Hellos And Goodbyes

We have been here for just over two years and we have met so many new friends from many parts of the world.

Last month we said good bye to Melissa, a short term Missionary that we came to love dearly. She worked at an Orphanage nearby. I love her candor and her willingness to persevere through changing and washing cloth diapers and enduring flies and chicken feces.

We also said goodbye to Sr. Immaculate. She lived next door and her sweet smile always brightened up my day. She is being transferred to Douala to teach at an Elementary School.

But we also say Hello to Sr. Odette who moved in next door on the right where Sr. Immaculate left from. She will be working at St. Blaise Hospital right here on the compound.

We also say hello to two lovely girls, Therese and Geraldine, who moved into the staff residence adjacent to us on the left. It is really just a container with electricity, with no water or toilet. They will assist the Sisters with household chores.  They are teenagers from remote villages who have come to get an education.  One goes to high school during the day, the other in the evenings. They are delightful girls and they seem to enjoy how “odd we white man are”.  They love to ask us questions.  Yesterday Therese asked if we would bring our goat, Ruthie, back to America with us. I just love having the company of women during the day.

There are also two young girls here short term. Georgia (18) is from the UK and Heidi (22) from my home town Norwich VT. I enjoy being able to be a safe haven that they can come to when they feel overwhelmed. Heidi likes to come once or twice a week for a hot shower and use the internet.  She is a Christian Scientist, so I am learning a bit more about her religion.

We also say ‘hello” to Nestor’s girlfriend who moved here from their village near Kumbo. They are in the engagement process with the two families so I am learning more about how it works here. Last week he went and met her family; this week the two families will meet for a formal gathering. Here, after the engagement there will be three weddings: the traditional, the civil, and the Church.  The whole process can take couples many years (often the Church wedding is long after children have been born). Nestor and Emmanuela are expecting a baby girl in March. They were able to have a sonogram thanks to Dr. Brent’s portable machine.  It is quite rare to actually have a sonogram, so they were thrilled.

Also two new Missionary families arrived.  They are long term Missionaries who have been transferred here. So as you can see, Bamenda is a happening place to be.  We can’t imagine getting a more perfect fit for our family.

-Joy