Yaoundé Tricks and Treats

We don’t think too much about Halloween here—we’ve been enjoying our Thanksgiving decorations for several weeks already. But our move to the big city of Yaoundé has made me think of trick or treating in a new way…

Trick—humidity sticks (literally!) around 92% this time of year. Shoes and video tapes are the hardest hit, but even CDs and DVDs can get an odd coating of white fuzz. Medicines change colors and texture and make you wonder about their effectiveness (and safety??).
Treat—the inside temperature stays around 75 degrees all the time this time of year—quite pleasant!

Trick—when the Cameroonian president Paul Biya travels between his palace and the airport, all the roads on his route close for several hours. We have to cross that route to get from our house to Rain Forest International School. You just never know when this might happen!
Treat—we only live a 15-minute walk from school and they usually do allow pedestrian traffic to cross.

Trick—in the village we could buy a whole stalk of bananas for about $1.25. Here in Yaoundé we pay that much for about 3 small bunches.
Treat—bananas were one of the very few things available in the village. Here we can get all kinds of fresh fruit, vegetables and meat any day of the week. We’re “O-D-ing” on lettuce salads and fruit smoothies with wonderful papaya, mangoes and other tropical fruit.

Trick—we know a bit more about our nearest neighbors than we might wish. They live much of their lives—cooking, entertaining, doing laundry, etc.—in their side yard, which is just under our bedroom window. We know their tastes in music. We know when they are up early to chop wood for their cook fire and we know when the fish starts sizzling in the pan. We know the toddler is being potty trained, and we know she REALLY doesn’t enjoy the process. We know when the baby is distressed. We know if the puppies are upset. We know when the dad comes in at 4 a.m. to find himself locked out and has to bang on the gate to wake someone to let him in. (If only we’d had the key we could have let him in long before he got in!)
Treat—we have new opportunities to have neighbors and friends over and are enjoying the hospitality of others as well.

Trick—some of our missionary neighbors have had their homes broken into, particularly on Sunday mornings when they are away at church. Another colleague recently experienced an attempted robbery on the road close to our house while walking back from a nearby shop. Fortunately a friend came to his aid and they chased the thief away before he got the money and cell phone he was after.
Treat—God is faithful and sovereign and we rest in His loving care. If we do get robbed someday, it’s only stuff anyway. He has us hemmed in, behind and before, according to Psalm 139:5. So why worry, when you can pray?!

That probably gives you some ideas of how our lives have changed, but there are always many good things to enjoy and appreciate. Our Father God treats us very well!!

Love and prayers,
Karen <>< for the Colemans

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