April 23 - 27, 2015
Bishop Ngozo
had visited an area in the west province near the Nigerian border, and
discovered a sizeable number of English speaking members of an EELC congregation
in the village of Bankambo. He asked if I would be willing to travel there and
introduce English liturgy to them. I agreed, and on Thursday 23 April 2015 myself
Assistant to the Bishop Adolph Telessem and Rev. Brian Palmer (ELCA
Missionary) departed for Bamkim.
Brian’s
was posted in Liberia, but due to the Ebola epidemic had been
temporarily assigned to Ngaoundéré Cameroon. Rev. Adolph Telessam was in charge
of Evangelism in the EELC.
On Thursday
23rd of April 2015 at 5:ooam we departed. The shortest route to the
West Province was south to the town of Tibati, but having driven often on that
road when I was responsible for four village churches, I knew that the road
could be even in Cameroon terms: very bad. Therefore we decided to take the
longer route via Meiganga, Tibati, Banyo to Bankim: approximately 520
kilometers one way.
.
We had been
given a five-day agenda wherein we will be presiding at church services and
giving presentations on Baptism, Christian Revival and an introduction to
English Liturgy. The first 135 kilometers is newly paved, but after that it is
broken potholed pavement of an ancient un-serviced road to Banyo. From Banyo to
Bankim the rolling jungle transforms into beautiful forest covered mountains
and verdant valleys. The planted crops are more well defined and the soil is much
darker, perhaps from more intense fertilization. The road itself is red earth
with the more treacherous cliff hanging scenarios paved.
Our first
night is spent in a guest house of the Lutheran Church in Bankim, after a prayer meeting
and a presentation on Revival. The following day we proceeded to Nyamboyang
where we met with church members and I spoke on Baptism. Later that day we
continued on to the village of Songokolong
where we dined and were offered a house
where we would spend the night. The next morning we travelled about 20 kms to the
village of Bankambo where we met the
officials of the congregation and were able to converse in English with many of
those present. Rev. Adolph was very familiar with this area as his father was
very much involved in helping to establish congregations in this area. We
would later stop at his former home in Somik and visit the grave site of his
father.
I gave a
presentation on Baptism and offered some direction in English Liturgy from the
Lutheran Book of Worship (the Green Book).
Sunday
morning Brian remained in Songokolong to preach at the church there, while Rev.
Adolph and I travelled back to Bankambo where I preached, and after enjoyed
sharing greetings and a meal.
 |
| The drive to Lingham |
We packed up
our bags in Songokolong and travelled a short distance to the small village of
Lingam and spent the night in the Lingam Palace (a very neat small Auberge).
Unfortunately Cameroon's revenge had caught up with me and straying from a toilet put me in jeopardy. I stayed in my room.
Monday
morning I was feeling much better, and we travelled about 50kms through beautiful mountainous country to the village of Mayo Njinga.
Our Companion Synod Program had financed a church roof on the
church of Mayo Njinga in 2008 and Valerie and I had personally visited them in
that year. We were warmly greeted by the congregation, especially the women,
who were deeply disappointed that Valerie was not with us (she is generally the camera person—few photos of me).
The long drive back to N'Gaoundéré
We drove all
day and into darkness arriving in Ngaoundéré.
Thank God
for a safe journey.
Hallelujah - Christ is Risen...
