Welch Update #10 - 12.20.25
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
It’s Christmas Again?
Where has the year gone already? This time last December, we were wrapping up language school in France and preparing to move to Togo. And the year before that, we were saying goodbye to family and friends as we headed to France. It’s amazing how quickly life changes. Moments that once felt huge and overwhelming now sit as distant memories—but looking back, we clearly see the Lord’s faithfulness through every season. It’s that remembrance of His steady, steadfast faithfulness that we cling to in times of uncertainty.
Happenings
Since our last update, we’ve continued in our usual rhythms—Joe serving in his various roles and ministries, and Alyssa continuing work at the hospital. Over time, the day-to-day has felt more settled, which has truly been an answer to prayer.
In October, we were blessed to attend the Samaritan’s Purse Restore Conference in Crete, Greece. It was refreshing to reconnect with old friends and meet new brothers and sisters serving at mission hospitals around the world. Stepping away from daily routines and spending time with people who understand the joys and challenges of overseas ministry was deeply encouraging and much needed.
One of the sweetest highlights was an unexpected reunion with Grandma and Papa Welch (Joe’s parents), who just so happened to be on a cruise that ported in Crete—only about an hour from where we were staying. It was a whirlwind of emotion and such a gift from the Lord to spend four precious hours together.
Spending precious time with Grandma & Papa Welch during their short cruise excursion in Crete, Greece. What a sweet and unexpected blessing from the Lord.
Connecting with old and new friends serving at mission hospitals around the world during the Samaritan’s Purse Restore Conference in Crete, Greece
This sweet little one is a 17-day-old baby girl whom Alyssa was recently able to operate on for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis—a condition where food cannot pass from the stomach into the intestines due to muscle thickening. It continues to amaze us the breadth of surgery that can be done here despite limited resources, and it serves as a powerful reminder of our incredibly faithful God.
This is Adjovi, whom we would like to ask you to pray for. She is the same age as Alyssa and has advanced breast cancer. Like Pauline, she was unable to receive neoadjuvant treatment (chemotherapy or radiation prior to surgery) that would be standard in the U.S. Alyssa was able to surgically remove the visible tumor, but without additional treatment her risk of recurrence in the coming years is extremely high. Please pray for her healing and for the ability to support her to go to Lomé for further treatment.
Pauline with her daughter Marveilleuse. Praise that Pauline has only one more round of chemotherapy left! It has been a difficult road, but we are grateful for another step forward in fighting this cancer. Please continue praying for her as she finishes chemo and begins radiation.
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Togolese church plant we attend and support. The entire congregation from the mother church came to celebrate. The service lasted over three hours and was filled with joyful singing, dancing, and praise.
Joe preaching at church a few Sundays ago. Praise that it went well and that the Lord used it to bring encouragement to those who were present.
Joe visiting a nearby Fulani tribe and sharing a gospel video presentation in their heart language, Fulfulde. The Fulani people are scattered throughout much of central Africa and are predominantly nomadic herders who are almost entirely Muslim. Pray that hearts would be softened to the gospel.
Receiving a care package from our sending church small group, filled with goodies and prayer cards. What an encouragement to our hearts. We were impressed the box made it mostly intact.
Antoinette, our Togolese nanny, with Eden & Gil. The kids adore her (and so do we). She has been one of the greatest blessings to our family and brings so much joy to our daily lives.
Arung (left, Cameroonian) and Josué (right, Togolese) are our two PAACS (Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons) residents from this past year. Their skill and breadth of training far exceed that of most U.S. junior residents, and they have been a true joy to work with and teach. Arung will be starting his third year of training and Josué his second.
Each year, the residents rotate between our hospital and our sister hospital in northern Togo. With two new interns joining this year, there will be three residents at each hospital. Please pray for these residents and their families as they transition and continue faithfully in the training the Lord has called them to.
Personal Update
I (Alyssa) came across this song recently, and it has been a balm to my weary soul. The lyrics have met me in a season where the Lord feels both wonderfully near and yet mysteriously hidden at the same time.
Many of you know that I have been walking through ongoing pain in my hands for several years. For a season, we believed things were improving, but over the past few months the pain has returned—intensifying and spreading to other joints. It has been discouraging, confusing, and honestly, exhausting.
While in France, we pursued every medical avenue available to us, but without clear answers. After much prayer, counsel, and wrestling, we believe the Lord is leading us to return to the U.S. for further evaluation and treatment. This has been a difficult decision—one filled with sadness, uncertainty, and the tension of stepping away from the work and people we love here in Togo. We are praying this will be a temporary pause and are hopeful to return within a few months. We would be deeply grateful if you would join us in that prayer.
In the midst of this, the Lord keeps bringing my heart back to this truth:
“You are all that You say that You are — even when I can’t see.”
I am being reminded again and again that faith is not the ability to see the whole picture, but trusting the One who does. Trusting His unchanging character. Trusting that He is weaving all things together for His glory and our good—and that His definition of “good” is our sanctification, shaping us to look more like Christ.
God so often does His deepest work in the valleys, in the quiet places where our strength runs out and His must carry us. This Advent season, I am reminded of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who walked a hard, painful, and surely confusing road—yet through her quiet obedience and faithful trust came the greatest Joy the world has ever known. Our hope truly rests in hands once pierced in suffering.
Enjoying a beautiful evening in Chania, Greece
Praises
- Time Away & Family – We are so thankful for our time at the Samaritan’s Purse Restore Conference in Greece, and especially for the unexpected gift of time with Joe’s parents.
- Pauline’s Chemotherapy – Praise that Pauline is nearly finished with chemotherapy and will soon begin radiation. Thank you for praying for her.
- Family for Christmas – This will be our first Christmas outside the U.S. and away from family. We were surprised and deeply thankful when Alyssa’s parents announced they will be arriving on December 24 to spend Christmas with us. Please pray for safe travels and sweet time together.
- One-Year Anniversary of Adzankpo Church – It was a joy to witness the celebration of this church plant. Please continue praying for Pastor Germain and that the church would remain a bright light in the community. Praise also that Joe’s recent sermons have gone well.
Prayer Request
- Travel, Healing, & Return – We covet your prayers over the coming months, which feel full of uncertainty. Please pray for safe travels, wisdom in pursuing diagnosis and treatment for Alyssa, clear answers and complete healing, and the ability to return to Togo quickly. Pray also that our hearts would remain anchored in the Lord when it is tempting to spiral into the “what ifs.”
- Chemo/Radiation Support Project – There is an overwhelming number of young women here diagnosed with advanced, aggressive breast cancer. Surgery alone is often not enough, and many need chemotherapy and radiation in the capital city, about three hours away. However, cost and logistics are too often prohibitive for many. We desire to establish a fund to help support more women in accessing this care and would appreciate your prayers towards this. Please pray specifically for Adjovi and Mamane, who are healing from surgery and hope to begin therapy soon, and for Pauline, who is nearing the end of chemotherapy and preparing to start radiation.
- Schooling for Eden – While we were in France, Eden attended a French preschool and absolutely loved it. She is incredibly social and bright and thrives when learning alongside other children. At present, there are no schooling options here beyond homeschooling, so we are praying that the Lord would provide someone to teach kindergarten/elementary next year. We are also praying for a close friend her age.
Grateful For Your Prayers
As always, your prayers are a sustaining gift, and we are profoundly grateful and truly humbled for your continued support—both spiritually and financially.
We love hearing from you and would love to know how we can be praying for you specifically as well – please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Thank you for walking this journey with us.
I will be praying for God’s healing for Alyssa. May He bless your family richly as you serve Him
Joni Lee