I wish this were a isolated story.  Read it and throw away.  But unfortunately it is all too common.

Last Sunday there was a new pastor at a church next door to Doris.  As his car slowly descended the hill and advanced toward the little church, his army of homemade solders ran behind the car.  When he arrived at the church a red carpet was rolled out for he and his wife to walk on.  They walked through the double line of "solders".  Very impressive.  Lots of show.  Neighbors came out to gawk.  

There is an awful lot done in the name of Christianity around here.  Most of it fake.  People need the Lord.  They are searching everywhere but up.  The Almighty is overlooked and ignored.  We never wonder why we are here.  It's in our face every day.

One thing I've noticed about God in all these years I've been His child, He is always faithful.  This has been a weird month money wise.  A young man is going to Canada to study.  His Canadian benefactors pay for his room and board.  They are always prompt.  It's a good arrangement.  But this time, with a rather large bill, we didn't hear anything from them.  Then the Canadian High Commissioner installed an elderly lady at Shiloh for a short time.  They promised to pay the bill later.  And then there was the group that was here last weekend for their retreat that left owing us money.  We were out for the evening and they told Joseph they had already paid.  We have tried and tried to contact these people.  Finally the Canadian benefactors contacted us and said they had been bringing a herd of horses up to Canada from the U.S.  They were out of contact with the outside world.  But they would send the funds right away.  Finally got hold of the High Commissioner.  Said the funds were coming from Belgium.  Would arrive in about the week.  The group said they would pay their bill.  Today the benefactors send their money.  It was just enough to pay our final bills for the month and have a little left over.  Faithful.  That's our God!

Day two of Spring Housecleaning.

The living room sparkles.

Only one throw pillow cover to put back on.

The front hall is almost finished.

Just have to iron the curtains for the back door.

The back hall is completely finished.

And the dining room is about a third of the way done.

We're moving right along.

Had a couple of cancellations.

While there is a guest in the house, he's practically invisible.

It really helps to have a quiet house.

Last year we had an unusual amount of guests at this time.

It really slowed the cleaning down.  

Took the better part of forever to finish.

But this year, so far, we're clipping right along.

If this keeps up we might get done in record time.

 

I have personally awaited this day since the first of the year.  It's been a long time coming.  But it's finally here and I am of all people, the most ecstatic!  The rains have come back and the annual Spring Housecleaning event has begun.  We have brought in Sidney to help out, since Guy is in seminary.  Is he ever a good worker!  We're knocking down cobwebs, brushing the walls, scrubbing mop boards, washing doilies and dresser scarfs, beating throw pillows, washing curtains, and scrubbing the upholstery on the furniture.  End tables are being polished, pictures taken down and cleaned front and back, and all wood carvings are getting their annual oil bath.  The dried wood soaks up lots of oil and ends with a lovely luster.  One room at a time Shiloh is coming back to life again.  Come see us in a month.  You will be impressed!

He came to our village house shortly after we arrived.  Wanted to have a Bible.  Said Jim had promised him one.  So we took down his name so as to not forget again.  Since he's older, offered him an audio Bible, too.  He was delighted.  Jim invited him to study the Bible with us.  So we set a circle of chairs outside and began.  Many people came by to greet us.  But we perservered.  He was very interested.  Seemed to have a certan level of knowledge.  When we finished, Guy talked to him about persoanlly accepting the Lord as his Savior.  Said he had understood all that Jim had said.  There was much for him to think about.

Did a few small projects at the house.  Then went to Papa Pollycarp's house.  Brought our usual gift of food.  They are so appreciative.  We had another Bible study with them.  Then Mama Clair again shared about her younger brother.  He sends a car each Sunday to take them to his village for church.  He is the pastor.  Each week, no matter the message, it always ends the same.  He makes it abundantly clear that Papa Pollycarp and Mama Clair cannot be Christians because they don't speak in tongues and they have not had the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  We again gave them some stratagies to use.  The best one is to stay home, but this does not seem to be an option.

Mama Ragine, their oldest daughter, had gone out with us.  She prepared a meal for us.  Fish in peanut sauce, boiled plantains, and baton de manioc.  And then they loaded us with manioc and plantains to take back home.  

Francis and Doris had asked for bush meat and mangos.  It's the start of the mango season.  Our three big trees don't have anything ripe yet.  Next month.  But all along the way home we found mangos for sale.  Today we froze nine quarts, plus what we have been eating.  There is enough left over for a mango pie tomorrow night.  We have guests coming from America.  And we also found two animales called porky pig.  Like Elmer Fudd.  So we bought them.  Later we came across a large viper with his last meal still working it's way down his 8 foot long body.  You could see the perfect form of a small animal the size of a rabbit.  Two for the price of one.  We passed!

Next month we take out floor covering and curtain rods.  We have several projects to do as we prepare for the team coming from America in July.  And of course we will take the Bible.  Salvation begins with an interest in the gospel.

Wow!  Five.  Only five.  That's amazing.  Most years the count is 12, more or less.  Today I finished the library inventory and found five missing books.  They have a way of growing feet and walking out the front gate.  The tend to exit the library in the middle of the night. It's an occupational hazard here in this country.  

I used to get upset with books being put back on the shelves in any old order.  Then it dawned on me that this is how I know they are being used.  So now I smile when I see books just about anywhere.  Our library is in continuous use.

We've had enough books appropriated by others to fill an entire library.  But God keeps right on giving us more books.  This time I incorporated two large boxes of books from a missionary who went back home for good.  In addition we have helped launch three other libraries.  So people (on a spiritual retreat mind you) take and God replaces.  It all works out in the end. 

86 years old

Aristrocratic

Cultured

Educated

Canadian

Of Ukrainian immigrants

Lived in Cameroon seven years

Started an association with Cameroonian partner

Partner has been exploiting her

Elderly

Frail

Confused

Gets lost going from dining room to bedroom

Falls frequently

Hospitalized for a week

Partner took her from hospital to Canadian High Commission

High Commission learned of us from the Baptist

Could we take her in 

Enjoyable

Conversant

Chatty

Cries when talks about last three months

Three days with us

Then off to airport

Thinks she will be in hospital for eye surgery for one or two weeks

Then right back home to Cameroon

Canadian High Commission will not permit her to return

Repatriating her back home to Canada

Left all sorts of stuff with us since she is coming back

High Commission phoning Canada to find out how to proceed

Nothing of value

4 pairs of broken reading glasses

Lots of papers

Well, we came to serve

Enjoyed serving this dear lady with the big heart

 

The Canadian High Commission phoned.  Said he had heard about us from the Baptist.  Wondered if we would be able to take in an elderly Canadian lady for a few days.  She is being repatriated back to Canada just as quickly as transportation could be arranged.

She arrived yesterday and things have been quite lively every since.  She's elderly to the point of needing to check into a rest-home. She needs nursing care.  She gets lost between the dining room table and her ground floor bedroom.  She's had several spills these last three months.  She cries when she talks about it.  She lived with a Cameroonian lady who treated her badly.  Her Cameroonian partner in an association she started seems to have gotten hold of considerable funds from her bank account.  She was hospitalized with her last spill.  He took her from the hospital straight to the High Commission.  She has been in their care ever since.  

We phoned the High Commission this morning to tell them we are very concerned about this dear lady.  She is confused and disorientated.  She could not possibly return to Canada without someone helping her.  They agreed and have quoted us as they talk with airline officials.  We said she should be put in a wheelchair.  That automatically comes with an attendant.  She's not steady on her feet.  Truly she needs all sorts of help.

But she's coming back.  Well, in her mind she is.  The High Commission is barring her return.  We think they ought to confiscate her passport in Montreal.  So she's trying to figure out how to pack for a week or two.  Should she take it all with her, or leave the things she will need when she comes back?  But first someone needs to go back to the ladies house and get all her stuff.  That has to be tomorrow.  We don't know how this will all work out.

The High Commission phoned a short while ago to say they have her return flights all worked out.  She leaves Cameroon at 5:30 a.m. on Friday.  But she will have to leave Shiloh at 2 a.m.  Yawn.  We will have to get up and help her.  She'll never make it on her own.  

Did we ever mention that life at Shiloh is never dull?  We never know who God is sending next.

The rains are slowly coming back.  We hope to be starting the annual cleaning event in about a week.  We always look forward to this mammoth task.  Dirt, grit and grime are everywhere.  We are bringing in Sidney this year to help us.  Guy is full-time in school and only here on Fridays and Saturdays.  It's too big a job for us without more help.  Sidney is looking forward to the extra income.  He's a real hard worker and loves to clean.  He's our kind of guy.

We had a great time today at church.  We celebrated the International Day of Women, which was actually last Wednesday.  It's a very big deal here in Cameroon.  Special material is made for the event.  Every woman has a dress made in the style of her choice.  Then on that day there is a big parade in town.  And then all the women head off to the bars to drink the night away.  Men are supposed to do their work and take care of the kids.  Mostly it's just an excuse to not work and to get drunk.  I don't participate.  Ever.

But at church we had week long events, culminating with a big fette at church. After the morning service the women had an hour long program.  Lots of singing.  There was a Bible quiz followed with a big dance for all the women.  Then the men were invited to file outside and pass by the serving table.  The women wanted to honor the men.  Following them, it was the children.  When they were called, there was a quite a stampede!  Finally the women were invited out to eat what was left.  There was plenty of food.  We had all contributed.  

So happy belated Women's Day.

Cameroon has finally come into it's own.  The results are out.  We are number one in the world in corruption.  It's been some years since we enjoyed that distinction.  In the 90s we achieved that position several times.  Last year I think we were around number 23.  But with a great deal of effort on the part of, well, everyone, we are number one again.  Corruption is everywhere.  From the beggar on the street to the top government official.  Anyone can be bought.  All services are available for a price.  Things can be processed quickly if you just grease the skids with a little money.  Or a lot.  You can buy your way out of prison.  It's rather amazing.

We are number two in alcohol consumption world wide.  Poland has us beat. We'll have to work on that one.  Do you think there is a correlation between the two?  I wonder.

We never have to wonder why we are here.  It is in our face every day.  People need the Lord.  Desperately need Him and His saving grace.

We tried out a new recipe.  It came from my cooking club.  Calazone.  Sounds Italian, right?  We used three types of meat.  Hamburger.  Sausage.  Pepperoni. Two kinds of cheese.  And some veggies.  The secret is to roll the pizza dough real thin.  And that is why we choose to make it.  You get a lot less dough which fits our diet real well.  We served our guest and it was a real hit.  We all agreed this is something we want to do again.  Maybe when you come visit!

It slipped right past us without our even noticing.  Last year we had a big celebration.  Lots of food.  Lots of friends.  Many testimonies.  Everyone wanted their picture taken with us.  But this year, it was completely overlooked.

The 26th anniversary of our arrival in Cameroon.  The fax (does anyone remember the fax era??) informing our mission of our arrival plans reached the office out here five days after we did.  Which accounts for nobody being at the airport to pick us up.  Jim finally followed a little map and found the administrative center.  Eventually we linked up with our mission, were fed a meal, and given a place to stay temporarily.  It was a rough beginning.  Took us over two years to adjust to life in Cameroon.  And many more years before we could say that we truly love this place.  But we hung in there when everything reasonable said to GO BACK HOME.  We clung to God's grace and He saw us through.

When we left our former mission and began our own ministry, we often wondered if we were doing anything worthwhile.  I think a lot of missionaries feel that way.  In time we came to understand that while we weren't doing anything that great, if all of us stood shoulder to shoulder and did our part, then something would be accomplished for the Kingdom. Our Father really could use ones like us for His glory.

As we settled in to a profitable and productive ministry, the years began to speed by.  And thus we arrived at our 26th anniversary without hardly noticing.  

Where will we be 26 years from now?  Surely we will be in Glory.  That's what we are longing for.

It started at breakfast.  Francis told us how his wife has been made the president of the women's group at church.  She is instituting a new visitation program which includes all the women.  Feels they need to visit each other in their homes.  

I got to thinking about it.  Realized it had been a month since I had been to visit Mama Pauline, my widow friend.  So I phoned for a taxi and took off to visit her.  She's doing a lot better now.  Month by month I see an improvement.  It's been an awful loss.  She was so happy in her marriage.  But she is adjusting.  Adding new things to her life.  Branching out.  Growing. Changing.  And feeling stronger and more sure of herself all the time.  She always holds me when I leave and lets me know how much she appreciates my visits.  I don't really do anything.  Just talk.  Listen to her talk.  And we pray.  

Ingrid is right.  It is important to visit people.  Builds them up.  Encourages them in their walk with Christ.  We should do it more often.

It's almost 9 p.m. and he has just arrived.  Came in from Germany.  It was an "uneventful" flight.  Our favorite kind.  He's come laden down with cheese and chocolates.  For his fellow missionaries and all their kids.  Used to live out here.  And in Chad.  Also Central Africa Republic.  But he's the Africa director for his mission.  Lives in Germany so his 15 year old youngest can get the educational help she needs.  And he comes back to Cameroon regularly for meetings with his people.  Tomorrow morning the meetings start and will go on all week.  

We love this man and his dear wife.  They are godly examples to us.  Our house is littered with their stuff.  They blessed us abundantly when they had to leave for good.  Adirondack chairs, high quality cooking pots and pans, two large dressers, and on and on.  All reminders to pray for them.

 

The year was 1990.  We were traveling around speaking in churches.  Preparing to go out to Cameroon for the first time.  We met a couple who had recently come back from a six month mission trip in Cameroon.  What a delight to be able to talk their ears off.  We were full of questions.  They told us all sorts of things.  But the one think that really stood out was about food.  They told us their least favorite food was this thing that looked and tasted like candle wax.  It was really dreadful and they just couldn't make themselves eat it.

Then we arrived in Cameroon and everywhere we went we were looking for the candle wax food.  It really was quite awhile before we were served something that must have been their candle wax.  It's called baton de manioc.  Made from manioc root, it's quite a process.  The tuberous root is peeled and pounded.  Then it is washed and cooked.  Next it is set aside to ferment for several days.  When it reaches the right level, it is formed into a long snake like roll and wrapped in banana leaves.  These are sold at the market and are quite popular.  We were introduced to them in the village of Eyene.  We dipped small chunks of the baton in hot sauce and ate them.  They were chewy and didn't have a strong flavor.  But we liked them from the start.  It took us awhile to realize that we had finally tasted that candle wax we had heard about.

Mama Clair of Eyene made a large bag of baton de manioc for us.  We divided them up between all of us.  We know the work she has gone to for this treat, and we appreciate her sacrifice.  So when you come to visit us we will make sure you get to eat some of our famous candle wax

Two year old Samuel's mother was practicing her manicure and pedicure skills on Mama Alice.  She's trying to develop a business.  Truth be told, my granddaughters all could put on nail polish at her level by age five.  But we won't tell her that.

But Samuel.  Life was getting a bit difficult.  Mama had scolded him countless times.  When her patience wore thin she made him sit on his knees and put his hands on his head.  Life was pretty grim.

Just at that low point Grandpa showed up with some toys.  Little Samuel clutched them to his chest and said "Oh!  Glory to God!!"  With joy bubbling over he began pushing the little fire engine back and forth with Grandpa.  Life had taken an unexpected turn for the better.  And Mama was able to finish her job in peace.

A group of ladies are gathering at Shiloh as we speak.  I know all of them.  Have spoken at their bi-annual conferences.  These are the top ladies.  The members of the executive committee.  They are here to plan for their next big conference.  Celebrating 50 years of women's ministries in their church.  It's going to be a really big event.  Hoping to have it up in Bamenda, civil unrest permitting.  I probably won't be asked to speak but have already been invited to attend.  They are selling a panya which every lady will have made into a dress for the occasion.  My friend says she will make sure one is reserved for me.  So I guess I'm going.  Should be a good time of fellowship.  And connecting with all the various ladies I've counseled over the years.  Marriage issues.  Problems with a teenage daughter.  Problems in the church.  Financial problems.  And on and on it goes.  We've shared deeply and prayed for each other.  That's how relationships are forged.  It's good to get together and have those special times of fellowship.