The size we display our photos here can make it difficult to see peoples' faces. And the people are really the whole point of the trip, though of the course the scenery is a marvel as well. So here are some faces from our visit to Kumba, plus a few other pictures I left out last time.
The church sign. They're actually right outside of Kumba, in (wait for it) Barombi Kang.
This is palm wine in the making. A 10-foot palm tree is cut down, and the sap drained into a jug. This produces a citrus-y, mildly alcoholic, effervescent beverage that is refreshing and delicious, and not too sweet.
The doctor in the Methodist congregation, who was kind enough to drive us around with the pastor, studied medicine in Germany and returned to Cameroon in the early 1970's, after which he built this clinic. It is unfinished, and stocked with never-used medical equipment shipped in from overseas. He consults out of a finished office on the ground floor, and hopes to sell the place to a younger doctor (or the Methodist church) so it can be completed and opened.
Touring the clinic. From left, the doctor, the pastor, Ann and Josephine, the pastor's wife.
Emmanuel, the secretary of the church. We found out when we returned to Yaounde and looked up their loan application that he was also the loan applicant.
Ann and Amelia.
Tony and Josephine, the pastor's son and wife. That cup is delicious palm wine.
Samuel, one of the people who showed us the site of the proposed project.
The doctor. His hat says "America."
Isaac, another guide to the project site.
Francesca, who also trekked out to the farmland to show it to us.
The pastor. At one point during our opening formalities, which included some singing and a short worship service, he came out with "and the man is the head of the wife" as an addendum to someone else's statement. The churchmen we've met here in Cameroon are quite conservative; they feel vaguely familiar because some remind me of my own older clerical relatives. A pastor in the EPC once laughingly assured us that he would never condone the ordination of women as pastors.
I mention this because we don't share these views, but nevertheless have met and visited at length with people who do, people far more different from ourselves than anyone we usually meet at home, much less socialize with. We have been welcomed with kindness and hospitality in Kumba and elsewhere in Cameroon, and (much like the conservative Christian town we both grew up in), sometimes find authority figures airing views they either assume we share, or feel a need to share with us, gliding right over potential differences of opinion by not asking the questions that would provoke them. Nevertheless we had a fine time in Kumba, and enjoyed the company of the Methodist congregation there for a couple of days in a far more leisurely and personal way than would be possible in an American context.
It's just different here. We roll with it, and get to meet people in an entirely different way than would be possible at home, at least the way we've lived there until now. People here are liberal with their gifts of hospitality, time and attention.
(This is Chris writing; Ann may have a different experience, although she clearly enjoyed herself too. And she got along fine with the pastor.)
Beatrice, standing next to Francesca's husband Paul.
The doctor (center) with two of his family members, at his house.
Amelia, at the pastor's house. She is a relative of his, and prepared the dinner we ate there.
The pastor's family. The little girl on his lap is named Delight.
Paul, who works at the hotel where we stayed. We chatted with him awhile waiting for our ride our last morning in Kumba. He was really nice.
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