Start The Count Down!

The countdown to our departure date has been going on for some time at our house.  The boys have a list of days on the chalkboard and cross off each day at breakfast.

The Mission Control countdown board

We're within a month of leaving - and the excitement is growing.  Also growing is the amount of stuff we are gathering to take with us.  Things are getting tidied up at our house in preparation for the Winter family to come from Japan while we're gone.  Time is once again a valuable commodity.

Ten Tubs

Our departure date is April 15th.  There is a counter full of medical supplies and a few school books in our family room.

Some of the equipment and school material we'll be taking with us

There is a stack of Rubbermaid tubs stashed there as well.  That's what we're going to fill with all of the items, equipment and clothing we're taking with us.

Five people, ten tubs, 50 lbs max. for each tub.  That's what we can haul with us - plus a carry-on and some little stuff.  Is it possible to load up our stuff into 10 tubs?  Should be an interesting exercise!

Doesn't look like it will hold much!

Bake Sale!!

A couple of awesome girls from the hospital Christine works at decided they wanted to hold a bake sale to help raise some money for this trip.  This wasn't just a few cookies on a tray...  Nay, nay, my friends.  This was a smorgasbord of cupcakes, cookies and all kinds of squares and sweets!  With announcements being made in various departments the tables were picked over with just one small container of treats left over after the sale - then it was sold, too!

Cute little chicks, bunnies and eggs in nests

It's okay to look, these pictures are sugar free!

They were able to blow away what they thought they might raise.  Blown out of the water - to the tune of $1500!!  Wow!

So much thanks goes out to everyone at the hospital who has a sweet tooth, to those who paid way too much to add on extra calories, and to the two girls who arranged this bake sale.  You ROCK!

Christine with Michele and Dawn

How cool is it to have co-workers who are enthusiastic and supportive of this opportunity.  We'll be sure to show you what your donations have helped provide at the HBB Hospital in Togo.

Farewell Service

Our church, Stoney Creek, wants to celebrate the fact that we are leaving!  Wait... That didn't come out quite right.  Our church wants to send us off with special recognition and some prayers for our safety and for success in our mission.

Sunday, April 10th is the date that this is going to happen.  The service starts at 10:30am, same as always.  It would be cool to have friends and family join us for this occasion.  We'll also be at Open Bible Fellowship in Lasalle on April 3rd for one last visit of family and friends there.  As the date gets closer we look forward to it with lots of excitement and a tinge of sadness.

Financial Support

Another answered prayer - we're completely funded for the trip!  100%.  

People have been so generous towards us and this project.  We're blown away by the support we've received.  We never expected it, but we should have known better.  With God being in control of this whole process, could the result be any different?

Any extra funds we receive now will give us greater opportunity and flexibility to assist people or projects that are going on in Togo while we're there.  The money certainly won't go to waste.  It will be used to make a genuine difference in the lives of people.

Thank you again for all the generosity and kindness shown to us.  We hope to make you proud of partnering with us in this.  

Driving Permit

I thought it would be good to have an International Diving Permit, in case there is a chance of driving while we're away.  It cost $25 at the local CAA store and is valid for 1 year.  Basically, it says that I am a licensed driver in a number of languages inside.  It contains my picture and Ontario driver's license number.  If you read the fine print of  countries covered by this permit you'll see Togo listed.  Hurray!

Added this shot for Taylor and Derek, who will
be going to Haiti to serve.

The Ides of March

With less than 45 days to go before our departure date, we have some more news to share.  Some of it is very encouraging.  Other news is more like a punch in the stomach.

Last weekend we made the trip to Windsor to visit Christine's mom and dad, and meet the newest addition to the family - Reggie Ross!  What a sweet little guy.

Great Grandma Rose with Reggie

Open Bible Fellowship

Christine's home church in LaSalle invited us to give a little talk on what we were about to embark on.  We took more time than we should have, but were able to share this new passion for medical missions in Togo.  The people were very warm and receptive - as they always are - and offered encouragement for us as we go. They also promised to pray for us and pledged to join with us financially, too.  We're so thankful for the encouragement the people there are to us.  Knowing that we have more people covering us in prayer is awesome!  We look forward to sharing our victories and defeats with them.

If you are in the Windsor - LaSalle area feel free to stop in on a Sunday morning.  You can find out more about Open Bible on their website at Open Bible Fellowship

Dr. Todd DeKryger

After a great Sunday and Monday, we received email news that the medical director of the north hospital in Mango, Togo was not doing well.  Over the next couple of days his health went from bad, to worse, to needing emergency evacuation to Germany.  

Todd's father-in-law, praying him off the runway and on to Germany.

Sadly, Dr. Todd passed away in the hospital in Germany and is leaving a massive hole in the work being done in Mango.  Since God chose to call him home, we wait to see who He is going to bring in to continue the work of the hospital in this needy region.  It's God's hospital, anyways.  Maybe Dr. Todd's death will inspire more workers to get out in the harvest fields...

If you want to watch a video to understand how passionate Dr. Todd was about the hospital and for reaching the Togolese people for Christ, click the link below.  It's well worth the watch.  (I'll wait while you watch it now...)

Hospital Of Hope video  

Plans are for Dr. Todd to be buried where his heart was - on the grounds of the Hospital Of Hope in Mango, Togo.

More Good News...

Today a Canada Post delivery driver knocked on the door with a heavy envelope.  Inside were 5 passports with Togo visas stamped inside!  We're legit now!  Another prayer (okay, full disclosure, it was a lot of prayers) answered.  More confirmation that we're doing the right thing.  Again, something totally out of our control just falls into place, like there was Someone keeping a watchful eye out for us.  God is looking after the details we can't - - and I love it!

Visa stamped in passport.  Yes, it's blurry on purpose...

Our finances are in really good shape.  If things carry on as they have been we should have all the funds required before we depart.  Thanks so much to all of the people who feel this is a worthy endeavour to support.  Thanks for sharing the vision.  Thanks for supporting and encouraging us.

Communaute' Financiere Africaine (African Financial Community) Francs,
the local currency in Togo and seven other countries in the region.