Sunday in Togo
Trip Start
Jun 06, 2006
1
7
79
Trip End
Aug 22, 2006
Momé Hagou,
Togo
Monday, June 12, 2006
Their story started in the early 1980s with a group of men searching for a better understanding of the Bible. They were introduced by a friend to our church magazine of the time. They began studying and eventually requested personal contact and finally became members of the church. Some of their family members came as well. Several of the old "patriarchs" have since died, but there is still a group of twenty people who are members of the Church of God, and participate in the work of the Church. This was the group we went to visit.
Church building under construction
It takes about an hour and half of slaloming between potholes to reach the village. We arrived right at noon. I hadn't been to Momé Hagou in seven or eight years. Due to some internal church complications, they'd lost touch with us for that time, and only recently found us once again. I had the pleasure of meeting them prior to our annual fall church festival last October in the village of Tsévié 30 km north of Lomé, so even to the children and newer members, we weren't strangers.
The village, which is rustic to say the least, was still much improved since my last visit. Some houses are now constructed of concrete blocks with concrete floors in stead of only mud brick, and earth floors. The village children appeared better dressed. Many hadn't been clothed at all when I first came. There were better cleaner cisterns in evidence as well, so the situation had improved for the villagers.
As we arrived we greeted the group which had assembled at the house of the village chief, Mr. Djromadzi, who is a long-time church member and a fine example of a Christian leader. We were ushered into a small room and invited to sit on chairs behind tables covered with cloth beside Mr. Djromadzi. The other local church members and their children sat on benches, which completely filled the small room
Coconut break
. Mr. Fiaboé said a word of introduction in the Ewe language, and then I addressed the group in French asking Mr. Fiaboé to translate phrase by phrase for those whose command of French wasn't good. I explained how happy we were to be able to visit them in their village, and passed along to them greetings from church members in francophone Europe, and Africa as well as from our home office in Cincinnati. I also explained that we were encouraged to the see their example of faith and perseverance in the Christian way of life. I gave a news update on the state of the Church and the work we're doing, and then asked Marjolaine to say a word to the ladies. Because of the distances and expense involved in visiting them, church ladies in this region rarely see pastors' wives from other areas. They truly appreciate this kind of contact, so they had beaming smiles as Marjolaine complimented them on their examples and their hard work for their families and encouraged them to continue letting their Christian lights shine.
We opened the floor to questions, and I answered several questions about prayer, and divine protection during trials, quoting from several appropriate scriptures. Just living in this part of the developing world brings regular and often serious trials
Fiona and Tatiana with some village children.
. Thus, this is a frequent topic of concern and discussion. One man also commented that he was very happy that we came, it was just more proof that they weren't alone in their beliefs and that they had spiritual brethren in other parts of the world.As the formal meeting ended, Marjolaine, Fiona and Tatiana were given tours of some of the ladies' houses and kitchens. Even with dirt floors, and rudimentary kitchen equipment, their places were clean and neat by local standards. They are doing the best they can for their families, and that's all anyone could ask.
They have acquired a small lot near the chief's home on which they have started building a small church hall. The initial construction will be of clay, which will then be covered in a concrete plaster and paint, and roofed with corrugated metal; the norm for local buildings. The church has contributed the equivalent of $200 to help them finish the construction as soon as the rains end in about six more weeks.
Then it was time to take our leave and begin the trip back to Lomé. When we arrived in the northern edge of the city we stopped at the Belissa mini-market, which is managed by one of the pillars in the church in Togo, Pierre Kloutsé
The group in Mome Hagou
. Pierre offered us all an orange Fanta, which was very generous of him given local difficulties. Pierre explained that economic life in Togo is very difficult. All foreign aid to Togo was cut off years ago because of the undemocratic practices of the previous dictatorial regime. In many African nations foreign aid pays the salaries of government employees, and what they spend trickles down through the economy. This isn't ideal, but it does make things a little less desperate for many people. That dynamic is not in play in Togo, and this means life continues to get more and more difficult for the average person. There are some signs that the current president, newly arrived to power after his father's death in office, is trying to make some positive modifications to the entrenched system of the powers that be. Time will tell if he manages to make any improvement.We thanked Pierre for the Fanta and the conversation and then drove back to the hotel for the evening.
Comments
Hello All
I am really enjoying the updates and pictures. Glad you are all having a good time.
Be careful. Love you all.
Julie