In Cameroon you continue to greet someone with a happy new year (bonne année in French) until mid March since by that time you will have seen everyone. But you only say it the first time you see them each year, it’s getting harder to remember who I haven’t already greeted this way.

We recently had a leadership transition and we sent out all our invitations as is the culturally appropriate thing to do, hand delivered of course, and 2 days before our event we received an initiation to the Bonne Année from the government organization that we report to and allows us to operate in Cameroon and do the linguistic and Bible translation work in minority languages. So our event was in the morning which gave us 30 minutes to get to the location where they were having the event. So on our way there the roads were closed and I got to learn some new back roads that I didn’t even know existed.

One of the attendees at our event, who is high up in the ministry and would need to attend both events, also came to our event because he was thankful for the work we did and wanted to thank the outgoing General Director and show his support.

It was encouraging to see that after several hundred people shook the minister’s hand it was our turn to go through the line and when our new General Director shook her hand she took the time to speak to him and expressed why she was not able to come to our event that was the same day. She has been very supportive and is very quick to share all of the statistics and information that we are doing in Cameroon.

It’s nice to be encouraged and to see good collaboration.

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2 NLT