Our First Christmas in Togo

I’m not gonna lie… I was kinda dreading this first Christmas in Togo. Mainly because, for the first time ever, we weren’t going to have Sierra with us. That, and the fact that we hadn’t really come prepared to celebrate Christmas in any of the “traditional” ways. No tree, no stockings, no gifts. But, while our hearts still ached to be with Sierra, we ended up having a really great first Christmas here in Mango.

We were able to get some really nice quality bikes for the girls, thanks to a good friend who makes frequent trips down to Lome and who knows how to scout out the best deals. Also – that beautiful tree and all the trimmings were loaned to us by our “senior missionaries” who have helped us so much through these months of transition to Togo.

The MKs put on a wonderful Christmas program for the team and we enjoyed several sweet times of fellowship singing carols together, watching Christmas movies, eating, making crafts, and playing games.

One of the best parts of Christmas was being able to assemble gift bags for the employees at the Hospital of Hope. We put together a couple hundred bags of rice, oil, tuna fish, pasta, tomato sauce, coffee, and candy.

We also got to visit some of the patients and their families who stay at the “cuisine” (on site living quarters for long term care) and deliver goodie bags to them.

It was a very different kind of Christmas indeed, but it certainly put life into perspective. We are so blessed and we have so much to be thankful for!