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.