A TRIP TO THE PAST...

Valerie and I had several goals to accomplish in our 2011-2012 trip to Cameroon. First and foremost was to establish our Orphan Program as a function of the EELC Protestant Hospital and to rearrange the transfer of funds from the MNO Synod. Thankfully we were able to accomplish both of the above, although there was a tragic aftermath. We had spent much of our time discussing our situation with the Program Coordinator of EELC’s medical programs. Unfortunately Bouda Lambert and his wife both lost their lives on (February 14^th 2012) in a horrific accident while driving on their moto.

WE REMEMBER BOUTA Lambert
 (the first hand-out for NMS 100 Orphans in December) 

Secondly we were invited to participate in two evangelism trips, which resulted in the presentation of two motos (small Honda Motorcycles) and a 2,4kw Generator from our Companion Synod Program. We had the experience of participating in evangelizing to the west of Poli near the Nigerian border and in the Tello district east of Ngaoundéré .

Last but not least we wanted to visit the village churches that we had served from 1999 to 2003. The arrangements for accomplishing this was continually postponed as other issues kept us busy until the 31^st of January 2012.

 The Village of Toumbouroum

Rev. Etienne Fomgbami arranged for us to coincide our visit with the visit of the parish evangelist who we picked up in the village of Toumbouroum. Our last visit to Toumbouroum was in 2003 when we had offered gifts of communion ware.

 Their church is in need of at least a thatched roof...

We departed Ngaoundéré at 7am with Evangelist David and Rev. Katharine Bergbusch (a Canadian visitor) and proceeded to meet the Parish Evangelist in Toumbouroum.

The Evangelist told us that they fondly remembered us, and the communion ware.

Despite the fact that two of the villages had moved to new locations and new church buildings, we were able to visit the congregations of Koum Kilba (moved to Ilaoukobong), Marma (moved to Bawa) and Likok.

Ring out for worship

Koum Kilba - Ilaoukobong congregation 

Elder in white - Evangelist in red shirt

 Our Marma (BAWA)
congregation's littlest twins welcome us...

 God wants us to understand one another... who we are -

 sometimes we're confusing:
 blow on your hands when you're cold

- blow on your soup when its too hot!??

 one thing is certain - dancing and singing is not confusing - 
let us Sing God's Praises...

 our Marma church family invites us back

 Val's friend is sad to say goodbye

The children love having their pics taken 

- then seeing them on camera

We also travelled an extra 70kms to visit two newer additional congregations in small villages of Lewa-Mboum (the folk had departed) and a small energetic congregation worshipping in a grass thatched open walled church called Manang. What enthusiasm!

 Manang Lutheran church greets us...

The tire rims that serve as the church bell rang out in a request to come to the churches and come they did. We were greeted with much singing and prayers. Friends graciously offered up memories of the past, and reminded young children of their baptism 9 years previously.

The boys are waiting in LIKOK

Catechist welcomes Pastor Jack & Val

  back to LIKOK

 David translating into French Evangelist into Fulfulde

Pastor Katherine brings greetings from Canada
 on behalf of the women

LIKOK Congregation is happy - but we, more so -
 God willing we'll be back

When Val and I had departed from one of our village churches we would stop under the shade of a towering tree, have our lunch and say a prayer for a safe journey home.

The tree and the shade were still there, and all that was required was the prayer to see us safely home. 

Ass't Bishop Pr Fomgbami Etienne -
 Pr Maina Jonas (HO Chaplain) - Pr Jacob Frederick 

(Cathedral Lutheran, Station Church)

Jack & Val  until next time –

Our prayers for ALL - Be GOD STRONG

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