Call Me Tata

Togo has been incredible.

Our team has been ministering to schools this month and it’s been so amazing to love on the children of Lomé.

Our host, Consty with Children’s Evangelism Ministries, had 3 schools to go to so we split up into 3 groups (we’ve had both of our incredible Squad Leaders, Alex and Landry with our team this month): Landry and Sam were teaching a bible story to class after class at a French school, Adrianna and Paul (or Alex; depending on the day/week) have been shadowing teachers at a different school, and Jeremiah, Alex (or Paul), and I have been at a small, private, bilingual school of about 46 kids, shadowing teachers, teaching classes, keeping the cafeteria calm, and loving on kids.

I taught 3 & 4 year olds and volunteered in the nursery at church back home (shoutout to my Refuge family! Y’all are awesome!) and I’m better with the young ones so I naturally wanted to be with the littles. I didn’t realize how much I missed my kiddos back home. I mean, I have wanted to pull my hair out more times than I can count but having sweet Liam Dean tell his mom that I calmed him down when he was really scared, Thea curling up in my lap after having a rough day and a stomach ache, Landon quoting memory verses (at the top of his lungs), Liam being so sweet with Lexi (they’re only 4 but insert heart-eyes here….sorry mommas!), Ezra listening to me when everyone else is running around, or Kasen sweetly helping me with different tasks after class (just to name a few) made it all worth it. And having the parents implicitly trust me with their children is something I could never take for granted. 

Also, I miss my niece and nephews. I just want to give them big hugs!! I haven’t been homesick (except one really hard morning a couple weeks ago), but I have missed giving my kiddos and loved ones hugs and having them experience some of this crazy life with me.

That’s why when “Auntie” Daniela, the principal at Helen C. Bilingual International School (HCBIS) told us that the teachers were referred to as “uncles” and “aunties,” I was even more excited to start ministry.

Tata is Auntie in French so I got very used to hearing “Tata” when the kids were trying to get my attention.

There was one day at recess when I walked out to the playground and 3 girls on the swing were sing-chanting, “Tata come and push me! Tata come and push me!” Talk about my heart filling with love!! I just wanted to hug them all so tightly all the time! High-fives and hugs were the normal method of greeting for the next 3 weeks as I got to know these wonderful children and unbelievable teachers. I taught them “Father Abraham” and they taught me “If You Hear Your Name.” I taught ABCs and they taught me the importance of patient love and customized methods of learning.

I learned that even though the school isn’t a “Christian” school; the founder (Momma Nora) and the principal (Auntie Daniela) are and that they are working to teach these kiddos the love of Jesus.

My heart hurt to leave but I know that HCBIS is destined for great things and my teammate, Jeremiah is coming up with some great ideas on how to help them.

If you want to hear more about how to help some cool new projects and immediate needs; you can subscribe to Jeremiah Coleman’s blog: jeremiahcoleman.theworldrace.org (he will be posting details soon!)

Also, Consty and his ministry (CEM) are always in need of financial and prayer support! Please reach for more info on how you can help!

Financial update: I’m FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!! (Praise the Lamb!) Thank you so much for all of the support and prayers!

We are about to leave for Ghana on Sunday (by taxi to the border and then bus to our Debrief location) so prayers for safety and health as we travel (I’m nervous every time I get a new bug bite…malaria is real…luckily we don’t have many because it’s their “winter” which really just translates to “dry season”).

Prayers for my squad mates that are still support-raising!! If you want to know who/how to help, reach out!