DEAR FRIENDS,
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more…And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” I Corinthians 9:19, 23
We praise the Lord, and we thank you all for your prayers on our behalf, especially as we were all sick with malaria. We are all doing much better, and we continue doing what we can do for His glory. However, the pains in my throat are not completely gone. The doctor said it is an infection, but it has been several weeks now. Nicole’s pains are still there but she gets relief when she takes her medicines that help her to stand.
Two of our pastors were sick, too, but we thank the Lord that they are doing better.
The school academic year 2021-2022 started September 27th in Togo. Some of the orphans were in church on Sunday the 26th. We gave them their school materials after the service held in our house. As we mentioned in one of our emails, we thank the Lord that most of them did well in the last academic year. We hope and are praying that they will do well this year also.
The church we are leading, Temple Shalom, has started a day school this year from kindergarten to the 3rd grade. We did not start in time to put all the structures in place. Nevertheless, we are thankful to the Lord for the numbers we have so far. We have 57 children all together. We enrolled four of our orphans in our school. Five Muslim families, too, brought their children to the school. What a great privilege to spread the Gospel. Every morning, there is a Bible story taught in each classroom. However, the doors of the churches are closed but the Lord opened another way for us to reach out to the unbelievers. All the teachers are from the church, which is a great blessing, and this will help them to stay in the church and continue helping the church. Several young people usually leave the church for Lomé, the capital town, looking for a job for it is hard to find a job in our town. They are so humble to accept what we proposed to them as salary. We told them this a part of the ministry the Lord called them to do. Please, continue praying with us regarding the needs of the school, building of more classrooms, and for the salaries of the teachers.
We have also started a day nursery. Nicole with two women from the church are taking care of these little children. The parents bring their children at 7 am and come back to get them around 6 pm. So far, they have five kids to take care of.
Nicole had training for 22 women in our house for how to conserve fresh tomatoes and how to make paste tomatoes. In Togo, we have a season where tomatoes are abundant and very cheap. Therefore, families can save money when the women or men know how to conserve it naturally for about five years. Among them were several pastors’ wives from the area. They were so happy, and they enjoyed this; and they were all very thankful.
As we did in the past when the door of the churches are closed, we are now in our homes for services and for Bible studies. It is sometimes beneficial to have time together around the Word of God in small groups. We are very thankful to the Lord for every opportunity.
Pastor KEBE from Kpalime had a baptismal ceremony. Pastors KEBE and NOAGBE had a leadership training class together for seven people in Kpalime for both of them are serving in this town.
May the Lord continue keeping each one safe and stay blessed.
In the Service of the King of Kings
Pastor Paul & Nicole ASSIGNON