Blue walls and a leaky roof

A few rain storms ago I discovered that our roof is a bit of a leaking one. I was thankful to God that I was there and
able to move things before any major damage occured (particularly to Manny's computer). It seems if the wind is
headed in the right (or might say wrong) direction it lifts the tin of the room where the sheets join and allows rain to
drip drip in. I mentioned it to the landlord and he'd said he would get it fixed but that he had no money since some of the
other tenants have not paid their rent yet. No problem, we could paid the rent a little early this month so he could fix it.
That was about two weeks ago. The carpenter did (here the carpenters take care of roofs too) come over and inspected the problem
and said he'd talk to his boss and see when they could fix it. Sunday was to be the day, then it was moved to Friday. Meanwhile
another work project began in the landlord's house, painters came over and did some wonderful work in their living room
making a nice clear blue colour. I found it interestng that as we paid rent early the next week the landlord's house is painted.
Hmmmm. I would never accuse him pernsonally, there are not enough facts, I suppose, but it seems evident where priorities are.
Why do I tell you this? Well it is simply what I see all around Benin. Our landlord has actually been a very nice person,
given us cultural and practical advice for living in Benin. He has done much to take us under his wing, but yet it does not seem
wrong to him to put his painting before our leaky roof (whether he used the rent money well that's up to him, not my problem).
People here have ingrained into them, get mine. If I have gotten the means I will use them for me. That really is a human problem
but it seems that at least in some other societies (that I have seen) like Belize, or Canada, a bit of help for others is evident.
That is another wonderful reason to bring the gospel to these Ottamari people, they have so much need to not only salvation (the most
important part), but also a new meaningful life focused not on themselves but on others (something we all could work on!).