Youth Day & Lent

February 11th was the Cameroonian Youth Day, with much hoolabaloo - i.e. cleaning the place, marching band practice and then the public invited to view the kids’ performance. As you can imagine, this time of the year is  pretty dry around here, so at the outcome of these festivities we had a virtual dust storm around here, but it was fun none-the-less, with lots of hilarity and beer and palm wine drinking. I, as a missionary, abstained - though not for any lofty reasons you`d think , but  I was just plain scared, based on previous experience, to share the favorite drinks.

We’ve entered Lent.  They ,at SAC, do the Stations of the Cross at 5:30 AM and I`m getting up twice a week to these liturgical events in hope that it will shorten my time in purgatory. I`m still praying 3 times a week with the Holy Union Sisters, my neighbors. Lets pray it works for my salvation.  Otherwise I`m OK. I believe I shall continue to be fine, still underweight though. Jean-Baptiste went to London to study international business management and I`m having a new housekeeper,  He also works at SAMS as a part-time computer science teacher.  He wants to be a veterinarian- interesting. I think it all shall work out OK.

Christmas And Other Celebrations

My holidays in Cameroon were pretty unusual, considering that there are some different ways of celebrating the Season of Lights.  I spent my Christmas with the family and friends of my housekeeper. It lasted all day till late evening, with guests pouring in non-stop. I put up a Christmas tree here, a young cyprus standing in for a fir.  I decorated it with color construction paper decorations; old trick I`ve learned in the old country. The occasion was festive.

The second day of Christmas we  (SAC staff)  attended a wedding of the school driver
officiated by Fr.Roland in Pidgin English that was really fun. I joined the sisters of the Holy Union providing the music.

On December 3rd we were invited to a wedding of one of the bishop`s housekeepers in the cathedral conducted with large assembly of priests and led by bishop George Nkuo himself. I, as usual, shimmied up to the cathedral "St.Cecilia" choir and had a blast of  a time. But I think my problems with my stomach started at-that event.

Also, I joined the cathedral choir for the celebration.  It was big bang – 75^th anniversary of establishing the tertiary Franciscan Order of Sisters; they came here to Cameroon from Germany - Southern Tyrol. It was a big bang of a celebration ending in the Kumbo city Hall with general eating, drinking and yes frolicking - blessed by Jesus the Lord of the Dance.

I went to Limbe, a seaside resort town to have a good time welcoming the New Year.
And thank God I had a pretty good time, but the trip down and back left my butt purple like a baboons behind.  I swam a lot in the pool and swallowed tons of water, which must have irritated by throat, now scratchy, and some of the water must`ve gotten to my lungs - I feel bit congested…

On Wednesday morning we had an assembly and so began the second, very short(10 weeks), term.

Please pray for my recovery and continual support of Heaven for my mission here.

God Bless you All.  Happy New Year!

Catholic Education Week

Last week we had a Catholic education celebration week.  The students were off school for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.   They were employed in beautifying the campus, which meant picking up trash, which is strewn pretty freely around here. 

Friday we had a big shindig of a Mass on the football stadium. The 2 bishops and a bunch of priests sat under the grandstand roof.  The rest of us were baking to a crisp under the blazing sun of the Lum (the hot season), someone  failed to communicate to put up the tents for the students and teachers from the Kumbo deanery. The Mass was over 4 hours long, most of which was an offertory procession with dancing, of course. 

After the Mass there was some samba music, by local musicians and some choral performances.  Then we had the pleaseure, thank God it got cooler, to watch a football (soccer) match between St.Peter Secondary School and St. Augustine Minor Seminary.  St. Peter won 2 :1.

School Begins

The school year here began on September 5^th with kids arriving in droves.  We have over 700 students at SAC.  I am teaching English in forms I & II, which means I have kids ranging from 10 to 16 years of age with varied levels of readiness for secondary school.  Classes are large, 35-45 kids.  Not every kid has the books yet and I am missing a teacher’s guide, so it makes for some extra tedious work. The kids are a riot, but I believe as we go along we will work out most of the bugs here.

Shaky Start to Dream Come True

I am ecstatically pleased to inform my dear family and friends, without whose help this transmission would not have happened, that  after  a trying start on Monday morning and truly hysterically unfunny encounters with the service and security crew at the airport, I missed the first leg of my original flight, I 'partook' this Wednesday morning, July 20^th, in Holy communion at the Mass in the Sts.  Peter and Paul cathedral in Douala (major Atlantic port) with truly authentic African music and chorus.  Then, after  recovering seriously plundered (by the LA crew) luggage, I have had the distinct pleasure to sup’ with bishop George Nkuo and his retinue at his mountainous  abode in Kumbo, Cameroon.  Thank heaven for this dream come true! There is more to the story, but I am too pooped to continue this report tonight.  So, there - I am here, where God wanted me.  I still am moved by the beautiful people we`ve met on the road up here.

To be continued...

Preparing for the Journey

A great weight  has fallen off  my chest.  Finally, I collected, packed and sent the books I want to have with me in Kumbo.  I sent them to Maryland - they will go to Cameroon soon. I am very happy.  Mary Hallin (LMH Vetean), Jude, and Eric were very helpful in getting this business accomplished. I will have my books, which will make everything OK.  With my books I can face the world now!

I am done with all the vaccinations.  I just need a polio booster shot and test the antimalarial meds.  My brave liver really has to put up with a virtual onslaught of maladies, but is doing just fine. I think I got most of the stuff I need for the trip. Still looking for ways to close this American chapter in my life; not to leave any mess behind.  I’m still shopping for a laptop and few electronic gadgets.

People ask me if I am excited about going on a mission.  Of course, I am very happy that my youthful dream is coming to fruition; as far as an exercise in virtues goes, this is simply a fantastic destination.  There are some thorny issues there, but I am being sent to Africa for God`s sake!  I am going to discover new world!

However,  this excitement presently must be channeled  into very practical business of packing. So, I will  end here.

God Bless.

PS:   It is absolutely great:  Heaven`s sent opportunity to see some things afresh and grow.