Survey Trip- Update 2

Andrew preached on Sunday morning and used a translator for the first time! He did great. The pastor said they'd give us a live chicken that was given as an offering. Afterwards there were several testimonies given from parents who have children in the Christian schools.

On Sunday night we gave our testimonies to most of the missionaries who live on the Hospital compound. We really enjoyed getting to know them better.

Today is Monday night for us. This morning we left Tsiko (resisting the urge to spell it out chico), where the ABWE hospital is located and drove about 45 minutes to Kpalime where we visited two schools (a public and a christian). Andrew gave a survey to two teachers at each school about their expectations of their students. This will help him while he works on his Doctorate ofEducation. It was amazing to see the differences between the two schools. In the public schools the children were made to repeat a phrase over and over again in an effort to learn pronunciation. It was clear they had no idea what "Mamaan es Mallad" meant (Mother issick), but the teacher seemed annoyed when they pronounced it wrong and carried a stick around the room threateningly. Bea tried to help the students stay focused while the teachers were being interviewed.


In the Christian school the teachers were great. We saw real learning taking place. One of the 2nd grade classrooms is going through the story of Moses this year and each of the students answered questions about the pictures of the story that were posted around the room.


After visiting schools we stopped at the Kpalime market and bought some fabric. Andrew wanted some Togolese style shirts made, so we took it to Patience, a seamstress that most of the missionaries use.

We arrived at the Blind Center compound around lunchtime and took a short nap. Then Joan Schmidt visited each of the classrooms with us and showed us the boutique where we bought some souvenirs.



I'm surprised that I can follow the basic meaning of most of the French conversations, even though I don't understand every word. Andrew says he understands about 75% of what he hears.

Tonight we had dinner with the Gerharts, missionaries who live on the blind center compound. Jim Gerhart works with the Bible Institute. We really feel like we should live in Kpalime so we can help with the Bible Institute and be centrally located for teacher training, too.

It's amazing how much this place reminds me of Grenada. Did I say that already? A lot of the plants are the same and some of the culture, too. Except for the language difference I feel quite at home!

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