Journey to the Palace (Fonfuka Trip 1)

Our Journey to the palace of the Paramount Fon of Bum began at 6:30 Thursday morning in Sabga and ended at about 5:30 pm that night.  Here are a few pictures of the way there...

View of Fonfuka from about 10 minutes away.  We first went to Fonfuka in February and returned now at the request of the Fon to visit his palace. 

 The RAV 4 was great on the trip, but will need to see a mechanic for a check-up!  It took about 7 hours to Fonfuka over terrible roads...mostly stones and ruts. 

 It took us 15 minutes to negotiate motorcycles to bring us half-way to the palace from Fonfuka then about 25 minutes of bush riding.  Took a bug and some grass to the eye and it is still bothering me...never thought to bring my riding glasses with me.  Lots of home-made bridges along the way including this big one. 

 Unloading our bikes to begin our 1 hour ascent to the palace compound. 

 We knew we were on the right trail.

We were all heavily loaded with our backpacks and the guys added to their heads our bag of salt, box of soap, and box of Bibles as gifts for the Fon. 

Son of Bum (Fonfuka Trip 2)

We spent the night in the palace, and the next morning talked with the Fon, visited the palace church, preached to the palace residents, had a ceremony for me to become a "son of Bum," and then took a historical tour with the Fon around the compound...

 The Fon on his throne.  He is the paramount Fon over many other sub-Fons and villages of the Bum people.

 Getting a palace robe...

 and cap...

and "blessing" of the fon

The Fon and his new son of Bum.  He gave me a name that means "messenger of the palace."  

 Group shot of some of the palace family and visitors

 

 The Fon is very big into the history of his people.  The Union Jack flag was given to his father when his father was in England fighting for Cameroon independence in 1958.  I also saw an original photograph of Queen Elisabeth II in 1958 with another Fon. 

 Inside this house are buried three former Fons: the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. 

 Meeting the oldest lady at the palace compound

 Eating foo-foo corn, okra sauce, and beef before our long trek back...and of course, I cleaned my plate.

Walking our gift back to Fonfuka...a goat from the Fon

 Trekking back 2 1/2 hours to Fonfuka...this time we got to go down most of the way! 

The guys found one rare cell-phone network spot where we called home for the first time. 

 Loading our goat as we left town

 Men digging the grave of their "brother."  He was buried in the front yard of the house where he was born 40 years ago.  Pastor Julius was able to briefly preach as the men worked, but we had to leave before the burial.  They a ways to go before they were done, and we had a long ways to drive. 

Our friend Roger on the left whose brother died.  This is his father, a sub-chief to the Paramount Fon of the Bum people.  Pray for the people of Bum...close to ten villages. 

Ring Road (Fonfuka Trip 3)

I have wanted to survey/drive the entire Ring Road for a few years now, and we finally got the chance to complete the route on the way back from Fonfuka.  There are no commercial buses/taxis that drive northwestern corner, and we found out why.  The route doesn't deserve the name road has basically been abandoned by the government in certain stretches.  We almost didn't make it a few times, and with a smaller car would not have gotten through.  Our bodies took a beating over the constant ruts, boulders, and gullies, but we had a great time seeing the bush and sites along the way.  The entire circuit from Sabga all the way around is about 215 miles.  Click on the map above to follow the Ring Road. 

 

A Fulani boy by one of of the few road markers.  We discovered that the Fulani up there don't really know Pidgin well at all.  It would be a great place to move to learn Fulfulde...very tempting actually if we can build a house and airstrip for the family.

 The bush in the Kimbi game reserve.  Though this section was all right, most of the game reserve's two hour drive was the worst of the trip.  This place used to be a nice spot for tourism, but now tourists couldn't get there unless they really made a valiant effort. 

 The signboard pointing to Lake Nyos that we visited a month ago. 

 This stretch of road after Nyos gave us a few fits including this gravel pit pile up with ruts all around.  Not too far after was a huge descent with the right side of the road caved in off the side of the mountain.  Too our left about two miles, you could see a huge landslide that took off part of the face of the mountain.  For the last two hours of the trip, there were about 20 landslides that came right up to the road. 

 We had to swim through mud after sitting there and contemplating our route for about 2 minutes.  We did hit bottom and almost bogged down.  Thankfully, the car had just enough clearance to barely keep grabbing as we inched our way through. 

 Praise the Lord for no breakdowns or bog downs in the mud!  It truly was an answer to prayer! 

We capped the trip with another visit to a very beautiful Menchum Falls near Wum.  Thank you for praying for our trip around the Ring Road to Fonfuka!  It is great to be back home with my family!

The kids...2

 Stuffed animals to play with from her helpful siblings

 Elena and Abby J's friend, Fred located at the best restaurant in Bamenda

She loves legos...any tips from Uncle Chris?

How to Grow

 Elena has been especially concerned lately about how she can grow to be big like daddy and mommy.  She will always ask if what she is eating will help her to grow.  She came up with the formula tonight that you need eat, sleep, and play if you want to grow.  So, here are a few pictures of eating, sleeping, and playing...

 Sometimes when we can't find Elias he is being fed in the Bungalo or cook house by the Fulani lady that is staying here at the Needhams.

 A famous sleeping pose of Elias

 He fell asleep here reading an airplane magazine. 

Elena has been very creative and good at legos...both the large and small ones.  She'll have some things to show Uncle Chris when she comes to America. 

 Elias and I wearing our "picnic hats."  These photos are in honor of Abby J...two bad we got rained out of this picnic after a few bites.  We then drove to another new spot of the road and finished our lunch in the car. 

The kids...

Some have asked to see more of Chloe...we'll try to oblige :)