6 p.m. Saturday I dragged my exhausted body upstairs, leaving our guests behind.  6:30 p.m. I fell into a deep sleep.  7:30 a.m. Sunday I opened my eyes to a brand new day.  Grateful, oh so grateful for an unheard of thirteen hours of uninterrupted sleep.  

What would cause this grandma to be that worn out? Three weeks of preparation in and around the edges of Shiloh's normal activities.  Preparation for a full blown party to celebrate the ten years Francis has worked for us.  

Here in Cameroon an employer can arrange with the government to present a ten year medal of honor after their employee has given them ten years of work.  And the government will present another one after fifteen years and again twenty years of work.  Then a person is eligible to retire any time they choose after that.  It's a very big deal to receive a medal of honor for work.  And it's also very (as in very, very) expensive to do this through the government.  So years ago we decided we could change the wording and print our own certificate.  It has been a highly successful thing to do.  For example, Francis.

He was overwhelmed when we approached him about his party.  Nobody had ever celebrated anything about him over his thirty years of life.  And though he was right in the middle of the extensive planning and preparation, he was thrilled beyond belief to be honored like this.  In Cameroon you throw your own party, pay for everything, even pay transportation to and from for your out-of-town guests, and are responsible for housing and food during the time the out-of-town folk are in town.  Fortunately Francis works for us.  We covered all expenses.

Sixty guests came to Shiloh at 1 p.m. on Saturday.  Family, friends, neighbors, people from church.   There were many speeches. The Shiloh choir sang.  There were other special numbers as well.  His pastor gave a powerful message.  Each of his children recited passages of scripture they had memorized.  Even his three year old son.  Francis himself gave a very moving speech, thanking each of us for the investment we have made in his life.  Then Papa Jim presented him with a beautifully framed certificate.  And the feasting began.  Three tables were loaded with food.  Francis, being our cook, had chosen the menu and supervised every bit of the cooking.  A local bakery made a beautiful cake for him.  Pictures were taken.  Everyone wanted their picture taken with everyone else.  And everybody, or so it seemed, had their own smart phone to take pictures with.  Talking and laughing and visiting went on and on for hours.  And the exhausted grandmother slipped quietly away at 6:00 p.m.  

Papa Jim stayed 'till the last dog died at 10 p.m. and then he came to bed.  He's clearly a lot younger than I am!  Some of the out-of-town family members stayed at Shiloh on Friday and Saturday nights.  Papa Jim was up bright and early Sunday morning to feed them. Mama Alice did not wake up until they were gone.  Grateful, oh so grateful for for an unheard of thirteen hours of uninterrupted sleep.