Preparing to drive away from the mountain

Six months ago I arrived in Lome, the capital city of Togo.  After an overnight stay, our group drove 2 hours on a paved road until just past the town of Kpalime, then another hour on the road with such largee potholes that you just end up swerving from one side of the road to the other to try and avoid as many as possible!  Once we arrived in the village of Adeta, we turn left and drive about 10 minutes until we pass through the even smaller village of Tsiko and another 5 minutes brought us to the entrance of Hopital Baptist Biblique sitting just at the base of the mountain. 

 

I worked with the Cedarville University Nursing group for the first month that I was here, and then they left, and I started working with the Togolese nursing students.  I’ve been able to spend time with the Community Health group going to different villages, and getting to know patients and families staying here for long periods of time.  There are many different roles and responsibilities here that keep me busy, but I still often find myself asking, why am I here??? 

I enjoy walking out the hospital gate and heading up that mountain.  It’s great for exercise and provides a great view of the surrounding valley and mountains.  Walks up the mountain have been times of getting to know others serving here, times to pray, times to cry over patients at the hospital, and times to think – and often the questions are, what is God doing here, what am I doing here, and how can God use me here????

 

I’m not sure I will ever know the answers.  God asks me to be obedient, to show His glory, and to love others.  Why am I here at this time and in this situation?  As I start to think about wrapping up my time here, I do pray that God can use my meager attempts to serve Him to have an eternal impact in lives.  It seems like there have been almost daily lessons here and reminders that I have to keep my focus on the Lord and that He is my source of strength from moment to moment!!!

In just a few days I will leave this place that I have come to know and love.  Instead of going up the mountain, we will drive away from the mountain and go past smiling faces, small mud hut communities,food being cooked over fires, road side stands, palm trees, hardworking farmers in their fields, ladies carrying something on their head and babies on their backs and off to the airport. 

 



 

What a change this will all be.  It's hard to know how to prepare for all the changes that will take place.  It's hard to say goodbyes to people here.  It's hard to think about leaving behind warm sunny days and head into the cold.  But beyond my surroundings, I pray that the biggest change has been in the hearts and lives of people that I’ve met here, and that my heart would have a deeper joy and dependence on the Lord in all things and in all circumstances!!!    

 

      

 

Thank you for all who have prayed with and for me and the people of Togo during my time here!  Thank you for each penny that you have donated to help me spend the time here and meet some small financial needs of people here in Togo!  What a privilege to be entrusted with God’s resources!

Aug - Oct. update

Supervising Nursing Students

The nursing students continue to work hard through their classes and clinical time in the hospital.  They face many daily challenges and often request prayer that they would not become discouraged.  I recently talked about them on my blog and added a few photos!  Please pray that I would know how to encourage the students to continue striving for excellence!!!  Please pray for me to have wisdom and patience while communicating with the students through an interpreter!!!

 

The Cuisine

I was so thankful for the time I was able to spend getting to know Angel while shestayed at The Cuisine.  God has given her a gift of teaching and she would read the Bible to groups of 8-15 people in their native language!!! As many people started requesting their own Bible, I asked them to first memorize 6 verses.  For many, this was easy, but others worked very hard at it!!!  So far, 12 people have memorized the verses and have received their own Bible!!!  Angele has gone back to her village, but there is a new group of women that I’ve been able to spend time with.  

Please pray forAngele to be a strong follower of Jesus who is a light in her own home and village!!!  Please pray that I would have wisdom in this ministry in The Cuisine and for Rashida who I have been able to spend time with and who has even come to church with me!!!   

 

God’s healing hand

Jacque is a 12 year old that came to the hospital in May with severe health problems.  As we prayed, we often did not know if he would live through the night or what the outcome would be.  Slowly Jacque started improving and was well enough to leave the hospital, but he and his mother stayed close by in The Cuisine for frequent follow up visits.  Due to some complications, Jacque was very stoic and disinterested in everything.  Little by little as his health improved, he started coming to listen to the Bible stories, and would even tell me what they were about the next day.  Over the next couple weeks, he slowly started to smile more and become more interactive.  By the end of August, he was kicking around a soccer ball, smiling, laughing, and teasing me.  I am still amazed that God chose to heal his body!!!  Please pray for Jacque’s continued healing and that God would use these very difficult past few months in an amazing way in this family’s life!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fatima had tetanus, thankfully after a couple weeks she made a complete recovery and was such a sweet little girl!!

Bernadette was prayed for by many of you as she had a brain tumor removed. She still needs prayers, but we are praising God for each day that He gives her!!!

 

Financial Update

I have been so grateful and amazed by the financial donations that have been given towards this time of ministry here in Togo.  I am humbled to be the steward of such generosity!  My church has continued providing money every month despite a deficit in my account.  I still have an additional $4000.00 of support needs to cover the trip to Chad and my last couple months in Togo.  My church will continue accepting donations toward my trip if you feel that God would still have you financially partner with me in this ministry.  Please pray for me to be a wise steward of all God’s provisions!!!

Donation Info

Checks should be made out to College Park Church, but do NOT write my name on the memo line; Send to:

College Park Church, Attn: Global Outreach, 2606 W. 96^th St., Indianapolis, IN, 46268; please include a note that the funds are for Amie Bockstahler.  They will provide tax-deductible receipts at the end of the year.

 

Prayer:

·         Relationships: with other missionaries, the nursing students, hospital employees, and patients and their families

·         Strength and contentment: that I would rest in the Lord and be available to do whatever He asks  me to do

·         Finishing well : during these last couple weeks

 ·        The Hospital: for the hospital staff and for the patients seeking medical

 

Praises:

·         The opportunity to build into the lives of the nursing students and seeing God at work in their lives

·         Seeing God’s faithfulness in my life and in the lives of patients and families

·         My trip to Chad and no problems traveling

·         Improved internet connection which has allowed for some encouraging video calls with family and friends

 

NEXT STEPS ???

      I wish that I had a good answer for this question.  Truth is, I don’t!!!  There is the possibility ofextending my leave of absence from work and exploring a few additional fields and missions organizations.  This would mean I would need a whole lot of prayer and another 4 months of financial support.  Otherwise, I’ll be going back to work at Riley until God directs me elsewhere.  I long to have a heart that trusts the Lord no matter what – even if He asks me to step into the unknown for a bit and completely trust HIM!!!  I will keep you updated!!!    

 

I’m always challenged byJeremiah 17: 5-8 and the reminder that I need to be daily trusting the Lord and only by doing that can I remain fruitful, whether in the midst of abundance or in the midst of a drought.

Thank you for your prayers!! Please let me know how I can be praying for you!!! Joyfully, Amie