Family in Cameroon

It was amazing to see all these places I had heard all about in my family my whole life, and especially with my Dad, Uncle Ron, Uncle Bill and Aunt Lola. There are so many pictures and stories (from now and in the past) that I want to do another project to tell the family story. For now, I'll just hit a few highlights. Above my Dad, Uncle Ron and Uncle Bill are talking with Zoi, who grew up near where they lived when they were kids, near the Enongal Mission Hospital. Zoi told us some great stories and also found some great articles and sources from the time my grandparents were working there. This is the view from the hospital where Uncle Bill and Uncle Mac were born. (some of these photos are a bit out of order, for that I apologize in advance.)
This is the part of the hospital where they were born. It's abandoned now...

View from hospital

The inside of the Elat church, where they went when they lived in Elat. At the time, it was one of the largest presbyterian churches in the world, and people traveled from surrounding villages to attend.

Outside of the church

Ononabeda, the boarding school where my grandparents were houseparents and my Dad and his brothers lived and went to school. It's still a school building, but a different school now.

The view from upstairs in Ononebeda

The room that was my grandparents' when they lived here

goats in the neighborhood...they used to have a chimp, too!

Another house they lived in that is now abandoned...but we did get to go inside...
The Frank James school, where my grandfather taught and was later the director, is still in existence, although it's run by Cameroonians now. The man in the center now has the office my grandfather had and is a teacher at the school.

Driving on the road around Elat...

Another view of the bell at Frank James

chickens...why must you cross the road?

My Dad eats viper with our new friends in Elat

My grandfather built this dam to attempt to provide hydropower to the hospital, except it's never worked quite right and hasn't provided power. Apparently, it makes for a great fishing spot, so it's not a total loss! We were doing some measurements and trying to find out if it could be made to work. I'm thinking that installing solar panels might be a lot easier and more efficient!

more new friends...

This man was a teacher at the Frank James school as well. He's now 92 years old!

Climbing a tree for old time's sake

Uncle Ron talking with Mama Agnes. She and Grandma were good friends, and her husband was a good friend of Grandpa's and also taught at the Frank James School. Uncle Ron brought a recent photo of Grandma to share.
Mama Agnes's family made us an amazing dinner the night we arrived and the night we left. They are an amazing family and we had a ton of fun with them!

The whole Nkoum family, and Uncle Ron and Aunt Rhonda

These drums are awesome! In fact, all the music is pretty amazing.

The outside of the shop at the Frank James School.

Back at the dam, checking out all the possibilities!

And measuring

These are the kids who now live in another house that my grandparents lived in.

Fearlessly leading!