Spent all morning working on the website. Left the house at 12:00 to take Dad to the airport. Stopped at a craft center to buy a couple of souvenirs in Douala.
Aunt Paula's plane arrived a little late (5:00), and we didn't even get to see her until 6:00! I started tearing up when I hugged my daddy goodbye, and if you know me, tearing up is quite a feat. Dad said his plane will not provide a meal, so I sent him with a chicken salad kit for supper. I hope they allow him to take it through customs.
Arriving back at the compound was bittersweet. I already miss my dad. But my second family was waiting here to greet me with big smiles. Stephen was especially excited because he thought that I had gone back to America with Dad.
I am so excited to get to know my auntie better in the next week. She is a spitfire, and these Cameroonians already love her (Whenever they offer her a hand to shake, she gives them a high five instead.)
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Cameroon: June 13, 2014
Today was a blast! I slept in a little (7:30), and bymade coffee, fixed breakfast, and got ready for the day, Peter came to our apartment and visited for at least an hour. In that time, we told him about ultimate frisbee and asked him if he wouuld like to join us for a game after lunch. So after lunch, all the orphans and Peter met us on the soccer field outside the gates. Even Elizabeth, one of the teachers, joined us. As if teaching people how to throw a frisbee wasn't fun enough, we played a quick gameof ultimate frisbee. They caught on really quickly. Peter left at 4:00 to watch Cameroon play Mexico in the World Cup. When he left, the kids asked if we could play soccer. For the next 2 hours, we got our tails whooped by a bunch of extremely talented kid soccer stars. I don't think I have even been more filthy in my entire life. Red mud. Caking my feet, my legs, my arms, my clothes. No ringworm yet!
After dinner I started a new project for Mrs. Chamberlin. I am helping her design a website for the mission. It looks really sharp so far!
After dinner I started a new project for Mrs. Chamberlin. I am helping her design a website for the mission. It looks really sharp so far!
Friday, June 13, 2014
Cameroon: June 12, 2014
I got up super early this morning to prepare my lessons and my crafts for VBS today. I taught the stories of Daniel and of Jonah and came up with lots of games for them to play. I had really wanted to get my hands on a couple of balls for a few of my games, but here in Africa, you've got to improvise sometimes. I made 2 softball-size balls from 2 pairs of fuzzy socks. They were a hit! We played everything form silent ball to dodge ball with those things.
Immediately after VBS, Stephen, Mr. Chamberlin, Pastor Echo, Dad, and I took a short leisurely trip up the mountain to the city of Buea. Beautiful place full of well-preserved German buildings from WWII days.
As soon as we got back from Buea, I quickly came up with a solo piece and headed to church. My dad gave a message called "Fact, Faith, and Feeling."
After church, I went to the orphanage to visit with the kids and read them the 2nd half of The Lion King for their bedtime story.
I am so tired right now that I can't keep my eyes open. Good night!
Immediately after VBS, Stephen, Mr. Chamberlin, Pastor Echo, Dad, and I took a short leisurely trip up the mountain to the city of Buea. Beautiful place full of well-preserved German buildings from WWII days.
As soon as we got back from Buea, I quickly came up with a solo piece and headed to church. My dad gave a message called "Fact, Faith, and Feeling."
After church, I went to the orphanage to visit with the kids and read them the 2nd half of The Lion King for their bedtime story.
I am so tired right now that I can't keep my eyes open. Good night!
Cameroon: June 11, 2014
This morning I cooked French toast and prepared for VBS. From 10:30-3:00 I was with my class of 37 6th graders and junior high schoolers. They were great! I am so glad I brought my P.E. game file because I used it soooooo much today! Sorry I didn't write more. I am so tired. But if you have any questions about today please feel free to comment!
Cameroon: June 10, 2014
I am writing this on June 11. I don't remember much of what happened yesterday. All I know is that I was dead tired by last night.
I helped prepare crafts and fliers for VBS. I went with the orphans again to distribute the fliers (Dad went too.) This time, we went to a really hilly section of the village and got lots of exercise! Adults and children alike would often point at us and say, "White man! White man!" Once when a group of kids said it, I pointed at them and said, "Black man! Black man!" They really got a kick out of that, and we made a few new friends. As soon as we returned, Liberman and his wife Grace took my dad and me to the Limbe market to buy souvenirs.
The rest of the evening was spent preparing for VBS and chatting with 3 of the older orphans during a power outage (quite a common occurrence here.)
I helped prepare crafts and fliers for VBS. I went with the orphans again to distribute the fliers (Dad went too.) This time, we went to a really hilly section of the village and got lots of exercise! Adults and children alike would often point at us and say, "White man! White man!" Once when a group of kids said it, I pointed at them and said, "Black man! Black man!" They really got a kick out of that, and we made a few new friends. As soon as we returned, Liberman and his wife Grace took my dad and me to the Limbe market to buy souvenirs.
The rest of the evening was spent preparing for VBS and chatting with 3 of the older orphans during a power outage (quite a common occurrence here.)
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Cameroon: June 9, 2014
Started my day making eggs and toast for breakfast. The rest of my morning consisted of helping Mrs. Chamberlin with some computerissues and getting VBS flyers ready to send out -- oh, and babysitting one of the newest orphans, David, while the "house mom" (the woman who takes care of the orphanage) comforted Nathaniel, David's baby brother (Nathaniel has terrible colic right now.) One of my favorite parts of the morning was getting to talk with some of the orphan girls after we finished making the fliers. We discussed everything from Cameroonian history to how to draw a pig. They even quizzed me in every subject they are taking to see if I was learning the same things they are.
After a lunch prepared by our lovely cook, Mary, four of the orphans and I went canvasing all over Limbe. That was quite an experience! We walked through the streets for 3 hours and still did not finish distributing all of our fliers. As a reward for our work, Cynthia treated us all to a local favorite -- roasted corn!
Last week, I had promised Cynthia that I would teach her to play guitar, so this afternoon, I started fulfilling that promise. With practice, I'm sure she will pick it up quickly.
We had a church prayer meeting tonight. I loved the way it was conducted. Individual prayer requests were given; then the whole congregation prayed out loud individually after each request. I felt such power and focus present in the room.
As soon as the prayer meeting was over, I visited the kids in the orphanage. The boys reminded me promptly that I had told them that I would read them a bedtime story. One of them ran into the tiny room with The Lion King. They huddled together on the floor and looked at me with so much excitement. I only read them half the book (I get to finish it tomorrow!!!), and they hung on every word. What better way to end the day than by getting countless hugs and nuzzles from 30 precious children?
Actually, my day ended with a refreshing (cold) shower after sweating all day and with a good time of Bible study with my dad.
After a lunch prepared by our lovely cook, Mary, four of the orphans and I went canvasing all over Limbe. That was quite an experience! We walked through the streets for 3 hours and still did not finish distributing all of our fliers. As a reward for our work, Cynthia treated us all to a local favorite -- roasted corn!
Last week, I had promised Cynthia that I would teach her to play guitar, so this afternoon, I started fulfilling that promise. With practice, I'm sure she will pick it up quickly.
We had a church prayer meeting tonight. I loved the way it was conducted. Individual prayer requests were given; then the whole congregation prayed out loud individually after each request. I felt such power and focus present in the room.
As soon as the prayer meeting was over, I visited the kids in the orphanage. The boys reminded me promptly that I had told them that I would read them a bedtime story. One of them ran into the tiny room with The Lion King. They huddled together on the floor and looked at me with so much excitement. I only read them half the book (I get to finish it tomorrow!!!), and they hung on every word. What better way to end the day than by getting countless hugs and nuzzles from 30 precious children?
Actually, my day ended with a refreshing (cold) shower after sweating all day and with a good time of Bible study with my dad.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Cameroon: June 8, 2014
I can't even begin to give you all the details of today. Pastor Echo conducted the Sunday school class. He gave an excellent lesson about hearing and doing. Dad and I played a guitar/harmonica duet ("The Solid Rock"), and Dad gave the message. He did such a good job sticking to his points and keeping the people's attention.
As soon as the services ended, I made sloppy joes for lunch while Mrs. Chamberlin prepared a potato salad. After we ate, my dad and I went back to our apartment to prepare lessons for the youth service at 5:00. I had also been asked to sing a song and play guitar. They don't have a Sunday evening service, but the youth meet sometimes, and Mrs. Chamberlin always does a little children's church in her living room. From 3:00-5:00, I spent time with Cynthia. She is 17 years old. She brought me her favorite biscuits (cookies) for me to try, and she brought me a list of pidgin phrases she had handwritten for me. She quizzed me on them. We talked and talked, and she braided my hair.
Five o'clock came quickly. Time for the youth meeting! This was a meeting I will never forget. When the first few youth came, I had everyone get in a circle, and I taught them the song "Bind Us Together, Lord" complete with hand motions! They absolutely loved it! After the song I shared with them a short devotional about laying aside our own problems and putting others' needs before our own. Then, after I sang "All in All" for them, my dad gave them a message about being a son of God. The service ended after a time of questions. We had all sorts of questions but I'll try to install I can remember.
1. How can you balance sports and musical talents with spiritual things?
2. Did you ever struggle with sin when you were a teenager?
3. How did you decide to come to Cameroon?
4. Tell us what you think about how we should dress.
5. What should I do if my friends make fun of me for being different from them in the way I dress?
6. If God has forgiven our sins already, why does He judge us again in heaven?
I asked them to give me any prayer requests they had ate eh end of the meeting, and 2 came up to me, both with peer pressure struggles. I prayed with one of them and wrote her name down, and the other gave me a slip of paper with his name and request.
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