FAREWELL LUNCH WITH MY FRIENDS FROM TOGO IN AFRICA

Brother Justin Ayanou OSB on the right, Brother Gaetan Agouvi OSB  in the middle and myself on the left. After six years of supporting some of their personal needs while they studied for the priesthood at Saint Meinrad Archabbey through my R J MISSION PROJECTS fund, they are leaving to return to their home abbey in the country of Togo on July 8. They will be ordained to the priesthood after they get home.  We have shared many visits and meals together in the last six years as well as four or five more monks before them. I've said it once and I will say it again - one of the biggest blessings of my life in the last fifty years has been the incredible number of friends I have from all over the world. 

THEY ARE BENEDICTINE MONKS FROM THE 

ABBAYE de l'ASCENSION

at

Danyi-Dzogbegan

in the French speaking country of 

TOGO in AFRICA

Brother Justin Ayanou OSB

Brother Gaetan Agouvi OSB

This grainy old photo was taken in August, 2015, when they first arrived at Saint Meinrad. In the middle, was Brother David who went back to their Abbey (below) to be ordained about the time Brother Justin (on the right) and Brother Gaetan (on the left) arrived to begin studies at Saint Meinrad. The language of their country is French. 

The Abbey of the Ascension

 in 

Togo, Africa