Thursday morning we loaded up the van and the missionaries vehicles and headed out on our long journey north. With roads in Africa a 2 hour trip can easily turn into a 4 hour trip. We stopped about half way in the beautiful town of Kpalimé. It was our plan here to see a waterfall that came off the mountain. When we got their, much to our surprise it was completely dry. Some locals let us know all we had to do was rive up the mountain and there was one on top. Why not right? So with our van and 2 SUVs up we went with our guide riding on top of the van! Here we are about 1,200 meters (or something like that) up on this mountain. Rock on one side and a drop off on the other on a one lane road, not knowing if a car would come flying down the mountain at any second. It was terrifying to say the least. ;) But the view at the top was worth it all! Africa has some of the most beautiful landscapes. So here we are at the top and no waterfall. Our guide told us it was just a short hike into the rain forrest. We are already here right? So off we go, hiking through gorgeous African rain forrest in the mountains. We hiked, and we hiked and we hiked. 3 miles! Africans have no sense of time or distance! We were hiking and nearly to the point of turning around until we turned a corner and there it was! The most gorgeous waterfall I've ever seen! It was so worth the hike! The rain forrest and random villages were a very cool experience as well! ;)
When we finally arrived at our hotel in beautiful Atakpamé (about 4 hours later) we were exhausted. African roads can wear you out. Our hotel sat on top of a mountain over looking the city. The scenes were breath taking. I think we were most excited about HOT WATER and AIR CONDITIONER! I didn't realize how much I missed it. Once in my hotel room I took advantage of everything! A HOT shower was first on my list! Then, I turned the air down as cold as it would go!
I spent the evening on the balcony overlooking beautiful Atakpamé below. The lights of the town looked like a river of stars. Friday morning we made the 2 hour journey to the village the youth camps were being held at. Once again, African roads will wear you out. I've spend a lot of my time here in the back of Sheaves for Christ vehicles. I now have a bigger understanding of the everyday life of a missionary. I think the biggest misconception about Sheaves for Christ is people think all they are doing is helping missionaries get vehicles. Yes, that's what it's for. But there is so much more to it than that. Sheaves for Christ helps missionaries reach a people who, without missionaries SFC vehicles, would never even have a chance of being reached. It can take them to secluded villages hundreds of miles out of reach from the rest of the world. It can take them through valleys and up mountains. Through big cities and African villages. It can carry a people to church who would never be able to make it other wise. They can go through mud and gravel, trenches and on broken pavements. They can drive through trash filled streets or clean city roads. Supporting Sheaves for Christ can help you, help missionaries reach "the utter most parts of the world". Support Sheaves for Christ, and help reach the world.
The youth camps were held 2 hours away in a town called Elavagnon. We arrived at a small church in a secluded village. It had a tin roof with bamboo sides. About 20 benches lined the floor on the inside with just enough room for drums, a piano and a small stage. Man did God meet us here. 15 people received the Holy Ghost during this youth camp! It was a mighty move. During altar call it got a little cramped. I stepped outside and saw a girl leaned over and praying on a motorcycle. It was extremely crowded so I assumed she just couldn't make it in and decided to pray where she could. I walked over and began praying with her. She received the Holy Ghost right there, bent over praying on the seat of a motorcycle. Isn't God good?!
Friday night was our last night at the hotel. We had our weekly "friday night devotion" on the balcony overlooking Atakpamé. It was dark outside and city light up like stars. Gorgeous. Brother Adams started the night off with a small devotion about finding God's will. After we went around and all spoke a bit about how much we have been changed since being in Africa and how much we were going to miss it. Of course I cried the entire time. Brother Adams and Brother Sully then began telling us about Atakpamé. The town is about the size of Little Rock and North Little Rock combined. It sits in a valley between a beautiful mountain scape. The UPC of Togo has land purchased here but no pastor or funds to build a church. As I scanned the city I counted out Muslim mosques. Many more were hidden around corners and over hills I couldn't see. In a city this big there isn't one Apostolic church. Not one place that preaches the truth. The nearest ones are 2 and 3 hours away. Where is their Shepherd? We began to pray over the city below. What a powerful prayer it was. I stood there overlooking the city as everyone finished praying and moved back up to their rooms. God began a work in me in the corner of that balcony. I began praying and travailing over that place. I felt like I couldn't pray hard or long enough for this place. I looked down at the sea of stars and heard Muslims calling for prayer all over the city and I began to weep. God, where is their Shepherd? The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. Every light in the city became a lost soul. I then closed my eyes and God showed me something through my tears. I saw God riding over the mountains on a cloud. As He stood above the city He was so bright we had to shield our eyes. As I watched this scene unfold fire began to fall from the sky all over every ounce of Atakpamé. It wasn't a fire of destruction. It was Holy Ghost fire and all of those muslims prayers turned into people speakings in tongues and crying out to God. Each persons prayers echoing through the mountains. God then took me all the way to Little Rock and I watched as the same scene played out over my home town. God, where is their Shepherd? What we are doing isn't enough! God here are my hands and feet, use me! Lord lead me. Be a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path! Lord let a boldness rise up in someone. Give them a revelation of the truth! Help someone to answer the call, send someone to Atakpamé. I then fell silent and He answered. He said, "I sent you.." (First off, WHOA. and secondly, ME?!) I believe God sent me there to see the need. I was there at that exact moment for a reason. I will continue to pray over this place until they get an Apostolic preacher. God can and will send one! After this experience I began to look up at the stars. There's nothing more beautiful than an African night sky. As I stood there looking up, each star began to represent a lost soul ready to be reached, and it was more than I could count. God, where is their Shepherd? This night found me on my knees in prayer.
Saturday we made the long journey back to Lomé and we rested.
Sunday morning we got to go to church. It was unexpected because we thought we would be traveling our last 2 sundays. We attended Pastor Severigns church. This happened to be the last service for the Sully's as well. They are headed back to the states with us to start deputation for Senegal. They pastored this church for a while because Pastor Severign was very sick. They threw them a going away service and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. During service the pastor spoke a word to us Next Steppers and it was something I will never forget. He said, "It is my prayer that you are satisfied with Jesus everyday and something good will happen on your way to the promise land. Your promise land is your mission field. It can be Benin, it can be Togo, somewhere in Africa or anywhere in the world. That is your promise land, that you be satisfied with Jesus everyday and something will be good for you. That is my prayer and that is what I can see far away. God will do it." What an awesome man of God and what an awesome service! We had church! Like I said before, there's no church like African church!
After service sunday we came home and caught up on lost sleep. Since we did that we were all wide awake at midnight! I went outside to see what my favorite guard Lucas was up to. I found him cleaning this huge tarp like thing. I offered to help considering I was so bored. Then I had the most brilliant idea! I had Lucas help me and then I called out all the girls. We made a SLIP N' SLIDE. YES! A slip n' slide, african style and it was a blast! We soaked it with soap and water as Lucas held the water hose. We slid and played and raced. We placed it between the swing set and clothes line poles. Rasché, Bekah and me decided we wanted to go together. So, we did and I slammed into the clothes line pole! I promise I blacked out a few seconds! It was hilarious! Once everyone knew I was OK I was the joke for the evening. ;) Lucas was worried but when I assured him I was ok he was all laughs and smiles! It was a blast of a night! African Slip n' slide= great success and great memories! (videos to come)
Until next time,
-Brandi <3
The beautiful waterfall! :)
Atakpamé looking like a river of stars. :)
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