Wedding, November 29, 2014

A wedding is the joyous celebration of the two people who commit themselves to living together and creating a family.

I had the pleasure of attending such a celebration for Jacob Betrogo, financial administrator at the Protestant Hospital in GB, and Ruth Neusene Salatou. They live in the house next to mine, but the wedding took place in N’gaoundéré (about 3 hours northwest of GB – now that the road is paved!)

Just like in the US, fancy invitations invited guests to attend.  Here, though, they are generally delivered by hand and not by mail.  The one I got has English on the outside (probably coming from Nigeria) and had a couple of French pages inside.  At the reception, I saw others who had invitations that looked like passports.  Mine is pictured at right.

Couples are officially married twice here.  First, they are married at Town Hall; this is the civil ceremony.  Jacob and Ruth had their civil ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 29.  I decided not to go to N’gaoundéré until Saturday morning, so I missed that part.  (I had only been back from Yaoundé a couple of day, taught two classes, and was recovering from Plan Q – see the last blog entry.)

 

The church wedding where the couple makes their commitment before God and the congregation happened at the Millennium Lutheran Cathedral at 3 p.m.  Well, that was when it was scheduled to start.  It actually started at about 4 p.m.  Parts of this service are the same as a wedding in the US, but parts are different.  There was a bulletin which gives the schedule as:

• Songs by the choirs (Yes, they had two.  Both had great, lively music, mostly in French, but some in English.)
• Arrival of the groom.  The brides’ maids and groom’s men process in first and line the main aisle.  Then Jacob entered with a woman of his family.  He was seated on a couch (love seat size) in front of the pews.  The woman sat on a covered chair next to him.
• Then, after some more music, the bride processed in with her father.  The groom’s men sprayed fake snow/confetti from cans as she came down the aisle.  Ruth sat next to her husband-to-be with her father on a chair next to her.  Both the bride and groom wore white.
• Many invitees wore clothes made from material that the bride chose.  (See the people with the blue print cloth).  Others chose material that a whole group wore (choir, family, etc.) 
• There were photographers taking video and still photos.  I have to say that I found this to be intrusive.  Many times they hid the couple and the “action” of the ceremony as they stood in the way to take pictures.  You can see one photographer in the shot of the bride’s procession.
• Hymn
• Welcome and Invocation
• Confession of sins
• Promise of Grace
• Song by one choir
• 2 Bible Readings (read by friends)
• Confession of Faith
• Song by the second choir
• Sermon:  One pastor was the liturgist and a second preached.  He talked about the texts read and what it means to be married.  I thought, personally, that ½ hour was too long, so he lost me toward the end…
• Liturgy of Marriage
• Institution and Introduction
• Vows of the couple
• Exchange of rings
• Benediction of the couple
• Hymn
• Presentation of a Bible to the couple
• Speech by the family of the groom
  
  
• Speech by the family of the bride
• Speech by a representative of the church
• Presentation of gifts (for those who were not attending the reception later)
• Prayers
• Photos with the family
• Final Benediction

• Recession lead by the couple, wedding party, and then guests.The whole wedding took about 2 ¼ hours until about 6:20 p.m.  (Too long for me, but it’s not about me, right??)  By the final recession only about ½ the congregation was left (so maybe it was too long for them, too, especially since we started an hour late).

The wedding reception was held at the Hotel Mentong Palace on the outskirts of town.  The invitation said 8 p.m.  I went with Elie Sanda (ELCA financial administrator for Cameroon/CAR) and his wife.  We didn’t go at 8, but arriving at 8:45 we were still the first to arrive.  Festivities started at 10:30 p.m.  (Sigh.  All day we did a lot of waiting.) 

  

The reception also started with a procession – of the bride’s maids and groom’s men and then the bride and groom.  These young people did two dances for the guests – choreographed and enjoyable.  Then there was grace and we ate.  A woman from the hotel announced the menu for two buffets then tables of guests were directed to one buffet table or the other. (So why were there different foods? ?)  Food was plentiful and enjoyable, but not very warm despite chafing dishes with flames beneath them.  A large room was full, so I’d estimate there were over 200 guests.  (They don’t have people return cards to get a count; they just make enough food!)

After we ate, the bride and groom left to change clothes.  After more than an hour of waiting, I had had enough.  It was after midnight and since Dr. Solofo and Dr. Joely were leaving I left with them. 

So what did I miss?  There was another presentation of gifts and other formalities and then dancing that went on until about 4 a.m. I heard.  I am sure it was fun.  Still, I am not much of a party person, especially when I don’t know many people and festivities get off to such a late start.  And, the waiting tired me out.  I was happy to go to the guest house for a good night’s rest!

I wish the couple all the best in their married life! 

I stayed in N’gaoundéré Sunday since Anne Langdji and Andrea Walker were arriving that evening from the Cameroonian Pastors’ Retreat.  We went to dinner at the Coffee Shop and shared news. 

When I left Monday, I took a load of medical supplies destined for the Lutheran Clinic in Gallo, CAR that had been delivered in a container from World Health Ministries.  (They were temporary stored in my entry way until the people from the clinic picked them up Wednesday.)  I also stopped in 

Meiganga to see Elisabeth Johnson (who teaches at the seminary there).  We had a delicious lunch and caught up on news.  I arrived safely back in Garoua Boulai Monday afternoon. 

By the way, I opened the can of humus (referred to in the last blog entry) yesterday.  It is OK.  A nice change of pace, but too salty for my taste.  Also, it was not very creamy.  (Served here with tomatoes and avocado with salt and pepper)  I don’t know if I will buy it again, but I am glad to have the variety and experience.  It makes me think that I will look for chick peas and tahini to make my own!  The seaweed (some of which I added to a cabbage dish) was better.  I used one of the spice packets which made the food a bit hot, but well within my low tolerance.  

Plan Q

EEL-RCA/Partners' Consultation

Ever had planning get so screwy that you got to not only plan B but plan Q?  That’s what seemed to happen for the Partners’ Consultation with EEL-RCA.  What fun to change your plans every ½ hour or so for a couple of days!  (Well, maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but not much!)

To refresh your memories, There were 14 partners coming from Europe, the US, Yaoundé (the Langdjis, regional representatives of ELCA), GB (me!) and 15 church members coming from the Evangelical Lutheran Church-CAR.  Several other Central African program leaders were scheduled to come after the main meeting – thereby having a place to stay as other Central Africans went back home.  (It is not easy finding lodging for 30 people in GB, especially nowadays with various NGOs in town and many more Central Africans.)

Dr. Charles Short with hospital workers at the Protestant Hospital, GB

Jacob Betrogo, Hospital Administrator; Dr.Vitaly Vorona, Lutheran Disaster Response; Dr. Rebecca Duerst, ELCA Global Missions, Health learning about the Nutrition Center in GB

So, Wednesday, November 19 nine people were in cars on their way from Yaoundé to Garoua Boulai.  Most had arrived by plane late the night before.  I was teaching my regular two-hour class at the Bible School from 10:30 to 12:30.  In fact, students were taking a test the second half of the class period.  Suddenly, just before noon, we heard shooting across the border in Cantonnier, CAR.  We hear it from time to time for a few minutes when the UN troops (mostly Cameroonian at the border) shoot to get people’s attention or there is a short skirmish between rebels and the UN troops.  This time it continued for about an hour.

OK.  The first comment is that I was safe.  I live far enough from the border and am protected in the church station.  It is distressing to hear the shots, but much more because of what it means.  Peace has not yet come to CAR.  People who live in Cantonnier (just over the border), many of whom are already internally displaced people who have sought refuge somewhere they thought was safer, risk being shot, especially by stray bullets.  It means that those with guns are still trying to get what they want through aggression.  To say this is discouraging is a major understatement!

So, what did we do?  I talked to a couple of people on the phone trying to get more information.  Schools in GB were closed to be on the safe side so students could be in their homes with their families.  The Bible School students and I talked about the situation; we decided that they would finish the exam since they were almost done.  Then, we all went home to stay inside until we heard more about what was happening. 

Protestant Hospital Lab

The “good” news was that the shooting was limited to the Central Africa Republic; there was no problem in Garoua Boulai.  Those in Cantonnier (even those already displaced) left for other nearby towns).  Several rebels were killed and others taken to the hospital in Baboua.  Two civilians got hit by stray bullets and were brought to the Protestant Hospital in Garoua Boulai; they were not seriously wounded, fortunately.  (Pictures won't go where I want them!  Sorry)

New/Old Record-keeping

Sanitation - for feet/shoes

Sanitation - hands

MSF well at Nutrition Center

Special Food for malnourished children

Gado Camp with garden

Now the planning complications began.  Should we tell the partners to continue to GB?  After discussion, phone calls, debates, and prayers, we decided that the first car would continue to GB since it could reach here before dark (6 p.m.).  The second car had already shifted to Plan B because they got a late start out of Yaoundé and also had a flat tire that had to be fixed!  We agreed that they would stay in Bertoua (5 hours from Yaoundé and 3 from GB) so that they also would not be traveling in the dark; they arrived Thursday morning.

Rev. Nguia, Ms. Anne Wangaari, LWF, at Palm Oil

Thursday was to be a day of visits to local projects:  the Protestant (Lutheran) Hospital that is just by my house); the Nutrition Center of the same hospital that is currently run by Doctors without Borders (or MSF, to use their French initials), and a refugee resettlement camp in Gado, about ½ hour from GB on the road to Bertoua/Yaoundé.  We also visited the Bible Schools Palm Oil Project just outside of GB.

Friday and Saturday the partners stayed in GB while we waited to see if the Central Africans would be able to come from Bouar and Baboua.  They could not.  They tried coming as a part of a military convoy, but that didn’t work.  The problem was not the CAR/Cameroonian border which we heard was open, but rather the insecurity on the road.  Frustration.  Partners had some side meetings. Fortunately, the internet was working so President Goliké and Patrick Kelembho, Administrator, sent the presentations they would have given.  I translated them for those who don’t speak French and we had some preliminary conversation. 

(OK, so I haven’t mentioned the number of times we talked and rearranged plans for when we were going back to Yaoundé, how long we could wait for the church delegation to arrive, etc.  Four partners went to N’gaoundéré Friday until Saturday to visit the hospital there –another couple of plans to get that set as well!  I also didn’t mention the number of times I talked to the women who were to be catering four days of meals for 30 people!  Angeline was flexible and cooperative, but what a hassle.)

The partners decided to travel to Yaoundé Sunday; I went with them driving one of the cars.  We (the partners who had gone to GB, one who hadn’t left Yaoundé, the ELCA regional representatives, me, and ELCA’s Area Director – an added bonus since she was arriving for the Cameroonian Pastors’ retreat and with Plan A would have arrived after the EEL-RCA meeting was finished) the met on Monday and Tuesday.  Again, thanks to electricity (which was out for 36 hours in Yaoundé over the weekend, but was back Monday afternoon) and internet we had an hour-long Skype conversation with Patrick Monday.  Tuesday morning we had a two-hour Skype call with President Goliké, Patrick, and about five other church leaders who were in Bouar.  Not ideal, but much better than we originally thought when Plan A went out the window!  Face-to-face meetings would have been better, but we were able to accomplish some of our goals.  Monitor and adjust – to use Madilyn Hunter’s education language…

 

Look what I found!

In a bakery/small grocery store in Bertoua where we often stop when driving between Yaoundé and Garoua Boulai, I found cans of hummus!  The can has ½ the label in Arabic and we get lots of products from the Middle East, but I was surprised (and pleased) to see it.  I haven’t yet tasted it, but plan to soon.

In a grocery store in Yaoundé I found seaweed!  I use it to cook sometimes in the US, but hadn’t thought I could get it here.  Again, I shouldn’t have been surprised since many Chinese now live and work in Cameroon.  It is not the dried kind I get in the US; in fact, it comes in a plastic packet with two little spice packets to be prepared like Ramen noodles and other such products that are sold in the US.  Wow. Wonder what I will find next!

Thanksgiving

I did not celebrate a traditional US Thanksgiving.  No turkey.  But, I had made pumpkin (OK, squash) pies for 30 to share at the Partners’ Consultation.  You are probably already thinking, for 30?  But the Central Africans couldn’t come!  Right.  So, those who came to GB had some.  I sent some with Anne and Andrea for Elisabeth (ELCA missionary who works in Meiganga). I took some to friends who are shop keepers in town.  I also shared some with my class at the Bible School. (Because I traveled back from Yaoundé on Wednesday, November 26, a day I would normally teach, I taught on Thanksgiving Day.  It seemed fitting for them to celebrate with me at the end of class.)  And, I got to eat lots of pie!  I also gave thanks for many things. Those are certainly Thanksgiving traditions.  (I hope that you shared yours with family and friends and that you continue to be grateful for all you are and have.  I continue to be grateful for all the ways you support me.)

Christmas presents!

My family was able to send some stocking and Christmas presents early with Dr. Charles Short who came to the Partners’ Consultation representing the three US partner synods.  He was one of two people, though, who had a tight connection through Atlanta on the way to Cameroon.  Unfortunately, their luggage didn’t arrive with them! (That must be part of plan J…) It came later, when they were in GB.  So, they got their luggage a couple of days before they left the country.  Still, all items they brought to share were intact.  The women of St. Paul’s in Baton Rouge, LA made a beautiful banner for the church in CAR.  I re-glued a couple of letter that came loose and have repacked the banner ready for the next leg of its trip to Bouar; I hope someone will be in GB soon to pick it up (along with a few other items.)

And, I got my Christmas presents!  Thanks, family and Chuck.  I will admit to opening one present which was covers for heating food in the new (to me) microwave.  I have been using them already.  The other gifts are waiting.  Will I make it to Christmas???  Time will tell.

Another Plan Q? 

Photo credit: Reuters/Stringer

There have been several signs of hope for peace in CAR.  One group of rebels whose leader is Abdoulaye Miskine had taken hostages (Cameroonian, Central African, and one Polish priest).  They wanted to make an exchange for their leader who was being held in Cameroon.  Last week, 16 hostages were released unharmed.  In exchange, Miskine was sent to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo;
he has announced that he will work for peace in CAR.  (Not to be pessimistic, but he and his rebels have caused LOTS of problems and destruction in the country for years…  Can/will he now work for peace?? Let’s hope and pray he does.)  See http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/26/us-cameroon-kidnapping-poland-idUSKCN0JA1B820141126.

Voice of America file photo - Anti-balaka fighters stand for a photo in Boda, Central African Republic, Aug. 2014

Yesterday and today, the internet and radio news programs are talking a lot about the fact that Patrice Edouard Ngaissona, national coordinator of the anti-Balaka, has announced that his troops will turn in their arms and continue their struggle only through the political system.  They are creating a new political party.  How will that work?  It is not clear.  Some of these rebels supported Francois Bozizé, the president who was ousted in the 2013 takeover (He had also come into power in a 2003 coup d’etat…), he already has a political party.  Also, the rebels are really divided into various sections – that can’t seem to agree on much. (See http://www.voanews.com/content/central-african-republic-militia-to-lay-down-arms/2540315.html and also http://www.voanews.com/content/unifying-central-african-republic-anti-balaka-is-becoming-increasingly-difficult/2544996.html - for a less optimistic view.) Does this leader speak for all the so-called “Christian” groups?  Will the (mostly Muslim) Seleka follow suit and lay down their arms?  We can only hope and pray that it is so. 

Pray and work for peace – in CAR and around the world.

Synode, Work, and Roof, Part 4

New Dress

Synode

A synod in CAR and Cameroon is a regional church meeting.  At the end of last week, there was an 

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon (EELC) Garoua Boulai district meeting; I was invited to attend Friday morning.  So, what’s the meeting like?  How similar is it to similar meetings in the USA?  (I can only imagine those US meetings, since I have not attended them! – although I have been to Synod Assemblies…)

The theme of the meeting was “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10a.)  Thursday evening there was the installation of delegates, opening ceremonies, formation of the synode board (pictured at right), and a concert.  The next morning (when I attended), guests were welcomed during the opening ceremonies.  A choir from the local church danced in and sang for us.  There was also a skit based on the book of Job. 

Next, the regional bishop led a Bible study on the meeting theme.  Most of the activities and speeches were in Gbaya, so I could only understand a little.  The bishop also taught in Gbaya with some phrases and Bible texts in French thrown in.  It is interesting; when one can only understand about 30%, one focuses more on presentation.  Bishop Garga-Zizi (pictured here) is a wonderful speaker.  He is animated, makes a strong connection with the audience, and delivers his message clearly.  The audience responded often and clearly followed what he was saying.  (I couldn’t get a picture of him teaching; a decorative palm stood between us.)

After the Bible study, there was a coffee break.  Women from several churches were responsible for providing something to eat and drink.  Invited guests went across the street to the catechist’s house.  We were served a drinkable porridge, bread, and yams.  (At this point I went home to continue other work.)

According to the schedule, the synode also included teaching sessions – “Christian Marriage in the Era of Globalization,” “The Importance of Language,” “Typhoid Fever and Ebola” (by Dr. Solofo), and “The 4-Year Vision of EELC – using Nehemiah 2:18.”  There was also time for committee work.  Each day at the end of the work, church choirs provided concerts.

The closing worship service happened on Sunday. (I did not attend this service because I went to the church with a (nearly complete) new roof – see below.)

Doesn’t that sound like the kind of meetings we have in the US: Teaching, committee work, time to eat, concerts or performances, and worship?  Yes, we are all Lutherans!  (Or, maybe, we can even say we are all Christians or religious groups…)

Work

There’s been lots of work happening here in Garoua Boulai.  I have not always thought to take pictures, but I can report of some of it. 

Future Latrines

Future Well

At the Protestant hospital, UNICEF is building some new latrines (not very far along yet) and a new well.  For the latter, they brought in a huge well-drilling truck and inserted a pipe through which they could drop the pump and attachments. They dug down about 60 meters (almost 200 feet).  But, as they dropped in the pump, it would only go to 22 meters.  Workers dug down that deep – by hand!  They had to remove the pipe and found that it had been cross threaded causing a slight bend in it – enough that the pump could not get past.  Why couldn’t they have just pulled up the pipe?  Or, had the drilling truck come back?  I don’t know.  They are working to fix the problem, though.  It just takes a lot of time.  They will have water, eventually!  They will also build a water tower – a place to store the water so that the pump is not constantly running.

Work has also been down on some old, unused rooms; they are being turned into more patient rooms.  Because of the continued high number of refugees and increased population in GB, more rooms have been sorely needed.  By the end of last week, these 4 new rooms were ready for use.  The area outside was also cleaned up.  Some paving is also being done around the hospital.  Those coming for the Partners’ Consultation (for the Evangelical Lutheran Church – Central African Republic) will be able to see the improvements.

MSF (Médicin Sans Frontiers/Doctors Without Borders) continues to work with severely malnourished children at the Nutrition Center of the Protestant Hospital.  They also continue to build and improve the area.  I will have another tour Thursday to see the extent of the work, but it is clear that they are constantly at work making improvements. 

The city of GB has also been making many improvements.  In the past I have mentioned the new tile stalls for butchers in the market and the extended market space, complete with roofs and stalls (as well as a place for women who sit on the ground).  I have also seen a sidewalk build – wooden planks banded together to cover a large drainage ditch with some of the hand-done paving along the edge.  Near the newly-finished town hall they are also building a very nice drainage ditch along the edges of the road – with stones and concrete.  Store fronts continue to be fixed up.  A new bank is almost ready to open and there is a second “fancy” bakery that has opened – I haven’t been there yet.  I am not sure why all of this is happening now, but it is great to see. 

And, on a more mundane note, workers are digging 2 new garbage pits for the guest houses on our station. The one near my house is down about 8 meters.  Workers are widening the part at the bottom so it will hold more; this project is taking extra time because the workers sometimes go to help out with other projects around the hospital and station.  The pits don’t have priority since there is still some room in the old ones and they are less visible to guests!  I am happy all this work is being done.

Roof, Part 4

You have read other updates on the roof project at Garouaseeye Church – where the walls collapsed when the roof was being added in April.  Work advances well.  There was a celebration and “opening” of the new church on Sunday, November 16.  The Regional Bishop Garga-Zizi came along with Rev. Nguia, Drs. Solofo and Joely, Jim Noss, Rev. Brian Palmer (who came from N’gaoundéré with Jim), local officials, roof-building consultants from N’gaoundéré, and me.  Jim has been instrumental in providing technical and communication support to keep this project moving forward. 

Roof 1/2 done

Putting up roof supports

Cleaning the ground nearby

It is a very big church – one of the largest within the Lutheran network.  Because of the size, the whole roof could not be completed by Sunday, so they put the corrugated metal up on ½ the building.  Then, they moved all the current benches and altar in to the covered half.  It all fit with room to spare!  They also put some mats on the ground for the children.  (Later they will need to find the means to pave the floor and get more benches.)  Part way through the service, the Bishop asked the choir to come forward from the back so we could hear them better.  They did, but ended up sitting in the un-roofed side in the sun!  Someone brought them some umbrellas for (limited) shade.

It was a joyful service.  Afterwards, of course, we were offered a “cocktail.”  That included some fish, manioc, yams, beverages, and bread with a fish spread.  It was held in the house across the street from the church.  The choir lined the path for visitors to follow and be welcomed.

Lots of fun!  I will go back again soon to get pictures of the church when both sides of the roof are complete.

As we left, Jim Noss had a young congregant drive us out!  He had fun, too!

Donations

Just a reminder:  The ELCA’s Office of the Treasurer announced a newly–refined procedure for depositing gifts that congregations or individuals send to support missionaries or ministries. They can either:

A.    Include their gifts in remittances sent to the synod office clearly marked with the missionary’s name and account number in the memo box (Susan Smith (MSG0717), or

B.     Congregations and individuals may write their checks directly to “ELCA Global Church Sponsorship” and write the designation name and 7-digit code in the memo line, (Susan Smith (MSG0717).  Mail it to:
            Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
            ELCA Gift Processing Center
            P.O. Box 1809
            Merrifield, VA 22116-8009 or

C.     Sponsors may also arrange for gifts by credit card, or for automatic monthly withdrawals from their bank account, by contacting 800-638-3522.

Logistics

Today would have been my father's 87th birthday.  

I am thinking a lot about him today – and my family.  Missing him.

Recently, I have been helping to plan for the EEL-RCA/Partners’ Consultation which will be held in Garoua Boulai Nov. 20-24.  If we could have it in Bouar as we did during my first year in this job, the church administration could do much of this.  But, insecurity still has a strangle hold on the Central African Republic.  It is true that many towns and many people have begun to rebuild their lives.  A major problem continues to be bandits (let’s not even call them rebels to be honest) who stop cars on the road and demand money.  They have occasionally taken people hostage and burned cars.  I read an article on the internet yesterday that talked about a meeting of some ex-Seleka rebels in Kaga Bandoro in which they named (among other leaders) who will collect taxes (http://www.voanews.com/content/ex-rebel-reshuffle-in-car/2508991.html).  Wait!  Governments collect taxes, right?  It seems those at the meeting were taking about the “taxes” collected at the barriers that they establish and tax money they can get from those extracting natural resources. Other ex-Selekas (not at the meeting) disagree with actions taken.  It seems the ex-Seleka are now divided into three groups.  Then, you have the anti-Balaka, the Miskines, and those just out to get what they can.  No wonder we are not meeting in Bouar this month! 

 

I do not want to minimize the risk that the Central African church leaders will take as they come to Garoua Boulai.  The bandits on the road between Baboua and Garoua Boulai stop cars about every 10-14 days.  Unfortunately, we can’t know which days that will be.  We are grateful to the church leaders for taking the risk and enabling them to meet with the partners (from the USA and Europe).  Pray for their safe travel.

There will be about 30 participants – arriving from different places on different days at a variety of times.  GB does not have hotels as we do in the US.  Participants can’t just make reservations on the internet and pay individually with a credit card.  Remember this is a cash society.  EVERYTHING happens with cash – just to add another challenge to planning logistics. 

The primary planners for this meeting are President Golike and the EEL-RCA administration; Anne and Willie Langdji, ELCA Regional Representatives, David Gbabiri and Marthe Yapana, ELCA workers at the GB station; Dr. Solofo, doctor at the Protestant Hospital in GB; and me.  You might realize that we are located in at least three locations (sometimes more as people travel for work!)  I am grateful for phones and internet connections.  What a huge difference they make.

We do not have 30 beds in the guest houses here on the station.  Filling to the max we can handle about 15 people.  There is a Centre Social, run by the Cameroonian Evangelical Lutheran Church – but they don’t run a schedule as we would expect a hotel or guest house to do in the US.  They will reserve us some rooms, though.  And, we have heard of a new “auberge” not far from the station.  (That’s somewhere between a hostel and a hotel.)  With a help of a couple of people who will host people at their houses, right now it looks like we can provide beds for everyone! 

I am also working on collecting schedule requests.  Partners, of course, want to meet with leaders of programs they sponsor.  Some leaders will be included in the general meeting, but others will not so we have to see if when they can come (and where they will stay if they come for more than the day).  Partners also want to meet with people in Yaoundé, Bertoua, Garoua Boulai, and N’gaoundéré.  I don’t have to organize all the visits.  (Thankfully!)  But who goes where when will impact who stays in GB when – and who eats. 

Next, we need to consider food.  Again, there aren't restaurants we can use.  Yes, there are some in town, but we are not sure about sanitation and don’t want to take a chance with so many munjus (Sango for white people) arriving.  We will hire someone to cook and do dishes, etc.  Next week we’ll meet with Angeline, the caterer – once I have a better handle of who will be in GB when. 

Yes, my head is swimming with details and the desire to create a schedule that can be easily read and followed.  Well, and an accurate budget proposal, too…  Closer to the day, we’ll worry about making sure the station is presentable and rooms prepared. 

Fortunately, EEL-RCA is establishing the agenda and taking care of the main meetings. 

Building a Roof, Part 3

I took a break this morning and drove to Garaousayee Church (several kilometers from my house).  This is the place where the South Dakotan team came to help build the roof, but the walls collapsed.  Several weeks ago I visited to see the new reinforced, strong walls.  Yesterday, workers began work on the roof again.  They are able to use the wooden supports from before, but some need to be repaired and all are being reinforced before they are installed.  Next week, these will be in place and the corrugated metal pieces will be installed.  Optimistic workers hope to be done in a week.  Maybe I’ll have time for a photo of the finished building before I write my next blog entry.