Sunday, May 23, 2010
Aïdokpo Nounagnon (When we are united, we can do much)
The name the group of women I work with chose for themselves. It inspired me and I was excited to write about this. When we are united, we can do much. For the past two months we have been united in saving money and the past two meetings we have been united in giving loans to each other. This week we are going to be united in planting seeds, Moringa to be exact. Please pray for these plants. If they grow, we will be able to sell the powder that can be made out of the leaves from this tree. The powder from the leaves, the flowers, and even the pods themselves all has great nutritional benefits. The grains hold most of the vitamins and minerals that need to be consumed in a day; which is why it is a great tool in fighting malnutrition in children, giving nutrients to breastfeeding women, and helping the elderly. As I look at these seeds, I think of the mustard seed faith in the Bible. I pray that this year my faith will continue to be like a mustard seed, that I can look at the things that are before me and see the great potential that is in store for them. God please see the hope that we have in you, unite us and help our group. Bless the ground and the preparation of the land that we are about to undertake. When we are united, with you, we can do much.
I miss communion. This word has multiple meanings as I have come to find out.
First, I miss fellowship. I am thirsty to pray in a circle with my friends, be it over a meal or at Bible study ending in Britta’s awesome song that I grew to love and now miss. The communion of the spirit: enjoying uplifting, encouraging, theological, challenging discussions. I miss crying, not that I want a reason to cry, but if I have one I miss being able to cry on someone’s shoulder and for them to tell me some story that will possibly lessen my pain. I feel like if I am able to cry in front of someone they should feel privileged that I was able to let my guard down in front of them. Pain is avoided at all costs here. I am not certain if they do the same with Beninese people as for me, but people are very uncomfortable if you cry here, making it sometimes hard to express when you are struggling. Maybe they have other ways of expressing it here, but I wonder sometimes if they are really suppressing it. On more than one occasion I have seen the neighbor girls and boys, younger than 12, go outside to hide their tears from arguments or painful punishments.
Okay so secondly, I miss the religious sacrament of communion. I go back and forth from attending the Catholic mass Sunday mornings (in French), to attending the little church next to my house Christian Renaissance (in Fon). I respect Catholic tradition so I have never taken communion in a Catholic church. One of the main reasons I wanted to go to a Protestant church though was that I could take communion (also I hoped the music was better). I only gained on the latter in of my wishes. When Easter rolled around I thought surely we would be taking communion together. It ended up that they would be going to a big worship service with churches from all over. The service lasted all night, which my friend forgot to mention until we were almost there. In talking with my friend at the service I asked if they were serving communion. She said yes, but she went on to say that only a certain group of select people would take it. In describing this group I am now convinced that the church is on a very Calvinistic mentality of Christianity. Those who can take communion are those who have reached the point in their spiritual walk when they no longer sin. The Holy Spirit guides them, and they no longer sin? Okay so if I have any pastors or religious leaders who read this please tell me if this is accurate because if so I think I have been committing sacrilegious acts by partaking of communion in the states. Well all this to say, two years from now will probably be the next time I take communion with my family at First Pres and it will be very special.
I am now going to risk people thinking that I am going crazy. A little while after the Easter service I had an interesting dream. I was walking through a forest and I had sat down with some friends in a clearing. It was night, and out of nowhere a lion appeared. For some reason I was not afraid, the lion was walking towards us but he did not seem all there. As he approached he was crawling army style towards us, but not in the semblance that he wanted to attack but almost as a dog seeks attention. He had a bluish, silvery glow like I would imagine a ghost to look. When he was next to the group he rose and passed through the middle and we parted for him. He left a trail of pita bread between us, and while we were wrapping our minds around what had just happened we didn’t have time to notice the lion had disappeared and a hooded man was hovering with the same bluish glow. He said take, eat and remember me. The rest of the group took and ate. For some reason, out of my Peter like motives of trying to please in the moment I told them to stop eating and that we should bless the communion by reading passages of scripture. Somehow I found myself in a dark sanctuary and someone from the group was reading from the pulpit. I ate.
First, I miss fellowship. I am thirsty to pray in a circle with my friends, be it over a meal or at Bible study ending in Britta’s awesome song that I grew to love and now miss. The communion of the spirit: enjoying uplifting, encouraging, theological, challenging discussions. I miss crying, not that I want a reason to cry, but if I have one I miss being able to cry on someone’s shoulder and for them to tell me some story that will possibly lessen my pain. I feel like if I am able to cry in front of someone they should feel privileged that I was able to let my guard down in front of them. Pain is avoided at all costs here. I am not certain if they do the same with Beninese people as for me, but people are very uncomfortable if you cry here, making it sometimes hard to express when you are struggling. Maybe they have other ways of expressing it here, but I wonder sometimes if they are really suppressing it. On more than one occasion I have seen the neighbor girls and boys, younger than 12, go outside to hide their tears from arguments or painful punishments.
Okay so secondly, I miss the religious sacrament of communion. I go back and forth from attending the Catholic mass Sunday mornings (in French), to attending the little church next to my house Christian Renaissance (in Fon). I respect Catholic tradition so I have never taken communion in a Catholic church. One of the main reasons I wanted to go to a Protestant church though was that I could take communion (also I hoped the music was better). I only gained on the latter in of my wishes. When Easter rolled around I thought surely we would be taking communion together. It ended up that they would be going to a big worship service with churches from all over. The service lasted all night, which my friend forgot to mention until we were almost there. In talking with my friend at the service I asked if they were serving communion. She said yes, but she went on to say that only a certain group of select people would take it. In describing this group I am now convinced that the church is on a very Calvinistic mentality of Christianity. Those who can take communion are those who have reached the point in their spiritual walk when they no longer sin. The Holy Spirit guides them, and they no longer sin? Okay so if I have any pastors or religious leaders who read this please tell me if this is accurate because if so I think I have been committing sacrilegious acts by partaking of communion in the states. Well all this to say, two years from now will probably be the next time I take communion with my family at First Pres and it will be very special.
I am now going to risk people thinking that I am going crazy. A little while after the Easter service I had an interesting dream. I was walking through a forest and I had sat down with some friends in a clearing. It was night, and out of nowhere a lion appeared. For some reason I was not afraid, the lion was walking towards us but he did not seem all there. As he approached he was crawling army style towards us, but not in the semblance that he wanted to attack but almost as a dog seeks attention. He had a bluish, silvery glow like I would imagine a ghost to look. When he was next to the group he rose and passed through the middle and we parted for him. He left a trail of pita bread between us, and while we were wrapping our minds around what had just happened we didn’t have time to notice the lion had disappeared and a hooded man was hovering with the same bluish glow. He said take, eat and remember me. The rest of the group took and ate. For some reason, out of my Peter like motives of trying to please in the moment I told them to stop eating and that we should bless the communion by reading passages of scripture. Somehow I found myself in a dark sanctuary and someone from the group was reading from the pulpit. I ate.
John.. dirty feet
‘Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only gut also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet but is completely clean…..
‘You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am, if I then, you Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things blessed are you if you do them.
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet but is completely clean…..
This statement was not actually deeply theological, it was a blatant fact about living in a dirty, sandy world. Africa like Egypt is full of sand. It seems impossible to keep the floors of my house clean as I have to sweep them at least once a day. When I take my bucket shower, no running water, if I forget to wear flip flops I will inevitably have dirty feet within the next 20 minutes.
I love Peter’s enthusiasm and the way he stumbles over his words. I relate to him so much; I forget that God has a plan when he is doing something that he knows the end of the story; but he does not tell us. If he told us everything where would be the lessons in which we learn how to trust him? Jesus tells him if “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” I think this has two parts. It is first a message to everyone, if God does not cleanse our spirits and wash us, if we do not let him humble himself, take off his outer garments, humiliate himself to the point of death; if we don’t let him wash us through his innumerous acts of service and excepting our inability to do nothing to be able to wash our selves than ‘we can have no share with him’. In another light, Jesus knew Peter’s spirit, his pride, his need to be in control and in the spotlight, Jesus’ go to man. By Jesus acting like the house servant, washing his feet He was lowering himself below Peter and this was hard for him to grasp. “You will never wash my feet”, you have to give it to Peter he thinks he is saying the right thing, God; you are greater I am less, how can you humble yourself below me? But again, Jesus knows the purpose and the end of the story. The bowl and the basin; the wine and the bread, they are all predecessors to the hill and the cross. He knows the story, he wrote it all so we could be in communion with him through his acts of service.
He then goes on to tell us, that we should also wash one another’s feet. I have never seen the practice of foot washing in this part of Africa, but in a sense I hope that I am practicing foot washing everyday. Through talking with children and women in local language, through helping women take care of their children and fight malnutrition, through teaching business people to better manage their money so they can hopefully find more of a monetary benefit… all in the name of foot washing. Just like Simon Peter I struggle with one statement, ‘a servant is not greater than his master nor is a master nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him’. In Benin, cultural differences are pretty strong. Every day children and adults point out that, indeed I have white skin. It is very difficult to get people to attend meetings on time if at all. My cynicism and frustration has always been a stumbling block for myself. I pray that I will keep my mind in check, so that my thoughts would be positive and would seek to love people despite our cultural differences.
‘You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am, if I then, you Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things blessed are you if you do them.
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet but is completely clean…..
This statement was not actually deeply theological, it was a blatant fact about living in a dirty, sandy world. Africa like Egypt is full of sand. It seems impossible to keep the floors of my house clean as I have to sweep them at least once a day. When I take my bucket shower, no running water, if I forget to wear flip flops I will inevitably have dirty feet within the next 20 minutes.
I love Peter’s enthusiasm and the way he stumbles over his words. I relate to him so much; I forget that God has a plan when he is doing something that he knows the end of the story; but he does not tell us. If he told us everything where would be the lessons in which we learn how to trust him? Jesus tells him if “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” I think this has two parts. It is first a message to everyone, if God does not cleanse our spirits and wash us, if we do not let him humble himself, take off his outer garments, humiliate himself to the point of death; if we don’t let him wash us through his innumerous acts of service and excepting our inability to do nothing to be able to wash our selves than ‘we can have no share with him’. In another light, Jesus knew Peter’s spirit, his pride, his need to be in control and in the spotlight, Jesus’ go to man. By Jesus acting like the house servant, washing his feet He was lowering himself below Peter and this was hard for him to grasp. “You will never wash my feet”, you have to give it to Peter he thinks he is saying the right thing, God; you are greater I am less, how can you humble yourself below me? But again, Jesus knows the purpose and the end of the story. The bowl and the basin; the wine and the bread, they are all predecessors to the hill and the cross. He knows the story, he wrote it all so we could be in communion with him through his acts of service.
He then goes on to tell us, that we should also wash one another’s feet. I have never seen the practice of foot washing in this part of Africa, but in a sense I hope that I am practicing foot washing everyday. Through talking with children and women in local language, through helping women take care of their children and fight malnutrition, through teaching business people to better manage their money so they can hopefully find more of a monetary benefit… all in the name of foot washing. Just like Simon Peter I struggle with one statement, ‘a servant is not greater than his master nor is a master nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him’. In Benin, cultural differences are pretty strong. Every day children and adults point out that, indeed I have white skin. It is very difficult to get people to attend meetings on time if at all. My cynicism and frustration has always been a stumbling block for myself. I pray that I will keep my mind in check, so that my thoughts would be positive and would seek to love people despite our cultural differences.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Hope for girls in Toffo
Problem: what if your school stopped at the freshmen year of highschool? What if the nearest school was 40 minutes away on a motorcycle which you do not have money to pay for? This is the state of things for the children in Toffo. Children who want to stay in school; finish their diploma and even possibly go on to college have to rent an apartment in Houegbo or if they are lucky they will go to live with an aunt or uncle. This is especially hard for girls because if they do decide to rent an apartment and go to school here many of them find themselves with unwanted pregnancy. The father? Usually either a teacher; sexual favors equals better grades; or another student. If you thought it was hard to get child support paid in the states do not think it is any easier in a third world country. So the result is that most girls in Toffo do not finish their diploma and probably most boys either but their chances are a little better.
Our efforts: June 20 we are holding a week long camp talking about sexual harrassment, hygeine, health and medical topics, and most of all encouraging them to stay in school. We are also taking two field trips; one to a farming school that produces and sells alot of products besides the vegetables they grow and also a trip to the national assembly. This should be an awesome experience for these girls. I am taking two from Toffo and other volunteers across southern Benin will also be taking girls from their areas. Please pray for these girls and also for myself as I think of ways to council these girls in the future.
Other news: my accounting and marketing formations are going well. I am currently working with three new trainers. We will be finishing up in the next two weeks. They are a great group and really seem to be absorbing the information. Contrary to many in their culture; they show up on time... I was so amazed one day when I showed up late because I could not find a taxi and they were all sitting waiting for me. I am kind of discouraged with one of the other trainers from the last group who had taken the course and did not follow through with finding participants. I know that he was using the information but we could not get people from his area to come.
Microfinance projects: I am so happy with the womens group in Toffo. Those who can have been continually bringing more money each week to save. We have been able to give out 6 loans. The women are also receiving loans from a local ONG. The value of their money has been increasing too as they pay fines and as interest is paid back on loans. As I may have said before, we are trying to grow moringa. Please continue to pray for our starter plants. Not many of them took; about 10percent. There is still a chance that more seeds will grow... pray that they will. One of the Catholic sisters that I work with told me that there is another Sister in another city... that wants to do the same kind of project with the women who come to her center. I will be going to visit them in a couple weeks.
Side projects:
_a local health clinic that I work with has been pestering me to help them more with accounting. I love when people are seeking to improve; the pharmacy tech who works there seems to soak up the tools that I give him.
_I also am looking to working with the radio; their accountant asked me to come help her with the computer. She makes her charts in word instead of excel which takes alot more time.
_I also gave a little advice to our president. She used to have a cook that would make european as well as African food. She only cooks african food now because he was stealing money from her. She never rehired a new cook. I am pushing her to put an ad on the radio and advertise other places too. Also, she told me that before i suggested it she had never thought of asking for references or contacts from previous employers when hiring.
Okay; i will post again sunday night. Please pray for my friend. She owns a boutique and was robbed may 8. She sells alot of stuff and almost all her stuff was stolen. Friends have given her a little money here and there but it will take her a while to build back up to what she had.
Our efforts: June 20 we are holding a week long camp talking about sexual harrassment, hygeine, health and medical topics, and most of all encouraging them to stay in school. We are also taking two field trips; one to a farming school that produces and sells alot of products besides the vegetables they grow and also a trip to the national assembly. This should be an awesome experience for these girls. I am taking two from Toffo and other volunteers across southern Benin will also be taking girls from their areas. Please pray for these girls and also for myself as I think of ways to council these girls in the future.
Other news: my accounting and marketing formations are going well. I am currently working with three new trainers. We will be finishing up in the next two weeks. They are a great group and really seem to be absorbing the information. Contrary to many in their culture; they show up on time... I was so amazed one day when I showed up late because I could not find a taxi and they were all sitting waiting for me. I am kind of discouraged with one of the other trainers from the last group who had taken the course and did not follow through with finding participants. I know that he was using the information but we could not get people from his area to come.
Microfinance projects: I am so happy with the womens group in Toffo. Those who can have been continually bringing more money each week to save. We have been able to give out 6 loans. The women are also receiving loans from a local ONG. The value of their money has been increasing too as they pay fines and as interest is paid back on loans. As I may have said before, we are trying to grow moringa. Please continue to pray for our starter plants. Not many of them took; about 10percent. There is still a chance that more seeds will grow... pray that they will. One of the Catholic sisters that I work with told me that there is another Sister in another city... that wants to do the same kind of project with the women who come to her center. I will be going to visit them in a couple weeks.
Side projects:
_a local health clinic that I work with has been pestering me to help them more with accounting. I love when people are seeking to improve; the pharmacy tech who works there seems to soak up the tools that I give him.
_I also am looking to working with the radio; their accountant asked me to come help her with the computer. She makes her charts in word instead of excel which takes alot more time.
_I also gave a little advice to our president. She used to have a cook that would make european as well as African food. She only cooks african food now because he was stealing money from her. She never rehired a new cook. I am pushing her to put an ad on the radio and advertise other places too. Also, she told me that before i suggested it she had never thought of asking for references or contacts from previous employers when hiring.
Okay; i will post again sunday night. Please pray for my friend. She owns a boutique and was robbed may 8. She sells alot of stuff and almost all her stuff was stolen. Friends have given her a little money here and there but it will take her a while to build back up to what she had.
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