Tuesday, October 28, 2008
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.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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!
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!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
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
In His grip,
Eric
Friday, October 10, 2008
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
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
Monday, October 6, 2008
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
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
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