Taking it All in and Letting it Run its Course

March 2013

Went to Alicia’s village, about 20k away – her place is beautiful!

Cultural week at school – my club did the macarena and a skit to tell everyone that they shouldn’t cut down trees =] There were also a bunch of people who danced to Toufan, a Togolese singer. Lots of fun

Went to church with the Shanks

Carolina visited my site, made a quick stop at the cyber and then went to the pool =] 2 months till my flight leaves for the states!

Matt came over, the three of us climed the mountain n had a dance party with my host family

Sebastian came over

February 2013

I slacked off during February, so you guys are gonna get the paragraph version J

Early February I got back from Dapaong – loved it. Continued with the computer classes and environmental club. Computer classes are starting to get really busy – I now teach them 3-4 times every week, and we’re getting into Microsoft Word, etc. Definitely some tricky vocabulary involved now… “Click on the insert tab to choose which graph you would like to use; you can format it with a right click; in charts you can insert functions…” it’s definitely taking my French to the next level.

Environmental club is getting more fun – the kids are all good friends now. Our tree pepinaire is doing well – it think most of them have sprouted.

Paul, my boss, came for a visit and we talked about a bunch of projects to work on. I think soon we are going to get going on a grain storage project.

At the end of the month I had a training in Pagala. It was really good to see other volunteers again. My host mom went with me as one of my work partners – we learned about canning/jarring, animal husbandry, behavior change, funding, monitoring and evaluation, cookstoves, etc. It was really busy, but really good.

January 2013

Went up north to visit Matt Coomer

More internet lessons – got five new friends on facebook

More keyboarding lessons – got some typers here in Togo

Last week my club made a rule that anyone who is late has to pay 25 CFA, and if you are absent you have to pay 50 CFA. So today there were 5 or 6 kids who were late and as each one entered the class the first words they heard were, “En retard!!! 25!”. The first time the treasurer said it I started laughing… mistake – she gave me a very serious stare and said, “that’s the rule. when someone is late they pay.”

Cyber classes are going really well!! We are teaching internet and typing lessons – we have maybe 10 students. Soon we are going to start a class just for teachers.

Went up the mountain with Mama today to prepare a house for a funeral in March. It takes about an hour and a half to make it up the mountain to this house and you have to take all these little skinny windy paths to get there. By the time we made it, I was pretty tired. Mama got to work cooking and building a house and I sat on a bench haha

So this was a Wednesday and I have club on Wednesdays, so I had to leave early in order to make it back in time. During my time on the bench I was planning how this would go. I would have to leave 2 hours before club starts in order to make it in time. That would mean 1:00 and Mama definitely wouldn’t be ready to go back by then… that would mean going back by myself, which is exacty what happened. Haha I WISH you guys could have seen me coming down the mountain, you would have laughed so hard!! I was slipping through yam fields, jumping off rocks, grabbing reeds of grass… I completely gave up on the idea of finding any path and just went straight down. By the time I made it back to the house my hands were bleeding and I was covered in burs and grass. But I made it to club on time, so I’m gonna mark that up as a success.

made orange juice, drank it, went for a run, heard something that sounded like drums, thought a village was having a party, it was the orange juice in my stomach.

Cleaned! whew. washing sheets by hand suuuucks.

Went to post and bought a bunch of veggies!! Got 4!! packages – thank youuuuu. Had club today – we elected officers and did skits. Had a meeting at the cyber – we made a plan of action for the computer classes – they will start this next weekend. The Kara marché was burned! A lot of people lost their businesses – pray!!

Worked at the cyber

Meeting at school and cyber

There was a lizard that drowned in one of my buckets… freaked me out – I just wanted to drain my spaghetti…

soooooo much laundry! =/

Back to village

To Lomé to get debit card… also! Mandy’s in Amsterdam!!!

Went to Sebastian’s village and fete-d there… parents called, attempted to talk to them, but it was a little hard to hear over all the singing and drums haha

December 2012

NEW YEARS EVE!!!!!!

Had BURRITOS in Atakpamé & played movie charades =]

Went to Atakpamé with Matt and Riordan.

Made breakfast for YWAM missionaries and headed to Kara – hung out at the pool with a bunch of people then had dinner at the Richardson’s.

Back to the cyber for more computer lessons!

Woke up, spent some time in the Bible, family got ready for mass, but we were so late that we completely missed it, ate lunch with YWAM kids, went to village dance party, talked to lots of friends and family, made pudding because I literally had no other food, watched a movie and went to bed. Really unique, but really really good Christmas =]

Met another group of YWAM missionaries! Spent all day reading the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

Farendé marché – Britt called and she doesn’t have her visa yet, so there is a possibility that she won’t be able to come!! =/

Spent all day teaching computer lessons.

Another day harvesting corn! Maija’s birthday party in Kpagouda tonight.

Stocked up on food at the marché and continued with the computer lessons.

Had my first two classes at the cyber – we set up an email account and facebook page for the cyber and taught them how to use them both.

Britt is coming in 8 days!!!!!!!!! Had a meeting at the cyber today to talk about when we’re going to start up classes – found out we’re starting tomorrow! =]

Sold tchouk for Mama at the market. At first I was really excited, but then someone told me that I gave them too much for the ‘taste’ and then someone else got upset because the tchouk wasn’t fermented enough – wanted to tell them next time they can just make it themselves, but my French isn’t quite up to that level yet =] But naw, it was good, it was fun to talk to people and hang out for the day.

Another day out in the field – this time we harvested corn – took an hour and a half to walk out to the field, worked for 7 hours, then walked the hour and a half back to the house… no wonder everyone here is so beautiful and in such good shape – sorry to burst your bubble Jillian and South Beach diet and Weight Watchers, but your ab workouts and point systems are never gonna quite measure up to the boot camp they’ve got going on over here in Togo.

Environmental club went well – it was our last one of the year – I’m going to miss it these next couple weeks!

Back to village – 12 hour trip, check.

Worked at the Togo 2000 fair – spent lots of time telling little kids about moringa and the Peace Corps. Peace Corps is a pretty big fan of moringa –it’s high in vitamins and minerals and can help with malnutrition, hypertension, and dibetes – it’s pretty magical in theory, but some people at the fair had some unique ideas of what it’s capable of. “Why should you eat moringa?” I’d ask, and there’d always that one kid who’d answer “It cures cancer!” or the brazen pre-teen who called out “You mix it with hard liquor and it makes you strong!”. Unfortunately I spent most of the day stomping on a lot of high hopes, but in the mean time I got to eat ice cream and sit in front of a fan, soooo can’t complain about that.

Celebrated Stacy’s birthday with Isaac, Lindsey, Erica, Jonas, Spenser, Sarah, Bou, and Nick – it was so good to see them again!

Skyped with the family for an hour and a half!

Got to Lomé & ate Chinese & talked to Mandy <3

November 2012

Visited a seed bank and bee-keeping site, learned about food transformation. Will cut his foot open in a nasty water balloon war.

Had an awesome talk w/ Sebastian & Matt.

Learned about agroforestry, soil fertility, and mushroom cultivation.

Learned about improved grain storage techniques, various animal husbandry practices, and environmental clubs.

Went to Pagala for training AND got three packages in the mail =] =] Super good to see other volunteers and catch up.

One month till Britt comes!! Climbed ALL the way up my mountain – it’s absolutely gorgeous <3 Ate with the family – we had rice and beans.

Got home from Kara this morning, started boiling water for supper tonight and the gas for my stove ran out… haha soooo I’ll have to make another trip to Kara tomorrow. Until then spoons of peanut butter will have to hold me over =] Talked to Lindsey!!!

Another Thanksgiving in Kara, haha, pretty sure I’ve eaten more Thanksgiving food this year in Togo than any other year of my life =]

The meals just keep getting better – Thanksgiving with Richard, Alicia & Will – we bought a 20 lb. turkey for 4 of us… needless to say, I was full when I left.

In Kara – went to visit a friend & used their wireless, skyped with the family for the first time since I’ve been in Togo & cried haha =] Miss you so much. My friend Matt, and his wife Grace invited me to their Thanksgiving dinner – had sweet potato casserole, fried chicken and green bean casserole – definitely the best meal I’ve had since I’ve been here, hands down.

Had fufu with the family – and peanut sauce. Fufu is definitley one of my favorite Togolese meals, but the peanut sauce…

BRITTANY IS GOING TO VISIT ME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!! I am so stinkin excited ! =] Made paper snowflakes and hung them from my ceiling. Also talked to whole family in Clarion and Mandy – Mandy, you should lose your phone more often… I like talking to you =] Also tonight, went to scripture reading/workship/prayer time at the church where the YWAM kids worked… super awesome huge answer to prayer.

One of the biggest things I’ve been learning since I’ve come here is what it means to have faith – to pray for something, not only with confidence that God is capable of doing what I ask for, but that He WILL do it. And then to hope for it until it does happen – to eagerly expect it. Some people might think that that would just be asking to be disappointed a lot, but I think that it means living a full life, seizing every opportunity that God sends my way. Definitely not easy, but so incredibly worth it.

This past week I just finished a book and it talked about when David was bringing the Ark back to Israel in 2 Samuel 6, and Michal was watching her husband rejoicing :

16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart…. 20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.

Basically I am so joyful to be God’s daughter – what a joy and a privilidge. I am so proud of my Father, who He is, what He has done for us. So I am going to believe in Him for the very best, and I am going to dance with joy and freedom.

There are some missionaries here until Saturday from YWAM, so hung out with them this afternoon – they are AWEMSOME and I’m so blessed that they came!!!! =]

Had first club with the kids at CEG today! Went well! They made a mission statement for the club; I’m excited for what’s ahead. Made pizza for supper, yum, and talked to Maggie on the phone.

Got everything finalized for the environmntal club! We’re goning to have our first meeting this week!

Austin made cinnamon rolls for me and Richard… pretty sure this is going to turn into a weekly meeting. Second kid’s club – we played red rover, it was a hit =] even got some adults to join in.

October 2012

Went to Kara for a Halloween party and to stock up on some good food.

Had a meeting with the women’s grouppement and had club with the village kids today! The kids are adorable and so much fun! We talked about what they did with Maggie, what they liked, and what they want to do in the future. Then we played games! Meeting with the women went well – they are all busy right now with harvest, so we are going to wait until January to start having regular meetings. They are an awesome group and a lot of fun to be with.

Worked in the field today for the bean harvest. Seriously I think this may be one of the hardest workouts I have ever had. Sorry Alan. I thought I was going to die. There were 60+ women singing and picking beans, talking and laughing – In my head I kept thinking a pattern of phrases - “shut up”, “it is too hot to be doing this”, “my back is going to break in 5, 4, 3, 2…” meanwhile they are making circles around me – it would be an understantement to say that they harvested double of what I did. After 6 hours I took a break until they all finished an hour later. Then! after they were all done, they took the bags of beans, hefted them up on their heads, and carried them the mile walk back to the village. I couldn’t even lift a bag with my arms – I am honestly incapable of carrying one, even not after working for 7 hours harvesting beans. I did manage, however, to carry my water bottle, my legs shaking the whole way back from all my strenuous labor. They kept telling me that I had worked so hard and that I did such a good job =] Hopefully after 2 years I’ll be able to keep up a little better.

Second day of packages – thank you Aunt Anne!! Never have I been so excited about deodarant haha Love you guys & miss you tons!

Had another meeting at the school today. Talked to a group of interested students about the environmental club – I think our first official meeting will hopefully be 2 weeks.

Visited Richard today! His petit village of 6,000? people feels like a booming city to me haha… it was so exciting to see stores & a LIBRARY!! the library has kids books in French, so maybe I’ll go there to build up some vocabulary =]

Made a sack garden with some peppers and other veggies – I hope they grow!!

The surveys are done!!!! So exciting. Also went to a meeting for the community development committee – they had elections & my counterpart got elected vice president, so that was exciting.

Went to Kara, used the free internet and GOT MAIL!!!! Thanks Aunt Kaci and Joyce for the packages… made my day =] Also, today a guy told me that my French was really good for only having studied it for 2 months, which is a total lie, but he couldn’t have told me anything better. I felt like a 5 year old when someone tells you that you’re so grown up… “I would have guessed you were 7!”… you can just imagine the proud grin that spread across my face.

Maggie, I made white bread, used a ranch packet (with mayonnaise and vinegar =] ), some canned tuna and cucumber and made a sandwich!!! Thought you’d be proud. Thanks again for the groceries you left behind J

Had another meeting at the school to decide who is going to be in the environmental club.

Maggie left – everyone is so sad! Me included.

Going-away fete for Maggie – I can’t believe she leaves in a couple days! We went to church, then the community came down the mountain and we ate and danced and sang. We had uniforms made, so there was a group of us wearing Togolese outfits made out of a blue, yellow and red spider web print.

Had a cluster going-away party for Maggie – Austin made enchiladas, sweet potato pie, banana bread – so good =]

Had my first meeting at the school – went well! We are going to work on starting up an environmental club.

Had a community meeting – we mapped out the community in separate groups of men, women, and students. They identified resources and needs within the community and shared them with each other. Also continued working on my surveys.

Host sister, Vivianne, came today from Atakpamé today.

Went shopping – best buys of the day – processed cheese and a trash can. Also got proposed to, got stuck with a crazy person for a half an hour, had him follow me into the post office and then watched him get chased out by an angry postman who had a bat (made me a little unsure who was crazier), mailed Mandy’s bday card, watched a moth fly into a flame and burn up, and ate a salad for supper.

Spent all day decorating – looks a lot homier now =]

September 2012

Today we had a meeting with the water committee so that they can decide who is responsible for maintaining the pumps. Tonight we made binyays and koliko with Mama – basically donut holes and French fries, respectively =]

Busy day! Maggie had a project where she built two wells in the community, so today the team came to install the pumps. It was really exciting to see the project get wrapped up. I also whitewashed my walls in the house, so now I can start hanging up pictures.

Went to the marché today and also printed out my ballot so that I can vote in the election! Also talked to Dad a little J

Started doing surveys of people in my village today – it helps give me project ideas, but most of all, it’s good just to get to know people in my community. I ask them questions about various agricultural practices, health, and education in the community. My counterpart, Simplice, comes with me so that he can translate from French to Kabiye and vice versa.

Thank you for all the phone calls, texts, cards, and Facebook birthday wishes! I am so unbelievably lucky to have such good friends and an amazing family. Thanks for the last 23 years – I wouldn’t be who I am today without all of you. Love you!!!

Today I washed some dishes, started reading Mockingjay, had pancakes for lunch, and spaghetti w/ cheese sauce, yellow cake w/ chocolate frosting & wine, all made by Maggie (not the wine haha) and we watched He’s Just Not That Into You. Such a good day =]

Today was Austin, my neighbor’s, birthday – we had spice cake. It rained the most it’s rained since I’ve been here.

Went to Kara today and got sick =/ But we picked up some essential food items and used the internet.

We went to the Cyber – pronounced “Sea Bear” in French haha (took me a little while to understand that one =] ) – it’s only 2k away, so hopefully I’ll get to use the internet somewhat regularly!

I got to my post late on September 14, so I’ve almost made it through two full days! Yesterday was marche day, so Maggie and I spent the morning doing laundry and relaxing, then we went to town and did some shopping. Mama sells beer at the marche, so we spent some time with her in her stand. Today we made a list of things I need to do before IST (my next training, which will be in November), listened to BBC, had oatmeal and coffee for breakfast, did more laundry (I have a lot…), and I listened to a sermon from home. Later today I am meeting with my counterpart, Simplice, to go over what we will be doing in the next couple weeks.

I still miss home a lot – it’s so weird to listen to Maggie talk about going home in a month, knowing that I have to wait two years before I’ll be talking about the same things. I’m planning on going home in May, and I am so excited, but I think it will be really hard to come back here. We will see.

I leave tomorrow guys! I finished up packing, and the van should come in about an hour to get all my stuff, then tomorrow morning I am headed off to my post. I am mostly excited, but it’s also going to be hard to leave everyone and get used to a new environment again.

SWEAR-IN DAY!!!!!! I officially become a volunteer today!!!

Talked to Lindsey Rose last night <3

I had my second technical presentation today! It went ok… I tried to teach eveyone big booty, but it is hard to explain in French and they had a hard time keeping the beat… haha, so we played a quick practice round and called it good. My presentation was on composting, and I was the last person out of 7 other 20 minute presentations to go… so I think the were all tuned out, but it was still good.