God’s Timetable
A RECAP OF 2023
January – We met for the first time (via Zoom) with the current MK teachers to discuss the possibility of moving our family to Togo.
February – We finalized the application process and pre-field training with ABWE. Once we received our account number, we began to contact churches and individuals to partner with us.
March – Our prayer cards arrived in the mail, making us feel a little more “official.” We also had our first church presentation at Whitney Baptist.
April – Our calendar started to fill in and we began to see monthly commitments and one-time gifts pour into our ABWE account.
May – Sierra finished her first year of college and came home to spend the summer in Idaho with us. We reached 50% of our monthly support requirements.
June – Mom and Dad Cook celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. We had several church visits and by the end of the month we were at 75%.
July – We received financial clearance from ABWE and began the process of selling our belongings and packing up our house. Airline tickets were purchased, and we were able to buy a car from some missionaries who were leaving the field.
August – Visas were acquired, vaccines were taken, and totes were packed. Sierra left for her semester in Israel on August 24th, and we took off for Togo just four days later! We reached 100% of our monthly support commitments days before leaving.
September – We arrived in Mango on September 2nd and began settling into our home and getting to know our neighborhood. School started on Sept. 13th.
October – War broke out in Israel, which forced Sierra and the IBEX group to have to leave the country and return to California. This was a hard month.
November – The shipment of textbooks and school supplies finally arrived in Togo after months in transit. What a relief to have the materials that we needed!
December – We enjoyed wonderful Christmas celebrations at our Togolese church and among the missionary families here in Mango. Two weeks of vacation from school will be a tremendous time to rest and prepare for the year ahead.
Looking back over all that God has done in the last year leaves us in awe. Thank you for being part of this amazing story through your faithful prayers and financial support. We know that we could not be here in Togo if God had not flung open the doors for us. As we look ahead to 2024, we remind ourselves that God is faithful. We believe that He is calling us to stay in Togo and continue teaching the missionary kids in Mango. Next year there will be even more students as a couple of families return from furlough. Our ministry here allows our colleagues to carry out the vital work at the hospital, the radio, and among the village churches. We love being a part of Team North Togo and the ministry that we have to the missionary kids!