A new opportunity.

I have recently been given the opportunity to go to Haiti in February...I really want to take that opportunity - but money is really tight right now. I don't know if I feel right sending letters for money to ask for money right now since I just did that for Cameroon. Please pray that God will open doors for funds for this trip.

It's estimated that I will need around 2000 for the trip -  and Ive seen God give way more than that...so I am hopeful.

I don't understand.

I know I need to to a follow-up post from my trip - but I really don't know how to accomplish it. So many things I want to share, so many things I don't know how to share, so many things I need to keep to myself. I will get around to it though. Eventually.

This is just a short post to just say I don't understand what God is trying to say to me. I am greeted with silence when I speak to him it seems. Perhaps I am not listening close enough out of fear. I have many thoughts about what I want to do in life - and most of them scare me to death - and God has not confirmed any of them. I would feel better if He did I think. Done complaining now.

Food!

Today was an interesting day. This morning I got to sleep in, which was nice as I have been feeling extremely tired. I arrived at work late, but nobody cared which is always nice. Though Vincent did give me a bit of a hard time about it - i know he was only joking. So this post is about food. First off food! The Cameroonians have some excellent dishes, all of which are gluten free. Foods here are often corn based, so its excellent for me. Ms. E says this is a good country for me to be in, in comparison to countries like ukraine, where I have wanted to go. It's true.

The first food I tried is called Ndole, its a sauce type thing made of bitterleaves, and full of other spices, including Peppe (I have no idea how that is spelled.) The picture of the Ndole is on my other memory card so unfortunately I cannot post it. Ndole is served with a bunch of things, such as plantaines and cocoa yam. I prefer it with the cocoa yam.

The second thing I had was pap - which is like a paste made out of corn. People here use it for baby food but adults eat it to. It's actually not so bad with sugar.

Next up is ground nut stew! It is a soup like thing, made out of peanuts, served over rice. This has been my favorite dish so far. (It is storming so I am not going to try uploading the pictures I have, I will update the blog later.)

...I dont have a title...

People warned me it would happen, and yesterday it finally did. As I was walking through the market with Ms. E, a man called out to me "I would like to marry you."

"No thank you!" Was my reply as I smiled back at him. I love that people here find no shame in asking a complete stranger to marry them.

Today was a good day. I went to the office in the morning and shared some music with my collegue, Vincent. We didn't get any work done in the morning. It was a good time though.

In the afternoon we had a workshop with the kids, but only a few of them showed up so we were very limited on what we were able to do. So we talked about what we did in the workshop on Saturday, reviewed our nine times tables, learned a new song and then played a game. The game was the one where everyone closes their eyes and grabs random hands, once everyone has two hands they have t  try and untagle themselves without letting go. It's a good teamwork game and we will do it again on saturday.

This Friday is a holiday, and florentine wants to take me to commercial ave, to see the celebrations. However Ms. E is planning to go out of town that day, and I have been invited to go along. I have not decided what I will do yet.

Life as I know it.

Things have been rolling along here.

Last week I went to various schools and met some children that the Chosen Children are supporting. For those of you that don't know The Chosen Children is a program that is working to support orphans affected by HIV/AIDS. The kids were quite shy around me, and I can only imagine that it would be slightly intimidating to have a strange white person coming to your school to meet you. It also wasn't explained to the children why I was there - so that didn't help either. By the second day I took it upon myself to tell them who I was and why I was there. I'm not sure they understood me, but at least I tried.

On Saturday we had a workshop with the kids, which was a lot of fun. I did a short drama with them, a song, and taught them a trick to do their 9 times tables. (Which I thought was funny but I had showed my collegues earlier and they were all amazed by it.) Despite warnings that they would be loud and rambuncious they were quit shy. I think its because they are not in their territory, and they are not yet comfortable with me. Give it time.

I have been feeling a little bit bored and frustrated with the lack of things to do. They want me to write songs for the kids, which is fine but I wish I had known before hand because it is very short notice for me to do so and I'm not sure I can. Instead I have been writing drama's.

Yesterday was a very buggy day. My host opened up a bag of cat food, and we found it crawling with little beetles and larva. Much of the food had been turned to dust as the bugs fed on it. Ew. Then I saw something that looked like an earth worm - and then there was a cockroach in my bedroom. Yick. We also have a mouse. Oh well.

Today I went to the office and was able to do some work by typing up stories about the people in the HIV support group. It is practically unheard of here for people to have a support group of any kind, and I am very pleased to be working with a group that recognizes the importance of such things. It's not good for people to deal with their problems on their own, and here that is the way of life.

One of the groups biggest struggles seems to be financial, so I am thinking up some ideas that may be used to help them - but I will not share until I know for sure that I want to do them.

That's all for now, I am heading to the market - if it doesn't storm before I get there.

Here and loving it.

Hey everybody!

So after about 25 hours in airports I finally arrived in Cameroon on may 5th. The flights were long, but I somehow managed to survive it all. The first thing I noticed when I steped off the plane in Duoala is that it felt like my hot yoga class - and it was about 7:30 PM. Hot and humid. From there we went to the guest house. I went to bed fairly quickly and actually managed to get 8 hours of sleep. (Shows how little I slept on the plane.) The next morning I got my first real view of Cameroon. It was dark and rainy, but this morning was lovely. Not so hot either. The trees were beautiful, as was the arcitecture. I was also excited to see some geckos that I had read about before coming. They are blue and red and veery cool looking. After breakfast we had a 5 and a half hour drive up to Bamenda. Going through the city was amazing. I loved seeing all the people interact with each other. The driving here is completely different than it is in Canada. People swerve, pedestrians walk whereever they want and sometimes they seat four to a motocycle.

I met lots of people in the last day and I can't remember any of them, unfortunately. Names are familiar but faces...that's going to take some practice to recognize. That evening we went to a small groups for missionaries, it was great to get to meet some other missionaries in the area.

Today has been a good day. This morning we went to the market - which I am absolutely in love with. I love the atomosphere and the bargining that goes on around me. I like that you can bargin, unlike in Canada. When we walked down the row with the hair dressers every single one of them wanted to do my hair. Even the ones who already had customers, which made me laugh a bit. I politely declined them all. Maybe another day - if I'm willing to sit that long.

When we got I rested for a while and found myself locked in the house when I woke up. Ha. So I used that time to play my guitar and journal.

This afternoon we went for a tour of the compound, and saw churches, the school, and children practicing both the boys brigade and two different choirs. I really loved being able to see that.

This evening we haven't done much, other than make supper and have various guests over - people are always dropping in. Tomorrow we go to church - Elsie said we are not going to our usual church because it will be hours long due to Mothers day. :) Speaking of which, Happy Mothers day Mom!

Anyways I should go, but before I do - I think I'm in love with this place.

All ready to go!!!

So, in almost exactly 12 hours I will be jumping on a plane to head to Cameroon! Exciting isn't it? I don't really think its hit me yet, and I am still full of the peace of God. Preparation took longer than I thought it would - even though I should know by now to give myself an extra couple of hours than I except.

I also wanted to give a big shout out to everyone that has helped with the funding for this trip. When I started this I expected to have to pay completely out of my own wallet, but friends, family and the church have been extremely generous and I want to say THANK YOU. I am truly amazed by peoples generosity. Thank You all.

Anyways, I should probably finish my bed time routine so I can be up and at the world tomorrow! My next update won't be until I'm in Africa. Please pray for safe travels, safety while there, and for the people of this county.

Overwhelmed.

The past few days have been rough. Migraines have been on and off for the last few days, and it is cutting in to my preparation time.

I am not realizing how little time I have left and how much I have left to do. Yikes!

I only have 4 days, 2 hours and 47 minutes....and all I want to do is either sit back and watch a movie or go to sleep.

Almost there!

So, I'm in the home stretch now! Both doses of dukoral have been taken, trips to the store to get last minute items to bring are starting. I'm also starting to wonder about eating, and getting snacks to take.

Tonight I am sorting through all myt  clothes, and deciding what I need to take - and also making sure I don't need anything else. Looking at what needs to be washed. It's all very exciting! :)

I still feel very calm, which is surprising to me. I am trying my best to go about my daily activities as though nothing is happening. I think if I changed my routine I would do nothing but think - and that would freak me out!

Anyone have any suggestions of things to bring that are typically forgotten?

Dukoral.

After months and months of anticipation wishing it wasn't this day, today finally came. Today was the day that I drink the first dose of my vaccine for Travels Diarrhea and Chlorea, I had plans to change my facebook status, or title a post as "EWWWWWW" or "Just drank the worst thing EVER." However, in actual reality, it wasn't awful. It wasn't good by any means, but it wasn't terrible. I did however had to wait an hour before eating cake. The cake was delicious, and made of quinoa. Yum.

 I will have to take my second dose next Wednesday. One thing that really bothers me is knowingly putting all these chemicals inside me body. Yikes.

In other ways or preparation, I also got a mosquito net today. Thankfully, I didn't have to buy one. Instead I am borrowing one from a family friend. Thank you family friend! We have also been doing some shopping so that I have everything I need for the trip. How am I going to fit it all? I don't know.

12 days, 23 hours, 28 minutes and 9 seconds. 

19 days, 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 9 seconds.

So, I am leaving in 19 days, 1 hour, 31 minutes and 9 seconds.. I found a count down clock on Google, and every day I go check to see how long I have, despite knowing the answer. I have been staring at this clock for the last couple of hours, watching the minutes and seconds tick by, waiting until day 18 arrives with anticipation.

There is a pounding in my chest, and the air is tight with anxiety. Yes, I am getting nervous. While the peace that I have been experiencing for the last few months is still there, it is now accompanied with a constant, minor, feeling of panic.

I wonder where this idea came from, and if I am crazy to travel across the world to a different continent, where I know absolutely no one, and barely anything of the lifestyle and culture.  Maybe I am crazy, but that my normal anyways.

I just cant believe that its almost here! The last few months have been nothing but preparation.

Vaccines? Check.
Travel Visa? Check.
Flights Booked? Check.
Accomidations once in country? Check.
Figuring out how to eat with multiple allergies while being in the airport for over 24 hours? ....

Of course, these aren't the only things that I have done in the last few months to prepare. I am now at a loss of what to do next, as I have never done this before and am not sure what I will require. I have a shopping list of things to do, and no time to accomplish it it seems.

Anyways, I have lost my train of thought now, (Isn't that just like me?) and as a result am going to conclude this post...

19 days, 1 hour, 18 minutes and 37 seconds.

Visa Application Sent!

So, things are moving along nicely. A couple of weeks ago I sent in my visa application, and am waiting to get it back. Pray that everything goes smoothly there. I have also created a big hole in my bank account by sending my funds to the NAB, so that I will have funds once I am in country.

As the day draws nearer I am finding myself unable to sleep due to anticipation. As of this morning I have 46 days before I will be heading to the airport!

For the most part I am filled with an unexplainable peace about leaving everything I have ever been familiar with. For me, this is huge. I am the kind of person that struggled to go on sleep overs until I was in my late teens. However when I put my mind to something I make it happen. At 19, God led me to move away and study acting. My parents thought I was crazy, and unready to move out on my own. Perhaps I was, but as time went on I learned to live on my own (it was actually a lot easier of an adjustment than I expected it to be- I was where I was supposed to be.).

Then, last June God told me it was time to move on from Rosebud. While I spent a lot of time contemplating what I should do, various signs led me away from Rosebud. God had placed missions in my heart, so as I always do when I am unsure of a choice, I asked God for a sign. (I have a couple of interesting experiences with this, ask me some time.) I have written this next part on here before, but I'm going to share it anyways. Back in January (2010) we were asked to write down what we thought God wanted us to work on over the next semester. I wrote "God is reminding me to listen to what he says and trust." At the time (and even when I wrote about this months ago,) this didn't seem relevant to where I was in life. As I folded it back up I realized that there were words on the back. Frustrated that what I had written had no relevance to my life I stuffed it into my purse and started to walk home. However, as I walked that nagging voice that I have come to know as the voice of God kept saying "read it!" So I did.. It was Genesis 12, the call of Abram...

"The Lord has said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."

Okay God. I will go.

Seriously, only God could orchestrate that his sign would be on that paper months before thoughts of going to Cameroon had even entered my mind. Amazing.

I knew I needed to go to Africa, but I didn't know why (and to this day do not know why.) as I have been heavily burdened by orphans in Eastern Europe for the last few years. My heart breaks for these children, and yet - I am going to Cameroon. Why? I don't know. Will I ever know? Not sure. I certainly hope so.

Anyways, when I told my parents last July that I would be going to Africa (I held off for a while, because I wanted to be sure), I am once again certain that they thought I was crazy. Even into January, as I talked about my plans to go they would say "don't be so sure that you are going." I was sure. In late January I ordered and received a copy of my plane ticket. It was then that realization set it. I remember my Mom looking at me and saying "Well, I guess you're actually going."

Yes Mom, I am actually going. I hope she feels as much peace about it as I do.

Update!

In the business of life I have completely forgotten to update all my wonderful readers (mainly Jesus...only Jesus at this point.) about how my trip plans have been going! Well, a bunch of things have been moving along nicely.

First off, i have my host confirmed. I will be living with Elsie, she is the sister of one of my proffessors at RSA, and also a missionary that my church has supported for years. Amazing how God works isn't it?

Also, I have booked my flights. I depart on May 4th, and return June 3rd. One of my families main concerns with me going was my traveling alone. I have only traveled a little bit before, and never by myself. It's always been in big groups, as a result they feared for me. God has been at work there! It just so happens that there is a lady named Helga who is also traveling to Cameroon the same time I am. I have been able to arrange it so that my flights line up with hers. We will be meeting up in Toronto, as we live in different provinces. God is good!

Lastly, this last Monday I got all my vaccinations done. I had to get five in total, and my arms were sore the next day as a result. However they are much better now, and I can move and lift things to my hearts content. Which is good because we have a big sale at work in the next few days and my machoness will be a requirement.

Well, that's my update for now! I will try to keep you all posted.

It was so nice....

Recently I have rediscovered prayer, which I am once again realizing is such a powerful thing. Anyways, last night I was lying in bed praying, I asked God one point, to help me to do His will, to which he replied "You are."

Wow, that was amazing to hear.

Especially since when I was teenager I would always ask God what his will for me was, and when I would get a chance to do it, and he would always tell me that he would tell me when I was ready and to just wait. Guess that time has come. :)

ACCEPTED!!!

Can I just let out a big WOOHOO!!!

Today I was having a considerably sullen day, things were not going well - I had been praying for a better day all day. So when I went to lunch I thought to myself "Well, wouldn't it be great if I got an e-mail from Cal today?"

Cal is the man that needed to approve me to come work! I didn't really expect it to arrive on a Saturday, but when I loaded me e-mail (yay for iPhones!) there it was! I have been accepted to go!!! YES!!!!

Tentative dates ate May 4th - June 4th. :)