Glimpses of Bamenda (Part 2)

Nestor our House Help is teaching me to cook some local foods.  Ndole is one of my favorites. Yup, that’s my stove.  

 Downtown Bamenda is only a ten minute walk.  I love to shop in the open market and maneuver my way through the crowded Main Market.  You can buy beautiful fabrics and have dresses made.

 

When you buy food you say “lettuce for 300” (60 cents) or “pineapple for 500” ($1) and get two or three pineapples, or “avocado for 500” and get like 5-7  avocados.  Yummy. 

This picture is of Rosie's.  Rosie and her husband own this shop.  I get most of my non fruits and veggies here-coffee, soap, rice, flour, sugar, TP, eggs, cornflakes, powdered milk, batteries, pens etc. There is a bigger Market with lots of American products, but it is quite pricey-cheese is $5 for 6 oz. 

 

This is our McDonalds. You can order meat on a stick, roasted corn, fish, or plantain to go.

 

This is Bamenda version of "Pay Less Shoe Store.

 

This is our Block Buster's.  Each packet has eight movies on it for $!. Pirating is not illegal here.

 

-Joy

Christmas One Month Late (By Joshua, age 10)

January 26, 2013

Yesterday was such a great day!  You see, it was Christmas, 1 month late.  I was playing outside with my sisters and I heard my dad say, “O.K., so we’re trying to keep this a secret from the kids,” on the phone.  I got excited, but soon forgot about it.

Then a guy came to our house. I didn’t know who he was, but I had guessed that he was just here to fix dad’s printer or wireless or something like that.  I had no idea that he was the person bringing the ‘secret’.

At dinnertime, dad wasn’t at the table and mom was saying something that she wants it to be Epiphany (the day when the wise men brought gifts, after Christmas).  I had asked her what that had to do with dad being late and she had just smiled.  When dad got home, we said grace and ate, and after dinner, the surprise came.

“Alright guys,” dad said, “Guess what’s special about this date; January 24,” (which was that day).  After many, many hints, I guessed it: December 24 Christmas Eve.  I tell you that I was buzzing with excitement. I don’t know how dad kept the secret quiet at that dinner table.  “Now,” dad went on, speaking very slowly (for effect) “You know, Santa might not have gone down the chimney, but he might, might have left something there.”

Unable to hold herself, Jessica burst out from her seat and ran to the chimney. “Aww, there’s nothing there!” Jessica said after looking.

“Well,” dad said “There might, might be something at—now sit down until I say!—there might, might be something on the front porch.  On the count of 3 you can go look!  One, two, thr—No! No! No! Un, deux, troi—No! No! No! Eins…” and dad went on counting in different languages while mom searched for the camera.  And when she found it, dad said, “One, two, THREE!!!!!” and we all ran outside to see an amazing keyboard—what I had wanted!  So that is the story of how Christmas came 1 month late.

 Jessica was so excited about the piano that she kissed it. I just sat in a daze.

Also, today something incredible happened.  Here in Cameroon, in the middle of the dry season, we had snow!  Well, more like hail.  Here are some pics: 

            

And here’s the “snow” in Africa.

Glimpses of Daily Life in Bamenda (Part 1)

Life in Bamenda has taken on a comfortable rhythm. I enjoy my varied schedule and love being home when the kids get home. Here are a few glimpses.

The kids sing the national anthem and hoist the flag each morning before school (we are planning to buy the Cameroonian flag to go next to the American one).

I go to the "Food Market" on Mondays and get all our yummy produce.  This is picture is with Albete my favorite place to get veggies (only one I know of who has broccoli, cauliflower, and strawberries).  She is also a delightful woman and just had a baby boy in November.

We hosted the Missionary bible study at our last Friday night and squished 20 kids and adults into our parlor. Lovely evening of singing, praying and sharing with Pete leading and playing guitar.

We had a play date with one of Emily's friends, Naomi originally from Indonesia. They invited us to their compound  in Bali (beautiful 20 minute drive out of town) where they make the wood pieces for PresCrafts-a Presbyterian run bookstore, pottery and woodworking shop. We had a tour of the very impressive grounds. We watched various parts of wood carving, saw the church, school house and staff housing. Joshua played briefly with the pigs.

Pres-Cafe is my "Starbucks" of Bamenda.  There are always plenty of expats and I enjoy hearing the different stories of why people are here in Cameroon.  Not all are Missionaries - some visiting family who have retired here, some doing research for school, others are working on environmental issues and many other pursuits. The picture of Pres Cafe has my dear friend Donna.  She has been such a great mentor and spiritual companion here.  They have been Missionaries here for over ten years. Her son Samuel is our Josh's age and the two have much in common.

Joshua competed in a Bilingualism Day. They did a dance, a poem, and a song in French and English.  Joshua got a taste of what it is like to compete-hours of sitting around waiting for your two minute performance.  They were asked back for the finals, but didn't place.  Emily also participated in a traditional dance.  All the kids will march on Youth Day, February 11. In the picture of Josh you will notice a large Temple in the background.  This is the Muslim Mosque. The Muslim population is relatively small in Bamenda, but the area where Josh's competition was is called "Old Town" and is where many of the Muslims live.

I will continue with more glimpses of Bamenda in a future blog.  Hopefully through the eyes of the kids too.

-Joy

The Henton Missionaries by Joshua Newburn (age 10)

This story is based on a true story.  These are the characters’ real names:

The Henton family—The Newburn family

Mr. Henton—Peter

Mrs. Henton—Joy

Jon—Joshua

Katrina—Jessica

Eliza—Emily

Father Achui—Fr. Michael Bibi

Introduction

Once there was a family who lived in California—the Hentons.  Mr. Henton did a lot of short missionary trips, but an amazing adventure was about to come up for all the Hentons.

Chapter 1:  Family Mission

“Jon!  Katrina!  Eliza!”  Mrs. Henton called to her three kids, “Your father and I want to tell you exciting news!  You see, your father and I have been gone, as you know, to missionary classes.”

“OK, Mom,” Jon said, “but why is that so exciting?”

“Well,” their mom explained, “not only is your father going on a missionary trip, but the whole family is!”

Jon, Katrina, and Eliza’s mouths hung wide open—a missionary trip?

“What’s wrong?” Mr. Henton asked.

“I don’t know,” Jon stammered, “it’s … it’s just overwhelming!”

Chapter 2:  Preparing and Going

In a few weeks, the Henton children got used to the fact that they were now future missionaries.  Jon became interested in this new place that they were going to—Africa.  Katrina and Eliza told all their friends about this new adventure, though the friends could hardly believe it.  The kids got used to the idea, but when the real thing came up, it was pretty scary.

“All passengers going to Cameroon, please come to the gate now—departure time is in fifteen minutes!”

The Hentons walked nervously to the gate.  They were surrounded by black people!  On the plane, they watched the provided movies and had their dinner some strange thing called “fufu.”  And finally, they arrived at their destination—Cameroon, Africa.

Chapter 3:  Cameroon

“Hallo!” a chubby African called to Mr. Henton.

“Oh, look!”  Mrs. Henton exclaimed, “There’s Father Achui!  He’ll drive us to where we’re going to live!”

“Hallo!” Father Achui called again, and the Hentons went up to him and said “Hallo!” back to him.  As the family had their papers checked, a heavy rain started to fall.

“Um, excuse me, Father Achui,” Katrina said.  “Is, is this storm normal?”  She looked frightened.

Father Achui laughed.  “No, no!  It is like dis in de Rainy Season, but in de Dry Season, it’s not like dis!  You don haf to be afraid!”

“Oh,” Katrina said, “OK. Thank you.”  And she went back with Eliza to laugh at the odd accent.

Father Achui led the Hentons to a car, and they drove through the rain, Jon smiling at it, fascinated.  In about five hours, the family and priest arrived at the town they were going to be living in—the beautiful city of Bamenda.

Chapter 4:  Happy Home

“Wow!” the Hentons exclaimed—their home place was amazing!  Father Achui smiled and walked them to their house.  Comparing it to what the house looked like in their heads—a small hut—it was incredible.

“Mom,” Eliza said, tugging on her mom’s dress, “I really love it here!”

With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Henton said, “I love you, Eliz, and I love it here too.  I’m glad we can be here, as missionaries in Cameroon.”

And for three more years, the Hentons made a difference in Cameroon and overall, they were happier and more full of peace because of their great act of service to Cameroon, and to God.

The End.