“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 :)!