The Ministry of Jesus in Benin

When the Murdocks invited to come live and work with them in Benin this summer I was THRILLED. I love Africa – a love that many of my friends would probably say borders on obsession. Its impossible to try to sum up my experience here, so I want to try to share what, to me, was the most important part. And to thank the Murdock family for opening their home to me and for teaching me something of the heart of God.

After my arrival here, Matt, in his usual Wyomingish straightforward way, asked me what God was doing in my life this summer. I answered that two years at a university I find extremely frustrating (though I’m blessed with some incredible friends there) had left my heart pretty empty of love for those around me. I needed God to instill His love in me. I was thrilled to be back in Africa, where it seemed to me that everyone was easy to love all the time.  This was not quite how things worked out – I’ve continued to see how challenging love can be, but I’ve also gotten to spend the summer watching love of Christ pour through this incredible family.

While still at the compound in Tanguieta, I lived in the guesthouse.  Usually by the time I got over to the house, a few minutes after seven, I had been beaten to the door by people needing something – a band aid, food, money, water, medical advice, work advice, answers to problems, the need to make a phone call.  This always continued through breakfast. The same thing could be counted on to happen at dinner.  Much to my surprise, the Matt and Sarah’s sacrifice of time, money, peace and quiet often seemed to be thankless.  I’ve watched them tirelessly serve and bless both the locals and the other missionaries here. Actually, let me rephrase that – not tirelessly, but in spite of tiredness! I’ve spent the summer witnessing love that certainly springs from a deeper source.

As the summer went on the Murdocks went out of their way to give me the full Africa experience. About halfway through my time here, we moved out to the farm. My grandparents have been reading these blogs horrified – trouble with electricity, no running water, scorpions, snakes, bats flying around the house, and for some reason, a whole lot of throwing up. Believe it or not, we’ve had the best time! With no one complaining about any of these small inconveniences (not even the kids), it’s hard to have a bad attitude about any of it. Its kept life spicy, and kept me laughing. And even as the little conveniences decreased in number, the awareness of how blessed we are to have a good home, beds, mosquito nets, and occasionally chocolate cupcakes was increasing. In fact I still don’t miss hot showers and flushable toilets, and I can now kill and bury a scorpion without fear (which is pretty baller if you ask me). And still, out in the middle of the bush, people continue to show up at their door in need – with needing a car pulled out of the mud as a frequent addition to the list. I could give countless examples of their sacrifice, their grace for those around them, and most importantly, the love that is so evident in their ministry.

During my stay in Benin I had the chance to read one of Amy Carmicheal’s book, Gold Cord. The last paragraph of the book captures what I think this family seems to understand so well, the example that was before me all summer. “We have told our story badly if we have not shown a loveable people; but were they not so, were they cold, indifferent, hard…what would it matter? The tender love of God desires them all.  His Son, our Savior, died for them all.   How much do we care that He did? Lord, teach us to care.  Give it to us to love, as Thou dost love all the nations of the earth.  Give it to us to give as Thou didst give, holding nothing back.”

Since moving to the farm we have taken a more active and practical in the activities here.  Matt has always been involved, but now that we are here we can begin to actually put in place different activities like daily management of the cows and goats, getting out and cutting grasses for silage and then putting them in the silo.  Ironically, it feels like we’re much busier although it is much quieter here.  One big blessing is that now the boys can follow around Matt and help out with different projects, and yet go home when they get tired or thirsty.

We have been enjoying life at the farm immensely, one aspect that we

have loved is all the flowers that are in bloom. Thought we would share some of them with you.

After prayer and discussion, we decided to apply once more for our own FM radio frequency.  The last process was a bit disheartening through the betrayal of certain people involved with us, but we knew that throughout God was with us.  Time after time when something would go wrong, God always “saved the day,” which has given us the strength to enter once more.  The deadline for our initial application, which we have to do all over again, is August 11th.  If we pass the preliminary selection, we will then have to re-formulate our application for the 2nd ruling.  One of our key team members, who is the actual point man in Cotonou, has had both a motorcycle accident and an medical stay in the hospital reducing his ability to run around doing errands and visits.

Despite the difficulty of the process, we have decided to forward recognizing that a Christian radio station broadcasting bible studies and worship music in any one of the 10 languages unique to our region remains strategic in our thinking for not only evangelizing, but discipling, this region.  Therefore, please keep us in your prayers as we once more launch out in faith.

We are MOVED!  On Saturday, our scheduled moving day, after nearly 2 weeks without rain, we woke to a big storm, which lasted till around 2pm.  At 3pm, Matt and some guys push started our big truck and began loading it.  We got to the house around 4:30 with enough daylight left to unload and get somewhat organized.  It is quite rustic, but great!  The electrical system is still posing some challenges, but we have lights for some of the evening, and the fridge works during the day.  Fortunately, the long power cuts we were experiencing in Tanguieta the last few weeks prepared us!  We bring water in from town, so use it sparingly and recycle when we can.  It is absolutely gorgeous out here, so green and breezy and quiet.  My favorite part of the whole house is the spacious back porch, where we are eating all our meals.  Yesterday I had the blessing of bringing our 2 horses here – I rode one and led the other, for about a 2 hour ride.  It was a drizzly, grey day, just perfect for the ride since it stayed cool the whole way.  I had not ridden for quite a while, so I really enjoyed that.  The kids are quite happy.  Today Riley and Duncan helped me weed the space where the vegetable garden will be, and have already staked out their sections.  Bridget loves to walk around outside and play in the sand and dirt.  The boys roam around in bare feet exploring the termite hills and playing with dirt and sticks.  Matt is teaching this week, and it is so nice that he only has to leave the house a minute or 2 before class starts!  He is super busy on many, many projects for the house and the farm.  There is MUCH to do.  Please do pray he can solve the electrical problems since this is taking up a lot of his mental and physical energy right now.