CAMEROON
2006 YEAR IN REVIEW
UPDATE: FTN blessed the Island of Sio Sio with multi-vitamins, rice, salt, powdered milk, canned tomatoes and water.
2006
Additional images in the photo gallery
The Lord opened a door to minister on island of Sio Sio, Cameroon, located off Africa's west coast. Our representatives were shocked when they arrived at the dock to find in order to get to the island they would have to take a 3-hour voyage in a motorized canoe that also carried 19 people and some cargo. There was very little space between the water and the gunnels of the canoe. The passengers had to remain seated for the entire trip to avoid capsizing. The water around Sio-Sio was laden with crocodiles and snakes.
The destination was an island with very primitive conditions and a population of about 1,500 children and 4,000 adults. Nutrition was severely lacking and the typical diet was sugar-water and fish. The vitamins were truly a treasure! The doctor who helped with the distribution was so elated that he kissed a bottle of vitamins and fed one capsule to each child in the school to show them that they were good for them. In addition to the vitamins, the people also received rice, powdered milk, water and vegetables.
The distribution team slept in grass huts where rats crawled on the ceiling during the night. One worker was bitten by a rat and had to return to the mainland on the next canoe."
Despite these challenges, the mission was successful! The people on the island are finally getting essential minerals and vitamins. A return trip will be scheduled in the future to provide additional supplies.