Ask

    Gary Chapman might not have included it on his list, but one of my main love languages is Asking Questions. I feel like it's an incredible way of showing people you value them. On most nights, my roommates and I ask a 'question of the day' which then turns into a discussion lasting past our bedtimes. My mom sends me questions to answer on a regular basis in addition to our normal conversations, and I feel so loved.

    I've found that asking meaningful questions can be difficult when you're living across the world. I don't know what you did this weekend or what was making you stressed out this week or where you're going for Christmas or how the renovations on your house are moving along. If I do get an update of how your life is going, it's generally the highlights or abbreviated version. I miss a lot of the details. I think that goes for most long-distance relationships unless you're talking pretty darn regularly. While I don't think this is a bad thing on its own, it does mean I have to try harder to ask good questions.

    While being home this summer, I had opportunities to talk to lots of people about my time in Togo. I told lots of people about the wild hippos I saw and the street food I tried and how hot it gets. But to be brutally honest, lots of times the conversation would stop there. It felt like there was so much to say, it was hard to even start.

   I am coming home for Christmas and will stay for 3 weeks. I don't normally write blogs like this, but I'm gonna ask you to do something for me. If we chat over the holidays or if you write me a facebook message or if you support any other missionary, ask questions.

Ask to hear about something encouraging and you might hear about the Bible study my roommate started at a sewing school for girls coming from troubled backgrounds. You might hear about how they are hearing familiar Bible stories for the first time and how they acted out the Nativity.

Ask what has been challenging and maybe you'll hear about teaching the new aides or stalling my new moto or being patient with a mama who doesn't really love her precious baby.

Aides practicing CPR

Ask how God has been working and you'll hear about my student who had tears in his eyes when being presented with the Gospel. You could hear about how my heart is being challenged to be more obedient and humble. Or the woman who had been discipled in prison for the past 3 years and last month was set free.

Ask what projects are in the works and you'll probably get a different answer each time.

Ask about cultural experiences and I'll show you the picture of the baby on my back or cooking a Togolese dish in a Togolese home.

Cooking a Togolese meal

Remember my twin? She's 8 months now! 

Ask about a recent adventure and I could tell you about moto rides or getting a new cat or mishaps in market or teaching P.E. to 20 missionary kids every week.

On a moto ride

Ask about the people who mean a lot to me. I could talk for hours about my 4 year old BFF or my roomies or my neighbors or coworkers or my special patients or my incredible teammates.

I don't think the specific questions matter as much as just asking. And ask other missionaries questions too. It is encouraging to be remembered and I believe it honors God when we share stories of how He is working. Thank you all for being so supportive. Hope to see a bunch of you when I'm Stateside!

Because they haven't heard,
-C-