Modern Bamenda

I had fun taking pictures to create glimpses of Bamenda, but I so long to give a complete picture of our lives here. The best way is to get a plane ticket and come visit. But for those who can’t come, I wanted to show you a bit more especially the more modern parts.

We got a Cameroonian flag a few days after our American One went up.  The kids know the anthem in French and English, but I will just give print the English:

English lyrics
O Cameroon, Thou Cradle of our Fathers, Holy Shrine where in our midst they now repose, Their tears and blood and sweat thy soil did water, On thy hills and valleys once their tillage rose. Dear Fatherland, thy worth no tongue can tell! How can we ever pay thy due? Thy welfare we will win in toil and love and peace, Will be to thy name ever true! Chorus: Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store! Thine be honour, thine devotion, And deep endearment, for evermore. Bamenda had a population of almost 400, 000 people and is the largest cities in the North West. I had fun looking at the Satellite picture of Bamenda.  From above it looks just like any large suburb in America.  I was able to zoom in close enough to see our house and that the picture was taken before we had the addition put on. We have many “modern” conveniences. The Supermarket has four isles and many products from Europe and America.  We can’t afford to “shop as normal” but it is nice to be able to get Pringles and marshmallows for SMORES for Josh’s birthday party. Did I mention that my bakery has a cappuccino machine? When they first painted this building orange, I was horrified, but now I love it. You can see if from various hills in town and it is a great land mark. I love that it has a clock on it.   This building is a new faculty housing complex for the girl’s high school-here on the grounds of the Arch Diocese.  They are also building a new apartment complex on the grounds for Catechetical  Formators.   Have I mentioned that they have a million motorcycles here?  For 20 cents you can a ride quite far.  By necessity, I went on one in Kribi for about 2 miles (with Pete and the driver) and begged him to go slow-otherwise I walk if I can’t get a cab! Bamenda was not my first choice of Mission spots, but now I wouldn’t trade for any other place. PS did I tell you that Emily has lost two teeth in two weeks.  Can you guess which day the first came out???  -Joy

Let The Rains Come

We are entering the rainy season and getting rain now every other day. Emily doesn’t understand why we have no water in the house when it is pouring outside. Can’t blame her.  I keep trying to figure out if there is a schedule for water being off.  It seems though that it is off during peak times ie getting ready for school, breakfast, shower and then comes on for a few hours mid to late morning and then goes off when I am starting to make dinner, but could be noon. It turns on again just as I want to head to bed. Luckily I find doing the dishes at ten relaxing and don’t mind the late night chore.

The water makes a gurgling noise through the house.  So we set about doing the “water” duties--flush the toilets, fill the water filter, do the dishes, do the laundry, and take a shower.  Then fill up some extra buckets around the house for the toilets and sinks.  Time permitting it is good time to clean floors etc.

We have two large water tanks to store water outside.  So we are never truly without water. The kids take turns carrying in water. 

Many compounds (houses or several houses together) have there own "clean" water.  Clean for Cameroonians to drink but not expats.  In some "Quarters" (neighborhoods) there may be a communal water spigot with cement tubs around it for laundry.  Many people still use the streams for drinking and laundry.

 Since there is rarely water when the kids are home they have gotten quite used to bucket baths and I think the girls prefer them to showers as the tubs we use for them are so big it is like they each have their own mini bath tub.

Once the rain comes we will have water and have to do the laundry first thing in the morning, because the clothes have to come off the line when the big black clouds start looming above mid-afternoon. Or you’ll hear one kid yell “rain” and they all go racing out to get the clothes and bring them inside on their head.

 

I look forward to the return of daily rain, and spectacular thunderstorms (though they disrupt the internet).  It is so green and lush here when it rains.  I thought my feet were tanning, but it is just the red/brown dust.

This may all seem crazy to those in the US, but it has become quite routine. 

-Joy

Reaching Out

We have been so blessed with the opportunities here. Both Pete and I feel so fulfilled by the work we are doing. I have also been so glad that Pete has really taken the initiative for us to step out a little on the weekends. 

Two weekends ago we went to an Orphanage with a group of 30 or so Cameroonian young adults.  I was impressed by the number of the group and their “can do” attitude.  They jumped right in and scrubbed the large compound including the classrooms for 130 children living and schooling there. The young adults had put together a program for the kids including some singing.  The Newburn Family was also able to teach the kids a favorite of ours including hand motions.

This is the 2^nd orphanage we have visited.  The first was “Helping Hands”.  It houses 40 children and the children attend a local private school.  Because of its smaller size and larger budget they are able to provide a lot more resources. Our kids got to participate in the weekly bible study and praise time. I just kept snuggling with all the little ones.

Then last weekend, we attended a distribution of Christmas boxes from Samaritan Purse.  Over 60 developmentally delayed children received boxes filled with school supplies, toys and toiletries. It was quite a moving experience. The kids were so thrilled to see what was inside.  Though it was funny to see how the kids didn’t understand what the gifts were. Josh spent 40 minutes putting together a lego helicopter.  The boy was very happy when it was done and the mom was grateful, as they never could have done it.

My kids and I have been filling those boxes for years. We even got to go to load them on the truck one year. I never dreamed that I would actually see them opened in a country I had never even heard of 18 months ago.  I made it home and then just cried - so full of emotion.

I still feel like I am “easing in”.  I sometimes pray a prayer that I heard form Rick Warren’s wife, Kay Warren. “Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours”.  But at times, I don’t want to see some of what breaks God’s heart let alone feel the pain of His broken heart.  Yet I feel I can enter into at least some of the injustice of the world and do some small part of making it a better place. I hope when we get back to the States, we will make even more time for community outreach and not just settle back into “occasionally reaching out”

-Joy