Mama Helen is so proud of her oldest son, Francis.  She pulled him aside the other day for a private talk.  She wanted him to know that he has taken his late father's place in every way.  He is truly the head of the family.  Francis was just a boy when his father dropped dead in front of his eyes.  While there was no autopsy, it surely must have been a massive heart attack.  Francis, his three older sisters, and his younger brothers and their baby sister have been without a father ever since.  

Fast forward all these years later to today.  Francis is a strong Christian and an elder in his church.  He is the loving husband of Ingrid, and a good father to their three young children.  Just four months ago, Francis moved his family into their very own home.  What a miracle story that is!  He has lots of space for the extended family when they come to visit him.  And now, tomorrow night, his youngest brother Donald is getting married.  Donald's bride is a strong Christian and a lovely gal in every way.  We are so happy for Donald, Mama Helen, Francis, and the entire clan.  

Francis just reported to us that Mama Helen is staying at his house right now.  All three of his older sisters are also sleeping at his new home.  As is their "baby" sister.  And his mother-in-law, his wife's older sister and her little boy, too.  There are also a couple of nephews sleeping with the clan. AND to top it off, Donald's bride and her older sister are also sleeping with her soon to be in-laws.  They are having a wonderful time all together as one big happy family. This is so very Cameroonian.  They love being together. His house is bursting at the seams with people, but everyone is so full of joy that it's not a problem.  He said that his wife and all the gals have set up several outdoor cooking stations in their new back yard.  Cameroonians love cooking outside.  Several of them went to the market together yesterday as well as the day before.  They came back home loaded with food.  They've spent this entire day cooking up a storm.  They will be working late into the night to get all the food ready for the wedding feast, which will be held tomorrow night.

Ten o'clock tomorrow Donald, his lovely bride, and a handful of family members on both sides of the house will go to the mayor's office for the civil ceremony.  Many will stay back at the house and keep right on cooking.  But at two o'clock in the afternoon the entire clan plus lots of friends will gather at Donald's church for the "Church Blessing".  This will be followed by the wedding feast.  Sometime around ten o'clock tomorrow night, and maybe much later than that, five or six of the clan, including Francis, will accompany the new couple to Shiloh for their honeymoon.  They will do what's called "install them in their room."  We've never witnessed this, though practically every honeymoon that takes place at Shiloh observes this ritual.  We're in the dark here.  We cannot tell you what they do.  Finally, finally, finally, the new couple will be left alone and nobody will disturb them for the next couple of days.

Weddings Cameroonian style don't have a whole lot in common with Western weddings.  It's a fascinating cultural experience which we have witnessed countless times down through these 27 years.