Voodoo Equals Insomnia

Here in Benin voodoo rules the life of everyone here. Unfortunately it also controls my sleep. The Beninoise find it necessary to celebrate from midnight to about 2 am. These celebrations include banging metal things together, yelling and honking their horn. Of course this only occurs after they have listened to the Muslim prayers that are pronounced over the loud speaker throughout the city. We are lucky enough to have one of these loud speakers just across the street from us. I feel so privileged.
Despite all of the above I do truly love it here in Porto Novo. The people here are very nice, and don't bother us very much. The locals are very respectful of the Jehovah's Witnesses here and the minute we say who we are, we are treated with deference. We live with 2 lovely French sisters. They have been so helpful and patient with us, and we have become fast friends.
We are doing the invitation work for District Convention that will be held in Foun Foun Sondji.  This is a 20 minute walk from our apartment.  So it's nice to ease into the ministry work with the invitations.  In the picture with this post my service partner, Elizabeth, is getting petrol.  She couldn't afford just gas, so they mix it with some sort of vegetable oil.  Talk about premium versus regular!  Never be surprised in Africa is my moto.

posted by Katie