Safely on the Ground

I received a call from Sara this morning letting us all know that the team has arrived safely in Accra, Ghana.

Continue to pray that their drive over the boarder of Togo and to the Pioneers mission house will follow suit.

Thank you Jesus for keeping an safe watch over their plane through the night.

As the team arrives, they will update the blog personally (assuming the african internet holds strong).

Thank so much for your prayers.  I am honored to stand with you all in support of our loved ones.

KF

There is much to be celebrated!

We will be sharing about the trip, showing pictures, worshipping (african style) NEXT sunday August 9th @ 5pm in AREA 57 in the basement of FBC.  

 

Please join as we celebrate all that God did in and through us on this trip.  

 

Also, know that i am working on putting together pictures, slideshows, movies etc. to more effectively invite yall into the reality of what was experienced on this trip.  

 

Grace to you,

KF

We made it to Paris!

(first of all- a disclaimer- the previous blog was NOT written by me…I copied it from my computer and missed copying SaraLee’s name on the bottom of the blog.  Although i would love to receive the affirmation about the eloquence of the Spirit of the blog- it was not i…)

 

Now…

With our internal clocks already freaking out on us… we made it to paris this morning… midnight ATL time, 4am Togo time, and 6am in Paris.  We are presently lounging in the airport waiting for our flight until 1040 am.   Our goodbyes were all said, quickly- “like a band-aid” and it is just now beginning to sink in that we are not in Africa anymore.  It seems like it has been a year while at the same time feels like its only been a couple of days…We are all exhausted and fulfilled and ready to be reunited with all of our loved ones.  We can’t promise the shape we will be in when we get there, but we can promise we cant wait to hug your necks.  Processing at this point for us is foggy and emotional in various forms.  As the days pass more and more of what god has revealed to each of us individually will begin to be appropriated “by He who has begun this great work in us….”  We are resting in the welcoming, affirming embrace of our Abba’s-”well done, my good and faithful…”  

We are coming home family…

The Togo Team

Return flight links

Air France 849 – Departs from Lome at 10 pm (6pm EST) on July 23 and arrives in Paris – Charles De Gaulle at 6:10 am (1:10 am EST) on July 24.

Air France 682 – Departs from Paris at 10:40 am (5:40 am EST) and arrives in Atlanta at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 24.

Here is the link to the flight status where you can watch and pray for the team as they fly home. Be patient with the website as they have limitations on international flights.

Kendall left me a message to pray for several team members with stomach problems. Let’s pray that it will all subside as they are on the planes. May they experience illness free travel, Lord. We lift up these weary warriors. May they get rest on the flights home and rest in their spirit as they return.

An additional perspective…from SaraLee.

Hey Friends!

If you know me at all, you probably know that I can’t help but type this blog with tears in my eyes…the truth is, I feel so humbled and undeserving of all that He has done and continues to do here in Africa. I am definitely having a hard time expressing all that this trip, and this team, has changed  in my life.

Honestly, the best picture of how I see this team changing is probably when I think about the response time at the end of the last 5 meetings we had in different villages in Kara and the bush.

We had one person respond at the end of each meeting.

One person.

All alone.

In most cases, in front of their entire village that is largely unreached by the Gospel.

One person!

And as I sit and think about that, about the one person that God called by name, that He chose for something so big, I am completely overwhelmed at HIS plan and HIS vision for this trip.

It seems like something the team continues to dive deeper into each day – that He is for us, as individuals. He knows exactly what we need. He knows what makes us come alive and what makes us hurt. He knows our joys and our sorrows. He made us and has a specific process for each of us.

He knows our name. Our story. And He cares in a way so specific to us that I continue, even now, to sit here absolutely overwhelmed at who Christ is…and all that He does…

These meetings have honestly been a perfect picture of Christ’s pursual – He is willing to go through whatever it takes – to have people travel thousands of miles and put on a big production- just for us. Because we’re worth it.  He just wants our hearts.

From a “numbers” point-of-view, it seems like the team would be disappointed – maybe hoping for a bigger turnout or more emotional payoff at the end of a long, hard day, but the joy and love that flows from this team continues to wreck my view of ministry/ missions/life.

They challenge me everyday to just live – doesn’t always mean an emotional high or big production, it just means that they…that we… are trusting in new, deeper, and more beautiful ways than I ever expected.

As the trip comes to a close, and I sit outside under the stars listening to the sounds of a busy city, I know that this trip has produced fruit that lasts – both in Togo and in America.

For me, the only words that I seem to be able to type are “Take it all, Take it all – Just give me Jesus…” That is truly my heart and I can confidently say that I see the team living this. Everyday.

We need Him. To come wreck our lives… over and over and over again. He’s not finished. The work isn’t done, but I know that His plans and His timing are perfect and so specifically beautiful.

Sarah Faye shared 1 Kings 19:11-12 during our team devotion that still feels pretty perfect right now…

Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.” A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake, fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire… a gentle and quiet whisper…

In a hurting world, we have seen healing – true, lasting healing – and I know there is more in store.

We love you all so much and can’t thank you enough for your prayers and encouragement.

See you all so soon

smiles and huge hugs,

Sara Lee

We are back home… in Lome.

It really does feel like home to us…  Its incredible.  After intense ministry in the bush country of Napimbo for serveral days under the most beautiful display of the Milky Way i have EVER seen and then spending time at the second largest waterfall in Africa today- we are back at the guest house in Lome.

It is truly a gift from God to have these two days to debrief before heading home.  Please pray that God would solidify the things He has put His finger on in each of o ur lives, individually and as a team. Though our organized ministry in Africa is done- God has made it VERY clear that His work in not done with us…  He is still taking full advantage of the time He has us here…. please pray that we would get out of his way as He prepares us for what He has prepared us for…at home.  May we hear clearly His tender voice of affirmation and direction.  May we re-enter “life” on purpose.

Thanks for all the prayer and support. There will be many more stories and hopefully a few more updates to come.  But for now after many hours on the very bumpy roads of Togo- we need REST.

Restful…

KF and the Team

Return flight itinerary

The team’s return itinerary is listed below.   On travel days I’ll put a link in this message to a flight tracker so that we can watch and pray for them in real time.

Air France 849 – Departs from Lome at 10 pm (6pm EST) on July 23 and arrives in Paris – Charles De Gaulle at 6:10 am (1:10 am EST) on July 24.

Air France 682 – Departs from Paris at 10:40 am (5:40 am EST) and arrives in Atlanta at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 24.

You should plan on immigration and customs in Atlanta taking at least one hour making the team arriving at the terminal at roughly 3:00 pm provided there are no delays.

Update from Napimbo

Kendall called this morning.  The team is in Napimbo.  The team is located a couple hours drive north of Kara.  They are living in the bush, sleeping under mosquito nets and ministering to the Kpombo people (the language they speak).  The village that the team is staying and meeting in has a very low percentage of Christians (less than 1%).  It has a long history of oppression towards Christians in this village.  Last night the team did a meeting in this village and just one man came forward after meeting last night.  The man who came forward has been a leader in violence against Christians in the village and specifically the church our team was working with.  He assured Sam that his new belief in Christ is for real.  He has turned from sacrificing to idols to Christ.  It’s as though Saul came forward last night and became Paul.

There are at least 2 more meetings total.  Pray for strength.  Pray for His power to come alive in us.  There is a lot of people in the Togo bush who don’t have hope.  Pray for their hearts to be reunited with the God who saves them from this hopelessness.  Pray for good news to be received by the poor as was promised in Luke 4.

This morning Connor was healed from sickness as Yinga and a few other African leaders prayed over him.  He said that he felt a fever come over his body as they prayed for him and then the fever broke and he was well.

Kendall asked for this prayer request.  As God for one day to take the veil off of what we are processing and to see it for what it truly is.  Most of the team is experiencing some form of numbness.  It’s not a negative numbness, but one where you can’t fathom all that you are seeing.   It is like watching a movie verses actually being here on the ground experiencing it in real life.  Life in thatched huts has become normal and seeing extreme poverty isn’t shocking.

The team has a good morale and is trying to process all that they are seeing.

Michael preached a message this morning.  An animist man came into the church today at the end of himself.  He and his mom were walking through a river on Saturday and the mom was swept away by the water.  Though he is animist and has been totally against Christianity he has turned to the Christians to pray for her to be found.  Let’s ask God to show Himself as powerful in this matter.

Here is a story to catch a glimpse of what the team is seeing.  Today after eating some of the teams left overs were thrown over a wall and the sweet kids who they love and adore began to fight for the food like a pack of wolves.  Kendall said, “Some of the stuff we are seeing we feel like we are at max. capacity of processing it.  It is hard to process people who are so hungry that they are literally fighting for their lives.  We are like ‘My God, I don’t even know how to process it.’”  We just watched kids fight over eating the food we had considered eaten.  Kendall is thankful that the team will have some days in Togo without ministry so that they can process some of this restfully.

They will be going to return to southern Togo to a waterfall and spend the night there .   Then they will drive back to Lome.   It is possible to have one more ministry in a village called Adume.  It is an hour east of Lome that through flooding has been completely cut off from civilization.  While in Lome the team will have a day at the market and also at the beach.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers.  The team has really experienced answered prayers while they have been there.  The team loved connecting with the prayer warriors who gathered at the Mangos last night.  It made them really miss home.

Pictures…

This is the fetish tree qt the village where the chief saw and believed…

They will know Him by our Love...

I forgot to ask for prayer for our missionaries traveling with us…  They are working SO hard for us on a very small wage considering the job they continue to do for us…  There is Sam, team leader in place of Francis.  He is noz shqring in the team rotation of FRED…  please prqy for my brother Sam.  !  and Brother Yinka the reinforcements for us in the north. I wish you all could have the pleasure of knowing these two… incredible!  Well its bqck to some team time for me.  Much love,

KF

PS This will most likely be our last post before we return to you…  The bush is not known for its bandwidth if you know what im saying…

The Mom’s Perspective… And some of Kendall

When my daughter Rachel went on her first mission trip to Ecuador earlier this year, I really appreciated Kristen’s (the team’s mom) comments of the trip. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this team. Each and every person holds a special place in my heart. I know why the Lord has me on this trip. I was created to be a “mom” – and with this experience- it has given me a new sense of joy, comfort, and peace with my role as a wife and mother. I have watched God do an amazing work in each and every member on the trip. I have seen Kendall give up trying to control and be led by the Spirit. Michael Lodge be stretched in teaching “Sketch board”-listening to the story well over thirty times yet coming back today to teach and listen to it again. Sara Lee being taken to a deeper place by spraining her ankle and having to let others fill her up instead of her filling up the team!

I love watching: Nick taking Pam’s advice and stepping back in his leadership, (to get filled up) while others step up to fill-in the gap. Kristen, going so deep and surrendering to the work that He is doing in her! Megan, growing so strong and releasing her Spirit of Fear. Matt growing stronger in his ability to lead ( and bringing out the inner-“dancer” in him). Sarah Faye, opening her heart to the African children and just loving on them. Brittany, seeing her passion for people: the team, the missionaries, as well as the people of Togo. Connor, being stretched and accepting where God has him, with peace. Sara Joy, depending upon Him for her happiness and not anybody. Rachel, opening her mind as well as her heart, letting go of what she thought she could control. Michael growing stronger and maturing in the Spirit right before my eyes. I have such joy in my heart as I speak about each of them.

We all have been stretched, and led to a deeper place unique to the person being stretched. I see all of us as a whole letting go and being led by the Spirit. We soon to come back to you, our loved ones, changed and renewed in Him. Therefore ,if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Bob, Justin and Rachel, I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be back with you!

With Love and Affection,

“Mama Mango”

Today was a big day!  Today was our last day of training for the trip! We gave our hugs and congrats to the remaining 2 and ½ redeemer teams and 6 sketchboarders as we handed them their very own sketchboards (Thanks to Bob and his incredibly handy/ neighbors!) , paint, paint boxes, paper, blacklight ,redeemer set, redeemer clothes, cd player, and redeemer CD.  It was a beautiful thing to have our team pray over the “Kara Team.” All of them got on their knees as the Americans prayed blessing of ministry over them.  It was well worth the hassle of getting the material here to watch the Africans take this ministry on as their own calling! In a ruff estimate… this trip we trained 50 people the redeemer (10 teams) and almost 20 sketchboarders.  This is truly an act of God.  The seeds have most assuredly been planted for the country of Togo to be overtaken by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tonight is our last night in Kara and the team is presently enjoying a restful afternoon and evening as we prepare for Napimeo- the legitimate “bush” as we call it.  We will be staying among the Kokumbas (an unreached tribe in the northwest of the country).  This is a very animistic population and we will be living with them for two days.  We are all very excited.  We will not be training in Napimeo, however we will be doing ministry there of various types.  Please pray for the travel there tomorrow morning (7am) and for the team to bind together as we walk into this village in the name of Jesus.  The conditions will be the “ruffest” we have or will experience, so please pray for the team as we dive in head first to the culture.

After Napimeo, we will trek to the middle of the country for hiking and swimming in a national waterfall.  Great time of community ahead for us.

We are all very tired but in great spirits as we all have rest that in the One who is leading us…  The team is in good health as well.  Sara’s ankle is feeling better as she is trusting Jesus in the midst of disappointment that “sitting” must precedes walking and standing…

Thank you for all your comments and support.  Your love is greatly felt and needed.

We love and miss you all…

Kendall and the Team