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.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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!
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!
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