Rooted

Markets are known to be the center of the town - and it is no different here! This morning we visited the local marketplace and it was buzzing full of activity and goodies to sell. Items ranging from clothes, shoes, locally made jewelry of necklaces and bracelets, soaps, fresh vegetables, grains, cooked street food, and so much more. Fabrics and spices were in high demand with our group as we weaved in and out of the marketplace maze watching for 'motos' (motorcycles) and even cars creeping through the narrow marketplace roads. We ended up scoring some amazing designs for our fabrics and flavors for our spices. (Try asking some of our team members to cook you a dish with the spices!) We ventured towards the center of the marketplace where it was known to be the "King's House" - currently, Togo doesn't have a king and is in a season of transition. Pictures and cameras were not welcome in the marketplace so we kept those tucked away.

Afterwards, we drove towards Glidji, a town just outside the border of Benin which is where Voodoo originated from. Glidji hosts the Voodoo Festival each year and you could feel that there was a spiritual heaviness as we drove into town. We took a drive through the Voodoo Temple in Glidji, taking in the sights of the idol statues they had and sacrifices made on one of them at the entrance of the temple. Throughout the drive, one couldn't help but pray for the lost people of Togo and their spiritual bondage to their idols and rituals. As you think of us this week, please pray specifically for the people of Togo that they may encounter the Gospel and accept the freedom that Jesus brings.

We then ventured to Grace Church to get our green thumb on! Grace hosts summer camps for kids with colorful tires lining an area for games and a community mural on the wall, you can tell it's a place for kids. The children's ministry at Grace gathers under a separate shade structure than main service, but the sun blazes down hitting the 3rd row and back. The eleven trees we planted lines the side of the structure so it can grow to provide shade! We planted nine more trees that lines the right side of the main service area and finished it off with five palm trees by the entrance gate. It's incredible what a difference a few trees make in bringing a place together and how fruitful it will become in only a few years. We had to dig the holes just deep enough for the roots to grab hold of soil and grow well. I think the same can be said about our faith - it doesn't matter which way the wind blows or how hard the rain pours, we are firmly rooted in Christ. It's important to remember to water our roots and keep it growing and healthy to reap the benefits of shade or fruit. What a simple reminder of taking care of our faith...While we were getting our hands deep in soil, we had some village children join us! One of them is a young boy named "Dose". He joined right in, picked up a shovel and got to work! He even picked up the bucket afterwards and watered all the newly planted trees. Dose is deaf, so communication with him has been a big game of charades - but that didn't stop his desire to help however he can. It was a breath of fresh air to have the children from the village come in and play for a while! Laughter is the same in every language.

Back at the house now, Team Dinner tonight! We can't wait for some incredible fellowship!!

~Marie