Thank you for being patient with us as this update is long overdue! Even in Togo, everyday life has a way of pushing non-urgent tasks to the back-burner. Let’s tell you a little bit about what we’re up to these days…

Caleb: At five months old, I am such a big distraction that Mom has decided she can’t take me with her to language lessons anymore. She says my big brown eyes are really hard to say no to, and that she and Daddy are going to have a hard time when I get a little older… not sure why I would ever need to be told no? I have an adorable smile that our Togolese friends and neighbors love. And I generally prefer being spoken to in French than in English. I am rolling over, laughing, and trying to talk — Mom & Dad don’t always understand me though, so I’m trying to go slow until they’ve learned a little more. It has also recently come to my attention that those two people do not eat in the same manner I do… while they expect me to be content with the same manna-milk each feeding, they consume all sorts of funny-looking and smelling things, and they have yet to offer me any. Again, guess that will have to wait until their comprehension has improved a bit — they don’t seem to realize that I’ve been asking politely for them to share. Maybe they’ll learn that skill soon.

Bethany: My ministry has shifted slightly and is now more home-centered. Since having Caleb, I’ve been focusing on relationship-building and language-learning. As I think we’ve mentioned before, Caleb has made it easy to create new friendships and deepen the ones we already have. The Togolese women love seeing that I feed my baby exactly the same way they do and they enjoy holding him and commenting on his chubbiness. Although they do still think I’m silly for carrying him in the front while they all wrap their babies on their backs. 😉

In addition to continuing French lessons, I have just begun to learn Anufo, one of the more common tribal languages in Mango. While grasping the pronunciation of this tonal language is often difficult, I’m enjoying the opportunity to be able to communicate more with the ladies at market, in our neighborhood, and at the village we visit on Sundays.

A few weeks ago I was excited to get to start a Bible study with the woman who helps clean our house each week. Please pray for R as she has expressed the desire to “start” Christianity and that the Islam her husband practices “does not please [her].” Pray that God would continue to work in her heart through His Word and give me wisdom to know the words to speak to her as well. Our first two times of study together seemed to go well.

Last month I got to spend an hour each Friday in our MK (missionary kid) school. It was a joy to get to know our MKs better and work on some fun 3-D art projects together.

Jonathan: Starting in early September our main server at the hospital began experiencing small problems, and then only a few days later suffered a complete system failure and the near-loss of all of the information on it including — well, everything. The backups, somehow, were corrupt and only by the grace of God was the data recovered after about a week of sleepless nights. One of the soon-to-arrive short-term workers rushed a new server out to us in less than a week – it was a minor miracle that one was set up and ready to go and within driving distance of our courier. After two very long months, the system is almost restored to where it was before. We discovered the cause of all of this mess was an electrical issue that bypassed all of the safeguards.

Not long after that I contracted Malaria again for the 3rd or 7th time this year. This is probably because I was outside so much at night due to the server issues. It took four weeks and three tries to get rid of it the last time (hence why it depends how you count) and by the end of it I had become silly, useless tired all the time. As treatment was wrapping up, we took a small vacation to the southern hospital where it is much cooler, greener, and generally quieter. This was much needed rest for both myself and Bethany. However, as seems always the case, the staff there asked me to join in on some of the IT projects they have for the ongoing renewal of that facility… so much for vacation.

The village study has been proceeding well with the participants increasing in their curiosity and their questions getting more complex. Their understanding ranges from complete ignorance to having heard many different (mostly false) gospels. Having spent about six months laying foundational groundwork, we will be covering the betrayal, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection either just before or just after Christmas. They’ve begun to take up a collection to put on a Christmas feast customary in churches… despite the fact that it is too soon to count this as a church. We won’t break the news to them that we don’t technically consider them a church but we will instead let their passion for celebrating what God has done through Jesus continue to grow while discipling them in the truth. The end of this foundational work also means that we missionaries are trying to step back from the direct teaching role and have a Christian national whom we can work alongside and disciple as the primary teacher. Please pray that God would raise up someone who can take the lead in teaching these people in His truth. Pray for us as we work through how best we can continue to support and grow in His truth.

Recap of how you can be praying:

• Our physical health; rainy season has ended, and we are hoping this also means the end of malaria for our family for a while!
• Wisdom for Bethany to know when to start adding in some time to work at the hospital and for both Jonathan and Bethany in finding a healthy home/outside ministry balance.
• Continued relationship-building with the Togolese — particularly with our guards, house help, neighbors, and coworkers.
• Bible study with R
• Village Bible study
• That God would raise up a Christian national teacher whom we can support and work along side to lead the village study.
• For God’s provision of additional or increased partnerships to make up what we are currently lacking in support, about $500/month.

Thank you for your faithful prayers!