Month: April 2008

Life in Benin is not without its humor. You need to be sure to look at these in sequence. I sent the Caution picture last week. When we went by the next day it was apparent that someone needed the tire so we just couldn’t help but take another picture. The next day the problem… Continue reading The Hole in the Road: A History

Well another week in Benin and another full slate of cultural experiences although I will have to say that we are experiencing much less culture shock now and are really beginning to appreciate the culture and ways of the Beninese. Not that we are totally over the shock, just more assimilated into it than we… Continue reading General Conference and a Hospital

I don’t know if it is possible to burn down a concrete house or not but Soeur Black gave it a try on Sunday. Here is what she wrote about the incident: We invited two of the Elders over for dinner after church on Sunday, and I started the chicken before we left. I went… Continue reading How to Burn Down a Concrete House; Elections in Benin

I mentioned before that being here has changed my perspective of gratitude so much. The many things I mentioned in my prayers as I expressed gratitude for my blessings in Blanding seem like a million miles away. I feel like we have been living a life of abundance and excess. On Saturday we went to… Continue reading A Humble, Happy Fisherman

It has been a busy week in Cotonou so hope we have time to get it all down. We have had several cultural experiences that I think are worthy of an explanation. First, one day when we were teaching with the Elders they decided to take us to a foofoo bar (restaurant). Foofoo is a… Continue reading Of Foofoo, Piment Sauce, and Other Culinary Experiences

As we get more involved, I am impressed more and more with these people and what survivors they are. When you think of the thousands of years these people have existed here and the hundreds of years in their history they were rounded up for slaves and shipped to Europe, the US or used as… Continue reading A Happy, Peace-loving People

Today is P-day, Monday, and all of the elders, Southams and Pete went to a city in the middle of the lake, and I decided to stay here and catch up on our e-mails. The electricity is off again so I am writing using the battery and will send it on later. Southam’s apartment has… Continue reading Give Thanks for Simple Things

I think we must be adjusting somewhat to conditions here. It seems like the weekend has produced nothing really out of the ordinary. We did go to a baptism on Saturday afternoon. A young 8 year old boy was baptized and also Annika, an adult who is a student at a University here. Annika is… Continue reading Sunday, April 6, 2008

Soeur Black and I have spent most of the week lost somewhere in Cotonou. One of the problems with having some wheels is that you have to drive them if you are going to get around the City. That presents two problems. One is the Motos, on which I am now revising my estimate of… Continue reading Driving in Benin

Last night we arrived at the hotel in Togo quite early. We are staying at an IBIS hotel (French). It is really nice and clean. Has clean water and a great AC system. Last evening Southams and us went out and ate a nice meal at a nice little restaurant on a patio overlooking the… Continue reading Visit to Togo