You Know You've Acclimated to Living in Cameroon When...

When the electricity is off, you think doing dishes by candlelight is romantic

When you turn off the water heater ‘cuz cold showers feel good (Pete and Josh, not we girls)

When you get ants in your sugar, you take it outside for five minutes (the ants get too hot and run for shade) and then use the sugar

When your daughter says we can fit 12 people in the station wagon and you say “sure”

When getting a flat tire is no big deal

When you like Foo Foo and Njamajama (corn mush and huckaberry) so much you order it when you finally get to a restaurant

When you know the difference between bitterleaf, green, and green spice (kale, spinach and a combo of celery, parsley and basil)

When groundnut paste (local peanut butter) tastes better than Jiff

When you are actually comfortable driving amidst the potholes and plethora of motorbikes

When you get a pet cat to eat the mice

When you feel sorry for people who live in the U.S.

When you are glad there are no McDonalds

When the kids say the anti-worm pills taste like candy

When three years no longer seems “long term” but feels like a short stay

When you are thrilled to get "dial up" speed internet

But I will never be here long enough to say it’s OK to miss watching the Red Sox in the playoffs!

-Joy

He Restoreth My Soul

It has been a roller coaster ride since our return.  We have had great fellowship with the Martins down the hill and then a trip to Kumbo (3 hours on bumpy roads, not all paved) to see the other Missionary families, a visit from Janice England, our Program Director, and then a Missionary family from Yaoundé came for three nights. We are so blessed with such a huge support community.

We have celebrated  Pete’s birthday three times.  The kids make the cake themselves and they love to paint pictures on top with frosting. We got him a screen door which is a blessing for us all - the fresh air feels great. Jessica had a shirt made (for herself) to give to him that says “Dady’s Girl”.  She was so polite she didn’t even mention to the seamstress that Daddy was spelled wrong.

But we have had an unusual amount of “issues”.  I have been surprised by how often we have been without water.  We are still in the rainy season. I hope this isn’t a foreshadowing of a very waterless dry season. We have also been battling electrical problems and have been mostly without electricity for five days.  Luckily I was able to move my freezer foods into another freezer. The hardest for me is actually the lack of consistent internet.  Since we returned two months ago, our longest stretch of internet was six days and as I write this blog, to send later, we have been without internet for 10 days. I feel a bit out of touch with friends in the US. 

But God’s beauty and His loving touch are everywhere.  The drive to Kumbo we saw gorgeous waterfalls and amazing vistas. In Kumbo , there were spectacular views and a sense of simplicity and tranquility.  Even at my own Treasure Center, the lovely breeze and views down the mountain give a “filling up” of His peace.

I feel like my emotions can potentially ride a roller coaster with the events “Yey, the car is fixed”, “Ugh no water”,  “Yum M&M’s”, “Yikes what happened to the lights”, etc. but I have found if I can make time for quiet reflection or even just pause in the chaos, I can feel God’s peace and his gentle comfort. When I rely on the world, I am tossed like the waves, but when I see the world through God’s eyes, I have peace. “He restoreth my soul”

-Joy

Mission Highlights From Cameroon

Nine adult Missionaries and 15 children Missionaries.

Who needs a Play Structure when you have God’s Play Ground

Pete’s bday

Singing with the kids

Pete on the radio weekly (this one with Janice)

Cody