Up & Down the Mountain

So this morning as I blog, I wanted to tell you about some recent events going on. A few weeks ago, we went to beautiful lake that Katelyn said she swam across (Katelyn is a teenage girl that is Jessica's main friend of the Jacksons). Then we got back in the car (or actually some of us outside the car) and drove to another area.

What I meant by that is literal. Katelyn, Kathleen, Sarah, and me got permission and hung off the back of the car while Katelyn's dad was driving!!! It was really fun. One time, I was going one-handed, and we hit a bump. My legs went up, and my left hand held on for dear life! Even though my feet got back on grip.  DON'T TELL MOM!

When we arrived, Mrs. Jackson said that we were going to climb a very steep mountain that I saw in the distance, and at first I didn't believe her. But when she answered my “Are you serious?” question, I knew she wasn't joking.

Going up was pretty easy, but coming down wasn't. It rained a bit when we climbed up, and that didn't make anything better. Another reason why going down was harder was because you're looking straight down. When you check to see what your next footstep is, you look over the edge and...Oh, man, it was scary. But we all made it down safely by God's amazing protection. It's really fun to write this down—it brings back good memories (minus the looking-over-the-side-of-the-mountain part).

Last week we went horse-back riding on the Jacksons' two horses. We probably could have gone again today, but most of the Jacksons aren't feeling too well, so we canceled that.  Jessica was very sad–maybe even more sad then when it rained very hard and we and the Jacksons had to leave. I was a little disappointed, but not a third as much as Jessica!

So instead of riding with the Jacksons, we'll be going to Ginny-Kong, a place where there are pretty waterfalls and I'm not sure what else. I'll blog about it when I get back—mom said that we're leaving soon.

So as it turns out we didn't go to Ginny-Kong, and only 2 of the Jacksons are sick. We went to Mbingo with all of us except Mrs Jackson (or Auntie Karen) and  Katelyn. When we got there Mr. Jackson (or Uncle Chris) told us that we wound be climbing some mountains to get a good look at a waterfall. A little less than halfway, we reached the waterfall—we could see it in the distance. But then it started pouring and we were stuck. With Emily crying because of being wet and tired from the walk, we could go back, but it would be about as much as continuing on. So, we did continue on, with Emily crying most of the way. When at last we got to the car, my dad said that we walked about 5 miles going up, down, and on slippery and muddy ground. Good exercise!

- Josh

Our House from Joshua's Perspective

Dear Reader,

Here I am in AFRICA! It's not exactly what I expected. There is a lot of poverty, but where we're staying it's great! After we took two seven hour flights, we spent a night in Douala and then Father Michael drove us six hours to Bamenda, the place we are staying now. He told us about Cameroon currency. What I learned is that there are 10,000 notes ($20), 5,000 notes ($10), 1,000 notes ($2), and 500 notes ($1). Also there are 500 coins ($1), 100 coins (20 cents), 50 coins (10 cents), 20 coins (4 cents), 10 coins (2 cents), 5 coins (1 cent), 4, 3, 2, and 1 coins (.8, .6, .4, and .2 pennies). I also learned a little bit of Pidgin-English from the priest. Eat is “Chop” and to use verbs you say, “Dee.” For example, I am eating is “I dee chop”

As we were driving, there were Africans that came up to the side of our car saying, "Hey, you need banana! Bou Preece! Only 100 Franks!" in Pidgin-English and French, trying to sell nuts, fruit, clothes, whatever! When we got to our town we ate dinner at the Archbishop and Bishop's house. I liked most foods, but some weren't my favorite. Then went and were introduced to our new house.

Our family walked in and were surprised at all that we had; huge room including a living room with comfy chairs and a fireplace. We live on a hill, which has disadvantages and advantages. The dis- advantage is the inclined walkway that we have to go up when we go to the Bishops' house, and also when we're coming back from the cathedral, clinic, market, and other places. Another disadvantage is that even though we got a very good soccer ball (or Football ball as they call it here), we have an unlevel backyard with open drains that go down to the village and the ball can get lost or stuck. But the advantage is that by the angle of the hill, our staircase (Yes, staircase!) only has 5 steps, though we have a whole two stories.

We have a dining room table and in the next small room a pantry with the plates, bowls, cups, and silverware we put inside it. In our kitchen, we have a refrigerator with candy, milk the creamer that my mom made, a water bottle etc.  Also in our kitchen we have a sink, a gas stove with no oven–something you would use on a camping trip, and a tin water filter. As we look at the water filter–gray and small, we all aren't totally convinced that it will clean our water so that we can drink it.

In America my mom purchased a good quality plastic water filter that looked pretty impressive and Janice, program director for The Lay Missio-Helpers, said it would clean the water (she's a very trustworthy person). So instead of using the tin filter, we set up the plastic one. We've been using it for the last few days now and I even though I'm not a know-all-about-water professional, I'm thinking it's pretty clean. (Though honestly it's because it doesn't taste like sink water!)

Up our 5 step staircase, if you turn to your left you see a restroom your everyday American toilet. The only things different about it is you have a knob on top of the toilet seat that you pull up to make the toilet flush. The other thing different is that when you pull on the knob, the water flushes differently. (Go! Flush your toilet!) As you can see, it flushes counter-clockwise. Well, here the water flushes first out in the opposite direction of you ÎÎ then on both sides comes back (   ) kind of like this: ( ÎÎ ) We also have a sink though the water isn't drinkable, and a shower that provides hot water.

To the right of the restroom, is the kids' bedroom. We share two beds (I get one to myself. The girls even have a bunk bed!), a sink (again, with undrinkable water), two closets (me being Mr. Independent and the girls sharing one), and a leftover suitcase to put our toys in. The room's actually pretty big even with my sisters in it. Surrounding the beds are bug nets. When the girls first saw them they were like, “(Gasp!) Princess curtains!!!” even though they were green. But two days ago,  my mom presented the girls with pink “princess curtains”. I don't really care about the color, but to the girls pink is as good as you can get! And to the left of the restroom is my parents' room. They share a bed, a sink, and two closets. They also have white bug nets.

Our house is great, our backyard good--big and unlevel, and our neighbors very friendly.

Joshua (age 10)

Flurry of Activity

The Archbishop arrived at our house one evening and asked us to come outside. He wanted to show us where he wanted to build an addition onto our house. We were stunned and told him we were quite pleased with the house as it was. But he insisted it was good for now and the future. We weren't sure when, if ever, this addition would happen.

Then four days ago, two huge piles of dirt arrived in our front yard. Then the next day Mathius, Kenneth and Clarence arrived to make cement blocks. Now there is a flurry of activity and we hear that the addition may be done in 30 days. We are so thrilled. The addition will be a new bedroom and bath for Pete and me, which will give Josh his own bedroom. We are also putting a Futonish couch in the living room-soooooo we have lots of space now for company!!!!!!!

The kids started school. Red plaid uniforms. They look like the Von Trapp family from the Sound of Music. The Secretary of Education came from the country's capital to tour three schools in the North East-one of which was our school. Jessica was selected to welcome him and present him with flowers. She learned her French lines in one day. She did such a nice job and of course was so cute.  The kids so far are not getting any homework, so I will resume some of our homeschooling.

We had a nice visit with the Hake's, Mission Doctor couple serving in their third year about one hour from us. They are a lovely couple and it seems likely we could see them on a regular basis.

I finally have all the ingredients to make pizza in our dutch oven. We will borrow movies from “Elsie's Library” a women from Canada, who has acquired many DVD's over the 20 or so years she has been here and is kind enough to share them. We will be at her house tonight for a bible study. We think there will also be several American kids.

Bye for now.

-Joy

Amazing Day

What an amazing day. It started rather poorly. I begged off Mass and stayed home and made a picnic lunch for us and sprayed the whole house to try and regain primary occupancy. One of those days I would have just liked to crawl back into bed with a good book.

At 10:30 the Jacksons (who work for SIL-bible translation organization) came and picked us up. Their household this year consists of nine - only one biological child living there. Three Muslim girls and two American young adults, and a young girl from a neighboring village who has lived with them since third grade. Their 10 passenger vehicle arrived with all nine and the five us climbed in. We are learning there is always plenty of room for a few more in any vehicle.

We drove for half an hour up the hill and then hit another “major road” - not paved. At which point the kids got out and just hung onto the back of the car or sat on the roof.  Hard to believe Jessica and Emily were both in car seats just a few months ago.

We drove to one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. We walked around a lake, climbed the steepest hill/mountain I have ever climbed.  Had lunch on top of a grassy precipice. Got fogged in on top.  Got chased by some steer.  Trekked through gorgeous valleys and hills looking across at distant lakes and mountains. Saw sheep and horses and met a Muslim herder family.

We “had church” on top of a lovely hill - singing and praising God and just be so aware of his magnificent creation.  How could I not think of Jesus as my shepherd as I watched a local pass by, gently herding his sheep. His staff did not beat the animals, but carefully guided them. We sang “shout to the Lord” “I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I'll love you forever I'll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.” The song just came alive out there.

Tomorrow the kids start school and I imagine are life is going to shift dramatically. But it has been an unforgettable summer. Six weeks of visiting family and six weeks in Bamenda.

-Joy