During the past six years God has used my gifts and abilities to work with my local church helping women in prison see their potential, purpose and destiny in Jesus Christ. Despite their current situation God wants them to know that God loves them and desires to use them to reach others for Christ. The Lord called me in November of 2009 to take a leap of faith and opened a door for me to travel to Africa. Inside of me laid emotions of anxiety and excitement as I took my first trip to Africa. I learned a lot of information about Benin, its history and origins of the slavery and voodoo. Traditional religious beliefs are professed by about 60% of the population. Islam is the religion of about 15% of the people, most of who reside in the north. Christianity, especially Roman Catholicism, is the religion of about 20%, the great majority of whom live in the south.

"My journals take note of the pride and strength that illuminates from the people of Benin in their daily lives. A three year old boy and an eight year old girl walked out of a shack house with so much confidence in their posture while living in so much poverty."

When I first arrived, I landed in the largest city in Benin which is Cotonou (pronounced ko-too-new) and is also the capital. From there I experienced a seven hour drive to Benin after spending two days in Cotonou. I was escorted by 3 locals: whom would prepare us for our arrival to share love with the Nago, Fulani and Baraboo tribes. During my drive I documented the many scenes and events along the way to our training. They served as reminders to me about the many things we take for granted here in America. I saw a family sitting in a cinder block house doing other woman’s hair. This brought forth images of my large apartment that I often complained about; feeling ungrateful all I could do was ask the Lord for forgiveness. My journals take note of the pride and strength that illuminates from the people of Benin in their daily lives. A three year old boy and an eight year old girl walked out of a shack house with so much confidence in their posture while living in so much poverty. It made me see the spiritual strength in the people of Benin. The depression, lack, and shortage of clean running water were sights not easily forgotten. Or the fact that many of their homes possessed no outside protection from the elements; some shacks could be seen straight through with no walls or separations. But in the midst of it all, there existed a strong sense of entrepreneurship, drive, and community among villagers and business owners in market squares. Villagers produced paintings, jewelry, food, sculpture, and pottery with the hopes of generating revenue to support not only their immediate family, but an entire village.

We were taught every day phrases and customs in order to be able to interact with locals. I learned customs such giving three kisses on the cheek is known as "Bees". Or words of endearment such as "Jolie" which means pretty or beautiful; a word that my husband has now incorporated in his everyday speech when referring to me. Traveling from village to village and observing their reverence for God and his word...it was just a breath taking experience. When we visited a church where the youth were totally engaged in singing, dancing, and praising God. Their bibles were not found lying on floors with pages ripped out from them; nothing can be placed on top of God’s sacred book, and it is an insult to keep the bible lower than heart level. In their culture it is a sign of disrespect to lower God’s word from man’s heart. I visisted another place called Parakou (pronounced para-koo) where we were asked to spend some time with University students handing out bibles; here in Parakou resides the second largest University in Benin and the first largest residing in Cotonou. Something I found out while in Benin: Did you know that out of the 52 ethnic groups only 5 have the complete bible; 24 of that 52 only have a portion of the bible? This means that very few people in this region of the world have the full knowledge of God’s word. When the two students received God’s word, they shouted with intense happiness and joy about receiving "manna" from the Lord; a simple bible…something that in America is taken for granted.

"This limited perspective on Black culture is part of the reason why one of the Fulani tribe members asked me "why my skin was black if I was from America?"

Visiting various tribes in Benin provided me with a reality that many have not been exposed to Black culture through missionaries who have visited them in the past; who are mostly Caucasian men or women. This limited perspective on Black culture is part of the reason why one of the Fulani tribe members asked me "why my skin was black if I was from America?" I was quite shocked when he asked this, but his question made me realize that Blacks in America need to increase their presence on the mission field; especially in Africa where so many have very little understanding of Black culture in America. One of my travel buddies named Cheryl, happened to be the only black woman alongside myself during my trip to Benin. Our translator explained to him that when the slaves were sold off some went to various places in America and in the Caribbean. This experience taught me that as a Black culture we must increase our presence in Africa to help tribes connect their history with American history; bridging the gap and connecting the missing pieces.

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