Pathfinders United: To the Villages!

In the beginning the idea of coming to Africa to lead out in Pathfinders
seemed like a no braner. I have been in Pathfinder family since before I
was born, well I guess that's not possible, but before my birth my parents
bought for me a pathfinder teddy bear, which I still have just no more t-shirt.
I grew up in Adventurers and Pathfinders. Although I have to admit that
in highschool and college thus far, I haven't been as loyal, nonetheless I still
consider myself a fairly knowledgable pathfinder. But as you may guess,
pride comes before the fall. While the skills and knowledge God has given
me over the years in Pathfinders are a wonderful asset, everywhere is different.
Here in Africa there have been unique challenges and circumstances to deal
with. Humbling myself before God and honestly admiting that I came to Africa
thinking that I had all that was neccessary to pretty much do anything asked of me
because I was just that blessed has been a challenge, and everyday is another step.
The weirdest part is to say, okay God yes I was too prideful coming here, but now
I am here and I still have to do the same things I was called to do even with my prideful
attitude. With an attitude that says, God is leading, I am following, how much
better life is. Situations have not gotten easier, but God is teaching me
to look at them in a different life.
With all that said I will share with you the wonderful voyage myself, Manny,
and 6 pathfinders took this week. Usually we can barely squeeze out the time
to meet once a week for our pathfinder meeting, so since this week was vacation, and
the older pathfinders did not have catch-up classes in school we decided to go
on a trip. The first plan fell through quickly. But the second worked well, whichwas to go a village where a church was being built, and then travel to a smaller
village to help start a pathfinder club there. A lot to do in three days and four nights!
We left on Wednesday afternoon at 3PM and arrived in Takonta around 4:30.
We settled in at the place we'd stay, for Manny and I its tents and the others rooms cleared
for them to sleep in. The church group in Takonta is small maybe 15 or 20, about three families,
it seems. But when the room they wished to rent for church services was denied them,
after they paid the two month advance, they decided to build on one of the members'
properties. Sinces a building can be build of mud, all you have to pay is the mason to
do the work, the rest is labor which can be done by the church members.
Thursday morning just before 8 we started digging in a pit behind the church where the
dirt was being piled for making mud. I was very proud of my guys, swining their picks
until their hands blistered, and the girls helped get water at the creek. They worked real
hard. Manny and I did too, but that's our job! I was exciting to jump in the mud and walk around
mixing the mud and water into a usable substance. They were building a layered church,
which means that a mason shaps mud balls into a short wall, each section being about
a metre high. When one dries another goes on, ours was the last layer before the roof peaks.
We kept at it, breaking a little for lunch,and
working right until 6PM. At the end of the day, we finished an entire layer of the building.
The evangelist for that area, Clemente, said that our help had been such a testimony to
the community that he said it was liked we knocked on all the doors in the village. People are
always impressed to see harmony and unity, and to know that we came to help of our own accord
really made a lasting impact. I was so glad that the pathfinders were able to experience this.
Friday our layer was still drying, so we dug some more dirt for mud later, and then hit the
road for the tinier village of Koutie. In this village the church was planted by the first AFM
missionaries to Benin, the St. Clair's. Today almost half the village is Adventist, meaning at
least 50+ in the church, with all the children probably closer to 75 or 80. Clemente lives in
Koutie, traveling to the other villages like Takonta, regurlarly. He is employed by a gospel
Outreach program from Canada. He is a very likeable and jovial gentlemen, with five children,
three of whom live in Nati for school and thus are in the pathfinder club (they were excited
to visit home for vacation!). Sabbath we conducted the church service, to a packed little church,
the church was probably built with a smaller congregation in mind. In the afternoon we
had a pathfinder workshop, part of my call is to help start clubs in new areas. I have to admit
for this first one I was going in blind. I did not know their situation too much, and I had
not planned a grand program since it was only one afternoon, and its nicer usually to spend
a few days to help start a club. Nonetheless the pathfinders with me helped greatly and the afternoon
was a great success. Regardless whether it was an afternoon or a couple days, the challenge for Koutie
is that they have no one that has ever done pathfinders before there in the village. But I encouraged
and let them know that they can come up with their own pathfinder model that will work for
them, there really isn't a right or wrong way, only a well-down way or a half-hearted way.
If they put their money where their mouth is, so to speak, to put much effort, they could
have a wonderful club! I forgot to mention that the hike to Koutie is about 7KM. I was worried
that youth would get a little too tired. After all that work Thursday, a 7K hike the next, pathfinder
marching on Sabbath and then walking back on Sunday, then school on Monday! But
they stuck their guns and did well. On Sunday we made it back fine and in ship shape, although a little
sore!
It was so encouraging to see the pathfinders have a good time and pitch in to help too.
Except for Clemente's children none of them have Adventist parents, one has an abusive home,
one has a father that's always drunk, another lost his mother to illness a few years ago, another
has very little moral guidance at home. On the trip I could see them really relax and enjoy themselves,
that was rewarding. But also they got to see how much they could make a difference with
their effort. They saw how God worked through them in so many ways! Manny and I have been in agreement
from the beginning that if we leave Benin have helped the church here become strong in Christ, become
an awesome witness in this community, we have met our goals. While I also seek opportunities to reach
those that are not in the church, I remember that I am here for 11 months, not a huge chunk of time,
the youth will be here for many years, if I can put much effort to help them build a strong foundation
that will be worth many souls that they will reach for God's Kingdom!
It would be nice to go on another trip. But the next vacation is April and that is booked with
other plans for the youth, and school ends beginning of July. Thus I am very glad this trip was a great
success and I am confident has made a lasting impact on the young people that came along.