Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Village Football (or soccer if you prefer)

Recently Brett has had several chances to head out to villages to practice his Kabiye speaking and comprehension. A great way to do this is to bring a football; not a pigskin, but the kind that you actually use your feet with :)

Kicking the ball around, asking how to say a word or phrase, drawing pictures in the dirt, laughing and forming new relationships is a huge part of our work here right now. With Brett making further strides in his Kabiye, we are moving ever closer to the ultimate purpose that God called us here for: the gift of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Kabiye people!
**Brett is pictured here with people from the village of Pou as well as 3 of our summer interns**

Monday, July 16, 2007

Our Prayer Picture


Normally, we would have a ton of these printed and sent to all our loving supporters. However, since we'll be adding a new little guy to our family in just a few months, we decided to wait until he is born. We will have a new picture for everyone during our next furlough, April 2008. If you simply cannot wait until then (ahem, grandparents) feel free to have this image printed at your local Sam's or WalMart. Click on the image to enlarge it before saving it to your computer.
And for those that are counting....this is post #200 on this blog.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Update on Brett

Just in case you were wondering....I've talked with Brett several times during their survey trip to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Northern Togo. The guys bought a phone chip for one of their cell phones and have been sharing the cost to communicate with their wives and children. It's been great! Even though we don't get to talk very long, it's always good to hear each other's voices and know everyone is o.k.

They've had some good interviews with people in Mali and are on their way back through Burkina Faso. I'm anxious to hear all the different stories about people they encountered. Please be praying for Brett's strength. They haven't had good rest at night and then he has been driving his group around all day. So often we get sick when our bodies are too tired, please pray for his health as well.

We've made it half way through our time apart from Daddy and Caden seems to be taking it well. Although, I can tell he's a bit confused when we look at pictures of Brett. His first reaction is pure delight and he points and says, "Dada" and then his face turns serious like he's realizing he hasn't seen his Daddy in awhile. Thank you for all your prayers and your support!

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Blessings Of The Land

When we moved into our house back in March, this is what our yard looked like. Very depressing, don't you think?First, we had to find better soil to grow grass and plants in. In this picture you can see piles of "bonne terre" (good earth) that was then spread to cover our entire yard as well as a few small plants. I was dreaming of the day Caden could run and play in our yard...
With all the rain we've been having and help of our day guard pulling weeds for us, this is what God has now blessed us with. And yes, my son loves to run all over the yard, as well as my husband!

You can also see in the pictures our three growing trees at that end of the yard. Starting from the left: Frongi Pongi (I think this is the name), Mango, and Banana. The banana tree has impressed us the most with it's huge leaves that seem to appear new every day. Caden loves bananas and we are all looking forward to the day we can simply pick one off our tree to eat.

It wasn't until I looked at all three of these picture together that I realize how much our yard had changed in just four months. I am so thankful for the blessings God gives us through His creation. Sometimes, I sit on the porch in amazement to what God has blessed us with here in Togo. It's the small things like a pretty yard that remind me how much He cares for me and desires to take care of me.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a sigle hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousess, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow ill worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 6:25-34