Finding Cotonou

Really it's actually not hard to find Cotonou, the problem finding Cotonou to be a happy place. It's always about the people. Here it's smoggy,
crowded, and unfriendly. But I get to see friends so it's all good. This time we are here for Visas again, Manny first time and my second. Unfortunately
we found out today that since we don't have identity cards (which are hard to get if you are not planning on spending a while), we cannot get a year visa!
So three months for us, oh well. I got to see lots of friends as I said. There is a big evangelistic campaign this week, so my good friend from Red Cross
training is here, Pastor George. We shared a room for part of training and so I was really happy to see him. Also I stopped by to see my friend Norbert, and
Nestoria came by too! Too close friends from training. They are doing well. It's amazing how God brings people together. Sure you can make friends
with non-Christians (actually we need too!), but the common bond of Christ really draws people together, though it's never perfect, but God makes it work!
God is really big. Manny was looking to get some guitar strings. Strolling around in the morning on Monday I found a music store, they had strings super.
We went later in the afternoon, and in talking to the man at the store we learned he was from Nati, after we told him we were from there. Which quarter, same
quarter we lived in! He said he'd been in Cotonou a year so far. I said I would greet all his family when we go back. He described to me his home, I said
I knew the place and he said his brothers owns a sawmill. Pierre? I ask, yes! I was just talking to him last Sabbath! Amazing. The young man was so happy.
He was reading his Bible when we walked in and so we talked a little of church, he was from Assembly of God, we said it was nice to see a young person
reading their Bible. He was in agreeance.
Had to get a part at the big Toyota dealer here in Cotonou, unfortunately there was a misunderstanding. When I last time ordered the part, the dude said it
was ordered, but I recalled after was he had asked me if I had the money, I said no, he didn't say anything else and so I assumed the part was ordered.
He didn't say that you needed a down payment to order it! So I had to reorder it. I started getting mad but forced myself to think, why this had happened?
And I eventually came to the above conclusion, I am glad, God helped me remember and treat the man with kindness. Last time I was at Toyota I noticed
something intrigueing and sad. There was an older man, maybe middle 60's, that was cleaning up and such, he was the janitor. As he cleaned their offices,
young men and women busily typed on their computers or talked on the phone, while some older business execs did the same in other offices (alot of windows there
as you can tell). He seemed not unhappy, but not really happy either, meloncoly. I thought to myself what a state to be in. I believe that there is no
uneeded job, but in reality not many young people grow up wishing to be janitors. While many janitors are loved people, that's just reality. So here
was this older man, who in his day was probably a well respected individual, living with pride for his family, maybe he still does, but how it must
feel to clean up after some young person that happened to be in a better situation growing up and was now sitting at a plush desk typing for those
people that afford nice Toyota vehicles. I never really saw anyone talk to him, greet him, or say thanks. Of course my stay was only an hour maybe, so
maybe some people did. What is my thought on it? I don't know really know. It really left me kinda empty. I would say it put a candle in my heart, to not
let another janitor or anybody without them knowing my appreciation or at least a smile!