The first night in the village of Vane

On Sunday, Pastor Pavel wrote:

Dear friends, thank you for your prayers for our flight. We are here in the village of Vane, of the Avatime people in western Africa, near the border of the state of Togo. Our trip from the capital, Accra, ended in this mountainous terrain. Now we begin our ministry in the villages. Our first impressions -- this is Africa! Marked by an unhurried way of life and many traditions. We have to learn their system and units of social life: the chiefs, elders, tribes and ethnic groups. To learn about funerals, because this is a very important part of life. A person is not buried until the house is made ready (literally “worthy”), until there is enough money for the funeral itself, and many other details. People from different villages come together to say goodbye. This is just one small detail that we heard. Today we begin a program to encourage the people to study grammar and learn to read their own language. We were not bitten during the night because we slept under mosquito nets. Life outside began very early, at 5AM, and then singing in church began. People leisurely talk to each other outside. We will try to note some interesting facts from the life of the people and to tell you. Yesterday evening, we held a time of team fellowship and prayer for each other.