"Getting Ready..."

Over the last few weeks, we have seen the crew of the Africa Mercy(AFM) almost double from Christmas time.  People are returning from vacation and new crew are arriving.  A week or so ago, lifeboats were being tested.  Also, the other morning (4:30 am) I was awaken to the sound of a ship's mooring lines being connect to the AFM...refueling time.  It all only means one thing...we are getting ready to leave for Togo...Yeah!

Our cabin is on deck 6 just underneath the 150 person life boat on deck 7.  They periodically have to test the life boat to ensure they are functional.

The ship that refueled us early in the morning into the afternoon...it is not a fast process.

Here is some information about the country of Togo:

Their Flag:

Their Location:

Official Name: République Togolaise

short form: Togo

formerly: French Togoland

Capital City: Lomé

Other Cities:   Atakpamé, Kpalimé, Sokodé, Kara.

Government: 

Type: Republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule.

Geography:

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana.

Area: 56 785 sq km (21,925 sq miles).

Terrain: Gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes.

Climate: Tropical; hot throughout the year, humid in south; semiarid in north. Togo has two rainly season:  April-July and September-December.  Average temoerature in the shade is 32C (90F) and minimum is 23C(75F)

People:

Population: 6 000 000 (in 2008 est.)

Ethnic Groups: native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%.

Religions: traditional African religions 51%, Christian 30%, Muslim 15%.

Languages: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north).

Literacy: male: 75.4%, female: 46.9%

Infant mortality rate: total: 66.61 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 74.24 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 58.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.01 years

male: 55.02 years

female: 59.06 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 4.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 110,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 10,000 (2003 est.)

Diseases:

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Resources:Natural resources: Phosphates (main source of foreign exchange), limestone, marble, arable land.

Agriculture products: Coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish.

Industries: Phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts, textiles, beverages.

Exports partners: Burkina Faso16.6%, Ghana 15.4%, Netherlands 13%, Benin 9.6%, Mali 7.7% (2003)

Imports partners: France 21.1%, Netherlands 12.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.9%, Germany 4.6%, Italy 4.4%, South Africa 4.3%, China 4.1% (2003)

Currency: CFA Franc (same as Benin)