D squared + J squared = Anderson

Amazing Block Soap

Posted on May 25, 2015 by David

When we arrived in Cameroon in 2010, we were introduced to block soap. It’s a tan colored soap sold in different sized blocks with a mild odor. I have been amazed over the years how this soap is used. Below is a list of how we have used the soap or how we’ve witnessed others using the soap.

1. Cuts through grease to pre-wash dishes

2. To wash dishes

3. To lather up to clean floors

4. To lather up to clean sinks, tubs, walls, ceilings, cabinet fronts, etc…

5. To clean shoes

6. To wash hair

7. To wash with during bathing

8. To wash windows

9. To remove stains from clothes

10. To remove greasy patches on clothing

I’m going to stop at ten, but I could continue for pages. If you’ve used this soap, please share additional uses that aren’t listed in the comments.

Posted in Cameroon, home | Tagged Block Soap, Cameroon, Home | 1 Comment

Happy Anniversary

Posted on May 21, 2015 by David

On May 8th, 1996, while dancing at a club on ladies night with friends during finals week of my sophomore year at university, there was a very handsome man who came bobbing up and down behind me to dance. As I turned around I saw David. That night is planted in my memory – what we talked about, what I was wearing, giving him my phone number, the excitements and worries if he would call me, etc… On May 10th, 1996, we had our first date at the movie theater to see the movie Twister.

We didn’t know at that first date that three years later on May 21, 1999, we would become one as Mr. & Mrs. David Anderson.

We could have never imagined on that wedding day that our ten year anniversary would be spent packing to leave our life as we knew it in the USA to live and serve overseas.

We’ve had quite a journey so far, being blessed with two handsome, awesome boys. I look forward to many decades more.

I married my best friend 16 years ago and he’s still my best friend today. Happy 16th Anniversary! As David likes to say, I’m still falling for him. (yes, I did fall on my wedding day)

Posted in home, Kids | Tagged anniversary, Home | 6 Comments

Clothing Blues

Posted on May 19, 2015 by David

You may remember when I rapped about our guard – the Fresh Prince. I’m at it again, only this time it’s to the tune of Babysitting Blues from Adventures in Babysitting. I don’t know how to articulate music sounds, so I made up my own – as you’ll see below.

Hi my name is DeAnna Anderson
Duh da da da (this is the guitar part)

I live in Cameroon, that’s in west central Africa
Duh da da da

One day while hanging out laundry my flip flop gave out
Nuh nuh nah (this is the piano part)

See I’ve been trying to make my clothes and shoes last until furlough
Duh da da da

But then my flip flop broke and now my foot’s falling out
Bum bum bum bum bum bum bum (this is the bass part)

I need furlough
It’s only a couple more weeks
I’ve got the clothing falling apart blues

A couple of month’s ago I discovered ants were eating my underwear
Duh da da da

One of my favorite shirts had a cockroach egg attach and made a tear
Duh da da da

My socks have lost all elasticity and my shoes are barely there
Duh da da da

I have bleach spots on most my clothes and I’m ashamed to wear them anywhere

I need furlough
It’s only a couple more weeks
I’ve got the clothing falling apart blues
I’ve got the clothing falling apart blues

David socks all have holes
Duh da da da

All our shirts pits are hard as rocks
Duh da da da

I can’t wait to buy new clothes
And use dryers to make them soft
I’ve got the clothing falling apart blues

Posted in Cameroon, home | Tagged blues, Cameroon, clothes, furlough, Shoes | 2 Comments

Flowers

Posted on May 15, 2015 by David

It’s no secret that I like flowers. When David was courting me he used to present me flowers. I would carefully place them in a vase and smell them until they withered. It’s been amazing to me all the different flowers I get to experience here in Cameroon.

I’m going to go down a rabbit trail for a minute. When I’m preparing for an event or a gathering, I’m usually high strung and my mind goes many directions. I truly can’t articulate areas where I need help so usually it’s best to just stay out of my way until I speak up. When I’m in the midst of making food or what not, my mind usually comes up with ways to make something better.

While preparing for the sixth grade graduation I came up with the thought of having a flower arrangement for one of the tables where things would be. We are fortunate to have a yard with beautiful flowers, so I go outside and start clipping flowers from our yard to create an arrangement to take with me as a decoration. Below is the arrangement I came up with in about two minutes walking around our yard. I’m going to miss the flowers that we are privileged to have in our yard at our disposal.

Posted in Cameroon, home | Tagged Cameroon, Flowers, Home | 6 Comments

Sixth Grade Graduation

Posted on May 13, 2015 by David

There is a gathering that happens every year here – the sixth grade graduation. Our family has been part of the elementary school since 2010. Joshua has attended there since second grade. He has been blessed with terrific teachers for every grade level – Miss Groh – grade 2, Mrs. Clay – grades 3 & 4 and Mrs. Lane – grades 5 & 6. They have encouraged his academic growth, spiritual growth and character development. The school goes up to grade six. It’s a milestone that’s celebrated here when students are graduating from the elementary school preparing to go into the secondary school here, RFIS or going to another school system in the student’s passport country. It made me feel like a long-timer here when I realized I was the only parent who has been privy to previous sixth grade graduations – the other parents are either new to the country or the school. I coordinated the event with the other parents and it turned out to be a great time of honoring the students. Below are some pictures from the wonderful time of honoring our sixth graders. We are so proud of the young man Joshua is becoming.

Posted in Cameroon, Kids | Tagged Cameroon, Kids, School | 5 Comments

The Years

Posted on May 11, 2015 by David

David and I have had conversations lately expressing to one another how we feel we’ve lived a lifetime of experiences in three years. (Actually over the past six overseas, however, the past three have been in fast forward mode)

There have been high’s, low’s, funny instances, bloopers and just daily life. We’ve written 327 blogs since our return in November 2012. Below highlights some of the roller coaster aspects.

High’s

We’ve seen a new aircraft arrive to be used in advancing translation and watched an older aircraft get shipped off. We’ve been able to be overflowing with joy as we watch our neighborhood children experience planes up close and experience things just for fun to play with. We’ve been invited to attend wedding ceremonies. We’ve been encouraged in different ways. We’ve seen how the Lord has looked after the little things that make a big difference in our lives. We’ve been privileged to experience people hearing God’s Word for the first time in their heart language. In the midst of mourning, we were given encouragement to witness a literacy lesson while waiting at the morgue. Also in the midst of grieving the Lord has shown His providence. We’ve watched the boys grow. We’ve learned a lot.

Low’s

Part of the roller coaster ride are the low points. We’ve experienced and our lives have been changed by the many (over ten we know personally) who’ve died since our return. We’ve battled some strange problems. We’ve battled many illnesses and injuries. We’ve walked down some rocky paths with others. David has had to coordinate the repatriation of others. We’ve struggled and cried – A LOT! We’ve had different bugs in our food. We’ve helped a fellow American, who was a complete stranger leave Cameroon after some serious problems with the mission organization she came with. We’ve also laid aside many of our own desires or comforts to resign ourselves to some hard truths.

Funny

Laughing really is the best medicine. It really helps to laugh and have a sense of humor while on the roller coaster moving up and down the track. We’ve laughed at ourselves. We’ve laughed at language bloopers. We’ve laughed at other people’s expense. We’ve laughed at unexpected finds. We’ve laughed at the habits we’ve developed. We’ve laughed at our under garment buying experience.

Posted in Cameroon, home | Tagged blogs, Cameroon, Home | 1 Comment

Goodbye

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David

I don’t like saying goodbye, however, I have yet to meet someone who likes saying goodbye. Being a missionary with a nomadic lifestyle means there are many goodbyes. The flip side is there are also many hellos. Back to the goodbye side. My coping mechanism is to avoid goodbyes – I don’t like to attend the goodbye gatherings here when people leave, I don’t like to go help others load their airport vehicle, etc… I usually say a see you later (not goodbye) a few days before someone leaves. During our annual branch meetings the membership asked us to stand in front to be appreciated for our service in Cameroon. It hit me that I can’t avoid our own goodbye and it’s going to be harder than I imagined. It’s different when you leave to go on furlough because it’s not intended as permanent, but to leave knowing there aren’t any future plans to return feels so permanent. What is it that makes it hard to say goodbye?

1. People – I’ve made some great friendships with other missionaries and they are the ones who know this life and I’ll miss them very much. I’ve made strong friendships with several Cameroonian women whom I’ll miss greatly. I’ll miss the smiles as I go to pick the boys up from school – there are many women, a man who is mentally delayed and a man who’s a carpenter that I pass to go to school whom smile and wave if I’m driving or smile and chat with me if I’m walking.

2. Buddy – Buddy’s our dog and I’ll miss him. He’s a good guard dog, very friendly with us and has expressive eyes.

3. This ministry as we know it – I believe that someone’s ministry is wherever he or she is planted, meaning wherever you live, work, recreate – that’s your ministry. Our life for the past five years has been in Cameroon working with SIL and although we plan to stay with Wycliffe as stateside missionaries, the ministry will be different.

4. Tropics – it’s always summer here (cold to us is upper 60’s), we can have fresh tropical fruit year round, you can accidentally cut way too much off your plants and they’ll always grow back, the hard rains that I’ve always been in awe of.

5. This community – when you leave your family, friends, support network, comfort zone, church, passport country, etc… and start a new life elsewhere, those people who surround you become your surrogate family. Just like family we drive each other nuts, but would drop everything in a second when someone needs urgent help.

There is so much more I could list.

Posted in Cameroon, home | Tagged Cameroon, emotions, Home | 2 Comments

Looking Ahead

Posted on May 6, 2015 by David

Our previous blog was about the things I’m nervous about, however, today’s is about the things I’m looking forward to.

1. I’m looking forward to seeing family and friends and hugging them!
2. I’m looking forward to knowing what’s going on in the lives of family and friends.
3. I’m looking forward to worshiping at our home church.
4. I’m looking forward to restaurants, fast food, convenience foods, fully stocked grocery stores, etc…
5. I’m looking forward to air conditioning.
6. I’m looking forward to medical care, including hospitals.
7. I’m looking forward to 911 service for police, ambulance, fire fighters, etc…
8. I’m looking forward to being able to get in a car by myself, drive to a store and shop by myself without being proposed to or pulled by the arm to come shop at their spot.
9. I’m looking forward to going to a hair stylist for a hair cut in a climate controlled salon.
10. I’m looking forward to a pedicure.
11. I’m looking forward to blending into a crowd.
12. I’m looking forward to not being called by my skin color.
13. I’m looking forward to constant electricity, water and internet.
14. I’m looking forward to ordering something online and it comes within days or weeks instead of months.
15. I’m looking forward to buying cans of pre-made foods like cream of mushroom soup or tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce or spaghetti o’s.
16. I’m looking forward to living in a home that doesn’t have bars on the windows, walls with barbed wire around the yard and locked gates.
17. I’m looking forward to sitting outside at night, gazing at the stars and not being worried about malaria when bit by a mosquito.
18. I’m looking forward to carpet.
19. I’m looking forward to Charmin toilet paper.
20. I’m looking forward to going to the dentist.
21. I’m looking forward to purchasing new undergarments and clothing.
22. I’m looking forward to purchasing new, supportive shoes.
23. I’m looking forward to wearing make-up again.
24. I’m looking forward to the new full time ministry God has yet to show us.
25. I’m looking forward to going to a movie.
26. I’m looking forward to drive-through windows.
27. I’m looking forward to cars staying in their lanes, parking spots that are clearly marked and somewhat predictable behavior on the road (red light – cars stop, green light – cars go, cars on the right have the right of way).
28. I’m looking forward to seatbelts.
29. I’m looking forward to not needing to use a gas bottle for cooking.
30. I’m looking forward to throwing away a zip close bag after using it instead of washing it to reuse.
31. I’m looking forward to using a clothes dryer with a dryer sheet and pulling out the warm, clean scented smelling article. Our towels here are like drying off with a loofah.
32. I’m looking forward to cuddling down into a warm bed on a cool night.
33. I’m looking forward to different seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall.
34. I’m looking forward to mowing grass.
35. I’m looking forward to having a physical address.

The list could continue on and on, but I thought I better stop at 35.

Posted in home | Tagged Home, USA | 2 Comments

Returning to the USA

Posted on May 4, 2015 by David

Our emotions are all over the map anticipating our return to the USA. We are excited and nervous at the same time. You may be asking yourself as you read this, “Why are we nervous?” and I’ll share why.

1. I’m nervous I’ll be a reckless driver in the USA. I’ve adapted to weaving in and out of traffic, going into the oncoming lane because that’s normal and you just swerve, two lane roads becoming six lanes of traffic, pulling out in front of others knowing they’ll yield to me, getting into arguments with other drivers about driving and laughing at the end.

2. I’m nervous I’ll be so different that I won’t be able to adjust back to the USA. It’s my passport country. I’m an American through and through, however, I’ve lived overseas for the last six years (one year in France and five in Cameroon), the lenses on my cultural sunglasses have changed.

3. I’m nervous that everyone’s lives have marched on and they won’t have room for me to be part of their lives.

4. I’m nervous for the boys to be in new schools.

5. I’m nervous for the boys making new friends.

6. I’m nervous about not knowing what’s next for us.

7. I’m nervous we won’t have enough money to live on.

8. I’m nervous I’ll appear stupid when people ask me questions and I have trouble articulating in English since French has taken over certain parts of my brain making it harder to recall all my English. Also appearing that way when people ask me questions about anything that’s happened in the USA in the past six years – I don’t know.

9. I’m nervous about what new technology or thing has taken over since 2012. In 2012 when we were in the USA it was very hard for me to “get” smart phones and people always being on their phones.

10. I’m nervous I’ll be judgmental of others or my comments will come across as being judgmental.

Posted in Cameroon, home | Tagged Cameroon, nervous, USA | 5 Comments

CAM Car Race

Posted on May 1, 2015 by David

The annual CAM Car Race took place on April 18th. This was our fifth year in a row to coordinate the fun event. It’s a pinewood derby race. We plan for the event a year in advance by ordering the car kits and paint. Last year the wooden track we had been using for many years warped some and just didn’t fare well over the years in storage, so it was decided we needed to order a new track. It’s quite a challenge to order a new track from continents away and needing to take into consideration no wood – because of warping, termites and wood mites, no regular metal because of high humidity it quickly rusts, etc… It was decided to order a track that was made of PVC and had sensors to give the times and places during each heat.

April 18th we could use the new track to race the 61 cars that belonged to the students of our Joint Learning Session. It was a wonderful time. Jonah had a luge themed car, Joshua had a traditional race car and DeAnna entered a skateboard car.

It was another monumental moment of a last here.

Posted in Cameroon | Tagged CAM Car, Cameroon | 4 Comments