January 2, 2009

Another amazing day. I didn't wake up until nearly 10 a.m. We all sat around over breakfast, chatting for awhile, then two of Ruth's colleagues came to conference with us about HIV testing. One was a social worker from the government and the other was a social worker who works with Ruth. We discussed many issues relating to HIV testing including how to raise people's interest in being tested, how to follow up with a second test if the first is positive, etc., etc. We also brainstormed ideas about the future educational and vocational center for WEH.

Then we had the great privilege of going to lunch to the home of the doctor and his wife. You will not believe how royally we were treated. The lunch included fish, duck, frog, and a kind of anteater! They were all delicious. But I happened to serve myself one of the frog's feet! This I could not eat – but I did take a picture of it. There was also cous cous and white yam. Ah yes, the first course was soup, and dessert was the sweet in-season pineapple and papaya. We always squeeze a slice of lime on the papaya. Very delicious. The meal was a huge compliment to us because, as Ruth explained to us, these are menu items for royalty! It's been a long time since Ruth and Raphael have eaten such exotic things. We were deeply flattered. The family is in the process of building their house around them (which made me feel better because that's sort of what Sam and I are doing in Arizona--- not building, but perpetually remodeling.)

Earlier we had all decided that Joe and Barb and I would go to Edea tonight to take advantage of the offer of Jean Francois Cartier to stay at his hotel. But by the time we got to the lunch, and then enjoyed these people for a long time, it was decided that it was too late to go to Edea. So we came home to Douala. When we arrived here, the two colleagues had returned. During the day they had worked hard to create a budget for HIV testing in 10 villages. We have to hire a mobile unit and three staff people for each of the 10 days, and the gasoline for the unit, and publicity including banners in seven villages announcing that we are coming, radio advertising on two stations, each in three languages, and tipping some traditional messengers (employees of local government). All of this totaled about $7000. The Linfield nursing students who are coming raised a lot of money to bring with them, but probably not that much. We will have to see after they arrive tomorrow. There is still some money in the account of the Friends of WEH but we may need that for customs when the truck arrives, or even for “a little gift” to get the truck released at the port. And there will be the valid fee for the work of the customs broker. So we can't budget any of that for anything until we have the truck – which potentially might not be complete before we leave.

We are not eating dinner tonight. We don't need any more!

I think that tomorrow Joe and Barb and I will go to Edea and simply enjoy the day there. Next week we will REALLY roll up our sleeves and get to work.