On the Road in the USA

We left Cameroon July 2nd and have been on the move.  On the first leg of our journey, we have been staying in Rockford, Illinois (Pete’s bro Chris), Ames, Iowa (Pete’s mom), Norfolk, Nebraska (Pete’s sis Colleen), and Davenport, Iowa (Pete’s bro Jeff).

On our way to America, we had a 20 hour layover in Istanbul, Turkey.  It was truly amazing.  We landed at 10 am and after a quick bite to eat at a Catholic guest house, we set off to see the town.  Istanbul is a beautiful, clean, organized city that is much more of a water city than I realized.  Despite the news reports of some protests, we found it very safe with no signs of unrest.   

We took a boat tour of Istanbul, the only city in the world spanning two continents, and covered both the European side of Istanbul and the Asian side.  We can now say we were on four different continents in two days!

After the boat tour, we went to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.  We even got to go into the mosque to see how they worship.   

We had a delightful dinner with the priest who was hosting us, and after we put the kids to bed, Pete and I strolled along the waterfront and quaint streets.

 Getting up at 5 am, we headed for the airport.  All of us agreed that the 11 hour plane trip was too short because there were more movies we wanted to watch.  Traveling sure is easy now that the kids are older.

Shopping has been hard for me.  I got teary-eyed when I looked at all the fresh meat so nicely packaged in the meat department, and couldn’t finish shopping at Wal-Mart when I got overwhelmed by all the choices. Otherwise, we have acclimated well and are enjoying quality time with family and friends.

-Joy

100 Years of Faith in NW Cameroon

by Pete

As we complete our first year of mission, I am filled with wonder and gratitude at the privilege we have to be here.  It is such a good experience for our family, with so many new adventures, and we are meeting so many great people.  The work I am doing is very fulfilling.  I made it through my first year of teaching Church Fathers at the seminary, and can’t wait for next year.  I enjoy teaching and giving talks in various settings, doing some radio programming, and assisting the Archbishop with certain projects.

Centenary Year in the Archdiocese of Bamenda

The date of June 29, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, marked the date of the arrival of the first missionaries to this area precisely 100 years ago.  Can you imagine?  Only decades ago, no one in this area had ever heard of Jesus Christ!  Our archdiocese celebrated the centenary with a huge outdoor Mass, with the retired Cardinal of Cameroon (age 84) presiding, along with our two bishops and countless clergy, at the locale of where the first missionaries settled.  And now we are following in their footsteps!

In his homily, the Cardinal shared how he was the first child from his village to become a Christian.  By the way, his mother turns 116-yrs-old this year, which possibly makes her the oldest person in the whole world!  (There is no official record of her birth date.)  I had the opportunity to meet with her a few months ago.  She was sharp, funny, and constantly knitting (I have a scarf from her).

At the conclusion of the Centenary Mass, the Archbishop blessed a beautiful, newly made crucifix, which will travel from parish to parish throughout this coming year, until the conclusion of the centenary celebrations at the cathedral parish (where we live) in May of next year.  In his prayer, he referred to the cross as the “pre-eminent sign of God’s love and mercy” and the “symbol of unity of nations, races and cultures.”  He said this coming year was “an invitation to conversion” for all of us.  Corresponding to this Year of Faith, it is exciting to be here right at this moment in history!

“For we are God’s helpers”

The theme verse for Lay Mission Helpers is 1 Corinthians 3:9—“for we are God’s helpers.”  This phrase is inscribed on the outside of the missionary ring we received at our commissioning, which I always wear on my right hand (along with my wedding ring on my left hand).  This same verse is the theme for the Centenary Year—“we are fellow workers with God.”  As a family, we all had outfits made with special centenary cloth, something often done here for special occasions.  It is so meaningful to me that God led us to LMH, and here to Cameroon, to help with God’s work.  We are all called to be God’s helpers in the work of His kingdom!

Radio Evangelism

Joy and I both have regular radio programs on the archdiocesan Catholic radio station—Joy has a daily five-minute slot for “Catholic moms,” and I host a weekly half-hour program called “The Missionary Eye.”  The kids have joined us on occasion, and I am so proud at how confident, articulate, and enthusiastic each one of them is in sharing their faith.  It is exciting for all of us to be on the radio, with countless listeners, and we pray that we are instruments of evangelization.

Centenary Prayer

We have been praying the following prayer after communion at all the Masses for the past year.  I love saying this prayer; it is so packed with meaning, so expressive of how we are blessed, so significant in its petitions.  Please join in praying with us!

Loving Father,

You have made us good and beautiful in your own image.

We praise and thank you for calling us to be your children

And to share in your life and love through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Gentle Savior,

You are the vine, and we are the branches.

May we be one with you as you are one with the Father.

Renew in us your call to be witnesses to you

As we celebrate the centenary of the proclamation of your Good News in our Archdiocese.

Holy Spirit,

Come to us.  Strengthen us in our response to our call.

Make us new in mind, heart and spirit.

Lead us to the fullness of truth and in the paths of the New Evangelization.

Empower us and let us be gentle instruments to renew the face of the earth.

Make us fellow workers with God by building up communities of faith and love.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us.

St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.  Amen.

Visiting the Baka People

We just got back from one of the most amazing trips that I can ever remember.  It felt like something out of National Geographic.  But let me back up and tell you how it began.

Back in February, a group of homeschooling missionary children from all over Cameroon were here in Bamenda for two weeks attending their semi-annual gathering.  The kids have group schooling and special projects.  Our kids were able to join in during a couple of the swim classes and it was a great time to play with other missionaries.  It was there that we met the Conrod family, who live with the Baka people (one of the Pygmy tribes) in the eastern part of Cameroon. 

I had studied the Pygmies in 7^th grade and found their hunting and gathering lifestyle fascinating.  I was thrilled when the Conrods invited us to come visit them.

So we drove 4 hours east from Yaoundé (which is already five hours from our house) and then headed down a dirt road with jungle on either side.  We arrived at our friends’ house and immediately saw that they lived in the Baka village of about ten houses (I had imagined they lived in town and traveled to the people). 

The nearest “town” is fifteen minutes away and not much than a few fruit stands and a gas station.

The Baka sleep in small huts with dirt floor, but they spend the day outside or under a cooking shelter.   

They are a quiet and gentle people and are friendly to outsiders in a reserved way.  They tend to move from place to place as the food crop grows short, but some of them have been stable in this village for many years.

We stayed in a cottage that was not currently occupied.  It had no electricity, and an outhouse.  There was a sink in one of the two small rooms.  Their house has electricity, thanks to eight solar panels.  But during the rainy season there is no guarantee there will be enough sun to have power left for the evening.  They turn on “the tower” for two hours of internet each day.   There are two American families and a single woman (from Canada) who are striving to be a witness by sharing in the daily lives of the people.  One is a doctor, one a pastor, and one an agriculturalist.

We got to go into their orchard and saw the most amazing fruits and plants I had ever seen.  Some looked like brains, others like sea anemones, others like porcupines.  Most tasted very good and were highly nutritious.  Their lifestyle is rustic, but the family is content and the pace of life is very tranquil.

We ventured into the jungle and despite the many flying insects and stinging nettles, had super adventures—getting to see huge trees (which are being cut down too quickly), swam with some local boys, and saw how roofs are made.  Our kids loved being outdoors and exploring the forest.  A young Baka girl came and taught us how to make beignets on an open fire.  I attended a women’s prayer meeting.  Though I didn’t understand a word, their faith was evident.

If you have a chance, it is worth Googling the Baka, or the Pygmies in general and learning about them.  I already want to go back next year.  

- Joy

Treasure Center

By Jessica (age 9) and Josh (age 11)

Joshua-----“Today we did another missionary activity by visiting the disabled by going to the Treasure Center that is a school for disabled”

Jessica-----“I got to make a necklace just like the pupils there do. They sell them.  Mommy bought the one I made.  It was really fun. Much more fun than I thought it would be.”

Joshua----- making “foo foo” is really hard. The fire is really hot and you have to use a lot of muscles to stir it.

Joshua------“it was really cool watching them make brooms out of palm branches.  The brooms are just like the one we have in the house.” They also make scarves, and baskets to sell.

  

Joshua------ “I also got to sing with some of the kids.  They love the songs and some can do the motions”

Jessica------“Their school is really beautiful.”

Jessica-----“Emily couldn’t come, because she had a tummy bug.  So she stayed home puking with daddy. She missed out on all the fun.”

Mom---- “I am so proud of my kids. They are growing in wisdom, compassion, and world perspective.”