fingerprints on the people.

Please continue to pray that God will continue His favor in Togo and Burkina Faso.

Thank you for your continued financial support. Without it we could not serve in this great land.

In Great African Love,

Ken and Gin

Jennifer has found her place here.

It is early evening, the sun is beginning to set.

From across the wall the children begin to cry out, "Yovo, Yovo!". This means white person in the Eva language.

Jennifer grabs the soccer ball and heads out into the street. When she returns her feet are as dirty as the street itself. Jen is enjoying the people as much as they are enjoying her. I would not be surprised to see her return to West Africa after she completes her studies in the States.

Her days are spent studying the French and Eva languages, while enjoying the company and friendships of the Africans.

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.