Dear Prayer Partners,
Kari, Brenda Roman and I made it home safely yesterday from our trek to
Parakou. We covered a lot of ground in just a few days.
After arriving on Monday we visited the Parakou prison and were given a
guided tour by the prison superintendent. We didn't find any children
there, but I spoke briefly with 14 young men, under the age of 18, who are
kept in a building separate from the adults. I shared with them that
apostle Paul was a murderer, yet when he surrendered his life to Christ he
became a new person. I offered them an opportunity to give their lives to
Christ, but none responded. I was quite surprised that their conditions
were better than I'd expected. They have a clean living area of a small
cement courtyard and two rooms. In one room they sleep on mats on the
floor. The other room they are learning to sew men's shirts, make brass
rings and baskets to sell for their food.
We also toured the hospital clinic. Later, after leaving the prison, we
discovered that in the main part of the prison an entire family, husband,
wife and little children are incarcerated.
Monday night Alima, my African sister, and I went to visit one of her
family's houses due to the sudden death of her cousin.
Alima lives near us in the Cotonou area, but had traveled up to offer her
love and support. As we sat on a mat in the darkness of night and observed
20 children practicing their memorization of the Koran and women right in
front of us kneeling in prayers to Allah, we prayed. Alima's entire
family,
excepting her mother, are Moslem.
Tuesday morning we visited Brenda's Assembly of God project to rescue girls
that are being forced into marriage or that are orphans. Forty-five girls
learn sewing, cloth weaving and machine knitting on the compound. Most
give
their lives to Christ before their three year stay ends!
Tuesday afternoon Kari and I visited a private deaf school in Parakou. I
nearly couldn't get her to leave, her feet were cemented there the moment
we
arrived! Her whole life shines as she shares love with deaf children. The
school has four classes of students. Kari spoke to them all in French
sign,
told a little about herself, asked them their names and then we encouraged
them to follow Jesus.
Wednesday morning we jumped out of bed before dawn and headed back home.
~Thank you so much for praying for our trip! We were able to investigate
ministries and learn important facts that will help shape directions for
the
future.
With love,
Barbara and Kari
Barbara J. Singerman
Author of Beyond Surrender
Serving the Peoples of Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire