Charlie-1, Parents- 0

Oh ya'll!

So last week, we went to a missionary conference in Bamenda, Cameroon. I was very excited for the conference for the following reasons:

• Worship and teaching in English
• wearing clothes that do not look like a mumu or have an elastic waste band- aka jeans
• meeting new missionaries and catching up with missionaries friends
• friends for Charlie to play with
• some time for relaxation
• shopping for things we cannot buy in Banyo like powdered sugar and shampoo, even Honey Nut Cheerios!
• Childcare

 

Childcare. Ok, I am going to be honest here- I was most excited about childcare. While Charlie has a nanny during the morning, that is my working time. In the last 4 months, I have not had a baby sitter during a stretch of time that allowed for any quality “me time.” Momma is tired, ya'll.

Well, sadly I returned from our conference tired even with the glorious child care. Why? Well, my child is “that child.” At one point I overheard someone say, “that is why God makes puppies and kids so cute because if not we would go crazy.” Yeah, she was looking at my child who was dancing on the stage like it was her own personal rock concert. In comparison to the African children that sit like serene statues in church, I knew my child was a little more “spirited.” I chalked it up to cultural differences. At the conference however, there were 4 American children in the 2-3 year age range. Again, these kids were perfect little angels- don't get me wrong, they had their tiny toddler moments too- but only just enough to disprove my theory that their parents had sedated them. Their children sat quietly through an hour of adult sermon time- my child ran circles around the building like Forrest Gump. She fled from her parents at every opportunity. I would talk with someone for a minute than spend 20 looking for her- only to find her half way across the campus with someone asking, “You didn't know where she was?!” My child also found the sugar bowl next to the coffee and proceeded to help herself to handful after handful of the sweet forbidden goodness. Another, more responsible, 2-year-old stood by pointing at Charlie so that some adult would intervene and correct the situation. I felt like I spent the whole time chasing after, threatening, putting shoes on (because she refuses to wear shoes- ever), restraining, pleading with, and putting my child in “time out.”

I know this is a “season” and it too shall pass. The terrible two's are almost over and then we will move on to what many people call the “terrifying threes.” Oh Lord have mercy! In the meantime, I will focus on what one of my friends said when I was comparing Charlie to the other well behaved kids: “So she was the fun one!”

 

Happy New Year!

It is 2014! The year 2013 has come and gone and it was one for the books- whoa, I mean whoa! In 2013, we:

• lived in 3 different countries-  Central African Republic, Cameroon, and the US
• became refugees
• had our house looted
• lived (or crashed) in 5 different houses
• moved to Africa for a second time
• started our ministries and language learning all over again in a new town
• fell in love with that new town
• saw God do amazing things

I even ate a grasshopper in 2013!

2013 was a wild ride for sure and I am not sad to start a new year. 2014 promises to be an exciting and eventful year as well, but hopefully in less traumatic ways! We will stay in Banyo, Cameroon at least until May and maybe into September at which time we will experience reverse culture shock as we re-enter the US for a time of training and support raising. We have many decisions to make about our time in the US- where will we live, where will we work, where will we eat first: Red Lobster or sushi? When I think about going back to the US, I have a lot of mixed emotions. I look forward to seeing family, but I also think, "No! It is too soon, I am not ready to leave Banyo yet!" 

When I think back over 2013, I most remember feeling "empty" like Naomi did when she came back to her homeland empty after the loss of her husband and sons. But today, at the beginning of 2014, I am glad to associate more with the end of the Book of Ruth. "The women say to Naomi, 'Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer.'"(4:22). The Lord has redeemed our loss in CAR with a beautiful new beginning in Cameroon. I am really excited to see the ways the Lord will work here in 2014 and I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that I somehow get to be a part of that work.

If you are starting the new year feeling empty, know that the He longs to redeem these empty times. I pray that in 2014, the joy of the Redeemer overwhelms your life. Happy New Year!

World Aids Day

Sunday December 1 was the 25^th World AIDS Day. The hospital staff and I were busy, busy, busy educating the community about HIV the first week in December. On Monday we went to a high school and taught different classes all day. Then we had a school wide assembly there followed by 100 free HIV tests. Thank God, all of the tests were negative!

 

 

The next day we went to another school to help out the government hospital do more of the same. On Thursday, we had 2 radio programs about HIV. During the first one we even had a quiz with cash prizes ($6 to each of the 5 winners!!). On the second show, people called in and asked questions. I felt like Dr. Drew or Dear Abby. But I bet neither of them have ever been asked, “What do you do if your husband brings home a second or third wife. Should we all be tested?”

Speaking of the radio, I have also been working on short health education programs that are aired several times a week (but that is a whole other post- whoa!).

Again, I have to say I love what I do here. I loved being in the community and teaching. And to think that my words just may save lives, that is awesome!

Charlie update!

Ok, grandparents- here is your early Christmas present: a Charlie update!

So first and foremost this 2 year old chick is wild, crazy, and adorable to no end. She is also too smart for her own good.

Currently, she adores Dora, Elmo, and Veggie Tales in that order. When we are mean parents and will not allow her further brainwashing with crack laced toddler shows, she like to pretend cook. She is most certainly going to be a doctor or nurse because everything she cooks for you is to “make you feel better.” Chocolate is her favorite medicine. She is also likes playing dress up and entertaining us with her made up songs and dances. She definitely has her mother's talent!

(Yes, this is underwear on her head!)

Charlie's teacher is AMAZING! She actually has teacher training and is kind, yet structured. Charlie adores her and runs to hug her when she comes. Charlie knows the ABC song and can correctly identify probably 3/4 of them. She can count to 17 or so. She knows most of her shapes and all of the basic colors. We are in the midst of the "Why?" stage for sure. The simple act of cutting onions requires a 10 minute dissertation on why exactly I am cutting onions. She loves to read books. Pretty sure she will be a Mensa member this time next year. Well, maybe not MENSA quite yet since she does think if she covers her eyes you cannot see her!

(and yes this is our closet- ear your heart out girls!)

She cracks us up! The other day Josh asked her what she sees when she looks into the mirror (one of her favorite pastimes). Charlie replied, “cute!” Sometimes she says to me, “you are a cute little mommy!” When she is done with dinner she says. “I accused?” Whenever I try to light our stove, Charlie begins to say, “Oh come on! Come on!” Apparently she has picked up on my irritation with African matches that never work.

She is definitely an “MK”- missionary kid. She floats easily between Dora and playing with sticks with her local friends. We have had to explain that no we do not spit in the house like her friends do and yes we use the toilet when we can- the side of the road is only for traveling! I have actually uttered the words, “go play with a chicken” to which she beamed and ran off obligingly. She swallows her malaria medication whole ever day with a sip of water and no complaints. When the power goes off it is no big deal and she has mastered showering with only the light of a flashlight!

A tour of Worum

My father-in-law said that he wanted to get to know where we lived and our friends here. So I thought that I would do two blogs- one about the “places of Worum” and one about “the people of Worum.” So I walked around with the intent to take pictures of our friends and the sites of interest. Upon talking to my friends, I learned that it is not a good idea to put pictures of our Fulbe friends on the Internet because they will get harassed by their families and other people- it has happened before! So I have taken down any pictures on our blog of our Fulbe believing friends. Hence the new cover photo! One day we will get a new picture of the 3 of us to put up there. In the meantime I put up a picture that I just love!

So anyway, on with the tour of Worum. You might be asking yourself, “What is Worum?” We say we live in “Banyo,” but really we live in a small suburb of Banyo called Worum.

Here is the road from Banyo to Worum. The center of Worum is about 2 miles from the center of Banyo or a 5 minute motorbike taxi from our house to the market in Banyo.

One of the first things you see when you get to Worum is the Kanti Jam (Fufulde for “The Good Shop.”). This is where I buy all of my flour, sugar, eggs, bread, doughnut balls, and sometimes an emergency Coke or two. It is my local “grocery store.” They also sell gas and clothes. It is like Walmart!

Down the road from the kanti is Sawtu Jam Jamanu (Fufulde for “The Good Life Voice”). It is the only radio station in town. It is a Christian radio station that has talk shows, music, health lessons, and the popular greeting times when you can call in and greet a friend. This is where many of our friends work.

Near the radio station is the “Blue house.” Some of our friends live here- 2 families and a single man (10 people in all). Charlie and I hang out here a lot.

 

Behind the blue house is the Suudu Do''aare (Fufulde for House of Prayer) aka our church. On a good day, there are 17 adults and 14 kids in attendance. Songs, prayers, and sermon all in Fufulde of course!

Behind the Suudu Do''aare is the house of fellow missionaries the Lokkers.

Next you will come upon the Cameroon Baptist Hospital of Banyo. It has 35 beds, a maternity ward, pharmacy, lab, radiology department, and a surgical theatre.

A short walk from the hospital down this lovely path

and you get to the Doctor's house

And then our house (which is really the Doctor's guest house- we are probably overstaying our “guest status!”)

Happy Birthday Bianca!

Meet Miss Bianca.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

She is Charlie's teacher and she is Fabulous. Yesterday was her birthday and she had a party! But since she has such a heart for Children, she threw the party not for herself but instead for children in her neighborhood. 

She made popcorn and other treats for the kids. And there was cake! The kids were so excited and the Shinars were too- it was quite a party.

(I love this picture because Charlie and her friend look like old ladies gabbing!)

The kids sang and danced.

(This picture is also great because it looks like Charlie is flying in the background)

Josh led a rousing game of "Simon says."

 

 

And fun was had by all!

 

Alat of excitement!

First of all, no I did not misspell “a lot.” Alat is the name of a town about 45 minutes away from us and it was the home to this year's Fulani believers conference. This is like the coolest thing ever man! Really.

The Fulani are considered an “unreached people group” meaning that there are very few believers amongst them (like 1%). That is why it is was so cool to see a gathering of 50 or so Fulani that follow Jesus meeting and worshiping together. Some came from Cameroon, others from Central African Republic and many were from Nigeria.

Us Nassara'en (white folks) came for half a day. During the time we were there, they talked about the importance of health care for women and children. This is remarkable because the conference was 90% men. Women and children are often seen as “second class citizens” in African societies- especially amongst the Fulani. Some strict husbands will not even let their wives leave their houses! The men at the conference encouraged each other to take their wives to the hospital for prenatal care and to vaccinate their children (the women said amen in the background). There also was a slice of time devoted to debunking the myth that white people use vaccines to sterilize or make barren African children!

After the “health seminar” they then talked about the importance of education! In light of the Boko Haram in Nigeria (an Islamic jihadist militant organization that is against "Western education"), this once again is amazing. I kept on thinking how beautiful it is that Christ can change lives so dramatically. These Fulani Christ followers will be shining examples to their communities of how to respect women and how to care for their children.

This is picture is the entryway to the conference- it is the custom to take off your shoes before you enter a house or building. Because persecution of Fulani believers is real here, I chose not to show any pictures of the people in attendance. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" Isaiah 52:7