A New Country...Again!

We were very surprised to get Bailey's email today and to find out that he is no longer in Togo.  He was driven to the border today and picked up by the senior couple serving in Benin.  He is now serving in Cotonou Benin and is very excited about it.  So...now it's time for us to learn more about another country.  (We just BARELY hung up the Togo flag outside!)

So...Benin is a developing country and is located right between Togo and Nigeria.  The city where Bailey is, is located right near the ocean.  There are only three branches of the church in all of Benin...so there is a lot of work to do.  There are about 9 million people in the country.  It is a tropical, sub-saharan nation and highly dependent on agriculture.  The annual rainfall is about 51 inches and the country has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons per year.  The average temperature ranges from 75 to 85 degrees, with very high humidity.  If he's lucky, Bailey will see elephants, lions, antelopes, hippos and monkeys!

There are about 42 African ethnic groups that live in the country and the literacy rate is below 40%.  Women are particulary subject to illiteracy.  AND...I won't write about all of the scary things I read!  (More reasons for us all to keep Bailey in our prayers.)  :)