Togo Teen Retreat

We just got back yesterday from an amazing youth retreat in the south of Togo. Last Saturday, Valerie and I, with the teens from the north, made the 8-hour van ride down to the Southern Hospital, where we were able to meet the MK youth group from down there, which was a really encouraging experience. Overall, there were about 40 teens, and we spent the week playing lots of games, going on hikes, exploring market, playing pool soccer, having bonfires, getting beat up on the slip’n’slide, competing for the camp trophy, and most importantly being able to attend two chapels a day. The experience of being able to worship with and grow close as a body of MKs is truly incredible, uplifting, and refreshing because we all have the strong bond of being teens who know what it’s like to live a completely different lifestyle (with all of its hardships and joys) from the average American teen. This past week most definitely grew our love for Togo even more than how much we already do, and it strengthened both of our assurances that this is where God wants us to be serving right now. We both feel more than refreshed to pick back up our lives here in the north, whether that be with school, wound care, pharmacy, or with just any of our regular activities and tasks. We are loving our new life here in Togo, and even though it has its fair share of difficulties, we could not be more thankful for our MK friends and the experiences we get to have each and every day.