Welch Update #7 - 3.08.25
Hello from Togo!
Hello Family and Friends,
The past few weeks have been an emotional whirlwind as we treasured time with loved ones before embarking on our journey to France and then to Togo. It’s hard to believe that we’ve now been in Togo, West Africa, for a month (which has flown by in the blink of an eye!). The emotional rollercoaster continues as we say goodbye to the familiar, but we are also rejoicing in the many ways the Lord has faithfully provided for us.
Before leaving, we had the privilege of spending precious moments with family and friends. Eden and Gil especially loved connecting with their cousins, and they had a chance to reunite with their former nanny and playmates. One of the highlights for us was visiting our dear friends who adopted our dog, Louie. We’ve missed him dearly, but we are so thankful for the loving home they’ve given him.
Sledding with Grandpa and Grandma Toupin
Lots of reading with Grandma Toupin
Gil supervising Grandpa Toupin during home repairs
Morning cuddles with Papa Welch
Playing “Pretty Pretty Princess” with Grandma Welch
Visiting our dear friends the Stemen’s who also came to visit us while we were in France
Spending sweet time with Toupin cousins
and Welch cousins
and our dear nanny Miss Lindley
And of course visiting our sweet friends the McElroy’s and our dog Louie
Travels
Our travels weren’t without a few challenges. Right before we left the States, all of us caught a stomach bug (cue both kids vomiting on the plane!). We were thankful for our five-day stop in Albertville, France, where we could recover and finish packing up the last of our belongings before heading to Togo. We are deeply grateful for all the prayers many of you lifted up on our behalf during our travels. Aside from the sickness, we made it to Togo safely, with all our luggage intact, and were warmly welcomed by our new teammates, who guided us through customs and helped us on the 2.5-hour drive from Lomé (the capital of Togo) to Hôpital Baptiste Biblique near Tsiko, where we are now calling home.
Battling a “stomach bug” as I know many of you probably did as well
Extremely grateful our luggage all arrived intact – thank you for your prayers
Tired and sick, but grateful the kids both slept a good portion of the long flight
Settling In
We have been blessed to spend the first few weeks here settling in and learning how to simply live and do life prior to jumping into work. Day-to-day living in general is almost a full-time job in and of itself—and while it’s overwhelming at times, we have been very grateful for so many other missionaries who have taken the time out of their busy schedules to make us feel welcomed and show us the “ropes.” From how to go to market, buy and clean fresh produce, drive in complete mayhem, or make the trip to Lomé for our monthly grocery runs—there is a lot to learn. But little by little, we are feeling more settled and at peace.
Buying bread and other dry goods in the small neighboring town of Adeta
We had a warm welcoming from the other missionary families upon our arrival
Learning how to properly wash and prepare fresh produce here to avoid getting sick
Answered Prayers
Perhaps one of our greatest blessings and answers to prayer so far has been the way the Lord has provided in finding amazing house help and child care for when we are both working outside the home. As I mentioned earlier, the simple task of living takes a lot longer here—so we are blessed to have Mawupemon come to our home once a week to help clean and prepare different foods that are not easily accessible here. And we are thanking the Lord for providing Antionette, who will be primarily watching both kids. She has a bright and joyful spirit (and has enough energy to keep up with our whirlwind children!). In addition to speaking their local language Éwé, they both speak French as well, which has been great for us as we continue to grow in our ability to communicate in French.
Eden & Gil with Mawupemon (our house-help, right) & Antionette (“nanny”, left)
Mawupemon & Antionette introducing us to the Togolese dish “Foo foo”
Gil & Eden after outdoor playtime
(It is a blessing to be able to play outside year round here – but unfortunately for mom there is no shortage of red dirt!)
Starting Work
In the last two weeks, we’ve both begun to familiarize ourselves with our respective workplaces—the hospital for Alyssa and the finance department for Joe. We’ve been learning the flow of things and how we can come alongside the work already being done here in anticipation of officially starting our roles this week. While we’re both excited to use the gifts and talents the Lord has given us to serve the people of Togo, we’re also quickly reminded of the gap between our own limitations and the vast needs around us. We’re constantly reminded of our deep dependency on the Lord.
Sign at the entrance of the hospital
To the right is the outpatient clinic building and to the left is part of the hospital
Sending Mom & Dad off to work and their typical walk from the house to work
Two roads leading towards the hospital and surrounding villages near Tsiko (pronounced “chico”). My running paths look a bit different than the French Alps these days, but still beautiful.
Lamentations 3:22-23
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”
A Few Words from Our Hearts
A few weeks ago, I felt a particular nudge to begin teaching Eden how to memorize scripture. So, like any parent, I Googled “how to teach a 3.5-year-old to memorize scripture” and of course came across a step-by-step guide. The verse they used for demonstration was Lamentations 3:22-23. Over several days, Eden and I repeated portions of this verse together until she was able to recite it in its entirety (which, of course, was the goal, right?). But as I reflected, I realized the goal wasn’t simply to have her regurgitate a string of words in the correct order. The true goal was for her to understand and internalize the meaning of those words, to take them to heart. And, honestly, I think the Lord knew that I needed these words more than she did in this season.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
At the start of the year, like many of you, I began a “read through the Bible in a year” plan (and yes, I’m already behind!). As I read through the Old Testament, it sometimes feels almost absurd to see how the Israelites experience God’s miraculous provision, only to immediately forget His faithfulness and begin complaining about the next problem. But, if I’m honest, my heart is often just like theirs. I quickly forget all the ways the Lord has provided, been faithful, and answered prayers. Instead, I focus on my immediate challenges, failing to see the bigger picture and forgetting that the One in control has already been faithful time and time again.
I received a very timely email recently that reminded me of all the ways God has been so incredibly faithful to our family on this journey. He was faithful in the preparations before we left for France. He was faithful during our time of language learning and cultural adjustment. He was faithful in our travels and led us safely to Hôpital Baptiste Biblique. So, why do I doubt His faithfulness now in this new season? His love and faithfulness don’t mean the path will always be easy (it certainly wasn’t for the Israelites and hasn’t been for us thus far), but they mean that He will walk with us through the highs and lows and continue to draw us to Himself. And the most comforting part? His love and mercy aren’t dependent on my ability to remain faithful to Him, but are a reflection of His unchanging, never-ending character.
Once again, I find myself in a season where my flesh wants to question God’s goodness and sovereignty. A season where my weaknesses and inadequacies and the world’s brokenness and suffering are more evident than ever, and my natural response is to try to cover them up or ask “why”. But, once again, the Lord graciously reminds me of His never ending grace and love as He invites me to relinquish control and remember daily how utterly dependent we are on Him for our “daily manna.” What a relief it is to know that even when I falter, His faithfulness is constant, and His love never fails.
Praises
- Sweet time with Family & Friends – While the time always feels too short, we are so grateful for the moments we had with family and friends in the States. We are thankful for safe travels and cherished memories made.
- Alyssa’s Health – We were able to see some specialists while back in the States, and though the cause isn’t entirely clear, we are seeing slow improvements. We continue to pray for complete healing and that this won’t become an issue as Alyssa starts working more in the coming months.
- Settling in at HBB – We continue to feel the Lord’s presence in guiding us to Hôpital Baptiste Biblique and are so thankful for the ways He has provided as we settle in here. We’re especially grateful that the team allowed us some time to adjust before officially starting work and for the provision of Antionette and Mawupemon to help in our home.
Prayer Request
- Continued change and transition– While we are feeling more settled, we’re still adjusting to the waves of culture shock and grieving the loss of the familiar. Please pray that we find a healthy and worshipful rhythm as a family. Pray especially for Eden and Gil, that their hearts would be drawn to the Lord and for wisdom in our parenting through continued adjustment.
- Work – We would appreciate prayer as Alyssa starts in the hospital and Joe in the finance department this week. Please pray for wisdom, peace, the ability to communicate in French, and that we would rely on the Lord as we stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zones and abilities.
- Ministry – There is no shortage of opportunities to serve here, but we also know we can easily stretch ourselves too thin, especially in this season of raising young children. Please pray that as a family, we will discern where God is calling us to serve outside the hospital walls and that we would be faithful in what He leads us to, and, most importantly, that hearts would be open to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we step into this next season, we carry deep gratitude for your continued support, prayers, and encouragement. We are truly humbled and blessed. 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!
It is Sunday and the first full warm sunny day! I am on the porch watching our Golden Retriever run and play while reading your blog. I stopped to ask not only for the Lord’s protection and provision for your family but also for His richest blessings for all of you. Thank you for serving Jesus and ministering to the people in Togo.