Three out of the four teams were together in an apartment in Togo. Fifteen people in a three bedroom apartment with one bed in each room (the beds were pretty big). Eight of us slept on the floor with our sleeping pads. A moment of panic struck as I realized this was going to be our living arrangements for the next month. On one hand, this is what I expected coming on the race. On the other, I was still not mentally prepared. I was instantly annoyed at how many people were in the house and that there wasn’t enough space for all of us. But God..
Six of us slept out on the living room floor and fits of laughter would bring us to tears. There were times we prayed for each other before we went to sleep and watched movies (shout-out to the Narnia series). I got to know more of my squad mates on a deeper level. Our hosts were extremely hospitable and took great care of us. Soon the walls that surrounded us became a home. Was it still hard at times? Absolutely. But God shifted my perspective. We learned how to extend grace, be intentional, and love well.
Ministry in Togo was a little slow. This was a challenge for me because I was used to being on the go in previous months. I found myself becoming frustrated easily and allowing quality time with the Father to slip away even though I had plenty of time for it. It was also an opportunity to practice A.T.L. (Ask the Lord what he wants you to do with the day) which happened only a few times. Our set ministry was preaching at a church or teaching at a Bible school.
Teaching at the school was a lot of fun and I could feel the Holy Spirit moving. I taught four times on four different topics: Walking in the Spirit, Grieving the Spirit, Obedience, and Complacency. We taught pastors and bible teachers. Young adults-adults. They asked a lot of great questions. One day I left scripture out of a point I made and a student asked me for the scripture reference. It was clear they desired to be grounded in the word; something needed in Togo. The students and our host informed us that there are a lot of false teachers and prophets in the area.
We also planned two events for the community. One was a kids event for the orphans in the area and the second was a Beauty for Ashes event. Beauty for Ashes gives women an opportunity to feel seen and heard. Both events went really well. We danced, sang songs, made crafts, and handed out snacks at the kids event. At the Beauty for Ashes event, we shared testimonies and had the women share a piece of theirs in small groups. At the end of the event, we washed the women’s feet. Truly a humbling and memorable experience.
What I took away from Togo:
•A month I thought I was going to dread, God used for something greater. He showed the pockets of light in a situation that wasn’t exactly ideal.
•There were times I let frustration and fear get in the way of acting in the Spirit. God has called me higher in this for the months to come.
•I loved the sweet moments I got to share with J-Walkers before we switched teams at the beginning of the month.
•It’s important to be proactive in the Spirit when it comes to planning events. When we sought the Lord as a group, He led us to the two events that turned out great.
•Oh and street food in Togo is GOOD! 10/10 recommend.
