Matt's Many Adventures

Bonjour,

I arrived in El Paso Airport on Tuesday the 10th of August. It’s now been about a week and a half since I first arrived in Las Cruces. Right now I am looking for a short term job, as I have been given another opportunity to serve with TWR and really feel like TWR is the place the Lord wants me to serve. I think I am struggling a bit with something like a reverse culture shock. I know that I need to trust the Lord and that He knows exactly what He’s doing even when I don’t.

I remember someone telling me, “Welcome home,” but at least right now it doesn’t really feel like home. I don’t think my body is quite used to the food that we eat in the States. Several times after eating I have felt somewhat sick. I hope that I will be able to take the things that I have learned while in Africa and apply them to my life. Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers during my time in Benin.

Please continue to pray that the Lord would show me where He wants me to go. I have been given another opportunity to serve with TWR and feel like it is what the Lord would have me do. In the meantime, pray that I would be able to find some short term work in order to make some money for the bills, and to help provide some funds for this next possible opportunity. Finally continue to pray for the people of Benin, the missionaries in Benin, and TWR.

Finally, a huge thank you to the Kennedy and Cox families! Thank you so much for allowing me to be apart of your families. Thank you so much for putting up with me, and making me feel at home. I know feel like I have a second family in Africa, an I miss you guys a lot. I definitely miss having an afternoon cuppa on Sundays, and having a good braai on the weekends. Thank you so much for making me feel at home. It was lekker living with you

Merci,

Matt

Bonjour,

Tonight is my last night in Benin. I have mixed feelings about going back to Las Cruces. On one hand it will be nice to be able to see my family and friends again, but at the same time I will miss the people here. The missionary families here have been amazing, and have really been a blessing to me. I thank God for allowing me to spend almost 3 months in another country. I hope that I have been able to be somewhat of a help to the missionaries here.

Tomorrow we will be leaving for the airport in Contonou at about 6 in the morning, so we hope to be able to avoid some of the traffic on the way down. I hope to be able to pick up a few souvenirs on the way down.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. It has been a real blessing to know that people back home are praying for me.

Thank you,

Matt

Bonjour,

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary for independence in Benin. In order to celebrate I went with a couple peace corps volunteers and a short termer working with SIM, to my first ever football game. It was interesting to see, and I enjoyed the reaction of the crowd when a goal was scored. The final score for  the game was 1-0 scored on a penalty kick. It was the first time I have seen police carrying riot shields and tear gas cannisters. It seemed to be overkill, but I guess you can never be too prepared. Thankfully there were no riots, and the crowd was able to celebrate when the crowd favorite won.  After the game I went with the peace corps volunteers and enjoyed a nice fish, and a bottle of coca cola. Not only was this my first football match, but it was also my first time to ride on a zem. It’s easy to recognize a zem, because they drive a motorcycle and wear a greenish yellow shirt. All you do is call one and hop on. At the end of the voyage they collect their payment. Thankfully we got some good drivers, who didn’t try to go too fast, or weave in and out of traffic.

Since yesterday was a holiday, and it fell on a Sun, today is also a holiday. Thankfully we don’t have to drive to work today, as it has been raining nonstop for the past 4 hours or so. I now only have 4 more working days, and a week left in Benin. It hardly seems like it has almost been 3 months since I first arrived here. The time has gone by so quickly, and  know that I will definitely miss the people here. On one hand I am excited to be heading back to NM, but on the other, I know that I will miss the missionary families here. They have been like a second family to me. I know that my time here would not have gone as well if not for the amazing missionaries in Benin. I will try to give a quick update at the end of the week, just to finish off my time here. Please be praying for safety in our travels next week as we head down to Cotonou next Monday morning, and then I will fly out that evening.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support. I look forward to telling you about my time here.

À bientôt, j´espére,

Matt