Vol. 3, No. 2

Dear Friends,

Well, Aïchatou and I are in America! We arrived on July 3 and haven't left Iowa since that date. However, today we'll leave for a three-week trip that will take us to Illinois, Michigan, Quebec, New Hampshire, and New Jersey (see schedule below). Once again, we ask for your prayers as we travel.

But don't think that we've only enjoyed relaxing days on my parents' farm in rural Oskaloosa. We've already been traveling and visiting churches in Leighton, Pella, Sioux Center, and Maurice. We also had a wedding reception on July 5 and have visited my sister's family, my uncle, and my grandmother.

In addition, we've been doing what seems like a year's worth of shopping in the past two weeks. Both of us needed new shoes and almost all of my shirts and pants from Niger were frayed and needed replacing. Aïchatou, too, was interested in getting an American wardrobe for her stay here, since she did not have many Western-style clothes.

Everyone has asked Aïchatou what she thinks of America. Her first response is "it is much bigger than she had thought"—and she's only seen Iowa! The lush summer lawns and green corn and soybean fields are a welcome contrast from the browns and beiges of Niger. I'm also surprised at how hilly Iowa appears after living in Niger. Niger is mostly flat, although it does have hills (and small mountains), but the slope is so much more gradual in comparison to Iowa's rolling terrain. The landscape here is really a feast for the eyes and makes me appreciate my home even more.

The other big change in America is eating ice cream every day and almost every meal! We still have ice cream cups left over from the reception and I don't think we've visited one house where we haven't been offered it. Ice cream is an expensive luxury in Niger. Already our clothes are starting to feel a bit tight!

We also have been pleased with the kindness and warmth that has been shown to us since our arrival. Many of you have been faithful readers of these newsletters, and it is wonderful when people who meet us here start talking about something that you had read or seen in a previous letter.

We are also quite grateful for the many wedding gifts and contributions we have received for expanding our house at the Dogon Gao campus in Niger (all our monetary wedding gifts are being applied toward the housing construction). Our future home was originally built as two one-bedroom duplexes for two single missionaries. But that situation doesn't mesh with today's reality! So the RCA has given the authorization to add two additional bedrooms and a bathroom to one side of the house, while the other side will be used as an apartment for visitors, particularly instructors who will teach short courses at the Bible school. The estimate for the additions is $4200 and we have already received $1700 towards those costs. If you would like to contribute toward this, please make the check out to the RCA, write “Johnson housing expansion fund” on the subject line, and send it to

Debbie Braaksma
Reformed Church in America
7 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 107
Hinsdale, IL 60521

Prayer and Praises

• Pray for safe travel as we visit many friends, families and churches
• Give praise for the funds that have already been contributed for expanding our home and pray that we will be able to finish the job this year.
• Give praise the Aïchatou was able to postpone her return from August 12 to August 19. Pray that she will be able to find time to study for her September medical exams while she is here in the United States.
• Pray for Aïchatou and the missions coordinators as she interviews to join the ministry work in Niger. We need guidance in determining what her health ministry will look like.
• Pray that God will use us to share the story of the His work in Niger and His plans for the growth of the church there.

Tom and Aïchatou Johnson's U.S. Schedule

July 17 – First South Holland, Illinois, meeting with mission committee.
July 20 a.m. - Bethany Kalamazoo, Michigan
July 20 p.m. - Corinth Byron Center, Michigan
July 23 p.m. - Meet with St. Marc's Reformed Church, Quebec City, Quebec
July 27 a.m. - Windham Presbyterian Church in New Hampshire
July 27-28 - fly to Chicago to meet with Deb and Doug
July 29 p.m. - Missions Committee Meeting with First Lincoln Park, New Jersey
July 31 - Interview for Aïchatou with Bruce Menning, RCA World Missions, Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 2 a.m - Brunch with URC members at Kathy Lewis home
August 3 a.m. - Bethany Wyoming, Michigan
August 3 p.m. - University East Lansing, Michigan
August 6 p.m. - Missions Committee meeting with Prairie Ridge, Ankeny, Iowa
August 9 - Aïchatou's birthday
August 10 a.m. – First Presbyterian Church, Oskaloosa, Iowa
August 10 p.m. - Central Oskaloosa, Iowa
August 13 p.m. –New Life, Sioux Center, Iowa, Consistory
August 17 - New Covenant Reformed of Oradell, New Jersey
August 19 – Aïchatou departs for Niger
August 24 a.m. - Central Reformed, Sioux Center, Iowa
August 24 p.m. – First Reformed, Maurice, Iowa
September 7 a.m. - Elim Reformed, Kings, Illinois
September 7 p.m. – First South Holland, Illinois
September 14 a.m.- American Worthington, Minnesota (during their mission weekend)
September 14 p.m.- Rock Valley, Iowa
September 21 a.m.- Village Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida
September 27 - Tom leaves for Niger

Thomas R. Johnson
Community Development Missionary to Niger
Reformed Church in America/Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)