It's Official, I'm heading back to Togo!
I was nervously waiting outside the room where the ABWE board members were gathered. I had gone through various interviews the previous days. Moments ago, I had finished my final interview in front of the board. Now they were deliberating my acceptance into the mission. Thankfully, the deliberation didn’t take long. Ron opened the door and said, “Come on back.” As I walked into the meeting room, the board members all stood. “We're glad to officially congratulate and welcome you as a long term missionary!” It’s official! I am heading back to Togo as a career missionary! My heart couldn’t be happier that it is now official. I had a wonderful time at the New Missionary Orientation at ABWE headquarters. It was great to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones! I was encouraged by the number of single women missionaries candidates (pictured above). This is a special group of ladies that I so enjoyed getting to know! It was also a joy to meet and get to know the new Togo team members! There was one other single woman and two couples also heading to Togo. (pictured above) We had fun engaging with each other during the training.
An added surprise was that I got to see the Kendall family, career missionaries to Togo that I served with while I was there. We had lunch one Sunday afternoon with the Kendalls and the new Togo teammates. It was a good time of fellowship and reconnecting. After the Orientation was over, I traveled 2 hours north to my brother and sister-in-law’s house for a visit. I was only planning to stay a couple of days, but God had other plans. I received an email that someone who was at ABWE contracted COVID-19 when I was there. I didn’t want to risk exposing my dad, so I stayed an additional 10 days with my brother’s family, isolating with them.
Praise the Lord! My brother’s family and I never showed symptoms, and the extended stay turned into a good thing. Because of it, I was able to spend more time with my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew, who I don’t get to see very often because they live so far away. I did a Bible club with the kids, which they loved! I also helped move and set up their home school room. The kids were especially excited to make signs for their new home school room. The COVID-19 scare may have felt like a burden at first, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Thank you for praying for me during my trainings. I appreciate it so much! YOU are a huge blessing in my life. I’m so excited to see how God is using US to further HIS kingdom! I ask that you continue to pray as I begin pre-field work. I also ask that you pray as I am currently in an online training for partnership development called, “Kingdom Come Training”. Thank you so much for your prayers!
To God be the glory! Great things He is doing! Liz Ortiz Praises:
Praise God that I’m officially going back to Togo as an ABWE career missionary!
Praise God for protection from the COVID-19 scare!
Praise God for protection when my vehicle broke down on my way home from PA!
Praise God I made it home!
Praise God for the quality time I was able to spend with David and Sarah-Ashley!
Praise God that NMO went great!
Praise God for an opportunity to take an online ASL class!
Praise God that Jonas is home, safe with his family!
Prayer Requests:
Pray for the Kingdom Come Training that I am participating in from August 3rd-14th
Pray for wisdom on balancing my job and pre-field ministry
Pray for health and safety for my family during the pandemic. Especially for my dad because he is in the high risk group.
Pray for an ASL interpreter for Togo – big opportunity for one!
Pray for more opportunities for me to practice signing
