Liberation Noise

Actually we have been very blessed thus far in Benin. After ten months, I have never had to
go ask people to turn down their music at night. During there are few times I would have
but there is less jurisdication for that. But the hour finally came. Last Friday night (July 9)
behind our house was a party for a liberation. It is actually to celebrate liberation from
being an apprentice. A young man or woman has completed some apprenticeship and is
ready to head into the work force. And it is all right behind our house and
right outside Manny's window. It went until 3 or 4 in the morning! Until finally a neighbor
told them to be quiet. The law actually is that it cannot go past midnight, but law is in the
eye of the beholder perhaps. By Sabbath night we did not want to repeat sleeplessness. (Well
I slept since my room is blocked by Manny's, poor guy.) So we thought before we call the cops
at midnight at least we can talk to them. Well around 7:15 pm the power cut so went out to
talk. We asked for the man of the house and girl took us in a room and started waking up this
guy passed out on the ground, I really did not want to talk to someone who couldn't stand on his
own feet from drunkenness. But a replacement was found, another man of the house. We told him
our issue nicely and said we'd like to keep the cops out it. Then as we were finishing the power came on
and another man came and started talking. He said very emphatically that no one could stop their party
not even the president of Benin. Well we just restated that we were asking for a favor out of decent
human respect. The guy was not convinced and we left without letting him finish. We'd said
what we needed. I asked our landlord if he was going to call the police. He said he would if needed.
Equipped with earplugs, Manny and I did sleep. Then next morning I asked the landlord what
happened, he said he sleeping, apparent he can sleep through Mount St. Helens if needed. But his
wife who was up with their baby daughter all Friday night, said at Midnight exact they cut the
music. I really am happy about the story. I shared it with the pathfinder kids. Around the world
people get made really fast. If one just takes the time and effort to do all in peace as much as possible
a lot of stife could be avoided!