Precious moments

Definitely time has passed too quickly. I arrived here in Ontario on August 5th and it is almost time to go back on Sept. 21! The time back in Canada has been varied and exciting. After eleven months (and one week), it was very refreshing and wonderful to see family and friends again. I had the privilege of sharing my year's testimony with several churches including Sault Ste. Marie, Lindsay, and Peterborough. I also went to Pioneer apartments for a College Park Church vespers. Every place it was like being with family. The renewed commitments of prayer and support really gave me courage.
Many people ask how it is being back in North America. No doubt it is a culture shock of its own. I am here not really long enough to really experience the change, but for sure I noticed how much I had changed and how much seemed different. Africa is certainly not immune to Western culture (ooo that makes it sound like the west is a disease, there are good points too!), the media, the materialism. But of course even with these presences the flow of society is far removed from what I grew up in. I live in a fairly large city in Benin, but still the biggest store is rarely bigger than the average house living room here. And they aren't malls, markets yes. Walking into the Oshawa Centre, I really had to focus on what I was doing, or else be distracted and loose my well planned agenda! I got a new pair of shoes and it was an feeling hard to describe. I didn't feel guilty per say, I did need a new pair, but just well maybe you can get the idea, I am not sure I still do!
I visiting AFM headquarters in Michigan for a few days. That was a breath of fresh air, to talk with many people who have walked in my shoes for countless years. I also very much appreciated being able to share with the outgoing SM's, experiences and lessons from my year. It was great too because really I joined them in going out again and so we are a team.
My sister went off to university and my parents and I took her there. That was a real opportunity to spend together, and the rental we had had air conditioning, nice. On the way back my parents and I stopped at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (say that five times fast). Like its name the Center had a lot to take in and absorb. I understand the great need to realize what Africans went through in those horrible slave times. Especially since Benin itself has been dramatically shaped by that history. I have been to the beach where foreigners took thousands of innocent people away, many to their graves, and all to misery beyond imagination. Also the even more relevant application all around the world today. The thousands, probably millions in slavery today of one kind of another. Foremost the obvious slavery to sin even we in "free" countries experience and the actually shackles of many children, men, and women today. We have much we can do to help people be free humans and free souls.
I did get one night on my own, out in the woods. Spent a Friday and Sabbath at a provincial park, just praying, writing, marveling at nature. Sure I wish I had more time, but what I am given is worth it for sure.
In between traveling and well more traveling, I have been preparing what I'll bring back, calling friends around the country catching up on the year, and spending time with friends and family. The moments are precious indeed.