Mike's First Day in Benin: March 17, 2013

I thought it may be fun for my faithful blog readers and supporters to experience Arbre de Vie and life in Benin through a different set of eyes. Wojo came back from Benin this past weekend and I think it's safe to say he had an incredible time getting to know the children and spending time with Jon and Ashley. He said it well, "They're part of my family now and I'll do everything I can to help them." I know the feeling well and asked him to share some of his journey with you here. Enjoy his perspective and some pictures from his first full day in Sakete.

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Woke up and kept with my routine of reading my morning devotional and then saying a prayer after. God seems to know what to say at the right time, because His word this morning was, "Come to me for understanding, since I know you far better than you know yourself." Well God, here I am in Africa for Day 1 and it happens to be on the day where we seem to give thanks the most...Sunday!

Heading to Church in Sakete which starts at 8 and goes for 4 hrs, but we got in at about 10:30 and from the drive to the church it's my first real visual of the time and I'm just in amazement. Homes made from trees, mud, and homemade cement. The church surely won't look like that, would it? Well it did! Instead had beat up wood benches, the Pastor was behind a wood podium speaking into a microphone that blared over a megahorn. He was speaking in French and a woman next to him was translating in their native language to the others that couldn't understand French. The main message was in 3 points: When you are in front of a problem choose to engage the problem; don't run from it, Declaration of Christ, and Domination of Christians.

Once church ended all the kids came up to me and started to greet me. They were very welcoming with huge smiles on their faces. Jon and Ashley decided on bringing one person with us as a treat to lunch. The young boys name was Louis. He had such joy and wanted to ask a bunch of questions. With him knowing very little English it was a struggle for him to get questions out. So Jon and Ashley would help with translating, so he could work on speaking in English. 

After lunch we went to change out of church clothes and headed to the orphanage to see the rest of the kids. As we pull up, the kids stop what they are doing and come up to the car to make sure they greet everyone in the car, even Louis. The smiles on all their faces were priceless. Jon and Ashley showed me around the orphanage and one of the boys, Augustin, showed around what's up at the new dorm now. Once done with that, everyone gathered in the gazebo and they started out with some welcoming songs for me. The 3rd song they decided on was "This Little Light of Mine", in French of course. Once they were done with their presentation they all introduced themselves, followed by me, and then questions asked to me from them (siblings, married, girlfriend, age, how much can I lift).

 

Once we were done with that, let the games begin...Time for ultimate frisbee. Most would play the game on a flat surface with grass and with shoes on. Well they dont have that, but it didnt stop them one bit. They were running full speed, communicating with each other, and having fun on their bumpy, red dirt field with bare feet. When the games ended the kids had Sunday School with the pastor for a couple hours before dinner. After dinner Ashley broke out the gifts I got for the kids. First the "Tigerade shirts", followed by the sporting goods. The kids were in such amazement and it showed. As I was leaving Augustin was folding his shirt neatly, and Ashley asked him what he thought? His response, "Truly Great!"