00:27 Twanna welcomes listeners and introduces this episode's guest, Melissa Alderman, Converge Missionary in Togo, West Africa. 

1:37 Melissa shares with listeners the beginning stages of how she was introduced to international ministries at a young age. 

2:53 Melissa highlights her first international short-term mission trip at the age of 17, being the definitive moment where she chose to do missions for the rest of her life. 

3:24 Twanna asks Melissa if she thought her husband was crazy when he told her they would work and live in West Africa. 

5:26 Melissa says the best way to prepare for life as a missionary would be to surround yourself with like-minded, Christ-centered, collaborative, life-giving people that want to build and grow you and God's calling on your life. 

7:01 Melissa and the team in West Africa have five different projects within the initiative to further the gospel and continue the church planting movement.

8:06 Twanna asks Melissa, "What were the early days like living cross-culturally?" 

9:21 In West Africa, Melissa shares, the Togolese people worship out of fear. So they have learned to speak of God as the Creator, Redeemer and Friend when presenting the gospel. 

10:57 Melissa speaks of one life change story out of the many they have seen that can help summarize the last 13 years that they have been on the field. 

15:44 Twanna asks Melissa to share some thoughts with the listeners who are considering living abroad. 

16:24 Melissa lists different opportunities and ways to explore a future with short-term or long-term missions. 

17:53 Melissa closes in prayer. 


For video versions of episode 48 and onward visit us on Youtube.