Ounate-Lare, Sena and Jane, Togo
Ounate-Lare main page
Prayer Letter May 2005 (click
here for Acrobat pdf version)
Dear Family & Friends,
Greetings from Dapaong. Togo has been through a difficult political crisis due to the recent election but things are a bit better now. We apologise that we haven’t been able to write to you recently. Thank you for your faithfulness toward us and our ministry here. Here is some fresh news.
FAMILY NEWS
We are all fine by the grace of God. Joshua is becoming very much a “ handy man ” at home. He wants to unscrew everything, radio, toys, bike…… believing that he and his daddy can fix anything in the world with a screwdriver! Sena is enjoying his superhero position but sometimes finds himself in trouble when he cannot help to fix a toy that is in pieces. Eloïse, is our beautiful little girl who spends her time teasing her brother. At the moment she enjoys singing worship songs she hears at church and her favourite one is “our God is an awesome God ”. The parents overall are enjoying their time though we sometimes miss family and friends in Europe and a lovely ice cream.
The Ounate-Lare family have very GOOD NEWS for you. We are expecting another Baby in September. Please pray for our health as malaria season is coming and for Sena for strength for the work.
POLITICAL SITUATION
As some of you might know Togo went through a political crisis since the sudden death of the previous president who ruled the country for 38 years. A presidential election was held in April. A period of violence followed the proclamation of the final result which announced the previous president’s son the winner. All communications were cut for many days. About 40 people died in the south and some people living in those areas fled the country during that time. Here in Dapaong things were calm.
Please pray : - for Peace in the country and for a spirit of reconciliation instead of revenge. - for the negotiations at the moment to make a National Unity Government that will include everybody
MINISTRY - Our first Baptism
By God’s grace the ministry is growing well and we are enjoying it. We are making mistakes and are learning a lot. It is great to have the feeling that God is at work.
Easter Sunday was a huge event for our church in Dapaong. Our candidates for baptism who had been meeting every week since January were ready. A baptistery was built. Around 50 members of the church spent Saturday morning
levelling the land at the church's property in order to have a good place for the out-door service and the baptism. The same day, we set up a shade cloth shelter to provide a place to meet. On early Sunday morning many girls came with a bucket on their head to get water to fill up the baptistery. Over 100 people gathered for the service. The service went well. Some candidates gave their testimony. We baptized 18 people. It was moving and you could feel God’s presence. 15 people from the congregation made a commitment for the first time to totally give their lives to Christ. The same day by faith we laid the cornerstone of the future church building. We ended up everything with a feast together. Consequently, we are starting our second “Foundations of the Christian faith” course with about 15 people.
Please pray that the newly baptized members will stay faithful and that the new converts will grow and prosper in their knowledge of God. Pray for the course we are starting for new Christians and for
non-Christians.
TESTIMONY
My name is D. I am a student and come from a Muslim Fullani tribe. As a young child I was educated in the Islamic faith and school. As a teenager I went to Burkina Faso for further Islamic studies under a special master. While I was there, the leader of our mosque fell ill and despite all the treatment (medical, prayers from the Muslim leaders and healers) his condition wasn’t improving. One day the pastor of a local church offered to pray for him. As the situation was hopeless he accepted. Miraculously he was healed and he and his whole family came to the lord. It really made me think and when I went back to my village in 2003 I gave my life to Jesus and decided to follow him with all my heart. Ever since my family and tribe have rejected me and do not support me anymore. I am living and studying now in Dapaong and member of the church Sena and Jane planted. Though my life has become difficult and it is always painful to go back to my village I am enjoying my new family and faith in Christ. I know that God is always with me and he loves me.
Sowing Season
Although Dapaong is a little town of 30,000 people, almost everyone farms in order to have enough to eat for his family through the year. We can assure you that it is not just a hobby but an absolute necessity. The wellbeing of most families depends on how good the harvest is. They farm maize, beans, rice, vegetables. As a church we are also planning a farming project together this year. Many people are facing the problem of shortage of food now as last year’s harvest was poor. Even now the price of a sack of maize ( the staple diet ) is getting high and the next harvest is not until September.
People here will value your prayers for this difficult period and for the next farming season which begins in June.
Please do keep us up-to-date with your news and maybe some photos. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Lots of Love in Christ
Sena, Jane, Joshua & Eloïse