Suzy Baldwin-Noutehou started working with the Otammari people in Benin, West Africa, in 1999. She learned their culture, then how to present the gospel in the context of their and other area cultures. She used friendship evangelism, medical care and health education. She also worked for many years with Ulrike Baur, another AFM missionary.
During that time, Fidel Noutehou was also learning and doing evangelism in another denomination under the mentorship of his uncle. In 2007, God brought Fidel to Natitingou and into contact with Suzy and other SDA members. Fidel would come and borrow books from Suzy, and that was their only contact for seven years.
In late 2013, God convicted Fidel of the Sabbath truth, and he joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over the next seven months, God impressed Fidel and then Suzy that they were to be married and become partners in the work. In 2014, Fidel and Suzy wed and moved to the Pendjari region of Benin to start a new AFM project. They live in a small village outside of Tanguieta, on a farm where they have an agriculture ministry. Their work includes planting churches and mentoring local leaders from the various village church groups.
Now, five church groups have been planted in two of the larger people groups and one church group in the main town near Tanguieta.
“She is just like us,” a lady recently said of me to my friend. Frequently, people comment to me, “You are already Benoise.” I take it as a compliment, but I know it’s not really true. They see that I have lived here 10 years, and I dress like them and speak like them and live much like they do.
By:
Suzy & Fidel Baldwin-Noutehou
November 01 2009, 10:04 am | Comments 0
Here is a recipe for West African pâté de riz (rice pâté). This is a favorite in my household—or it was when rice was cheaper.
By:
Suzy & Fidel Baldwin-Noutehou
September 01 2009, 10:07 am | Comments 0
Hyaicenthe’s ears perked up when he heard the story, and he got the man’s name before he left. Hyaicenthe is a Gospel Outreach worker who does a short Ditammari-language program.
By:
Suzy & Fidel Baldwin-Noutehou
July 01 2009, 10:09 am | Comments 0
For a long time, it has been a dream of mine to have a health fair. In February, Immanuel, our student missionary, and I started brainstorming. Where could we hold the fair?
By:
Suzy & Fidel Baldwin-Noutehou
June 01 2009, 10:12 am | Comments 0
This past Sabbath afternoon, Jeanne and I headed to the other end of town to see a family that attends my Sunday-morning meeting. The man has two wives, and they have both given birth in the past two weeks.
By:
Suzy & Fidel Baldwin-Noutehou
May 01 2009, 10:14 am | Comments 0