Hello friends,
Well over a week here in Nati and things are moving along. It's a bit challenging right now, as there is no school, thus my work with the youth is a bit hindered. But once school starts and the students return from farming, there will be some real grand things happening. Well that' s a bit deceiving, there is still are things to do and more importantly relationships to build. I am in a neighbor friendly due tocontact with the missionaries in whose home I am staying and so I am getting to know lots of people. I also made a few friends playing soccer the local high school field. I am going to try to upload pictures, but internet is not exactly picture upload friendly.
I have always thought highly of story books, it's amazing to have an intriguing title and then realize there are many more of those intriguing stories. Well I want to share a few with you.
The hat has eyes
Some children from Suzy's neighborhood, came over with me to my house for a visit. We looked at pictures and munched on some sweetbread. But they were tired and one of them decided to retire for a nap. He was soon back in the living room. I asked him why he had not slept, he said there was a hat with eyes in my room. I started to worry. But he quickly showed me my Marks Work Warehouse baseball cap that has two led lights on the brim, which I had accidently left on. It scared him, until I showed him how it worked. This really sparked my mind, something I thought was simple was yet unknown. Also that even children are aware of the spiritual qualities around, that a hat with eyes would frighten them.
Happy Marriage
A very close friend here in Nati, just got married, and I was invited. The young man has had a rough time, loosing his mother several years ago. Marriage here is so much more of a simple affair here. It's not business like, it still has much meeting, but just small. We celebrated with chocolate cake and pop in glass bottles. The ceremony was in a small courtyard conducted by the local Justice of the Peace. It was heart-warming, perhaps the simple elegance gave a more meaningful peace to the commitment than some of our services in North America.
Friends, Friends
This is more a comment than story. I been marked. Well not because of something I did, just because here for some people white skin means foreign finances. I have been inudated but there has been a few friendly people who have imparted there woes to me and implied some help. I offered what little I could, which is basically not much. You can give 25 cents to give someone a meal and then every other person in Nati is on your doorstep. But I don't mind too much, if I connect with people who want money out of me, that's better than nothing. Although it's not hopeless, most people here are genuine.
Jumping for the Bible
I was invited over by a young man last week. The man explained he always loved to talk to Europeans and such. I kindly refused an alcoholic drink and was instead supplied with cooked all natural sugared drink, which was interesting to taste. We had great conversation. After I explained I was a missionary, they were excited to talk about God. They had many questions, which I prayed silently and answered as best I could, most of them were Catholics and one was Muslim. They invited me back the next day. I was glad. The next day, they invited me back again. I informed them that this week I could spare the time but after I would be a bit busy. So we've set up a time twice a week. We did our first lesson toda. It is a simply Bible study they fill out the blanks in Bible verses. They were so excited today to have the right answers they jumped for joy. I am excited to as one woman shared she would share the study with church members. This is only a part of ministry here. My focus here on is on youth, but I am glad to have opportunities to connect with older people too.
Weeding Scars
The missionaries here are working on a culture study and decided one way to learn about the culture was to do some farming local style. They have a couple plots of land a ways from town. I was able to go and help weed this past week. Unfortunately I was not able to have a hoe since there weren't enough, so my hands were the tool of choice. My right arm has suffered since. After displaying my scars at prayer meeting that night, the others informed me I should have worn long sleeves as they did. It was a little late. The hot son during the work was well hot. But we only work in the morning so it wasn't too bad for around here, and apparently it gets hotter!
Well these are only a few stories and I am sure there will be many more. Thanks for all your prayers and God bless.
In His grip,
Eric
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Bon Arrivé
Welcome to Natitingou friends,
Or as most people would say Bon Arrivé (French keyboards may be difficult to handle but they are certainly are nice for accents!) I arrived here in Nati (the local term for Natitingou, as you may have guessed) yesterday afternoon. Suzy was there right away to get me, she said she almost missed seeing me, but one of the children in her truck pointed my bus out as it passed, thank God! It seems one of the best regulators that I am going farther from civilization is slower internet, but I know that having internet is a great privilege. Well the night went well and I went out and bought some bought some cooked rice and cheese and bread for breakfast, delicious! I am staying at one of the missionarys home, for a while as they are out on furlough, until I find a more permanent place. God bless. I hope to have pics up soon, well relatively.
In His strong grip,
Eric
Or as most people would say Bon Arrivé (French keyboards may be difficult to handle but they are certainly are nice for accents!) I arrived here in Nati (the local term for Natitingou, as you may have guessed) yesterday afternoon. Suzy was there right away to get me, she said she almost missed seeing me, but one of the children in her truck pointed my bus out as it passed, thank God! It seems one of the best regulators that I am going farther from civilization is slower internet, but I know that having internet is a great privilege. Well the night went well and I went out and bought some bought some cooked rice and cheese and bread for breakfast, delicious! I am staying at one of the missionarys home, for a while as they are out on furlough, until I find a more permanent place. God bless. I hope to have pics up soon, well relatively.
In His strong grip,
Eric
Sunday, September 14, 2008
They Call Me Yovoe
Hi friends!
Tomorrow evening will be exactly two weeks that I have been here. I am sitting in a somewhat croweded internet cafe, there is a cell phone playing the lastest French hits loudly, it was interesting to here an English tune by Celine Dion, maybe she is the best singer in the whole world! I have been spending my time here in Cotonou in Red Cross training, which by Gods grace I passed on Friday. This will definitely aid me in helping the young people up north, as the training was not only first aid but also health education, psychology of groups and such. I walked to church yesterday, which was tiring and refreshing. As I walk the streets here, the little children will usually be very exactly as I pass, calling Yovoe! Yovoe! which is the term here for white person or stranger. I really wanted to make some connections here even though this is not the exact place of my project. I was able to meet a young boy named Alfred, who was excited to know all about Canada. I have visited him the last couple days. Hopefully I can see him on a return trip here to Cotonou. I also met Prospere, who was interested in coming back with me to Canada, as most people do here. After explaining I was a missionary to the North, he surprised me by asking me that I pray for this country that the people in Benin would have peace. I assured I would and that many people in Canada were too. It really hit me as I walked to streets, people here are here, they cannot leave unless by some miraculous good fortune. Yet I, I am here for only a little while and then I am gone forever or for a while, back to my comfortable home. It is the way things are, but really makes me consider the duty I have to these people in Christ. In these two weeks God has really asked me to rely on Him. During the day I am with friends but the evenings finds me alone in my room, just myself and God, where I have felt loneliness, but realized His supreme love and care for me. I tell you this not for you to see that I am some great missionary roughin it like in old times, but to say that we are never alone, and to say praise God that I can now relate to people who though surrounded by people in a city can feel alone inside. Yet God is true, Jesu est fidele, as a song I learned during training, Jesus is always there.
God richly bless you.
In His grip,
Eric
p.s. Indeed I have alot to learn! What sounded to me as Low Voe was actually Yovoe, as Suzy pointed out to me. Good to know.
Tomorrow evening will be exactly two weeks that I have been here. I am sitting in a somewhat croweded internet cafe, there is a cell phone playing the lastest French hits loudly, it was interesting to here an English tune by Celine Dion, maybe she is the best singer in the whole world! I have been spending my time here in Cotonou in Red Cross training, which by Gods grace I passed on Friday. This will definitely aid me in helping the young people up north, as the training was not only first aid but also health education, psychology of groups and such. I walked to church yesterday, which was tiring and refreshing. As I walk the streets here, the little children will usually be very exactly as I pass, calling Yovoe! Yovoe! which is the term here for white person or stranger. I really wanted to make some connections here even though this is not the exact place of my project. I was able to meet a young boy named Alfred, who was excited to know all about Canada. I have visited him the last couple days. Hopefully I can see him on a return trip here to Cotonou. I also met Prospere, who was interested in coming back with me to Canada, as most people do here. After explaining I was a missionary to the North, he surprised me by asking me that I pray for this country that the people in Benin would have peace. I assured I would and that many people in Canada were too. It really hit me as I walked to streets, people here are here, they cannot leave unless by some miraculous good fortune. Yet I, I am here for only a little while and then I am gone forever or for a while, back to my comfortable home. It is the way things are, but really makes me consider the duty I have to these people in Christ. In these two weeks God has really asked me to rely on Him. During the day I am with friends but the evenings finds me alone in my room, just myself and God, where I have felt loneliness, but realized His supreme love and care for me. I tell you this not for you to see that I am some great missionary roughin it like in old times, but to say that we are never alone, and to say praise God that I can now relate to people who though surrounded by people in a city can feel alone inside. Yet God is true, Jesu est fidele, as a song I learned during training, Jesus is always there.
God richly bless you.
In His grip,
Eric
p.s. Indeed I have alot to learn! What sounded to me as Low Voe was actually Yovoe, as Suzy pointed out to me. Good to know.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Thanks
I just figured out I had comments. Thanks to you all. I very much appreciate your prayers. I ask you to remember the people here too. They are really in need of Christ, as we all do! God bless.
Eric
Eric
Friday, September 5, 2008
Cotonou Alive
Hi friends,
I can here the honking outside my window right now, the city is alive with motorcycles and cars. Would you bleive I forgot my pictures and since I am at an internet cafe, I cannot go back and get them, so hopefully I will have them up soon. I am a training for Pathfinders, mostly we are working on first aid and team building, so it is a great cultural introduction. I will be heading up the project next Sunday. God has provided me with some great friends here from the Adventist Church, an awesome way to sort of ease into Benin. I am excited to see Gods hand moving (pardon the grammar, I am on a french keyboard). For a few mornings the bats have woken me up real bad, but I have asked God each time to silence them and I drift off to sleep again. Little things He does. I suppose after these few days I have not seen His hand in mighty ways, that I always think about in themission field, but really I need a change of perspective. In everything God is mighty. He does not have to do mighty things, He is, that is a great comfort. I do know to that He is working in ways I cannot see, I am sure there are great things he has already done that I will not know about until eternity, that I am sure for all of us. The city is a little overwhelming, a lot of car exhausts especially when sitting on a motorcycle in the middle of traffic at a stop light. But people are used to foreigners here and they have me greatly, even when I do not know them. I tried a trick that John Kent suggested at training to learn language, ask for directions to a place you already know the way too. Everyone kindly pointed me in the right direction, but also suggested I take a semi john or motocycle taxi instead of walking, but hey I could handle on forty five minutes, being a great Outward Pursuit hiker and all(: Well I must be off, hopefully pics will be here within the week. God bless you all.
In His grip,
Eric
Almost forgot to tell you about the clothing market, this little girl mabye 2 years old came to me and held my hand in playful wonder, she said ca va, which is how are you. It was really heartwarming, It reminding me that for these children,younger and older, I am here with Christs love.
I can here the honking outside my window right now, the city is alive with motorcycles and cars. Would you bleive I forgot my pictures and since I am at an internet cafe, I cannot go back and get them, so hopefully I will have them up soon. I am a training for Pathfinders, mostly we are working on first aid and team building, so it is a great cultural introduction. I will be heading up the project next Sunday. God has provided me with some great friends here from the Adventist Church, an awesome way to sort of ease into Benin. I am excited to see Gods hand moving (pardon the grammar, I am on a french keyboard). For a few mornings the bats have woken me up real bad, but I have asked God each time to silence them and I drift off to sleep again. Little things He does. I suppose after these few days I have not seen His hand in mighty ways, that I always think about in themission field, but really I need a change of perspective. In everything God is mighty. He does not have to do mighty things, He is, that is a great comfort. I do know to that He is working in ways I cannot see, I am sure there are great things he has already done that I will not know about until eternity, that I am sure for all of us. The city is a little overwhelming, a lot of car exhausts especially when sitting on a motorcycle in the middle of traffic at a stop light. But people are used to foreigners here and they have me greatly, even when I do not know them. I tried a trick that John Kent suggested at training to learn language, ask for directions to a place you already know the way too. Everyone kindly pointed me in the right direction, but also suggested I take a semi john or motocycle taxi instead of walking, but hey I could handle on forty five minutes, being a great Outward Pursuit hiker and all(: Well I must be off, hopefully pics will be here within the week. God bless you all.
In His grip,
Eric
Almost forgot to tell you about the clothing market, this little girl mabye 2 years old came to me and held my hand in playful wonder, she said ca va, which is how are you. It was really heartwarming, It reminding me that for these children,younger and older, I am here with Christs love.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Arrival
Hi friends,
With joy I write to you of my arrival here in Benin! It was a pretty uneventful trip. I did have some excitment getting into the terminal at Cotonou, Benin's largest city and where I am staying for the first couple weeks. Had to show my vaccination record, the up to customs, but no questions, just stamp and gone. But one of my bags did not arrive with me, but such is life! Lots to see here for sure! Amazing walking or riding a motorcycle taxi and never seeing a single white person, well I have seen about five the whole day, but all in the evening. The people here are very nice. Spent most of the day at the Adventist church in pathfinder training, went well. Not much contact with mosquitoes yet, but that's alright, definitely not complaining! Take care and God bless. Oh yes and welcome back to school (especially the CUC'ers, will miss you)
In His grip,
Eric
With joy I write to you of my arrival here in Benin! It was a pretty uneventful trip. I did have some excitment getting into the terminal at Cotonou, Benin's largest city and where I am staying for the first couple weeks. Had to show my vaccination record, the up to customs, but no questions, just stamp and gone. But one of my bags did not arrive with me, but such is life! Lots to see here for sure! Amazing walking or riding a motorcycle taxi and never seeing a single white person, well I have seen about five the whole day, but all in the evening. The people here are very nice. Spent most of the day at the Adventist church in pathfinder training, went well. Not much contact with mosquitoes yet, but that's alright, definitely not complaining! Take care and God bless. Oh yes and welcome back to school (especially the CUC'ers, will miss you)
In His grip,
Eric
Thursday, August 28, 2008
To be announced
Hi friends,
No longer is my unofficial motto, "to be announced", for I have a date of departure! One step closer to a wonderful year of missions. Wonderful, of course, should not be confused with easy. It will be wonderful, but challenging and intense for sure. I am excited to heading off. It was a bit nerve racking to not have the sure date in mind, waiting for the visa, trying to pack and not knowing when the date would be, etc. So this Sunday, August 31, 2008, I will be off and away. The flight is overnight and then a 7 hour layover in Paris and then onto Benin. I was just talking with my mom today how so many people are gone for the long-weekend, "Everyone goes away for vacation on the long weekend." Then I thought, yeah me too! Just I am going a bit further for a bit longer than most indeed! For those of you reading who are starting school, or started, I do wish the best for the new school year, I pray it is a blessed one. And for everyone else, have a great year. I will be updating you as much as possible over the next year on happenings and such. I will let you know that my challenge for the first thirty days is to keep contact limited to absolute essentials. This is a way to ensure that all my focus is on getting to the people and the project. But I will most likely send one when I get there. Take care and God bless.
In His grip,
Eric
No longer is my unofficial motto, "to be announced", for I have a date of departure! One step closer to a wonderful year of missions. Wonderful, of course, should not be confused with easy. It will be wonderful, but challenging and intense for sure. I am excited to heading off. It was a bit nerve racking to not have the sure date in mind, waiting for the visa, trying to pack and not knowing when the date would be, etc. So this Sunday, August 31, 2008, I will be off and away. The flight is overnight and then a 7 hour layover in Paris and then onto Benin. I was just talking with my mom today how so many people are gone for the long-weekend, "Everyone goes away for vacation on the long weekend." Then I thought, yeah me too! Just I am going a bit further for a bit longer than most indeed! For those of you reading who are starting school, or started, I do wish the best for the new school year, I pray it is a blessed one. And for everyone else, have a great year. I will be updating you as much as possible over the next year on happenings and such. I will let you know that my challenge for the first thirty days is to keep contact limited to absolute essentials. This is a way to ensure that all my focus is on getting to the people and the project. But I will most likely send one when I get there. Take care and God bless.
In His grip,
Eric
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