Tenth Impressions

I learnt to keep my upper body still as I climbed the stairs to our bach so as not to spill the basin of water perched on my head. The city cuts the water from 7am to midnight everyday and that night we had company from SK arriving.  Usually we get up to fill our numerous water reserves but the night before was spent at the Adjaffon home.
  Remember the spots of light that shined on Granamaman Adjaffon in the bamboo hut as her son told us of her choice to serve God? Rosanne and I slept in the room adjascent to hers with a mosquito net dropped around us to protect us from flying and crawling pests.
"Kwabo." Granamaman welcomed us from her peice of cloth splayed on the cement floor everytime we entered the living room. I get the feeling that she would love to talk, to tell us her stories glad and sad of living in a village in the heart of Africa. Papa tells us that she has been freed from the weight of her lifetime spent in the village, forsaking her previous ties to witchcraft to beleive in the true God who has eyes that see and ears that hear. She has a peace now that she has never known in all her years on the earth and we see again the look of a joyful child under a cap of curly grey hair.
The busy lanes of traffic on our way to Gospel Meeting on Sunday are breifly separated by an island. I was told recently that a voodoo God lives in the tiny tin shack in the middle of the island. A peek inside reveals a few pots, cracked and dusty, sitting amongst litter and stones. That is the God.
  The voodoo faith holds 17% of Benin's population captive. Small compared to Christianity's 42% and Muslim's 24% yet the reality is that most Muslims practice voodoo and many Christian religions have incorperated voodoo beleifs into their doctrine. The fear of the spirit world and dark power grips these people, binding them to often costly ceremonies and practices. It has touched the lives of many of our friends in various ways but their faith in God frees them from the bondage of fear they once knew.

We have opened a bach in Ouidah, the nations voodoo capital, and we hope to be moved in before the rainy season. An early morning walk behind the bach revealed quiet paths that reminded us of convention walks. Rosanne and I spent one night there on mats very concious of the cool cement under us. That night was almost more pleasant than most nights here spent sweating on a foam matress.  Sweat beads on our upper lips even as we sit still and most of the day our clothes are damp with sweat. This is the hot season and it will last until the April/May rains come.

Next month another native brother will be starting in the work. Gildas Bewa recently returned from six years of study and work in Calgary, AB. He will be with Medard in Bohicon and Medards present companion, Serge, will go north with Yves to be in Parakou until preps in July. Adebayu will remain with Ed in Cotonou.

Until next time... Alize