Bonne Année - Hallelujah - Praise the LORD

 Village and their church

Intern Jeremy receives first gifts...

Francois loading - Etienne, David & Jack are ready

Valerie, Etienne, David, François and myself are in our 4WD Prado about 75 kms east of Ngaoundéré and have just emerged from a cow path onto what I believe is a real road (there are ruts). We are all tired, having just finished visiting the ninth village (one more to go - in two days) of this Saturday, offering church services which included baptisms, confirmation of candidates and communion. Following the church service the folk would then 'greet' us with a procession of presentation of gifts along with joyous singing and dancing.

Run for your life

Evening is swiftly approaching and we have one more village to visit before heading for Tello where we will spend the night and then participate in an evening outdoor movie and three church services on Sunday morning.



The roads and countryside is dusty with
the harmatton winds off the Sahara

This is the dry season and it has not rained since the end of October: the rolling savannah country that we are in looks extremely dry in contrast to the green of the sparse trees that dot the landscape. There are hundreds of longhorn cattle grazing and if I were unaware of my location, I would guess Texas or Alberta. We descend into a valley where more trees are flourishing and the river flowing through provides the tree leaves with a more vivid green. On the river bank is our next village who through the wonders of Africa’s cell phone magic (much, much cheaper here) know that we are arriving. We are greeted as the sun is setting and immediately prepare for the service of baptisms, confirmation and communion. Pastor Etienne Fomgbami (Assistant to the Bishop of the EELC) leads the congregation in Communion and the Confirmation Service and I perform the Baptisms. When we depart from this village we will have baptized at least 50 babies and adults and confirmed 30.



Jack baptisms of babies, children - adults ...
Pr Etienne Fombami confirms

After the service we would like to depart as darkness approaches but the people have prepared a meal for us, as is the case in every village that we visit. Tomorrow, Sunday, we will be fed 5 times between 7am and 2pm. I was worried here as Valerie had disappeared, but she had been led to one of the homes to use the toilet. She returned surrounded by singing children and ladies.

Jack has his Baptism message translated into Fulfulde

Our Evangelism venture began on Friday morning at the EELC Bureau in Ngaoundéré where we loaded up the Prado with a projector, screen, DVD player, speakers and a new 2.3kw generator (a gift from our MNO Synod via the Companion Synod Program). We purchase gazoil for the car, bread for communion, and Val had made a lunch of baguette egg-salad sandwiches for everyone.



Sunday morning after spending the night in the home of church members (be sure to travel with a flash-light and have matches for lighting a lamp) and eating the first of our five meals I had the privilege of preaching the sermon and then proceeding to conduct services in two more churches  in Tello.

 

 Val is being head wrapped

Finally we are heading for home. Val is still suffering from a sore neck and the mauvais route is not a recommended cure, but she is consoled by the fact that at every village we have received cadeauxs of chickens. We have eleven in a wicker cage on the roof of the car and a rooster and two hens in the car along with a big bag of avacadoes. Altogether we have visited 14 different churches in 12 villages, and baptized 64 children and adults and confirmed at least 42 candidates, and ate a lot of meals (Cassava/fou fou - rice - rice with macaroni - spagetti sans sauce - chicken in sauce - beef in sauce - bush fowl) thanks to the generosity of people who in most instances offered beyond their means.



Child of God - I baptize you...



Singing their Praise

Children's choir at Tello

We say goodby to Jeremy's children with Pr Etienne & David

We are thankful for the opportunity and privilege of being able to worship and share in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ - we are ONE in God's family.

 

Bénédictions de Dieu...

Jack & Val

Children say 'Bye Bye'

 Thank you God for a great trip - we're back...

Alive for now but no for long - SO LONG... til next time

2011 - A YEAR AT A GLANCE...

Jack and I look back over this past year - there are many memories...

January:

After a wonderful meal at Jennifers with five other Pinawa couples we enjoyed a 'night cap' and a Welcome into 2011 (well almost at 12) at our house.

the ladies of Pinawa Lutheran

Jack continued to work in Pinawa Lutheran as Interim Pastor - his confirmation class and a few members presented the play "Report to Herod" following a pot-luck supper. It was well received.

February:
With no plans to return to Cameroon or Guyana, we decided on a new mission call - let's go to New Orleans and 'Camp Restore' to help in the endless restoration following Katrina six years past. What an experience with the 17 others from St. Paul's Lutheran in Steinbach. The bus ride was long but filled with friendship and fun along with several eating trips to the Cracker Barrel.

 Group with Gregory - well done!

March:
We said our sad goodbyes to Hector our brother-inlaw and then Granny Mabel. But when one door closes another opens - we welcomed Mae Rose into our family on March 17th.
We started ripping up all the carpeting in our house...

 a wonderful Mom  and brother

April:
Our home has a much brighter look with the newly laid hardwood flooring throughout.
The Lenten season was busy in church - Shrove Pancakes, mid-week soup and services, Maundy Thursday Seder meal followed by Easter.
We left for Flower Mound TX  following the Easter service - travelled through flood waters to enjoy two weeks with Glenn and Cathy - ending with a great Mother's day.

May into June:
All my seedlings and fish in the sunroom were anxiously awaiting planting outside. Gardening another of my passions took over. Plans to return to Cameroon - flight plans with Siama were made for October 10th departure.

July:
The Frederick - Leddy - Iaria families all headed for Walker, MN to celebrate Mae Rose's baptism with Papa Pastor officiating. What a FUN time - bought a new Honda CRV for the trip.

 Great Papa Pastor baptizes Mae Rose

Val's mom, Mae's butterfly square gets made into a pillow

August:
Glenn's birthday present to himself: a long awaited log home in Walker, MN. We look forward to many trips to enjoy the fishing, swimming and family time. August was hot this year ---

September:
well into September!! Jack busily prepared his Confirmands for their Confirmation on Thanksgiving Sunday. We were shocked on September 20th when Jacqueline suffered a heart attack - after a double stent/stint - she started into her road to recovery - now talking of doing the half marathon in May with Tracy in Duluth.

October:
Great Thanksgiving/Confirmation - family time at Lori's - driving departure on 10th with Snooky, our dog and 8 large fish for Allan's in Georgian Bay country. We departed there on the 17th - arrived in Yaounde on 18th - took train on 19th - arrived in Ngaoundéré on 20th. Tired but happy - we were well welcomed...KHK's welcome time with singing, dancing and sketches on the 23rd.

Lian - Kaeli - Pastor Jack - Mats

November:
Back in the mission groove - Jack with evangelizing, me with Kids Helping Kids and both of us talking with women, preparing the way for Lisa and Kelly the end of January.

December:
Many concerts - church services at this time generally last up to four hours - visits to and from friends - of course the gala Christmas Fête with the KHK's. We had a great time - the three wise men even dropped in for a visit. They loved learning and singing 'Jingle Bells'.
We spent three days the 27-29th at a safari game reserve close to the Chad border called Bouba Njida. We saw many animals - the biggest giraffe we've ever seen - many antelope types, the biggest of all being the Derby Elan - the rear quarters of a lion in the distance, but we heard them throughout the two nights there. Needless to say we stayed in our beds and listened.

giant Derby Elan





We ushered in the New Year with William, Mary and their daughters Viola and Wilma and on the eve with mission friends for a pot-luck and games. Micah really enjoyed the paper ribbons and balloons - we with the 'Slap' game (the name ?).

a motion shot of the fun...

Bonne Année

May you ALL experience

PEACE - HAPPINESS and GOOD HEALTH  in 2012

avec les Bénédictions de Dieu...

Jack & Val