IDF Honors the Sorflaten's

IDF really outdid themselves when it came time for our leaving.  Ousssematou had said just wait until you see what they do  but even in our wildest dreams could we have imagined all the ingenious ways they found to thank us.

We were asked to stay in our office while they prepared for our farewell.  They brought us a one month old baby born to one of the ‘Promoters’.  This baby was so perfect.  We were relieved to find that she is HIV negative thanks to her mother taking the proper drugs during pregnancy. We began with a Christian and a Muslim prayer.   

Joseph Tafrie honored us with a special Thank You.  He is Chairperson of the Integrated Development Foundation Board.  We gained such respect for him in his leadership capacity in Farm Organization work, and his commitment to IDF.  Greetings and special recognition came from a representative of government,  especially thanking  us for the practical training in bead work.  Aishatu)touched our hearts to the core by telling us that she is newly diagnosed with an incurable disease and intends to follow through with more testing and treatment.   Amah animated his thank you.

Of all the surprises they had in store.  The Cameroon is famous for its fabrics made using the traditional wax print with all spinning, weaving, bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing done at its factory in Douala. There were outfits for both of us, each special.  Aishatu had made a shirt for Allan and an outfit for Lydia.  IDF gave Lydia a dress.  Since John Baptist and Lydia were both teachers, special fabric made to honor teachers was made into an outfit for both Jean Baptist and Lydia.  Oussematou is a twin and Allan has twin sisters.  To honor Allan’s sister Gwen, Oussematou had twin dresses made. 

Both Henry and the shoe mender named Henry Mua, an 18 year old orphan whom we had met in Wum made the trip to Bamenda from Wum for our closing.  They  presented us with ground nuts.  How fitting.  Ground nuts are an important source of protein in this area.

 

Oussematou’s reviewed  of our six weeks stay using pictures that took us through our journey with IDF (Wum, Bafut, Bana-Farming God’s Way, Nutrition Workshop and more).

The biggest surprise of all.  They commissioned a painting that encapsulates our time with IDF.  Amazing really.  In the background is the map of the Cameroon.  Each aspect of our assignment was represented: agriculture, beadwork, good food for good nutrition and the peace dove. IDF IS AND WILL FOREVER BE PROUD OF YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND DEDICATION TO HUMANITARIAN SERVICES.

Incredible really.  Wonderful.  What completeness.  What joy!