ToGo

(I wrote this a day and a half ago, but didn't have the internet strength to post it until now.)

Hey America! How’s it going over there? What’s new? I don’t have great internet access, and I sure as whiskey am not going to spend those precious seconds of working internet looking up the news… I don’t think I will miss it at all. And that’s the silver lining of being disconnected for 8 months.

So a lot has happened in the last few days. This is an attempt to give a brief timeline and not bore you.

Before I left: So many people were so kind and supportive. Thank you to everyone who gave me a hug or a prayer or a letter or anything else. My young adult group collected letters and gave me an envelope to open every month. That meant so much to me.

Tuesday am: Left early for O’Hare. Tried to check in, but they wouldn’t let me because of some visa stuff. The computer at the airport was saying one thing, but I had been told another. Had to jump through some hoops, but made it through. Flew to Newark, NJ.

Tuesday pm: Hung out in the Newark airport for far too long. Met up with my travel buddy from ABWE. Met some other missionaries to Togo in the airport. Boarded my flight to Lome.

Plane ride: Dudes. I lucked out. As far as overnight long airplane rides go, I hit the jackpot. There was no one in my row so I could lie down. Score! I actually slept some.

Arrival: Got into the airport and someone hired by ABWE from a travel company was there to meet us. Thank goodness. She was awesome and helped us get through all of the many steps in French. Walked outside and was greeted by 3 wonderful ABWE missionary ladies.

Lome: If I tried hard enough, I could get a keyboard or something that does those accents over letters. However, that takes Google and internet so I’m not going to bother.  Lome has an accent over it….anyway. The missionary ladies were using the day to run errands, so we went to the Togo equivalent of Meijer. Anybody interested in pickled duck feet? Or unrefrigerated milk? I can hook you up if you’re willing to pay some very heavy customs fees.

The drive: The roads are red. Everyone sells their stuff on the street. People carry really heavy things on their heads. There are chickens and lizards everywhere. It’s hot. There are basically no traffic rules.

Tsiko: This week I am staying at the southern hospital’s guesthouse. It is very comfortable. They provide meals and laundry while I’m here. I haven’t figured out the hot water for the shower yet….There’s a monkey named Napoleon living right outside my door.

Hospital and clinic: This topic is too much to talk about for a summarizing blog. It deserves 8 months’ worth of its’ own posts ;) . It’s different. I thought I knew things, and now I don’t. I thought I understood healthcare, and now I don’t. I thought I was improving on my French, and now I don’t. I’ve got a lot to learn.

I think that’ll do it for now. I’m heading up to Mango on Tuesday when some missionary doctors arrive. I’ll do my best to keep up with the blog. If you’re on Facebook, I have a page Caroline in Togo where I can update a little more regularly.

Thank you all for praying. I miss you already.

In Christ,

-C-