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!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
City life
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!
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!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Kalalé
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!
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!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
guilt!
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!
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!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
A look at Beninese Beliefs
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!
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!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
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
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
Monday, June 9, 2008
Preparation
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!
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!
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