Liz Ortiz

My alarm went off at 5:00AM. Although I am not a morning person, this morning I was excited to jump out of bed. After months of praying, planning, and preparing, I could say, “Today is the day. We are going to Benin.”

A few months ago, I wasn’t sure I would be able to m...

One Sunday in September, I got up early to go with another missionary to visit a small church up on the mountain. The long drive over rough dirt roads caused me to become very car sick, but as soon as I saw the little bamboo structure and the people's smiling faces, I...

Everyone was at my house, celebrating the end of the summer sign language class, with a potluck lunch of Togolese and American dishes. Jonas sat across the table from me and made a face as he took a sip of soda. He signed, “I’m thirsty. I don’t like this drink.” I sign...

“Pop, pop, pop!” I took the popcorn off the stove. Every week I bring a snack for my sign language class, and popcorn is the kids' favorite. I grab the bowl and my keys and set out for the MK school. Not far from my house, I see in the distance someone start to run tow...

“Are you nervous?” my senior missionary, Judy, asked while we were at the print shop. “A little, but I’m excited. I've been praying for this day.” For months I had been wrestling with what I might be able to do with Jonas this summer. School was done, and my heart beca...

“Here comes the bride!” The church was overfilling with people. Children eagerly pushed their way through the crowd to see the bride. Cheers filled the air as the bride entered the room. Togo weddings are quite the celebratory event. It made me think of what heaven may...

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I looked down. My next step was about to be on a viper! I quickly sidestepped to avoid the two-foot snake that slithered past me. No one else was around, so I quickly ran to the nearest house to alert them of the danger. “Ther...

“Do you remember the way?” asked my collegue, Christy. I looked around at my surroundings on the unmarked dirt road. “Not really. This looks familiar though.” We continued to drive, trying to remember the way to the Deaf school. Christy made a turn, “Ah! This looks rig...

I was walking home from a meeting when I heard a “hello!” from behind a bush. I looked behind the bush to find one of the MKs sitting with some random gears from a motorbike, so I asked her what she was doing. “I'm trying to make something with parts from my brother’s...

It was beginning to get dark. I was in the car with a few friends. We were driving along the bumpy African road to get into town. We needed to pick up a couple of things for the next day. There aren’t any street lights so everything is dark except for the few small sto...