African Adventure 3

Dear Family and Friends

We have received the funds and the final O.K. to purchase 50 Tricycle type wheelchairs to be donated to handicapped people. This is an ongoing project funded by the church humanitarian fund. You will see firsthand where your donations are helping the less fortunate of the world.

There are many crippled people here in Africa. Some born with congenital issues, many who suffered with polio, but for many an unusual problem. When they were tiny babies they contacted Malaria and were given a shot in the hip. If this shot hit a certain nerve it would cause their feet to twist, sometimes completely around. 

Note the picture of man in one of the chairs and look at his feet. He is a victim if the Malaria shot as a baby. For a long time now World Health has been teaching third world countries to not give this shot . I don’t know if has been completely stopped. The chairs will be given out in a ceremony after two handicap associations select the recipients. Later this year we will receive money for 100 more chairs. The chairs are such a blessing to these people. You see them peddling along the roads and streets all over town. Many of them being very industrious.  

The man in the picture sells his artwork which is very good. He makes stationary note cards from banana leaves, paints some and others from butterfly wings. He also sells carved wooden elephant families that he purchases from another handicap friend and ups the price a little for a profit.

Those who don’t have chairs struggle around on little wheeled platforms and skate boards, propelling themselves with their hands , some covering the hands with rubber flip flops. Some sit on pieces of cardboard and beg. Family or friends must carry them around. As you can see this humanitarian effort is a much needed one .

The young Elders are a terrific bunch. Dedicated hard workers. We enjoy working with them very much. Amidst all the strange African ways they are upbeat and positive. The other night we were driving home and saw Elder Hunter and Anderson walking from a bus stop area so picked them up and drove them to their apartment. They were laughing about what a fun time they had coming back into town on an African bus. One would have to see an African bus to appreciate the fun. The buses are made for about 30 people and look as if there are twice that amount in them. Riders hold boxes packages, kids and even chickens on their laps. It was a crazy experience for them. We appreciate their help. When we are involved in situations where we have to make church decisions we need one set to go with us to interpret. They are very patient with us. We have District meet with the 8 Elders here in Douala every Thursday . We then have supper together. This is a highlight for us. What mature young men they are. One each week prepares an excellent lesson, one a spiritual thought. The District affairs are handled so maturely . They will all be great church leaders, businessmen, husbands and fathers. We are so proud of them. 

We have been with Elder Ritchi for several discussions. He is a powerful teacher, mincing not a word. At a discussion with Elders Anderson and Hunter we saw such tender concern for their investigators understanding of the gospel message. Elder Shaw, the Zone leader will be going home Feb 4 and Elder Neilson the District leader on Feb 18. We will miss them. Elders Thompson and Landress have been out 4 months or less but are doing a great job. We love looking at their dusty worn shoes, a symbol of their dedication, and think they should take one pair home to be bronzed. New Elders arrive Feb. 18.

Several of the members, both in Bonaberi and in Bonapreiso speak English only. It is difficult to sit in three hours of church hearing only French. We have been instrumental in getting an English Gospel Doctrine class started. We would teach in the Branch one week and the group the next. Class teachers from the Branch have been called and will start teaching in two weeks. This is a huge improvement and help to members.

We went to see a Sister who was in the hospital with typhoid fever. We are so blessed in the USA None of you would believe how it is. Her family had to bring her food and also go to a pharmacy and fill the prescriptions, bring the medicine back to the hospital and then the hospital administers the medicine. When you can’t pay cash the patient is put out of the hospital. Out on the street if need be. Health insurance is virtually non existent here. Count your many blessings and appreciate our country.

We love the work . There is a great satisfaction seeing lives improve. The young adults in the Branch are very solid. Every Monday they meet for FHE together. The lesson and discussion have lasted as long as 2 hours. They want to know every detail of the gospel. Wednesday night is Institute class.

  Many of them are the only members in their family. They want to improve themselves. Some are going to college.

We miss all our family and friends. We wish you all a successful new year and hope all is well with you.

Elder and Sister Willis

Pictures

A busy street.

Inside the chapel in Douala.

Trees harvested from the jungle.

Modern construction equipment.

One of the very poor areas of Douala Sometines the city bulldozes thes areas down and the peaple have to find somewhere else to live.

Same as above.

Fireworks stand at New Years. He was telling us that we could have two for the price of one.

Skilled craftsmanship.

Lynda doing missionary work on our morning walk.

Street in front of our apartment.

Brent standing in front of our apartment building.  Our unit is directly behind him on the ground level.

Happy New Year from Douala Cameroon

For some of you this is the first news you are receiving.  A few lines to catch you up.  

Douala is a modern city by these standards, there are paved roads, plumbing in most places and electricity.  Lots of cars, motos, push carts of all kinds and even wheelbarrows hauling people and goods.  Some new buildings but mostly the run down buildings of the colonial days.  By our standards it's not so progressive.  Along most roads are dozens of stands, carts and little tables selling all kinds of foods and other goods.  Phone cards, clothing, kitchen ware and anything else one can think of.  Men and women with tall piles of bread, sugar cane and trays of whatever they are selling balanced on their heads walk down both sides of the roads and streets.  Absolutely no sanitation concerning the food and not a single public bathroom except the side of the road or a stone wall or one of the many drain ditches along every street.  Eggs are not refrigerated or cleaned.  That is something the buyer takes care of.  The internet is slow and very unreliable.  Most businesses close down from 12:30 to 2:30 for a rest  (and I say a bathroom break).  

We waited two weeks to have the name and signature change from the last couple completed.  We went to the bank to see if the transfer was completed.  The bank couldn’t tell us so suggested we just try to cash a check.  We wrote one and then waited 1 hr. and 40 minutes to finally have it cashed.  With a great big smile we were told everything was now O.K.  Next week back at the bank to get another check cashed.  Sorry we were told, your name and signature is not in our system.  This is Africa.  By the way this bank is the most modern place we have been.

It is very hot and muggy but always overcast so the sun's rays do not beat directly on you.  The rainy season will start in April and continue for two months.

The people are delightful, friendly and kind.  Everyone is always trying to help us, explain things and show us the way.  There is a rather strong branch here and a small group about 45 minutes away that operates under the same Branch Presidency.  On Fast Sunday both groups meet together.  The small group is in a section of Douala called Boniberi.  It is across the Wouri River.  It is huge and empties into the Atlantic Ocean about ten miles away.

The Elders here are fantastic.  At the first District meeting here in our apartment we looked at their dusty worn shoes and street stained lower pant legs and Brent started to cry.  They tramp all day in the heat  and go home to no air conditioning, just fans. They do lots of teaching.  The people here love Jesus.  If you want to talk about the Savior they will listen.

We celebrated Christmas with the eight young Elders.  One of them is the Branch President’s son.  We are one elder short until the middle of February.  (The elder that went home two weeks ago mother is from our home town of Lovell, Wyoming.  And his grandfather is Bill Powell)  The American Elders told Yanick that he could go to his house for Christmas (he lives ten minutes from our apartment)  But he said no, he was a missionary and couldn’t go home.  I had stockings for all of them, mostly put together by the sisters in our Great Falls Ward.  They loved it.  We also had Nerf footballs and Frisbees.  I cooked Mexican food with homemade tortillas and many substitutes.  All but Yanick devoured it. In this Mission the young Elders are allowed to watch a “G” movie occasionally so we watched movies.  

African Christmas traditions  are eating good food and visiting family.  They also dress up on Christmas day and parade the streets in their finest.

New Years was much the same with the Elders.  Fireworks are a tradition  aling with eating and drinking.  The streets were alive when we drove the Elders home.

Every Monday night we attend the singles FHE group at the church.  I bake something and they love it.

So far we love the mission and are still finding our place.  French is a stretch but we start lessons.  American style food (actually from France) is available for a price so we are surviving.  We miss our friends and family but love the work.

Happy New year to all. 

Elder and Sister Willis