The Colemans leave Douala

This past weekend, Elder and Sister Coleman bid farewell to Douala.  They've done a great job here.  They've taught a number of members how to play the piano.  They've helped seven young men and young women get out on missions--everything from passports and visas to vaccinations to clothes.  They've taken care of two apartments of elders and four branches.  We're going to miss them!!!  (And not just because we need to assume many of their duties since no couple has come to replace them yet!)

Sister Coleman taught piano in San Diego for years.  Wish our students had access to her skills! 

Elder Coleman joined in, too!  (Notice the creative piano table!)

This young man is going to take over the lessons in one branch.

They'll be sorely missed!

Here are the Douala elders in the Coleman's apartment for some goodies one last time.  (Two of our former missionaries, E. Tucker and E. Mpongo are there now.  It's fun to see them again!)

The Douala Zone.

The Colemans with two of their future missionaries and one of the stalwart couples in Douala, the Su family.

Helping Hands--Mains Serviables

We have had a number of "Mormon Helping Hands" ("Mains Serviables") this past year.  Most of them have been simple activities like picking up trash along the streets.  That has been rather frustrating to us, because the people here don't hesitate to toss something on the ground.  As we cleaned, we'd look behind and see it was already being littered.

Today, we had an activity that was more meaningful.  We worked around the outside of a hospital, cleaning the entrance and getting rid of weeds, brush and trash along the street leading to the hospital.  At one point, one of the men came to me and said, "Don't work in this brush.  There is something in there that is very bad."  I'm not sure what was there, but I definitely followed his instructions!

Brother Bedi giving instructions at the hospital entrance.

Sisters ready to go to work.  They carry pretty much anything they need in those plastic bags.

Motos that have brought people to the marché.

The main project was to clear off the weeds and brush from this little incline along the road outside the hospital.

Machetes are the tool of choice for just about any job.  They really know how to use them!

In clearing the weeds, we found a lot of trash.  That was piled up along the side of the road along with the weeds.

Brother Bedi is using his machete to chop down that tree.  It only took a few whacks.  Notice the huge pile in the lower right corner.  This went on for several hundred yards.

Some of our missionaries at work.  For those who didn't have machetes, they used sticks to push the piles together.  Simple tools, but they make them work very efficiently.

Heading back to the hospital entrance, weeds chopped and piles left for the city to haul away.

How many hospitals have you been to where you were greeted by a rooster getting a drink on the sidewalk?

Most people don't have running water.  They're very grateful to have a pump in most neighborhoods so they can have clean (sort of) water.  

Washing up after a good morning's work.

Here's the crew.  We love these people!!!