Day 6

We took a little slower pace today and had a great time.  This morning we went to Badja and met with all of the pastors that have signed up for the training.  Not all could make it and we still had 19 men show up.  There is some real excitement for this training and that is getting me very excited.  We met for an hour while the rest of the team went prayer walking through the village.  They actually didn't have far to walk because many of the people came to them wondering what the white people were doing there.  I really am not joking about that, it is very unusual for anyone white to come to these rural villages so they are very interested in the purpose of the visit.  They had a great response while Koffi, Daniel and I were visiting with the pastors.  I shared some scripture with them and challenged them to continue on in the good work they have started.  As I mentioned before, they are more advanced that we were told so we can start at a
much higher level than what I ever imagined.  This is really going to be fun!
After our time in Badja, we went shopping for material for traditional clothing.  We went into a part of the town I had never been to a shop of a friend of Koffi.  They had a much better selection than what we had seen previously so we made a couple of purchases.  After shopping, we went to Koffi's mother's house to see Essi and Koffi's baby.  I must say that girl is really cute.  What a dowry!  (Yes, every Togolese man must still a dowry to the family of his bride before marrying).  We met his sweet mother and more of his extended family this time as well. 
This evening we came back to the conference center and Koffi invited a friend of his over to sing with us.  I know this is not something we normally do in the US, but it is really fun to get together and sing hymns in English and in Ewe.  I think they like to teach us Ewe songs just to hear us attempt to sing them!  It was a very sweet time together.
Anyone who had been to another county on mission will understand when I say this, but there is something special about singing songs and gathering with those who do not know your language and you don't know theirs.  We have memorized many of the same verses of scripture and we know a few of the same tunes so we struggle along singing the words.  But there are some things that go beyond the words of the song, something that is greater than the notes being sung, it is the true worship of our God. We are singing songs together to the One who created us all.  Until tomorrow… 
Pictures (if they load)
1.        The group of pastors that have signed up to be trained.  Pray for them.
2.       Koffi's baby