Back to School Time!

While we do have a responsibility to work to bring others to the mission field and to serve Africa at large, our main focus is, of course, back here in Togo among the Kabiye. Just like back in the States, it's "Back to School" time! It isn't exactly the same feel, but the young people in our neighborhood are all gearing up for the new year just the same. We recently were blessed by a meeting with a young man named Haro who needed some help to continue his studies. Let us tell you a little about him. Haro is 16 years old and has 2 years of "lycee" left, what we would consider high school. He comes from a large family, of which he is the last child. His parents are very old, and they are not able to work very much to provide for their family, the burden of which falls on their children. Haro, however, wants an education. His parents will not pay for him to go to school anymore, and he came to our home to ask if we would help. He is a sweet young man, and after talking with him for a few minutes, Brett asked him to come back the next morning. When he arrived, we let him know that we wanted to help him with his school supplies and school fees, and he was very grateful. All four of us hopped in the car and headed to the market for Back to School shopping! New notebooks, paper, pens and pencils, rulers, the whole 9 yards, even fabric to make school clothes (the Togolese school system requires khaki uniforms). Caden got his first taste of Back to School time, and we enjoyed our time with Haro immensely. He is such a humble and kind young man, and we feel blessed to be able to help him continue with his education, something that we so often take for granted in our own lives. Haro is so thoughtful that he even offered to come by a couple of times a week and help Brett in his Kabiye language studies. Another language partner never hurts!

Thank you to all of our faithful supporters for allowing us to minister in this way! God will surely continue to put more people, young and old, in our path so that we can love them in the way that Christ would have us love them. We want only to glorify Him in our daily lives and our interactions with the Kabiye people. Thank you for your communication and your prayers on our behalf and on behalf of the people here. We couldn't ask for better partners in the Gospel that all of you!