"Country Next...Togo..."

We are beginning our new year with a one day sail to Togo.  After spending three weeks in Ghana for our Christmas break, we will head to Togo for our next field service.

We were previously in Togo from February to August 2010 before we sailed to South Africa to have the generators replaced.  Even though it will be a shortened field service, we are excited to return to Togo and renew our friendships. We will be in Togo from January to June.

As I have done in the past, I have shared the ranking of the country on the Human Development Index.  This ranking is made up of information relating to heath, education, and living standards.

Togo is currently rated 162 on the Human Development Index out of 187 (Sierra Leone was 180)   
The average life expectancy is:  57.1
The mean number of years of schooling is: 5.3
The expected number of years of schooling is: 9.6
Gross National Income is: 798
Under-five mortality rate (per 1 000 live births): 98
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women aged 15-19): 65
Maternal mortality ratio (deaths of women per 100,000 live births): 350

In contrast the USA is currently rated 4 on the HDI
The average life expectancy is: 78.5
The mean number of years of schooling is: 12.4
The expected number of years of schooling is: 16
Gross National Income is: 43,017
Under-five mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 8
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women aged 15-19): 41
Maternal mortality ratio (deaths of women per 100,000 live births): 24 
Information taken from http://hdr.undp.org 2011 report 

I always find it very sobering to look at the comparison between the USA and the countries we are called to serve.  It reinforces to me how blessed my family is to have been born in North America instead of Sub-Sahara Africa.  I am reminded of how blessed my children are, who if born in West Africa, would not have survived. (Alisia was born at 30 weeks gestation and I went into preterm labour with Joshua at 32 weeks.) 

Yes, I used the term "blessed"...it is because we are.  No, my kids may not have the latest electronic gadget, the newest fad in running shoes or clothing, or even their own cell phone.  But they do know where their next meal is coming from, they go to a great school (with the prospect of further education), they have clothing (without holes) and shoes that fit their feet, and a warm safe place to sleep at night. Yes, we are truly blessed.

In this New Year, may you find a deep joy, peace, and love knowing you are loved eternally by God.  And even though you may not "have" the latest...you are truly blessed.