"Why Men Love Ribs"
A small quick post this time, as it wasn’t too long since I’ve posted last and not much has happened since then. The only story I offer you if a funny moment that has happened between Jamie, Janna and I. I have repeatedly spoken about how much getting to know the Beninese leaders has been, but I also have really enjoyed getting to know the two of my teammates. Janna is such a strong leader. She always has things so well organized. I love her positive spirit and encouraging manner. I have learned to be more open to things and to take time to think over things from her. Jamie has got to be one of the funniest people I have ever met. I cannot go a day without smiling or laughing here because of him. Joy is inbuilt into his very essence and emits from his very being. I have learned to be more open to joy and to God’s blessings from Jamie.
A few times each week we spend time in devotions together. From this the unity of our team is building, and we are each growing in our relationship with God together. The funny moment I spoke of happened during one of our devotional times. We were speaking about the image of God and how as humans we cannot fully understand God but He shows his image in different ways. We spoke about how amazing it was for us that males can see God in one way, and how females can see Him in a different way, but these views help show more of the fullness of His image when we share with each other. We then got into this conversation about how God is so amazing because He created relationship between male and female to help us understand Him better. We then brought up an interesting moment where one of our leaders at church was trying to explain that another leader had gone over and was speaking to his fiancée. He said that that leader was Adam and that the lady was his “rib”. We spoke about this for some time and all of a sudden Jamie bursts out laughing! Janna and I confused, asked Jamie what he was laughing about. It took him some time to compose himself and then he tells us what he was thinking. He said that while we spoke about the ribs being a completion for some men, one thought came into his mind…..”OHHH That’s why Men love to eat ribs so much!!!”. We all had a great laugh about that.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Random Events and Random Thoughts
Update:
We have finished recruiting for the DRIME team and both our DRIME info meetings. The leaders have been super great in their work over the past few weeks. Although there has been so much for them to plan out and work through, they have all done things with no complaint. They are now going though the interview process to get to know the future members better and talk of the first ever DRIME Benin Bootcamp is being discussed. Everything is coming together so fast its crazy! I can’t believe I have been here for 3 whole weeks!!! As a team Jamie, Janna and I have been having devotionals together and in most of our times together we have talked a lot about the Armor of God and how every day is a spiritual battle. It has really kept us praying and trusting in God for his will to be done and for us to have protection. In seeing how things are coming together so quickly with the Base Planting, I can’t help but think that satan is not happy with the work God is doing and will begin to try and discourage our leaders as they work so hard. I ask that those of you who take the time to read this blog, will keep our leaders and the entire team to be here in Benin, in your prayers. Jamie brought out this book today called “EPIC” by John Elderidge and it talked about 3 things. One of those things is that We are at war. This war is a war that will not only bring glory to Gods name but is also a love story. This is a battle for the human heart. I think back to our last night of ministry. We were on a beach and 50 people surrendered their lives up to God. To see how God is moving here, how he is fighting so furiously and passionately for the hearts of his most prized creation. Because of this I ask for more prayers so that any attacks we get back from the evil one, will be thwarted. Thanks friends!!!! Blessings :) !
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random event number one:
Janna and I got our hair done together.
We both went to the salon together and we both spent about 11 hours sitting on wooden chairs having our hair braided.
I have never been in such a long lasting state of pain before.
It was such an interesting time. When we arrived, the place was already full. It was 8:30 in the morning! They set us up on the side of the building because all of the inside and the front porch area were filled by customers already. Not more than one and a half braids in for the two of us, it began to rain. Heavy Rain! I don’t really know how to explain it to someone who hasn’t seen African rain, but it is what I picture the rains being when God flooded the world during Noah’s time! So as the rain started to pour, the girls working on our hair stood us up, picked up our chairs and extensions and we al rushed to a little covering on the side. This covering may have stopped the rain from pouring straight down on our heads it however did not protect us from the wind which blew the rain onto the rest of our bodies. After a few hours of rain and watching the water in front of us pool up and flow like a river, the rain stopped. It was nice at first, but all of a sudden the sun was shining bright in the sky and instead of the two of us being poured on, we were being beat by the hot rays of the sun. Although we were still under a covering, the heat from the sun scorched any part of our bodies that were exposed. As the day went on and the sun moved, the girls doing our hair would rotate the chair just to get us out of the sun. It was quite humorous. Where Janna was sitting however seemed to be impossible for keeping her out of the sun, so the girls decided to move her completely. They picked up her chair, all her extensions and they all moved across the street to a cement patch by another building much bigger and that shed a lot more shade. Nearing the end of our hair braiding experience, of course it ends the same way it began. As Janna was sitting outside in the open air, it began to rain again! So her and the girls that were doing her hair picked up everything and ran back for cover. All in all it was a pretty interesting day which ended with great pain on our heads, frowning faces but GORGEOUS hair.
Random event number two:
Did you know….Janna can’t whistle? It’s nothing to be ashamed of but I felt the need to help her learn how. This desire to make her learn slowly turned from a mission to help, to a mission to laugh. What do I mean? Well, I guess you would have to say that Jamie and I had more fun than we should have trying to teach Janna to whistle. First, I thought it would be funny to try and have Janna learn how to hold her lips properly while whistling. This soon become more entertaining than educational. I eventually told her that puckering her lips and trying to kiss my hand would be the best way to learn. So I sat there and Janna puckered away and tried to kiss my hand while I continually moved it away from her lips every time she tried. Next Jamie thought he had a better way of learning to pucker. He told Janna that it helps if she put her tongue between her top teeth and her upper lip. So Janna begins to hold her tongue there and blow but this was short lived because Jamie and I couldn’t hold in the laughter for too long. All in all, Janna still doesn’t know how to whistle, and she probably will never learn while in Benin here with us.
Random event number three:
Laundry is bitter sweet. So we all share the work in keeping things together here, and often enough we divide up the chores as best as possible. I happen to not mind (even like) washing clothes by hand so I was happily given this task. There is something peaceful about sitting on our roof as the sun is rising, washing clothes and singing to my Jesus. This is the sweet part. The bitter part I have discovered is that, the more you wash, the softer your skin gets, the easier your skin rubs off!!! I now have skin that has been rubbed and cut open on four of my five fingers on my right hand just because of washing our clothes. This my friends is the BITTER part of laundry. Random….I know.
Random event number four:
Jamie is a night owl. he like myself, doesn’t go to bed early or wake up late. The only thing about Jamie is, he can’t seem to stay awake for anyyyyy movie we watch. It’s actually quite humorous. He never objects to watching a movie but without fail Janna and I look over to always find him fast asleep. And this is not just the slight dozing off that a lot of people when they are tired and watching a movie. This is full out knocked out sleeping and even more so, the second the movie is over Jamie is awake and ready to face the day (night)! It’s just so funny because he sleeps during EVERY movie!
Random event number five:
I got a call from my dad the other day and as I was discussing with him in the kitchen while Jamie was going for a cookie. I was chuckling to myself a bit because Jamie jumped back because what Jamie calls a “Giant Ant of Doom” came out from our cookie jar. This chuckle didn’t last very long at all as a GIANT cockroach came sauntering out of our cupboard. While still on the phone and as my dad was in mid-sentence, I shout “COCKROACH, COCKROACH, JAMIE KILL IT!” On the other end of the line my dad, not impressed by my extreme lack of courage says “Why don’t YOU kill?!” and cleverly I respond by saying “Why do I have to kill it?! Jamie’s here!”.
Oh....Jamie Got his hair braided too!!! hhhahahah j/k
Update:
We have finished recruiting for the DRIME team and both our DRIME info meetings. The leaders have been super great in their work over the past few weeks. Although there has been so much for them to plan out and work through, they have all done things with no complaint. They are now going though the interview process to get to know the future members better and talk of the first ever DRIME Benin Bootcamp is being discussed. Everything is coming together so fast its crazy! I can’t believe I have been here for 3 whole weeks!!! As a team Jamie, Janna and I have been having devotionals together and in most of our times together we have talked a lot about the Armor of God and how every day is a spiritual battle. It has really kept us praying and trusting in God for his will to be done and for us to have protection. In seeing how things are coming together so quickly with the Base Planting, I can’t help but think that satan is not happy with the work God is doing and will begin to try and discourage our leaders as they work so hard. I ask that those of you who take the time to read this blog, will keep our leaders and the entire team to be here in Benin, in your prayers. Jamie brought out this book today called “EPIC” by John Elderidge and it talked about 3 things. One of those things is that We are at war. This war is a war that will not only bring glory to Gods name but is also a love story. This is a battle for the human heart. I think back to our last night of ministry. We were on a beach and 50 people surrendered their lives up to God. To see how God is moving here, how he is fighting so furiously and passionately for the hearts of his most prized creation. Because of this I ask for more prayers so that any attacks we get back from the evil one, will be thwarted. Thanks friends!!!! Blessings :) !
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random event number one:
Janna and I got our hair done together.
We both went to the salon together and we both spent about 11 hours sitting on wooden chairs having our hair braided.
I have never been in such a long lasting state of pain before.
It was such an interesting time. When we arrived, the place was already full. It was 8:30 in the morning! They set us up on the side of the building because all of the inside and the front porch area were filled by customers already. Not more than one and a half braids in for the two of us, it began to rain. Heavy Rain! I don’t really know how to explain it to someone who hasn’t seen African rain, but it is what I picture the rains being when God flooded the world during Noah’s time! So as the rain started to pour, the girls working on our hair stood us up, picked up our chairs and extensions and we al rushed to a little covering on the side. This covering may have stopped the rain from pouring straight down on our heads it however did not protect us from the wind which blew the rain onto the rest of our bodies. After a few hours of rain and watching the water in front of us pool up and flow like a river, the rain stopped. It was nice at first, but all of a sudden the sun was shining bright in the sky and instead of the two of us being poured on, we were being beat by the hot rays of the sun. Although we were still under a covering, the heat from the sun scorched any part of our bodies that were exposed. As the day went on and the sun moved, the girls doing our hair would rotate the chair just to get us out of the sun. It was quite humorous. Where Janna was sitting however seemed to be impossible for keeping her out of the sun, so the girls decided to move her completely. They picked up her chair, all her extensions and they all moved across the street to a cement patch by another building much bigger and that shed a lot more shade. Nearing the end of our hair braiding experience, of course it ends the same way it began. As Janna was sitting outside in the open air, it began to rain again! So her and the girls that were doing her hair picked up everything and ran back for cover. All in all it was a pretty interesting day which ended with great pain on our heads, frowning faces but GORGEOUS hair.
Random event number two:
Did you know….Janna can’t whistle? It’s nothing to be ashamed of but I felt the need to help her learn how. This desire to make her learn slowly turned from a mission to help, to a mission to laugh. What do I mean? Well, I guess you would have to say that Jamie and I had more fun than we should have trying to teach Janna to whistle. First, I thought it would be funny to try and have Janna learn how to hold her lips properly while whistling. This soon become more entertaining than educational. I eventually told her that puckering her lips and trying to kiss my hand would be the best way to learn. So I sat there and Janna puckered away and tried to kiss my hand while I continually moved it away from her lips every time she tried. Next Jamie thought he had a better way of learning to pucker. He told Janna that it helps if she put her tongue between her top teeth and her upper lip. So Janna begins to hold her tongue there and blow but this was short lived because Jamie and I couldn’t hold in the laughter for too long. All in all, Janna still doesn’t know how to whistle, and she probably will never learn while in Benin here with us.
Random event number three:
Laundry is bitter sweet. So we all share the work in keeping things together here, and often enough we divide up the chores as best as possible. I happen to not mind (even like) washing clothes by hand so I was happily given this task. There is something peaceful about sitting on our roof as the sun is rising, washing clothes and singing to my Jesus. This is the sweet part. The bitter part I have discovered is that, the more you wash, the softer your skin gets, the easier your skin rubs off!!! I now have skin that has been rubbed and cut open on four of my five fingers on my right hand just because of washing our clothes. This my friends is the BITTER part of laundry. Random….I know.
Random event number four:
Jamie is a night owl. he like myself, doesn’t go to bed early or wake up late. The only thing about Jamie is, he can’t seem to stay awake for anyyyyy movie we watch. It’s actually quite humorous. He never objects to watching a movie but without fail Janna and I look over to always find him fast asleep. And this is not just the slight dozing off that a lot of people when they are tired and watching a movie. This is full out knocked out sleeping and even more so, the second the movie is over Jamie is awake and ready to face the day (night)! It’s just so funny because he sleeps during EVERY movie!
Random event number five:
I got a call from my dad the other day and as I was discussing with him in the kitchen while Jamie was going for a cookie. I was chuckling to myself a bit because Jamie jumped back because what Jamie calls a “Giant Ant of Doom” came out from our cookie jar. This chuckle didn’t last very long at all as a GIANT cockroach came sauntering out of our cupboard. While still on the phone and as my dad was in mid-sentence, I shout “COCKROACH, COCKROACH, JAMIE KILL IT!” On the other end of the line my dad, not impressed by my extreme lack of courage says “Why don’t YOU kill?!” and cleverly I respond by saying “Why do I have to kill it?! Jamie’s here!”.
Oh....Jamie Got his hair braided too!!! hhhahahah j/k
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Well of Life
Imagine yourself walking in a desert. A scorching hot desert. Your camel just died, you haven’t eaten for days and this very fact seems incomparable to the other fact that you are so very thirsty. The heat from the sun feels like little daggers cutting through your skin as your natural milky smoothness becomes a new blistering surface. The day before, you felt like you could not go on anymore, but somehow you have made it to today where you truly feel like this is the end. You sink to the ground and review your life for the last time. You think of your happiest moments, your saddest, you think about how you hate sand, all the things you are proud of and all your shames. Your mouth is unable to salivate and the chalkiness is unbearable so you begin to close your eyes and hope that as you fade away into a deep sleep, that you will not wake up…..
Your dreams are shattered as you feel a small bit of shade and then something on your shoulder. You muster the strength to open your eyes and as you peer up, you see the figure of a man who has outstretched His hand on your shoulder. You think to yourself, “Oh, great! Not another mirage.” The figure then kneels down to you and pulls out a sheepskin and holds it to your mouth. All of a sudden it is as if life itself is being poured into your being from the sheepskin. The wet, cold and moist liquid not only caresses your mouth but also somewhat soothes the rest of your body. The idea of the man being a hallucination is destroyed at this very moment. The only thing this moment can be is ‘real’. The mystery man then picks you up and proceeds to carry you on his back. He begins to walk. The walk seems to have gone on forever. The man had begun to walk way before the sun was at its highest point and now it was dark out. The heat of the day was excruciating but not overwhelming for you because you didn’t have to use any of your own strength. Finally the man stops and carries you in his arms to a canopied area and places you on a cot (which happens to be far more comfortable than the sand you have been sleeping on). He pulls out the sheepskin bottle he had been using all day to slowly rehydrate you with and he walks over to a well nearby. He slowly pulls up the dangling bucket filled with the same refreshing substance and he refills the sheepskin. He then walks back to you and as he hands you the bag of water that seemed to bring you back to life, he gentle tells you to “rest”. As he walks away you muster up as much strength as you can to softly ask “Why?” The man turns and smiles and replies saying, “Because you needed my help. I have a lifetime supply of water in that one well, why not share it?” At that he walks away and you roll over in your cot to try and get comfy. As you face the inside of the canopied area you see even more cots laid out and filled with many others. The man laying beside you smiles and says to you, “Everyday he goes out and everyday He returns with someone. After he offers you what you need, he gives you the option of staying for as long as you choose. If you do stay, you’ll never thirst again!”
For some reason, this is the picture that has popped out in my mind after being here in Benin for only 9 days. I have done lots of ministry with the newly chosen Benin leaders and have had two team meetings with them as well. These are 4 Beninese natives who have a passion for spreading the good news to their own people. People they don’t know personally, and have never met. They however strongly believe that they have a truth, love and life that their people need to really live. So it is as if they trudge away from their comfort area where the “well” is situated, to travel out just so they can give their people a taste of a water they may never have tasted before. I have been out there with them only a few days but doing 4 days straight of ministry I see how people react. Ministry here is different than with DRIME Vancouver. The leaders translate the dramas in Fon and French while the dramas are being performed! There are some people who laugh out loud who make the job of both the performers and the translators somewhat difficult. Some people in the crowd focus their attention on them instead of what is being shared with them. The leaders here however are so determined to get the good news out. They are not phased by what is going on, only driven by what God is doing in them. They are like the man in the story that leaves his well and heads back into the hot desert in search of anyone who may need a drop of water. The water of the good news however always proves to be more desired than the words of the heckling audience members. As I stated in my last blog, God is so good and is really working here in Benin. Every time we go out to minister, at least 10 people give their lives over to Christ (ad that is a very low estimate!). In this post however, I wanted to put a challenge out to the few who do read this blog. I am in a country right now that is not only surrounded by spiritual darkness but also physical poverty and yet there are people here who don’t allow these things to discourage or hinder their desire to do Gods work. I know as North American Christians we hear it a lot that we have more and we shouldn’t have a problem with giving of our time and ourselves because we have more of a comfortable existence but I myself as a student and former Trinity student know how its not always that easy to believe or do. Being here I see that you do not need anything but God to do God’s work (to live in fact). The 4 people that have been chosen to be leaders of the new DRIME base here in Benin have a passion to follow God that nothing else matters. This is my challenge for you. If you ever feel like you are being pulled to do something for God, or like God is calling you to do something, don’t allow the challenges of this world to become greater than God. I feel like often enough humans limit the work God can do in our lives because we don’t even try to allow it to happen. Being in Benin I am seeing people who don’t have the resources Canada has, and yet they head out to do ministry with such strong faith, they lead events with such enthusiasm and hope because they put their all in what God can do, not what they can do. I want to pass on encouragement to you today because I have been encouraged as well. It doesn’t matter who you are or how much you have, God is greater than it all. If He is calling to you, don’t block Him out with worry and stress and what you think you know about the way things work. All I know is that I wouldn’t be here if all my worries and fears came true. I know that the DRIME Benin team wouldn’t be touching so many lives, and moving along so fast if they didn’t fully open themselves up to what they know God can do. And I know that, what ever God is calling one of you to do He can do it and you don’t need to worry. Let Him work in your life. Let Him do big things in your life. Let Him bless you by using you in ways you could never imagine! Be Blessed friends!!!!
Your dreams are shattered as you feel a small bit of shade and then something on your shoulder. You muster the strength to open your eyes and as you peer up, you see the figure of a man who has outstretched His hand on your shoulder. You think to yourself, “Oh, great! Not another mirage.” The figure then kneels down to you and pulls out a sheepskin and holds it to your mouth. All of a sudden it is as if life itself is being poured into your being from the sheepskin. The wet, cold and moist liquid not only caresses your mouth but also somewhat soothes the rest of your body. The idea of the man being a hallucination is destroyed at this very moment. The only thing this moment can be is ‘real’. The mystery man then picks you up and proceeds to carry you on his back. He begins to walk. The walk seems to have gone on forever. The man had begun to walk way before the sun was at its highest point and now it was dark out. The heat of the day was excruciating but not overwhelming for you because you didn’t have to use any of your own strength. Finally the man stops and carries you in his arms to a canopied area and places you on a cot (which happens to be far more comfortable than the sand you have been sleeping on). He pulls out the sheepskin bottle he had been using all day to slowly rehydrate you with and he walks over to a well nearby. He slowly pulls up the dangling bucket filled with the same refreshing substance and he refills the sheepskin. He then walks back to you and as he hands you the bag of water that seemed to bring you back to life, he gentle tells you to “rest”. As he walks away you muster up as much strength as you can to softly ask “Why?” The man turns and smiles and replies saying, “Because you needed my help. I have a lifetime supply of water in that one well, why not share it?” At that he walks away and you roll over in your cot to try and get comfy. As you face the inside of the canopied area you see even more cots laid out and filled with many others. The man laying beside you smiles and says to you, “Everyday he goes out and everyday He returns with someone. After he offers you what you need, he gives you the option of staying for as long as you choose. If you do stay, you’ll never thirst again!”
For some reason, this is the picture that has popped out in my mind after being here in Benin for only 9 days. I have done lots of ministry with the newly chosen Benin leaders and have had two team meetings with them as well. These are 4 Beninese natives who have a passion for spreading the good news to their own people. People they don’t know personally, and have never met. They however strongly believe that they have a truth, love and life that their people need to really live. So it is as if they trudge away from their comfort area where the “well” is situated, to travel out just so they can give their people a taste of a water they may never have tasted before. I have been out there with them only a few days but doing 4 days straight of ministry I see how people react. Ministry here is different than with DRIME Vancouver. The leaders translate the dramas in Fon and French while the dramas are being performed! There are some people who laugh out loud who make the job of both the performers and the translators somewhat difficult. Some people in the crowd focus their attention on them instead of what is being shared with them. The leaders here however are so determined to get the good news out. They are not phased by what is going on, only driven by what God is doing in them. They are like the man in the story that leaves his well and heads back into the hot desert in search of anyone who may need a drop of water. The water of the good news however always proves to be more desired than the words of the heckling audience members. As I stated in my last blog, God is so good and is really working here in Benin. Every time we go out to minister, at least 10 people give their lives over to Christ (ad that is a very low estimate!). In this post however, I wanted to put a challenge out to the few who do read this blog. I am in a country right now that is not only surrounded by spiritual darkness but also physical poverty and yet there are people here who don’t allow these things to discourage or hinder their desire to do Gods work. I know as North American Christians we hear it a lot that we have more and we shouldn’t have a problem with giving of our time and ourselves because we have more of a comfortable existence but I myself as a student and former Trinity student know how its not always that easy to believe or do. Being here I see that you do not need anything but God to do God’s work (to live in fact). The 4 people that have been chosen to be leaders of the new DRIME base here in Benin have a passion to follow God that nothing else matters. This is my challenge for you. If you ever feel like you are being pulled to do something for God, or like God is calling you to do something, don’t allow the challenges of this world to become greater than God. I feel like often enough humans limit the work God can do in our lives because we don’t even try to allow it to happen. Being in Benin I am seeing people who don’t have the resources Canada has, and yet they head out to do ministry with such strong faith, they lead events with such enthusiasm and hope because they put their all in what God can do, not what they can do. I want to pass on encouragement to you today because I have been encouraged as well. It doesn’t matter who you are or how much you have, God is greater than it all. If He is calling to you, don’t block Him out with worry and stress and what you think you know about the way things work. All I know is that I wouldn’t be here if all my worries and fears came true. I know that the DRIME Benin team wouldn’t be touching so many lives, and moving along so fast if they didn’t fully open themselves up to what they know God can do. And I know that, what ever God is calling one of you to do He can do it and you don’t need to worry. Let Him work in your life. Let Him do big things in your life. Let Him bless you by using you in ways you could never imagine! Be Blessed friends!!!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
“So I have Arrived!”
Hello blog followers (aka friend and family :)!). I am happy to inform you that I have arrived safely to Cotonou, Benin, West Africa. WHOOHOO! The journey out here was quite an intense one. We started off with an 8 hour flight to Amsterdam. Everything went well and I slept for most of it (Thank you Gravel!!!). Upon arriving to Amsterdam, Michele and I had decided that since we had a long, long LONG layover in Amsterdam, we would go explore! So we hopped on the train and headed into town (which mind you took us a long time to find :p). One really neat thing about Amsterdam was the fact that mostly everyone rode bikes there. While waiting to cross any street, we were not looking out for cars, we were looking out for bikes and scooters! Also, Amsterdam is quite beautiful! I really fell in love with the canals and bridges that populated the town. Although we walked around the town for about 2 hours (and I would like to add both Michele and I had very heavy backpacks on!) without finding any interesting shops to go into, we really got a feel of the town. Everything was quite peaceful and very quite. I thought it would be a nice place to come back to visit to just rest and relax.
Anyways Michele and I had one night in Amsterdam and an afternoon flight the next day to Paris. Paris was very…..French? We didn’t spend much time there to know how it really was because we had to hop on another plane that would take us to our final destination: Cotonou. I know that two and a half days of travelling doesn’t sound too long……..but it is! Upon arriving in Cotonou, I was just ready to sleep. But of course actually getting out of the airport would take longer than it ever should. Michele and I had said a few prayers that all our bags would arrive safely because of last minute changes to put our bags straight through instead of having to pick them up in Amsterdam and recheck them. All our bags arrived, Praise the Lord, but about 45 minutes after bags started being brought out. Thank God that all went well.
Getting to my new home for the next two months was also great because not only did I get to see my team again after 3 months, but it was also such a joy giving them the gifts everyone had sent them. They were like children on Christmas morning! Thank you all who sent them little touches of home, because of you they are smiling bigger and our cupboards are now filled with so many Oreo Cookies even I get to share in the love!!!
In the last couple two days (May 6th and 7th) we have been doing ministry. On the sixth we were in the main town, and on the seventh we were in a little village called Foncoumey. Each time has been quite the experience because it is such a different dynamic. It is so difficult for me to explain this experience. But I will try my best. It is so amazing that every time we stepped out to minister, the people would come and would become so interactive. They would make sound effects and respond verbally to each situation. On top of that the ministry with DRIME is a little different. We have people speaking to the crowd while we perform explaining them the details of each drama. Back home in Canada this isn’t the most effective way of ministering. People take offense and feel pressured. Here, so many are either willing or longing to know about this “Jesus” we speak of time and time again, and having the visuals of the dramas seem to be making such an impact. I truly believe that the images they are taking in are becoming embedded into their minds and the talking which occurred during dramas just echoes this message into their hearts. Each time we have done ministry, people have given their lives to God. Guys, GOD IS REALLY WORKING HERE! I think it was so important for me to come later into this trip because I heard about the marvelous things God was doing and He showed me that He was at work and He didn’t NEED me to come. Being here now, I am just so blessed that God has chosen me to be used and even more so, I am here knowing that God came before me. I wanted to say thank you to all who have been praying for me, the team and the people of Benin. Please continue to do so. In you reading this blog however, I not only hope to leave you with a brief update as to how things are going over here so that you know and can even pray more, but also to allow you to be part of this team (BECAUSE YOU ARE!) We are all children of God and He calls us all in many different ways. No job is too small or insignificant. Remember God doesn’t need us….He can do it all by himself. He chooses however to bless us in many ways. For those of you reading this blog, your prayers are so much a part of this mission. I desire that every time you read this blog you may too go away connected to the actual events happening here, but the spiritual events God has for us.
God is showing me how amazing He is. HE IS SOOO AMAZING…..Just so you know hahah! I know people always say that God answers prayers, but guys, HE REALLY DOES! I share this with you so that you would grab a hold of this truth and test it. Our God is an awesome God, mighty to save which we all believe. He does miracles and CAN move mountains. Do you believe this? I know this seems like a very random rant but it is so relevant to this trip. I would not be here if God did not answer prayers. I would not be here if God was not the God who performs miracles to this day! The people of Benin whose lives are deeply rooted in VOODOO, would NOT be listening to the message we bring, if our God was not SO AMAZING! They would not be asking us how they can know Jesus if our God was not A GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYERS. AND they would NOT be turning their lives that are soo filled with satan over to God, IF OUR GOD WAS NOT A GOD OF MIRACLES!!!!!! If you are to get anything from THIS post, let it not be how beautiful Amsterdam was, or how French Paris is, or even how ridiculously long it takes to get your bags in the Cotonou airport. Please hold on to, consume and digest the TRUTH that our God is AMAZING! The good work he is doing here in Benin are answers to prayers that you all have made. The good work He is doing here, He too can do for you! Just let go of your doubts, believe and leannnnnnn on Him!
That is all I can say for now……..hope you feel caught up and connected! Blessings :)!
Hello blog followers (aka friend and family :)!). I am happy to inform you that I have arrived safely to Cotonou, Benin, West Africa. WHOOHOO! The journey out here was quite an intense one. We started off with an 8 hour flight to Amsterdam. Everything went well and I slept for most of it (Thank you Gravel!!!). Upon arriving to Amsterdam, Michele and I had decided that since we had a long, long LONG layover in Amsterdam, we would go explore! So we hopped on the train and headed into town (which mind you took us a long time to find :p). One really neat thing about Amsterdam was the fact that mostly everyone rode bikes there. While waiting to cross any street, we were not looking out for cars, we were looking out for bikes and scooters! Also, Amsterdam is quite beautiful! I really fell in love with the canals and bridges that populated the town. Although we walked around the town for about 2 hours (and I would like to add both Michele and I had very heavy backpacks on!) without finding any interesting shops to go into, we really got a feel of the town. Everything was quite peaceful and very quite. I thought it would be a nice place to come back to visit to just rest and relax.
Anyways Michele and I had one night in Amsterdam and an afternoon flight the next day to Paris. Paris was very…..French? We didn’t spend much time there to know how it really was because we had to hop on another plane that would take us to our final destination: Cotonou. I know that two and a half days of travelling doesn’t sound too long……..but it is! Upon arriving in Cotonou, I was just ready to sleep. But of course actually getting out of the airport would take longer than it ever should. Michele and I had said a few prayers that all our bags would arrive safely because of last minute changes to put our bags straight through instead of having to pick them up in Amsterdam and recheck them. All our bags arrived, Praise the Lord, but about 45 minutes after bags started being brought out. Thank God that all went well.
Getting to my new home for the next two months was also great because not only did I get to see my team again after 3 months, but it was also such a joy giving them the gifts everyone had sent them. They were like children on Christmas morning! Thank you all who sent them little touches of home, because of you they are smiling bigger and our cupboards are now filled with so many Oreo Cookies even I get to share in the love!!!
In the last couple two days (May 6th and 7th) we have been doing ministry. On the sixth we were in the main town, and on the seventh we were in a little village called Foncoumey. Each time has been quite the experience because it is such a different dynamic. It is so difficult for me to explain this experience. But I will try my best. It is so amazing that every time we stepped out to minister, the people would come and would become so interactive. They would make sound effects and respond verbally to each situation. On top of that the ministry with DRIME is a little different. We have people speaking to the crowd while we perform explaining them the details of each drama. Back home in Canada this isn’t the most effective way of ministering. People take offense and feel pressured. Here, so many are either willing or longing to know about this “Jesus” we speak of time and time again, and having the visuals of the dramas seem to be making such an impact. I truly believe that the images they are taking in are becoming embedded into their minds and the talking which occurred during dramas just echoes this message into their hearts. Each time we have done ministry, people have given their lives to God. Guys, GOD IS REALLY WORKING HERE! I think it was so important for me to come later into this trip because I heard about the marvelous things God was doing and He showed me that He was at work and He didn’t NEED me to come. Being here now, I am just so blessed that God has chosen me to be used and even more so, I am here knowing that God came before me. I wanted to say thank you to all who have been praying for me, the team and the people of Benin. Please continue to do so. In you reading this blog however, I not only hope to leave you with a brief update as to how things are going over here so that you know and can even pray more, but also to allow you to be part of this team (BECAUSE YOU ARE!) We are all children of God and He calls us all in many different ways. No job is too small or insignificant. Remember God doesn’t need us….He can do it all by himself. He chooses however to bless us in many ways. For those of you reading this blog, your prayers are so much a part of this mission. I desire that every time you read this blog you may too go away connected to the actual events happening here, but the spiritual events God has for us.
God is showing me how amazing He is. HE IS SOOO AMAZING…..Just so you know hahah! I know people always say that God answers prayers, but guys, HE REALLY DOES! I share this with you so that you would grab a hold of this truth and test it. Our God is an awesome God, mighty to save which we all believe. He does miracles and CAN move mountains. Do you believe this? I know this seems like a very random rant but it is so relevant to this trip. I would not be here if God did not answer prayers. I would not be here if God was not the God who performs miracles to this day! The people of Benin whose lives are deeply rooted in VOODOO, would NOT be listening to the message we bring, if our God was not SO AMAZING! They would not be asking us how they can know Jesus if our God was not A GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYERS. AND they would NOT be turning their lives that are soo filled with satan over to God, IF OUR GOD WAS NOT A GOD OF MIRACLES!!!!!! If you are to get anything from THIS post, let it not be how beautiful Amsterdam was, or how French Paris is, or even how ridiculously long it takes to get your bags in the Cotonou airport. Please hold on to, consume and digest the TRUTH that our God is AMAZING! The good work he is doing here in Benin are answers to prayers that you all have made. The good work He is doing here, He too can do for you! Just let go of your doubts, believe and leannnnnnn on Him!
That is all I can say for now……..hope you feel caught up and connected! Blessings :)!
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