Women's Day in Cameroon

Today is International Women's Day and in Cameroon it's kinda a big deal. Women all over the country unite and march in each town to show their significance in the society. Special "Women's Day" fabric is made every year and then organizations and business purchases it for all their female employees. As seamstressery is a thriving business in Africa, everyone gets to choose the design of their own dress . When the day approaches, the women pull out all the stops and are decked out to the max. As I lined up with thousands of Bamenda women today, I was awed by the beauty of all the dresses, hairstyles, and smiling faces. It was truly a tapestry of colors where ever I looked. On the downside, we did stand in a very slow line (I use that term loosely) for about three hours in the hot sun with no shade. It was so crowded that at some points I could not have even turned around if I had wanted to. But thankfully Win Our Nations' time finally came and we marched in front of the bandstand filled with all the city's officials. 

At our house with the HHCH ladies before we headed downtown

Posing in front of the Bandstand before it got too busy

A policewoman also in her Women's Day outfit. 

Getting ready to start

Starting to line up

Our youngest marcher

Good stuff!

As we headed towards the marching point it was a struggle to all stay together but we managed

When it was all finished we went to the Helping Hands Meat Market to share a meal together (and take photos)

My Joy and Comfort (quite literally). They are an unmeasurable help to me in our house which enables me to homeschool better and be more involved in ministry. 

All the HHCH ladies

All the Car Wash Managers

Fransica sharing some encouraging words with the women

Mami enjoying her chicken, njama njama and fried plantain.

Yum!

Heading home with lots of smiles!

I'm so very grateful for the women that the Lord has placed in my life. It is a pleasure and privilege to serve along side them in this ministry.

Some of the creative fashions of the day: 

Colourful hairstyles too!

An Educational and Fun Fortnight (and LOTS, and I mean LOTS, of photos)

Last night we finished up our missionary homeschooling session with the graduation of the 8th graders. It was a memorable night as each graduate and their Dad gave a speech. Josh did a great job even though he was nervous. Jake's  speak/challenge was awesome. As my husband reflected back over the last 13 years, he was brought to tears (which brought me to tears); it was truly a heartfelt talk. I really couldn't ask for a better dad for our four kiddos, Jake does a fantastic job of always being there for them, disciplining them, encouraging them, making them laugh, and showing them by example how to follow Christ. I am incredibly blessed, I sure know how to pick 'em! Below are some photos of the last two weeks. It is alway a lot of fun but I'll be happy to be back to normal schedule again on Monday. Only 10 weeks of school left! 

The main topic for this session was Cameroon; history, art, and graduation were all on this theme. 

Kenneth, Josh, Nandry and Ysabelle

ART

The kids had the opportunity to make sculptures from brass. Uncle Basil was a great teacher, showing them how to form their creations out of bee's wax first. 

Jude making a little cat

Ready to be covered in clay...

 

At Basil's house watching him take the items out of the kiln

Cracking open the clay to see the beautiful brass work inside

Filing off any sharp edges...

The finished product! 

FIELD TRIP : Bafut Palace

The traditional way to communicate in the village; a large drum

This pillar was placed in the ground when the Fon (king) took over from his father in 1968. This kingdom has been reigning since the 1500's with 11 different kings. 

The tour was a good insight into the tribal beliefs of the NorthWest. These limbs are placed in the ground and then animals are sacrificed on them to appease the ancestors. Before colonization by the German, a child of each sex was sacrificed here annually. 

A great spot for a group photo in front of the museum. No photos were allowed to be taken inside but it was full or carvings, elephant tusks, leopard skins, etc. There were even toby mugs that had been given to the Fons in exchange for slaves (many slaves came from this area). 

These are the houses of the Fon's wives. The former king had over 40 wives, the current one has cut back quite a bit with just a meager eight.

A stone where the princesses grind the red camwood into powder to cover their bodies. This rock has been used for hundreds of years for this purpose.

Doesn't get much sweeter than this

The central shrine in which only the Fon and his nobles are allowed to enter. They believe their ancestors talk to them in there. This whole area was destroyed by the Germans when they were battling for power in the 1900's. They later helped to rebuild it all when the Fon finally submitted to their authority. 

CRAZY HAIR DAY

TWINS DAY:

CLASSES

Cameroon class with Miss Elsie

Trying to recognize the local legumes and grains

Uncle Pete's storytime

Music class

 Math class

Fun and games

Time for playing in the rain too

PRESENTATIONS

Each child had to give some sort of presentation to the whole group. This is one reason I feel like the session is so important. Usually my kids don't have a chance to do "show & tell" or such, so these are great confidence boosters

So proud of Jude as he recited Psalm 1

Seth recited 1 Corinthians 13 with a smile on his face the whole time

And Josh recited the entire second inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln (yeah, you read it right). Amazing!

SWIMMING

We had beautiful weather this session which is a real praise, as some times we get rained out. 

Jude tried really hard and is getting much more confident in the water

Jordan loved joining in the fun on the last day

Bucket races

Watermelon football

Josh trying his pike dive

Going for the back dive

Uncle Nathan drilling the kids

GRADUATION

Dinner was amazing!

So pretty!

Josh giving his speach

Jake sharing

All the grads and Simon in the middle (our "fourth son" and Josh's best friend)

The Skiclan decked out in their African wear. I'm so blessed to have such an amazing family!