Mom asked me to describe where I sleep and what daily life is like for me.
Macklann and Rose have a kind of apartment above Macklann's office and a meeting room where he does his missions. I have my own room with a twin bed and mosquito net. There is running water but no hot water so I am learning how to take cold showers. It's not really a shower either--it's a spicket about waist height that I use to fill a bucket and a scoop to pour water over myself.
Rose runs a school at their house (it is also downstairs in a separate building). She also organizes a service helping children who need homes find people who will foster them and take care of them. Macklann, Rose, Benitah and Lilly live here, along with Macklann's sister, Lydia and two single mothers: Marie and Abbra and their daughters, Grace and Kattarine. The Basse's have also adopted a little girl named, Sarah. It seems like more people than that live here becasue there are so many of their friends and family coming and going all the time.
There is also another missionary here from St. Louis right now whose name is, Laura. It is nice to be able to talk to her. Today, Rose, Laura and I were driving in Lome and Roses' car overheated and broke down! We had to push the car through a really busy interesection. It took us a few hours to get home. Luckily, (well, luck had nothing to do with it!) there was a mechanic who just happened to be walking by who helped us. I am reminded every day how God provides for our every need and takes care of us no matter where we are. This has already been such a learning experience for me.
Today, we also spent a long time playing with and ministering to 8 or 9 Muslim children who live across the street. The poverty here is so overwhelming; it truly breaks my heart.
There are so many cultural differences! I am happy to have Macklann and Rose to answer my questions. For example: here, it is considered disrespectful to make eye contact with people while you are talking to them, especially if they are older than you. This is so hard for me! It's also hard to follow conversations--I can't tell who is talking to who! The French speaking is going well. I am able to converse with most everyone! It is hard to listen to conversations though because when they talk to each other it's usually a creole-like mix of tribal languages and French.
By the way, we have to reschedule our trip to North Togo for next week as there were not enough seats on the bus. It takes 8 hours to get there because of the condition of the roads. We will be going Monday through Wednesday instead. I am looking forward to it.
The girls (Benitah & Lilly +) are doing well. There are 6 little girls living here now and many more neighborhood kids that are here often. They love "clinging" as you (mom) described and also playing hide and seek, called "cache-cache." Benitah and Lilly have adjusted well to Togo. Benitah still knows some English and she LOVES American Food. lol She is always asking for my peanut butter!
Rose says "Hi," Mom!
Tout mon amour!
Lauren
I know God is with you, Lu and is watching over you, protect and providing for you! Lots of people are praying for you. We all love you so, so much!
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