We started with an hour guitar lesson then jumped into building bricks again. They started building them this summer and already have about 2800 built. They are about a quarter way to being ready to build their church and wall. After that, they will make more bricks and build a children’s church. I love that I’m getting to partner with them in this.
At 3:00pm today, we went to the basketball court. JJ and Togo Palm Athletics have rehabbed the communities basketball court. This church is known in the community as “The Church that Does Things”. I blew off the court with a backpack blower. It was a sandy beach. Ha. We had a great time there. I was impressed with how much ministry is done through athletics here. So many people have come to know Jesus because of their involvement in soccer and basketball here. Ryan Cosson and a team came down some years back and started teaching the Togolese how to play basketball. Since then, he’s made a few more trips back bringing supplies and shoes for the kids. There’s really no athletic organization for them here, so they guys have done a great job of implementing structure which these kids/teens love. I played two games in the hot African sun and it was the workout of a lifetime. The kids kept asking me “who dumped a bucket of water on you” since I was sweating so bad. After just a few minutes into the game Frank (one of the guys JJ is discipling) who loves to play basketball, let someone else play in his place because he saw a new boy on the sideline watching and he wanted to tell him about Jesus. He did so for the rest of our evening at the court. Another thing, Frank is a product of the ministry on the courts. I’m developing new heros here!
After the courts, we came back to have our guitar evening session. I had a big group of guys again. Some of them are picking up on it so well, that I’m having them teach on the side for me while I’m working with others. Keep in mind that only 2 of these guys have ever touched a guitar before (and those two knew nothing about it). I am so proud of them for all their hard work. Their fingers are killing them from working on playing chords for hours a day, but they keep coming back. They want it so bad.
Simon (the church’s worship leader) was a little late for guitar class because he was leading someone to Christ. Woop Woop. I’m ok with that kind of punctuality. This is the second time he was late because he was talking to someone about Jesus. Let me tell you about Simons day. Simon got here early in the morning to work on guitar, but stopped quickly because his fellow church brothers were working on making bricks, so he joined them for hours. He then asked if he could have some written material to give out to he and a friend (another guy that was building bricks) could go tell people about Jesus. Priorities are in place. Then he came back that evening late with a great reason.
I love these people. Jesus is so real to them and they can’t wait to introduce their community to Him.
I’m going to try to get a little more sleep tonight. Heading in early. Goodnight.
For more information on this ministry, visit: www.togopalms.org
For pics from today, visit: http://www.facebook.com/BryanTabb
