Arriving in Benin - Containers of Hope and Healing

We arrived in Benin this morning!  

Arriving into a new country is tremendously significant.  It's very nearly overwhelming to try and wrap one's mind around what exactly it is that we're pulling into the port to do. It's quite emotional....quite powerful...quite humbling...quite a reminder of how very much we need God and how we can do nothing without Him. 

We were standing up on Deck 8 this morning around 9 as the ship was maneuvered so very carefully into her berth, and I said to my friend Michelle, "Ships do this every day...coming in and out of ports....but this is so much more significant..."  She's a wise, brilliant one.  She replied (in her beautiful South African accent), "We aren't here for a quick stop to offload containers filled with goods.  We're here for months because we need to offload hope and healing."

We have containers of hope and healing to share with God's beloved people of Benin.  In fact, we are the containers.  

Truth on the wall outside of the Preschool Classroom of the Academy 

The kids have been studying Benin 

Benin looks like a turkey leg...or a key...depends on which map you're looking at. 

The Benin flag was raised on the ship this morning as we entered Beninoise waters

The Advance Team awaiting our arrival this morning

Sidling up to the dock

A view from the dock

And what's more overwhelming than pulling into a new berth space and seeing in person the tangible results of prayers and dreams and hundreds of hours of hard work? What's more overwhelming than knowing you're pulling into the ship parking space that will be your home for the next ten months?  What's more overwhelming than thinking about what it really means to unload hope and healing?

What's more overwhelming is the fact that God has been bringing hope and healing to Benin long before we arrived...and He'll continue to bring hope and healing after we're gone -- but for this sweet season, we have the honor and privilege of joining in with Him in bringing hope and healing to the people of Benin.

Surely there will be more to come.