February 2009
Togo Tales!
An insight into the ministry of LCMS Long-term missionary
Megan Birne y serving Christ in Togo, W est Africa
Lazy Daze
Currently, I am finding myself in the
most intense part of harmattan, dry sea-
son here in West Africa. We have just
finished our first week of Spring FES in
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and God
has been blessing me abundantly! This
time of year is hard because the heat is
so oppressive that is hard to be moti-
vated to do anything that requires phy-
scial exertion. Back in Dapaong, my
cats started sprawling out on the floor
instead of the couch because the con-
crete is so cool and if it weren’t for the
constant parade of ants, I would join
them! However, after planning the les-
sons and traveling up here God has
instilled His own motivation in me, de-
spite the climatic weight. This past
month has been another month full of
amazing experiences! The Fluegge
grandparents (Oma & Opa) came to visit
and that gave me an opportunity to see
West Africa with new eyes once again.
So many things that I feel I take for
granted a lot of times appear awe-
inspiring with new eyes. I also realize
how much I love West Africa and how
much the Lord has taught me. While
they were here we were invited to an-
other wedding in the village of Mir. This
wedding was interesting because it was
under a gigantic mango tree. In dry sea-
son, I have learned that mango trees
are the odd balls because the mango
fruit will not ripen till the hottest, driest
part of the season. When all the other
plants are completely dead and gone, the
mango tree becomes a bounty to be har-
vested! I immediately thought of the story in
John when Jesus talks about how we are
always in waiting for the harvest and then he
tells the disciples... “I tell you, open your eyes
and look at the fields! They are ripe for har-
vest.” John 4:35. Here in West Africa life
moves at a slower pace and it is easy to be
distracted from our call to grow a relationships
and share Jesus. While Oma & Opa were
here we also went to see the last of the Moba
traditional weavers. It was incredible to watch
him work, but sad to think that this weaving
will soon be a lost art among the Moba. Try-
ing to cram all of the incredible elements of
Togo into a one week trip is harder than you
think! However, it was refreshing for me to be
“I pray also that the
able to have these experiences and see situa-
tions with new eyes. I realize that while I may eyes of your heart
feel lazy and fatigued because of the weather, may be enlightened
and begin to think about leaving Togo, I have in order that you
to keep in mind that the Lord is at work here may know the true
in West Africa and has prepared the fields for hope to which He
harvest. Even though things may seem dead has called you, the
and dry, the mango trees are blossoming and riches of His glori-
bearing fruit.
ous inheritance in
I praise the Lord for the people of West
the saints, and His
Africa and His work within them!
incomperably great
power for us who
believe. That power
is the working of
His mighty
strength.”
Ephesians
1:18,19
 February 2009 Moba Wedding at Eglise Lutherienne de Dapaong!
LCMS World Mission
800-433-3954
www.lcmsworldmission.com
Mission.info@lcms.org
Learn more about the work of LCMS
World Mission in Africa by visiting:
www.lcmsworldmission.org/africa

These past two months, I had the opportunity to attend two Moba weddings, one in Dapaong
with two members of the choir and the other in the village of Mir. I am always in awe of how
richly God has blessed the Lutheran Church of Togo and am thankful that I was able to at-
tend both joyous occasions with Christ at the center!

Prayer Requests
• Strength, guidance, & courage as the Lord is constantly teaching me about
Contact Info •
West Africa, Him, and who I am in Him every day.
His will for the next 3 months in Togo and discernment for the future.
Megan Birney • Pray that the Lord would continue to be prevalent in the lives of the Fluegge
family and that I would be an effective instrument in teaching Samuel, Abby,
B.P. 38 and Caleb.
Dapaong, Togo • For health; that the Lord would continue to keep my mind and body free of
West Africa sickness, fatigue, & anixieties.
• The students at the CLET; that God would steady their hearts to pursue their
megan.birney@lcms.org calls to leadership training in serving the Lutheran Church in West Africa.
• The CLET professors that guide the students journeys; give them strength
Check out my blog: and affirmation in their calls to teaching and strength to lead the CLET.
acrossanoceansizedlove.blogspot.com
• Prayers for my fellow MK teachers in FES; Christine Braun, Angela Bell,
Visit my project page: Christina Riddle, Elsie McCall, and Karen Gray.
www.lcms.org?13343 • Prayer for February/March term of FES (02/23-03/13). A great learning
environment while we are here and enrichment for the different ministries on
Download my prayer card: individual mission fields.
www.lcmsworldmission.org/
• The ministries of all FES families; translation, church planting, medical, and
prayercards leadership training.
Access my photo albums: • My fellow LCMS long-term missionaries serving this year, for the opportunity
picasaweb.google.com/ & strength to live out Christ’s love on the mission field.
megaroonski • For the hearts of West Africa.

If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please e-mail me at megan.birney@lcms.org!