It all works out, just not the way you think it will

When I was in Cameroon before I adopted this mantra. Things just seem to work out in Cameroon, but never the way you think it will. Shortly after arriving last week I was repeating this to myself all over again. From passing a large overturned truck that completely blocked the road from Douala to Bamenda, arranging for my bag that didn't arrive with me to come to Bamenda with one of Dr. Okwen's cousin's friends, meeting my new colleagues, and moving to my house in Kumbo, things just work out. Many times better then I expected. Its a constant reminder to Nyabo, let go, and trust that everthing will unfold at the right time.

I spent the first few days in Bamenda, the regional capitol, seeing friends, buying a phone, setting up bank accounts, waiting for my bank to arrive, and meeting my colleagues from Health Development Consultancy Services (HEDECS). On Friday morning I left for Kumbo where I will be working. Kumbo is about a 3 hour drive from Bamenda, mostly on an unpaved, dusty road. Kumbo is much larger then Mambu-Bafut, where I worked as Peace Corps Volunteer, so it feels quite different. It is at a higher elevation so its colder, in fact my house has a fire place that I need at night to stay warm! I'm looking forward to exploring more of the area. Below are a few "snaps" from the past week.

This is a picture of Mariana and Nancy from HEDECS.  Both are hard working, hospitable women.  Nancy reminds me of the main character from the books, "The Ladies No 1 Detective Agency"

This is Dr. Okwen and I standing next to my house in Kumbo

This is the living room of my house.  The ladder on the left goes up to a loft area.  The door on the left goes to my bedroom.

This is my kitchen. Bright and spacious!

I see hope as an attitude where everything stays open before me. Not that I don't think of my future in those moments, but I think of it in an entirely different way. Daring to stay open to whatever will come to me today, tomorrow, two months from now or a year from now--that is hope. To go fearlessly into things without knowing how they'll turn out, to keep going, even when something doesn't work the first time, to have trust in whatever you're doing--that is living with hope. 

Henri Nouwen, Open Hands