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.”

Challenges and Blessings

As we approach the one year mark (and a seven week trip back to the US), I am reflecting back on some of the challenges and blessings we have had.  Often, the two have gone together.

Challenge:  The decision to send our kids to school locally and not homeschool was one of our hardest decisions, because we are so opposed to corporal punishment.  While our kids are not struck, they (and I) witness it frequently in the classroom.

The Blessing:  Our kids have really matured and become role models at the school.  They are also learning so much about the Cameroonian culture.  It is nice to have them see things from a non-American viewpoint.  Josh is studying WW I and WW II, and I feel he is getting a more balanced perspective then I did as a child. 

Challenge:  The inconsistency of water, internet and electricity can wear you down and can make it difficult to plan things (like Skype calls).  The gas tank for our stove ran out right in the middle of Emily’s birthday party.  But we managed.

The Blessing:  I have become much more flexible and patient—something for which I have been praying for years.  The kids are pitching in with chores and don’t say “Aw mom, I don’t want to” (usually) when I ask them to carry the trash up the hill to dispose of it or haul water.

Challenge:  Driving in Bamenda is scary.  The motorcycles, the pot holes, no lights or stop signs, the lack of paved roads, and the lack of rules makes it a bit stressful to drive.  We pray for protection almost every day.  Luckily, the roads are so bad you can’t drive over 20 mph most places in town.

The Blessing:  That we even have a car is a huge blessing.  We could take taxis around, which are plentiful and very inexpensive, but schlepping groceries would not be fun.  And there is no way we could have taken all these great trips.  Somehow, I had the foresight to pack a canvas car top so we can bring all our stuff on the trips.

Challenge:  Even though we live in the English speaking part of the country, we so often have difficulty communicating with people.  Some of the blunders have been funny.  I wanted to buy some chewing gum.  I was advised not to eat the gum, because here gum is glue.  Hee, hee.  Cameroonians say “no” so often when they are agreeing with you, which I just can’t get used to.  “Was church nice?”  “No, it was fine.”

Blessing:  Praise God I didn’t have to learn Swahili.  And I am brushing up on my French.  The kids too are learning French in school.  While Spanish would be more practical in the US, the benefits of learning any new language are tremendous.  We do have to watch out for Emily’s spelling, because they use the British “o-u-r” at the end of words instead of “o-r,” as in “flavor.”

Challenge:  It is hard to be away from family and friends.  I miss my Mom’s Club and my women’s group and my Bible Studies.  Group fellowship is pretty much just on Friday nights here.  Sometimes I just don’t feel like making the effort, but I don’t want to miss out.  And losing my dear friend Karen here was so difficult.

Blessing:  We have such a great support network here for Pete and me and the kids.  We couldn’t be more pleased with our new friendships.  And I love that it is so ecumenical.  We have Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Full Gospel and Catholics all sharing their faith with love and acceptance.  We major on the majors, and minor on the minors.

I feel so proud of our family.  This has really been a tremendous opportunity for us.  We are so grateful to Lay Mission Helpers and the Diocese of San Bernardino for making this a reality.

-Joy

Air House

By Joshua Newburn (age 11)

Here in Cameroon I’ve had to give up many things like my soccer team, watching football, and fun projects.  But here’s a fun project that I have thought of to do here in Cameroon.  

We’re (planning to be) building a tree house.  The idea came into my mind when I wanted to make a club with Jessica and Emily.  I thought, Hey, why not build a tree house to have secret meetings in?   

I proposed the idea to mom and dad and the next day they said yes.  I was (and am) very happy they did.

So far we haven’t constructed anything—we’re just planning.  The idea I have is to build the tree house on poles 10 feet or higher up into the air beside the tree.  Then a rope ladder could go from the ground through the bottom of the “air house” into it.  If we have the money and the ability we could take a long plank of wood going from the air house to our tree (the tree is pretty large).  Then we could get into the air house through the rope ladder and the tree.  That’s the big idea.

I’ve talked with many builder-experts who have given us plenty of help, ideas, and suggestions.  One expert, Sas, recommended that we plan to have some sort of bible study in there to glorify God.  I think it’s a very good idea and we plan to include a prayer in our secret-club meetings.  My friends’ dad, Jake, was the one who suggested raising the house into the air using poles.  He also agreed to get us the wood we buy.  These builders really have been a great help to us.

I really want this air house idea to work, so I pray for the structure to be built.  If you, reader, could also pray for the idea, well, 2 prayers (or more) are more likely to get the “yes” answer than 1.  (Kind of like with Jessica and Emily’s help it’s easier to persuade mom and dad!)  

I’m really looking forward to visiting you all in the U.S.  See you all there!