*I wasn't able to post all the pictures quite yet...I'll work on it.*

April 21-April 25, 2006

Where has the time gone?! It’s almost May. I can’t believe it. I was in Bamenda this week for a quick day trip; our provincial meeting and my friend, Kelsey, got her traditional rights. It was pretty cool. The Fon of Bafut (where she did it) is pretty powerful. He has 48 wives, a beautiful palace (see picture #2) and pretty famous, as far as Fons go. Kelsey came strutting out, in only bra and skirt—perfect for a Victoria’s Secret commercial—knelt in front of the Fon (see picture #3) and had some pounded up pumas (we hope) rubbed on her as the Fon gave her a traditional name. Meanwhile, I was handed a beautiful but significantly wet (the ‘diapers’ aren’t quite up to Pampers standards!) child…Violet (see picture #1). She was very well behaved but for sure peed all over me. Kelsey then had to drink palm wine out of her hands, do a chant with the queen mother and pose for many pictures. We spent the evening eating Samoa’s (thanks Vicki!!) and chocolate covered macadamia nuts sent from America while it poured. Typical day in Cameroon, I guess.

The rains have come meaning no dust but lots of mud which I’m convinced is mixed with latrine run off—I’ve concluded this by the smell that is emitted from each of the rust colored streams that now flow everywhere. I can’t complain though, it’s cooler and no dust! And minus being eaten alive in Bamenda—and surely, in my paranoia, contracting malaria—it’s a nice change (Rain clouds coming into Ndu, picture coming next time!). I am very busy, although I’m not sure with what. Between work and random meetings I feel like I have no extra time. It’s nice, makes the time go fast, but at the same time…unnecessary stress! I am headed to Yaoundé this weekend for another meeting and on the way, will go to a concert for the acapella group from the Baptist Seminary. Should be interesting, although I heard them practicing—Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes was one selection! (Side note: The concert was great…I had some pictures but do to some IT difficulties, couldn't upload them. I'll try to soon).

Yesterday I spent 5 ½ (yes, 5 ½) hours in church. I went with my landlord/landlady for the church dedication. To make a long story short, almost the entire 5 ½ hours was in dialect and I was sitting up front—hard to hide my boredom while I’m glowing like a beacon of Caucasian-ness from the front of the room. By hour 4 I was texting like a fiend, finally positioned my bag just right so I could read my novel without being too obvious, and then watched huge black storm clouds roll in through the window. There was some serious rocking out though…these people are amazing. I’m trying to sway with the crowd and watching an eight-year-old, dressed in a gray sweat suit, alternating between blowing a cow horn with rubber tube, frantically drumming, and dancing like a pro…all of which sounds amazing and I can’t even clap on beat. Man…