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Our team of 12 arrived in Togo last night, right on schedule....with all of our luggage too! Unlike the October team, there were no delays or travel issues and we were all very grateful!
Today was our first full day in country and already our team has been impacted by what we had the privilege of observing. This morning we went to the first brick and mortar church planted by the 6 Degree Initiative back in 2013- New Life Church. (Since then, 3 other brick and mortar churches and 17 home churched have been planted. New Life operates as the central hub for all of the 6 Degree churches). Here, we were able to witness 2 TTI (The Timothy Initiative) trainings, one for men and one for women. Right now, there are TTI trainings for men all over the world, but the 6 Degree Initiative is the only team with a training specifically for women. These trainings are held for 4 hours every other Saturday, for two years with the goal of teaching and empowering people to become disciple makers.
The training today focused on how to best effectively share your testimony, using 3 circles drawn in the dirt representing life before Christ, how I came to know Christ, and life after Christ. Our team was most struck by the simplicity yet the power of using the 3 circles and the enthusiasm the men and women had when sharing their testimony. Though we couldn't understand the language they were speaking, we felt like we could understand each of there stories based on their emotions and body language while sharing. During this training, we also got to love on some local toddlers as we played with them in the back. We gave our best efforts at entertaining them while their mother's were presenting and listening intently. Good thing snuggles and peek-a-boo translate in every language! The level of commitment these women have to learn more about the gospel and how to share it is incredible and we are so grateful these little ones have mother's who we know will raise them to love the Lord. Additionally, how amazing is it that these young children get to grow up watching their mother's pursue their faith and education!
The afternoon brought an opportunity for us to observe another leadership training, this time for their youth volunteers who serve in children's ministry. During this training, the teens were given strategies on how to deal with difficult behaviors while teaching Sunday school. They would act out different scenarios and then give one another feedback on what went well and how to best improve. These teens were incredibly impressive with the way they carried themselves and took their training seriously. Though there were lots of laughs, it was evident that they truly love serving in this capacity. With over 70% of Togo's population being under the age of 30, it's inspiring to see such young, dedicated leaders being trained. We look forward to seeing them all in action tomorrow at church.
Our biggest take away from today was the boldness and dedication the Togolese people have in regards to their faith. Many members of the church are the only people in their family who are Christ followers; which in a family that practices Voodoo can lead to rejection, disownment, and may even cause them to be kicked out of their homes. Yet still, these people are choosing to put their faith in Christ over the fear the may feel from their families. They are eager and hungry to learn more about God, in a way that is rarely seen in the States. Like a sponge, they absorb everything they can and work hard to share the joy and hope they've received from Christ with others. Please join us in praying for all of Christ followers in Togo as they face significant opposition on a daily basis from friends and family.
Tomorrow we are headed to several different churches and our team is looking forward to experiencing an authentic African church service!
To learn more about the 6 Degree Team and their work here in Togo, click here: https://www.6degreeinitiative.org/
To learn more about the The Timothy Initiative (another one of One Life's strategic mission partners) click here: https://www.ttionline.org/