Our Mission experiences from Canada into Cameroon ...: DUST to WATER

Prière pour la PAIX dans la Familles et la Nation — la Paix de Dieu

Dust into Rain: Cool clear cleansing water...

We can put up with dusty conditions, difficult as it is—we were created from dust and will return to same.

But, to sustain life we must have water—we would hang onto life without food—water is a prime necessity!

Birds love the bird rock bath

Populaire we shop in + Dibadji Baguettes

Sunday market in a village

In the past two weeks we have experienced up to 10 days without water out of 12. On March 20th the heaven's opened with RAIN - for a first rain, it was bountiful! Problem being, we still had no city tap water - no shower - no laundering of clothes, we were still caked in the Sahara red dusts...

However, we are blessed here on the mission station in having an excellent well. The tap to this resource is to the front of our home. Multitudes of folk come with their containers. Women with babes on back - young boys and girls - little people barely walking, carrying their small plastic bottles - men filling huge containers to strap onto their motos or load into makeshift carts! One disparaging event had one person washing their car - really?

They carry these jugs / pails, whatever, mostly on their heads—especially the women and girls - tenacity making that also gives great posture. TRY it - can you balance even a small bowl on your head empty - not to say full of water!?

The tap is generally turned off at around 6PM (when dark) in the evening and on at 6AM, but desperate to be first in line - people arrive shortly after 5AM. Waiting for one's turn at the tap has become a time of fellowship - sometimes the wait can be longer than an hour. The children clamber in our small Frangipani trees like little monkeys. Their loads are heavy with containers - some are lucky to have a somewhat decent wheelbarrow or home made carts with bicycle tires for wheels. Fun to wheel around in during the long waits.

TODAY, we have water, the grass is green - the trees are in full bloom — JOY!

Justin loves doing the puzzle - it's coming aglong...

Tuesday afternoon of this week - cyclonic winds come from over the small mountains - introducing the coming of more rain. Thunder is closing in - quickly turning off all electronics. The stormy rains came - rivulets/streams running down the drive - alas the power went off—so did the water! Candlelight when dark - have you ever try to do a jigsaw puzzle with a flashlight? We then tried computer battery for the movie, 'Witness' - it lasted to the end. Older movie but a good one.

At 5PM yesterday we had a humdinger of a storm with gale force winds and pelting rain — we marvelled at the fierceness of the wind during the rain. Power and water stayed on.

Visiting children out front...

Our time is wending down - we have two long trips planned, one being a revisit to the Baka/Pygmy village. This year I want to sit and hear the stories of these lovely folk of the forest. We truly enjoy our remote village visits.

The Kids Program remains a joy for me—I just wish I had a better more controllable oven to bake their cookies.

Our last get together on the 15th of March ended with a condolence visit to young Guy's Grandmother. Her daughter and Guy's Mama had died the week before - we had prayed for her the last time we met. She lived in a small home close to the turn off to the station. The children crowded into the space - prayed for the family - the children prayed, so, so meaningful for us.

The best photo we could get in such small quarters

The rains and thunder have returned (1:04PM) - must close this blog down for now - more and photos to come... God Bless, Val — pardon mistakes it has not been proofed.

It is 4:14 - the storm has abated but the sky is still threatening rain...

Talking again of Guy's grandmother, a petite lady with a cheery demeanour—where would I be with ten grandchildren under my care, her husband dead also. Luckily, there was an older boy present, probably in his late teens. This visit reminded me of my first visit in early January of 2007 to another grandmother - she was caring for twenty grandchildren (the youngest in my arms, was 3 months old). "What do they call you", I asked - "Coco", she said. My great-grands call me Coco...

It was at this time in 2007 I was looking to work with children in need. After many meetings with doctors and social workers, the formation was in place for the Orphan Program: children left upon the death of a parent(s) or care-givers at the EELC Protestant Hospital in Ngaoundéré.
The Children are making Cards for Canada in the following photos: Dentists, etc...

At present we have approximately 60 children ages 3 to 18 in the Kids Helping Kids Program - affiliated with the ELCC Protestant Hospital and our ELCIC/MNO Companion Synod with ELCC Lutheran Church in Cameroon.

An Evangelism message from Jack...

I have been requested by the Assistant to the Bishop, Adolph Telessam - to preach in three village churches in the Meiganga area. Last Sunday morning Val and I departed Ngaoundéré at 5:30 AM for the 2½ hour drive south to Meiganga where we met my translator, Pastor Timothy - please call me "Tim".

Pastor Tim is the most likeable man you would want to meet. He is so full of energy that your pulse rate will increase in his presence.

In Bindiba - another 1½ hours drive to the west on a somewhat good road (pot holes to keep you alert). Bindiba is a village of about 1,000 people - 600 of which are Christian, mostly from the Gbaya tribe.

We are greeted with the usual round of handshakes by elders, catechist and others. A pray is said before processing into the church.

There is an ELCC book of worship - Liturgie, which includes the Confession and Absolution, Creeds, etc. The service includes hymns and songs from several choirs.

The village church service is a place to express one's faith as a community - a place to gather socially and a place where information is communicated to the congregation of past happenings and what will be - in the future. Their weekly Announcements can take up to ½ hour.

I present my sermon in English - Pastor Tim in Gbaya. I usually express myself with much arm and body movement which Pastor Tim does also: we make a great team!

Valerie had attempted to sit with the congregation but, was instantly escorted to the front up on pedestal with the Catechist and Pastors. Later she personally greeted all the ladies, girls - children and babes.

A meal as always was prepared for us of bush meat, rice, cassava. The bush meat of this meal was Guinea Hen—very good.

Bindiba and the donkeys

We departed Bindiba after special prayers for many individuals. We then stopped in the village of Kalady where I will be preaching on Palm Sunday. This was Pastor Tim's home village - so we visited some relatives.

After a short visit with the Lutheran World Federation team and a very nice salad lunch - we departed for home. We left at 5:30 and arrived back at 5:30 - a full church day.

We give thanks for our ELCA Toyota Hilux and another safe journey.

p.s. This Blog has been slow - as is the internet along with stormy weather

As we celebrate Passion Sunday tomorrow and follow into

Holy Week : Maundy Thursday - Good Friday