First Two Weeks in Togo Africa

How do I describe our first two weeks in Togo?

• Torrential afternoon rain on tin roofs

• Laughter at cards after dinner

• Tears over the baby we couldn’t save

• 100% humidity

• Lots of lizards

• Great food (no fresh caught-rat though)

This was not served to missionaries

      

Fresh Escargot

• Fellowship with other missionaries

• Fellowship with Togolese staff

• On call every other day

• Lots of friends on the construction crew

Koudjo & Jim

Cuisine

• Lots of sweat

• Unloading shipping containers

• More sweat

• Women’s colorful dresses, men with matching bright shirts and pants

• More sweat

• Wishing I’d learned more French

• Togolese church service with infant dedication and new member recognition

• More sweat

• Lots of sun

• Overcrowded hospital with rudimentary supplies and no air conditioning

• Lots of children with malaria

"I’m on call today so I had rounds at 7AM and could not go to the local church service but tonight we will have our worship service here after dinner. We’re listening to a series on “Mind the Gap” via broadcast from the full time missionary’s sending church. It’s a good study in 1 Thessalonians on how we should act during this “gap” between Christ’s first coming and the Rapture. It really ties in with the study Jeremy did on Romans 1 and 2.

I’m also on call tomorrow because the other short-termer is leaving today. After this I should only be on every other day.

Fortunately there are not many patients in the hospital. And I’m getting time to study, just like in Residency. After rounds this morning I pulled out one of the Pediatrics textbooks to read up on seizures in kids. Now I’m reviewing “Tropical Rashes.”

I’ve begun making friends with one of the other pet monkeys here, Cozzette. She is not cuddly, yet, but gently takes food from my hand and is interested in my watch.

The afternoon rain didn’t come yet. The rain cools things off to the mid-80s. The local folks are wearing jackets and sweaters because it’s so cold. I don’t think I would do well during the dry season here."  -Roxanne

"I've been working on the cuisines which is French for kitchens.  They are single room units for the families of hospital patients to stay in and cook.  The family cooks for the patient and takes care of all their needs other than medical, no chance to complain about hospital food. Just like in the Dominican, the old cuisines are in a low area that floods in the rainy season." -Jim

Please continue to pray for strength for both of us as well as health. Also for the long term missionaries and their families and that the hearts of the Togolese patients would be receptive to the Gospel.

-Roxanne and Jim