Greetings from Cameroon!

Greetings from Cameroon!

II Thessalonians 3:1

"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you;"

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Cameroon Food

 
Abby's first shot at cooking a completely Cameroon local recipe...Njama-Njama & Foo-Foo.  Basically (though Abby will tell you it is not too basic) it is corn  meal boiled into a big ball that you break off bite by bite dipping it into the greens which are made of a green leafy vegetable fried with tomatoes and onion.  People cook it in many different ways to suit their individual liking.  It was great!! 

 
Some have asked about the coffee here.  I brought a coffee roasting book with me since I knew that they grew and exported coffee in Cameroon.  One of the ladies in the Sabga church sold me a huge bucket of green coffee beans for the equivalent of maybe $16.  She just grows them on her tree in her yard.  They look like little red cherries when you pick each individual bean. We have had a few young guys help to take off the outer shell.  Then you see a pictures above of the green coffee bean.  It smells a little like bread when you start to heat it up.  It takes about 10 minutes to roast them in a sauce pan.  This is not the preferred method of roasting coffee but it works.  It took about three different tries to get this last roast that tasted really good.  Next time I plan to roast even a bit longer.  Roasting coffee helps get rid of the fish smell that we cook for the dogs.  However, after cooking the fish for the dogs, we think we might like to find a good recipe and try it for ourselves. It is pretty cheap to buy in the market. 
 
Ok, here is picture at no charge...Elias washing the motorcycle with David. 

Monday, January 18, 2010

First Christmas Package


We received our first Christmas package the middle of January and had a lot of fun opening it.  Thank you to the Anthony family in our Iowa supporting church.  We have heard of several more packages in the mail and hope they make it safely!

Happy New Year!


The first two pictures are of the area we went for our New Year's day picnic.  It was on the other side of a small mountain by our house and was across the border in the village of Babungo.
The next two pictures are from the student evangelism day we had last week.  We passed out tracts to the several thousand students who walk by our hosue everyday.  Can you spot the 6 of the 8 helpers we had?

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Helping hands

The kids love to play outside and “help” wash the clothes.  Elena had fun helping me hull the fresh coffee beans while Elias tried to eat them. 

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Church sign

We are thankful to finally have a church sign ready to install by the road.  We hope to put it in on Thursday.  As you can see, bro. Eugene did a great job on the sign! 

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Cell Phones in Cameroon

America is not the only place where cell phones interupt a funeral, a wedding, or any normal Sunday service at church.  Welcome to Africa, where most seem to have a cell phone.  Yes, it is much more expensive here to have one but people do.  And, yes, they ring in church even in Africa!  I thought I'd post a picture to prove it from a hospital chapel...

Cameroonisms

Miscommunication is an often endured phenomena for us as we adjust to language.  Yes, people speak English but they are coming from a British/African English perspective with Pidgin English in the mix as well.  Yesterday, a French speaking (Francophone) student came by, and I agreed to take him to town as I was just going there myself.  We try to communicate in English or Pidgin. We got on the motorcycle and headed together for the 4 minute drive.  The frist half is dust and pot holes, and the second half is paved (tarred).  I stopped at the shop and he indicated that he was going farther.  I told him if he waited I'd take him the rest of the way.  Well, he disappeared, and I finished buying my gas bottle for the stove and made some copies for Sunday School.  I had just finished tying the heavy bottle to the motorcycle when my friend showed up again.  He looked confused and so did I...there was now no room for him as I thought he left.  He said he was ready to go back to the neighborhood where we stay, which is not what I was expecting.  I said that I'd be back to get him as I had another friend to bring back to town to catch a taxi. A long story short, we never met back up.  Who knows what we really heard from each other!  I am hoping to start learning French next year. 

...unto us a son is given...

The last two weeks, I have been finishing teaching through our statement of faith during the Sunday School hour.  During the Sunday morning services I have recently preached on Isaiah 7:14 and then Isaiah 9:6.  After today's message on the latter Isaiah verse, three young men who have been coming raised their hands indicating their need for salvation or assurance.  "...unto us a son is given..." is such clear opportunity to show how God gave us His greatest gift, his precious Son, Jesus Christ.  Not all will receive such a gift, and some will try their whole life to "earn" a gift.  God only gives this gift of salvation to those who humbly will receive it by faith.  Praise the Lord for such a wonderful gift and for those in Ndop who are beginning to understand God's free offer.  Pray for these young men and other new believers at Believers Baptist Church in Ndop.  

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Ministry in Ngoketunjia


Abby, myself, Elena, Chrysanthus, David, and Johnson folding tracts last Sunday after church in preparation for try to reach over 5,000 students this coming week...please pray!

Chrysanthus, David, Johnson, and myself today after our morning service in Ndop on our second trip to Balikumbat for discipleship and evangelism.  Pray for this potential second Bible study opportunity.  Balikumbat is one of the 13 or so villages of the Ngotetunjia subdivision.  We live in Bamunka (Ndop Town), which is the center of the subdivision just under the Ngotetunjia mountain.  Balikumbat is about a 40 minute drive from our house.  Pray for people to be saved here in the coming months!

Our little mancub


Don't assume that being on the table is allowed!

Fell asleep with his Bible.  When he comes in the office, he'll often look for it and say, "Bible"

Daddy and Elias sick together this week

Taken just a few minutes after the previous picture!

Our early bird caught eating cold mashed potatoes for breakfast...Elena didn't finish them the night before! We try, but sometimes...!

My mancub eating bananas from Balikumbat after I came home Sunday evening

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thanksgiving in Cameroon




 Elias in his usual mode of travel just a few minutes after we started down the dusty road...Elena holding his hand and singing to him!


We drove about 3 1/2 hours from Ndop to Foumban.  Foumban is on the other side of these mountains. Being in the dry season, we got to eat dirt the whole way!  We were all an orange tint when we arrived.


Arrival at the Loechers house in Foumban the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving.


Thanksgiving dinner at the Barilla's house!


Missionary Men


Missionary Kids


Happy Thanksgiving!


Announcing the winner of the Turkey Tournament (making your own Turkey out of anything)

 
On our way to a waterfall and picnic with all the missionaries the day after Thanksgiving



 
 
 
On the way home following the Needhams through the back roads

 
A quick stop to see the a new Golf course built by someone from France...


 ...and the airfield on the property of the golf course and restaurant!  I hope to come here to do some training flights! 

Happy Thanksgiving!  We are thankful for all our family and friends!