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January 09, 2005
Arrival in Benin - initial impressions
It was about 10.30 at night when we touched down on Friday night, and the pilot informed us that the outside temperature was 26C (79F). It is the cold season, and the harmattan has just started - a dry, dusty wind that blows across the region, filling the air with dust for several weeks.
It's good to be back in West Africa. There are many similarities to Burkina, but obvious differences too - especially the presence of the ocean and the influence of the port. It is a strange experience, living on the ship, and going out into Benin - like two different worlds. I will be based on the ship Anastasis for five days, before moving off into a nearby guest house.
Yesterday, I followed the outreach team to Hevie to observe an adult literacy class they are doing through teachers they have trained from local churches. As we headed out of the city onto the familiar dusty roads, it seemed to me the land is much more productive here than in Burkina. But in the area we travelled, I saw little evidence of the ever-present Fulani cattle herders found in Burkina. The literacy class, in the local language of Fon, was just re-starting after the Christmas break, and the few women there were mainly reviewing what they had learned from the previous weeks. At the end of the class, the local pastor was invited to share with the class for 15 minutes, giving a short interactive talk on how God has made us in his own image.
Monday is national Voodoo Day. Benin is the birthplace of Voodoo, and people will come from all over the world to the nearby village of Ouidah to seek blessing. Voodoo is a Fon word, and an estimated 70% of Fon are involved in voodoo, an animistic religion. Voodoo is actually very different from the Hollywood image we have, as this article shows, but the message of Christ is still good news, and many are increasingly finding freedom from the spirit world through new life in Christ. Please pray that God continues to draw people to himself and to his love and blessing in Jesus Christ.
Posted by Keith at January 9, 2005 09:43 AM
Comments
Glad you've arrived safely, Keith. Are you planning to post some photos in the coming week?
Posted by: Steve at January 10, 2005 01:24 PM
Dear Keith,
thanks for your interesting article.
Great that you can be back in Westafrica.
Praise the LORD for your safe trip.
May the LORD bless you and make you a blessing for many.
One of "my" shorttermer just left today for Benin to serve as a nurse in Bembereke for one year.
Posted by: Erika Keller at January 10, 2005 08:25 PM
