Whooooaaaah, I'm halfway there, living on a prayer!
Don't worry. While I'm living on plenty of prayers, my fridge is also always full. However, there was one day last week when I didn't get up in time to prepare my lunch and the only thing that was ready to go was leftover lentils. But that was my bad and even that tasted good! Here's your soundtrack for the duration of this post.
I'm just about halfway through my time here in Togo! Time is weird y'all. How can it simultaneously feel like I've been here forever while I also feel like August was just a couple weeks ago?
I'm aware that I'm not terribly good at giving decent updates cause I get distracted or tired of typing, but I'm going to try.
Nursing: There are still times when I am out of my comfort zone, but taking care of newborn babies doesn't paralyze me with fear anymore. The issues we deal with are so different. So who cares if you don't have enema tubing? You MacGyver some foley bags and rig up your own. Each day has challenges- sometimes the challenge is that it's really slow and I get bored. Sometimes it's staying awake during night shift. Sometimes the challenge is that I have 13 patients and don't sit down all day. Sometimes the challenge is dealing with death that wouldn't have happened back home. Sometimes it's trying to push a peanut-butter like protein substance through a NG tube of a malnourished child. Nursing anywhere is a hard job in many aspects and can wear you down. But I love the work. The hospital is a place of hope, and each person working there is crucial to making it happen. We might be the only exposure a person has to true Hope, and that's a very special thing.
Nursing school: The students had a 2 week vacation, but are coming back next week! I get to work with them 2-3 days each week. They have half-day clinicals, and I have the opportunity to be the clinical instructor. They all work so hard and do a great job. It's a unique privilege to help teach and mentor them. Investing in the students is simultaneously investing in the future of the hospital, and I'm so grateful.
Weather: The last couple months have been gloriously cool with temperatures in the 90s during the day and high 60s at night! You may think that's sarcastic, but it's not. However, I think this season is drawing to a close, and the fans are back on. It's so dry. And brown. The hot season is coming, and I'm bracing myself.
Room and Board: As mentioned earlier, I have no complaints about the African diet. My house is great. Unfortunately, we are losing our power and water more consistently for longer periods of time. Apparently that happens during the hot season, but a little preparation will prevent any big inconveniences. Creature update: we have caught 4 mice and another gecko on the trap, but there have been more mice sightings... Also, a gecko apparently started a family in our bathroom which is now populated with several baby geckos.
Roommates: ❤❤❤. I could gush about them all day long. We live together, work together, eat together, pray together, laugh together, ride together, do activities together, struggle together, do ministry together, and they put up with me and support me in all of that. It's a unique situation, and I will forever treasure and be grateful for this time with these girls.
Other: French is hard. Going to the cuisine is fulfilling, but always interesting. I love my moto. I have several opportunities to play and/or be social every week and take full advantage of those. Relationships with other missionaries and Togolese continue to develop, and I have true friends that I've grown to love within both groups.
That Growth Life: I'm growing in my thankfulness for all of you. Thank you for your encouragement and support. I am almost constantly reminded of my own limitations and how much I desperately need God to supply my daily strength. There are innumerable reminders of how He is working not only in Togo, but at home too.
To the second half!
-C-
