The cool evenings we enjoyed when we arrived was a cruel trick by Mother Nature to make us feel good about the weather here. Now her true colors are coming out. We are back to the hot humid days and nights that we expected. Other things are as we remembered; the heavy traffic with it’s dangerous drivers, the motos, the smell of poorly burned diesel fuel from ill tuned engines, the shops and markets and everywhere someone in need of help. But what was most gratifying to us was that when we saw our dear friends they were well and healthy and what added even more to our joy was that they were still our brothers and sisters in the gospel (Alma 17:2). There have been a few slip since we were here but we will visit them and encourage them once again.
Nancy and I have born our testimonies in French, in two branches and will attend the third one on Sunday. I was reminded again that we were home once more in Africa when I looked from the pulpit to see a sister who was sitting on the front row listening intently to my broken French while breast feeding her baby. I’m not sure but that might have momentarily fractured the French even worse. I must say that Nancy’s French speaking and comprehension is already far better than before. She is working hard on being able to understand our friends and neighbors, and they love her for that. And why wouldn’t they, what is there not to love?
Elders Forman and Halverson left for home at 4:05am Thursday morning. Then we lose Elder Cloward and Elder Fisiihoi next week. We will be getting at least 4 new elders from home. It will be an incredible time in the lives of these new elders and in the history of the church. They will be an integral part of the development of a new system of spreading the gospel and the formation of a new mission in Benin and Togo. As for now we continue to look for apartments for the group/missionary homes. We also looked for a mission home and mission president’s home with some brothers from Accra, Issac Andoh-Kesson and Francis Kazah-Anfo. For those of you who know a little of my explosive history you will understand why the “Anfo” part of his name sort of blew me away, away back in time for just a moment.
Our generator doesn’t work and that is spooky considering we are coming into the hot season when the power is cut much more often and our air conditioners are functioning poorly. We will work on that as well as our fridge. We have had it checked 2 different times and each time they do a little something and say, "Give it 2 hours to see if it works better and they leave. Well, the fridge did not work better. Nancy is constantly, well, almost constantly asking them to do something more to the fridge because it is not working good. Maybe a new fridge is in the picture soon.
Because it is hot here all year round we have a variety of beautiful flowers that bloom in a wide range of colors during different times of the year. Right now there are some gorgeous flowers that just take your breath away and cause you to feel gratitude for the creative genius of our Father in Heaven.
Thursday the 27th at 1:30 am we left with Elders Foreman and Halverson and Frere Pierre for the airport. Nancy wanted us to take one of our native friends with us and it was a good idea. We were stopped twice by the local law establishment but let go because we were missionaries. After getting the elders checked in we left for home. A short time later we were stopped again. This good man was as hard as nails. Pierre did his best to get us out of trouble for not having an inspection on the truck but the most convincing argument Pierre could make was to open the wallet and use the international language of money. After 22,000 francs ($46-47) we were on our way only to be stopped once again. This man, however, was missionary minded and much to our delight let us go.
You might ask, why do you get stopped so much at night? Well, as I see it, that is the most intimidating time of day also the traffic is considerably lessened making is much more safe and easy to do the necessary work of upholding the law. The police presence is considerably more evident at night and so we try to not go out after dark but it is often necessary to do so. We will have the truck inspected Tuesday morning early and then we won’t have to open the wallet anymore when we are stopped because ALL will be in order.
Hi this is Nancy. Having 3 branches to go to is much more difficult than having the one branch that we had here in Cotonou with our first mission. The names of the branches are: Gbedjromede Branch with President Rogotien Lokossou, Menontin Branch with President Joachim Lokossou (yes they are brothers) and Akpakpa Branch with President Desire Gbedjangi. They all meet at 9am so it has taken us 3 weeks to attend all three. It was fun seeing our old friends and meeting some new ones and the last branch, the Akpakpa Branch was really happy when we finally made it there. I was a bit saddened to see that almost all of our keyboards are no longer here. Landu and I will try to see if we can find some so we can begin another piano course. It is a challenge.
Les and I have been very busy with the branch presidents and the facility director who is Lionel Missigbeto, in looking for buildings to help set up this new mission. As we went to see the homes, we often times did not know what we were doing, but with a translator, usually it is Precious, we can give them our comments and understand what is going on. We have looked at about 12 homes and of the 12 we have signed for 1! This is a long process but we hope to have it done real soon. It has been fun for me to meet the ladies that are the landlords of their houses. I have met 2 and one of them has taken a liking to me, I guess, and she told me that if we EVER need anything to let her know. I am going to remember that! She is a professor at the University and teaches law. Now, wouldn't you say ,"that is a very brilliant woman?" She is a lovely woman and was so gracious to us.
Well, that is about it for this week. If I don't hurry and get this sent, it will be next week. Hope you have a wonderful week. We love you all and miss you but know this is where we should be at this time.
Our love, to you,
Mom and Dad, Les & Nancy, Elder & Soeur (Sister) Southam
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