Greetings from Benin!

It has already been 18 days since I left Canada and for most of you this is the first you have heard from me! I have not been able to access the internet until now. It was a surprise to discover that here in Bembereke access to the internet is next to impossible and it is a funny site to see us walking around our house holding up our laptops. On a good day we are lucky to find one spot where we will have reception and even then it takes at least 10 minutes to load a single page! There is a certain amount of frustration because it will be difficult to keep in contact with you as much as I had hoped but I will be trying to make frequent blog posts and to occasionally send emails so you will know how I am doing out here in “the boonies”! I have a mailing address so this is your opportunity to send me snail mail!! (It takes about 4 weeks). I am including my contact information below so that you will be able to contact me. Please send me your contact information so that I can send mail/call you too!

Amy Sawatzky

HEB UEEB/SIM

B.P. 28

BJ-Bembereke

Rep. du Benin

West Africa

Amy’s cell phone #: 00229-96-34-94-03

I will post a real update soon, but in the meantime please pray for:

-          -Swift learning of French but also to learn some Bariba and Puehl so we can communicate with the patients the majority of whom do not speak French at all

-          -For good relationships with the hospital staff

-          -For a smooth transition as we officially start working on Monday, Oct. 17 (I will be working in the pediatric unit and Charity is in the medical unit)