The Open Road

Had the chance to go out to the village of Koutie-Tchatidoh (pronounced Koo-Chey Cha-tea-doe) this week for a day.
This is my fourth trip out to this village, and it never ceases to surprise me. This time we had Jason Harral with us,
He and his family are planning to come Benin sometime in the next year or so. He got some funds to come visit
us, so he is here for a couple weeks. He took the challenge to drive the truck out on the little road to the village.
The rains are just finishing, and so the path was rough in spots, but actually the usually steep river was nice and smooth
because of the rains, so that was easier than usual. Everyother time I've come here, I have walked out. It certainly
was a little less dramatic arriving by truck, the usual two hour walk is cut to twenty or thirty minutes on the truck
so the triumph of entering the village is less, it does seem less remote too. But I was just glad to be back. We had
a nice time. Jason got sick so we came back a little early, but I had gotten the culture study information I wanted to
so that was a blessing.
On Wednesday morning Jason and I took the "Short" hike out to the fields to watch the men of the village making big
dirt mounds for planting yams. The yams here are long, white, and tubular. When cooked they become sticky, but
are delicious. The day was grey and the men were all just in their pants (except one) they muscles straining
with the work. They nearly doubled the amount of mounds in the hour and a half we were there. It was a stirring
sight, all these men working in harmony together, preparing the field for a fine crop to feed hungry families.
We were told that this field belonged to one of the men, and the next day they would got to the field of one of the other
men, thus they help each other get a lot more done than if they worked on their own. It reminded me of how
all our Adventist institutions used to be. Ellen White constantly promoted the use of hard labour as a part of the students
daily life. I can see why, physical exercise and contact with nature are unparalled in their abilitiy to grow mind and body,
well the only better thing is prayer and the Bible!
I have already been here a month in Benin, time is flying too fast. Sometimes when times are rough I think
I'd rather just go home, but as I see all God has already led through, I know the time will pass too quickly and that
I will be wishing I could stay instead of leave!
As we drove back to Natitingou, we bumped along the rough path, and then the road from the bigger village
of Takonta to Perma. At Perma we hit the open road, the smooth, new asphalt road. I guess I am kind of spoiled,
I am too used to those nice mostly smooth roads of Canada, (well except Saskatchewan, no offense, but they are pretty bad).
I've gotten used to seeing for kilometers on the straight stretches from Lacombe to Edmonton. The open road
where I can stretch my mind and eyes. Just really relaxes me. That's really how I should trust God, I can just let Him
take over. Though I may be able to see ahead, I know that the road is open, that God is going to help me get through
it all!