Email from Eric - Update on Cameroon

Good morning. Well we have reached our final day here in Cameroon. First things first. Tim is doing much better! Praise God. He’s eating better and looking better every hour. He did say he was anxious to get to Chicago and our layover so he can have pizza! J We wish we could have sent more updates and pictures but I was lucky even to have communication with Shelly and she was an hour away! There were times I couldn’t even call or text just to ask questions. So please accept our apologies for not writing more. It’s amazing how the weather has changed in the last two days. The wind from the Sahara has died down and the sun in shining through more and boy is it HOT! We were truly blessed with cooler weather these last two weeks. As of the middle of the week, Gaston’s mason crew showed up and starting fixing certain things and laying blocks for the walls. These guys are good at what they do and made significant progress in 4 days and Gaston was greatly encouraged. It’s was interesting as well to see the dynamics of the site change with the addition on 4 workers. Everyone worked very well together and there was some bonding in the short time we worked with them. When Gaston and Shelly moved here in 2011 they filled a shipping container with many power tools, a generator and other gadgets you can’t get here. When the mason crew got to the site and saw them they said this place was “special” and we were able to shave time off their job as well because we could measure and cut the boards so much more quickly than with a dull hand saw. We also had the pleasure of meeting Papa and Mama. They are the couple who sold the land to Gaston and Shelly. They are both in their 80’s and he stopped over to the job site Wednesday after he heard that white people were doing construction there. He welcomed us with open arms and praised God that we were there to help our friend Gaston. The fact we left our homes and family to come help really amazed him. We also were invited to his house the next morning to meet his wife. Once we got there we were seated in the “reception area” and Gaston played the interpreter. We exchanged pleasantries and questions for about 15 minutes and then left. He also told us we were the first white people to visit his home. We were also blessed to have a great hotel to stay at. Mama Jackie, her sister Ruth and one person staff Therese made our stay VERY enjoyable. There was a definite language barrier and we learned quickly that changing the routine messed up everything. With that being said, Ruth prepared all Cameroonian meals the whole time and they were awesome. We exchanged questions and answers about our families, took pictures and they even made us shirts to take home! And they fit!!! J Our relationships with Ruffin and Sylvestre continued to grow as well. They learned so many new things from Drew and Jon that will help them find jobs. They will continue to be students of Gaston’s and help with building the house. There is much more to say but I simply don’t have time right now. We are looking forward to coming home and seeing loved ones (but not the flights!). Please pray for continued healing for Tim, the Kingue’s ministry, the men working at the site and our travels home. Thank you all for your support and continued prayers. Eric, Jon, Drew and Tim