We should have arrived back to France yesterday, but as I mentioned in my last post, it was decided rather last minute that we wouldn't travel as planned. Our flight through Morocco was cancelled anyway, and while we might have been able to find a direct flight instead, we felt it was best to stay here. France was just going into lockdown, so we weren't even sure how we'd get ourselves and our ten suitcases to Marc's parents' house, and we were very concerned that we might pick up the virus during our journey and then pass it to them. So far Benin has two official cases, and has already banned large gatherings and shut down places of worship. The government is encouraging people to practise social distancing and to wash their hands regularly. This may slow the spread down, but having seen what has happened around the world it's hard to believe it won't end up spreading here too, though that is of course our prayer.
So we are staying for now in a house on the SIM base in Parakou. SIM France has asked us to limit our contacts to protect ourselves and others, but we do have a lot of space, and the kids even have a "private" playground.
Oh, and it is mango season!
It was a bit hard for all of us to come to terms with the idea of not seeing family again as soon as planned, but we are in a familiar setting and have friends around (to be seen in ones and twos from a distance of a metre or so!). Many other people around the world are in much more difficult circumstances because of COVID-19, so we really can't complain. And we are just trusting that our times are in God's hands.
Now that the kids have got back into school - that at least never changes wherever we are - they have settled down into the routine again. And we're really just taking a day at a time. Not our preferred way to function, but these are strange days.
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