one week

We have completed our first week of training.  We started one week late, and don’t strictly adhere to ‘the schedule’, but are trusting in God’s timing.  One of the challenges for a westerner in Africa is getting used to ‘Africa Time’.  We tend to be schedule and goal oriented, whereas other cultures are much more social and time isn’t as ‘important’, because relationships take priority over outcomes.  That said, the people we’ve met are aware of ‘Africa Time’ and try to balance it out w/a schedule.  Jonas has mentioned it several times, and this morning was reminding the ‘boys’ of our schedule and its importance.

Speaking of ‘the boys’, let me formally introduce the team:  Jonas, a man of many hats, among them; base director, DTS leader, primary instructor, interpreter, father of Paolo and Claire, and husband to Rebecca.  In addition to her role as wife and mother, Rebecca teaches at a high school three days a week, and does all the cooking.  (Though Beth has spent a lot of time in the kitchen helping.)  Sampson is ‘on staff’, but is going through the school w/us in order that he be able to conduct DTS in the future.  He also works very hard assisting in the kitchen when Rebecca is teaching, and doing other work duties which we all share.  The other students are:  Enoch (Anok) and Stefan from the Garoua area, Oliver and Abel (Ah-bel) brothers from Congo, Jean-Mark from another part of Cameroon, and us.  We all are sharing one home, Jonas and his family have one bedroom and a bathroom, the rest of us share the other bathroom.  We also share the home w/a few large spiders and other insects, and many, many lizards (mostly outside).

I expect to have calluses on my derriere (?), as the furniture is not what we’re used to...  Probably a callused or bruised tailbone from bouncing against the luggage rack of the mototaxis, as well.  When you ride a mototaxi you want to find the drivers who are able to ‘find the line’.  The ones who are able to find the best paths through the deep sandy areas which can grab and dump you, the smoothest hardpack through the rocky areas, and who are able to avoid most of the potholes.

Paolo and Claire washed his tricycle yesterday.  It stands ready, waiting to serve its master when he calls.  Beep, beep…