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.
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4 comments:
Hey Low Voe, glad to hear about your progress..only 50 more weeks.....I will pray for Alfred and Prospere and for the peace of the people in Benin. Did you know that 44% of the country's population is under 14 years of age! and that "Benin’s President is a born-again Christian!" Praise the Lord for that. Praying that you will continue to feel God's presence and that you will use the Loneliness to get to know him even better..............He is true nd faithful, He is always there and he is using you to srengthen people and to serve faithfully as you invest in your "neighbor’s" future and eternity. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mt 25:40)
What a friend we have in Jesus
Quel ami fidèle et tendre, nous avons en Jésus-Christ,
Toujours prêt à nous entendre, à répondre à notre cri!
Il connaît nos défaillances, nos chutes de chaque jour,
Sévère en ses exigences, Il est riche en son amour.
Quel ami fidèle et tendre, nous avons en Jésus-Christ,
Toujours prêt à nous comprendre, quand nous sommes en souci!
Disons-lui toutes nos craintes, ouvrons-lui tout notre cœur.
Bientôt ses paroles saintes nous rendront le vrai bonheur.
Quel ami fidèle et tendre, nous avons en Jésus-Christ,
Toujours prêt à nous défendre, quand nous presse l'ennemi!
Il nous suit dans la mêlée, nous entoure de ses bras,
Et c'est lui qui tient l'épée, qui décide les combats.
Quel ami fidèle et tendre, nous avons en Jésus-Christ,
Toujours prêt à nous apprendre, à vaincre en comptant sur lui!
S'il nous voit vrais et sincères à chercher la sainteté,
Il écoute nos prières et nous met en liberté.
Quel ami fidèle et tendre, nous avons en Jésus-Christ,
Bientôt il viendra nous prendre pour être au ciel avec lui.
Suivons donc l'étroite voie, en comptant sur son secours.
Bientôt nous aurons la joie de vivre avec lui toujours.
Hugs and many many prayers that you remain secure IN HIS GRIP
Florence
Barron??? that would be Matt, don't know how that happened but nevermind.
Barron??? that would be Matt, don't know how that happened but nevermind.
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, … and he said, Certainly I will be with thee” (Exodus 3:11-12a).
O Lord, fill Eric and all of us with courage to share Your love with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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