Welcome to Kribi

We have arrived in Kribi.  It's not your 'typical' coastal resort town.  It's on the coast, there is a beach, the water is nice for swimming, there are restaraunts, there are hotels, but we are in Africa.  The restaraunts and businesses are typical of everything we've seen so far, and the hotels we've seen seem to vary from sketchy to nice, but are located amongst all of the other residences or businesses.  Not complaining, just saying...  The trip here was uneventful, another four hours with 32 passengers in a bus built for 20.  That horse is dead, so I won't kick it anymore, either.
We are staying in the home of a pastor or apostle of the church, not sure yet about the relationship.  It's a large family of more than one generation. Beth and I are staying in a room which we think is designated for visitors.  Two bunkbeds, it's own shower; which means a space with a drain and buckets of water from the well.  We come and go as we please, and interaction with the family has been minimal, and it seems to be working okay.  The beds are the most comfortable we've slept in since arriving in Cameroon, too.
Except for the lizards, birds, rats, and mice, we have seen little wildlife.  From my limited vantage points within the vans we've travelled in, there is some very lush forest, and beautiful scenery.  I'd love to see more, and we're hoping to after the training is over, as we have over a week before our flight home.  We have seen a few hunters selling 'bush meat', small animals from the forests, as we've travelled, so I know there is much more to see.  We may have an opportunity to go to a remote place in the jungle from here, but it will require some details to be worked out, including travel money.  There was one exception to the wildlife sightings on our last morning in Yaounde, though:  Sampson and I were getting water from the well (a deep one), and on one of the retrievals the bucket came up with a snake in it.  It was bright green, about two feet long, and didn't stick around long enough to give it's name.  But as I reached for it I quickly learned how Sampson feels about snakes; not too good.
We haven't yet established a routine for our time here.  A big part of our focus is to promote a conference for the radio project which will happen our last week here.  The Frenchman who is donating the programming is flying in to conduct a conference for local churches, as well as a seminar for people interested in working in radio.  To get the station up and running requires a lot of legwork which Jonas has been doing for the last month.  None of it can be accomplished by phone or internet, so he has had to do a lot of travelling, including another trip to Yaounde tomorrow.  There is still need for money to complete the project as well...
When Jonas returns at the end of the week Rebecca will be with him.  Things have gotten uncomfortable in Garoua, and she's decided not to keep the kids there any longer.  The kids will stay with their grandmother while she comes here.  It's their plan for she and Jonas to find a place to live while they're here.  Our group will return to Garoua in mid June to finish the school, but it hasn't been decided if Paulo and Claire will go back again.  Flexibility and adapting, it's part of YWAM and Africa.

Beth and some local children learning each other's language while waiting for class to start.  (During 'Africa time'.)

In Yaounde where water flowed from a pipe providing fresh water for a large area.  Most have wells close to their homes, but this is where they were getting their drinking water, and some were bathing and doing laundry, as well.

The fishing operation is interesting to watch:  Row the boat out about 500 yards, throw out the net, bring the ends back, then start pulling it to shore.  Gather and sort the fish.  Repeat.

Stephan (on my left) can swim, the others were gathering their courage.

Africa Time

On the first day of class Jonas made a statement something like this: "Here in Africa, we have a problem with time.  When we say something will happen at a certain time, it almost never does.  It is a real problem."  It is something we've heard many times before and since.  It's called 'Africa Time', a concept (or reality) I have a difficult time accepting.  Jonas went on to say that in DTS it would be different, that we would abide by the schedule, and that it was something very important to him.  Many others have made similar statements, but it's apparently more difficult than we think.  Some examples of Africa Time:
We arrived in Cameroon just after midnight on Feb 6 and had a flight scheduled to Garoua on Cam-Air, the national airline, for 10:45 that morning.  We returned to the airport around nine to be told that the flight was leaving at five, and to return at three.  I called Jonas to advise him of the delay, and that we would be arriving around eight p.m.  When we returned, and after a lengthy delay before being allowed to check in, we went to the gate.  The first announcement (no PA system, here) came sometime around six of the pending arrival of our plane, with actual boarding about an hour later.  We arrived Garoua near ten p.m.  A.T.
On day one of DTS we were given a schedule which included times for activities for each day of the week.  It is based on the YWAM DTS outline, but locally adapted, and of course 'we can be flexible, but we will stay with it...'  From that day onward there wasn't a day where we stayed with the schedule.  I cannot tell you how many times we have showed up prepared for something either scheduled, or because we're told to, only to wait for a long while for it to begin or be told it's not happening.  A.T.
We've gone to church nearly every Sunday we've been here.  Every one has started at nine: 'Be ready before nine."  In Garou we never left the house before nine thirty, and we still usually arrived before most people.  In Kye-Ossi, since we weren't at the mercy of the rest of the group, and we were staying on church property we could arrive 'on time', we did.  The chairs weren't set up, some of the choir might be there practicing, the pastors weren't there, or if they were they would leave, then arrive an hour or more later.  It was similar in Ambam, and I think in every service we've been in we've heard about the importance of being on time.  A.T.
This week is a lecture week, and because of the holiday our class didn't begin until Wednesday.  On Monday night we were told class would be from nine a.m until two p.m.  Here we are staying in two places; four of us here in the Pastor's house, the others several blocks away in the church.  On Wednesday morning the other group showed up here around seven instead of the 'scheduled' eight o'clock, 'because class was going to start at eight, and we need breakfast'.  So at about 9:15, after breakfast we headed to the church.  The lecturer arrived at 10:30.  Same for yesterday, though class was scheduled for nine.  Today class was again scheduled at nine, as Beth and I were arriving shortly thereafter (the first), we passed the lecturer who said he would return quickly.  (We were subsequently told he needed to print something.)  A little after eleven he called to say he wouldn't make it back, so class is rescheduled at three, but only til 4:30 since there is a meeting in the church at five.  A.T.
 Lord, help me change the things I can, and accept the things I can't.  A.A. and now A.T.

one of the few pictures of the whole team, getting  ready to leave Ambam

Yaounde

We didn't really finish Ambam on a high note, but nothing serious.  The water went out sometime Thursday night, so by Saturday morning things were getting unsettled.  We had run out of buckets, and the bathroom situation was not pleasant.  Everyone seemed content to wait for it to return, but I guilted them into going with me to the well which was about 1/4 mile away to carry water back in 20 litre jugs.  The African way...  That allowed us to wash dishes, flush, and me to wash some clothes.  By three pm there still was no water, so I made another trip to get more so that Beth and I could 'shower'.  After I had done mine, and Beth was doing hers, the water came back on.   Good things come to those who wait right.  My biggest challenge in Africa will always be patience, and adjusting to 'Africa time'.  That night we were supposed to show another film, but since power was out we had to use a generator.  After much delay in getting fuel (I finally bought it from a street vendor), the generator wouldn't start and became flooded.  It took a long time and much fiddling before someone came to pull the plug, then get it started.  By that time it was well past dark, and many waited patiently, then the speakers wouldn't work.  After over an hour of messing with the amp and connections, many phone calls, people supposedly in the know coming and going, we decided to cancel.  Turns out the amp was connected to the 110v outlet vs the 220v outlet as required...
I have been told several times now I am an African.  It's a compliment, and it's because of my attempts to adapt and try to do things their way.  But until I can climb on one of the vans with 18 others and go to sleep, I won't consider myself to be African.  It was another four hour ride here to Yaounde; very uncomfortable for everyone, but seemingly taken in stride by the citizens.  Even the heated discussions about seats and luggage seem to quickly dissipate, and once moving many quickly fall asleep.  Including the grandmother (or mother, maybe) next to me.  The baby was getting tired and fussy as we were leaving, so as she does so often Beth took the child.  The woman immediately fell asleep, the baby quickly did as well, and both stayed that way to their destination nearly two hours later.  The vans are Toyotas, made for 10, licensed for 14 in Uganda, and adapted for 19 here.  Visualize sitting on one four back seats of a midsize, extended cab pickup.  Hard, narrow, horizontal bench, and nearly vertical back with no headrests.  Your knees are fighting the framework of the seat in front of you, and it is physically impossible to sit shoulder to shoulder between the side windows, so you stagger your bodies to fill the space.  Of course luggage is piled high on top.  So as I ride along I do a lot of thinking, empathizing, and figuring.  One question I haven't figured the answer to:  Are you more likely to roll over in an overloaded, top heavy vehicle whose shocks are already bottomed out, or one that still has some shock travel remaining?
We will spend this week in Yaounde, the capital, then on to Kribi.  This week we'll have another lecture topic instead of outreach ministry.  We arrived Sunday evening, and yesterday and today are national holidays.  All government offices and many businesses are closed, and it's difficult to travel through town due to road closures for the (lengthy) parade.  We did go yesterday to hit the ATM and then visit one of Jonas' friends, but it was after the festivities.  This morning we accompanied the pastor who's home we're staying in to a river baptism.  Two young ladies, one of whom had dreamed of being baptized in a nearby river 'and there were white people there.'  It was one of the many acts of faith we've seen which powerfully and emotionally move me.  The home we're staying in is very comfortable physically and socially.  We even got to christen the new toilet yesterday after completing the enclosure.  The old one was full, and a new one had recently been dug, and the cement top is dry.  It was a matter of transferring a few boards and corrugated metal from the old to the new, and walla (a commonly used term here).
Please be praying for the safety and stability of the region and country.  We were told yesterday it's no longer safe to return north by the highway (our intended route), as it runs along the Central African Republic and there have been some bus hijackings recently.  Also, yesterday Boko Haram, the muslim terrorist group kidnapped three children from a school in Garoua.  It was from the muslim school next to the one Paulo and Claire attend, and the government is trying to prevent details from becoming public.  Obviously, Jonas and Rebecca are very concerned as are many others.  I still don't fear for our safety, we serve the Mighty God, but we will use wisdom.

the child who slept on our laps for over an hour and a half

One of the many furniture makers shops of Ambam, specializing in beds for both short and long term use.  He made them just behind and below the showroom.

a sample of some of the wood being used

Beth's birthday celebration; bread, real butter, a doughnut, and a coke.

More Ambam

There is a different spirit here in Ambam, and our role has been a little different as well.  We have been doing evangelism outreach, and we have seen several people accept Christ.  But we have also met many Christians, and we have spent much of our time encouraging and being encouraged.  We have focused on one residential section, or quarter as they call them here.  We are encouraging both new believers and those who already are Christians to be united in the common message of the gospel and share what all of us have in common, Jesus.  That has been a personal calling of mine for awhile now, at home as well as here, or Uganda, or wherever I am.  I believe that it's time we as Christians put aside our differences, quit trying to convert one another, and instead share Christ's love.
We got to exerience a bit of the cultural political system this week.  As part of our outreach ministry we planned to show a film in a 'public' place, the side of someone's bar where there is enough room to set up some speakers and chairs.  Of course this requires permission from the owner, but it also requires it from the 'chief' of the quarter.  I'm not sure what entitles someone to become the chief, but in this case it is an inherited position passed down from his dead father.  Any way somehow the project became mine, so Beth and I went along to meet him.  Basically he's a prosperous man living in a nice house who received us, made small talk, then granted permission for us to show the film.  Complete with a form with an official stamp of approval.  Apparently we'll encounter more of this, particularly in Kribi where we'll bring gifts to the 'chief' when presenting the radio project.  I wonder if that one will look like the chiefs of the movies, because this one didn't...
Since we're leaving in two days I decided to wash our sheets this morning, figuring the others would do theirs­­­ tomorrow and there's very little clothesline available.  It rained most of the night, but since every other day it has cleared up in the morning I figured it would as well.  It's ­­­­­­­1 pm and still raining hard...  Also, does anyone know where the pied piper resides these days?  Somehow, in spite of the sanitary conditions, rats seem to be thriving here.  Most of our nights in Kye-Ossi we heard them in the walls and ceilings, and there's been at least one who's joined us in our room here as well.  I think they're eating the big roaches though, so we don't want to complain...

door to door visits

film projection w/a full moon rise...

electricity or water?

Personally, under the circumstances I choose water.  With nine of us sharing the bathroom I'd rather be able to flush the toilet than see it, especially since there no outside hole as an option.  Actually it's not like Garoua, but it seems the water is shut off for a period each day, and we've yet to have a day without losing electricity.  We've learned to have buckets full of water just in case, and most of us have flashlights, or phones w/lights, so we manage just fine when the power is off.  There is a TV here which some of the 'boys' will watch whenever given the chance, so I'm sure they would choose electricity...
We have developed a routine for this town which seems to be working well for everyone.  We go out twice a day making contact with various people in various places.  Some were prearranged, some are follow ups, and many are new contacts we make each time we venture out.  We usually introduce ourselves, explain our mission, and introduce the gospel.  We usually try to set up follow up appointments with those who are interested.  Most welcome us, some eagerly, some hesitantly, but we are nearly always invited into homes or businesses, except where there is no room.  In those cases, we will stand or sit outside and share.  Often people will see us talking to others, become curious, then invite us to speak with them as well.  Being the only whites in town usually draws attention, as well, and it is something we can use to begin conversations that might not otherwise happen.  Such was the case this morning at a drinking establishment, (a couple of benches under a corrugated metal canopy where homemade 'wine' was being shared), where those gathered invited us to come and share.  We see all these encounters as divine appointments and have seen many changed lives because of them.  I also always enjoy the opportunities to experience a bit of the way many are living.
The town itself is different than Kye-ossi.  It feels less agressive, with people going about their business and getting on with their lives.  Of course we hear the shouting, the mosques, and various other loud sounds which are so much a part of life here.  And we are often solicited to buy something or ride a moto, but that comes with the territory.  It seems a local industry is wood working, and there are many furniture makers turning out pieces that, because of the wood being used, are very beautiful.  I can't believe there is enough demand here for the amount being produced, so most of it must be being transported and sold elsewhere.  It has also rained every day we've been here, sometimes heavily for several hours, so mud is a constant challenge.  It has gotten the better of us a few times on the steeper paths.  I'm amazed how easily people get around, mostly in flip flops or sandals of some sort.  Also how the motos navigate some of the 'roads' amazes me, and I don't plan to be on one in those areas.  As in Kye-ossi, we've been able to find a few treats sold on the street or shops that we will occasionally treat ourselves to.  There is also a nice bakery which has several good looking things for sale.  We took the team there the other night as it was Abel's birthday, and treated everyone to something.  Maybe we've lost some of our sweet tooth, but for the most part the treats were better looking than tasting.  We also still have bread every morning as part of our breakfast, but it is nowhere near as good as what we had in Kye-ossi.  I'm not sure I'll ever have have bread as enjoyable as that... Also, I had hoped to get my haircut at the Obama barbery while here, but since it burned down with two other businesses last night, I guess that won't happen.

Would you buy what these guys are selling?

That's a four or five foot lizard in her right hand.  Bush meat...

Most know, but our son, Bryan, arrived in Uganda last week for a work he is involved with there.  He also has a blog:  hugsfrombryan.blogspot.com  We encourage you to read that as well...

Ambam

We are now in Ambam, a 20 minute ride north of Kye-Ossi.  It is a little bigger, and from what we've seen more active and diverse.  It is surrounded by forested hills, so from the right vantage points there are some nice views, though our immediate surroundings aren't much to look at.  We are staying in a two room home, which by African standards is pretty nice.  Beth and I have the bedroom and the rest of the guys are sleeping on the 'parlor' floor or porch.  There is also a bathroom and a kitchen similar to the one in Garoua, but slightly larger and much darker.
It appears our time here is better planned as there are people from the sponsoring church working with us who have already set up some appointments.  We began with two of those this morning, the first in the humblest of homes we've seen to date.  Precariously leaning walls of mud brick and sticks under the standard corrugated tin roof.  It was part of a compound of similar places, but, like everywhere else, there were homes of better and worse quality nearby.  It rained heavily overnight so the walk to and from was very muddy.  Colorad.o like in it's clayish stickiness..
Yesterday Beth, Jonas, and I travelled to the closest city, Ebolowa, because we needed to take care of some business.  At the first police checkpoint our passports were taken and we had to get off the van and go into the office.  Basically one officer wanted a bribe to return the passports, but Jonas refused, so we stood by as the heated argument ensued.  Meanwhile, the van driver and passengers weren't willing to wait, so left w/o us.  Eventually the officer relented and by then another bus had arrived which we were able to board and continue on, but had to pay for another ticket.  (Less than the requested 'fee', though.)  Once we were done in Ebolowa Jonas continued north for several days worth of business, and Beth and I made the hour and forty five minute return trip on our own.  At another 'checkpoint' another officer took our passports for several minutes, but returned them once he understood our mission, though I'm not sure what we said to satisfy him.  I believe the French word for corruption is corruption, probably with an accent mark somewhere...

Last visit w/Katy in Kye-Ossi

Walking to an appt in Ambam

Indoor plumbing, an improvement?