Greater Portland Baptist Church

Jesse and Tiffany Shanks: February 2009

Today marks one week since we first arrived in Togo. It's been quite an amazing experience so far, and we can't wait to see what's in store for us in the future here. We started out by crossing over the border from Ghana into Togo's capital city of Lome. Our missionary coworkers had quite a bit of shopping to do there, so we stayed for a couple nights before heading up-country to the city of Kara, which is where we will be living. Until we get set up in a house of our own, which could take up to two months, we are living with Randy and Jeannette Alderman, who are the veteran missionaries that we're working with. We are living in a small detached apartment on their property.

There are two other missionaries here also whom we're working with: Jim White and Lisa Lewis. We've been having a great time with all the missionaries here, but I think that the greatest thing has been getting to know the Togolese people and speaking with them every day. While talking to them, we really begin to understand how much of their culture we need to learn. I also am convinced that at some point I need to learn the main tribal language here, which is Kabiye. It's definitely not something that is absolutely necessary, as most of the missionaries in Togo only know French, but I believe it's something that will make our ministry here much more effective in the long run. So, I figure that in about a year from now I will start with lessons in Kabiye.

Joshua is having a really great time here, but is having a little difficulty getting used to the heat, as we all are. He's been having fun playing in the backyard as he's trying to catch the very fast lizards that roam the area.

I also have some very exciting news to tell you about starting our ministry here in Togo. Once we get settled a bit more in the coming weeks, I'll be starting to work with one of the churches here in Kara. It is a smaller church that has had some struggles, so the plan is to work along side the pastor, Pastor Nicodime, to help encourage him and build the church through discipleship and evangelism. Please be in prayer about this that God will give me wisdom in this comfort zone stretching opportunity.

Also, there is a man in that church named Élé who is very anxious to get started in the Bible Institute, but Randy is going to be leaving for the States soon, so he has asked me if I'd be willing to start teaching him a course in New Testament Survey. I think that this will be a great opportunity, and I'm really looking forward to getting started about a month from now.

We still just can't believe that we're actually here, it's so exciting! Thank you all so much for praying for us.

Thank you for your prayer and support!
Jesse, Tiffany, & Joshua Shanks