I have friends who are missionaries in Mango, Togo, West Africa. It's always fun to read their prayer letters that come by email each Sunday night or Monday morning.
The way of life in Togo is so much different than here. I was amused when they talked about taking a bike ride down to the lake and watching the hippos loaf around in the water. He said it just as casually as I would talk about going to the river to watch the ducks and geese swim. To go to the lake to watch hippos sounds really exciting but to them, it's a regular part of life.
Recently, they have had their power on for only eight hours a day and been without water from time to time as well. To me it would be a major irritation, but to them, it was just another one of those bumps in life that wasn't all that big a deal. Oh, well, so "tonight it's a bucket bath". No big deal.
I remember when they were getting ready to leave the states to go back to Togo and they were showing us pictures of the house they would be living in. They had not seen it first hand, only in pictures. They were excited because it had plumbing....a flush toilet and running water! The rest of the place looked like something the health department would condemn. But they were excited. They had plans on how they would fix the place up and make it their home.
I am reminded of the verse that says Paul had learned to be content in whatever state he was. As I read my friend's letters each week, I see this attitude coming through and it is an inspiration to me.
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