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PUPPET WORKSHOPS at 2016 Branch Retreat – leading two sessions; several men attended the second. Objective: to provide overview of uses and types of puppets plus puppet resources.
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2016 SIL Cameroon Branch
 
(Kay Watts in yellow, on right, near back). Full branch photo is at bottom of blog.
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“The Plane”
In early February, I received an email from one of our branch pilots asking me to transport to Cameroon some cables and other parts for a plane that had to be replaced. Ok, I confess that my and my sisters’ imaginations were bigger than reality. The cables, a 60 amp breaker plus other breakers, bushings and other things easily fit into my carry-on luggage. Two packages were overnighted to my sister’s home in snowy Ohio and I could hold each package with one hand…I had been concerned about dragging heavy luggage hurting my back! (I had been told that the aviation dept. would pay the cost of an extra piece of luggage if needed.) I knew the plane was small, but had no idea about the size of its cables.
Though this plane IS small, its work is not little in importance, and I really wanted to help our aviation department. This plane does emergency medical flights, sometimes saving loss of limbs and even lives plus scheduled medical transportation; it takes our Vernacular Media Specialist to remote villages to dub native voices in various languages to the Luke Film; it takes translation consultants to projects in other countries; it takes short-term expat doctors to hospitals around Cameroon.
When I arrived back in Cameroon, three airplane mechanics from JAARS in North Carolina had the Cessna in several pieces doing repairs, inspecting it very thoroughly, and making a good plane better and safer. The contacting pilot knocked on my door early the morning after my arrival to get the parts…the mechanics needed them to proceed.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Say yes when God calls YOU to meet a special need (check!) AND keep your imagination under control about the possible details…it’s likely only a fraction of what you imagine.
Pictured with me above is Brandon Penkoff, the same missionary pilot who delivered the used recumbent stationary bicycle which I bought from missionaries in the north and was flown down from Banso. Brandon not only delivered it from the hanger to my compound and apartment…he also put the bicycle (in pieces to fit in the Cessna) back together for me. This missionary pilot sure went the extra mile with a smile! This bicycle recommended by my physical therapist here, has helped eliminate hip/back pain and helped some mobility issues due to aging. The nominal charge I paid for the bicycle’s transport to Yaounde took some cost off the Luke recording project from which the plane was returning. WIN-WIN!
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OTHER:
Academic Library Assistance. The SIL Cameroon Branch was deeply saddened by the death of the academic library head librarian, Kilian Bongkyung. HR Director, asked the librarian of Rain Forest International School and me as Field Education System (elementary) librarian to assist in the academic library temporarily until a new librarian is hired. Stacy Cawley and I began assisting there in the last week of March during branch conference.
Wycliffe Career Guidance. I am in the midst of taking a battery of surveys and inventories meeting nearly weekly via Skype with a career advisor in preparation to transition to a stateside assignment.
Teacher Appreciation Brunch. Teachers and staff at The Greenhouse, a Learning Center for Missionary Children were blessed by the Parent Committee with a delicious brunch, a few goodies plus thank you notes from students.
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Friday, April 8, 2016
March 2016 in Cameroon
Friday, March 4, 2016
February 2016 in Cameroon
Praise God! I arrived back in Cameroon the evening of February 11 with airplane cables and other much needed small parts for the branch Cessna, a 36-inch puppet, and a dress from a Grandma in suitcases...while within luggage weight limits. What's been happening?
Around the School...
Around the Quartier (district / neighborhood)...
NEIGHBORHOOD BIBLE CLUB: The outreach ministry I spend the most time with is the Tropicana Children's Bible Club hosted by Cece Engoro. February 27 was my turn to teach and the story was about the four friends who took a paralyzed man to Jesus down through a roof.
Using a turtle puppet to help youngsters understand that the turtle makes progress only when he sticks out his neck and sometimes people need to stick out their neck a lot to get others the help needed.
A Diego figure (with a haircut and a beard drawn with permanent marker) was on a felt cot with two stick poles (Ok, his green blanket was tied on to keep him from falling off his bed). With four string ropes on the ends of the poles, children lowered the paralyzed man between two chairs representing the house. The youngsters sure paid attention! I emphasized that Jesus first told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven before He told him to pick up his bed and go home.
My heart was thrilled that five children raised their hand indicating they asked Jesus into their heart for the first time during prayer time. We asked that God would help each of us be willing to stick out our neck to help others in need.
MEEC LIBRARY: Without public libraries as we know them in the United States available in Cameroon, a passion of mine is to help get books into the folks' hands to their enrich lives and enhance literacy.
In May 2015, I arranged for donations from several sources to be taken to the neighborhood Mission Evangelical Church of Cameroon (Mission des Eglises Evangélique du Cameroun - MEEC), Tropicana. Those donations were added to their small startup collection in this beautifully constructed bookcase. I worked with library coordinator Frederic OWONO MESSI to organize books in age and subject categories in their new library for church members and the neighborhood.
On February 28, I checked in with Frederic for a progress update. They plan to build another bookcase in the next month for 100 books they previously received. The area of greatest request is for Christian materials relating to marriage and family. I will be seeking donations in both French and English on these topics and on Christian dating.
Around the City of Yaounde...
SIL International was created in 1934 and has never had an African as its Executive Director. It was in 1969 that the government of Cameroon and SIL International signed an agreement for activities of the latter to start in Cameroon. Research in linguistics, translation, literacy and training have since been carried out by the international organisation in Cameroon. The translation of the Bible into local languages has been the highpoints of its activities here. Friday’s ceremony saw the reading of Bible verses in Muyang, Yemba, Ghomala, Basaa, Makaa, Oku and Fulfulde local languages.
SIL is the partner organization to which members of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA are seconded when we serve overseas.
Back at the Ranch Compound...
POTLUCK: It was a blessing to be invited to join missionaries living on our compound February 15 for a potluck supper with grilled burgers.
Special guests were three men from JAARS Aviation who were here to work on a SIL airplane and inspect it...the Cessna for which I brought cables and other parts. We had a couple who had been on the mission field for more than 30 years doing Bible translation. It was great to have Carole E, a missionary friend who is with Wycliffe Associates MAST program and left a few days later for her new assignment in Ethopia. Good food and great fellowship getting to know each other.There were 14 of us. Thanks for hosting us Marilyn and John Roughly!
HOSPITALITY THANK YOU also to others who hosted me for a meal around the area as I was getting settles in: Nathanael & Darla G, Bev M and Bible Club crew, Joy P, Wilma V, and Wendy G. Your kindness, hospitality, and fellowship are much appreciated!
HOSTING: It was my privilege to host for lunch at the Wycliffe Associates Commons - Russ Hershman representing Wycliffe USA who was here for Dr. Kenmogne commissioning...and Nico Havinga and Ernst van Diik, accountants from the Netherlands here for two weeks to provide training for our Finance Department. It was a blessing to get acquainted with these brothers in Christ serving God in special ways.
Around the School...
MORNING STAFF DEVOTIONS: Each morning teachers and staff of the Greenhouse, a Learning Center for Missionary Children, meet for devotions and updates.
CLASSROOM PUPPET VISIT: I so cherish and enjoy student and teacher
interactions. When 3rd and 4th Grade teacher, Mrs. Charlene Ayotte saw "Grandma Gracie" in my office, she invited us to come interrupt her class anytime. During our visit, Grandma sang and chatted with students, then promised to come back another time to share some wisdom from the book of Proverbs. Josiah quickly replied, "OK! In 20 minutes!"
Around the Quartier (district / neighborhood)...
Using a turtle puppet to help youngsters understand that the turtle makes progress only when he sticks out his neck and sometimes people need to stick out their neck a lot to get others the help needed.
A Diego figure (with a haircut and a beard drawn with permanent marker) was on a felt cot with two stick poles (Ok, his green blanket was tied on to keep him from falling off his bed). With four string ropes on the ends of the poles, children lowered the paralyzed man between two chairs representing the house. The youngsters sure paid attention! I emphasized that Jesus first told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven before He told him to pick up his bed and go home.
MEEC LIBRARY: Without public libraries as we know them in the United States available in Cameroon, a passion of mine is to help get books into the folks' hands to their enrich lives and enhance literacy.
In May 2015, I arranged for donations from several sources to be taken to the neighborhood Mission Evangelical Church of Cameroon (Mission des Eglises Evangélique du Cameroun - MEEC), Tropicana. Those donations were added to their small startup collection in this beautifully constructed bookcase. I worked with library coordinator Frederic OWONO MESSI to organize books in age and subject categories in their new library for church members and the neighborhood.
On February 28, I checked in with Frederic for a progress update. They plan to build another bookcase in the next month for 100 books they previously received. The area of greatest request is for Christian materials relating to marriage and family. I will be seeking donations in both French and English on these topics and on Christian dating.
Around the City of Yaounde...
Cameroonians paid homage to a highly respected son who has been elected to head the International Institute of Linguistics, SIL International, a faith-based nonprofit organisation committed to serving language communities. Dr Michel Kenmogne, is the first African to be elected Executive Director of SIL.
An emotion-filled ceremony to commission the man described by many as an outstanding person whose profound intellectual competence and personal qualities transformed every structure where he served.SIL International was created in 1934 and has never had an African as its Executive Director. It was in 1969 that the government of Cameroon and SIL International signed an agreement for activities of the latter to start in Cameroon. Research in linguistics, translation, literacy and training have since been carried out by the international organisation in Cameroon. The translation of the Bible into local languages has been the highpoints of its activities here. Friday’s ceremony saw the reading of Bible verses in Muyang, Yemba, Ghomala, Basaa, Makaa, Oku and Fulfulde local languages.
SIL is the partner organization to which members of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA are seconded when we serve overseas.
Back at the POTLUCK: It was a blessing to be invited to join missionaries living on our compound February 15 for a potluck supper with grilled burgers.
Special guests were three men from JAARS Aviation who were here to work on a SIL airplane and inspect it...the Cessna for which I brought cables and other parts. We had a couple who had been on the mission field for more than 30 years doing Bible translation. It was great to have Carole E, a missionary friend who is with Wycliffe Associates MAST program and left a few days later for her new assignment in Ethopia. Good food and great fellowship getting to know each other.There were 14 of us. Thanks for hosting us Marilyn and John Roughly!
HOSPITALITY THANK YOU also to others who hosted me for a meal around the area as I was getting settles in: Nathanael & Darla G, Bev M and Bible Club crew, Joy P, Wilma V, and Wendy G. Your kindness, hospitality, and fellowship are much appreciated!
HOSTING: It was my privilege to host for lunch at the Wycliffe Associates Commons - Russ Hershman representing Wycliffe USA who was here for Dr. Kenmogne commissioning...and Nico Havinga and Ernst van Diik, accountants from the Netherlands here for two weeks to provide training for our Finance Department. It was a blessing to get acquainted with these brothers in Christ serving God in special ways.
For six+ days our compound was without city water. Our big, black rain barrel (on right) was empty; our chateau, the big tank in the white box was empty, so CAM shop employees Ezekiel and Julius came over several times daily (sometimes 3x) to pump water from the tank on the truck (which they pumped from a well on another compound) into our chateau so we can have water...a precious commodity! THANK YOU Cam shop manager John Roughly and Cam shop crew for coming to our rescue and for ALL you do to take care of us.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Counting Down to Cameroon Return
The clock is ticking. I have been cleared by my Wycliffe Resource Coordinator to return to my assignment at the Cameroon branch. My visa/passport has been returned
from the Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon in Washington, DC. Airplane tickets have been purchased and arrangements made for airport pickup in Yaounde, Cameroon, by my supervisor, Mrs. Santos. The Child Safety Refresher Course is completed. Packing and other preparation tasks are underway.
I am scheduled to depart from Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, February 10th, and arrive in my African home base of Yaounde, Cameroon in the evening (Cameroon time) of Thursday, February 11th. YEA!!! I am excited about returning to Cameroon to support Bible translation as a school librarian and serve in several local community ministries.
This trip returning from furlough and cancer medical leave is only for four months until the end of
the school year in early June. I praise God that my glaucoma laser eye
iridotomy procedures in January went very well. However the eye injection
medication needed for my central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) every few months is not
reliably available in Cameroon.
After arrival and getting settled into my
service assignment in Cameroon, I will continue working on the Wycliffe Career Guidance
Program and will be assigned a Change of Assignment Specialist in preparation
for taking a stateside Wycliffe assignment. More partnership development
endeavors are called for because stateside missionary budgets are more than
foreign based ministry budgets.
Please pray with me for:
~ final preparations for departure
~ safe travels & arrival of all my luggage & contents with me
~ good health and eye sight
~ that I will glorify God and help bring people closer to Him as I support Bible translation as a school librarian, in community outreach ministries ... however God wants to use me
~ safety and protection in Cameroon
~ clear guidance for the next season of my life and ministry
~ final preparations for departure
~ safe travels & arrival of all my luggage & contents with me
~ good health and eye sight
~ that I will glorify God and help bring people closer to Him as I support Bible translation as a school librarian, in community outreach ministries ... however God wants to use me
~ safety and protection in Cameroon
~ clear guidance for the next season of my life and ministry
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