Our Mission experiences from Canada into Cameroon ...: February 2015

"Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us."

The village of Ndom, visiting in friendship and hospitality !

We arrived exactly one month ago in Yaoundé, the capital city in Cameroon, to great hospitality...
Three days later we were introduced to our new "home" away from home in Ngaoundéré — Walls, chairs, table, a lamp and a bed. I've scrounged in the container to find all my favourite baking items and my missing coffee pot. It makes me realize how much we have at home in Canada - way too much!

Jack is probably studying French...

I treasure and appreciate my belongings here, temporary they may be, but home at present, and that is where the heart is...

We live in a very tight community this year — much more walking to get to some of our meetings. All gates/doors are locked with guards waving you through if in a vehicle or walking, you pass through a pedestrian gate. They are always pleasant and smiling - they know us. It is sad that security has to be so tight but it is also comforting. Another form of hospitality - they care and guard all of us for 24/7.

Killer Bees are gone...

Free roaming goats across the way

The Dust Raker

Barren looking Franipani breaking into bloom

Beautiful purple Jacaranda and scarlet Flamboyant trees coming into bloom

A brood of chicks in our back yard

Arriving in Ngaoundéré with the flu/influenza was not great but we are both healthy now. The very dry conditions will continue another six weeks at least — Harmattan winds off the Sahara leave everything in red dust - our furniture - clothes - skin and nasal passages. The rains bring life back to the desert like condition.

Rooster at front door

Goats at back/side

The Imam is calling for the last prayers as I write this. The first calls for prayer can start as early as 4a.m. but generally around 5:30a.m. — this year I hear the church bells tolling also at the same time, reminiscent to Torjborg, bless her soul, gonging on the tire rim at the Hospital Church. Three for the Father - three for the Son + three for the Holy Spirit. We pray for peaceful solidarity. We have many Muslim friends, they greet us warmly with hand shakes and hugs.

Jack's Trip to Ndom ... the Fire

I heard the news of the grass and brush fire that had smoldered and perhaps been reawakened to feast on the houses in the village of Ndom early in the morning two weeks ago on February 28th.

What made this news significant was it was the place where our station administrator, Mr. Elie Sanda was born and raised — family members live there in fact his brother is the chief of the village. Ndom is approximately 90 kms north of Ngaoundéré.

I was also upset to hear this news, as it was one of the villages we had visited/preached/baptized many children in, in 2013.

I accompanied Mr. Sanda and three of his brothers that same day we heard the devastating news. The village of Ndom is situated on a rise in the land where the scenery surrounding it is very beautiful.

The blackened mud brick homes, with both wood and grass thatched roofs have collapsed in a charred rubble of ashes — where is the beauty now?

A village home owner - guides us past the blackened former homes (30 houses) - describing the losses with saddened face and voice. It is difficult to imagine what extreme loss these people have experienced... Everything lost in such a short period of time — all personal possessions along with their stored crops.

My thanks and prayers to Elie Sanda and his family in allowing me to grieve with them while in Ndom. Thankfully there were no injuries and that the fire was contained before additional homes were perished.

Centuries ago it was discovered that when flames devoured the dried brittle grass, the new green growth prospered greater than ever. The new growth that emerges and the rain that returns changes the environment to a luscious productive garden.

Our prayers for Ndom and their community is much the same — that good will overcome devastation to give them a brighter future with thanks to God...

Shopping — Packing — for Kids Helping Kids on February 1, 2015

The MNO Synod of the ELCIC is a Companion Synod with the EELC/HP in Cameroon.

MNO: Manitoba Northwest Ontario — ELCIC: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

ELCC/HP: Evangelical Lutheran Church Cameroon/Hospital Protestant

One of our Programs within this Companionship is the Kids Helping Kids Orphan Program. Funds have been donated to finance up to 65 children, ages three to eighteen with at least a bi-monthly food supplement — funds also guarantee each child is attending school along with emergency medical care.

Our Red Bean/Ground Nuts vendor - you can also buy grilled Soya

Jack waits to load 6 bags Rice + 4 boxes Oil in Grand Marché shop

Going down the road to get Yellow Maize

We head out in the Land Cruiser at 9 a.m. on January 26th to meet Fanta Gaknone to do the bi-monthly shopping of food for the Kids Helping Kids Orphan Program and their handout scheduled for Sunday, February 1st. Fanta is a good negotiator, she acquired the best quality and price - our white skin promotes an escalation in at least the price.

Fanta completes the purchase of red beans

Purchasing was completed at 12 noon — 300 kg of Riz, 100 kg of Haricot Rouge, 200 kg of Arachide (ground nuts aka peanuts), 300 kg Jaune Maize and 60 bottles of Huille.

Driving into Petite Marché

Many of the streets in the Marchés are narrow and extremely crowded. Small motos zoom past you on either side and the streets are already congested with pedestrians going in both directions. A driving nightmare!

We continued to the Hospital and the packing area to unpack the vehicle.

Hey man, what are doing up there - unpacking...

The get together with the KHK on February 1st

They love doing sketches/skits to us...

Hygiene packs: toothbrush/paste/floss with facecloth & soap

A little street scenery...

The Trench Val fell in across from the Coffee Shop

A Trip to Garoua Boulaï

Washing clothes in river - laying clothes on ground to dry

A school practicing for Youth Day on February 11th

Leonél our Baka (Pygmy) student at GB Bible School

Blessing of the Bicycle and Motos for Pastors last Friday

It was great getting to know you Cindy & Steve - from Global Health Ministry
On our way to the Millennium Station Church

We were warmly welcomed at the 10 a.m. Fulfulde service by the People and the Bishop. He recalled his stay and visit in Pinawa last June - "Beaucoup animale sauvage!"