Greetings everyone!! Wow it has been awhile since our last post!! First
the kids and I had a wonderful time in Bamenda at the Sonshine Christian
Academy home school session! A couple days were yucky do to the flu and
colds but over all a great time! This years session was called
"Putt,Putt Motors". The kids learned about small engines and the first
week took a lawnmower engine apart. The second week they put their
engines back together. This class was taught by the helicopter pilot,
Uncle Eric Wolf. The first day after class Elliott ran up to me and said I just drained the oil out of a engine! He was so excited! Megan even enjoyed this too!
There were about 25 kids ages 2 up to 8th grade. We ate breakfast at 7:30. Devotions were at 8:00. At 8:15 to 9:00 was math class. 9:00 to 9:45 the kids had language arts. Then was a 15 minute break for recess. 10:00 to 10:30 were read aloud. 10:30 to 11:15 they had art class the first week and music the second week. Motors class was from 11:15 to 12 noon. It was then lunch time! 1:00 to 2:45 was the best time according to the kids!! It was swimming lessons!!! 3:00 to 4:30 was play practice. All the kids put on a play called "The Stone in the Road". The first week the older kids had testing. They took the Iowa state tests! Elliott had normal class with his classmates! Meg wasn't too happy but this way her testing is done!! For art class the kids made "Cameroonian cars". They are made out of sardine cans and flip flops! They are really cool! For music class not only did they sing but they had guitar lessons. Megan liked this! She did remember some of the chords she learned before she came!! I told her Tim would be proud!!!
We celebrated Megan's 14th Birthday while we were in Bamenda!!! Where did 14 years go!!!!! Anyway, she finally got her pool party in February!!!! We only had to come to Africa to make it happen! HA! Gretchen had a good two weeks also! Her class was so nice and played very well together! There were 5 kids including her.
Megan was a young maiden in the play. Elliott played her little brother! They were going to town to sell flowers! Elliott was suppose to be allergic to the flowers and he had to "sneeze" all of lines! They both did so well!!
Megan and her friend Nandry. It was nice to see Megan have someone her age to talk to and hang out with! They became really good friends over the two weeks!
The whole cast!!!
A German couple arrived in Cameroon the second week we were at SCA. They go out into the villages and interact with the children and teach them about Jesus! They had fun showing some of the kids the games and activities they do with the Cameroonian children. Gretchen is wearing the cow hat her friend Jude wore for crazy hair day!! That is Gretchen's class standing in back of her!
This is Jude! He also had a birthday while we were at SCA! His mom, Aunt Holly, made his cake! She makes cakes like I do!!! His cake was Kung Fu Panda! They taste really good too!
Pool Party!!!!
On Friday was the pool party/Megan's Birthday!
Racing against each other during some pool games!
This game they had to put clothes on then swim to the other side of the pool! Swimming lessons were really good for both of the kids!! Megan learned to dive and different types of strokes. Elliott learned to swim under water and got more comfortable in the water! Both learned to swim without holding their noses or the use of goggles!!!
Megan doing the clothing relay!
The bucket race! The younger kids liked this but the older kids I am not sure!!!
Singing Happy Birthday!
Gretchen enjoying Birthday cake!!
The kids could not let any of the icing go to waste! Had to lick the candles!!!
Birthday Girl!!
The hotel that had the pool also had a turkey and two geese right beside the pool area! Not sure why but we thought it was pretty funny!
On the last night they have a graduation for the 8th graders. So Megan and her friend Nelson were graduating this year! They both had to make speeches and were given a gift from Aunt Elsie!
After Megan gave her speech, Randy got up and said a few words of encouragement to Meg! It was very nice!
Megan and Elliott were also to prepare a presentation for this night too! Elliott sang "The B-I-B-L-E" while Megan signed it using sign language! It was very nice! I was so proud of both of them!
We returned to Mbingo on Saturday and even though we had fun and met so many wonderful new friends it was good to be home! As we were leaving Bamenda, Gretchen said "I go to Bingo" Which she sounds so Cameroonian!! They don't say the M in Mbingo either!!! It was pretty funny!!
The kids enjoyed meeting new friends and reconnecting with friends we already knew! We liked hearing about where the families are from and what they are doing here in Africa! Some of the kids and their families live out in the bush!! They are from villages that are in the remote parts of the rain forest!! One family runs a orphanage in Bamenda! They have 29 kids living in the orphanage. We are already planning a trip down to spend some time there!!
Megan was surprised when we got back to Mbingo! Some friends of ours threw her a surprise birthday party on Sunday!!! We have been blessed with having a loving family here at Mbingo! Even though we were away from family and friends, I think she had a birthday she will never forget!!!!
Blowing out the candles!!
Lindsay helping Gretchen onto the slip and slide!!
Hanging out in the pool! A little different from the other pool but hey two pool parties in less than 3 days what more could a 14 year old girl ask for right!! (And not a plane ticket home Uncle John although I'm sure she would take it!!)
Megan attempting to catch Cathen!!
Water balloon games!!
Cathen and Isaac hanging out!
Gretchen figured out going down on your belly was more fun!!
Cathen looks like she is telling Megan a good story!
Finally we all came home and had a family dinner! Megan's favorite Chicken and Waffles!! She got a waffle maker for her birthday present and while we were away in Bamenda our pet chicken sadly is no more!!!!!! He tasted pretty good though!!
Thank you for all the prayers while we were away at SCA! Especially the prayers for our health! It was pretty ugly there for a few days! A lot wishing that Mom was there to help make tummies and heads all better!!(and that was me wanting my mom!) But we are all healthy and okay now! Prayers for Jen as she works at the hospital. Dr. Acha the ENT is gone for 3 months to the states to the Mayo Clinic so Jen is treating and operating on things she has never seen before. Prayers for her that God will guide her to make the right decisions but also that she will fill their hearts and minds with the word of God and the love of Jesus! Prayers for Randy as he continues his work also. Continued prayers for his dad, Jim! Prayers for both my Grandma States and my Grandma Pepple! We miss you and love you both so much! Prayers for Dr. Dennis Palmer and his wife Nancy. Prayers for Dennis' shoulder surgery! Hurry back we miss you both! Prayers for safe travels for our friend Kaye who flew back to Australia this week for a quick visit!
Lastly, CONGRATS to Hillary and Darren on their engagement!
