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?

relatives

The theory of relativity, all things are relative; we throw those terms around, but living here gives them new meaning to me.  I'm constantly comparing the things I'm seeing and doing to how things are 'at home'.  I often compare them to each other here as well.  Homes especially.
We're in peoples' homes on a regular basis now, and as I've described before they are generally simple one or two room places.  Some are of concrete block construction, others are wood.  They are typically very small, what would serve as a regular bedroom in most of our homes may be the entire home, but most do have two rooms.  I base my measurement estimates on the plywood sheets that make up most ceilings, and in many cases the walls.  They are 4'x8' sheets of a very thin plywood, very similar to what is used on cheap hollow core interior doors 'at home'.  Using those it's pretty easy to estimate the size of a space.  Today we were in the largest home we've seen so far, but it was serving a large extended family, so the individual family spaces were still very small.  It was also the dirtiest we've been in.  The most basic home we've seen is that of a new mother whose husband (very few are actually married, but they refer to one another as husband and wife) left her just before the baby was born two weeks ago.  It reminds me of a single stall in a horse barn, and she lives there with the baby and her two other children, and it is probably the neatest and one of the cleanest we've been in.  The large home we were in today also reminded me of a horse barn, both in construction and cleanliness.
Cleanliness is another of those relative terms.  It's difficult in this environment to ever really feel clean, but after a 'shower' it's amazing how clean we actually feel.  Refreshed might be a better word, but I feel cleaner here than when we were in Garoua.  And when people choose to dress up it is amazing how clean they appear.
There's also the bathroom situation.  The room with the four inch hole that serves as a toilet is a nasty place that is never pleasant to visit.  But next door they are are outside, behind a building, in the mud, with no privacy.  I haven't examined it too closely, but I see them bathing there as well, and that can't be too pleasant.
Relativity applies to our food as well.  A banana, the doughnuts (deep fried dough balls) we buy from street vendors, our morning bread, all bring us pleasure, but aren't things we crave 'at home'.  On the other hand, our basic cooking and menu here have us wishing for some of the things Rebecca made, and neither are things we'd choose there.
On Sunday we will leave for our next destination, then there are two more places we will visit before returning to Garoua.  We they be better or worse than what we've become accostomed to, and in many respects comfortable with here?  It's all relative.
Spiritually, our time here has been both rewarding and frustrating.  We have seen many lives changed by Jesus.  We pray those changes will be lasting because one of the frustrations is a lack of followup and discipling.  We've heard many of the 'arguments' against Christianity heard at home; hypocrisy, contradictions in doctrine and theology, etc, which should cause all of us Christians pause, but God is greater.  We've also come up against the very real effects of witchcraft, occultism, and sorcery which are so much a part of African culture, but, we are seeing many breakthroughs.  I have enjoyed the many opportunities we've been given to meet, pray with, and encourage people.  I thank you for your prayers as well, because we know that we could not be doing much of this without the support of those prayers.

The woman behind Beth is the mother of the infant, and that is the door to her 'horse stall' home.

Previous picture is looking just to Beth's left, the courtyard serves six homes.

Walking to the next 'rendezvous'.  Guinea border crossing is straight ahead, the apartments in the background are in Guinea.

Waiting on the next appointment in the home whose door is partially cut off in the photo's right edge

Where our delicious bread comes from every morning.  The loaves in the foreground are waiting their turn to be slid into the oven on the paddle.  The man on the lower left cleans, counts, and sorts them when they come out.  Dirt floor, no lights, I don't know when their day begins, but we're glad they're here.

plans change

Our stay in Kye-ossi has been extended for a week.  The way this outreach works is that when we go somewhere it is usually to work with a church, or at least be hosted by them.  In the next town we will visit, Am Bam, the church Jonas has made arrangements with is not ready for us.  It sounds like they are more committed than the one hosting us here, and they want to have things arranged before we arrive.  I think that means we will be busier there, which certainly isn’t a problem.  Because here there has been a lot of down time, and with the limitations we have it is hard to change that.  But we also believe our work here is not done yet…

rat decoys and ways to kill them

more of the 'delicious' fish they insist on putting in what would otherwise be good food

getting ready to rodeo?

one of the garages, this one covered

We’ve now walked the entire length of the town several times on the main road which is where all the business is done, and it has become very familiar.  We aren’t allowed to go ‘exploring’ on our own, so we’ve only gone into the ‘neighborhoods’ a few times.  Beth and I really enjoy that, but we can’t seem to raise the others’ enthusiasm for it.  We go there for home visits, but there are many more opportunities we’d like to create.  Even on the main road though, Beth and I have been engaging many of the locals in conversation, and because we are there so frequently, we aren’t drawing as much attention.  It still always feels like we’re being talked about, though.  I’m sure there are many people at home who feel the same way when outside of their own familiar surroundings.  It’s still difficult to get pictures of many of the people and things we’d like to, as people don’t always seem comfortable with it.  Also pictures and explanations will never take the place of the experiencing it for one’s self.

We have seen God do some exciting things in the lives of some of the people we’ve been in contact with.  For example Jean-Paul and Blanche together have a zeal and glow which comes with finding a new life in Christ.  The other day, after sharing more with them and a friend who was visiting, Jean-Paul was able to explain about his new life, and lead his friend in a prayer to accept Jesus as his savior as well.  There are other stories of new births as the team meets one on one with some of the people we’ve made contact with.  Please pray for these people, especially for follow up and that they can find places to stay connected and continue to grow in Christ.

The next paragraph is difficult for me because it’s an appeal for money, but it’s something I believe in so I’m going for it.  If you want to stop reading now I won’t be offended.

Since our arrival Jonas has been sharing his dream and vision for Kribi, a growing city on the coast.  He and Rebecca believe that is the next place they are called, and he dreams of starting another YWAM base and training center there.  They haven’t known how it was to happen, but were believing God would make the way.  Now a door is opening.  While we were in Kaeli, Jonas was approached with an offer to set up a Christian radio station there.  That person didn’t know Jonas’ vision for Kribi, or (I don’t think) about his experience in radio, which he has.  Broadcast equipment and programming will be provided by an organization in France, but, if he accepts, Jonas must obtain the necessary license and other government requirements, an antenna and a facility to house it all.  There is already a commitment for the government portion, but more money is needed for the other things, as well as for relocating himself and his family.  (Rebecca has begun the transfer application process.)  They need about $5000 to $10000 to accomplish everything.  Beth and I will be helping, of course, but would love to see others involved as well.  If it’s something you want to be a part of let us know and we will work out the logistics.  

It's the small things...

Like the homes.  We've been in several now, and they're not much different than our space.  (Which probably was built to be someone's home.)  By my estimate a 10'x10' room that serves as living room, kitchen, bedroom, basically almost everything.  They all have a curtain to another space which must serve as closet and store room, and maybe in some cases another bedroom, but it can't be much, as we've seen the mattress on the floor of the main room in nearly every home before it gets put away for the day.  Today, while on a follow up visit, Beth commented about the furniture being rearranged, and how she likes to do that.  The response was something to the effect that it's necessary to keep the rats from getting too comfortable.  It's the small things...

Like all the automotive repair going on here.  The road is lined with 'shops', small lots with cars and trucks in various states of repair and parts scattered all around.  Some how they get it done.  I watched an interesting rebuild of one of our generator engines yesterday.  Today I spoke again with the shop owner/mechanic next to where we are staying as he was polishing ('smoothing') a crankshaft journal on a large six cylinder crankshaft.  Their engine hoist is several guys lifting, and his lathe was a rag around a piece of emery cloth.  I'm sure by the end of the week the Land Cruiser will be back on the road, and shortly thereafter the rod bearing will have spun again.  It's the small things...

Like showing a film as part of our ministry.  Go to a 20'x30' space among some of those homes set up the video projector with power from a two cycle generator set out chairs on the dirt under the clothes lines, and around the open gutter, kerosene stoves, buckets, and lounging dogs and show Facing the Giants to an appreciative crowd.  It's the small things...

Like killing whatever that was crawling on my leg just now.  It's the small things...

Like going to the bakery in the morning to get our breakfast bread.  And seeing the large mud dome that is the oven in the room with a dirt floor, no lights, and a few boards for prep where the two men from Senegal have spent the last several hours making the delicious loaves that quickly sell out.  It's the small things...

Like beautiful children.  Lots of them.

Our blessings aren't small though.  We are amazed at God's provision in an environment that sounds difficult, but really isn't, just takes some getting used to...