Well, it's been over a year since I got back from Cameroon. Haven't written since. But the following won't fit on Facebook. Maybe y'all will come here to read what I have to say:
When I was in Cameroon last year, we set out on our first trip to a village and my dear friend (college roommate 40+ years ago) said, "Do you have your passport?" "My Passport?" I asked? After all, I had gotten into the country just fine. We had to drive half an hour back to her house get it. Yup, sure enough, later we came to a roadblock. Had to show our papers -- citizens as well as non citizens. Ruth even had to show a document explaining where we were going and why! This happened often in the 6 days I was there. ONce we were told we had six people in a car for five. Fortunately, my friend's husband is an important, well-known person. I don't know how our hassles would have gone if she had not been with us with the name she has. THese road blocks are mostly illegal -- people trying to convince you that you owe a fine for this or that. But they are allowed, out in the open, all over the place.
I remember Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu saying years ago, before apartheid was over in South Africa, that the blacks had to carry papers (not the whites as I recall). One day, when he walked across the street to get a newspaper, he was apprehended. He'd forgotten his papers, so he was hauled off to jail and harassed.
There's something deeply wrong about having to show papers anytime, anywhere. Especially if the rules are different depending on your race. If this law goes into effect in Arizona at the end of next month, I'll surely want to see how many white people are asked to show their papers!!!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Prayers for Shalom
It's my hour to be in prayer for shalom in the world. This Lenten prayer vigil is sponsored by the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. Somewhere in this conference, 24 hours a day, for the duration of Lent, someone is praying for shalom. This word is being used rather than "peace" because the latter is so narrowly understood in the English language, or at least in the U.S. Shalom, on the other hand, has the potential for communicating so much more. It is about being in right relationship with all of creation -- the earth itself and all living things and the Creator of it all.
I turned off the TV and entered into the silence. Then my Indian ringneck parrot, Papagayo, did what he always does when things get quiet. He started chattering, running through the Spanish vocabulary we have taught him in his three short years of life.
Alo! (Hello)
Papagayo!
Que tal, Diana? (How are you, Diana? -- the cockatiel in the cage next to him.)
Buenos Dios (Hello! Good Day!)
Te amo, Carolita (I love you, Carol)
Quiero comida, Carolita (I want food, Carol)
Quiero comida, por favor, Carolita, pronto! (I want food please, Carol, right now!)
Pajaro bueno (good bird)
For Papagayo, you see, it's all about him. Now, I don't know how much of this chatter he really understands. He does say "Alo" whenever I come into the room, sometimes before I get a chance to. So that seems to be appropriately understood and used. And sometimes he says, "Quiero comida, pronto," before breakfast, as though asking for me to get on task. But then, here, like tonight, he says it even after he has just eaten.
Sam and I started a week or so ago beginning to teach him, "La paz del Senor." (The peace of the Lord.) Too bad it's not a part of his repertoire yet, in time for this prayer vigil. No, he just wants his own needs met. And so his innocent chatter, using his limited vocabulary, makes me think of how much focusing on our own needs is the opposite of wishing shalom for another.
As a clergy person, I'm amazed how wide the range of people I see really is. Some only speak of themselves and their ailments and issues. They can relay every ache and pain and sadness of their lives with little or no prompting. Others are truly saints of God whose lives are about ministering to others. They know themselves and what's going within their own hearts, souls and minds, but choose to turn their focus outward. They truly care whether another person is in right relationship with his or her self, family, community, the earth, and most of all with God. And they know how to bring healing and reconciliation. These are the shalom makers of the world. Jesus said they are very blessed. I think so too.
I turned off the TV and entered into the silence. Then my Indian ringneck parrot, Papagayo, did what he always does when things get quiet. He started chattering, running through the Spanish vocabulary we have taught him in his three short years of life.
Alo! (Hello)
Papagayo!
Que tal, Diana? (How are you, Diana? -- the cockatiel in the cage next to him.)
Buenos Dios (Hello! Good Day!)
Te amo, Carolita (I love you, Carol)
Quiero comida, Carolita (I want food, Carol)
Quiero comida, por favor, Carolita, pronto! (I want food please, Carol, right now!)
Pajaro bueno (good bird)
For Papagayo, you see, it's all about him. Now, I don't know how much of this chatter he really understands. He does say "Alo" whenever I come into the room, sometimes before I get a chance to. So that seems to be appropriately understood and used. And sometimes he says, "Quiero comida, pronto," before breakfast, as though asking for me to get on task. But then, here, like tonight, he says it even after he has just eaten.
Sam and I started a week or so ago beginning to teach him, "La paz del Senor." (The peace of the Lord.) Too bad it's not a part of his repertoire yet, in time for this prayer vigil. No, he just wants his own needs met. And so his innocent chatter, using his limited vocabulary, makes me think of how much focusing on our own needs is the opposite of wishing shalom for another.
As a clergy person, I'm amazed how wide the range of people I see really is. Some only speak of themselves and their ailments and issues. They can relay every ache and pain and sadness of their lives with little or no prompting. Others are truly saints of God whose lives are about ministering to others. They know themselves and what's going within their own hearts, souls and minds, but choose to turn their focus outward. They truly care whether another person is in right relationship with his or her self, family, community, the earth, and most of all with God. And they know how to bring healing and reconciliation. These are the shalom makers of the world. Jesus said they are very blessed. I think so too.
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.
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