Mike's Perspective: Last Day & Tree of Life Takeover

Here are some of Mike's thoughts about his last day in Sakete with Arbre de Vie...for now!

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"Abundance is at the very heart of who HE is. Come to Him with open hands and heart, ready to receive all I have for you." Well HE had something in store for me today, especially after eating "Mystery Meat" last night one more time. Let's just say without getting into too much detail, it gave me "Bubble Guts." The day has come and it's the last afternoon I am getting to spend here. Starting the day out with a morning run with Ashley which turned out to be interesting due to the fact of the "Bubble Guts." Ashley was fortunate to be the one to give me "THE HARDEST RUN EVER." I was so dehydrated starting out the run and as we kept going it got worse. I couldn't stop though, had a woman running next to me who takes on the challenge daily of having to provide for 30 kids under conditions that most would fold under. Her strength, drive, and willpower became my drive in order to finish the run with her. Although we did make a pit stop as she went up to a complete stranger and asked for water for me... Without hesitation the man provided, and I truly believe that God was in his heart for doing that.

(the kids in the shirts Papa Blackie made for them!)

Once we got back to Ashley and Jon's and I finally rehyrdated myself somewhat we went to the orpahange so I could spend time with the kids a little more before heading to the airport. Today the kids spent the afternoon coloring and writing letters to their TATA Jill and others. One of the boys (David), got a surprise when his biological mom and brother showed up to pay a visit. To see the joy on his face when they arrived was priceless. I personally lost sight at a point in my life knowing how important family is. I have since found that again, but being here has made me want to take it to an even greater level. I say, "Don't be average, be different"! Well, I need to apply that to my life when it comes to my family. Don't do enough just to get by, but do something different that sets us apart.

(Mariano coloring a picture for his sponsors, the Janes family from Texas!)

As the time came to start saying goodbye, I made sure those words didn't come out of my mouth. I made sure I said, "I'll See You Soon" because I will, that's a promise. We loaded up and took off for the airport. Jon and Ashley brought Emmanuel and Dossou with us to see me off. On the way I decided to take a picture of the toll as we were crossing thinking nothing of it. Well apparently the military officer standing guard with his M-16 thought something of it. As he pounded on the car window wanting my camera, and Ashley and Jon telling me not to give it or just take the sim card out. I popped the camera open while Jon and Ashley are going back and forth with the officer the sim card pops out flying down to the floor. I am about to hand the camera over when another officer comes by and says don't do it again and they let us go. For a brief moment there was a sense of panic, me not understanding the words exchanged and not me mention an m-16 right beside me...put a little fear in me!

(Augustin, TonTon Mike, Adolphe, Dossou, & Femi)

We made it though and got a chance to stop at the art market before going to the airport. Grabbed some souviners for family back in the States. We also stopped at a supermarket in Cotonou. The boys walked in all wide eyed, never seeing anything like it before. To us its nothing special, but to them it was like a kid in the candy store. As Ashley, Jon, and the boys dropped me off at the airport I couldn't help but to think back to this mornings devotional, "Abundance is at the very heart of who HE is. Come to him with open hands and heart, ready to recieve all I have for you."

"See you later, Louis!"

How true that statement is! It started with me just bringing up how I wanted to go help in Africa, to Jill's dad. He told me Jill was on her way back from Africa and when she got back we could meet and discuss it. Well that's what happened, in a Starbucks in Broken Arrow my hands and heart were open...and I received the gift of "TREE OF LIFE".

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Mike, whom I lovingly call "The Wojster", has become a great friend to me and my family. Since he's been home from Benin, he has reignited a spark to "DO WORK" in the States for my family in Benin! Day to day life kind of gets in the way, and I have a job that I try to always give 100% of myself to on a daily basis, so some ideas and plans I've had for Arbre de Vie have taken the backburner while getting things in order with the craziness of life over the past few months. But, I am settled here at GG's house and you better believe, I'm ready for our "Tree of Life Takeover", as we call it!! Since Mike is so well known in the community because of his work with our athletic department in Broken Arrow, he contacted a writer for our newspaper and they wrote a great article last week about his time in Benin with Arbre de Vie. The article can be viewed here: Broken Arrow Ledger Link 

It is crazy how life works out...I mean, I LOVE it but you never know what will happen. I mean, a guy I'd never met until October went over to Benin on his spring break and has become part of my family here in Broken Arrow and part of my family in Benin. It's a crazy thing and amazing to think about how everyone's journey can be changed by one little meeting at a Starbucks. I know Mike's life will never be the same because of his time in Benin and I know he will continue to work effortlessly to change the lives of our kids in Benin and because of that, THEIR lives will never be the same. Love it.

You are the One who set us all in motion, 

Yours is the glory!!

surrender.

Well, here I am.

Sitting in my house. My room is entirely empty except for my mattress. My closet is empty. The bathroom drawers are empty. My kitchen is bare. There is a small pile of items to be taken to storage in my living room. The front half of the house is spotlessly clean thanks to my mom and GG.

It is just me here.

Here alone and my mind is wandering…

What will my life look like the next time I spend the night in this room? For all I know it could be later this year. It could also very well be years from now…

What will my life look like then? The next time I unpack these boxes that are stored away. I have no idea. Honestly. I have NO idea if I’ll ever live in this house again. I have no idea where my next “home” in the United States may be. Or IF I'll ever have a home in the United States again. As my mind has wandered, I have found my heart getting a little sad and anxious, all at the same time. Which is really quite silly but in these moments I have thought:

Am I doing the right thing?

Is this all going to be worth it?

What if I have to move back in here in January and I have hardly any furniture?

What if I get to Benin on a long-term commitment and drive Jon and Ashley bananas and they ask me to leave 2 months in?

What if I NEVER learn to speak French?

What if I never have an amazing job again like the one I have at Milestones?

What if I have to eat African food every single day for an indefinite amount of time?

What if someone I love dies while I’m overseas and I don’t get to say a final goodbye?

What if I decide I want to live with GG forever because she’ll make me dinner and I can watch “wheel of Fortune” with her every night?

My mind could wander with all the “what ifs” right now but I am choosing to not let my heart be overwhelmed with those questions. And some of the questions are ridiculous, I know. But I can't help but be a little more honest than usual tonight. Trust me, it would be easy to allow myself to get lost in this anxiety and this fear and just stop all this madness and tell my renters, “Sorry, I don’t really like Wheel of Fortune so I can’t move in with GG and I’m worrying about things that may never happen so you can’t move in, I’ll just stay here in my empty house forever because heaven KNOWS I don’t want to move all my crap back in here anytime soon.” Instead of saying all that (or a variation of that) I am choosing to continually remind myself Who it is I’m listening to. And Who it is that is paving the way for me to be on this journey…and Who is with me EACH and EVERY step of the way. Even though the way may be filled with self-doubt at times, He is STILL with me. And I will STILL surrender to Him.

My sister sent me an email a few weeks ago. It really knocked me in the gut and I wanted to share some words of wisdom from Rick warren with you all. Are you living a life of surrender? It looks different for everyone…but it definitely goes against what our culture says is right and what our world considers sane…

        “Give yourselves to God…surrender your whole being to Him 

to be used for righteous purposes.” 

(Roman 6:13b TEV)

“surrender” is an unpopular word, disliked almost as much as the word “submission”. It implies losing, and no one wants to be a loser. But the heart of worship is surrender. Surrender evokes the unpleasant images of admitting defeat in battle, forfeiting a game, or yielding to a stronger opponent. The word is almost always used in a negative context.

In our competitive world, we’re taught to never quit trying, never give up, and never give in, so we don’t hear much about surrendering. If winning is everything, surrendering is unthinkable.

Yet, the Bible teaches us that rather than trying to win, succeed, overcome, and conquer, we should instead yield, submit, obey, and surrender.

This is true worship: bringing pleasure to God as we give ourselves completely to him. Surrendering is best demonstrated in obedience. You say, "Yes, Lord" to whatever He asks of you. Surrendered people obey God’s Word, even when it doesn’t make sense.

“Surrendered people obey God’s Word, even when it doesn’t make sense…” I love that. And for me, tonight, part of that surrender looks like sitting in my empty room on my bed because it’s the only object in my entire house to sit on because I’ve packed up, sold, given away, moved and donated everything else as I find out each step of the way what this surrendering looks like for me. And it probably doesn't make a lot of sense to many people, but for me there is no other option. I could choose to not obey but I can guarantee you I would be miserable in the process...

Yield. Submit. Obey. Surrender. Living this way may be filled with “What ifs” and thousands of other questions, but it sure is an amazing way to live this only life I’ve been given.

Mike's Perspective: Day 5 & 6

You can go to Arbre de Vie Album: March 2013 to see pictures from Mike's time in Benin!!

Day 5
Woke up to read the words, "Trust in me and don't be afraid, for I am your strength and song." "Sing his song by sharing the awareness of him and rejoice on journey together with him." The night before I made mention of what I got from the visit so far. After a night of sleeping on it and reading those words this morning, I realized what I am really taking from this visit. I have come to realize what it takes to be in a true relationship/team.

I see these kids working together and loving each other up. Whether it be manual labor, school work, or even something simple as playing. They have each others backs, they communicate, trust, and most importantly love one another. They are in every sense of the word a "FAMILY".

This morning instead of doing a workout video with Ashley, she gave me the opportunity to put her through a "Body By Wojo" workout routine. Using weights made from cement, foot stool, bands, and canned food for a little extra weight. The workout was great and fun to be able to use imagination to be able to accomplish what I wanted. Once done with the workout we headed of to the orphanage. Today though Jon went to Porto Nova for some meetings with people and to grab some things. While Ashley and I went into the village to do some home visits of kids who are sponsered, but can't get into the orphange due to lack of space. Once getting into the village, I thought that the orphanage living conditions would be hard on anybody, only to come to see it could be even harder in the village. One of the kids we visited was a little girl who has a brother in the orpahange and what's sad is they are separated by miles and yet hardly get to see each other.

After finishing all the visits we got back to the orphange right around supper time. Instead of putting in some work Jon & Ashley allowed some of the kids to go cut down some coconuts for the family. It was a site to see Augustin climb this tree and cut them down, but even more impressed on how he slid down. I tell you what, nothing like cracking up a coconut and drinking the juice right away.

 

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Day 6

The days are flying by it seems, but the mornings never start without a good word, "Rejoice and be thankful. Thankfulness lifts you above your circumstances." Those words are never more apparent when I see the kids here at the orphanage or like this morning getting to run with Seraphin and Ashley. Especially seeing him run in a pair of shoes that somebody sent him, not in flip flops or barefoot. On our run this morning we had a little "Rocky" moment as we passed an elementary school and the kids started to run with us down the dirt road. Of course yelling A-E-Bo. We got back from our run and Femi and Louie were watching a Batman DVD at Ashley & Jon's because they didn't have school today and got to stay the night last night. Once the DVD was over Louie played a song, in which I had no idea what the words were (Si ce n'est que mon Dieu), but you could see it meant something to him and Femi.

On our way to orpahange, we stopped at the market to grab some things for some family back in the States. I got a traditional baby carrier I guess you can say for Michelle Dunn who is due here in May, and made some wallets/purses for others. Once we got back to the orphanage it was time to finally finish the varnish up on the new orphanage. While I was working I was surprised by Dossou with a picture that he drew for me. It brought a huge smile to my face that he drew a picture of things that I have done since I have been here. The varnish is finished and it was time to celebrate by taking some time to play with the kids. We played soccer and I was the goalie which was a mistake by my team. I let through 3 goals before you could blink...

As the night was coming to an end the kids performed some skits of my time here, as well as performed some traditional African songs and dance. It's amazing to see in person these things and how passionate they are about them. Of course Ashley, Jon, and myself got involved showing off our "Footloose" dance skills as well. Before we were going to head back to Ashley and Jon's the kids circled around me to say prayer as tomorrow night I will head back to the States.

Mike's Perspective: Day 4

I have heard of a rooster crowing to wake people up, but it happened in real life this morning! "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" The wake up call got me going and right into my morning devotional: "Be thankful for the glorious gift of HIS spirit." Went out for my morning run with Ashley and got to see more of the countryside and learned more about Ashley through some of the wisdom she had shared. "The world isn't a step ladder. You dont just check off a list and that's life. You have to grow through life through experiences." On the run we also discussed the plan for today, which consisted of her taking me to the hospital.

After the run we headed out to the hospital. When getting there Ashley explained how thigs were run or lack there of. In order to see a physican you have to pay. Once you have money for that they will see what's wrong with you and then tell you the supplies you need to go buy in order for the Dr. to do anything for you. If you have to stay over night in the hospital it's the families responsibility to take care of the patient (food, water, clothes) not the hospitals. She showed me around each section of the hospital, with the pediatrics section hurting my heart the most. There were little kids in there being held hostage from care because their family can't afford to do something immediately to help them. One baby in general broke my heart. Ashley took the time to say a prayer for this child before it was to go into surgery.

After the hospital we headed back to the orphanage, in which we went to work on the windows putting varnish on and finished those at 6 or once. Or so I thought, again! We were in the field playing Handball with the kids before dinner when Jon spoke up and said, "So you think we are done with all the windows?" His head turned to the side of the structure of the new orphanage and low and behold 2 more windows were left. Instead of eating dinner at the orphanage tonight with the kids; Jon, Ashley, and I were invited to eat with their neighbors who wanted to cook a meal for us. After dinner, we had some time to sit down with Ashley in the kitchen as she asked what I thought about everything so far and what have I taken from the trip. Told her that of course the feeling of gratefulness is going to be there. I knew that coming in. Where my head is at right now is that this is making me more aware of what I have, and what I truly need to be happy.

 

 Time for me to lay it down, but not after taking my Malaria preventive medicine. Can't wait for tonights dreams! See you all in the morning, God Bless!!!!