Over the mountain and other encouragments

I feel like it's gets old to say, " a lot of exciting things happened this week" or "this week was another full and fulfilling week", but it's true there isnot much of a week that has it's own challenges, blessings, and varied events. I am sure it is the same for you, but the whole missions aspect may makeit seem like here it's just more thrilling, but really we all deal with the same things just surrounded by different cultures and contexts. Had a really neatexperience with friend of mine this week. I was going to take some sickly blades up to a missionary retreat centre just out of town (a missionary froma town north of us, asked Suzy or I to take them there to get handles put on them). I was starting out on my bike when my neighbor, Roland noticed and askedif he could come along with his bike. I was kinda hesitant, just what I need someone to slow me down (it turned out, I slowed him down on the flat parts, andI took the lead on hills). But I thought the company might be nice. We enjoyed the ride, despite two very large hills and lots of gravel to ride down. We arrivedand I set to look for the head guy at the mission centre, he was in a meeting. But a feller my age said he'd give them to him. He asked me where I was from, Canada,I said, and his response, "Me too" Neatness super sweatness, another Canadian. I told him my region and he said he was from Saskatchewan, being that I workedat Camp Whitesand, I told him and he was familiar with Theodore, (being a student in Alberta, summer worker in Saskatchewan and living in Ontario I can usuallyfind common ground with many Canadians!). We gave the mutual invitation to visit each other. And then Roland and I were off again, up and down the hills.When we arrived back at the house, he came in to relax and chat. He then told me about his big brother (actually cousin, but everyone is either an uncle, aunt,mother, father, brother or sister, and not always by blood, just good friends). Well he was pretty close to him, but he had moved to France and had married there.And within the last week he had died of gas poisoning, probably carbon monoxide. My friend said he was very shocked, so shocked he was forced to eat something.Just lost his appetite for the day. He wondered why. Instant witnessing situation! But I was at a lack for words. These moments I wait for with dread and joy.If I knew about the cousin, I could give Roland the great assurance of a better place, of Heaven some day, but what did I have now. I have comforted fellowChristians, but this is a Catholic (only by name), and his cousin who knows what he believed. I am saying his cousin won't be in Heaven, no, but it might alsobe presumptious to pass out that hope flippantly. But in another perspective, this is a moment to ask about Roland's own life. A time for him to wonderwhat will happen to me when I die? Again I thought about words, but I was attempting to share with a person who doesn't even know Jesus. These were allreal interesting excuses. So I tried to ask, what he thought about it, the death issue? Roland's not really a conversationalist, so I didn't get much. Well he said he had to go (after some silence), so I tried something else, I offered him a free new testament. I had promised him one before, but had forgotten.He accepted and I suggested he start by reading John 11. He said he would. I prayed that this would be a bridge to talk to him, and not an excuse for meto say, hey I gave him the Bible that's all he needs. He is leaving tomorrow for the funeral in the south, so I ask you to pray for him and his mother whoare going. Visited the High school again this week, very interesting experience. The last two classes I observed were physics and French. The teachers being very kindquietly sharing their insights and problems with me. The History/Geography teacher I visited this time was a different story. Very accomdating to me, butwell a bit overwhelming. He decided to use my presence as a means of getting the class to behave, we have a stranger visiting and you behave like this, he said.I wanted to be more a fly on the wall, but it didn't quite work out. A few times he loudly refered problems to me, commenting on what he had to deal withlarge class sizes, students not writing the same name all the time, and asking me if it was better in Canada, and also assuming it was by other comments he made.So it was a bit uncomfortable, I wanted to respect the teacher, but also not get on the bad side of the students for siding with punishment in a sense. Despite the odd time together, afterwards one student approached and asked about Bible studies, wondering how he could get involved! I was glad to tell himwhere I live and that in the New year we should definitely start. Was feeling a little down this week. Dealing with culture shock, feeling a bit out of place in this society, as a white person. I personally thinkI am black sometimes, don't laugh, I said before if I don't look at my arms, I forget (not that I think I am completely the same, but I see all thesepeople as like me, as in fellow humans). But it is not so easy for the people here to look at me as that way. We are different, but I have ears, eyes, nose.But it is what the colonization and media has built up, and it is a large wall indeed. Also struggling spiritually, I have the tendancy to want faith that last forever, a character that is all good now. But the fact is, I have a forever faith, but it is only for one day at a time, and the formationof character takes years, I can't be perfect overnight. So I asked God to not help me worry or fret. Nonetheless in a sullen mood I went to the Wednesdayprayer meeting, as we approached the church I could see Boni sitting in the front. He is an evangelist in a nearby town who visit once a week. This timehe was staying overnight. He was the only one singing, as the other lady there early only speaks Dittimari. I went and sat at the front with him, and sang along with his strong mellow voice. When the song finished he turned to me, with a big smile said he was doing wonderful. This is what inspired me,right now, He is working in a village with no Adventist presence, the church meets in his home (him, his family, and one other guy). His wife, a wonderfullady in the last month has been going blind, can't see during the day. And he has several children to take care of. But from his handshake, voice, eyes I was almostoverwhelmed by strength. You cannot borrow strength from anyone, but he surely inspired me to ask God for more! I felt uplifted and encouraged. During testimonytime, his were so long and many that no one else shared. What a testimony. I pray my life shines as such, that my atmosphere is so compeling! I wrote outa quote on our living wall, which encourages Manny and I. Originally it is "Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day lightsuch a candle, by God's grace, in England, that I trust shall never be put out." This was said by a dieing Hugh Latimer, who was burned at the stakein 1555AD. I replaced Master Ridley with Manny and Eric, England with Benin, and day with year. Maybe you can do the same, (you can change man to woman if needed!) Everywhere candles can, are and will be lit, around this world. I'll pray for the light in your life and all around you. God bless.

In Cotonou number three

Trip 3 Welcome back to Cotonou. I have had the privilege of escorting our field director, Laurence back to Cotonou to fly to Togo before heading home. It was a nice bus ride, really nice to have some company. Just doing a few things here in the city and heading back to Nati tomorrow. We saw a few accidents while here, one we came by just after it happened there was a lady unconscious on the road; did not she what her injuries were. Of all the time here in Benin i have seen four even after two whole weeks just in Cotonou. When I saw her I immediately started praying for myself and Lorance that we would be safe. When we got to our destination. Lorance mentioned the accident, and said when he saw her, he started praying for her. That really struck me, I have found in Benin, I have much more strength in prayer when I pray for others. Lorance thought about the other person, i thought of myself. This has really challenged me to look deeper at my prayer life and commitment to God. We had alot of fun yesterday trying to find a flight for Lorance. He already had a reservation but we just had to find the office. At the Adventist Mission we looked for the number the phone book fro, 2004 had an old number and the number a lady gave us was not working. After asking everyone at the Mission we finally thought we had the place and took a taxi and left. They took us to a travel agent that was closed. So we called the agent, no answer. Then we asked a guard nearby who assured where the office was. Upon arrival it was open. We got the ticket and now we just had to pay. So off to four different banks before finding one to trade money (we should have gone there in the first place!) Then back to the office and secured the ticket! What an adventure, and I know God worked it all out for us.

Canada encounters and other happenings this week

When I first arrived here I could not understand why Suzy would forget the past. It seemedif she tried to remember what happened yesterday or the day before or maybe even the same morningshe had a hard time. Now I know, because I do the very same thing. So much happens here that once a day finishes and the sun sets in the western sky, it's gone. That's why I journal. Of course thereare special events and happenings that are easy to recall, but I sit down here to write the week'shappening and there is too much to write about or too little, but these are minor problems, Itry not to spend too much time fretting over it! This has been eventful week, it seems there won't be an uneventful week ever here. LaurenceJohnson our field director arrived here on Friday afternoon, to check out the project and go overproject planning and details with us. It's been really wonderful to have someone to connect withand discuss over spiritual and practical issues. He was a pastor for 13 years in the UK beforethis position, so he has the experience and knowledge to help greatly. Since there are two missionaryteams right now in Africa (Mali and Benin), as the rest are on furlough or fundraising, we were hissecond stop. On Sunday night we went out to eat at a very neat restaurant. It is built likea traditional tata. The huts in the villages are the orginial, orginal. The ancient homeswere tatas and they are like a cave inside and have a little wood ladder to the roof. They have thickwalls. It was really neat, we ate on the terrace however because in the tata is a bit hot and crowdedfor our amount of people. Manny is also here now and he has been adjusting very well. He has commited greatly to learning French and is progressing fast. He practices with all the young people that pass by the houseand church members at church programs. He also helps the students with spanish and english. Soonwhen he gets a good grip on the language he will start medical work among the people here inthe form that will most feasible and suitable. But even while he doesn't do this medical work,hehas teaching the pathfinders how to play the recorder, helping with Suzy's travels to differentgroups near here, sharing household duties like cooking, dishes, and playing with the kids. For meI have been blessed to have someone to share with and pray with everyday. Together we work on languagelearning which helps him learn to speak and me build my vocabulary! It has been amazing to be around the people here and the amazing way God works. This pastI had an amazing contact with a non-local, well several actually. I went to the internet cafewith Manny and entering in there were about four white kids my age working on the computers. I'll admit I have developed a fear of foreigners here. Hey don't laugh, I want to put all energiesinto working with the people here, so I worry if I say hello to someone who is like me, I mightget to know them and loose focus. It's not really a realistic fear, most ex-patriots don't mix,they are tourists, government workers, UN task force, peace corps, so all with different duties andprograms so they just don't cross paths much. We do have regular contact with other missionariesof many denominations in the area, but that's about it. Plus even in Canada I get nervous approachingstrangers in strange places, like at church I'll go up to anybody and say hello, but in a malland I think I should talk to someone, oh boy! Well I glance at one of their computers and he wason a canadian website, I could see the red maple leaves. Well now I had to talk to him. So I musteredup the courage and asked, he said he was from Canada. I told him what town I was from and he wasamazed, he lives in a city twenty minutes from me and the other two girls with him where from 10 minutesaway! The whole municipality in one cafe in the north of Benin! They had been volunteering in another part of West Africa, and were touring through West Africa before heading home. We wishedeach other well and I gave them my blog and email. So perhaps they are reading this. I pray yourtrip went well and God bless!!! It really was interesting to meet them, a little lift from God duringthe week. Manny and I had an interesting encouter this week with a lizard. I call the little guy theignorant lizard, more because of our ignorance not its. We were going to fill up our water withour couple buckets but one of them had a lizard inhabitant. He must have fallen in and couldn'tclimb out. We were like cool, a lizard. I was even wondering to myself how I could cage him andkeep him as a pet, might be interesting. Manny thought to trying to give it water by sprinkelingwater on it. Our landlord saw us and came over to see. He looked in surprise at the creature. Informing us that this kind of lizard was poisonous like a snake, he has a bad bite. Well we quickly got rid of it.So know that you think we pick up everything in site and are probably on the brink of danger everyday, it'snot true. But now we will certainly be more careful. In one of the children's stories I shared I toldthe children God protects us even when we aren't too smart, but we should do all we can to besmart and not take unneccessary risks. It seems I am learning from my own story! Thank God for His protectionand for giving us a brain as well, I'll try to use it more! Church this week was packed, some visitors, but it seems everyone was able to come was more ofthe reason. The French choir sang and I was able to sing too, since I had practiced for a month with them. They didn't do it like we do. The choir shared eight songs inbetween Sabbath school andchurch service. Standing not in front of everyone but to the side, standing in front of their respectivepews. I thought that was nice, instead of the choir physically being the focus, the song and wordstook precedence, and also people felt better to join in when it was not like a "performance". Tome it seemed more like we shared music than just performed for an audience. I appreciate thatidea.

Changes

This is quite comical, but it appears when I added this one I copy the wrong file. I usually cut and paste from notepad, I pasted an email from someone instead of the blog, I will try to post "changes" later.
thanks the management

Okay here's the real thing:
Making Sense of it all Just a little thought I have been having over the last few weeks. I am glad to write this blog and putpics up online, but I am sorry that you do have to miss out on some of the best parts. Whileyou may see, read, imagine, and if I ever get video online, listen to, you'll never smell, taste,touch. Well maybe not every, maybe some of you have already been to Africa or will in the future. Butyou know you miss out on experience. Some smells are worth it, like after the rain, or the smell of roastingpeanuts or rice and spicy sauce. Other smells are different, like moutard (or mustard) a spicethat usually knocks my nostrils out at the market, if I get caught in a traffic jam by thatstuff, I am thinking, could you please go before I barf! But I am getting used to it. Touch isinteresting, you certainly have a more intimate experience with food when you used your handsinstead of a fork. Whether the sauce is slimy, oily, or full of veges, it all adds to the experience.So if it's hard to make sense of it all, maybe if you could use all sences, would help.
JAm PackedThis week has been a full, busy, and I would say rewarding week. Good news is that Manny has finallyarrived, he is my fellow student missionary and will be doing health work here in Natitingou and the surrounding villages. After three months of solo student missionary, it is very pleasant to have a roommate and comarade to chat with. He is excited to learn and is already picking upmuch French with his Spanish language skills he has already. Pathfinders has been getting better. The younger ones are really started to focus and we getalot more done. I praise God for that. They are eager to learn and love to play! We played frisbee foralmost an hour on Sunday. Last Sabbath, I was able to preach my first sermon in French. It was avery happy time. I thanked God He got me through and I could sense His spirit working. The translatorfor Dittimari was able to understand all my French so I was glad for that. I preached on the topicof Thanksgiving, and the story of the ten lepers with only one returing to Jesus It was actually I was planning on giving in September but every SabbathI was to preach something came up, so I finally got the chance and I told the congregationthat I was glad to have three months practice before sharing. I was also able to give the sermonfor the Wed, and Fri night meetings based on chapters from Desire of Ages, two very powerfulchapters on Matthew 24 and the goats and sheep from Matt 25. Manny arrived Thursday night by the way.Along with Uli and Toussant the other missionaries here on the Ottamari project. So our teamis back together now and our field director will be here soon as well, so the whole thing willreally get going! Praise God.Had an interesting encounter this week with a young lady. I was supposed to be doing a Bible studynear my house, but the people weren't there, so as I waited a young lady came by and asked if Icome to her house to have prayer and share some Bible verses. I was happy to, but kindly askedif her husband was home, she said yes, and he was. The interesting part was twofold. First the husbandwas someone I knew well, not from conversation but more from confrontation. He is Leon and the firsttime I went to a Bible study at that place, he came in drunk out his mind. He was much of a problem at first, but then he began to interupt the study, I had no problem, I would justwait to continue, but the people were fed up, so after he started getting upset cause no onewould listen they forced him outside, he came back, and they put him outside again, by this time he was livid. And behind the building he shouted and waved his arms, I could see him throughthe window. I was a little nervous, but being in good company I did not feel threatened by oneguy. Well her husband is Leon, whom since then I have never seen that drunk again. The lady, Suzanne,told me she'd like me to pray for them and she had some question. We prayed and then I askedwhat she'd like to ask, and what kind of things she was interested in so we continue study at latertimes. In the conversation she asked my religion, I said Adventist. She was happy. She went intoher room and came back out with an amazing picture. Her baptism by the Adventist Pastor who is in charge of the north of Benin! When was this I asked. She said about two years ago. But shejust can't figure out why she doesn't feel like going to church anymore! How God leads! No Bible study but here I was to contact a lost church member. I talked with Suzy about her and she saidthey had simply lost her, she had gone to some other village or something. A church lady hadbeen visiting her again, so hopefully she'll come back soon, I said I would visit her and herhusband as well. Since then her husband has become much more friendly. On Sunday he warmly greeted me on thestreet and invited me to stop by and see some of the friends we mutually know. I was glad.Oh and Fidard is doing better, because of the business of the week, I haven't seen him muchbut last time I was there he was repentent, and I encouraged him a verse from Ezekial 36, whereGod promises to replace our heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. I read it to him but I knew it applied to me just and as much and us all indeed!
Thanks A Givin'Just a littl note. I went with Suzy and another friend to Tanguieta on Thursday for good ole AmericanThanksgiving. There are a number of American missionaries in the north that do a lot of language translation and such. The families house we went to is with a group called Ministryof Jesus, and they run a Bible and Agricultural school just outside of town. We had a wonderfultime together and the whole day was capped off with Manny's arrival and meeting Toussant and Ulifor the first time.
Culture NumbRecently be going through a bit of culture shock. It's less like shock and more just like going numbfor me. I really haven't exploded. Just get annoyed, I am so far pretty good at controlingemotions, just these little things that tick me. Mostly as I mentioned in "The Game", just bugs me when I am consider white and not a man. Many people are nice, but there is still this barrier, but I can see as I live here more, people are beginning to see I do not fit the normalwhite stereotype, that I live like they live, that I want to be African. I'll admit sometimes it'sactually funny, like when my friend came over yesterday. We were just going to visit before he goeson a trip to Cotonou to makes some extra money for a few weeks. He came with his wife, whom whenhe spoke to Manny in English called his sister, so I am not sure if it's bad translation by himor if it is his sister. Anyway we had fried igname for him. And he tried some and then pronouncedthat we had not done a great job and that his wife/sister could come over later and help us learn properly. Well I didn't know what to think. I was kinda offended at first, I thoughtman you could just not eat it, you don't have to tell me it stinks. But he was onlysaying it with my best interest, so it could slide. The he asked if I had some drinks. I had alreadyoffered him water, and so I told him again that's what he had. He thought that wasn't toogreat. I of all people should have some drinks. That was funny. He thought I would have thosethings but we are living without such luxuries as pop (soda) and juice for the most part. But laterhe concentated for water. Well the rest went well, and we prayed for his voyage and bade him farewell!So while it can be wearing in a new culture it can be humorous if you look at it right.

God's God It

God has blest today with faster internet. When it's slow I don't think that it's God's curse of course, just that it's not the day to have fast internet, a part of learning to trust Him! I am posting a couple weeks worth with most recent last.

Live Like Them In the ever encompassing quest of becoming Beninoise, there will always be something more. I am coming in as an outsider, but each day I can through God's grace draw myself into this cultureand hopefully have them draw me in and more importantly Christ. As I go get water from the wellI am encouraged. Here I am a white young man, living in a small compound of homes with all Black familiessurrounding me, it's not the skin colour, but really our cultures. My neigbor behind my house isa retired army officer, my landlord is a retired bank manager, another neighbor is a single motherwith 5 kids, I think, from ages 2 or 3 to 20. Sounds like it could be anywhere in the world. But here we just live a little closer.As an example of how I am getting closer I share this story. I questioned whether I should sincesome of you may worry a bit, but there's no need really to worry, I know a 17 year old who was never bit and he's lived here all his life. Bit, by what! Well more like stung. This experienceabsolutely flabergasted me. I was so filled up with gratitude to God. I was arranging the boxes with my possesions in them in my room Sunday night. I left to get something and came back to find a sand colored scorpion sitting nicely on the floor where my hands had just been. I backed away andwent to call Suzy, who didn't answer the phone so I got my neighbor friend, Ebjo. He brought a largestick and with my hoe we took care of the female. He informed it was a female with eggs and that Iwas lucky I found it now, for she could have laid eggs. We checked the room through, and found nothing elseI was a little jumpy after that. Ebjo said I was lucky, oh luck had nothing to do with. I reassured him itwas God who was to be thanked! The next day I was to share a lesson on how Satan began and the start of sin.Coincidence? Well I know for sure God protected me.Check out Luke 10:19 Behold I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power ofthe enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you."Suzy reminded me of this text. She also related a few stories that she has had being protected from scorpions.And hey in Belize we had tarantula's in the hotel, so a few scorpions are old news, but alwaysfull of God's protection!
Peanuts Fresh PeanutsWe have fun the last week harvesting peanuts. Suzy and friends planted a friend's field this yearas a part of the culture study/. It's almost three quarters done now after two mornings and one eveningof work. On the last go we had a crew of around twelve, a bunch of the neighborhood and church kids.We had races and I even picked up one of the kids and while I hurried, he hung head first and grabbed thepassing peanut plants! I found out saying last one to finish buys cookies creates a little toomuch controversy by the end. To harvest we use a small hoe and slice into the soil around the peanutpull out the plant shake off the dirt. Others do the collecting. And then after we pick off all the peanutseither at the house or at the field. The kids all climbed in the back of the truck (which has a cage sothey can't fly out) and sang all the way home, it was like a cd player, you could change the song by singinga new tune out the window to the choir in the truck bed! Manuel labour can be fun and healthy.
The Game
I haven't really experienced culture shock yet. But I have been discouraged at times over my skin. It'sreally not the people's fault. I am a different race, and that's alright. But sometimes I wish to betreated like I treat them. But as Paul asserted to the Corinthians, I have also given up my rights.I'll be nice, kind, loving, with even a wip on my back. Yes these are only words, but by God's graceI'll keep them. But still it seems like a game sometimes. Guessing who is really wanting to be friendsand who is out to make money or get a job. I've said before I just listen and try to empathize, butI find firmness is neccessary, if I am not able to help someone in the way they want, like takingthem with me to Canada, a common sometimes joking request sometimes not request, I'll let them no, kindlyof course, or try to laugh it off with them. The children are wonderful, but it's tough when they cometo you and ask for help because their parents are both dead. May be true, but who knows if they are telling the truth. Many smaller children see me and immediately sing the Yoevoe song (hello hello white personhow are you, thank you, good evening) there isn't a response to it or they ask me for money or candyor a bike. We had to laugh as we passed one home once, a child said good evening several times to Suzy,but instead she couldn't pronounce it and said swing instead (boin soir and balansior! not correct spelling).Other people the kids say hello mister, but for me it's Yoevoe. It would be nice to be seen asanother person, and not just a white person with money, but hey in a way it's true, in Western placeswe are rich. It's not racism against me, it's the media also. So even though I may not have the money they think I have, I do know a God who has allthe riches in the world to give to anyone who asks and believes. That's worth it!

A note of clarificationI had talked before about people getting things here, TV's, stereo's, etc. While these I see as a bit not needed. I should mention that cellphones here aresometimes neccessary. Land lines for phones are only in certain rich homes and the bank and school, etc. So for most people and businesses to have any communicationwith relatives outside of town, or to call for daily issues, they have a cell phone, which works pay as you go. Also a while back I talked about weeding scars.I should mention that now I wear long sleeves and that the scars were really scratches and scraps that have all cleared up. Thanks.The management4 Days Free
This past week has been jammed pack with events, well, only one big one, but it was enough to use up much of the time during this week. But before I getto that I want to relate to you some great news. For me it has been a challenge to balance (as I mentioned before) responsibilities, frienships, and such. While I want to spend time with people I am also here to help strengthen the Pathfinder program and help build a lasting foundation for the future, that'stakes some preparation and work time too. Well I mentioned before my friend Fidard (just to let you know I change his name, some names I change because theirstories they have related to me personally and while you will probably never meet them or know someone who knows them, other than me, I feel I owe it to them).Anyway Fidard has been having trouble at home with wife and family. He lost his job and works here and there as a motorcycle taxi driver and collects rentfrom the boutiques his brother built. I visisted him a few times. One time he was drunk after a ceremony to complete the funeral of his father who passed awaylast year, I did not know what it was about. I had already given him a pamphlet on having a happy family based on Biblical principles. It mentionednot using alcohol or other drugs. He was so apologetic when he was drunk, saying he had to because he gave it to his family so he was abliged to as well. He askedif that was okay. I politely told him, that I did not really agree personally. He started to try to make an arguement for himself, and I realized there wasno use in persuading a drunk, so I let him talk, and just remained silent, not agreeing or disagreeing. I came back the next week, and boy was it different.As I expected he didn't remember a thing about the week before and we a nice talk. I tried to go back but he never seemed to home. Well I usually go everyWednesday and Friday evenings before prayer meeting and vespers, respectively, to see if my Bible study friends are coming (it's a bit hit and miss, with goodreasons like a funeral, sickness, but still unfortunate that Satan is working so hard to get them not to come, prayer is the answer). Well Fidard was there!Waiting for me, I had said I'd try to come to his house that try, but it didn't work out, the people at the house where I was headed said I'd come and to wait,I guess it's good to keep your word! I did come and Fidard came with me to church. He told me how for the last four days he had not touched alcohol, and haddrunk plenty of water. Now I believe him, he could be lying, but his demeanor, clear speech and such told otherwise, he seemed much less agitated than when wefirst met almost a month ago. And I praise God. I did not preach a sermon or anything, but through a pamphlet, some Bible verses I shared, and God's amazing powerhe has changed. Now this is only the beginning and I pray his resolve will stay strong. I try to visit him every week, with other responsibities taking time, I haven'tset a time with him to study each week, as I am not sure if I can keep a set time, but I do hope to keep in contact and encourage him, and perhaps connect himwith a church mentor. He is Catholic and it was interesting as we entered the Church Friday night how he crossed himself and kneeled at the back pew to praybefore sitting down. I strolled into the church as if I was entering the hippest place around, went right to the front room beside the pulpit to talk to the deacon who was preparing the night's message. When I saw what Fidard was doing I was humbled. I admire the Catholic reverence. While I do not think church shouldbe a place of mere ritual and such, the way Fidard treated church should be more on my heart. Church is a joyful place, a happy place, but it is also a sacredplace and I think I could use some more of that respectful attitude.
The Big SabbathWell indeed as I said this week was packed for it was pathfinder Sabbath! I worked during the week on getting props ready for the Samson skit, which was thetheme story for the church service. This included putting together boxes for the columns, and making a wig from fake dreads bought at a local beauty store (that was toughto explain when I bought it!) and making long sleeves white shirts into short sleeves. The hair and shirt sewing was taken up by Suzy, who graciously spentmuch time on these. The day came and we were prepared as we could be. As the week had progressed I had slowly learned that in the past there had been a bitmore preparation that I had allowed for. Like two or three weeks, but we pulled it off together. The biggest challenge is that about half the club is newthis year, meaning we have a lot of marching skills to learn. But I was glad to see many of them step up and come out of their shy shells. The older guys didshow some great marching skills in the beginning to off set a little the lack there of from the others. But Suzy kindly explained that we were only four weeksold as a club this year, so to cut us some slack. But this makes sound worse than it was. It went very well. One of the older boys shared the sermon. And allthe pathfinders were involved in the skit, if the file wasn't so big I'd upload the whole thing which is on video, but that'll have to wait. I saw my first snakeright before church, a little guy only maybe 10 or 15 cm. But apparently dangerous. I'll admit I was excited to see my first snake in a safe way! But at the timeit was a distraction. I was trying to organize the group into columns and of course they all wanted to see it. So it was not until after that I realized I seena snake! I was very impressed by Sylvain. He lives near Uli's house (another missionary here with AFM), where I stayed when I first arrived here. We have beengreat friends, he's about 15 or 16, and even though I am now about 30 minutes walk from his house, he still stops by to say hi and go with me to church andpathfinders. He was assigned as Manoah, Samson's father. He told me after that he didn't think he'd be able to talk, but somehow words just came out of hismouth, he did very well! All in all I was a little drained after the morning. But glad too. We have another skit to do for New Year's eve and another PathfinderSabbath in spring next year. I think.

Picture Not So Perfect and Other Notices

It's not that I do not care, but it seems circumstances ( slow internet) has forced me to post long blogs, but no worries they are split into sections, so you don't have read it all in one go!

Picture Not-So Perfect
On my way to visit some friends Sabbath evening, I had to stop by the church to lock up. On the wayI heard a strange noise, a crackling sound, it seemed to be coming from the bushes. I cautiouslycontinued hopeing that nothing would jump out at me, or slither! (Come to think of I've been heretwo months and haven't seen a snake yet, but I have not really wanted to either, garter snakes are nice, but here they don't have those.) I ventured, as the view opened up, to see if perhaps the noisewas coming from somewhere other than the tall grass, and I found it was coming from tall grass, butnot near me. Up on the side of the hill, way up there, a huge fire was burning. I would have panickedbut Suzy has already informed me that this what is done around here. Because the dry season is so drywildfires are dangerous, thus they burn the dry underbrush, to prevent huge fires. The stuff thatis still somewhat green remains. Thus it also rejuvinates the soil and allows for growth in rainy season.I locked the church, and then I just could not resist. So I climbed the hill to get a little closerto the fire. Okay my manly instincts kicked in a little, I saw fire and had to be a part of it! As Iapproached I was concerned, I saw children running to and from the fire, oh no perhaps this fire was anaccident! Maybe I'd have to save the day! Alas, the children were just playing with the fire, which was a just as concerning, as fire is not really a great thing to play with. But they seemed okay, so I enjoyedwatching the grand flames leap into the air. I thought how wonderful a picture would be of the sceneand I realized I did not have my camera. I was lamenting this revelation when I turned to lookat how far I'd climbed and behold! The view was remarkable. Here and there wisps of smoke ascendinginto the fading daylight. The mist of the evening covered the hills and the gray sky cast a shadowy mask across the trees and homes! Lights from the streets and cars and homes, flickeredin the growing darkness. I have to paint a grand picture for you to see, because again, no camera!It seems if you don't or if you do have your camera, there will be a good picture opportunity. So my ruleis always have the camera!

Deeper than the Surface
The Pathfinder members here are a very energetic bunch, they aren't always the best at followinginstructions, but this can be attributed as much to my small French vocabulary as it can be to their listening skills. We tried marching last Sunday. The little ones have a hard time graspingall the different commands, and they can't keep stride with the older kids, so it's ends up beinga little messy. I started getting a little discouraged, but God kept me in perspective, that it does not need to be perfect, and perhaps I should try to split the older and younger up, theymay learn better seperately (thanks to Suzy for the advice). Some of the older ones were missingthe Sunday, not really disconcerning since they know marching skills well. Two of them told methey'd be working in the fields, and the other two I assumed were doing the same. The assumptionwas correct I found out, when one of the absentees stopped by house after school. I was goingto give him a little speech on making an effort to be at Pathfinders, but I changed my mind. One was that Suzy explained that most of their parents don't warn them when they will be working, sowhen they are told they go! The other reason the young man gave. I have tried to find outthe stories of each of the young people I am getting to know, their background, life, etc. I usuallystart with a question like, so you were born here? how many brothers and sisters do you have, etc.I asked this young man if he was the only at the house. I had not even yet mentioned him missingPathfinders and he begins to say he has sisters and brothers but they do not go to church. Wellall I wanted to know was how many siblings, but he continued. After the new Catholic church hadgone up near his home, his Father advised the children to go there, he refused, and he was the only one. His sisters used to come to our Church, but after that they stopped, he said. I told himthat was a very good choice, but that is must be hard. My pray is that God will help me sharewhat people need to hear from Him. Before I knew I was sharing how much prayer makes a difference, how sometimes our convincing arguments for Adventism might not even work, that sometimes we just needto pray that God will change their hearts. I shared of people in family that had been broughtback to God by prayer and love, by ways we had not even imagined! He seemed to appreciate the words,and I thanked God for His words through me. Know I understood where this young man came from, inthe future any time he is at Pathfinders, I will consider it a great blessing. By God's gracefor him Pathfinders will be a rich experience and I will learn to look deeper before jumping to conclusions!

Back from the Big City
Suzy and I and our other passengers arrived safely at home on Friday night, from ourtrip to the big city Cotonou. I was able to get my passport finally on Thursday morning. The immigration place doesn't give out visa's until 11am, so it wastoo late to leave that day! We got home an hour before sunset, and I opted to stay home from vespers, after nine hours in the truck I didn't think my bottom, normy concentration could last the program. God gave me a great testimony in Cotonou,about little things. I have been working on, okay stressing over a little, the uniform situation for pathfinders. There are plenty of pants and shoes, but shirtswere lacking. They are usually easy to find, but I had not found any on the marketfor a few weeks. So we went to the clothing market in Cotonou, where they are literally mounds of used clothing shipped from Western places, mostly the USI think. Suzy advised me to just keep on the lookout and know that God knows whatI need. I do believe He does, yet I did not have the shirts and time is short.Faith is without sight! And in one pile that day God showed me four shirts and onein another, all that I needed! Just shirts? Well it's all God to me for sure.
The Dog gets the right away I have never really had a chronic fear of dogs. Once our family kept my uncle's great dane in our backyard for a while, while he moved. She was a gentle beast andI enjoyed playing with her, even if she was almost as tall as me! But that's a friendlydog. It seems in foreign countries I have somewhat of a nervousness around them. In Belize I was chased by a group, the same group that later bit one of our team, so the fear is not without foundation. In actuality most dogs here are quite friendly, well I have not ventured to find out how friendly, but they stay clear of you. However there are few that like to bark as I pass, these have a bark worsethen their bite however. But the one dog that gives problems is on the regular routeto church no less! He has only ventured to bark at me once, but nonetheless I takethe precaution to pick up a stone as I pass his place, a stone in the hand is enoughof a threat to scare any dog apparently. Sometimes I be almost at church withthe stone in my hand and forget why I have it, and then oh yeah, the dog I forgot!Really though, I need not be scared, God has it covered. If a dog should becomehostile, He's there. While I need not be careless, petting dogs I do not know, I cantrust He's watching me, whoever is barking at me!

Change of plans
One of the greatest things I have learned from working at camp for five years, andin most other experiences I have had in life, is flexibility. Not flexibility in faith, thatshould always be strong. If something is wrong, faith grabs hold with prayer. ButI mean with plans. I do not have a daily schedule here, but during the week, I doschedule bible studies, visitations, market trips, etc. But as it turns out, I usuallychange plans. Like this past Monday, I went to a regular Bible study group, thatwe had missed for a week because of the Cotonou excursion. They weren't ready, no worries.I'll stop by tomorrow. Then I stopped by Suzy's. I was about to leave and I lether know I was off to the market. Market? That's tomorrow, oh my mistake. My morningwent from full to blank. At times like that I ask God for the agenda. Well I ask for His guidance in all the plans I make, and when they turn don't work out, wellHe must have another plan. I cannot quite remember what I filled my time with thatmorning, I do believe that I got some essential financial things worked out and a friend stopped by for lunch. Sometimes I can see why plans don't happens, other timesno, but whatever the case flexibility works and most importantly, a strong faith even just as big as a mustard seed! Check out the book of James for more about planning and works and faith! God bless His plans in your life!

What do ya think?

Well as you can see I have a bit of extra time this week to write. I thought I'd try this time to split the entries up, instead a big long one, some smaller ones. Maybe then if you don't have tons of time you can read one and come back later, let me know what ya think, if you wish. God bless.

Now and Forever More

Promoting Disney is really not a passion of mine, in fact I am rather against most of the empire'swork, so much hidden spiritism, scary if you look at it. But the song caught me off guard and I wantedto share the truth I learned. Oh and neither am I a propenant of listening to secular music or moviesto find the truth in them, but if by chance I stumble upon something, well there is a difference. I am just differentiated between searching and being suprised, now that you and I are confused, I will continue(-: So the song was, "You'll be in my heart" by Phil Collins from the Tarzan animated film. The song reallygrabbed me because it was in English being played on a cellphone help by a passing motocyclerist (is that a word).English grabs my attention ashamed to say a little. The words came to mind immediately, since wehad the soundtrack on tape when I was younger. "You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say, You'llbe here in my heart, always." In another part it says, "You'll be in my heart, from this day on, now and forever more."The profound simplicity hit me. I am in God's heart, no matter what other say. From even before creationI am in His heart now and forever more. That means that all people are lost and saved, those in Heavenone day, and even greater those not. No matter what anyone says, forever God will feel the void ofnot having all humans with Him in Heaven. Wow doesn't even cut it! Ellen White reiterates it in thelast few chapters of the Great Conterversy saying God will feel the void of those lost sinners forever.He still be glad that many are saved, but their will be still a hole. Let's all try to make that holeas small as possible. Deal.

The Real Difference

Finally a small incident. Walking down the street I was greeted by a gentleman passing by. Heseemed to believe we met before, possible, but then again, if you are white you look the same as everyoneelse. Last week a slightly crazy guy said he saw me in a video with Celine Dion, I assured him no, but he moved on quickly. He asked me if I had come from Church on the Sunday morning. Yes and no, from Pathfindersbut not from he worship service. I told him I worship on Saturday. Why? It's the Bible sabbath, I was hungrywanted to get home, so I almost ripped a good Adventist doctrine lesson into him, but chilled to listen.He said we are all the same, Catholics, Muslim, Adventist, all the same God. Well yes and no. The sameGod, but not the same beliefs, I tried to explain. Well even then it's not all the same God. We do believe to all worship God, but at the heart of Islam and Catholicism is unfortunately much Devil worship!Yet it got me thinking, am I really different? I do go to church on Sabbath, seek to follow the Bible,Pray everyday, but in the end, do I really trust God with my whole heart? Do I turn to self, a sortof Satan worship in a way? Do I look to God in crisis and in good times, or to misfortune and fate?I know the answer, I do trust God, I do look Him. Not always perfectly. I think it's a way to get meoff track to question. If I believe, I believe. I have seen the difference a real faith makes in people around the world more and more. But I see it is healthy to ask how am I different, and to make those differences evidence in love and tenderness. I pray in faith, not manipulation; I see God as loving. I seek others well being. I believe in less I and more God! Let's all believe. Therecomes a point where believing must be beyond reason.

Marching Reordered

My call here is to connect to the youth. I am brainstorming how to grow friendships withthe local high school students, one of the local schools is literally outside my front door, just in the nextstreet. So I can have a great base for the youth to come over and hang out and such. Someonesuggested an English study group would be a great starter. I could help them with comprehensionand reading, grammar not so much, but we'd try and it would be free, so no need to worry aboutbeing qualified as a teacher. Suzy was quick to mention that I'd have to set some times and makesure to put a cap on the number or else I may have the whole school at my house. I want to reach manybut my house only fits so many, and time allows only so much well time. Since we have our trip to Cotonou, I am going to go on all engine firing the next week. Pathfinders is also going well. I amtrying to adapt North American games and activities to here. Youth do not grow up real analyticalhere, they are experience practically in life skills, cooking, responsiblity, money management, etc. But thinking deeply is not developed (out of the two the practical aspects are bit moreimportant first, a lack in the modern west indeed). So we are working to do interesting and yetsimple things and learn together. The only discouragement is uniforms. We have an adequate supplyof the cast offs from North America's switch to black from green, but getting it organized is anotherchallenge. And we have Pathfinder Sabbath in three weeks. So marching and uniforms will be a priority, but hopefully they will go well. Oh the marching! I can march, but I don't know the commands in French.So I have had to swallow pride as the Pathfinder leading and let the students teach me. The hardpart is that some moves I see as easier my way, but I just go along with it. The about face is okay, but smoother Canadian style (isn't that the case, my ways is always better, not the best attitude!), but it makes little difference. So I am glad to relearn.

Our Daily Process

This past week has been eventful as usually, conversing with people at home, they have askedhow was the week and I can barely remember everything. Yes, I agree with those who promote journaling,you easily forget the wonderful things God does, and that's not a good habit. I did meet an interesting fellow this week, Fidard. He accosted, though politely, as I was visited some friends who I do Bible study with twice a week. People are always saying hi to me, and he asked me if I rememberedhim. Well no, but I love to listen to what he has to say. He begged me to come over, but I told himI was going to travel soon, but no he would have non of it, almost teared up. Although I think he wasa bit tipsy. You can encounter unsobered people at any time of the time, as I said before. So I said I'd try on Friday or Sabbath. I did on Sabbath, and he was glad to see me. I am challenged always by people that approach me. I want to help them but they do not always want to sit and talk, they wantmoney, help, food. They are not selfish, they probably really need it. But I have to be realistic, I am one person, and when I start giving to every passer by, whom can say no to. Once I get to know a person, I know there real situation, I am willing to give. Unfortunately you just cannot alwaystell the fake stories from the real, so I do what I can always do listen and try direct them to more suitable help, like the orphanage, the charity house, etc. Well Fidard was not wanting my helpmaterially, well he never asked that is. He explained to me his situation, out of a job that he hadwith the Catholic Sisters of Charity, and trying to survive on rent from the store shops he rents out.He would repeat statements over and over, very dramatically. This is how we get along, this is how weget along, this is how we get along; in a quiet, sad voice. I could sense he was trying to play on my emotions a bit, but he sincerely continued with the story of how he and his wife got into a heatedargument over money he had earned. He had given her a fifth, payed bills with a fith, and kept the restto buy groceries and whatever else. He went to a bar and she came to get him, and demanded the money.There was some physical violence and then people showed up. Most on her side. Although from his storyshe attacked first. Well he had some wounds to back the story up, but he first told me the story it hadhappened three days ago, on Thursday, but after checking his medical record book, he changed it to almosttwo weeks ago, on a Thursday. That made me suspicious. But I did not bother questioning. He said therewas no peace in his family, he so longed for peace. I had read in Christ's Object lessons about howJesus engaged His hearers in there needs, so I read some texts on peace. He is a Catholic, so the Bibleis a trustworthy source to him. He appreciated the words from John 14 and Jeremiah 29:11. I admitit was not so easy. I was sure I would fail, I would say the wrong thing. Not only am I learning whatit means to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, I am learning that conversion is a process, notan event. There is the step of baptism, but there are years of study, nurturing, before and after, a processthrough which I find I am still in, we all are in. So I have given up trying to convert people on the spot.My goal is to give everyone the truth that I can through Christ, which in the end I pray will end up in their conversion to the Adventist faith and a saving relationship with Jesus. Can one exist without the other, but I do not believe it will work out well. The Adventist truths are Biblical and if learn themand then decide that they are not required with a saving relationship with Jesus, you are kinda dead in thewater, because the Bible is the guide for learning of Christ! So Fidard and I talked some more. He appreciatedmy reading of the Word, and said I have awakened him, caused him to want to go back to church, to prayagain. I am learning slowly, but surely, that God changes heart, this is the second time someone has saidI have convinced them of something, and I have not tried to by any means. God does it. I prayed before weparted. The tough part about witnessing here on Sabbath, is everywhere pretty much there is TV andit's on 24/7 it seems, like a radio that you watch once in a while. So I either talk with peopleoutside the home or sit in a chair not facing the TV. I do not believe in TV on Sabbath (or really any day forthe most part), but in the interest of people, I will ignore it. Consciously watching it with them,I politely refuse, but if it is while we have a conversation, I'll deal with it. As he walked downthe street, Fidard promised to pray before bed and in the morning, and would be at mass on Sunday, with a definite plan to attend confession. Peachy I thought. I have just taken a backsliding Catholic, backto Catholicism. On the one side I did not wish to discourage his renewed faith in God, knowing that with a growing friendship I can share gospel truths as well as the other missionaries and church members. But also realizing, that maybe God was trying to get him to see the deficites of beingCatholic by allowing this lack of peace to settle upon him and his family. Well by that time, I thought it wise to part peacefully. I dropped off a pamphlet from the French voice of prophecy the next dayon having a happy a family. Pray for him.

Children in the Trees

Because I only have a three month visa,we are heading down to Cotonou to renew mine as well as Suzy's year visa. There are many sites alongthe road, if fact, I am typing right now as we drive! The truck in front of us is spilling out black smoke, hopefully we will pass it soon! As I said that you can see alot along the road on a nine to ten hour journey. The trip is actually on about 670 km but the last portion is quite filled with potholes, truckes, and narrowing roads!We spend the time chatting, observing new things (well new for me and Suzy explains them), listening to audio Bible and other audio books. We have a couple other travelers with us, church members who are goingto visit family members in Cotonou. One particular view really grabbed my attention. It was only a few seconds as we drove. I noticed an interesting site, trees in nice neat lines. Fruit trees grow natural here (Suzy has a big guava tree, a lemon tree, and a papaya trees just in her yard), so seeing what looked like an orchardwas an unusual sight. I asked Suzy what it was, was it really an orchard, what kind of fruit? She remarked that it was a paper tree orchard. Those particular trees grow very fast and thus are favorablefor making paper several times a year. I continued to look at the passing paper orchard, then all of suddenthere appeared people. Among the trees with some older folk and several children. They were collecting dead woodand broken branches in between the rows of trees. Some were deep into the leafy paths, others closer to the road. The scene just seemed suspended in time. I do not want to sound too romantic, as missionary work can sometime be made out to be. But it was indeed captivating. In the shadows of beautiful, leafycreations of Go burdened souls labored for some extra income, gleaning much like Ruth in Bible times. Most of those children probably were skipping school at least for the morning.Collecting wood to make charcoal most likely, they were engaged in survival. This seems to be a theme here. Not talked about directly, but it's just the truth. Everyone is trying to survive. Trying to make a living, trying to sell something, make something, rent something, to make money. Thereis a particular saddening on a street I walk down sometimes in Nati. Right beside the soccer stadium(the insastiable dream to play more soccer, is a whole other subject), the street is lined on both sideswith vendors of all goods western. Backpacks, attache cases, cell phone cases, clothes, shoes, sandals,sunglasses, all mixed with bolts of African style fabric and other collectible cultural items. What really strikes me is the hopeless cycle thus presented. Here are all these vendors trying to sell some material goods (especially to whites, we have money susposedly), to make enough money to buy more of the very things they sell. To buy in essence status, to show by a stylish wardrobe,up to date cell phone, and flassy car, that they have made it. Sometimes is appreas that peopleare simply callous. Once they are successful in secouring a good job, a steady means of income,they build up their material kingdom, other people in the impoverous state they once were in, to themare passed over. Their gain they have is kept for themselves, what they deserve apparently. But it'snot conscious, it's just accepted, I have made it in life, you can too, but I do not really haveto help. Well I do not know if that's what they actually think but it appears to be a mindset. And thereare exceptions. In Cotonou I met an Adventist that was very rich, but he has determined to help othersnot only by training the young people of the church and community but as well by giving his fininacialabilities to again help church and communities. Now phase two. The battery ran out on the laptop so I am now in Cotonou at the Baptist Guest house.It's been a month and a half since my last trip to Cotonou. It actually nice to have a bit of a break in a way. We are here on visa business, but having a shower that runs from a spout and not a cold bucketis nice, although the water is off for the moment, hope it comes back tonight. The rest of our trip wasokay, slow, but okay. God kept us safe on the road. Had we come upon some misfortune, would God not have been with us? Hmmmm....ponder that. I have an answer, but I'll let you think about it.

The Chickens Hurt My Feelings

Whenever I head over to Suzy’s house there is always something that I can pretty guarantee will be there to greet me, the chickens. Not exactly greet me, more like run away from me, squawking and fluttering, and the babies chirping. Makes one imagine there’s a disaster about to strike that only the chickens know about. And it is this way that they hurt my feelings. Of course I am here to get to people not chickens, but those guys are kinda cool looking and interesting, if they realize I was not out to hurt them, maybe they’d warm up to me a little. Probably there Uncle Henry McCoopster told them about how all chickens eventually die a horrible death and how he barely escaped with feathers still intact. Despite the obvious ridiculousness of how the chickens keep hurting my feelings, I was reminded of Heaven. Someday not even animals will be afraid. Love will be the sentiment of all creatures, humans and animals alike! That’s something to look forward too.
But there is a whole lot more around than chickens for sure. The heat has been rising during the day, but keeping pretty cool at night. I am actually a chilled during morning devotions! Like an ominous warning of impending warning I am told that soon dry season will begin and along with it heat, dust and more dust. Suzy says that good thing for me I have a big hole in the road in front of the house, which means motorcycles won’t go flying by making huge clouds and as well I do not have any windows (except the portholes in the shower that face outside. But I will have to wait and see, although I know it must be pretty hefty on dust because the job description for coming here said you couldn’t be allergic to dust! About the heat, I am glad that I do not have to complain about it, many of the Africans do it themselves. When it’s gets hot, they say “C’est trop chaut.” (It’s too hot!) And then follow that by a comment on how it will soon get even hotter. Really the heat has not been to bad for me, nothing worse than an Albertan or Saskatchewanian (is that right Saskatchewanian) summer.
I am learning lessons everyday, some harder than others. Not that I am making a lot of mistakes, well big mistakes anyway, I am just learning as I go along, like an bird-watching trip, there’s always something new to see. Okay bad metaphor, but I tried. I can see in small ways how the dots connect from day to day. I am talking about how God makes sure things are timed just right, even when I think things are going haywire. Like last Sabbath when I went to visit a friend in the hospital. I waited an hour at his house, because his friend said he had gone to get medication at a charity house and wouldn’t be at the hospital then. After the hour I went with a lady who knew his room to the hospital. When we arrived, he wasn’t there either. So after the rain stopped which started just after we arrived I headed back home. Along the way a small boy asked if he could tag along since he had to go to Taekwondoe practice over my way anyway. He had amazing French for a little boy, and swindled me into the deal! But rain halted our progress again, actually lightning did, rain is not so bad. As we finally headed home, who should I meet walking up the street but my friend! What timing. Then the small lad came over to visit, he asked if he could stay the night, I assured him that wasn’t possible and so we decided he should go to Taekwondo practice at the Youth House, but since night was coming, he asked if I would take him to the main road instead and he’d go home. So after this long process, he headed home. Just as the sun set I arrived home to find the table I had some carpenters make arrive at my house. If I had not been there, it may have sat outside for a while! What timing. Eternally I cannot see the significance of God’s timing, but at least in the present I can see Him working faithfully. Another lesson is learning to let others help me. When I need help, that’s just fine, but there are things I can do, which some believe I can’t, specifically the market. Most Africans believe I will get ripped off if I go bartering myself, it has happened on occasion in the beginning of my sojourn here, but not so much lately. But I really want to learn the culture, learn bartering. But my one friend, Rollande, says he’ll go the market with me and get me good deals. Yet he’s a little over the top bartering for what was at the price everyone already pays. But he just wants to help, and in the spirit of building relationship I go with it. But it is tough. I do have to draw the line when he invites a seller of random goods into my house (while I am there of course) to see if anything interests me. Well I am not really interesting in spending a lot. So his help is appreciated but not necessary in that case.
One more thing, more of an observation. The other day I went outside to discard some vegetable peelings, I think, and noticed a group of men speaking just up the street. More than an hour later I went outside to the outhouse and those same men, in the same spot were there talking! I thought how different from the West. We will sit and talk for hours to talk, but it takes at least a week or two in advance to plan when we will find the time. Here, some people meet they talk. I am not really saying either is good or bad, just noticing life around me.
Again farewell for now and God bless.

In His grip,
Eric “Learner” Anderson
P.S> I have one photo up on Flickr.com, but I haven't figured out the link to it. If you can do it go for it, the account is Beninpics
Next week I'll be in Cotonou with faster internet so I'll do some mad uploading then!

To Djougou or bust

This Monday we (Suzy, I and three other church members), took a trip to Djougou (pronounced JooGoo, d is whispered kinda, hard to explain). It’s a town about an hour and a half from Nati. It is about the same size as Nati in population, I don’t know about land area though. We had to insure the truck and one guy was checking if there was room at a school he wants to attend. Both were accomplished, praise God. The young man, of who’s marriage I told you about, was adding to list with only three spaces left behind him. School started that day, on Wednesday he’ll be moving to Djougou with his wife. He’s become a good friend of mine, and I hope we’ll get to visit several times in the future. We took the time to walk the market, as the day was the big market day. I picked up some sun hats, and longsleeve shirts, necessary protection against sun and mosquitoes, respectively. Lunch was oranges, sweet bread (not as sweet as you think, but still tasty), and this hard crunch kinda of cookie. I forget what’s it’s called, but it tastes sweet and is spicy at the same time, real spicy. I have developed over the last few years a rare sickness. When I sit in a car and am not driving (although a few times it have fought it driving as well, my bad) I fall asleep, I may not even be tired, but I will become sleepy. Okay it’s not really a sickness, but I can remember as a child reading, drawing, watching the country side, or fighting and playing game with my sister, for hours, but now, I am out for most of the trip. But I suppose that’s not a bad thing unless you are sitting with a person that wants to have a conversation, or are commissioned as the person to keep the driving awake (it didn’t work so well when I sat beside Mr. Jamieson leaving Walla Walla at four in the morning, I fell asleep eating my spitz). But nonetheless the trip was a success. Didn’t meet a lot of people there, but did see God’s leading right off the bat. We pulled into the town and right away, Nestor, one of our travelers jumps and happily greets a man on a motorcycle, a relative of his. The relative directs us to the insurance office. Out of all those people the first we meet is this man, God leads and we were not even asking. We just prayed from the start that He would be at our side, protect and guide during the trip! The best part was when we stopped for bathroom break. Not because of any necessary relief experience but it was the sound, there was none. On that stretch of road where we stopped, no cars passed, not mills sounded, no loudspeaker Muslim prayers blared, just the birds and wind. I almost stopped in the middle of the road to listen to the stillness, caught me off guard. Suzy commented on it as we got back in the truck, quite refreshing we agreed. Well I am off for today. I hope to get a picture website up soon, blogger is not working well with uploading pics. God bless and thanks for your prayers. I pray for you all.

In His grip,
Eric

Walking Along in Africa: More experiences

“C’mon, that little?”

Bartering can be stressful. More stressful when you’re not the one bartering; you wonder if the desired deal with be made, if all will work. When you yourself are bartering you decide when to leave and what price you will accept. Going to the market, Suzy has helped me get used to the bartering process, cutting prices sometimes even less than half, which I greatly appreciate! I have gotten a hand at it a little. Now the story:
It was only about 150 francs the equivalent of 35 cents American she wanted. But I was not willing to budge either. I said 1000 and she said 1150. The war waged for a few minutes. That’s really a little what it feels like, a big fight with a complete stranger over something you may not even buy. But in context there’s no maliciousness, that’s the cultural way of buying. It’s not like if you were later to meet that person they would hate you. Eventually this present barter ended in stalemate, and I left without my intended purchase, eyes open for another vendor of the same products. In the end I was glad I had not gotten the plastic dishes I had wanted, for Suzy found a whole bunch of dishes and pots and utensils I could borrow from a friend of hers. But this instant got me thinking. While as a white person I am usually seen as having a load of cash (which in a sense is true, if you look at the exchange, but at the same time not true if you know what it takes to live here, etc.), so I am overcharged. Thus I do not feel guilty to lower prices way below what was first mentioned. But how can one survive on that little? For me it’s a little but that person it’s standard, if they have enough people pay that price they will making a good amount around here. Yes people are poor, but they can still live well here. Maybe you’re confused, well it is; it’s a complex thing to understand money and it’s relation to people. But what really got me was this particular instance. Here this lady was not willing to budge on this insignificant amount to me. I mean I am careful with my money even when you buy a baguette for 30 cents. But this later was not willing to lower 150, 35 cents. But what thought of as 35 cents, she thought of as food for her family for a couple days, she thought of as a new set of clothes for her child to go to school in, or some money to save up for that mosquito net she has always that she has needed. While I will still barter with vigor around here, perhaps I will think about people as I do.
In His grip,
Eric


“The Hopeful Side”

There is little hope. I will never be a part of this people. I can only go so far, I can only become so much a part of this culture. Why? I have not been born here, I will never have a birth certificate that says Benin on it. But this is the hopeless side of things. If one lives life here, life is always desperate, lonely, hopeless.
However on the hopeful side, we all share a common blood, and whether we all believe it or not, a common creator. As Suzy says, “We all have the same blood.” Now when people are trying to sell you something they do take this into consideration, white skin means money, but that’s only at the business level, most people are ready to be friends.
All of us have ears, eyes, noses, feet, in different shapes and sizes, and some lacking one or two, but at least we are assured everyone alive has a head and body. (Sorry if that’s sounds a little minimalist, but I just do not want to leave anyone out.) Thus it does not matter where I am from or who I am, I am human, surrounded by humans. The hopeless side vanishes away, a new life is just around the corner!
In His grip,
Eric

“Who else can we love?”

It was at a Bible study a few days ago and one of the newest members, Tabitha that said it. We were talking about Christ’s love, and she made the casual comment that really caught me off guard. From French into English it was to the effect of, “If we cannot love Jesus, who can we love?” Simple, yet deeply profound; Tabitha has begun teaching me many more things since then.
I mentioned before the friends I had met a few weeks ago, who had invited me to share some time, discussing the Bible, and praying. We have begun Bible studies. Unfortunately my friends Samson and Robert have gone to another village and have not returned, even though they were supposed to be back quite a while ago. I pray they are safe. But with those remaining we have continued to study. The three of them are brothers and sisters (although around here brother and sister can mean anything from cousin to nephew to uncle to well you get the idea), two sisters and their brother. The sisters have children, but as is a reoccurring theme here, husbands are neither faithful nor reliable, in other words I do not know where their husbands are.
The youngest sister recently joined and has really baffled me, but it’s not her, it’s the situation. A real teaching time for me; I was going over the lesson with her brother and sister and when we finished she asked if she could ask some question about what my church believes and teaches. I was a bit ashamed as it took me a bit of thinking on the go to come up with the unique beliefs of Seventh-Day Adventists (I think I’ll do a bit of a refresher course on this soon!). She thanked me. I mentioned again to all that the Wednesday night prayer meeting was coming and they could come to the church with me if they pleased. They did, praise the Lord. At the meeting the lady, Tabitha, mentioned during praise giving that she believed God had sent me, that she was not easy to convince, and I have convinced her to come to the church. She went on to mention that she enjoyed what she was experiencing at the church, and knew that the Savior had lead her to come. I was humbled. When this whole experience with this family started I thought it was just a little too easy. They must have a secret motive or something. I thought working in frontiers takes years to get a Bible study. Well God was teaching me something, not by my might, but by his. When I explained those beliefs to Tabitha I was not even trying to convince her and she said I had, the Holy Spirit worked right before my eyes. Of course this is the exception not the rule, working on a frontier does take years to get through to people, and I realize the work that Suzy, Uli, Touissant, and other missionaries here have paved the way to be able to make connections (the others sister, Bade, said that Suzy helped one of her Uncle’s daughters when she was sick, paid for the hospital bill even). So I am glad God is working through me. It is a humbling and somewhat overwhelming to realize that I’ve become as Paul to some people, thinking and praying for their souls, considering them my children, in a way. But I pray daily that God will help me to remember that He calls me to put forth effort, but the result is His, I cannot carry the weight of changing hearts, only He can, I must simply be a friend and present the truth. I will mention that with Tabitha joining, I need some real focus. She is not only not easily convinced, she is an intense lady, making sure that you are paying attention when she speaks and really seeking to understand what is being presented, not easy for me when my French is a bit limited. Take care once again and I pray you will always believe in His mighty might!
Growing,
Eric

Blog Flood

Hi friends,
adding a few entries at once to make up for lost time! I hope all is well.
God bless,
Out yonder,
Eric

"A Broken-Heart Journey"

Dear friends,
Apologies for the delay, times are busy here! Interestingly times are not busy at the same time. I have a lot to do, but unlike back at school, I never get them done in one day! When washing dishes almost an hour, clothes perhaps an hour and a half, and so on, it just doesn’t allow a lot of time. As well there’s more time for people, getting to know others, sitting and talking, walking. It’s a slower pace you could say. The challenge is to remain occupied as well. Because while I can enjoy time with others, have fun, and such, I am also here with a call, a job to do in help train young people through Sabbath school, Pathfinders, etc. and that’s takes some preparation on the computer, talking to people etc.! But things seem to be running well. School starts tomorrow, finally! The teacher kept pushing the date later and later, until now. This means I can really get into ministry, I hope to spend a significant portion of time at the local high school doing friendship evangelism, getting to know the students, maybe leading out in some practical seminars and training on relationships, team building, etc. And also to get some Bible studies going with those who are interested.
I told myself that I should start writing down little notes of interesting things that happen here, there’s so many I forget them and with the amount of time I go to the internet café, the events really pile up. I’ll to get a few down and promise maybe better results next time! This is the start of my sixth week already in Benin and my fourth here in Natitingou. It’s been a great adventure so far. Although there has not been really really exciting moments yet, it has not been dull. I spent a great deal of last week looking for a room to rent. I thought at first to stay with a local family here, either a church member or someone Suzy knows very well. But the availability of this prospect was not too great, there were one or two, but when the children started school and the parents were working or busy about the house, it would be more or less me on my own, thus I decided to rent some rooms. I prayed God would help me find the right place. I wondered if this might be a faith experience, because as school is beginning rooms fill up fast and are hard to obtain. Well it was a faith experience, but not how I thought. There were an over abundance of rooms, as well as people willing to help me find one! The faith part, was praying and asking God which one. It was asking God to really lead, to guide my thoughts as to which one was best. The hardest part was being firm on a decision. I choose a place right beside the high school where I plan to spend quite a bit of time and near Suzy’s home. It is only about a twenty minute walk from the church as well. It is a nice room in a compound with several other families, two rooms a large living room, small kitchen, and shower. I’ll try to send pictures when it is set up, because probably the image you are seeing in your head right now is a little different than what the actual place looks like! There is electricity but no running water in the house, there’s a pipe/faucet outside and well in the compound to fill up with. The toilet is outside the gate, whose door needs to be fixed, or else it will become a public toilet.
There is much to be joyful about so far. Met a few new friends, Jean, Phillipe, Samson, between ages of 19 and 50’s; they’ve shown me around, as well as helped me find a room, and with Samson’s friends we’ve started a Bible, as I may have mentioned before. All there stories are interesting. Jean is 19 and finished high school around 14 or 15, not quite sure. He is now working hard at college to be able to marry and support his family, and as many hope here, to some day go abroad to Canada or the US. Phillipe is 20 and in January is starting four years of veterinary school to be able to work on his father’s large farm. He helped me find the room which is in the same compound he lives in, until school starts he is garbage cart puller (no trucks here), the only job he could find, he says.
There are a lot of things that break my heart here too. Just before I left for Benin I rediscovered (not sure the last time I actually sung it was) the hymn “Let Your Heart Be Broken” number 575. The words are really wonderful, I encourage you to read it and sing it too if you wish! Anyway the things that break my heart, some I can help, others not so much. The biggest is probably the alcohol problem. As in many developing countries (not that we do not have it developed nations, just seems more raw and sensitive in developing ones) when a man does not have steady work, on the down time he drinks. You can smell the alcohol as you walk by the cabarat’s (their name for bar). And I have talked with a few drunks and it’s not pleasant. Not in the sense that I have been in danger of being harmed, but just how do you talk with someone like that, how do you share the gospel in that situation. Most of what you say is probably going to forgotten, so being courteous is the best means. They sad part is these men, and some women, slowly fry their brains! They will even tell you that they think that getting stone cold drunk is not guy, casually drinking not so bad, and that evening you’ll see them staggering home. But there is hope, a friend of Suzy’s, an older gentlemen in the last few years, gave up drinking and smoking. So some are seeing the dangers and letting go. The family life is heart breaking thing here too. Families are often broken up, by unfaithfulness, disrespect, and even if not in these conditions, they are harsh especially for the children. Also the young people have a lot of misconceptions on relationships and sex. They do not take it seriously. While it seems more open here, all these problems, they are really global problems. In Western culture it’s just easier to hide. Now let’s not misunderstand me here, the people here are not evil! I have met many sincere, kind people, but misconception, deception, and cultural chains bind them! That’s the saddest part.
Well if you can handle a bit more, there’s a few more things to add! I am learning lots spiritually. Which is expected you say, but truthfully I do not believe I had to come here to learn them, it is true going on missions changes the missionary sometimes more than the target people, yet that’s, in my mind, a less than noble reason to go. I say this to say this, that wherever you are I encourage you to let God change you. God is not confined to extreme experiences, they sure help, but in all our day to day he looks to change us. More and more I realize the daily walk with Christ. I’m a futurist you could say, I am always tempted to dream of what is coming next, when I’m done this, I’ll do that, when I finish this, I will, etc. God is teaching to me take up the cross daily, accomplish that day well, then move to next. We do need to plan into the future, but there’s only so much of that one can do. The hardest has been loosing control. Not in the sense of going crazy, but loosing control on my life. Self-sacrifice. My life has usually been in my control, classes I’ll take, money I’ll spend, people I will spend time with, schools to attend. But God is asking that are give it to Him and myself too. I realize this is not self-abuse. I tend to want to push myself to the extreme for the cause of Christ. When necessary it’s ok. But God is asking that I lay down my life for Him and give my plans to Him. So staying healthy is a part of that, living balanced in relationships, work, and relaxation. All under the great banner of bringing humanity to Heaven through Christ! I have been reading much of the Bible and Ellen White, about David’s life and Christ’s object lessons. Amazing food to eat. It’s true sanctification is the work of life time and giving up self is the hardest battles we will ever fight (see COB chapters 3 and 7)! So it’s not overnight and is. Each day we give up self, and each day the life is change silently and imperceptibly. I do not want to preach, so that about does it for today! I will plan to share more of what happens in life here in the future, and pictures too! God bless you deeply.

In His grip,
Eric “Broken-Heart” Anderson

"Our Great Controversy"

A couple Friday nights ago I read a few sections from chapters 36-42 in the Great controversy by Ellen White. I say sections because it was so intense that I read a bit and skimmed a bit, unfortunately. It scared me! Should it? Should more of faithful Adventists be floored by these chapters. I believe there’s yet a balance to find! It is real, if I believe the other councils of Sister White, than these chapters are just as binding. But my thoughts start me thinking and worrying if I’d make it through that last terror. While most things are imagined worse than they really are, these events, she says, will be really be worse than imagined! The truth is that I cannot now go through a test to see if I’ll past the end times, it’s a time on it’s own. What I can do is let Christ prepare me. I can put effort each day, to study His word, claim His promises, rely on Him. The more I do these things now, the more I will be able to stand. But the mind is not easily convinced, and so I daily give it all to Him. I think we need to all be familiar with the coming conflict, but also to realize the power behind the end result, Jesus’ coming, He who comes is able to pull us through, let’s be faithful today! I had this on my heart and hope it encourages you and gets us all praying! God bless.
Becoming salty,
Eric

"Changing Dreams"

It was not my idea, but they had insisted so I went along with them. The three of us were returning from cyber café, and my companions suggested an alternate route back home. It looked a bit more uphill than the other path, but they promised it was shorter. Indeed it was shorter, up over the little rise instead of all the way around it. But it was not the length nor the trail itself that was, how do I say, mind-boggling, or changing perhaps. It was the view. As we crested the little rise I could see the hills the surrounded the valley, the splendor of the green grass and tree covered hills and the misty sky shooting up from their plateau tops. My heart fell in love with Africa. For the first time I thought I may be able to give my life for this place. That is not really true though. The place may be wonderful, but it is my love for Jesus that brings about the love for the place. Yet as this realization gripped I began to fight it. Such a thing as I had prayed for since coming here, why should I fight it? If we go back to the day before I had been thinking about a certain dream of mine, to reach a group of people that have not had much if any Adventist contact, I was thinking of ways to reach them, how to do, just mulling it over in my mind. Yet I knew that even if God should call me to that region, it was not now. Now I was in Benin, needing to focus, to work hard, to love strong. I prayed that if this dream of working with these people was not for me that it would disappear. Up to that point when of thought my dream, I was very excited, a joy would rise inside of me. The dream I do not share just because it was between me and God, you understand. The goal and purpose of it was just fine, noble, but like I said, just not for this time. So it was as I crested that hill that a new dream replaced an old dream. Time will tell where God leads. In my human nature, it’s hard to give up something that seemed like it would be great. But oh the joy to know that God is changing my heart. I pray God will make me more African everyday, and His faithful servant.
God bless.
In His grip,
Eric

The Hat Has Eyes and Other Stories

Hello friends,
Well over a week here in Nati and things are moving along. It's a bit challenging right now, as there is no school, thus my work with the youth is a bit hindered. But once school starts and the students return from farming, there will be some real grand things happening. Well that' s a bit deceiving, there is still are things to do and more importantly relationships to build. I am in a neighbor friendly due tocontact with the missionaries in whose home I am staying and so I am getting to know lots of people. I also made a few friends playing soccer the local high school field. I am going to try to upload pictures, but internet is not exactly picture upload friendly.
I have always thought highly of story books, it's amazing to have an intriguing title and then realize there are many more of those intriguing stories. Well I want to share a few with you.

The hat has eyes
Some children from Suzy's neighborhood, came over with me to my house for a visit. We looked at pictures and munched on some sweetbread. But they were tired and one of them decided to retire for a nap. He was soon back in the living room. I asked him why he had not slept, he said there was a hat with eyes in my room. I started to worry. But he quickly showed me my Marks Work Warehouse baseball cap that has two led lights on the brim, which I had accidently left on. It scared him, until I showed him how it worked. This really sparked my mind, something I thought was simple was yet unknown. Also that even children are aware of the spiritual qualities around, that a hat with eyes would frighten them.

Happy Marriage
A very close friend here in Nati, just got married, and I was invited. The young man has had a rough time, loosing his mother several years ago. Marriage here is so much more of a simple affair here. It's not business like, it still has much meeting, but just small. We celebrated with chocolate cake and pop in glass bottles. The ceremony was in a small courtyard conducted by the local Justice of the Peace. It was heart-warming, perhaps the simple elegance gave a more meaningful peace to the commitment than some of our services in North America.

Friends, Friends
This is more a comment than story. I been marked. Well not because of something I did, just because here for some people white skin means foreign finances. I have been inudated but there has been a few friendly people who have imparted there woes to me and implied some help. I offered what little I could, which is basically not much. You can give 25 cents to give someone a meal and then every other person in Nati is on your doorstep. But I don't mind too much, if I connect with people who want money out of me, that's better than nothing. Although it's not hopeless, most people here are genuine.

Jumping for the Bible
I was invited over by a young man last week. The man explained he always loved to talk to Europeans and such. I kindly refused an alcoholic drink and was instead supplied with cooked all natural sugared drink, which was interesting to taste. We had great conversation. After I explained I was a missionary, they were excited to talk about God. They had many questions, which I prayed silently and answered as best I could, most of them were Catholics and one was Muslim. They invited me back the next day. I was glad. The next day, they invited me back again. I informed them that this week I could spare the time but after I would be a bit busy. So we've set up a time twice a week. We did our first lesson toda. It is a simply Bible study they fill out the blanks in Bible verses. They were so excited today to have the right answers they jumped for joy. I am excited to as one woman shared she would share the study with church members. This is only a part of ministry here. My focus here on is on youth, but I am glad to have opportunities to connect with older people too.

Weeding Scars
The missionaries here are working on a culture study and decided one way to learn about the culture was to do some farming local style. They have a couple plots of land a ways from town. I was able to go and help weed this past week. Unfortunately I was not able to have a hoe since there weren't enough, so my hands were the tool of choice. My right arm has suffered since. After displaying my scars at prayer meeting that night, the others informed me I should have worn long sleeves as they did. It was a little late. The hot son during the work was well hot. But we only work in the morning so it wasn't too bad for around here, and apparently it gets hotter!

Well these are only a few stories and I am sure there will be many more. Thanks for all your prayers and God bless.

In His grip,
Eric

Bon Arrivé

Welcome to Natitingou friends,
Or as most people would say Bon Arrivé (French keyboards may be difficult to handle but they are certainly are nice for accents!) I arrived here in Nati (the local term for Natitingou, as you may have guessed) yesterday afternoon. Suzy was there right away to get me, she said she almost missed seeing me, but one of the children in her truck pointed my bus out as it passed, thank God! It seems one of the best regulators that I am going farther from civilization is slower internet, but I know that having internet is a great privilege. Well the night went well and I went out and bought some bought some cooked rice and cheese and bread for breakfast, delicious! I am staying at one of the missionarys home, for a while as they are out on furlough, until I find a more permanent place. God bless. I hope to have pics up soon, well relatively.
In His strong grip,
Eric

They Call Me Yovoe

Hi friends!
Tomorrow evening will be exactly two weeks that I have been here. I am sitting in a somewhat croweded internet cafe, there is a cell phone playing the lastest French hits loudly, it was interesting to here an English tune by Celine Dion, maybe she is the best singer in the whole world! I have been spending my time here in Cotonou in Red Cross training, which by Gods grace I passed on Friday. This will definitely aid me in helping the young people up north, as the training was not only first aid but also health education, psychology of groups and such. I walked to church yesterday, which was tiring and refreshing. As I walk the streets here, the little children will usually be very exactly as I pass, calling Yovoe! Yovoe! which is the term here for white person or stranger. I really wanted to make some connections here even though this is not the exact place of my project. I was able to meet a young boy named Alfred, who was excited to know all about Canada. I have visited him the last couple days. Hopefully I can see him on a return trip here to Cotonou. I also met Prospere, who was interested in coming back with me to Canada, as most people do here. After explaining I was a missionary to the North, he surprised me by asking me that I pray for this country that the people in Benin would have peace. I assured I would and that many people in Canada were too. It really hit me as I walked to streets, people here are here, they cannot leave unless by some miraculous good fortune. Yet I, I am here for only a little while and then I am gone forever or for a while, back to my comfortable home. It is the way things are, but really makes me consider the duty I have to these people in Christ. In these two weeks God has really asked me to rely on Him. During the day I am with friends but the evenings finds me alone in my room, just myself and God, where I have felt loneliness, but realized His supreme love and care for me. I tell you this not for you to see that I am some great missionary roughin it like in old times, but to say that we are never alone, and to say praise God that I can now relate to people who though surrounded by people in a city can feel alone inside. Yet God is true, Jesu est fidele, as a song I learned during training, Jesus is always there.
God richly bless you.
In His grip,
Eric
p.s. Indeed I have alot to learn! What sounded to me as Low Voe was actually Yovoe, as Suzy pointed out to me. Good to know.

Thanks

I just figured out I had comments. Thanks to you all. I very much appreciate your prayers. I ask you to remember the people here too. They are really in need of Christ, as we all do! God bless.
Eric

Cotonou Alive

Hi friends,
I can here the honking outside my window right now, the city is alive with motorcycles and cars. Would you bleive I forgot my pictures and since I am at an internet cafe, I cannot go back and get them, so hopefully I will have them up soon. I am a training for Pathfinders, mostly we are working on first aid and team building, so it is a great cultural introduction. I will be heading up the project next Sunday. God has provided me with some great friends here from the Adventist Church, an awesome way to sort of ease into Benin. I am excited to see Gods hand moving (pardon the grammar, I am on a french keyboard). For a few mornings the bats have woken me up real bad, but I have asked God each time to silence them and I drift off to sleep again. Little things He does. I suppose after these few days I have not seen His hand in mighty ways, that I always think about in themission field, but really I need a change of perspective. In everything God is mighty. He does not have to do mighty things, He is, that is a great comfort. I do know to that He is working in ways I cannot see, I am sure there are great things he has already done that I will not know about until eternity, that I am sure for all of us. The city is a little overwhelming, a lot of car exhausts especially when sitting on a motorcycle in the middle of traffic at a stop light. But people are used to foreigners here and they have me greatly, even when I do not know them. I tried a trick that John Kent suggested at training to learn language, ask for directions to a place you already know the way too. Everyone kindly pointed me in the right direction, but also suggested I take a semi john or motocycle taxi instead of walking, but hey I could handle on forty five minutes, being a great Outward Pursuit hiker and all(: Well I must be off, hopefully pics will be here within the week. God bless you all.

In His grip,
Eric
Almost forgot to tell you about the clothing market, this little girl mabye 2 years old came to me and held my hand in playful wonder, she said ca va, which is how are you. It was really heartwarming, It reminding me that for these children,younger and older, I am here with Christs love.

The Arrival

Hi friends,
With joy I write to you of my arrival here in Benin! It was a pretty uneventful trip. I did have some excitment getting into the terminal at Cotonou, Benin's largest city and where I am staying for the first couple weeks. Had to show my vaccination record, the up to customs, but no questions, just stamp and gone. But one of my bags did not arrive with me, but such is life! Lots to see here for sure! Amazing walking or riding a motorcycle taxi and never seeing a single white person, well I have seen about five the whole day, but all in the evening. The people here are very nice. Spent most of the day at the Adventist church in pathfinder training, went well. Not much contact with mosquitoes yet, but that's alright, definitely not complaining! Take care and God bless. Oh yes and welcome back to school (especially the CUC'ers, will miss you)
In His grip,
Eric