~ Anthony and Maureen Parker ~ Anthony's Blog ~ Maureen's Blog

We started out the week with a visit with Tod & Candace Vogt as they were passing through Birmingham. Many of you know that Tod was part of the original team to the Fon people of Benin where we served before moving to Togo. Monday evening, we drove to North Alabama to celebrate the fourth of July with Anthony's family, and capped off the day by watching the fireworks show over the Tennessee River.

Wednesday we drove to Nashville and were able to stay with our former Togo teammates,the Bunners, and also enjoy Lipscomb University's Summer Celebration. We heard outstanding speakers and enjoyed the worship and fellowship. It was great to be with the Bunners, and to attend one of Josh Bunner's all star baseball games.

Our visitors were blessed in prayer by the leaders of the Atitogon cluster.

The boys enjoyed a campout in their new tent.

Louise and Diane listen intently at the cluster worship.

The boys are busy studying Ewe this summer.

~ Marty and Louise Koonce ~

We returned this week from a wonderful ending to a great visit with our guests from the Warrenton church of Christ in Virginia. They treated us royally while in Accra and even kept the boys one night so we could celebrate our fifteenth anniversary at a Tepenyaki Restaurant. The staff there surprised us with a cake at the end of our meal. It is hard to believe we have been blessed with 15 wonderful years together. It seems that it has been just a day, but then again we can't remember life any other way. After our luxurious time in Accra, we wondered if we would be able to readjust back to the simple life in Togo. It was not too difficult when we got to recline into our own beds. There truly is no place like home.

God continues to remind us of the basic truths such as the power of prayer on a daily basis. Also, he continues to encourage us that we are not alone in this work. We don't have much to report on the work this week as we have been out of touch a bit due to our travels. Blessedly, we are all healthy. The boys have enjoyed a special treat this week by having a soccer and language teacher. His name is Rigobert, a student we have watched grow up from the village of Kpo Kpo Kondzi (one of the few remaining faithful Christians there). He is home for the summer from attending the university in Kara. Marty has spent much of the week taking care of details such as car repairs and purchasing a new generator (thanks to our friends in Warrenton). There was a mixed blessing in having electricity rationing begin while they were here!

Louise, Marty, Murphy, and Christine spent all last Thursday getting the teacher house in shape for their arrival in August. We have relocated the school and house to the Parker's former dwelling. The painting is finished and the furniture is in palce in the house. Next week we will work on arranging the school rooms. Please pray for Emily Dunnagan and Amy Shaffer, who will be leaving their families in a few weeks to join us and teach our children.

~ Murphy and Christine Crowson ~ Crowson's Blog

We ask you to pray for a young woman named Esi from the village of Kpotonou. For the last two months she's been having severe headaches that are increasing in intensity. She has been to the doctor several times and they gave her Tylenol, Advil and other headache medicines. However, now she has some swelling on her head and the headaches have increased in their pain and the effect of the drugs has gone down significantly. Join us in prayer asking God to heal this young woman. She is a Christian and the daughter of one of the elders in Kpotonou.

The Batoe church has begun efforts to evangelize two villages in close proximity to them. They have visited two times and met with village leaders as well as others interested in hearing the word of God. Please ask the Lord to bless them as they pray, evangelize, and minister to these people living in darkness. Pray that one or two new churches will begin and that the Kingdom will grow. Pray also that the Batoe Christians will be encouraged and that they will come to know that if they give themselves to the Lord fully He will use them to do mighty things in the name of Jesus.

We also ask your prayers for the Kpeve church as they begin the process of training leaders in the church that they planted Kpokede. This is a very exciting time as we see 2 Timothy 2:2 come alive. That which they heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses they have passed on to faithful men who have also received Jesus in faith and now they are teaching those men to pass on what they have received onto others. This is the principal of Kingdom growth and God is blessing it.

Our family is doing well and God is blessing us with good health and times of rest and renewal. We are excited about Amy and Emily, our two new schoolteachers coming in August.

This past week we had the wonderful opportunity to worship with Christians from several churches in Benin. Christians from two churches in Togo walked almost 20 km to come and worship with the Benin Christians. It was an exciting time of fellowship, grace and building new relationships in Jesus. Join us in prayer as we ask God to break down all walls that divide and bless us with his Spirit that unites.

~ Jeff and Brenda Holland ~

Although the Holland are still traveling to see supporting churches, they have moved to Abilene and started to settle in. Jeff is looking forward to starting his masters work this fall in the Marriage and Family Institute at ACU. While Jeff is in that program for the next two years, he will also be acting as visiting missionary at ACU. As visiting missionary, Jeff and the whole family will help mentor students interested in future mission work.

We are still in the process of reporting to the churches that have sponsored our work. We are also want to see or communicate with our many individual supporters before the school year starts up.