I feel a strong need to write a tribute to one of my dearest sisters in the Lord, who also happens to be Kabiye. It is challenging to write about the beauty in her life because I know her in some intimate ways that I wouldn’t dare reveal at her request or in the raw exposure of a blog post. I will only share things that she has shared with many people or that are personal for me about her. She has endured more and suffered more in her life than I can describe or even imagine experiencing. And yet her suffering is never without the end result of God being beautifully, humbly, and often in a largely unnoticed way glorified in and through her. We have made one another our confidants, tellers of God’s truth to one other, and God has allowed us to share in one another’s struggles and triumphs over the years. I am slow to deeply trust others with the recesses of my heart but time and again God has given me a safe, empathetic heart in her. She has a gift for friendship that crosses cultural boundaries and many other missionaries, school teachers, interns, or visitors that have come to Togo view her as their closest Kabiye friend. My love for her is so great that I often don’t recognize that we are from two different cultures. Our hearts beat with the same culture of Christ and when I remember that we belong to different cultures in this world I find myself mildly shocked back into some of the realities of our limitations together for this lifetime. I can’t wait to dwell with the Lord together in heaven with her.
Essowe was born into a very poor family in a Kabiye village. She grew up only knowing animism as her family’s spiritual reality with God being a very uninterested distant part of anyone’s lives. Ironically, her name in Kabiye (Essowe) means God is there. Her mother divorced her father and left her and her two older siblings to fend for themselves when she was 9 years old. Her father had lost a leg and so it was up to the children to plant and plow and harvest the fields to be able to eat the rest of the year. She went for a very long period of time with no shoes and she remembered praying one day that if God could hear her that he would give her a pair of shoes. She wandered to the market area that was empty from the busy market the day before and there on the ground by a rock were a pair of brand new flip-flops exactly her size waiting for her. She slipped them on and a spark of faith in her heart for the Lord began to grow. God gave her many other little provisions throughout her growing up years and one night after a time of much despair when she was 18 she was lying in her bed thinking about how to take her own life. A few days prior, a YWAM volunteer that had come with a campaign to her village had given her a Bible and had underlined Romans 8:35-39. She felt compelled to pick up the Bible and opened it up exactly to the verse that had been underlined. As she began to read about nothing separating us from the love of God in Christ, her heart melted and she prayed again to him to show himself to her if he was real and to show her his love. Over the next few days he delivered her out of her desperate situation, provided a way for her to go to school in town and eat even though she had no money and she began to devour the words of scripture falling quickly and ardently in love with Him.
The depth of Essowe’s faith astounded me when I first met her and began to share our hearts with one another 9 years ago. She was my language teacher and quickly became one of my dearest friends. She is two years older than me but her life experiences, especially when we first met, and her depth of faith surpassed mine greatly. I was humbled to know her and count her as my friend. God has allowed me over these years to share in and experience many of her sorrows and many of her joys. I treasure the time of grief and courage He allowed me to participate with her in as I held her and whispered the prayers of “Oh, God, help! Help!” in Kabiye as we sat crying, stroking the still warm body of her 3 month old baby girl, Samto, who had died minutes before. I treasure the moments of sharing with her how God became everything for me when I was 16 and He was all I had. I cherish her describing how she watched my first year of adjustment to life in Togo with a brand new baby, intense culture shock, and pale face trudging out to the office to meet with her 3 times a week to learn Kabiye, not being able to concentrate half the time and feeling so ridiculously dumb and incompetent. In her reflections she said she prayed so hard for me and saw how difficult life was and my inward struggles and learned to love God more as she watched Him give me strength for each day until after a year color began to come into my face and she could tell I didn’t have to try as hard each day to survive emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes physically.
She clings to Him as I do, and hope to do, when there’s nothing left to hold onto. He is everything to her and she will stand for His truth always in every situation without compromise. She has sensed the struggles of my heart many times without my having to say a word. She comes with a scripture, a prayer, a word of truth that speaks to the very situation I am in. I love her with the deepest affection and will miss her so much when we move to the states and then to Rwanda. I’m so glad for the sake of her life situation and for the sake of our friendship that this life is but a breath and that eternity is just a moment away.
Oh, Lord, give her a thousand blessings in the age to come for every trial she has endured by your strength and in your name here on earth during this lifetime. Strengthen her by your grace, empower her with your unfailing love, let the testimony of her life increase in the glory given back to you. Provide everything and more for her and her daughters, as you always have.
Our phone line died at our house on Wednesday and we thought it would be back working on Thanksgiving day, but no cigar. Then, we left for Lome’ on Friday for a 5 day trip. I had planned to write my posts on Thursday evening and then schedule them to come out for the next few days. So, I didn’t make the 30 posts in 30 days for nablopomo. Phooey! We’re back from Lome’ and our internet and phone line are still down. So, to all of my 100s of faithful readers (hee hee!) I must post erratically when I can find time at a teammate’s house to get online and post something.
We had a wonderful time in Lome’ visiting with Marty and Murphy, spending some time with the Millers and our teachers: Jacque, Bethany, and Sarah, and having a little family break at the beach. Back in Kara, Christmas dust is in the air and we’re ready to decorate tomorrow at our house! Love and blessings to all of you! I love thinking about Jesus’ first coming this time of year and looking forward to his second coming soon!
Scripture on my mind today: “The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!” -Psalm 97:1-9
I’m posting something so this counts 
David’s about to take the computer to record some old testament readings in Kabiye so I won’t be writing anything more tonight. God is good. I’m praying again tonight after last night’s methodical praying for all of our prayer partners. There’s a lot on my mind and heart. Goodnight!
What Happened Today:
Today was our day off. David let me sleep in which was a rare treat. I got to walk this morning, which was good for my heart. I cut all 4 of my boys’ hair today and they’re looking pretty sharp. Hannah and I will get ours cut at the end of the week when we’re down in Lome’. Hannah and I went to the Catholic store and she got some poster board for a project and I got a woven dress I’ve been eyeing for a couple of weeks. My other two African dresses have fallen apart. We worked on our budget for our year in the state. I got to talk to my sister twice! David got a lot of repairs done around the house. And, Gabriel learned to ride his bike without training wheels on the grass today! Restful and productive. Thank you, Lord! Hannah and Elijah are both stuffy, but were put to bed early tonight with medicine and lots of water. Praying for them to feel better quickly.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: gluten-free banana coffee cake
lunch: chicken flavored rice noodles, broth, and watermelon
dinner: Crockpot Pesto chicken and sweet potatoes and sauteed green beans, lemonade
Scripture on my mind today: Sobered by this one “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6
As God has continued to place helping within the medical field on my heart over the past 6 years, I have explored and researched many options for further education. Because my undergrad degree is in Elementary and Special education, I do not have a strong science background of classes that I took during my years at Harding. I have followed leads and looked to find ways to get some basic health assistant education. Right now, I am tentatively planning on completing three pre-requisites through online classes from January through June and applying this summer for a Medical Assistant Program at Columbia Basin College in Richland, WA that will begin in August 2010. I am wanting to receive training in this area primarily to help with our team’s future ministry in Rwanda. Secondarily, David and I also see the benefit of one of us having qualifications to get a temporary job outside of missions, if need be, over the next decade of our family’s life. We see ahead the possibility of coming and going between the states over a season for our childrens’ transitions into college or other area of young adult life.
This is a one year program and at this point the college only accepts 18 to 20 people per year. So, it is very competitive. There are two areas that are considered for admissions. One is a cumulative GPA over 4 specific general ed. courses and the other is based on the completion (minimum gpa of 2.0) of 3 specific Health Information Technology courses. I have a high cumulative gpa in the required classes (3.9) and so I need to complete the three HIT courses to apply and have a good chance for admission.
So far, God has seemed to open the door on every level for me to go down the path of working towards this degree. I had a very different experience trying to take pre-reqs and talking with people about the nursing program, which is actually 2 years, (although they provide exceptions for people exiting at 1 year.) There is an online teacher that has been very friendly and helpful and has worked extra to help me be admitted into her class this winter quarter even though the class is already full from the first day of registration. The program supervisor has also been very friendly and helpful and has given me high hopes for being accepted. And, our supporting congregation has agreed to support us for a year after we leave Togo which would allow us to live in the Tri-Cities and for me to be enrolled in this course, as well as a time for our children to be in school and some re-grouping time as a family before we move on to Rwanda.
I don’t know how this journey will end. But for the moment I’m looking forward to taking “Medical Terminology” online beginning in January. I’ve ordered my books and my Mom is sending them in the mail soon. I took Chemistry online through OSU last year during winter quarter and God allowed our internet to be working at all of the scheduled times for taking tests online, which was a special grace. I enjoyed that course and the Cellular Biology course I took last summer. So, I’m looking forward to this one, too. There really are so many things that have to fall into place. So, please pray with me for God to make every detail come together (as only He can!) if this is something within His will and plan for our family over the next couple of years.
What Today Looked Like:
This morning we had combined team worship at the Miller house with the Kabiye Leaders who have been in town over the weekend for a vision casting and planning for the future time with our team. It was a first and really a blessed time to sit around and sing every other song in Kabiye or English and read scriptures and pray in both languages. We all ate lunch together and then, as we’d arranged with Bryan Ries last night, he called and was able to talk with all of the leaders present over skype in Kabiye and give them encouragement and receive it from them. This afternoon has been a time of rest (much needed for me). Hannah’s class at school got up to over 100 combined points so their prize is a sleepover with the teachers at their apartment tonight. She and her friends are excited! Today is Michal Kennell’s birthday and she invited Elijah and Aidan over for a dress-up birthday supper, eating off of real china! Elijah left the house in his nice polo, hair combed, and a bouquet of flowers in hand
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: corn porridge
lunch: rice and curry, something else beef sauce (good)
dinner: Gluten-Free Lasagna (I made two earlier in the week and froze this one) sautéed green beans, lemonade
Scripture on my mind today:
Loving this one from Revelation lately as it’s continued to be brought up among us: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-5
Part of his bride-sharing as one with Him in glory-perfect enough to be His mate-all things new-eternal bliss-this present life has only glimpses-I get so excited about resurrected eternity sometimes that it makes me cry. I long for Him.
When we’re in the states I often hear “Thank Goodness It’s Friday”. There’s even a restaurant named after this cultural mindset In Togo our work week and school week run Tuesday through Saturday. Today is one of those days I’m saying “Thank Goodness it’s Saturday”. Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new week and I’m thankful!
Happenings Today:
Taught Caden and Caleb in preschool this morning. Had a fun morning learning about the color red Was able to attend the Kabiye leaders meeting for 2 1/2 hours this afternoon and enjoyed it very much. I’m thankful for the hearts and minds that were present there. Picked the girls up from dance this afternoon and Gabriel up from playing at the Millers. Got to talk with the Ries family as they called on skype tonight. Love and miss them. Working on work fund reports with David this evening in a bit.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: sausage and fried eggs
lunch: leftover soup/sack lunches
dinner: Rice Balls and sesame sauce with vegetables made by Aimee.
Scripture on my mind today: 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
In the midst of a lot of pain in others’ lives they have shared with me and grief and sadness in my own, I am choosing today to be thankful and thought I would list 20 things I am thankful for right now.
1. Gabriel’s belly laugh and goofy smile
2. Hannah’s fluttering eyelashes that appear everytime she wants something
3. Elijah’s embarrassed smirk
4. Caleb’s hugs and kisses when he’s in “gentle” mode
5. David’s kind, steady eyes
6. pumpkin carving this year
7. pumpkin bread and pumpkin bars to eat for fall
8. the trigger that harmattan dust gives me to want to bake and get ready for the holidays
9. faithful brothers and sisters around the world who pray for us
10. Dear dear Kabiye friends: Esowe, Aimee, Mazalo, Christianne
11. Wonderful brothers and sisters in the Lord: past and present teammates who have sharpened me and been part of God’s transforming work in me
12. Family of origins that love us, pray for us, and support and encourage us in so many ways
13. Tile floors. I am now an anti-carpet person in every way. I’m afraid we’ll most likely be living with it for awhile in the states before our move to Rwanda, but I’m thankful now for tile floors to live with
14. Tindine and African yams. Can’t get enough of either of those.
15. Soy Milk maker. That machine is wonderful.
16. A God who is so very near
17. A Savior who saved me from certain destruction in myself
18. Hope
19. Divine Love poured into me and miraculously through me to others
20. Marriage. Lived out as God intends, by His grace – its spiritual testimonies and revelations to the world are overwhelmingly beautiful
What Today looked like:
This morning I did some housework, read with Caleb, and got to sit and visit and pray with my dear friend, Esowe. I am going to miss her very much. Also, talked on the phone a lot all day. I think my phone rang 20 times, literally! David was at the Kabiye leaders’ meeting all day except for lunch. We talked to Tom, serendipitously, on skype over lunch as he was on the road for 4 hours on his way to a meeting. This afternoon, picked kids up from school twice, took Jacque to do some grocery shopping in town, cooked and got kids ready for bed. Why did I already fall asleep at 7:30pm and have to wake up? I’m tired today.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: omelets
lunch: African lunch at school/ David’s gourmet salsa stuffed omelets for lunch here (yum!)
dinner: black bean soup (thanks for the recipe, Sandi H! It was great!), homemade corn chips, salsa
Scripture on my mind today: “With God all things are possible.” Matt. 19:26
I am blessed beyond many Christians’ dreams to be part of a team community that desires to pray together. I feel a good workout mentally and spiritually from our time in prayer this afternoon together. Full of scriptures we chanted together and prayers prayed with determination from the heart, I’m tired but in a very good way. I’m realizing prayer is something I have to train in. I’m able to pray longer and more focused as David and I continue to grow in this discipline of great privilege.
What Happened Today:
I worked on preparation for the team prayer afternoon a lot of the morning, playing computer learning games with Caleb interspersed while David was at mens’ prayer time. We had ladies’ business time from 2 to 3pm and then prayed until almost 6pm. We all ate dinner together afterward at SIL (the BIble translators’ compound in town) and now we’re home getting settled in for the evening.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: corn porridge
lunch: leftovers/sack lunches
dinner: rice, peanut sauce, chicken, and green beans at SIL
Scripture on my mind today: Psalm 73:21-28 the Lord led me to during my time of examination this afternoon. “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”
The Harmattan arrived two days ago and it’s dusty, dry, and I’m sniffling and getting that old familiar gunk in my throat. We’ve still been able to see the mountains but just barely the outline of their form. And, the sun is still shining through the white dust. So, it’s only a hint of what will hit later This will be the last year that these environmental changes trigger feelings of Christmas coming for us. Next year, we plan to be in the states and I guess it will be bitter cold weather and bare trees that give us that feeling that Christmas is just around the corner.
What Happened Today:
This morning I had a great Oral Discovery Bible Study with Christianne and Mazalo. Even though these ladies are great readers, they could even repeat back almost word for word exactly what the scripture said after we’d listened to it on tape twice. I think this method will be great for all women, but especially necessary for those who can’t read. Caleb had preschool with April and Caden and had a great morning. David met with the other men on the team for vision and strategy planning this morning. This afternoon, David, Aidan, Elijah, and Gabriel worked on a compost pit, fertilizing plants with natural fertilizer they made, and planting seeds. Hannah had tap and ballet this afternoon with Miss Jacque. Tonight we had team devotional here at our house.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: omelets
lunch: sack lunches/leftovers
dinner: gluten-free lasagna (took 3 hours but it was worth it!) salad
devo snack: gluten-free pumpkin bars
It got knocked out of the tree, leaving behind a pretty amazing web:
Amazing, beautiful and a little bit scary, too. A small piece of God’s creation and it reminds me of Him….but He has come near in His Son. David says he thinks it is an Orb Spider but we haven’t been able to identify it for sure yet. All of the children were very excited by it though, especially since it was trapped in a jar
What happened today: This morning I met with Andrea and Nicole about school curriculum for our children for the next year. This afternoon David helped me burn a CD of some Kabiye scriptures and then record the CD onto a tape to be able to use for my Bible study with Christianne and Mazalo tomorrow. Tonight I had a date night to play games with Gabriel. He beat me at Trouble and Pass The Pigs but we tied for Go Fish. He went to bed happy We ended our night with a meeting at the Millers’ house about internship this coming summer. I felt God’s words of truth bathe my heart as we prayed at the end and I’m so thankful for His grace towards me and the privilege that I have to follow His path to the cross – for His glory.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: pumpkin bread (gluten-free) Yummy! I’ll post this recipe I adapted soon
lunch: leftovers/sack lunches/tuna
dinner: vegetable beef stew, gluten-free soup biscuits, lemonade
