Team Photo

We have added a team member. Unfortunately he couldn’t come to America with us.

Heading home

We are boarding Air France 849 to Paris which gets us closer to being home. It was bittersweet leaving Lome but we are very excited to see everyone… and we are all ready for a great American dinner!

Just want to give some shoutouts from everybody here in Togo…

From Matt, Hello mom and dad, just want to let you know that i’m not sick at all (not even dirahhea (knock on wood)) but, i’ve been having a ton of fun with the team. And God has really been working through and in all of us. Love yall, and i’ll cya Friday!

From Katie, hey y’all, so, this is really a blessing; we spent the entire day chilling in Lome, and that’s truely amazing because the have both air coinditioning and actual toilets!!!!!! YAY!! I have a new appreciation for toilets…. Anyways, it’s so much fun, we picked up another team, and they are not only really funny but they’re all really tall too; so I’m not the only awkwardly tall one!!!!!!YAY x2!!! Throughout this trip I’ve really learned how truely blessed I am; I mean, I’ve meet so many children here that have lost not just one but both parents, and I just wanted to tell you that I really do appreciate you. So, keep that mind, and please give BOTH Alex and Jack a hug for me; Okay? Alex too.. Just so you know, I really want lasanga and something with chocolate when I get back….XOXO,Katie

From Alison,

So I’ve been experiencing some amazing things here in Togo and can’t wait for the next two days.  I must admit I have never gone this long without talking to my Dad and miss my family and friends and yes you too Mark more than I ever thought possible. I can’t wait to see you all when I get back and I really appreciate all your prayers. Oh and for all you who were wondering I found my cell phone somehow it got into my checked luggage so sorry to anyone I didn’t get back to that morning . But yay for finding the phone! OK see you all soon love you!!! XOXOX

From Anthony
Hi Fellow Americans! Its been an amazing journey so far in the country of Togo.  Ive missed all of you alot especially the family and am looking forward to seeing all of you soon. If i can put it to words I would, but it will have to wait for some storytelling.  Hope the house hasnt been too boring without me.  See you all on Friday…Shoop Bam!

From Brittainy
Hey Mom and Dad..I miss you guys alot but i am having fun in togo.  it was pretty stressful at first but i have been able to relax and let God work through me…Cant wait to see you.

Just wanted the rest of the team to be able to send a message home.

What an Amazing Weekend

Okay…So we are back in Lome and I could literally write a book about our amazing God-filled weekend.  Unfortunately, because the computer is slow, I am unable to upload any pics or videos.  But, trust me, we have plenty!  For now I will just give you bullet points.

• 6 hour bus ride to the very top of the south western mountain region of Togo
• Got to use our Mosquito Nets!!!! Only Pictures tell the story…
• Put in a floor that Seacoast bought for the Pastor/Missionary who is moving into the village
• Inscribed Seacoast into the Concrete Floor
• Tons of children that don’t understand Personal Space
• Brittainy was the Queen of the Children…They swarmed her!  She loved it.
• Matt and Anthony Shared the Gospel with about 60 children using Salvation Necklaces
• Katie learned how to walk with a bowl of dirt balanced on her head
• Alison has become the mom of the trip…which is a very good thing
• Over 300 people came out to the soccer match
• Two villages who have been fighting with each other for over 100 years came together and played each other in soccer.  It was a very clean and competitive match and Jesus was preached.  They also received jerseys and soccerballs from us.
• We tried to play soccer but the kids stole our ball and ran away with it
• I preached at church on Sunday
• Matt and Anthony did worship
• Alison, Brittainy, Anthony, and Matt did a skit about the lost sheep.
• We had four commitments to Christ at church!!!!
• We had the priviledge of dedicating a Well for the village that was bought by Seacoast
• Met Blaze, who can now walk again thanks to Seacoast Medical Team.
• May Agby who is now alive because Seacoast payed for his hernia surgery
• We did crazy tribal dances in front of the whole village
• I had a birthday
• I got a goat from the village for my birthday
• His name is George
• We left Djon to head to a guesthouse near West Africa’s Biggest Waterfall
• Pastor Francis surprised me last night with the Biggest Birthday Party of my life
• over 150 villagers came to do tribal dances and party
• We danced, played drums, and laughed alot
• Anthony, Matt , and I got hooked up with the Presidential Suite
• We hiked into the jungle to the waterfall
• Amazing waterfall!!!! Only Pics would do it justice
• Left Waterfall for 6 hour bus ride back to Lome
• Pastor Francis surprised us with FanIce and Pizza (Huge Blessing)

Okay that is all I got for the weekend.  I hope you can put it all together.  Thank you all for the comments.  The team really enjoyed hearing them.  I am going to try to get each team member to write their post tomorrow if we are able to.  Thank you for the prayers.  Love You All!

Djon Weekend Trip

Great News!!! All of our luggage has arrived. We are leaving tomorrow morning to the town of Djon for the weekend to help put in a cement floor in a house and do sports ministry. The next update will be on Monday afternoon.
I will try to upload some video and pictures then. I tried to today but the computer is really slow so I have to figure out the best way to do it.
The team is still feeling a little homesick so keep the prayers and comments coming. Thanks.

We Don’t Need No Stinkin Luggage!!!

We have been very busy over the last 48 hours.  Yesterday we spent some time downtown in the market getting a taste of the shopping scene.  It was definitely an experience to remember.  We were suppose to get “necessities” but we figured we could go ahead and get some gifts while we were there.  We toured the “slums” of Togo with our new friend Livingston on foot and learned a great deal about the education system.  Then we finished up the day with Bible Study, Bead Ceremonies, Canaste, and Signs.  All in all a great day.

We got up this morning at 5:30am (1:30am EST) and headed out to 2 villages to give Gifts of Hope given by Seacoast Church.  We gave rice and oil to over 200 families in the villages.  We got to pray with the chiefs of the villages and play with tons of children.  Both villages presented us with tons of coconuts as a thank you gift.  Coco Milk is Soooooo Gooooood!!!!!!

Overall the team is doing great.  Brittainy was feeling a little bit under the weather  this morning and this is usually the time when we all get a little homesick.  Brittainy is doing much better now.  Keep those comments coming in…we love reading them.

Hopefully we get luggage tonight.  I will update from the airport.  Keep Praying!  So many God stories already!

In Togo (Day One)

Well getting through immigration turned out to be a breeze but unfortunately none of our checked luggage has made it to Togo yet.  I am told that it will arrive Thursday Night which has made us change our schedule a little bit but all in all we are in good spirits and know that God’s will is to be done.   Tomorrow we will deliver Gifts of Hope given from Seacoast to the local villages including tons of rice bags and a motorcycle to a local Pastor (I might personally deliver the motorcycle)!

Even though it is a bummer that the team is missing some clothes and our ministry supplies until Thursday night we know that the next two days are going to be very fruitful.  Please pray for us for the next couple of days that God would continue to impact us and allow us to impact others.  Also please pray for the luggage to get here Thursday Night!!!.

Love You All!!!

In Paris

It is 9:20am local time (3:20am EST) in Paris, France. We literally lost a night as we saw the sun set around 8pm and rise again 2 hours later. We are having a blast so far. We have only been yeld at by 2 Frenchmen so far (both my fault in trying to find a restroom).
We started our morning devotional in Ephesians with the first chapter. We prayed that Gods will would be revealed to us each day and that we, as His body, would fulfill His will.
We also have officially found our battle cry for the trip: Be Impacted and Make an Impact. Maybe not the catchiest phrase but we can really get behind it.
Every day we are giving out Character Beads to each other. There are four different character beads – Courage; Sacrifice; Leadership; Teamwork. We will update on who receives what beads.
Continue to pray for us and leave comments so that we can share love from home. God Bless.

So Far So Good

On A Mission

On June 22nd, we will be embarking on a mission from God to Togo, Africa. Our Mission is simple: To Make and Impact. We get to do this through sports ministry such as soccer tournaments and by visiting people in their homes to tell them about Jesus. We get to work with Children and do skits and give them gifts that celebrate the love that Jesus has for them.  We will mainly be ministering to local teenagers and helping a local youth group reach out to their community.
Throughout our journey we will use this blog to communicate back to those who are praying for us and cheering us on from the states. Please check back for futher updates.