Andy's Second Medical Journal Entry

14.Jun.2009 -- Day 4

Aphematoh! Oh doe! Yo-lo!

“Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35).

“Don’t waste your life”.” – John Piper
(I like what he says in the forward: “This is not a book about how to avoid a wounded life, but how to avoid a wasted life. Some of you will die in the service of Christ. That will not be a tragedy. Treasuring life above Christ is a tragedy.” So youth group teens, since school is out now and some of you are probably already sitting around bored and restless – why not put it on your reading list?)

Can’t believe we’ve been here four days already. (I guess Thursday doesn’t really count). Andy’s call on Friday was long (oh well) but he’s been off since Saturday noon and we’ve had some good family times. Yesterday was “game day” – we played some baseball in the DeKrygers back yard. Tony is much improved – he’s even hitting the occasional ball back up the middle. He still runs in random circles, laughing the whole time, sometimes asking to get tagged so he can fall in the grass, but we did work on jumping on third base so that’s a small improvement. Drew is maturing steadily – he has mastered the art of “imaginary runners” and can play a whole game by himself if necessary (this worked out GREAT during our 12 hour layover in Casablanca!). Except I have not figured out how to get his imaginary runners out, yet. They always seem to be safe, for some reason. Then we broke out the new game – “Carcassone”! (Thanks Tina, Dave, Eve, Philip, Susannah, and Alexander!). Fun game, we played twice – Drew won both games.

We have met several of the missionary families now. We really appreciate Melody Ebersole (the pediatrician’s wife). She’s the one who brought cookies and juice to the airport for the boys because she knew we’d be tired and hungry from travel. Yesterday she stopped by on her way to town (Adeta – just down the road a bit) to see if Cari wanted to join her, to meet the seamstress, pick up emergency supplies, and just get away from the kids for a moment. It was very thoughtful (and Cari was quick to take her up on it!) She also stopped to pick us up on the way to church today. Small acts of kindness that have meant a lot as we reacclimate to life here.

Today (Sunday) about fifteen people were baptized in the river after church. The whole congregation, led by the praise team (bugles, trombones, and snare drum), marched down to the river (except a few who rode their motos), everyone kept singing and it was just a fun, joy-filled time. We continue to catch up with old friends, seeing several at the church service.

The DeKrygers now have chickens which they keep penned up right across the road. They wake us up every morning (although I’m starting to block out the noise). Yesterday Cari played farmwife and rescued two that had gotten out, chasing one and scooping up the other (in her BARE hands), returning them inside the fence (Andy’s rescue attempts were feeble and unproductive, despite loud encouragement from the boys, and he quickly gave up and cried out for help). Today Atsotse (“Achoo-che”), the man who watches the house and the chickens while the DeKrygers are gone, let the boys help feed them which they thoroughly enjoyed. Did I mention I had forgotten how many ants there were here in Togo…….

In the Shadow of the Almighty.

CADT (The Robertsons)