Why did the chicken run into the classroom?

Liz Ortiz
Apr 8
3 min read

“BAWK! BAWK!” A chicken cried as it came running into the classroom chasing after a lizard. I was surprised by the visitor, but it didn’t phase the students. As the chicken ran towards the desks, one of the students bent down and picked up what the chicken was after. He walked over to me and showed me the lizard. He took it outside to release it and another student shooed the chicken back to the outdoors. I turned to Andrea, “It’s not something you see everyday in a school in the States.” We both laughed. “Nope, not at all.” Things may be different at times, but I love it. This school will always have a special place in my heart, chickens and all!

Andrea and her daughter, Emma, are short term missionaries who are helping me at the school for the deaf. They started coming with me a few weeks before Ariana left. They have been a big help! They have especially been helpful with the transition without Ariana. The first day that I returned without Ariana was difficult. Everyone at the school misses Ariana. However, the students have enjoyed getting to know Andrea and Emma. They are fitting in great with the class. They have been in Togo for almost 9 months. They have been serving at our hospital. They will be leaving Togo on May 12th. I am sad to see them leave, and I know the students will be sad as well. Please pray that I can find someone to go with me to the school. Please pray for Andrea and her family as they prepare to go back to the States and seek what God has for them.

I am encouraged by the progress the students are making. At the beginning of the school year, most of them could not write their own name or recognize it when it was fingerspelled. But now they can! The students know the routine and are eager to help and ask questions. I am proud of them. Please pray for others to join me in the ministry. The doors are wide open for the Gospel and the students are eager to learn!

Thank you for supporting, encouraging, and praying for me on this journey. God is good, all the time. He is good. It is different not having Ariana here, and sometimes lonely. But the Lord is with me. I pray that others will join me in experiencing the joy in the ministry. Thank you for your prayers.

God bless,

Liz Ortiz

Prayer Requests:

I need to renew my resident card soon. Please pray that I can get all the paper work and not have any issues with the process.
Andrea and Emma (the mother and daughter short term missionaries) have been a big help at the school. Last week, her son, Cody, joined us. He did great and jumped right in with the kids. They leave Togo on May 12th. Please pray for them as they prepare to return to the States. Pray also for clarity in how God is leading in their lives.
After Andrea, Emma, and Cody leave, I will have about 4 weeks left of school. Please pray that I can find someone to help me at the schools for those 4 weeks.
I am working on getting info on deaf camp and seeing if a date can be set. Please pray that I can get answers soon. I have a deaf educator friend who would like to help at camp, but needs the dates so she can buy her plane tickets.
There has been some girl drama amongst the female blind students. Please pray for their hearts and that they would find joy in the Lord. Please pray that the Monday night Bible studies would be encouraging to them.
Pray for teammates to join me on the field.
Pray for visits to the school for the deaf to continue to go well.
Pray that we can develop good relationships within the school.
Pray for my ability to communicate. I desire to grow in my confidence in speaking French and signing. The difference in accent and vocabulary can be a bit overwhelming at times.
Please pray that I would not be overwhelmed in French or sign language and that I would be able to understand and be understood in the language.
Please pray for wisdom as I develop the ministry.