More sightings on the road

Our travels often give us good photos. Here are a few more:



Underneath the artwork it says, in English despite this being a Beninese lorry, "Horn Be For Over Taking". In case you're wondering, in the Benin Highway Code it does say that if you are overtaking someone you should sound your horn. Presumably because so many people either don't have mirrors or don't use them!



This one amused me. Above it says (in French this time) "Ya Allah, separate me from all that separates me from you" and underneath (in English) "Bob Marley, One Love".



This was a rather scary lorry, travelling on the wrong side of the road, and - we hope - probably trying to find a place to stop to sort out its leaning load! I asked Marc to stay as far from it as possible as we passed it!



These Bariba princes rode past the SIM compound in Parakou while we were there, with a loud banging of drums. Unfortunately I came out of the gate a bit too late, but even from behind they are impressive. The prince over on the right saw me, and did a small dressage (African style!) display which I videoed ... unfortunately the video is 23MB so there's no way I could upload it for you!

Women's Day

Last Sunday was Women's Day at church. It is organised by the central leadership of our denomination, and so at least in theory, all the UEEB churches are celebrating Women's Day on the same day.

The Wednesday before was a Bank Holiday. I was just pruning some bushes early in the morning - the only bearable time to do it, but I'm rarely free to do so - when the pastor's wife arrived. She told me that the woman from our church who had been supposed to preach at the Women's Day service was feeling unwell, and had pulled out. And they didn't know who on earth they could ask at such short notice...! I didn't feel I had much choice but to accept!

Usually women don't preach in our church, but Women's Day is an exception. I was given the title "The wife is the happiness of the home" ... at least that's the closest I can get to translating it ... which didn't seem to be directly taken from the Bible! I was also given the other woman's notes, so I started as she did with "why God created the woman" but then continued differently.

None of the women felt capable of translating, so I asked Marc to do it, and in fact gave him a written translation in French in advance (in case he didn't understand my Monkolé well enough!).

The service was a very joyful one. The usual choir is replaced by a choir made up only of married women, and they had prepared some fun sketches as well. And I think the sermon went well. It was hard to get any kind of feedback as I spoke (Marc says that is usual) but was impressed with how quiet it was, despite all the children being present.

Here is the board from that service. (I'm "Ilari" - Hilary pronounced the French way and then transliterated.)