News from our missionary, africa

Dale Linder, in

Ngaoundere, Cameroon, Central Africa.

I was asked to respond to some questions from an individual at All Saints Lutheran Church in Columbus Ohio. I believe the information will be used for a congregational report or council report. I'm sending the responses to all congregations that I'm connected to.

1. What motivated you to join ELCA Global Missions? My interest in Africa has been a part of my life since graduate school in 1980. In 1992, I traveled to Africa for the first time. Prior to accepting a position in Cameroon, I'd been to Africa ten times. Visiting, observing, and engaging people in many countries on this continent was spiritually uplifting, emotionally challenging, and psychologically demanding. The desire for a broader and deeper experience here in Africa is the reason that I connected to Global Missions.

2. What have you found to be the most rewarding and challenging aspects of the mission? The answer to both parts of this inquiry is the same. Dealing with my God Complex has been both challenging and rewarding. The operational definition of a God Complex for me is the belief that I'm correct and what I believe needs to take priority. At any given point in time, my desire becomes primary with no room available to wait on God, or listen to the Holy Spirit, or reflect upon the lessons of Jesus. It has been very easy and unfortunately at times, passive-aggressive fun, to identify all the people around me with my perception of a God Complex. At these times, I never note my own complex. As I wait on God, enabling on my part becomes clear. As I listen to the Holy Spirit, my withholding some of the gifts that God has blessed me with, usually non material, becomes obvious. As I study the lessons of Jesus, the way I judge people and institutions is exposed. This on-going lesson is full of frustration and Hope. I thank God for the experiences.

3. What have you found to be a particularly endearing aspect of Christian Celebration in Cameroon? Everyone sings. I love to sing and can't carry a tune with a wheel barrow. Most people I hear, sing off key and the congregations always embrace each individual. It is unconditional acceptance in action.

4. What do you most enjoy about the people and culture in Cameroon? Seeing people of African Heritage everyday and everyplace is wonderful. When I wake up and look out my window, I see faces like mine. It is an incredible blessing.

5. Are there any foods you have learned to appreciate? I love plantains and grilled fish. Plantains can be found in most large grocery stores in the U.S. and they are french fried like potatoes. Ndole is a vegetable found here in West Africa cooked in a peanut butter sauce that is very tasty.

6. In a simple way, how might All Saints congregation in Worthington best reach out and connect to the community in Ngaoundere? Prayer and Education are two inter-connected places in which you can sustain a strong base. As you learn about the country and people, your prayers will become more specific and your actions will reflect the information and understandings included in your prayers. If there is a topic that someone in your congregation is interested in exploring and sharing with other interested members, I feel that your connection will be Christ-centered.

Thanks for the questions and feel free to contact me with any others. -Dale

Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:10:57 -0600

Hello, I trust this letter finds you and your congregation well. The holiday season is upon us and the students are preparing for the annual Christmas Concert. All Christian students participate, as well as some Muslim students. Singing, drama, and lots of fun is experienced by all.

The second six week sequence has ended. All examinations are graded and marks have been entered into the computer. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the computer program and students did not receive written report cards at the end of the six week sequence. Many students benefit from seeing their grades on an official document. School becomes "real" for them and the quality of the individuals work increases. We also did not have books until the tenth week of school. Resources are available and could be managed more efficiently. Seeing the excitement many students display when books are distributed motivates me to work harder.

Youseff, a student assigned to my 4A class, the equivalent of eighth grade, died in a motorcycle accident at the end of the first sequence. He was from the country Chad and lived in the dormitory. English is not a required subject in Chad, so when students from Chad come to school in Cameroon, they sometimes struggle with English classes. Youseff worked hard and was making solid progress. He was nineteen years old, very good in math, and always greeted me with a smile. Being that discipline is often on the table, a student who always smiles at you is a true blessing. Youseff, a Muslim, was buried the morning after the accident. His parents were in Chad and did not get to see his body. Our class had a small memorial service, which provided time for students to share their memories. This is my second student death here in Cameroon. I did not know the first student well. He became sick during the first week of school and died the second week. It was my first year here in Cameroon. I discovered that the student died when I went to class and no students were there because they went to share condolences with the dead students family.

The English Club is moving along. We have officers, some dependable and some challenging. We have had ten meetings with English lessons connected to each gathering. We have screened three movies in English. The last movie was a comedy, followed by dinner and dancing. The club also took a trip to the eye clinic to visit with one of five women eye doctors in Cameroon. Dr. Elizabeth is director of the facility and speaks great English. There is a leadership seminar scheduled for January 26, 2008. We will invite the leaders of all the clubs in our school and it will be in English. There are fifteen financial members in our group and several who come to our meetings and events.

The rainy season is over and it is quite dry. A lot of dust is in the air and shoes are never clean. I'll relax during the holiday break and read some good books. I've slowed down on the reading, but have enjoyed a few titles. "j" and "G" in the Sue Grafton series were fun. Irving Wallace's, The Second Lady was creative. Jon Hassler's Simon's Night, about an older gentleman discovering he still had a lot of life to live made an excellent point. Jeffrey Archer's, As The Crow Flies was entertaining. All 789 pages kept me engaged. The painting; The Potatoe Eater's by Van Gogh, which is one of my "must see again" works of art was featured in the story. Seeing the masterpiece is worth the trip to Amsterdam. I also had an incredible treat via paperback book reading. Terry McMillan's, The Interruption Of Everything was pure joy to experience. She is a marvelous storyteller. I've read the book three times. Some serious reading has also occurred, including Diplomacy vs. Terrorism from the occasional paper series of the Ethiopian Peace and Development Institute, Scott Peck's People Of The Lie, Frantz Fanon's Black Skin White Mask and Thandeka's Learning To Be White. All were wonderfully written, thought provoking texts that challenged me in a variety of ways. Finally, I want to highlight a book by Ryszard Kapuscinski titled The Shadow Of The Sun. He is from Poland and was a news correspondent in Africa for many years. If you want a solid snapshot of life on this continent, shared with great objectivity and little to no bias, I encourage you to access and read this wonderful book.

Two of my students stopped by to greet me. They are eating a beef stew I prepared. I cooked the meat yesterday with onions, tomatoes, and spices slowly until very tender. This morning carrots, potatoes, and green beans were added. Everything is really fresh, including the meat. The cow was probably killed two days to a week before I bought it. I'm very surprised that the students enjoy my cooking. The food here is very fresh and healthy.

Have a wonderful holiday and continue to feel the presence of God. In Christ. -Dale