What a week! On Saturday morning we loaded our car, said some last goodbyes, and then left Tabligbo--our home for the last 12 years. For Jeff, it was the first time that reality had set in that we were actually leaving and not just going on another furlough. At the same time, the reality of this major transition still hasn't started to sink in.
From Tabligbo, we went to Lome, the capital. Brenda had her last horse-riding compition there. She rode three times in the highest level of compition and brought home three trophies--two for first place and one for second place. Brenda hopes that her riding experience allows her to ride or exercise horses in the future.
On Monday, we received a warm send-off from the evangelists who first received us in Lome 12 years ago. That night we had dinner with Late and his wife. One of our early converts in Tabligbo, Late has now become our team's agricultural specilist.
Then, on Tuesday, our last day in Togo, we had wonderful send-offs. Our first was from a group of Tabligbo people who wanted one last chance to say goodbye.
Even two of Josiah's buddies were in the group. For most of the rest of the day, we hung out with our team. They all came down to see us off and bless us.
Finally, Hammer and Dela, close friends and evangelists in Vogan, came to see us soon before our departure.
From there we started our air travels. God blessed us with traveling mercies. We arrived in Dallas about 24 hours after leaving Togo. Jeff's parents took us to their house where we stayed until Saturday. From there we went to Tyler, Texas, where we are spending time with our sponsoring congregation, West Erwin Church of Christ.
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Trevor's Birthday Party
Jeff teaching from Psalm 92
Angansigle Church
Hammer and Dela's family with Gloria and Meagan |
We are continuing to have a great time with Louise's sister, Gloria, and niece, Maegan. They are enjoying the sights and sounds of Togo. It is different in a lot of ways from their travels in Ghana prior to arrival in Togo. The boys are all enjoying having family from America here and they are in the full swing of summer, in other words soccer, Tae Kwon Do, X-box, and whatever else they can get into during the daylight hours.
This week was one of sadness for us as well as we said goodbye to our teammates of nine years, the Hollands. They will be greatly missed by us as well as the Watchi.
Trevor had a great fifth birthday party on Friday night complete with all the trimmings and presents from abroad (U.S.).
Sunday we head back to Ghana to return Gloria and Maegan back to America. Of course we won't miss much here as World Cup mania sweeps through Togo with their first match on Tuesday of next week.
We were all impressed with last week's cluster worship in Angansigle Kope in the Atitogon region. We had over 100 in attendance and many had walked more than six miles to attend. Pray this motivates the Atitogon church to plant a new one near them and become a cluster of their own. Marty had a good meeting with the men of Atitogon on Wednesday and they discussed their evangelism plans for the next few months as they seek to grow internally. That afternoon Marty was blessed to witness a great step in reconcilliation for the Vogan church as they all split up in two's and prayed for each other. It wound up taking over three hours but it was well worth it. He also had a good day Friday fasting with the men of Ahepe. They seem to be growing and we can only pray that they will be fruitful. Thank you so much for your prayers and love. God bless you.
The Koonces |
Like everyone else, this week has been packed with activity! Monday, Christine and I went to Lome to watch Brenda's last ride in a three day competition. Tuesday we joined them in Lome for lunch and swimming and then spent the afternoon and evening with them as they prepared for their flight Tuesday night. We are VERY sad to see them go. They, along with the Parkers, will be deeply missed both by our family and the Togolese.
Wednesday we took my parents to a new beach hotel in Benin for a few days of rest. It was beautiful and very relaxing. We returned Friday.
Today, my dad and I spent the morning and afternoon with elders from the Didokpo and Gbagu Kope churches teaching on leadership styles and how God used different leaders in the Bible to accomplish different kinds of missions. We had a very spicy lunch, too hot for me in fact. My dad loves spicy foods so I told them a few weeks ago that when they cook for us to go ahead and cook like they like it. Wow, it was hot!!! Dad loved it. Me, I was drinking lots of water and wiping the sweat off my brow:)
Tonight we celebrated my father's 67th birthday (his birthday was actually yesterday along with Trevor's). I praise God for my father and for all of the years of service that he has had in the Kingdom. I'm thankful most of all for the faith in Jesus that he passed on to me and displayed by his teaching and by his life. Very few people in this world have the priviledge, honor and blessing to have fathers who believe in Jesus. I am one of those priviledged few. May God use us both to make the number without Christian fathers fewer and fewer.
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