Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
There are so many things left unsaid in this blog, so many stories left untold. I think they will come out in my sermons. Today the Gospel is about Jesus going from village to village healing the sick. I can see the anxious crowds pressing in on him, smell their perspiration and feel their desperation. I'll use Jesus's healing of Peter's mother-in-law as our call to "pick people up."
Saturday, February 7, 2009
My letter to the Board of the Friends of WEH
I just sent the following note to the Board of the Friends of WEH. It expresses some things I haven't said before.
To the Board of Friends of WEH,
Whew, Barb and Joe Stone and I got back from Cameroon on Tuesday night and are trying to get our hearts and souls caught up with our bodies. A piece of us will always be in Cameroon. It is so difficult to try to describe my experience. I'm still pondering what to say to my church tomorrow. It will take a long time to tell all the stories. Have you kept up with my blog? (http://mycameroontrip.blogspot.com) I'm so thankful to my sibs who gave me a little netbook (miniature laptop) to take with me. It came in so handy. Even the student nurses appreciated it as they checked their email at every opportunity. On my blog you will see links to Barb's blog (which she regrets she was not able to keep up very well) and to the nursing students' photo site. You'll see most of Joe's and my photos there.
Bottom line is that my commitment to WEH is stronger than ever. I wish you could see the high level of activity of the WEH workers, and the scope of what they do. They work long and hard hours for the sake of the orphans assigned to WEH and the population in general in the villages where they work. They are committed to improving village life by improving the lives and status of the women. We found the Cameroonians to be an open, gracious, appreciative people. Also, in the villages, a desperate people. When you can't afford a mosquito net for your baby, or to take the baby to the doctor, desperation is palpable. Behind the story of the abandoned baby is the story of some anonymous girl or woman who was desperate, having no hope for that infant. And we saw first hand the benefit of anti-virals for people with HIV. Theoretically the meds are free, thanks to worldwide support of the program, but identifying those who are eligible for the drugs and teaching them how to use the drugs is another story. And though the meds are free, the periodic blood tests required are not free. That's an ongoing problem. And we saw the virtually total absence of dental and vision care in the villages.
I also wish you could have seen the commitment and hard work of the Linfield nursing students. For some this was a first exposure to "the world out there." Others had considerable travel experience. Either way, they expressed how life-changing this experience was for them and the path of their careers.
Speaking of the students, the Friends of WEH board members on the ground in Cameroon (Carol, Barbara, Sherry, David, Ruth) chose a new member for our board from this Cameroon Team 2009. (Jennifer is our board member from Cameroon Team 2007.) She is Katie White. I'll post her photo on the Friends website. (http://wehfriends.pbwiki.com). Katie will help us stay connected with Cameroon Team 2009. Welcome, Katie.
WEH still doesn't have its hands on the pickup. After all our hope that as a non-profit shipping to an NGO, we wouldn't have to pay high fees and taxes, the bottom line is that WEH needs $4100 to get the truck off the dock. Darn. I bank-transferred what we had -- $3100 -- and a donor (anonymous until I have her permission to name her) came up with the other $1000. Still, it will take a week for the bank transfer to go through. This has been a major headache for the folks in Douala. Sometimes I question whether it would have been more economical to buy in Cameroon, but when you see the insane traffic there, and realize that there is no requirement for openness on the accident history of used cars, I'm sure the truck we've sent will guarantee a truly good vehicle for WEH. We saw first hand the need for 4-wheel drive, and for a vehicle that is consistently available to the WEH staff.
So our account is down to about $100. It's (almost) time for us to celebrate the achieving of the first goal and to set new goals for the future. Certainly the first is to develop a consistent revenue stream to fulfill our promise to pay for the insurance and gas on the truck. A couple of board members give to the fund on a regular basis. WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING SO TOO? I do not yet have a budget estimate on the monthly cost of the car. I will let you know when I know.
As to the future. A life skills center is the next big goal for WEH. But this note is long enough. Would you each respond to let me know you are out there and that my email dress is current for you? We can talk about the center after that.
Have a good year!!! Carol
To the Board of Friends of WEH,
Whew, Barb and Joe Stone and I got back from Cameroon on Tuesday night and are trying to get our hearts and souls caught up with our bodies. A piece of us will always be in Cameroon. It is so difficult to try to describe my experience. I'm still pondering what to say to my church tomorrow. It will take a long time to tell all the stories. Have you kept up with my blog? (http://mycameroontrip.blogspot.com) I'm so thankful to my sibs who gave me a little netbook (miniature laptop) to take with me. It came in so handy. Even the student nurses appreciated it as they checked their email at every opportunity. On my blog you will see links to Barb's blog (which she regrets she was not able to keep up very well) and to the nursing students' photo site. You'll see most of Joe's and my photos there.
Bottom line is that my commitment to WEH is stronger than ever. I wish you could see the high level of activity of the WEH workers, and the scope of what they do. They work long and hard hours for the sake of the orphans assigned to WEH and the population in general in the villages where they work. They are committed to improving village life by improving the lives and status of the women. We found the Cameroonians to be an open, gracious, appreciative people. Also, in the villages, a desperate people. When you can't afford a mosquito net for your baby, or to take the baby to the doctor, desperation is palpable. Behind the story of the abandoned baby is the story of some anonymous girl or woman who was desperate, having no hope for that infant. And we saw first hand the benefit of anti-virals for people with HIV. Theoretically the meds are free, thanks to worldwide support of the program, but identifying those who are eligible for the drugs and teaching them how to use the drugs is another story. And though the meds are free, the periodic blood tests required are not free. That's an ongoing problem. And we saw the virtually total absence of dental and vision care in the villages.
I also wish you could have seen the commitment and hard work of the Linfield nursing students. For some this was a first exposure to "the world out there." Others had considerable travel experience. Either way, they expressed how life-changing this experience was for them and the path of their careers.
Speaking of the students, the Friends of WEH board members on the ground in Cameroon (Carol, Barbara, Sherry, David, Ruth) chose a new member for our board from this Cameroon Team 2009. (Jennifer is our board member from Cameroon Team 2007.) She is Katie White. I'll post her photo on the Friends website. (http://wehfriends.pbwiki.com). Katie will help us stay connected with Cameroon Team 2009. Welcome, Katie.
WEH still doesn't have its hands on the pickup. After all our hope that as a non-profit shipping to an NGO, we wouldn't have to pay high fees and taxes, the bottom line is that WEH needs $4100 to get the truck off the dock. Darn. I bank-transferred what we had -- $3100 -- and a donor (anonymous until I have her permission to name her) came up with the other $1000. Still, it will take a week for the bank transfer to go through. This has been a major headache for the folks in Douala. Sometimes I question whether it would have been more economical to buy in Cameroon, but when you see the insane traffic there, and realize that there is no requirement for openness on the accident history of used cars, I'm sure the truck we've sent will guarantee a truly good vehicle for WEH. We saw first hand the need for 4-wheel drive, and for a vehicle that is consistently available to the WEH staff.
So our account is down to about $100. It's (almost) time for us to celebrate the achieving of the first goal and to set new goals for the future. Certainly the first is to develop a consistent revenue stream to fulfill our promise to pay for the insurance and gas on the truck. A couple of board members give to the fund on a regular basis. WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING SO TOO? I do not yet have a budget estimate on the monthly cost of the car. I will let you know when I know.
As to the future. A life skills center is the next big goal for WEH. But this note is long enough. Would you each respond to let me know you are out there and that my email dress is current for you? We can talk about the center after that.
Have a good year!!! Carol
Saturday, February 6, 2009
Oh my. WEH still doesn't have its hands on the pickup whichthe Friends of WEH shipped to them. After all our hope that as a non-profit shipping to an NGO, we wouldn't have to pay high fees and taxes, the bottom line is that WEH needs $4100 to get the truck off the dock. Darn. We bank-transferred what we had -- $3100 -- and a donor came up with the other $1000. Still, it will take a week for the bank transfer to go through. This has been a major headache for the folks in Douala.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Tuesday, February 3
We got to Brussels without incident, made the transfer to our flight to Newark, where I now am. We have a five-hour layover before flying to Phoenix.
I just talked to Sam. His voice sounds so good! He'll be at the airport. I can't wait to see him.
It was so hard leaving Ruth. What a miracle it is to have such a friend. The years that we've been apart instantly vanished. All the trust and enjoyment of one another was still there. And Raphael is totally delightful. We had lots of good laughs together and “in” jokes developed quickly and were often alluded to for additional laughs. They hope to be able to come to Arizona in the spring, if they are able to get their visas renewed without a wrinkl
I just talked to Sam. His voice sounds so good! He'll be at the airport. I can't wait to see him.
It was so hard leaving Ruth. What a miracle it is to have such a friend. The years that we've been apart instantly vanished. All the trust and enjoyment of one another was still there. And Raphael is totally delightful. We had lots of good laughs together and “in” jokes developed quickly and were often alluded to for additional laughs. They hope to be able to come to Arizona in the spring, if they are able to get their visas renewed without a wrinkl
Monday, February 2
There were some last day things to do today in the village. We needed to deliver left over medical supplies to the hospital in Mbanga and to the village clinic where we had left the microscope last week. While we were at the latter, a family carried in an older child whom we could hear crying out in the “ER” room. We had to leave before finding out what was going on with her and whether she was OK. At the former we got to see a baby which had been brought in as an abandoned newborn three weeks ago. Some of the Linfield students had been there at the time. I understand that this sweet babe had been found in a toilet, covered with feces. This is something that happens all over the world. It always makes me ill, especially when the circumstances are so disgusting – a baby left in a toilet like a bowel movement. The baby is on a regimen of antibiotics but doing fine. The hospital staff is taking care of him there at the hospital until he is transferred to Yaounde for processing for adoption. Ruth and I both noted that he had a grownup sort of face, more distinctively formed than in the case with most ba
bies. The staff named him Emmanuel. Ruth also referred to him as Moses, though the mother of the first Moses abandoned him in a much more careful way than this guy was. When I was holding him I silently blessed him.When we got home we finished our packing. Just before dinner we gave Ruth's house staff a gift and thank you card. Plantains and the local fish for a closing dinner. Then it was time to go to the airport. Check-in was pretty easy and we then waited for the flight to leave Cameroon. Good byes were difficult.
Sunday, February 1
This was my last Sunday to worship with Ruth on this trip. And it was communion Sunday. Once again, I loved the music the most. I recorded the several choirs and congregational singing on my little SANSA recorder, but wouldn't you know that now I can't get it from that device on to my computer. I really want to use it as partial soundtrack on the video I shall make of the trip. The computer is not recognizing it as another drive or USB devise. Hmmmm. Ruth's sister Doris and her children, Prisca and Joel, were there again. Once again, Prisca chose to wear the Congolese dress I had made with Ruth so many years ago. It looks good on her, though she is a bit smaller than I even was then, and I'm so proud that she is so proud of it. They came back to the house for lunch so I had a chance to give Joel the calculator watch Sam had found for me for this trip – in case I needed a calculator for money exchange or whatever. He seemed truly pleased to receive it.
Ruth said that after lunch we would need to go back out to Mangamba, Raphael's home village. It's something that they do every Sunday afternoon, to check on their house there and whatever matters need attended to by this villager who made it big in the outside world but who still wants to stay connected to this small, humble piece of his life story. Another of our purposes was to take a box of meds and such items (left over from the Linfield students' visit)
to the health clinic there. And Raphael said he hoped to be able to visit with an elder about the possibility of there being property available in the village for the WEH vocational center. Because Joe's health had not fully returned, Barb and Ruth stayed behind for the rest of the day.
We succeeded on all fronts. Most important was the visit with the village elder. We spent a good two hours with him. He came to Ruth and Raphael's house, and then we all piled back in the car to go look at some possibilities. We saw a couple of possible sites. And in the process Ruth and Raphael got their fill of village stories and gossip. Ruth translated some of it for me later. Sometimes they spoke in Abo, Raphael's native language, and sometimes in French. It was a delight to hear even if I didn't understand most of what was said.
Once again, we didn't get home until after 9 p.m.
Ruth said that after lunch we would need to go back out to Mangamba, Raphael's home village. It's something that they do every Sunday afternoon, to check on their house there and whatever matters need attended to by this villager who made it big in the outside world but who still wants to stay connected to this small, humble piece of his life story. Another of our purposes was to take a box of meds and such items (left over from the Linfield students' visit)
to the health clinic there. And Raphael said he hoped to be able to visit with an elder about the possibility of there being property available in the village for the WEH vocational center. Because Joe's health had not fully returned, Barb and Ruth stayed behind for the rest of the day.
We succeeded on all fronts. Most important was the visit with the village elder. We spent a good two hours with him. He came to Ruth and Raphael's house, and then we all piled back in the car to go look at some possibilities. We saw a couple of possible sites. And in the process Ruth and Raphael got their fill of village stories and gossip. Ruth translated some of it for me later. Sometimes they spoke in Abo, Raphael's native language, and sometimes in French. It was a delight to hear even if I didn't understand most of what was said.
Once again, we didn't get home until after 9 p.m.
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