This Man Turned the “Worst Village In Togo” Into A Community of Hope
One morning in 2010, in a world far removed from the comforts of home and family, David Whetstone woke to the noise of whispers and giggles. When he peeked through the zippered opening of his tent, he saw a crowd of beautiful children. Every one of them that eagerly awaited his emergence, he would later learn, were orphans whose parents died of waterborne illnesses that continually plague this sub-Saharan region of Africa.
That very moment was life changing for Whetstone, founder of Mentor Leaders, a non-profit organization whose “community-based efforts are aimed at providing basic education, fresh water wells, sanitation, and creating economic stability — all while maintaining the dignity of the culture.” As the children surrounded him in a group hug that June morning, he reflected on the very long journey that led him to Togo, West Africa. It had not been an easy one.
Several years prior, David’s life had taken a devastating turn that cost him everything he had, save his will to live and $28 in rolled coins. As his feet hit the dirt that morning in a village that gave new meaning to the Acts 1:8 phrase “the ends of the earth,” the hugs of some of the most precious children in the world surrounded him, and he knew he was home. Gbentchal would be the place where God would allow him to begin living life to its fullest.
When Whetstone first arrived, he really only knew one thing: he felt compelled to reach the unreached portions of Togo. He attended a conference in the capitol city of Lome, where he met William Koatidja, the man that would eventually become the Mentor Leaders Togolese Field Director.
A short time later, the two set out to explore 29 villages across Togo, armed with a great deal of passion, a tent, a backpack full of supplies, and a motorbike. The villages were chosen specifically because they didn’t have a single fresh water well or a church, and most didn’t have schools.
“I just don’t feel that this is the right place,” David told William when they left the final village on the list. With that, they returned to the nearby city of Dapaong and requested a meeting with the government.
“What is the worst place in all of Togo?” inquired the determined team. With a look that left no doubt, the government officials replied in unison, “Gbentchal.”
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Image courtesy of Anna Nantz
