Living a Meaningful Life.

Finals!

2011-12-12T12:23:00.000-08:00

This week is the official finals week! Thankfully, I only have two finals this week, two courses had alternatives to the traditional finals. My final for solid and hazardous waste management is today, the other (harder one) is on Friday. I hope to study at least 8-10 hours a day for the Friday exam in Environmental Chemistry. Please be saying lots of prayers for env. chem.!

I really liked my courses this semester, and it makes me slightly afraid of the coming Spring semester. I hope that I end up enjoying the course material as much as I have this semester. I still have one more class to select for the upcoming term, I will probably decide which course to take during winter break.

I will be staying in Bloomington, Indiana for break. I am going to try and work 60 to 80 hours a week, to help save up for a trip to Benin for the summer.

More tomorrow perhaps!

"Bad Hair"

2011-12-06T15:34:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I was in Target getting headbands to hold back my hair. At the end of the aisle I stood in, there was a group of four teenage or pre-teenage Caucasian girls discussing matters related to petroleum-based products. One girl was explaining how a black friend used such products to do her hair - which was a cultural phenomenon to these young ladies. One girl said, I only feel bad for them, because if you have to use this it means you have "bad hair." Another girl shook her head in disagreement, and then the one who uttered the words about bad hair looked over and noticed me. Embarrassed, she covered the side of her face closest to me, and whispered to her friends. They quickly slid away, and I was left feeling personally discriminated against. It also made me paranoid about all Caucasians have latent racist thoughts like that. I found myself uncomfortable, and weary of others as I finished up my shopping. Racism hurts in personal ways.

That girl had essentially said all African American hair is "bad hair."

Good Hair, check it out.

2010-11-22T14:16:00.001-08:00

I am back from Benin, but I think I may continue writing about what it means to be in Benin., enjoy my dear friend.

Here in Indiana, I occasionally have a day when I miss my nation (Benin) a great deal. Lately it has been the hollow pounding of tree stumps that my ears are seeking the comfort of. In Benin, Yams (not sweet potatoes, real yams) are boiled, and when somewhat soft pounded into a food called yam pillet. It is like a big doughy ball of goodness, with a flavor similar to mashed potatoes. The process of pounding the yams is the sound that I miss. The Beninese take a large piece of wood, kind of what you'd imagine as a tree trunk, and carve a large bowl, 1.5 foot plus bowl on top and a small base in left on the bottom. They then carve out a large, thick pole that is similar in structure to a cue-tip. This instrument is used to pound the boiled yam in the large bowl thing. The wood on wood makes a sound that gives one a true sense of place. While this sound was one of the things that would wake me up in the middle of the night during Ramadan, when people eat in the dark and fast when daylight comes, by the end of my service, so many aspects of living in community are associated with life around the yam pillet-ing process.

I love Benin, and miss Kalale greatly.

Three-hundred years on...

2010-01-07T12:39:00.001-08:00

During my time in Ghana I took some time to visit the world heritage sites of Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle. Both really brought about an understanding of the slave trade and the experience of becoming a slave for different colonial nations. I recommend visiting there sites, they are interesting and guides do an excellent job of bringing history to life.
The castles' attributes tell something of the slave trade too, though. There are several dungeons, those that were for holding men or women slaves, the trapdoor the inten used to sneak slaves up to sleep with, the churches that sat on top of the dungeons- it all tells quite a story. But there is one attribute that stuck with me, that shocked me more than anything else that I came upon in the Castles... You see, I do not have a very home sense of smell, or I do not have the ability to smell things easily. Upon entrance into a women's dungeon at Elmina Castle I noticed this smell. It assaulted my senses, and made me want to leave the chamber quickly. But the guide spoke about the experience of the people, the hundreds of women who were crowded into a relatively small space. Like all the dungeons I'd seen, I'm pretty sure this one had the drainage system but through the floor. It was meant to allow for the excrements of slaves to flow into the nearby sea during the three months they were held before dying or being shipped off. It seemed normal in every way, except the stench. I wondered he they'd just neglected cleaning this dungeon well, and such. Soon the guide answered my mental queries. The dungeon smelled because the drainage system couldn't drain bodily fluids that well. It helped some, but eventually slaves ended up standing in their own excrements for the rest of the time they remained in the dungeons. In this dungeons womens stood upon feces, urine, and the blood from their period. I realized the latter was part of what I smelled probably- the stench of blood. He explained that even though they tried to clean the cell, the odor would not leave the space. Three-hundred years on, this particular cell still smells, reminding us of the stench the act of slavery has left upon human history. May God help up to never repeat such acts again.

My neighborhood friends - the trees

2010-01-05T23:52:00.001-08:00

Greetings all! I just got back from my holiday vacation in the culturally-rich nation of Ghana. I enjoyed the jollof rice with say cabbage, jovial hellos from the locals, and the national pride of the Ashante... And much more. But there is something that stuck out to me, that wiped some of the glimmer away from my respective of Ghana - trees.
As I made my way northward in the nation, I find myself utterly startled by the absen nature of the Ghanaian landscape. In Benin we're always told the deforestation is a problem that affects our country. We're told that is we do not plant trees, soon winds will displace up with their force, that the sun burn upon up still more harshly. In Ghana all these possible consequences are experienced. In Benin people often forcefully shew you into shady areas when the sun's around; in Ghana, people stood in the middle of the road or next to a boutique but felt the same thing - scorching heat. Perhaps there great people were use to the sun so thought nothing of it. But with the bit of Beninese I have governing my worldview, I was startled by their willingness to stand in heat. Shade is a value in Benin, Fruit from the trees (mangoes and such) are valued in Benin- the tree has so many positive functions. The lack of trees sent my mind and heart hurrying back to Benin, and my little house, where palm and mango trees are my actual neighbors. I love Ghana, but I love trees, always and everywhere; I hope the two can work towards being united a bit more. :)
Ghana's population is far greater than Benin's, I suppose that is the cause of its people carving landscapes into blank horizons. Whatever the case I say cheers to reforestation and Benin. I'm glad to be back in a land that depends upon trees retaining life. Love until... :) happy New Year, and Merry Christmas! :)

The motorcycle men from the bush

2009-11-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

A couple of fellows go zooming by, on a crowded, public road. I turn to my friend, bewildered a little by the speed and crazy sounds coming from the mortocycle men. He smiles and says, "They're Peuhl, they're from the bush. They so rarely get to experience the 'big' village life that they just get so excited and happy about it."
I can't help but agree with my friend - we've got to excuse they're recklessness because of their contagious joy.

But who are these men? What are the Peuhl?
Peulh are an ethnic minority in the country of Benin. They are often mistreated in parts of Benin. In Kalale, my village, the Peuhl are actually the majority. The Peuhl are thought to be 70% of the population! In my village these semi-nomadic people are often among the wealthiest citizens, with a single cow costing about 333,000 FCFA! The Peuhl provide me, and much of my region, with fresh milk, cheese, and meat. They raise livestock for a living. Young boys start following a cow herd at a pretty young age. I've seen children who look to be seven years old trotting after a cattle or two.

The Peuhl often live in rural communities, on the fringe of villages and beyond. For this reason, when they come into town for market days and such, the busy-ness of village life can't help but tickle out some giggles of delight.

New Year?

2009-09-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

While in Niger, I didn't get the chance to post as much as I would have liked to, but fear not, I'll try catching us up over the next few days. But for now I'll bring you to my present state of being...

Tomorrow I will begin participation in a workshop called Designing Behavior Change. About ten other volunteers and accompaning Beninese work partners will be attending the conference. While I'm excited about the practical techniques that I'll pick-up at the workshop, I'm apprehensive about what tomorrow signifies. Tomorrow is like the first day of school for my work life in Benin... What do I mean by that? The day before schools starts you're excited about seeing your school buddies again, eating cafeteria food, learning new things, but you're also nervous about the new teacher, who exactly will be in your class, if you can handle the work load, and if the cafeteria will still serve diced chicken. In the land of Benin for a Natural Resource Advisor October is the month in which work bursts forth like algae blooms. October is the month when school tends to start, thus school environmental clubs become part of our schedule and we start hanging out with some amazing young people. The rains begin to cease their falling, and in their place people begin dropping seeds into their gardening terrain; people gardening means you start advising and forming gardening groups, which likely means meeting new people. In short, tomorrow will be the beginning of a busy work season. I'll go to the conference get back to post and throw myself into the start of work load October brings,whilst continuing my waste management activities. October marks the beginning of a new work year, and just like the night before the first day of school, brings shivers of excitement and fears about one's possible social or task related failing. God willing, this work year will be a-OK, as it has been each school year.

Niamey, Niger

2009-09-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

I've been in Niger a couple of days so far. I've found the people to be extraordinarily nice, and not so agressive about saying hello and selling things, as in Benin; and I've found the transportation to be tiring and time-consuming for non-distance related issues. But really it's a cool place to be visiting.
The architecture has an obvious Islamic influence - with curves and grandeur that comes from the minds of people who think things like the Taj Mahal into existence. This is notable even through the landscaping efforts made, there's something garden-esque about how they go about arranging plants and pathes - it's quite wonderful.
Since I've been here I've seen the Grand Mosque, Grand and Petite Marche (Markets), visit a diversity filled market in Ballayera (I hear people come from Algeria even!), I've riden a horse at the racetrack and a camel in Balleyera, and have chilled with some Toureg artisans in Niamey. I'm quite happy about it all, and definitely enjoying the company of my friend Diane too!
I'll keep you posted! Love and care until... Joc

Ramadan

2009-09-06T03:32:00.001-07:00

Right now, Beninese Muslims are in the midst of the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month in which it is believed that Mohammed started recieving the Qu'ran. During this month Muslims fast (of both drink and food) each day from sunrise until sunset. They can eat inbetween these times. There is a meal after about seven pm and one before morning prayer around five am.
It is interesting and challenging to see the fidelity of many Muslims during this month. A dear friend of mine invited me to join in the fast for a day and I decide that I'd do it for the period of time I'm at post before going on vacation - It'll be about five days. I'm doing it with Christian intentions in mind, but I do enjoy the communal nature of the month.
This month is supposed to be a month of charity and acts of kindness. The meals at dawn and daybreak include many, and as my friend says, we eat in community. My grandmother in village told me to give her lait sucre - sugary concentrated milk. I didn't get why she chose to ask for that, but then it was explained that people were gifting one another with it for the tea that many take during eating hours. People also mentioned giving money to the poor and alms in general as a necessary part of this period. Ramadan is a period in which a whole community is sort of positively affected by one another's kind intentions, and acts of togetherness.
I don't think I understood that Ramadan was meant to be so communal originally though. People in explaining what the month is about tell me that it gets them into paradise. And now after having formally looked up Ramadan, I find it's true. The kind acts, fasting and asking for forgiveness are supposed to clear all of one's sins and open up the gates of paradise for a person. But I too have seen that Ramadan shows that love is what gets one into heaven. While I might not believe this in a cut and dry way myself, I must admit that I think this is a good sort of morality. I can't frown heavily upon a people who make holy a month committed to acts of kindnesses, self-control, remembering and renewing their relationship with their god, and practicing patience. And so today, I refocus my own fast with my new knowledge of Ramadan. I had considered it important to remember God more at this time, and practice self control and sacrifice, but I want to act out my faith in a more disciplined, yet loving way through intentional acts of kindness, increased prayer, patience (something I've been trying to increase in general) and communion with others our God has created.
Please pray for me in this endeavor. For more information on Ramadan and its significance, feel free to Wiki it as I did! :)

Birthdays!

2009-08-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

As my birthday approaches, I find it hard to control my love for birthdays! My time in Benin has taught me that I really do love a good celebration, a jovial gathering of people! I love the good spirits, tasty food, laughter, tears and communal silences that come with a celebration.
For birthday celebrations I enjoy the that a group of people, whether in the same place or not, are celebrating an individual. In my mind, birthdays are a time when we stop and acknowledge another's inherit uniqueness, and our thankfulness for the commencement and continuation of a life. Quite simply, a birthday celebration is beautiful in it's celebration of life, and the joy it brings us.
I think I'll expand on this post later, but I have to do some work!

An African Kindness

2009-08-08T17:34:00.001-07:00

While Peace Corps advises against being out after eight pm, I often am. In my village I feel like I have more reasons to trust than distrust the people.
That said... I was out riding my bike yesterday evening. I started around twilight, but that soon spilled over into the night. I was just playing around on some new roads the county has made in order to encourage development and further urbanization of our region.
I ended up on the main road that eventually hits Kalalé. When I was about five Kilometers out I decide to turn back. First a couple of friends who were passing on a motorcycle stopped and asked me what I was doing so far out at this hour. I explained how I love exercising in the privacy of the night, a time when I don't have to be seen and thus people won't feel so obliged to stop me as I do so.
Soon after they keep heading into town, someone else comes up behind me on their motorcycle and says keep going, and proceeds to trail me so that I have a stronger light and an escort the last four kilometers or so into town. I asked who it was when the person decided to accompany me, and it turned out to be a friendly acquaintance. I insisted that i felt safe and liked the night, feeling bad that he had to slowly follow me. But i found that i felt deeply comforted by his patience and kindness in choosing to quietly accompany me. He tried not to get to close, and smiled gently when I tried to tell him to go ahead. It was as if he understood that i desired privacy, but he still wanted me to enjoy it safely. To respect the quietness of the night and yet gently insist on looking after me, AND enjoying the time with me- I believe this is indeed a great kindness.

No, sir, not Junk!

2009-08-05T17:04:00.001-07:00

"Junk! Junk!
No, sir, not Junk!
Junk! Junk!
No, ma'am, not Junk!
Bricabracs, brickbats
Knitting needles, Knick- knacks!
Kickshaws! Curios!
Camisoles! Cameos!
But... Junk!
Junk!
No, sir, not... Junk!"
~Excerpt from "Dandelion Wine," by Ray Bradbury

Recently, as I was reading some Bradbury, I ran across this dreamy little chant. While the story it comes from is supposed to take place in a locale that seems like late 19th or early 20th century America, it reminded me of modern day West Africa. The chant recalls the realities of a place so poor it can not afford to be wasteful. Soap bottles, and mayo jars; inter-tubes, tomato paste cans, school notebooks, and pesticide containers- all useful to a common African. Pages are torn out of school childrens' notebooks, and used by merchants as a wax paper of sorts for handling locally made cakes; while mayo jars, if collected, are valuable enough to be resold to those wishing to reuse them for homemade peanut butter, nuts and bolts, or other foods and odds and ends. Tomato paste cans become a serving place for the natives' traditional soap; while the well-loved, modern motorcycles' pierced inter-tubes are cut into long, stretchy cords, that used to strap a load of goods together for transport. We say the United States loves efficiency, and I think this is true, but I think here, in this land of people struggling to survive, and if possible develop, I experience a different type of efficiency. The people here are slow to act as if they think just any old thing is "junk," or trash. Africans would consider a Western landfill a good second hand hardware stores of sort. Here it is part of everyday life to reuse resources of many sorts, even though not all possible resources are reused.
I admire the creative reuse of resources by the people of Benin, West Africa. I believe that wealthier nations can indeed take a page or two from the books of less developed nations. I believe that traditions that come from an understanding of humankind's connection to the natural world can help us to be more efficient and conservative in our use and reuse of resources. I say this because I realize it is not just poverty that drives locals to save things, and make treasures from what Western people might call junk; no, no, it is a way of life that has been passed down through many generations of West Africans. They seem to understand that if one conserves the world's energy, then you help to conserve your own energy in the future. The idea that all things take our energy comes from a people that draw water from a well, thus understand using water recklessly will means more work tomorrow. While the Beninese are at times very wasteful in some respects, I believe that they may be able to offer part of a new, but ancient way and example on how to conserve the earth's resources. I believe that to live well in the future it'd do us good to continue to research more efficient technologies and such, but I think it'd do us well to embrace helpful traditions and ways of life that can be found in our world's large cultural heritage. Yes, I've taken a page from postmodern philosopher - there is a need to move forward as a world community, but we can not totally abandon our community's traditions.

"Ça c'est à nous!"

2009-07-14T13:04:00.001-07:00

Each week I spend a little time helping out at a tree nursery located about five kilometers from my home in Kalalé. Depending upon the season, you'll find two colleagues and I transplanting trees and vegetable sprouts, preparing a compost heap, tending to a small garden, pumping water into storage towers, grafting mango trees and more! But no matter the season you'll always find us talking- my colleagues laughing as I, often stunned, learn important lessons about both Beninese culture and life. Most frequently I find myself learning about the Beninese work culture, in this obviously appropriate location.
One day, as we cared for our plants, I started posing some of my quite famous questions. I asked about how much my colleagues earn through the work we are doing in the nursery. Abou, the senior technician, explained to me what benefits they recieve from the nursery. The nursery is run by an assembly, or association, that was formed eighteen years ago when a German group offered up aid to valorize a local water reserve. Using a gas-powered engine and large hoses, the nursery staff pumps water from the reserve into two concrete towers that are around maybe fifteen feet tall and a decent distance from the reserve.
Much time is spent just getting water to the nursery, cleaning the grounds, and watering the plants. Two days a week we show up, and try to cram in basic maintaince work and expand the nursery's stock. Most things take longer than an American might expect, we hardly are ever able to finish the work we set out to do.
So, Abou explains how much they earn monetarily, and I try to equate the count of work and energy put into the nursery and how much one theoretically would earn. His sum and mine aren't the same, they earn very little for their labor. I learn that they, like many Beninese people, literally have to dabble in several different types of work to make enough money for their family's to live off of, and then to provide an environment in which their family can maybe thrive.
I'm wondering, why do they do it; why do they labor here for a significant enough portion of the week for little, in a society where people do little unless there is a financial incentive?
So Abou explained it to me.
Abou's father and Moustarou's (the other colleague) father are both a part of the original assembly. Someone is needed to run the nursery, really what has become their fathers' nursery, and thus their own. Abou emphatickly states, "Ça c'est à nous;" that is to us, that is on us. Let of explain, the nursery is their own, it must be cared for. Other options of abandoning the nursery until someone comes along to care for it, or not, are unfathomable. This has become their inheritance, even if the assembly is non-profit. My colleagues motivation to work is not financial gain, but the need to retain self and familial respect. To leave the nursery is to render the work of your parents ultimately fruitless, something that a collective, tradition-bound society is VERY slow to do.
Something about the ownership of the products and well-being pleases my spirit. I think about Marx's criticism, or observation, about the effects of industrialization. Marx noted that humans became alienated from the fruits of their labor, because in modern socities the end product is not associated with the anonymous factory worker or person in an office. Often humans when feel alienated from their work in more developed locals.
With Abou's words I saw connection to his product, his co-workers, and his offsprings; Abou is far from alienated from his environment. I don't know what this implies for other lives, but for my own life it stokes my desire to remain emotionally-tied to my labor and its outcomes. Abou's life suggests to me the importance of thinking about one's actions in how they will affect the world or one's offspring seven generations from now. When we see how we are connected to a picture bigger than our own self-portrait, a self-respecting, world-respecting person may begin to choose to act and think in ways that do not always go along with "normal" cultural values. And perhaps, just maybe, one will even find some developing a greater sense of self- and world-respect.

Change is difficult

2008-12-21T11:56:00.000-08:00

From my xanga blog- xanga.com/jodopop

So, I have started writing on the gmail blog, but it is not the same as the long-standing relationship I have with this-here blog and those who read here. I am more honset, and comfortable here.
Anyhow, so now I am in Benin, and I am wondering what int he world did Seth want to send me, but never ended up sending? And I am wishing that I could ask him this in person, and at the same time wishing I could ask many people about there lives in person or on the phone. I want to ask how are you, who have you loved or been loved by recently? Yes, these things interest me, they help me to understand a person's true well-being.
But I am in Benin, missing people, but trying to love this place. It is true, it is difficult to love a new place, to change environment and people all so quickly as life in Peace Corps has led to. Haha resistance of change not only in the blog-life, but also the relational-life! Hmm, it is interesting!
Love you all much, keep me updated!

City life

2008-12-06T17:35:00.000-08:00

Why hello there...
It's been awhile, hasn't it! I've been living at my post. Generally I have lots of work.
This time I'm getting to go to training is actually much welcomed, because really it is like a little vacation. I'm finding I'm something of a workaholic if left to my own devices.
I'm now in the large city of Parakou. As I headed into town there was this almost fear and wonderment too that creeped up on me. I was fearful of the change from the limited development in Kalale to much more developed Porto Novo (going there tomorrrow) and I saw it'd be even harder going back to the US in a couple of years. But it is good, i go indeed enjoy the city luxuries, of good food and lots of types of bon bons! :)
The wonderment definitely came from the cities pletifulness - it is absolutely amazing. I don't know what I think about it. It's so cool, but seems unnecessary and foreign maybe? What changes have taken place in my view of material things? Am I less materialistic numerically, but more lustful or desirous towards "creature comforts?"
I guess we'll see!
I'm really loving seeing my Peace Corps friends, they're such a blessing to me. I look forward to seeing more tomorrow, but for today the 5 or so good friends that trickled in was just right numerically and in quality.

Thank God for today, and even the many random people I met and came to love today through the workstation guaardian!

Kalalé

2008-09-04T03:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it turns out this is difficult for me to find time to keep up with! But I am headed to Kalalé, Benin to serve as a Natural Resource Advisor. I leave for post on Monday!

I will be a few hours from internet, so will not be using the internet much! but I have contact information i would like to post, and information on the type of things I would enjoy recieving in a package!

Jocylin Pierro, PCV
Corps de la Paix
B.P.: 01
Departement de Borgou
Kalalé, BENIN (West Africa)

Package instructions are in the right hand columns! Please write, I will respond! I miss you eacha good bit!

My phone number is + or 00 229- i think that is the country code, and then 97 95 12 03. You can call or text tis number anytime!

For packages things I enjoy/need:
Calander for next year
Gummy Bears
headphones, mine are messed up now
drink mixes
large bottles of hand sanitizer
stationary
magazines- old ones are good, like and miss news a lot!
Rice Crispies
Water proof watch, mine is dying :-(
Macaroni and Cheese
herbal teas, you can stick them in baggies to save space :)
Trail Mix
Socks are always good too - they said I would not need them, it turns out I do! :)
Things for cleaning dishes, like rags
Anything you think or know I like would be wonderful really! Please include a letter, that is something I would really like as well!

Send all packages in padded envelopes for security reasons.

In other news my camera is broken, not sure why. Pictures are difficult to post from here, so you may have to wait two years to see them! The camera if the most expensive needs I have. Sending one as cheap as like 130 dollars, like an aiptek would work here though! Those cost more than that here. Maybe for Christmas or my birthday (Sept 15th) someone would want to send this one! ;)

Thank you for your love! God bless you each, I will be praying for and writing you!

guilt!

2008-08-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

I feel guilty that I haven't wrote i this thing, but I kind fo feel like no one reads it probably! I am doing well though!
I have been having difficulty with french, because I feel so full of it! I feel like I haven't had the opportunity to let the grammar and such settle in my mind! So I look forward to time to rest at Kalalé, to have alone time there to just study and think!
Perhaps it si presumptuous o me, but I think I am going to love my post, even though I have not yet seen it! Often times people arer discouraged by post visits, and leave the Peace Corps. I think ti will have the ooposite affect for me. I look forward tos eeign what my community is like, problems and all! I think problems tend to me rather than scare me! So we shall see how things develop, but I have faith that this community is my own!
Thank you dear God for giving me a place to belong in Benin!
And how are you my friend?
It is actually nice to post on here, maybe I will do it more often while I have the time! Peace and love to you all!

A look at Beninese Beliefs

2008-08-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I had an interesting conversation with one of my host Uncles. It went a little like this...

He mentioned that Jesus liked when people were equal, refering to economic status in particular. I agreed.
We went on to talk about Christianity in Benin and my personal beliefs. I mentioned I was not a big fan of a church group that mixed several religions. He was not sure if they had it so wrong though. He said that Africa began believing God was in all of nature. Then European Christianity came and said it is all about Jesus. Such an emphasis seemed to say the creation did not matter, that personal salvation was most important. He said that does not work in Africa, for we already had other beliefs. I agree and said you know I do not think God wanted nature to be destroyed thoughtlessly just because we were saved. I gave some scriptures where it says like when humans destroy the earth, the earth will come back and destroy us, scriptures that revealed how God wants us to care for the earth.
It was an intersting thing to think aboug, a sad one too. To think that some who share my faith in Christ do not mive it out in how they treat the same savior's earth. In John 3:16 it says he came to save the world; the original meaning of world in this context is all of creation, not just humans. God gave Christ for the whole world, he cares about all that has been created.

My African friends seeing the discrepancy between the behaviors of some Christians and what seems like what God would want, have turned to idols, or a pluralistic faith in search of people who live for a God of all creation. It is a bit sad for me, but so fascinating. I love these sort of conversations that challenge me and other Chrisitans to think are we really seeing and treating the world as God would, as God intended us to?

God guide your thoughts until next time! Love in Christ, Joc!

2008-06-26T01:51:00.001-07:00

Hey!

I'm headed to Benin, a nation in West Africa, in less than five days! I'm nervous, sad, and excited! The first 9 weeks there will be spent learning about the culture, safety, and perhaps most importantly learning French- the most widely used language there. By Sept. 5th I must be at a high intermediate - working fluency - level of French in order to be sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Benin was formerly a French colony. It gained its independence in the 1960s. The nation is considered one of the most stable democratic countries in Africa- so I should be quite safe there! :)

My job title is Community Natural Resource Advisor. I will be working to increase environmental action in the nation at the community level especially. I'll be working with, or helping to build environmental clubs probably, doing environmental education lessons in secondary and primary classrooms, and helping local people to develop natural resource management plans. I will be working with and for the people of Benin, and thus plan on spending much time getting to know those I will be serving. I look forward to hearing about what they believe their needs are, and living with them their stories.

I leave on the 30th of June for staging (a brief orientation of sorts) in Philadelphia. From there I will then be headed to Benin on July 3rd! As I get closer to the date my stress level has increased, but so has my excitement!

Please pray all will be ready in mind, body, and spirit! Thank you for your loving support!
I hope to post on here or send out e-mails at least once a month, and hopefully once every two weeks or so! So check back from time to time and get a peak at what it's like to practice being in a new place, the nation of Benin. :)

Peace, love and care in Christ, joc

Preparation

2008-06-09T23:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't even shared this with anyone yet... but I feel like writing!

Preparing for Benin is crazy with so little time! I feel like I'm trying to cut out anything extra at this point, because my time is so limited to prepare in general.

It's a little frustrating, but I really think all things will work out ok in the end. I've been fairly unfaithful about doing rosetta stone, for I had limited internet access while I traveled. So here I go - I am attempting to do 37 hrs or so of lang training in 3 weeks!

Pray please. It's crazy, but I already feel part of the loneliness of going on this grand adventure. There is so much to do on our own, so I just have to remember where I have come from, what I have done thus far. There is always hope through remembering who we are, who God has helped and enabled me to become. Hmm...

Okay, back to language training!

july 1st

2008-05-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

It seems I am headed to Benin.
It all is a bit overwhelming when you find out about 6 weeks before leaving. The paperwork along with finishing packing and getting ready for the road trip is a bit daunting.
Bummer for those who have some weeks to graduate and are headed off July 1st as well!
I started using Rosetta Stone. It's cool, but a bit frustrating as well. I do plan on getting my 40 hrs in, I need to acquire the language as quickly as possible!
Peace and blessings until...