Benin, here I come! Or rather, Benin, there I went! After spending two weeks in Benin in October, I now have concrete stories, pictures and experiences to share of my encounters with Otammari people and the AFM missionaries there. The Otammari are beautiful people. I was struck with the bright eyes of the children. I wanted to take as many pictures of those eyes as possible, but I wondered how people would react to my camera. But, almost everywhere I went, children and adults asked me to take their pictures, and I was more than willing to oblige!

As I talked with various individuals, it became clear that the talents and experiences the Lord has given to Maggi and me are exactly what we will need in order to fit in and be of help to the Otammari project. Teaching, training church leaders, health training and even agricultural knowledge are skills we have that seem to fit the needs in Benin.

I hoped the trip would help me bring the Otammari people and their needs closer to the hearts of church members here in Norway, and I believe God honored that hope. On my first Sabbath back in Norway, I briefly presented the Otammari project in a sermon I gave in a small church, and the response of the church members there was overwhelming. Never before have we had so many people at one time express interest in supporting our project. In fact, the church ended up giving the offering from the church service to our project. Once again, we have been given clear evidence that God is blessing this project, and He wants us in Benin as soon as possible.

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