Smore community please!

In Phoenix, we knew our next door neighbor well (maybe too well- there were many an evening that Josh went over there uninvited to bum delicious meals off of them). But our other neighbors, we either just knew their first names or just their faces and that was after eight years of living in the same house. It saddens me now how little community there was in our “community.” After living in Africa in different missionary communities, I think I have a much better understanding, appreciation, and need of community.

When we first arrived in Africa, we lived in the Meskine, Cameroon community. Whoa are ever indebted to their hospitality. They brought us tuna casseroles, taught us how to bleach vegetables, cared for our sick child in the middle of the night, taught us Fufulde, and helped us adjust to African life. In Gamboula, they helped us learn Sango, prepared our house for us, fed us over and over again, taught us how to be missionaries, and helped us grieve our evacuation. In Banyo, they welcomed us without even knowing us. They have given us their space to live in, their car to drive, and even their famous cookies to eat.

Now we are in Mbingo, Cameroon for a month (Josh is teaching an IT class). We are living next door to the Barriers (two doctors that work at the hospital, their 6 month baby boy, and their 3-year-old son who has become Charlie's BFF). And when I say next door I mean NEXT door- we share a duplex- which means a shared back yard and revolving doors for toddlers to run house to house.

Once again, they have been so kind and giving. They fed us the first night we were here (many nights after too) and let us bum vegetables off of them for a week. They shared their son's toys with Charlie. They even shared their dinner table with us each evening.

Each night one family brings a meal to share with the other. It is great and it got me thinking of how amazing community is. Community is not only sharing of things- it is a sharing of life. It is doing life together. It is eating together, studying the Bible together, praying together, playing together, and struggling together. Community requires honesty, transparency, trust, generosity, nurturing, and time, but it is so worth it.

All this to say, I pray that we all seek and participate in real community. (I plan on really getting to really know my American neighbors when we move back!) Life is meant to be lived together. God said it was not good for man to be alone and he wasn't just talking about a spouse. We are made to attach and connect. People are like smores- on their own graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate are tasty, but mush them together and they become something even more amazing. They are not easily separated, they are often messy, but they are oh so sweet!

Charlie and her new BFF sharing smores!

Market day!

Today is market day! Everyday of the week in Banyo you can go shopping, but Tuesdays and Fridays are "big market" days. The bread is fresher, more cows are slaughtered, women from the bush come to sell their items, and town is abuzz with excitement.

 

When I first arrived in Africa, I was way intimidated by the local markets. They are something else. I never went, then when we were in CAR we were so isolated that going to the big market across the border was a special treat for me, and now I love to go.

 

To get to the market, I usually take one of these to and fro for 40 cents.

 

 

Here is the outside of the market where leafy vegetables and big root vegetables are sold.

 

You can also buy used clothes, toys, and junk from Europe/America that are in piles outside. I bought two Christmas stockings and a Santa hat here in October for 60 cents.

 

Go past the stinky fish (some dried, some "fresh"- I never buy it because the smell is awful, awful, awful. I just can't stomach it.),

 

 

Next you find more vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, etc. We are so spoiled to have these here, these kind of vegetables were hard to come by in CAR.

 

 

Next, you can make your way through the maze of small alleys. (These bowls have corn flour in them- used to make a play dough like consistency food called fufu.)

 

 

All through the small passage ways you will find various shops- hardware stores, baby stores, soap stores, cloth stores, etc. Sometimes the shops are mixed and you can buy a bra at the hardware store (I dare you to ask Home Depot where their lingerie department is!). It is amazing what you can buy in these shops. A few weeks before Christmas, I bought Christmas lights that were made in Communist China, sold by an Islamic African, and bought by a Christian American in Cameroon. Crazy!

 

 

 

Chicken (live chickens that is) and fish are sold outside, but the Fulbe are cattle people- so the beef is at the heart of the market. And yes, we eat this meat. You can buy a pound of fillet for less than $2.30. See how many flies you can count!

 

Besides choice cuts of beef, you can also buy cow feet or entire heads! Bon a petit!

 

 

 

Past the butcher, you can get your hair cut (if you don't mind the smell of dead cows).

 

 

 

So there you have it- Banyo's Super Wal-Mart: groceries, clothing, household goods, and fresh meat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!”)