Atacora Campmeeting

This past weekend was a big get together for all the Atacora region churches. There was the folks from Koutie-Tchatidoh, our church from Natitingou, the evangelist Bony from Touchountouna and a member from a church in nearby Togo. We all met at the Boukoumbé church about an hour northwest of Nati. It was a real neat experience. They area churches are trying to make a tradition of meeting at a different location every thirteenth Sabbath, as much as possible. This thirteenth Sabbath was also the day after Christmas, so everyone was together to celebrate Jesus’ birthday too, well the day we remember his birth that is. I was able to bring most of the pathfinders along. There nineteen of us, three non-pathfinders, but still young people from our church. All the kids really enjoyed it. It was a bit tiring though, as on Christmas day we stayed up with the program at the church until midnight or so. Then up at six to get ready for church. The morning church service was done by our pathfinders as well as some songs from the choirs of Koutie and Nati. I shared the message, translated of course into Ditimarri, as half the people gathered didn’t understand French. I shared about Joseph, Jesus’ earthly Father chose to risk his reputation and his whole life to accept Mary as his wife with child, and that he was used as an instrument to help bring God’s salvation to earth, and how we too can be used to share God’s salvation with others. In the afternoon there was a parade with our pathfinders marching along, and members from the others churches in tow. The kids sang loud, but by the end they were pretty tired. It was a real neat experience. I didn’t even know we’d be doing a parade, and as we marched I realized God had unexpectedly given me a great gift, as I had not been able to be in a parade yet with the pathfinders and leaving in January there were not be another change, Praise the Lord! He does beyond what we ask or imagine! We left on Sunday morning at 6:30, and arrived in Nati by 7:45. This is a dusty time of year so the dirt road drive gave all of our hair a nice red tinge! I thank God for His blessing and for the opportunity to be a part of the work here in Benin.