At the beginning of the month the Aldermans, Lisa and I all drove down from Kara to Lome, eventually getting a taxi from there to Accra, Ghana to meet up with the Shanks family, our newest missionary additions to northern Togo.
They had been studying in Quebec City, Quebec (Canada) for sometime and had just finished arranging all their personal effects before coming over. After a full day of flying, they touched down in Accra. It was such a relief for them in so many ways when the arrived and it was such great thing to see their joy as they pulled their luggage down the sidewalk towards us with the biggest smiles imaginable displaced clearly and vividly across their faces!
From Accra we headed back to Lome to get some shopping, ministry issues and mechanical problems sorted out before heading the 6 plus hours back north to Kara. It’s really such an exciting time for new missionaries and it is always a time of reminiscing for the other missionaries on hand like us who have already gone through all this.
Almost a week to the day and fresh off of jet lag from the West Coast to Togo, Lisa, the Shanks and I all packed into my vehicle and headed north to Dapaong to meet up with Pastor Soapa to show two nights of evangelistic films coupled with preaching.
Lisa had brought with her a 3 foot big ball and despite it being dry, dirty and dusty outside the kids had a blast kicking, running and pushing perhaps the biggest ball they have ever seen. Being unique as it was, it immediately became a crowd drawer if not favorite and attracted many to the church moments before we began to show the films. Each night the buildings were packed out and folks could be seen standing outside the church watching the film. On a typical Sunday in these villages there might be 20-40 children and 8-15 adults but when we showed the films we would have easily 150 plus each night. It has been such a great way to introduce Christ to folk that would not normally come to church for whatever reason.
On our last day, we attended church with Pastor Soapa and his family. The ride from where we were staying in Dapaong to the village of Naki West was easily 25-30 minutes with half of that on dirt roads. That morning despite most of the servicing being conducting in the Moba language it was wonderful meeting to be in. At the close of the service, I was asked to come to the front where I was handed the new born baby girl. I’m not sure what the traditions are across all of Togo but amongst the Moba people who are under the guidance and pastoral care of Pastor Soapa, it’s tradition for the pastor or the visiting missionary to dedicate that baby to the Lord and give them a Bible name. I had prayed once before over a little one in another village but that particular morning it was my first opportunity/privilege to name a baby. I chose to name here Rebecca.
Whither we are in Accra, Lome, Kara, Dapaong or Naki West it’s always exciting to see how God leads us and is working in the lives of the people here!
volunteered their time and were assisting in whatever means possible. Some would mix cement on the ground by shovel while others would transport water in giant 4-5 gallon bowls on top of their heads about a ¼ of a mile or further so that the work could continue with out delay. 
