Got it!

Got it!
This is a big praise to God. After finally being allowed to apply for the twelve months (that's one year if
you add it up!) visa, I received the visa. It is a big assurance for me from God, letting me know
that He really wants me to stay here in Benin another term. The year visa relieves many stresses since
it is multiply entry/exit, I can go and come as needed (although the August visit home is the only time
I planning on leaving and coming back). I am very thankful for it.
The bus ride back from Cotonou was uneventful in terms of safety and good driving. Except the one
time when we almost tried to pass a semi and had to pull back into our lane and made a car go off the road
to avoid a head on collision, but that's it. The unfortunate part was the entertainment. Manny and I have
six or seven bus lines between Nati and Cotonou on our travels, and have tried to avoid those buses
with televisions when possible. For one thing they are really loud and half the time in a language we cannot
understand. But worse is the content, mostly very sensual. On the way back I took a newer bus line that
had no television before. Unfortunatley they felt this was an aboslute and installed a brand new one since my
last trip. And this I would paid for it to be a language other than English. They chose of all things
rap music videos. I was just shocked. I don't listen to rap/hip-hop so I am sure it has always been this way
but the music was so dirty. I sometimes have struggled to not look, the temptation is great. But this
time it was so bad it actually helped, I didn't want to look. Unfortunately the short stint of Celine Dion music
was not a respite from the degrading material. I certainly hoped to get away from some of that garbage leaving
North America (although this was not my reason for missions), but I realize now that sin is everywhere. The hardest
part was that sitting right in front of us were a group of four young ladies and a young man. They were dressed
in the latest fashions and make-uped (well except the guy), and sometimes they even were dancing in their
seats to the music. It was hard because it was like I could see society degenerating right before my eyes. From
what I have seen in Benin, African culture is very modest, women wear skirts, and loose fitting clothes (someone
might point out the topless thing, but that is seen as very different here), but slowly Western clothing
and dress is creeping in. I was talking with one of the young married men from our church, he was commenting
that when women wear shorts or tight fitting clothes (and I think he talked about pants) they are obviously
not married and thus able to wear what they want. His wife would never wear such things. I kindly mentioned
welcome to the 90's, so to speak. All women here are now changes their clothes, business women wear
pants. Sure there are bad aspects of the culture, the superstitions, the Devil worship, but the item of modesty
well at least this they could keep, but it seems lost and not many people seem to want to fight to keep it. This is
for guys to because they are starting to need to buy the torn up, faded jeans, the cool t-shirts and all that.
Simplicity is just so much easier.