Hello all!
We are a few days into our stay in Togo now. We have pretty much adjusted to the time change, though my kids don't ever want breakfast which must be a result of their bodies thinking it is the middle of the night, because if you know my kids, you know they NEVER miss a meal. They don't even ask for snacks!
The boys are loving "Africa life": no shoes, lots of time outside, trees to climb, space to run, warm weather. We are staying in a room in the guest house which is one large room and a bathroom. More than adequate for two weeks, but all of us in one room does have it's challenges: no privacy, sitting in the dark while everyone goes to sleep, everyone waking up with the first person. But luckily we can be outside a lot.
We attended a local African church on Sunday morning. It was reminiscent of our Kenyan church experience except that it was in French and Ewe, the local language. (pronounced ev-ay) Our kids endured the 3 hour service pretty well, with no out loud whining, only pained looks my way everytime they pointed to their watch to say "how much longer" and I just strugged my shoulders. I am always amazed at how well the African children sit during long church services.
Eric started at the hospital on Monday and has been learning the ropes here. I started doing homeschool with the boys on Monday and have no hair left (from pulling it out) and we may come home with less children. That will give you an idea of how that's going... I don't know how you awesome homeschool mamas do it. Ivey managed to dump all our malaria meds out (twice), get into food, steal the boys papers, whine to be picked up, dial who-knows-who on the telephone and dig in the trash all while we were trying to "learn". But we will press on. Tomorrow we get a break from school (hallelujah) because there are Team meetings all day and I am going to help with all the kids. (cue all of us leaping for joy).
Cole, Cooper and I got to go to the local town's market day yesterday. It is about a 5 minute drive away and it reminded me of Bomet's market day (the town we lived near in Kenya). I got some beautiful fabrics (one of the things Togo is known for), bananas and some Togolese "ice cream". Cooper was a bit overwhelmed by the experience and Cole almost got run over by a motorbike while crossing the street. No joke, it grazed his foot. It wasn't even Cole's fault, the man seemed to come right at him. Thanking God for His mercy there!
You may be wondering how AJ got bit by a monkey. One of the missionary families has a pet monkey named Jeff and my kids are enamored with it. I think Jeff was just done with all the "attention" and Alex got too close at the wrong time. He's fine, didn't even break the skin but he has a nice big bruise. He is my most "African" child, chopping down bamboo trees with a mini sword, making forts and climbing termite mounds.
More to come!
We are a few days into our stay in Togo now. We have pretty much adjusted to the time change, though my kids don't ever want breakfast which must be a result of their bodies thinking it is the middle of the night, because if you know my kids, you know they NEVER miss a meal. They don't even ask for snacks!
The boys are loving "Africa life": no shoes, lots of time outside, trees to climb, space to run, warm weather. We are staying in a room in the guest house which is one large room and a bathroom. More than adequate for two weeks, but all of us in one room does have it's challenges: no privacy, sitting in the dark while everyone goes to sleep, everyone waking up with the first person. But luckily we can be outside a lot.
We attended a local African church on Sunday morning. It was reminiscent of our Kenyan church experience except that it was in French and Ewe, the local language. (pronounced ev-ay) Our kids endured the 3 hour service pretty well, with no out loud whining, only pained looks my way everytime they pointed to their watch to say "how much longer" and I just strugged my shoulders. I am always amazed at how well the African children sit during long church services.
Eric started at the hospital on Monday and has been learning the ropes here. I started doing homeschool with the boys on Monday and have no hair left (from pulling it out) and we may come home with less children. That will give you an idea of how that's going... I don't know how you awesome homeschool mamas do it. Ivey managed to dump all our malaria meds out (twice), get into food, steal the boys papers, whine to be picked up, dial who-knows-who on the telephone and dig in the trash all while we were trying to "learn". But we will press on. Tomorrow we get a break from school (hallelujah) because there are Team meetings all day and I am going to help with all the kids. (cue all of us leaping for joy).
Cole, Cooper and I got to go to the local town's market day yesterday. It is about a 5 minute drive away and it reminded me of Bomet's market day (the town we lived near in Kenya). I got some beautiful fabrics (one of the things Togo is known for), bananas and some Togolese "ice cream". Cooper was a bit overwhelmed by the experience and Cole almost got run over by a motorbike while crossing the street. No joke, it grazed his foot. It wasn't even Cole's fault, the man seemed to come right at him. Thanking God for His mercy there!
You may be wondering how AJ got bit by a monkey. One of the missionary families has a pet monkey named Jeff and my kids are enamored with it. I think Jeff was just done with all the "attention" and Alex got too close at the wrong time. He's fine, didn't even break the skin but he has a nice big bruise. He is my most "African" child, chopping down bamboo trees with a mini sword, making forts and climbing termite mounds.
More to come!
Africa feet
The room we are staying in
Jeff and his owner, Paton
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