16
July 2013
Hello to all of you,
Yesterday was a very unusual day. All of the missions
were given some direction to provide or make available more zone activities on
a regular basis. So about once a quarter a zone (about 12 missionaries in
our mission) will have some kind of activity. Like playing basketball, or
going somewhere or to the beach. Benin and Togo are not teeming with very
many interesting places to go like in the U S. In the U S they can go to
museums, they can go to Mormon Night baseball, they go air craft carriers, they
go to state parks, and they can visit the Empire State Building etc. None
of that exists here in the cities of Lome nor Cotonou. Our two cities are
concrete and dirt. But, this one zone was informed about some valley near Porto
Novo that was unique. It was told to them that there are only 2 valleys
like this in Africa. One of the valleys is in the Nile River drainage and
the other here in Porto Novo. This valley I am told by the member, who is
reliable, that this valley has rich and fertile soil. Most of Africa's
soil has been used over and over and over. There is no resting of the
soil for a season like in the US. We have winter and the soil rests.
Well they put together a zone activity with the member's help.
Francine and I were the bus drivers. The location is 80 km (50
Miles) away. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get there. This means we
had good roads for Africa. The member got us to the valley and sure enough it
looks great. But, what do we do now that we have seen it. I
suggested to this member that maybe we could find a road on one of the hills of
the valley so that we could hike for a while. We went back across a
bridge and found a path that we might take. So we did. As we walked
we found a river on our left side. We walk about 1 km and could see a
small village. It has about 25 members. The children came to greet
us, a little timid at first. Then we shook their hands. It was
obvious that they hadn't seen very many white people and one or two had never
seen a white person. Three women came to see what was going on and then two men
came and met with us. The member visited with them. And they were
friendly enough. They spoke Fon, one of many tribal languages. So, I
asked if we could visit the village. They said yes and they would take us
to the river. We walked into the village which was right next to a river.
Not the same one we saw we hiked next to on our way in. The hike
was not extreme in the least. It was more like a stroll along an
irrigation ditch. This river was about 100-150 yards wide. We did a
little looking around and visited and asked questions and took pictures.
One of the elders from Scotland asked about animals and they said that there
were crocodiles. I couldn't confirm if this was a current sighting or in
the past. They did say that their used to be many crocs but they were
hunted and are nearly gone. They told me that they had a farm across the
river. I asked what they grew, maize, beans, casaba, etc. I asked if I
could go to the farm when I came back. They said yes.
The river was about 5 to 6 feet (2 meters)
below the bank. In the second raining season (about September) the river
generally will rise about three feet (1 meter) above the river bank. Wow,
would this be an impressive sight to see! I hope to go there then as
well. I then examined their huts and sure enough they have been built up
on bricks or mounds of dirt so they won't be flooded. They then get to
the road by canoe. If this is the case then I can see why this would be
such a fertile valley.
I took several pictures and they said that
they would love a copy when I came back. We found two or three species of
birds that I haven't seen. I am sure that there is a lot that I didn't
observe. I also found a couple more butterflies and flowers back to the river.
They are sandwiched between two rivers. We will look on Google
earth to see where we were. They do not have any water, other than the
river and they do not have any electricity. This village, though small,
is what one we might think of when we read about African villages.
The valley was very beautiful. The earth
is full and there is enough, and to spare.
As I asked the missionaries if they enjoyed
the trip without exception they thought this might be the best activity they
had. One of the new elders said; this is a most welcome relief, it came
at a good time for me.
One more thing, apparently we are in a severe
drought. This is the second year in a row with this year being more
severe. From what I can piece together the crops for this harvest will
yield very little. Even if we got rain now, it wouldn't help for the
current crops and of course would benefit the next crop. Things to grow
year round but even so, there are seasons. Not like in the US or Canada
nor Europe, but seasons when things grow better than others.
We are getting ready to occupy a new branch
building in Cococodji in the next week or two. Remember, this area was
opened for missionary work in Feb/Mar. The first group meeting was held
in May. There were 47 in attendance. From the very start the room
we met in was not able to hold the number who attended. Last week there
were 110 in attendance with 35 inside and 75 on the patio. It is a
marvelous thing to see the literal fulfillment of prophesy. The gospel is
being taken to the whole world.
We are now preparing the required paper work
to organize a Stake in Togo. I wouldn't be surprised that this will be
ready by the end of the year. I don't think that I will be here for the first
stake in Benin, but just 3 months after we complete our mission and just before
the President has completed his assignment, there could be a Stake in Benin.
All of a sudden, it seems as there has been
several illnesses. Most can be treated like the flu. I hope they
get over it soon.
As reported we are having 24 missionaries go
home over the next 2 months, 6 left this past week. I thought we would
drop down the missionary count of when I first arrived (about 90). But,
as of yesterday when the final 6 of the 24 go home, the next week we will get
16 new ones and with the other 6-8 we will be at 104. It now appears as
if we will climb to 120 over a period of time.
Well, the elders are faithful in these trying
circumstances.
Elder
& Sister Semken
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| Elder Layton was not in attendance because he is in TOGO :) |
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| Oume River (courtesy of Elder Kimzey) |
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