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The village of Kati-Lomnava had no close access to clean water. People were walking several kilometers to gather water from a dirty stream down the road. In the same village, on the same property, a church was also planted. Now walks for water and worship can be shorter.
There are many types and styles of headwear. Hats have become one of my favorite accessories to photograph. As Philip Treacy said, “How a hat makes you feel is what a hat is all about,” and I think this goes for both the wearer and the observer.
When there’s no more room inside but you need to get somewhere, no problem! Just hop on top!
When there’s no more room inside but you need to get somewhere, no problem! Just sit on the window!
The wife of a patient at Hospital of Hope does laundry with the assistance of her young daughter.
Two chaplains from Hospital of Hope preach each week in this village church. One chaplain preaches in French, while the other translates into the local tribal language for better understanding of the message.
This is the village where one of the local church plants of Hospital of Hope gathers. Currently, the village is planning and saving to build a church building just down the road from this location so they have shade from the sun which their current location - under a large tree - does not adequately provide.
This small “fruit” was found on the ground during a hike. Not sure what type of tree it came from and my African friend couldn’t tell me the French name for it and I can’t find it on any searches based on the Ewe name or images so it’s still a mystery to me, but I’ll try to figure it out!
This gorgeous flower is also a mystery to me! It has three ruffled, curled, spotted petals and a pyramid like blossom in the center. It had a lovely, light floral smell and though it somewhat resembles an orchid, I can’t find the name of it either.
Walking down the side of the mountain required a lot of focus as the trail was skinny, fairly steep, and we were still up high. But we made it to the bottom without injury or death! And I found these seed pods (I think) which made for a nice photo. I’ll discover what these are sometime too.
When I walked toward the cot where he was laying, he was covered up in a blanket. My friend greeted him and cautiously began pulling the blanket down. His leg was casted and he was eating some lunch. He told us his name was Yakouba and we learned that the reason he came to the hospital was that he had been struck by a moto while walking to school. The moto took off but Yakouba had suffered a broken leg. I coaxed this slight smile out of him after a few minutes.
He came to the hospital because of an infection. His little daughter was terrified of my American friend and his bright orange beard, but we got her to at least come to her dad and get a picture.
A respiratory illness brought him to the hospital where he’s been receiving treatment for several days. He was unsure of what to make of me and my camera but he agreed to let me take his picture after we talked a little while longer.
They call him “chief” of the area of the patient lodging where he stays because he’s already spent 5 months at the hospital battling an infection. He was kind and jovial and while I couldn’t get him to smile for the portrait (Africans like a more serious look in portraits, many time), I did get a laugh out of him later when I asked him to smile for my video portrait.
The maternity and pediatric wards at the hospitals are often teeming with people. Since the care is mostly of children, families tend to squish in where they can fit. This mother allowed me to take a photo of her while her little one slept all snugged up in a blanket next to her.
When kids are involved, there are usually two reactions: terror or over the top excitement. This little guy was one of a huge group - mob might actually be a better word - that surrounded me and posed for picture after picture and giggled nonstop when seeing the finished result.
When kids are involved, there are usually two reactions: terror or over the top excitement. The group of children surrounded me enthusiastically and posed for picture after picture and giggled nonstop when seeing the finished result.
When kids are involved, there are usually two reactions: terror or over the top excitement. The group of children surrounded me enthusiastically and posed for picture after picture and giggled nonstop when seeing the finished result.
This little friend of mine is not named George but he certainly is a curious boy! He loves to touch things. We distracted him from the radio antenna by walking to the other kids. He wanted me to hold him since I wouldn’t let him play with my camera. So he wrapped his little finger in the short wisps of hair at the nape of my neck and played with those for a while instead.
These kiddos were outside the hospital playing. I’m sure they’d been bored just sitting and waiting so they were entertaining each other and running around. My camera brought out a new (and voluminous) energy and they posed over and over again from images laughing at themselves and each other when I showed them the pictures.
They kept crowding the camera and I couldn’t get a nice group shot so I often had to shoot “down” on them which still made for capturing their gorgeous faces.
What. A. Smile. I had the rare moment to capture his sweet smile while the other kids were momentarily just far enough out of the image to give me a singular portrait.
During Evangelistic Mobile Medical Clinics (EMMCs) medical professionals, with the help of translators, meet with patients that come from different villages where medical access may be more limited. This clinic took place in Gladjoé, the same village where the water well was dedicated back in November, 2021.
During Evangelistic Mobile Medical Clinics (EMMCs) medical professionals, with the help of translators, meet with patients that come from different villages where medical access may be more limited. This clinic took place in Gladjoé, the same village where the water well was dedicated back in November, 2021.
During Evangelistic Mobile Medical Clinics (EMMCs) medical professionals take vital signs for patients before sending them for their consultations. This clinic took place in Gladjoé, the same village where the water well was dedicated back in November, 2021.
During Evangelistic Mobile Medical Clinics (EMMCs) medical professionals take vital signs for patients before sending them for their consultations. This clinic took place in Gladjoé, the same village where the water well was dedicated back in November, 2021.
The morning activity along the beach is light, even on a weekend. And the sunrise during harmattan doesn’t provide the pastel colors one usually associates with sunrises but it still gives gorgeous light to the shoreline.
A fishing boat heads out early in the morning to try and haul in some nets for a day’s sell.
Image taken in Lome, Togo.
A young couple came to HBB at the end of September 2020 with a pressing emergency. The 21-year-old wife, Bertine, had just tried to put an end to her life by taking a deadly brew.
In a communal culture like Togo is atypical for an elderly lady to live alone. One day, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Jane went to this lady and asked if she was interested in hearing about the Bible. The lady said yes. Still, Jane was curious as to why this woman lived on her own. The response of one neighbor was that this lady had done “bad things” - a reference to the things in the spiritual realm. Mama Melanie was considered a witch.
*slightly graphic image of birth inside*
I had never witnessed any type of birth before. The surgeon was swift yet careful as he worked handling the sharp instruments with precision and the floppy baby with care.
The phone rang in early November. Dr. Tom Kendall answered. He was greeted by his friend on the other end of the line was a friend who had traveled to Lomé to visit family. The man’s sixty-year-old cousin had been suffering from severe abdominal pain for the last six months.
The work continues in Durban, South Africa. Kathy Ishler shares that some of the church members and other folks who have received food packages in the past weeks are coming out to help with the food stations. They are able to help by chopping vegetables, cooking, cleaning, dishing up food, setting up, sanitizing, trash collection, and most importantly sharing Jesus with communities that are physically and spiritually hungry.
Necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating disease) is difficult to treat and often results in amputation. Komi (age 62) was in the hospital for months as this disease threatened to take his leg.
The first food station pop-up has been launched! Darin Ishler shares a few updates from Durban, South Africa regarding their current efforts to provide food to communities in need.
“Feeding people in South Africa has become a great spiritual outreach. We find the lost turning to Christ because they see the love of Jesus being shared. Already in poverty and desperate for work, our locals are in need of bread to eat but most importantly, in need of the Bread of Life. In John 6:35, Jesus declares that He is the bread of life and whoever comes to Him will never go hungry. What a practical truth that is changing lives because of your help!”
In the last few weeks, life has been turned on its head as countries around the world have been feeling the strains of COVID-19 from death tolls to job cuts, travel restrictions and more. Healthcare providers (HCPs) around the world have been and are working tirelessly to try and heal those afflicted by the virus as well as prevent others from contracting it.
There is no simple answer when a missionary is contemplating whether to leave the field in the wake of impending danger.
While coronavirus has people worldwide rethinking international travel, there are critical ways to live on mission from home.
Embarrassment and feelings of uselessness burdened Madame Botcholi in her role as a church leader’s wife.
A fire is detrimental to anyone but especially in a place where there is no fire department. Rebuilding after a fire is necessary, but how difficult is that process when you have no builder?
It is common today to find those who doubt or question how their skills could be of any use to God on the mission field. Thankfully, God works according to His own understanding and is using those with varied skills to do His work. But still, there is a need. Will you take a few minutes to see if you can help the teams in Togo accomplish all that God has given them to do?
God used the opening of the hospital to reach Gaglo with the Gospel. A year later, he helped the missionaries plant a local church. After that, he was called by God and sent by his church leaders to pastor another new church. Now, he has a desire to plant yet another church in a nearby village. God is using HBB to multiply churches within Togo.
A physical vision impairment brought Yawa to HBB. She was only looking to have her vision restored but she received so much more!
Medical needs brought Faro Faro to HBB. He returned home a Christian and began a small church in his village just two weeks later. But the need for mature leadership and a regular pastor are standing in the way of their multiplication goals. Will you be a part of the solution for seeing more healthy churches produced in Togo?
Disability, Islam, death, and an accident were a few of the things God used to draw Komna to Himself.
“Church” may not mean the same thing across the globe. If I were to ask you to describe to me your church, what would you say? What images and ideas would come to mind? What is “normal” in your context?
Hearing is something many of us take for granted. Get in on the conversation of how some missionaries are prayerfully working to minister to the deaf in Togo.
Read how an African artist’s use of natural paints could help your Bible “come to life”.
Spirit worship and voodoo are common in Togo. Many people are believed to have special abilities or powers which can control different elements around us. Today I met a man who is called “The Power Man” by his friends and they believe it is HE who can keep it from raining.
Abra didn’t realize the importance of being able to read the Bible for one’s self. However, as she studied under ABWE missionary Beky Poteat, she began to learn for herself more about God. As she read the Bible and studied it, Abra saw holes that needed to be filled. She realized many other women also needed to learn more about Christ.
Holistic ministry is ministry that focuses on caring for a person by helping them with both their felt and spiritual needs. Some know they have at least one of the two, others deny or do not know they have either.
Disabilities in Togo are seen as signs of cursing and witchcraft and this includes persons that are blind. They are not seen as having any form of value at all. It is often thought that a person who is blind can do nothing. At Village of Light School for the Blind, the staff is trying to help others see that sight is not a necessity for someone to excel in life.
One of the biggest challenges to planting mature churches in Togo is the lack of trained leaders. This year we have an amazing partnership opportunity to train pastors in Togo like we have never been able to do before.
South Africa is inadequately prepared to care for those with disabilities. Governmentally, they lack quality schools and programs, educators, and caregivers. The schools that do exist have waiting lists that can take years for admission. Societally, the disabled are seen as worthless. When Mama Siya discovered her son, Siyabonga, had cerebral palsy she had no idea what he was capable of, but was determined to create a good life for him. She knew Siyabonga needed special schooling and care but there was no place accessible to her in or near her township. Then in 2015, Mama Siya heard about the Simanyene Centre for the Disabled which was established by ABWE Missionaries Wayne and Sue Royce. As parents of a child with disabilities, they relate to those like Mama Siya who search for quality care. Siyabonga has received education and care through the Centre and now he and his mother work at the Simanyene Centre and Simanyene Home to provide for others with disabilities.
If you are interested in serving with this ministry, visit www.abwe.org/servewithsim
South Africa is inadequately prepared to care for those with disabilities. Governmentally, they lack quality schools and programs, educators, and caregivers. The schools that do exist have waiting lists that can take years for admission. Societally, the disabled are seen as worthless. When Mama Siya discovered her son, Siyabonga, had cerebral palsy she had no idea what he was capable of, but was determined to create a good life for him. She knew Siyabonga needed special schooling and care but there was no place accessible to her in or near her township. Then in 2015, Mama Siya heard about the Simanyene Centre for the Disabled which was established by ABWE Missionaries Wayne and Sue Royce. As parents of a child with disabilities, they relate to those like Mama Siya who search for quality care. Siyabonga has received education and care through the Centre and now he and his mother work at the Simanyene Centre and Simanyene Home to provide for others with disabilities.
If you are interested in serving with this ministry, visit www.abwe.org/servewithsim
Spent time in Togo and South Africa for May this year. My intern Juli arrived and we headed to South Africa for a project. Thanks to her, you'll get to see my face in a few of these.
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, browse around the site.
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com
Samweli Chacha served in his church as a youth leader until he was asked to consider becoming the head pastor of a church in Kivule, an area of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Accepting this ministry role would also mean quitting his regular job. With no biblical training and no other source of income to support his wife and three children, Samweli faced many hardships which led him to seek God’s help.
ABWE continues to work in several regions of Togo. The gospel is being shared through healthcare, education, and other areas of ministry. The work being done, of course, is all thanks to God, but He has used a large number or singles, couples, and families to achieve this work and those on the field look forward to seeing how God is and will continue to work now and in the future.
February 2, 1974 Dal and Kay Washer arrived in Lome, Togo as the first ABWE missionaries. 50 years later, there is still a lot of work being done. From the small beginnings of Bible studies, backyard volleyball, and village evangelism, a host of ministries now spreads from Lome to Mango and includes 2 hospitals, a Blind center, a Bible Institute, over 100 planted churches! March 23, 2024 marked a day of great celebration. Here is a short recap on the last 50 years of ministry.
I've decided to change it up a bit. Instead of strictly trying for 1 second each day, I just want to recap a month so some days may be skipped and some days may have multiple features. But this way you get to see all the good stuff! Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, feel free to browse around this site.
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com
Trying not to bog down the video with mundane shots of my editing each day, I worked to capture different snippets each day, still including some editing so you know I do still work! Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, feel free to browse around this site.
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com
Headed to South Africa and then made it back to Togo. It's been a monotonous month of house work, and work tasks, but some months, that's life! I'll be in Togo for a couple of months while I work on a large project for that team. Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, feel free to browse around this site.
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com
I'm back in Africa and back to giving you a monthly recap. Something new this term is that without that dreaded virus, I can actually travel! This month, I started out my time in The Gambia before wrapping up the month in Togo again. Next month will feature some of South Africa! Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, feel free to browse around the site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com
At Village of Light School for the Blind, employees and students in the vocational program make furniture. They weave a pattern over a wooden frame to create the particular piece. The end projects are beautiful. Here is a short video that shows some of the steps I. The process as well as the materials.
Another busy month and I've been distracted from video projects. So here's another variant on 30(1) Seconds in Africa; nature.
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, navigate the rest of the website!
Serve at HBB
Every year, thousands of people are reached through the work at HBB. They come to find help for their physical needs, but in addition to their ailments being treated, their lives are also touched by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The physical needs in Togo are significant, yet these are as nothing when compared with the great spiritual urgency. How might the Lord be calling you as His hands and feet?
Please contact us at serve@hbbtogo.com to learn how to connect with the ministry here.
In this installment of 30(1) Seconds in Africa, I decided to switch up the theme a bit. 1) it's been a busy month and I didn't get many video clips. 2) I really like sharing people with you!
So, I took a page from February 2021's playbook and I decided to celebrate the faces I get to see in Africa as I go about my days. I hope you enjoy "meeting" these people.
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, check out the rest of the site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
April did have showers. Now to see if they bring May flowers!
For more of what I do, click around the site.
March Madness...no there's no basketball, but there was plenty of madness while I sat in front of the computer to work on several different projects. A welcome break came with an extended weekend at the beach before jumping back into work to wrap up a few things! It's also a little crazy to think that I have less than 6 months now of this term in Africa. With as quickly as the months seem to go, I will be back in the U.S. in no time. Whoa!
For more of what I do, check out the rest of the site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Even though February gives neither 30 nor 31 days to fill it is often a jam packed month!
For more of what I do and what's been happening in Africa, surf around the rest of the website!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
30(1) Seconds Videos are back by popular demand. I took a break from them and like most things you rest from, it can be tricky to get started again or can simply be forgotten. But I asked, you responded, so I answered. Here is the first month of 2022 in a recap. I might have missed a day or two of the actual recording (ok, I did) but I filled them in with some other things so hopefully you'll forgive me.
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music https://www.purple-planet.com
For more of what I do and what's been happening in Africa, click around the rest of the site!
April has been brought Easter, conferences, a birthday, teaching, and more.
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, visit around the rest of the site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
March has come around again. This year we didn't have anything happen to shut down the country (or the globe) and quite a few events have taken place. Enjoy seeing some glimpses of how March went this year!
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, click around the rest of the site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
In this installment of 30(1) Seconds in Africa, I decided to switch up the theme a bit. February is always a funny month since it's shorter anyway and this month I decided I wanted to celebrate the faces I get to see in Africa as I go about my days. I hope you enjoy "meeting" these people.
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do scroll through the website some more!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
In January I went to a friend of a friend's. She makes fresh bread. We had gone one day and they weren't around, so we went back the next morning. To my (and my stomach's delight) they were just preparing to bake the bread.
You can find breads like this (usually size goes by price; 100 franc, 200 franc, 500 franc) in many stalls along the roadside or in markets. Typically they are made two ways - sucré which is sweet or salé which is savory/regular. Both are great and they're excellent for things like hoagies, cheesesteaks, pb&j, garlic bread, french bread pizza, or even just eating plain.
After another break in December from my 1 second every day videos, here is the latest installment, and the first one of 2021! It's always hard to believe when a month is over and I get to post, but it's fun to look back over all the things that have happened and choose a few highlights.
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, check out the rest of this site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
Of her latest book, Judy Bowen says, "The beauty of Scripture combined with photos of creation can bring joy and peace even in tumultuous times. That's why the Lord led me to make this booklet - to showcase His promises."
Watch the interview to learn more about Judy and how she prays for and envisions the impact this booklet can have.
You can visit Judy's website https://tellofhiswonders.com
Since I was in both Africa and the US over the month of November and since there is such a focus on gratefulness during the month, I decided to do a mash up video. This month is full of images of things I am grateful for. Of course, I only have 30 seconds, so I can't fit EVERYTHING I am thankful for in, but I wanted to hit the highlights as usual.
The images cover various parts of this crazy year and also feature both Africa and US things, places, and people. Living life abroad can be weird at times. The transience of life brings its own stress and there is both joy and sadness around every corner. Being grateful for the experiencing and learning new cultures and building new friendships is accompanied by a sadness to "leave behind" family and other friends. But there is gratitude in that as well, because though the geography separates, the connections still exist. It's sometimes a weird life, and this crazy year has not made that any easier, but I'm thankful for the way God sustains in the midst of it all.
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, check out the rest of the website!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
“Even though I knew what I was doing was wrong, I couldn’t stop”, Salifou said of his life in Ivory Coast where he worked during the day and partied with his friends at night. After a motorcycle accident in August 2019 left him with a fractured right femur, Salifou made his way to a hospital near his home in northern Togo to see if the doctors there could save his leg. The hospital has provided exactly what its name promises: HOPE. Physical needs bring many like Salifou to Hospital of Hope where they receive both medical and spiritual care. Watch the video to hear more of Salifou’s story.
This month includes a "surprise" visit to the US! I was having some issues with some of my camera gear and needed to have it fixed so I returned to the States for a few weeks and this volume of the video gets those features! Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, check out the rest of the website.
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
September has been a weird month for me. A lot of small stressful things piled up on top of each other and became seemingly overwhelming. There are also a lot more clips of things going on inside my house because one of the things that I'm having trouble with is fungus in my camera lenses which has caused me to baby them more until I can get them back to the US for some TLC. I also got sick and was down for a few days, but hey, I'm still alive and things still got accomplished, though most of them were done on the computer or involved lots of time to read. Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, check out the rest of the site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
A new year of videos and another month in the books! Volume 13 is starting to get back into the swing of things as the restrictions ease up a bit and travel is little easier. This month I tackled several different projects and have been trying to keep in that rhythm as I move forward and continue making the most of this year. Looking forward to what's to come in September!
Thanks for watching! For more about what I do, check out the rest of the site!
Song: Passport by Purple Planet Music
https://www.purple-planet.com
“You were talking about grace; what exactly is it? Do we no longer need sacrifices to cry out to God for forgiveness of our sins?" Mr. Etoh asked of HBB chaplain, Justin after he shared the truth of the gospel.