First Week in Cameroon

We have finished our first week in Cameroon and I realize there are so many things to share that if I try to touch on everything I will never finish this post. The week has been filled with many joys as well as various frustrations as we learn to live in another culture. I'll try to give a glimpse into some of our experiences from this past week.

Tuesday began with our chef and laundress coming around 8:30am. We had not yet figured out how to turn on the water(this was simply our lack of following the instructions that were left for us.) We had running water about midway through the day. Our cook works Mon-Fri from approx. 7:30am until 2:00pm. There is a chunk of beef in the freezer that must be ground for hamburger or chopped for any other meals. We've found that the meat is much tougher here...and difficult for little boys to chew. We have enjoyed amazing meals this week. From omelets, coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls, to baked fish(thankfully Martha removed the heads and prepared nice filets for us), spaghetti, Cameroonian Beef Stew, cabbage rolls, and hamburgers. The only cheese I was able to find while grocery shopping in Bamenda was Mozzarella. This was a new experience for burgers and is also so expensive that we use very skimpy amounts. (I believe it was about $36 for a block of cheese...2.5 kg?) For those of you who know our boys, you know that a few of them are quite picky eaters. They have really been doing very well in trying new things. We decided not to suggest meals yet and to simply try whatever is prepared. Some things have not gone over so well, and tummies were a bit hungry at bed time. Most of the time, however, we have been surprised at how easily they will try new things...since they are a bit afraid of starving. While cheese and meat are very expensive(also some canned goods which can be purchased in Bamenda, 5 hours from here), fruits, vegetables, and fish are more in abundance.

We have an American family next door to us. They have 5 children. The boys have been very excited to have friends so close by. They have ventured out into the forest together and have built tree houses. We are praying that none of them fall out of a tree as the nearest hospital is 3 hours away. Today the kids were out playing when a sudden downpour of rain and hail came. We realized we had laundry on the line which we ran to pull down and then remembered the kids were out playing. By the time they returned, they were completely drenched. I think it has rained every night since we have been here. It rains very hard(even harder than the winter rains in Roseville) and sounds even stronger coming down on a metal roof.

Sleep has been interesting as well. We are getting used to new sounds. Apart from the rain, there are the birds that scamper across the roof and sound like they must be ostriches, there are the goats crying out in the morning, and the electricity going in and out throughout the night causing the security lights to turn on and off. My favorite experience of the night, however, came at about 4:30 am on Saturday. We were suddenly awakened to a very loud gong being sounded. Having no idea what would prompt someone to sound a gong that could be heard for miles in the middle of the night, I wondered if it was some sort of alarm or security signal. After it sounded a second time about 5 minutes later, we finally fell back to sleep. Saturday morning, our new friends informed us that Dale had actually missed Bible Study. The gong was calling the men to Saturday morning Bible Study. (I think he will miss it every week.)

Today we were able to attend a Cameroonian church. There were many things we did not understand and other things that were uplifting. If you have been a part of an African service, you may have already experienced the song and dance of joyful praise as the offerings are brought forward. I think we have much to learn in expressing ourselves in worship. We were also brought to the front of the church and introduced. There is an amazing amount of gratitude from students, staff, pastors, and churches throughout the area for Dale being here to teach at the seminary. We'd like to pass that thanksgiving on to all of you who are supporting us financially and/or with prayer.

So much more to say, but it will have to wait. Tomorrow brings my second grammar class and the first meeting of one of Dale's classes. Please pray that God would direct our words as we teach tomorrow.