(To the tune “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas”)
I want a big ol' porcupine for Christmas
Only a porcupine will doI don’t want a pig, no dinky chicken leg
I want the meat of porcupine to savor and enjoy.
I want a big ‘ol’ porcupine for Christmas
I don’t think Gilbert’s sons will mind, do you?
What was that I heard in the woods? I think it was a hunter
Maybe it was the shot that will bring my porcupine
I can see me now on Christmas morning sitting in my chair
And oh what do you think after I’ve carved off a thigh
I use a porcupine quill for my toothpick
I want a big ol’ porcupine for Christmas
Only a porcupine will do
No beef burger patties or pepperoni pizza
I only like big ol’ porcupines
And porcupines I think will like me too
My mom says that porcupines shoot poison from their quills,
But I don’t believe that they’ll make me very ill
I can see me now on Christmas morning sitting in my chair
And oh what do you think after I’ve carved off a thigh
I use a porcupine quill for my toothpick
I want a big ol’ porcupine for Christmas
Only a porcupine will do
No beef burger patties or pepperoni pizza
I only like big ol’ porcupines
And porcupines I think will like me too
Thursday, December 25, 2008
27 People and a Dead Monkey
Tuesday night we went to Mayos to celebrate Christmas with the Baka. The last week or so we have been working on a star piñata for the big day and we struggled a little bit trying to get the points on, but through sheer determination, we finally got them to stay on and even put a little candy in them. Brendan and Brianna got to help out stuffing the star, and a couple of the Baka kids also got in on the fun.
Monday night the families Barry and Desma do the Bible study with, came here for a Christmas celebration. We practiced the Christmas story with the Baka playing all the parts and had popcorn and lemonade for refreshments. After practice was finished and bellies were full, we gathered (most of us) under the mbanjo and sang some of the Baka songs we sing at Thursday night Bible study. I love hearing all their voices together with the younger kids harmonizing. It’s beautiful.
So Tuesday night we went to the big camp (Mayos) and they put on the Christmas story complete with shepherds, goats (children actors) and wise men. After the story, everyone gathered around to watch the kids beat the piñata. Everyone got to take part in eating the candy, there was even enough for the adults. The last thing we did was give out rice and salt and Maggie cubes (beef bouillon cubes) to each household.
It was a great evening. And after all the festivities, we piled as many people as we could in Barry and Desma’s car to get back, twenty-one people inside the car, four people on the roof and two holding onto the back. Oops! I almost forgot, we also had a dead monkey they found on the side of the road on the roof of the car. Twenty-seven people and a dead monkey.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Monday night the families Barry and Desma do the Bible study with, came here for a Christmas celebration. We practiced the Christmas story with the Baka playing all the parts and had popcorn and lemonade for refreshments. After practice was finished and bellies were full, we gathered (most of us) under the mbanjo and sang some of the Baka songs we sing at Thursday night Bible study. I love hearing all their voices together with the younger kids harmonizing. It’s beautiful.
So Tuesday night we went to the big camp (Mayos) and they put on the Christmas story complete with shepherds, goats (children actors) and wise men. After the story, everyone gathered around to watch the kids beat the piñata. Everyone got to take part in eating the candy, there was even enough for the adults. The last thing we did was give out rice and salt and Maggie cubes (beef bouillon cubes) to each household.
It was a great evening. And after all the festivities, we piled as many people as we could in Barry and Desma’s car to get back, twenty-one people inside the car, four people on the roof and two holding onto the back. Oops! I almost forgot, we also had a dead monkey they found on the side of the road on the roof of the car. Twenty-seven people and a dead monkey.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Jungle Life
Well, I guess it’s been long enough since my last entry so I can tell you more of what is going on with life here in the jungle. But I guess I should apologize first for not writing another poem, I just didn’t have the inspiration this time.
It’s been a pretty full time since we got back to the village, the Andertons (the other missionary family living here) have been getting settled in and Zac and Noah Coleman came back with us to assist the Andertons and help Barry out with a few things around the house, and to fix my sink. But I have to say my favorite thing they did while they were here was build a basketball goal, complete with a backboard and square and everything (Barry made the net). Barry even got a court cleared out. And I have enjoyed being the tallest person playing, other than Barry, of course.
Arnie and Karen Coleman joined their boys their last night here and we celebrated Naomi Anderton’s 18th birthday. We had a fun night of games, including “Down in the Valley of Hanky-Panky” and “Yee-haw.”
After the Coleman’s left, Brianna was very excited to start school, although I think some of that excitement might have waned a little, she has been more excited now that she has a fat pencil to write with. And yesterday she wrote the big and little letters from A to E, we were both pretty excited about that, and I guess her parents weren’t too upset about it either.
I’ve started working with Brendan on shapes and the hardest one so far has been “squay-uh.” But thanks to Jennifer, he finally learned it after taking a walk to find all the squares we could outside. Two of my favorite things that Brendan has said are “Jamie, it’s hard for us to say puh-pul (purple)” and “lellow squay-uh.”
Yesterday, Barry got me set up transcribing Baka Bible lessons. It was a little tough at first, but I’m getting the hang of it, it only took me about 3 hours to type 4 whole pages!
So now you’re caught up on that part of my life, now for the interesting part. Before we left the jungle with my mom and grandmom, the bugs were attacking me and all my bites were getting infected, so I was nervous about coming back. But to tell you the truth, the bugs haven’t really bothered me too much since we’ve been back, however, I have been getting sick a little bit more than I would like. While we were still in Yaounde, I got a cold that lasted about a week and when that got a little better, my stomach got mad at me and has been upset with me ever since then.
Last week I had a virus with a headache and fever and I had a little respite from the stomach issues during that time, which was great, and the headache only lasted about 2 days, but after that I had a rash all over my body. It didn’t itch so I was able to laugh about it and I told Desma it was weird that I would get that rash. She said it was, but it wasn’t (considering my experience here thus far).
So the rash went away and the next morning my stomach issues came back. I have to say that I was kind of upset about it and a little discouraged and frustrated that I haven’t been able to get back to normal. But that afternoon I read the story to the kids about God providing Manna for the Israelites in the wilderness and was telling them that their clothes and shoes never wore out and some of the other ways the Lord provided their needs. It was a couple of hours later, but the Lord reminded me what I had just told the kids and I remembered that it applied to me as well. I know the Lord hasn’t forgotten about me or my sensitive stomach and I can trust Him to take care of me no matter what the situation is. I know the Lord has me in His hands and there is no other place I would rather be.
So I’m not quite back to 100%, but I feel well enough to do pretty much everything I need to do, so don’t worry about me, I’m doing great! It has been a little bit hard being the prey of so many bugs and then that other stuff, but I’m excited about what the Lord has already done and what He will do during my stay here.
OH! One quick story before I go. When the Colemans were here, we took another trek into the jungle and this time when we got to the swamp, I didn’t fall in up to mid-calf. I fell in up to my hips! And, yes, I only had sandals on and, no, I couldn’t see if there were snakes down under there about to attack me. But I can tell you that I was afraid one would find me while I was struggling to get out!
Until next time!
Jamie
It’s been a pretty full time since we got back to the village, the Andertons (the other missionary family living here) have been getting settled in and Zac and Noah Coleman came back with us to assist the Andertons and help Barry out with a few things around the house, and to fix my sink. But I have to say my favorite thing they did while they were here was build a basketball goal, complete with a backboard and square and everything (Barry made the net). Barry even got a court cleared out. And I have enjoyed being the tallest person playing, other than Barry, of course.
Arnie and Karen Coleman joined their boys their last night here and we celebrated Naomi Anderton’s 18th birthday. We had a fun night of games, including “Down in the Valley of Hanky-Panky” and “Yee-haw.”
After the Coleman’s left, Brianna was very excited to start school, although I think some of that excitement might have waned a little, she has been more excited now that she has a fat pencil to write with. And yesterday she wrote the big and little letters from A to E, we were both pretty excited about that, and I guess her parents weren’t too upset about it either.
I’ve started working with Brendan on shapes and the hardest one so far has been “squay-uh.” But thanks to Jennifer, he finally learned it after taking a walk to find all the squares we could outside. Two of my favorite things that Brendan has said are “Jamie, it’s hard for us to say puh-pul (purple)” and “lellow squay-uh.”
Yesterday, Barry got me set up transcribing Baka Bible lessons. It was a little tough at first, but I’m getting the hang of it, it only took me about 3 hours to type 4 whole pages!
So now you’re caught up on that part of my life, now for the interesting part. Before we left the jungle with my mom and grandmom, the bugs were attacking me and all my bites were getting infected, so I was nervous about coming back. But to tell you the truth, the bugs haven’t really bothered me too much since we’ve been back, however, I have been getting sick a little bit more than I would like. While we were still in Yaounde, I got a cold that lasted about a week and when that got a little better, my stomach got mad at me and has been upset with me ever since then.
Last week I had a virus with a headache and fever and I had a little respite from the stomach issues during that time, which was great, and the headache only lasted about 2 days, but after that I had a rash all over my body. It didn’t itch so I was able to laugh about it and I told Desma it was weird that I would get that rash. She said it was, but it wasn’t (considering my experience here thus far).
So the rash went away and the next morning my stomach issues came back. I have to say that I was kind of upset about it and a little discouraged and frustrated that I haven’t been able to get back to normal. But that afternoon I read the story to the kids about God providing Manna for the Israelites in the wilderness and was telling them that their clothes and shoes never wore out and some of the other ways the Lord provided their needs. It was a couple of hours later, but the Lord reminded me what I had just told the kids and I remembered that it applied to me as well. I know the Lord hasn’t forgotten about me or my sensitive stomach and I can trust Him to take care of me no matter what the situation is. I know the Lord has me in His hands and there is no other place I would rather be.
So I’m not quite back to 100%, but I feel well enough to do pretty much everything I need to do, so don’t worry about me, I’m doing great! It has been a little bit hard being the prey of so many bugs and then that other stuff, but I’m excited about what the Lord has already done and what He will do during my stay here.
OH! One quick story before I go. When the Colemans were here, we took another trek into the jungle and this time when we got to the swamp, I didn’t fall in up to mid-calf. I fell in up to my hips! And, yes, I only had sandals on and, no, I couldn’t see if there were snakes down under there about to attack me. But I can tell you that I was afraid one would find me while I was struggling to get out!
Until next time!
Jamie
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
One Woman's Journey Through Africa
As I pondered my life on a walk through the jungle
I found sweet rest in my wonderful bungle
OH! The sweet joy of wisdom learned in turmoil
As the majestic, great green mamba unfurled
Like a flag of the proud yet humble burly man.
After learning hard lessons from the birdsWe went to the place where fish swim in herds.
As I struggled to stay above the big waves of the sea
I ran to the shelter so wet from the rain wouldn't be.
We posed on a log as our picture was taken
We're a pretty handsome family, you're not mistaken.
Tomorrow I will travel to my 2 room house
Before I leave the car, I'll wear a long sleeved blouse.
The flies may try to bite me,
But I will say, "Flies I can take thee."
I will settle in my house under the mosquito net at night
As I ponder the meaning of this great African life.
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