February, defilé, Maroua and moving!

Playing board games

In the beginning of February we went on a picnic with the choir to a mountaintop not too far from the mission station. When we got to the top, some of the members had brought with them some board games and cards. While they played with this others played different clapping games and childrens games. It was fun to get to know some of them a bit better too as we're not so social at the choir practices on Tuesdays.
After eating together we had a competition in bible verses and making songs. It was really fun although my group didn't win.

Childrensgames are fun!

Picnic with the Gospel Singers

The 11th of February in Cameroon is dedicated to the youth. The week before the schools practise marching because this day means marching on the Place de L'Independance infront of the Lamido and the governor. Sara-Jeanette and me had bought some dresses to wear on the day and went marching together with Centre Socio. The day reminded me allot of 17th of May celebration in Norway, with candy and marching and singing.

The new outfit

The teachers at CSM

In the evening we grilled and ate at the house where Kristians brother and friends were staying together with some Cameroonian friends. It was really good, and I have figured out that I like the planteng bananas quite much so I'm definitely going to miss that when I go back! I have to find it in a shop in Norway now so I can make it at home..

On the 17th we went on a trip to Maroua together with the missionary family, the old volunteers and the missionaries going to Mali. The trip was part of a Missionary Meeting so as well as seeing the town and enjoying the hot weather (38 degrees in the shade!)  we had a bible study class and a meeting with two people who work at the Christian university there. We also visited a leather tannery where we saw people working with their hand in acids all day to make the leather fine enough to sell, and a house arrangement which Jan Martin, a volunteer working for NMS, helped construct many years ago.

Biblestudy

Holding up a boa snakeskin

The trip was just for a weekend, so with a 9 hours drive back and forth, we only had one full day in Maroua.
The road was pretty good, with several wholes here and there, but as it was asphalt it didn't take forever to get there. On the way back we had some difficulties as it got dark and Bischler punctured a wheel because of a big trailer that didn't stay on the right side of the road. But all in all we got safely home.

On Monday the 20th we had a meeting with two women that had flown up here from NMS Stavanger. The theme for the Missionary Meeting was youth. So therefore we had been given a task to find out what we can do to get youth engaged in mission. There were many good ideas that were discussed and we had a really nice time. We were lucky to get the opportunity to be a part of this!



In the end of February we were told that we are to move to another flat, so after packing all my things we moved over to number 9. I like it very much here! It is a really nice flat. I changed rooms with SJ so I have the small room now, and it is also very nice. Pity that we are only staying here for little over a month now..

I am really glad I have had the opportunity to live here. I like it very much and have made many friends who I'm going to miss allot! Wish I had more time here now. But for what it's worth I'm going to make the most out of it, and come back here one time! Either just on vacation, or maybe even as a volunteer or a missionary. Time will show..

Johanne Teresie