Arival & First Day in Togo

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Atlanta - 4:30 CST

Odd leaving 27 degree weather to travel to the other side of the world and 100+ degree temperatures but got out of DFW without a hitch….Plane was delayed about 30 minutes but no big deal. The plane was only half full so wasn’t so bad. Jonathan Hewett already used his “connections” and got moved up to first class on the Atlanta leg (must be a missionary thing). The rest of us had to travel as the common men that we are….(there were many Seinfeld jokes made). Charlie Ray thought Jonathan was up in first class partaking in the Lords’ Supper with wine and crackers…over…and over…and over.

Jonathan’s “connections” or smooth talking enabled the entire group to gain admission to Delta’s First class lounge where each of us gladly made multiple trips through the food line. Nice to sit in real chairs as we wait to board the Paris flight.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Somewhere between Paris and Togo - Air France – 4:00 (whatever time zone this is)

After a short layover at Charles De Gaulle we boarded an Airbus 340 headed to Togo. (Note to self…..don’t take sleeping pill until after you board the airplane….sometimes it takes longer to board than it should and prescriptions work a little quicker than you think they will). This leg of our journey had the group split up throughout the plane so each one should have interesting stories about our fellow passengers. After the first 3 hours of the trip I awoke to lunch and crying babies. Fortunate enough for me a very sweet young Togolese-now-American mother of a 1 year old sat next to me during the flight. After lunch and after I shook off my cobwebs from the Doctor prescribed sleeping pill I struck up a conversation with her. She is married to a Naval serviceman, been in Virginia for 5 years and is returning home to see her family for the first time since leaving.

While exchanging small talk she explained that she didn’t care for American too much because of how “Hard Life” was in America. Now coming from Togo, Africa I would not expect to hear this from anyone. How can living in America be so difficult considering that you come from an impoverished country? She explained that she did not like how our Financial Institutions bombard her with Credit Card offers. “They all say they are better than the other person’s card…I get so confused” she explained. (Uncle Dave Ramsey is smiling somewhere right about now)! I explained that she should use cash or a Debit Card in order to stay out of any potential trouble. (I didn’t want to beat her down with Financial Peace University…or IRAs…I’ve got to pace myself on these things).

We then talked about her church in Togo. She was raised Catholic and attended church in Togo 3 times a week. Seems she has become uninspired by American worship….saying that it is too boring. “No one seems happy at American Churches…no one smiles when they sing”. I was told this would happen while I’m here….that I would see people really worshiping, having fun, really rejoicing. She confirmed what I was told…Americans don’t really know how to worship. I know that I’m first on that list…I think I’m about to witness some serious church in the next week…kind of excited….kind of nervous.



Friday, December 12, 2008

Lome, Togo, Africa

4:00 PM

To see this part of the world is unbelievable. Randy Calvert and I keep trying to believe that we are actually in Africa. I am amazed at the living conditions. Today the group split up to go visit people and invite them to church and/or tell them about Christ. We met the nicest people and were all met with a very warm reception. Randy, Jonathan, and I were in one group and Dudley and Charles Ray were in the other group. Dudley and Charles Ray met with a total of almost 40 people and 14 accepted Christ. Jonathan, Randy and I met with current members of the Hosanna Church and spoke with them about their faith and families. We all were fortunate enough to meet with a lady this afternoon who was so sweet. Her eye sight is in very bad shape so we tried to get her some glasses that would enable her to see somewhat better. However, Dudley said she had cataracts and the glasses wouldn’t help her. Her daughter in law was also there and Dudley was able to get her a pair of glasses that made a big difference in her eye sight.

We have also been able to witness the expansion of the Hosanna Church as they build a new addition to the structure. It is amazing to watch these young men work so hard and without the tools that we take for granted within the states. Watching them dig the deep trenches by hand, bend rebar, pour pillars, pour and work concrete with only buckets, shovels and pliers is amazing.

So far the trip has been very enlightening and a joy. We were all fortunate to get to see a bunch of school children as they left school. Watching them look at us with wonderment was really neat. I had to go in the middle of them and hi five them and hug as many as I could. The children here are absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to get to spend more time with them.

Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes. We all miss home and are doing just fine. Even though it is hot the only other place I would want to be right now is with my family. I was even told by one of the ladies of the church in her broken English to bring my wife next time. It is truly a blessing to be here and I thank each and every one of you who is reading this for making it possible.

BTW….since you are reading this you know that we figured out the internet connection…so hopefully we will get to listen to the Bobcat Game tomorrow night.

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers. I’ll try to update it once a day if possible. Love you all.