Phone calls were sprinkled all through this day.  

Sister Rose is going to America for six weeks.  It's everybody's dream destination. 

Senator Paul reported in.  Just back from the Far North.  Was sent on official government business.  Probably won't see him this time, but good to hear his voice.  Brought us up-to-date on his activities.  We hold him up in prayer.

Heard from the U.S. Embassy.  Still working on Guy's invitation to the annual Independence Day celebration.  Learned it will be held on June 30th.  Such an honor to be included on the guest list. 

Talked with our friend who is a Manguisa pastor.  Big meeting coming up in Sa'a on the 28th for all Manguisa pastors.  We're not invited, but will be at a follow-up meeting next month.

Then there was the man who called to discuss a group coming in to use Shiloh for a day long event.  Wanted to know all the details.  

Our driver phoned. Had we already purchased tickets for tomorrow's trip to Daoula?  He's going down to Edea and could transport us that far.  Tickets were purchased a couple of days ago.  We're organized.  None of this last minute stuff for us!  Staying with Plan A.  Picking us up in 8 hours.  We're good to go.  Just need some sleep, showers, and a quick bite to eat.

Time for bed.  3:45 a.m. alarm is coming all too soon.

 

Went to the Peace Corps office today.  It was Senator Paul's suggestion.  He thought we might be able to sell market bags made by prisoners from the Foumban Prison at their office.  Just an idea.  Worth trying.  Was certain that his good name would get us past the guards and inside the office.  Wasn't quite that easy.  The guards weren't impressed.  No appointment?  Didn't know the director's name?  Who were we and why were we trying to get inside the gate anyway?  Turned out my white skin did the trick.  Sometimes it pays to be white.  Sometimes it's better to be black.  

Didn't see the director.  Didn't see his assistant.  Saw the number three person.  A lovely Cameroonian lady.  Very professional.  We were treated well.  She was curious about me.  "How long had you been in Cameroon?  25 years?  Really?  And how often do you come out here?  You LIVE in Cameroon?  Have LIVED here for 25 years?  Wow!  The Director will want to meet you!  And your husband, he's Cameroonian, right?  He's an American, too?!!!  Wow!  The Director and his assistant will both want to meet you!!  You are just the kind of person they are looking for.  They will be in touch with you soon.  Thank you soooooo much for stopping by the office.  It has been such an honor to meet you and to get to visit with you." 

Maybe this drop-in-visit will turn out to be something.  Maybe not.  One never knows.  

Stopped by the U.S. Embassy to meet the new director of CLO (Community Liaison Office).  We have a longstanding relationship with CLO.  We don't want that to fall apart with the changing of the guard.  Turns out the new director has worked for the Embassy for fifteen years.  He's a lovely man.  Had a good first visit.  He wants to continue the relationship.  

Tried to see the new director of the Commissary while we were there.  Discovered the "new director" that we had been told about didn't last.  There's another new director.  Didn't get to see her.  Talked with the lowest person in the Commissary.  She's also new in her job.  Young, scared, intimidated by all the white people at the Embassy.  But we extracted a promise from her that she will give our contact information to the new director.  And more importantly, we got the name of the new lady so we can follow her up if she does not follow up with us.  We really don't want to loose this contact.  It's important for Shiloh Association.

And we received invitations to the annual Independence Day celebration, the biggest event of the U.S. Embassy's year.  Jim and I and Guy and Marie have been going to this event for several years now.  As far as we know, we are the only missionaries on the invitation list. 

 

I've been phoning her regularly for about a year now.  Ever since she  phoned to tell us that her husband, who's 15 years older than her, was in real bad health.  He spent three months in the hospital during one stretch.  And it's been home again for a few weeks, and back to the hospital again for a few days, weeks, or longer ever since.  

Three months ago she was so relieved.  He was much better than he had been for a long, long time.  The difficult months were finally behind them.  The wheelchair had been returned to the hospital.  He slowly walks outside each day and sits on the front porch, enjoying being outdoors.  The future was bright.  There was much to praise God for.

Since things were going so well, I thought I could wait three months to check up on my dear friend, instead of making monthly calls.  But now her gentle, kind husband was once again back in the hospital.  They had been there for several days.  Waiting on test results.  Wondering how long it would be this time.  She was so grateful to hear my voice.  She knew she could count on my prayers.  

Wish I could drop in for a visit.  She could really use the encouragement.  But the 8-9 hour bus trip that separates us makes that impossible.  So we will visit by phone.  I'm calling her in two weeks.  Maybe there will be better news then.  And I'm praying.

 

We sent Guy into town today to buy our round trip tickets for Saturday.  Jim, Guy, and I are taking the first bus down to Daoula, visiting the new baby, and coming right back to Yaounde.  We hope to be safely back at Shiloh by dark.  Guy also took our gifts to town and had them gift wrapped.  We phoned Crystal to make final arrangements.  She and Hervey are excitedly looking forward to showing off their miracle baby boy to us.  They can't believe that we would go to all this effort just for them.  It's true that it will be a long day, but we are traveling on a V.I.P. bus.  New, air conditioned, roomy seats, on board bathroom that is kept clean throughout the trip, WiFi, on board hostess, meal provided...what more could we ask?  And yes, we will more than likely nap both going and coming.

Meanwhile back at Shiloh: 

*Jim repaired a door handle on one of the bedrooms.  The locking mechanism was in bad   shape. 

*Alice tried out a new mango cake recipe.

*Doris cleaned two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and did some ironing.

*Francis spent the day cooking food ahead for future guests.

*Guests enjoyed individual spiritual retreats.

She dropped by for a visit this afternoon.  We hadn't seen her in nearly a month.  Has a new job.  She's a cook.  And a very good one at that.  Worked for various and sundry Americans, Canadians, and Europeans over the years.  Can cook just about any type of Western food your mouth is watering for.  But she hasn't worked for a couple of years now.  Been making ends meet by selling some of her pastries to Westerners.

That's why she reluctantly accepted her new position.  She's working for a Cameroonian family this time around.  But she wanted us to understand that she won't stick around if they don't treat her at least passably OK.  She listed off all the typical ways Cameroonians treat their house help/cook.  Make you work extra hard.  Complain loudly over every little infraction, real or imagined.  Come pay day the excuses are pulled out.  Don't have any money today.  Will pay you tomorrow.  Or in a week.  That can be stretched on for a very long time.  Just until you figure out that pay was not part of the job.  

So she has a new job.  But for how long?  She's not holding her breath.  This isn't a new story.  It happens every day, all over the place.  Our heart aches for our friend, and all others in the same boat.

Doris surprised us today when she told us that she has recently changed churches.  A number of years ago, the lady who led her to the Lord invited her to attend church with her.  Doris was there that very first Sunday and has been involved in the church ever since.  It's a big church with lots of activities.  They enjoy solid Bible teaching.  She never thought of changing churches for any reason until...  

A new church started up in her neighborhood.  They are renting a building a stones throw from her place.  Her old church is a long ways away from her place.  It costs quite a bit each month for taxi fare back and forth several times a week.  Finally Doris felt it would be good for her to join with this new group and begin helping out.  The pastor is a godly man.  His wife is active in the ministry with him.  They have little children.  There is another man in the church who is also a strong Christian.  He is serving in a leadership role.  There is much work to do in a new church like this.  In just a few months time they have already attracted around thirty people to their Sunday services.  Ten of those are children.  Of the twenty adults (the oldest being 38 years old) only the pastor, his wife, the man, and Doris are true children of God.  All the rest are good religious people who enjoy attending church on Sunday.  They come from every church background imaginable.  They are all thrilled to have a church within walking distance from their homes.  And so Doris has taken on a leadership role, too.  We are delighted to learn how God is using her.  She is putting together a choir which she will lead.  She works with the children.  She is the one who counsels the ladies when they have issues they need help with.  And so our girl is becoming ever more useful for the Glory of God. 

The current group here at Shiloh will be eating breakfast tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. Some partially made homemade sourdough cranberry nut bread is spending the night in the refrigerator.  The alarm is going off at 5 a.m.  If all goes as planned, our guests should be enjoying fresh from the oven bread with their morning coffee.  They hope to be on the road by 8 a.m.  They have a long day's drive ahead of them to reach their village before nightfall.  We want them to leave Shiloh fortified for the trip.