Low Patience

Manny and I are coming down to the last two weeks of our time in Benin for now. I plan to return, but still it is an interesting time. I have noticed my patience wearing thin. For the past months I have been kindly dealing with all the misconceptions that people have of white people here, as well as the harsh realities of behaviors in the people. The people really are wonderful they just are well, lost! It is easy to see why anger, jealously, immorality are so prevalent. People need the Lord, as my good friend (I wish) Steve Green would say. Even now as I type outside the office, there is loud music playing in a language I cannot understand, and that's not the frustrating part, it is the annoying African pop music with no point and rythm of about two notes repeating over and over. Yesterday playing soccer I got stern with some of the young boys playing. The goalie missed a shot and the other team scored a goal, and the other team made fun of him. I immediately shot back with a comment that they might have done the same place. They maybe thought I was not serious. But I continued sternly that I really do not like mockery, and they should stop, how would they feel? They went silent, and one kid said, that I was right. We actually did not have as much making fun of others after that. I wondered if that was the right approach, I certainly was stern, but not shouting, and tried to show an example by encouraging everyone even when they did mistakes. The harder part is dealing with the misconceptions. People ask for things. After pathfinders yesterday, a guy was walking behind me as I headed home. Arnold one of the church kids was with me holding my nalgene water bottle. The guy asked if I had something to give him. I didn't even know who he was. I breathed deeply and said I did have something a handshake! He laughed but was not impressed. He said how about the bottle it is food in it right? No just simple water. I felt like pouring some on him to prove the point. But he relented and I turned to my house and he continued on. I told Arnold how little effort people put it. At least the guy could try to befriend me and then as our friendship grows I may out of the bonds of our relationships give him something in appreciation. But that would be too much work. For now, I just have to: "Say oh, and let it go." (I read that in one of Suzy's old "Country" magazines)