Missouri

Toward the end of August, we stopped in the town of Washington, Missouri for a few days to visit our good friends, Ed and Roberta Simons. They have run their own "Ma and Pop shop" meat market there since they were first married at a young age. Ed has won a massive amount of awards for his sausages and bacon. Needless to say, they know the butchery business! 

We first met the Simons in Cameroon in 2008. They came to Africa a few years before that with an organization that sent craftsmen to Cameroon to train people in different trades. Even though they never got to teach their skills on that trip, it was a time where they fell in love with the country and the Lord put a real burden for widows and orphans on their hearts. Since that time they have been working hard all year long, then closing up shop for the summer so they can come to Cameroon and work with the needy. They have a real passion and are extremely hard workers.

When we first met them I asked if they could butcher a pig for us; it is very iffy buying pork in Cameroon as it is all open air market. You have to be so careful with pig meat as it goes off so quickly. Ed told us he wouldn't butcher a pig for us, but would teach us how. They took three days with us and our co-workers and really explained the whole butchering process, from selecting the pig, to make sausages, to how to cook them. It has been a huge blessing and makes life a little more comfortable overseas (we try to butcher a pig about every 4 months). It is alway a blessing to have ribs, chops, roasts, lard, and sausages in the freezer! We also sell some to other missionaries who enjoy them immensely as well (we can never keep up with the demand!).

It was so nice to meet them at their own home and see their business first hand. They spoiled us rotton with all the amazing food that they process (no less than 3 types of meats per meal!). We also had a lovely time of fellowship and it was great to talk and reminisce about Cameroon.

Some of the goodness they shared with us

Waiting expectantly for my steak :D

One of our goals for Win Our Nations in Cameroon is to make it more self sufficient. Cameroon has wealth in it and we know that there is more than enough to sustain orphanages and bible schools. This is one of the reasons that we started the two car washes out there. They serve as a two-fold purpose: providing stable jobs for about 12 people as well as increase funds for the Children's Home. Because of the car washes we are able to put our elementary children into one of the best private schools in town (not quite what the West would picture as a private school, but far better than the government schools here). 

So we are always praying and thinking about other business ideas that would serve the same purpose. A few that we have tossed about are an internet cafe, taxis, and bus rentals. Since learning how to do the butchering, we have been toying with the idea of a "Helping Hands Meat Market". Now the city we live in has 350,000 people yet you can't buy any meat that is precut (we have to choose our lump from a side of cow and then it is whacked off with a machette!). There is no reliable place to buy frozen chicken or a place to buy sliced ham or orther deli meats. All of the other big cities in Cameroon do have supermarkets that sell this kind of thing. For example in Yaounde I could buy ground beef, frozen chickens legs, sliced salami, and pork chops from a store (made life a little easier). And these places are usually busy so we don't see why it wouldnt work in our town. So when we go back we are praying about the possibliy of opening a place up. Something small to start with, where one can buy frozen chicken and rabbit (provided by Helping Hands Children's Home of course), as well as some sausage and ham. Of course a lot of work and training would be involved  and it would be vital to find a good manager. 

Ed and Roberta are blessing us with a lot of butchering things to ship in the container (knives, seasonings, casings, etc.), that will be a big help in the starting up process. I ask that you would join in prayer about this whole venture. 

One of the car wash businesses in Cameroon