Our Mission experiences from Canada into Cameroon ...: Companions in Christ + another four day trip

Youth Procession in Garoua Boulaï

The KHK's favourite passtime

Sorry for this late posting - we have been extremely busy - the internet has been up and down and the weekend had us in a blackout... Nevertheless, here we are.

The ELCIC distributes $5,000.00 each year from a trust fund to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon (ELCC) Bible School in Garoua Boulaï. The Bible School offers a two year course for men and women to train as Catechists.

The Catechists are the virtual leaders of many congregations: congregations may not see a pastor for long periods of time, as pastors have parishes that may have over 10 congregations (we know one that has 20+). After attending two school years in Bible School and graduating, the Catechist is usually assigned to one congregation and fulfills most of the duties of a pastor except for baptisms, confirmations and communion.

The usual formality is for the Catechist to be offered a house to live in and a garden plot to help sustain his/her family, as well as a salary of up to to 15,000cfa which is approximately $30.00cdn per month.

The Catechist, with two years of training including homiletics courses, prepares and presides at all church services wherein the pastor is not available. I have presided at churches in Cameroon where a pastor had not been able to be present for two years.

Valerie and I were invited to the Bible School in Garoua Boulaï from February 14-17th. They wanted to offer thanks as members of the ELCIC for the continued support which has taken place for over 15 years.

Paved roadways through a village and not...

We started out at ~ 10:40AM on the 14th - after our travel prayer, we set out of town to be so suprised by the great road. We travelled approximatedly two hours, arriving for a quick stopover in Meiganga where the EELC Seminary is located - we wanted to meet one of the ladies (in ordination track) who will be travelling to Canada hopefully in mid August. We found Philomene at her student's residence with her husband (also a student) and her very lively and friendly three year old boy. We arrived in Garoua Boulaï (GB) at 4:30PM.

Ordination Track

We were hot, dusty and tired - the two bedroom guest house where we all stayed, was most inviting for a short siesta before the Director's wife, Lydia and the Professor's wife, Rachel brought us our delicious supper meal. We thank these two women for cooking and serving us our meals for the days spent there.

That evening just before midnight we were awakened by the clap of thunder and bolts of lightening and the most refreshing sounds of a heavy downfall of rain... the first sign of heavenly moisture since our arrival. We haven't had a drop since then.

GB is located about 250kms south of Ngaoundéré (where we live on the EELC Mission Station). The border line of Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR) actually runs through Garoua Boulaï. The Canadian Embassy web page will continually offer warnings concerning the unstable political conditions of CAR and the need to practice caution in this area. There has been a rebel uprising over the past two months which has caused all of the ELCA missionaries in CAR to be evacuated. Some came and stayed here on the mission station - one, a pastor/nurse is still here and plans her return within the week. The others have returned as stability has returned.

The main tribe in this area is Gbaya, and proficiency in the Gbaya language is encouraged within the Bible School by offering Gbaya training. Valerie participated in a 1½ hour class with the spouses of the students (20 wives and 1 husband) - her head was aspin with the new Gbaya words, numbers - days of week and months of the year... Val: It was most interesting to see that not only are the catechists in class but, also the spouses — one man amongst all the women and their children.

The Assistant to the Biship, Pastor Etienne Fomgbami, Gashahun Nemomsa, an Ethiopian Evangelist and Jack attended a homiletics class. The request of the Bible School is the need of the new Gbaya Bible, few have them but, most do not.

Gashahun, who recently travelled and assisted us on our evangelism trip in the Mbé area, is awaiting stability in Mali to move his wife and two young children to Bamako where he will then be going to work with Pastor Ngayap Moise in Bamako, Mali to evangelize amongst the Fulani people. Our prayers are uplifted for Gashahun - he has been ill...

We visited four local churches in the GB area -

CAR in the foothills

a quick stop at the border just as twilight beckoned and the flags of Cameroon and Central African Repulic were being lowered — a very official ceremony. We did not tarry...no crossing for us.

The 21 Catechists of 20 men and 1 woman and their families are housed in homes that were built in the 70's. We were able to visit with each family at their homes and listen to some of their needs which included repairs to their houses and the need for new latrines.

We also visited with old friends from our long-term days, 1999 - 2003, the doctors, Solofo and Joeli. I, Val worked with Dr. Solofo in 2002 composing, designing and having a brochure printed and distributed re: SIDA/VIH (HIV/AIDS) in French, Fulfulde, Arabic and English printed. Jack taught and confirmed their two sons, Henri and Sitruka in 2002. They work tirelessly at the Garoua Boulaï Hospital - they emphasized with us the need of having a good potable well for the hospital water supply - in the form of a well - the present water supply is drawn from the city system and is often down.

We returned home on Sunday after Jack preached at the Station Church — it was also Youth Sunday. The road from Ngaoundéré to GB in the past was a tortuous drive, but what a difference the newly paved road makes - a few Kms to go after Meiganga to GB but, soon very soon all will be fini.

Road Mishap

Station News
A good Norwegian friend of ours, for 14 years to be exact, Jan Martin Stensaker, who as a missionary builder, has been coming to Cameroon for many years — collapsed while taking a photo of one of his projects 2½ weeks ago. He was eventually evacuated out via SOS Flying Doctors to Nairobi where his son met him, and then to Norway. Jan's skills in construction were well utilized over the years. The last report was that he was in hospital in Norway. Jan Martin is 87 years of age. Our prayers for Jan Martin.

With the dry, harmattan winds - many germs blow in also, many of our guests and missionaries have come down with malaria/other viruses, etc requiring health care. Jack, himself required medical care and testing within the past few weeks after suffering two hemorrhages of his left eye. What excellent care: would we have two medical doctors come right to our home? with total blood work and examination at the hospital the next morning. The verdict, change your malaria medication - Larium a no no, now he is on same as Val, Malarone - he was also told by his Infectious Specialist Doctor that he was indeed 'Normal' in all blood testings, even his cholesterol test.

Kids Helping Kids
Val has been busy - busy - busy with computer spreadsheets and packing of food, with Jack's help. We did the shopping of February 9th with Fanta, but packed last week on Tuesday,

Wednesday (6:30 AM), and Friday (in PM). Their sacks contain ~4 kgs of rice, 1 kg of ground nuts (peanuts), maize (corn) and powdered milk along with 1 litre of oil. The shipping container we store things in gets extremely hot by late morning.

Fanta's little 18 month old, David was sick with asthma all week in the hospital - she had to be with him night and day... the dry, dusty conditions at present are very difficult for him. Good news is, he is feeling much better.

William is in Beau, in south west Cameroon, where his wife is attending accounting classes - Mary gave birth to another beautiful little girl, Laurina. His growing family of three girls are adjusting to the new arrival, Wilma still wants her place in the bed, however. Viola who is 8, is trying to convince her that she wants her with her now, as company — will she persuade her 21 month old sister?

Jack spent three days in meetings - a prempt for the May meetings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Cross and Crown Lutheran Church
Jack had served as the pastor of Cross and Crown (CCC), the only English speaking congregation within the ELCC, here in Ngaoundéré from 1999-2003. He has been teaching Confirmation to seven students, twice a week for the past month. The classes will continue until Easter Sunday when baptisms and Confirmation will occur. Apparently this is a transition period for pastoral change for CCC. Jack will be preaching at CCC on March 10th and 31st. He has also been requested to lead a mid-week Lenten study which will commence this evening following Confirmation. Life is not boring...

Two young ladies hoping to come to Canada in mid August

We worshipped in the Hospital Church on Sunday at 10. We immediately went for the KHK get together.

The HIV testing and the food handout went very well - handled with great discretion and professionlism by the two hospital lab technicians. The children were tired - Jack, Fanta and I were tired (thanks to the three older boys that helped Jack with the handouts). I was with the Kids in the lab.

It was a long afternoon. Indeed a day well spent...