Kumbo Kids: September 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

My People Are Suffering

On December 25th 2011, Christmas Day, while in Carroll, Iowa for the Christmas break, someone from St. Kizito's Parish, Sabongari, Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon, my former Parish, called me on phone to tell me that he and his children were able to eat some slices of meat beacuse it was Christmas Day. I burst into tears, thinking of where I was, living in affluence because I have never lived such a life before. Each time I am hungry, there is something to eat, yet there are people out "boasting" of having eaten slices of meat on Christmas Day. Perhaps, they will eat meat again only the next Christmas. I felt like not eating at all, but this will not be a good attitude. I need to be strong in order to help them. I am parcelling all my gifts especially financial support meant for my personal use to send to children in my parish and the diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon for their education. Only education will help them eat meat all the time.

This is someone's Home in those remote areas. This "house" serves as a kitchen, a bedroom for numerous people, uncemented floor used as a parlor etc. The roof of the house is made of grass which dries off during the dry season and leaks during the raining season.

Anyone with a human feeling should please support me in this project of education of Cameroonian Children. God will reward you abundantly. Those who have supported these children in one way or the other will continue to feel the effects of their prayers.

WE NEED GOD IN OUR PUBLIC LIFE

My desire to help children go to school has as a paramount goal to implant the idea of God, the belief in God into the minds of these children at their tender ages. When they grow up, they will have something to fall back to which has been in their superegos. This desire in me is of great importance because when we wander far away from God, things begin to go wrong. Then we begin to build castles in the air, forgetting the admonition of the Psalmist: "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build. Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain does the guard keep watch," (Psalm 127:1).
The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 is a story Jesus tells about a man who had two sons, to teach us how we, sometimes in one way or another, wander away from God's love, thinking we could find happiness in reckless living. This is rebellion against God's love, but thanks be to God, his mercy is boundless. We need to come to our senses fast and begin to return home. It is only then that we shall experience the love of God. It is therefore important to implant in our children the desire to know God, or rather the knowledge of God, so that even if at one point they wander away, they will still have something in their superegos that will drag them back to the love of God which they had originally received.
The society is telling us today: "No God in public life." We are already receiving the effects of this with the decay of morality in the society. Christians ought to maintain their Christian identity.

Mission Statement

The “Help Cameroonian School Kids” initiative is an outreach program for the underprivileged and vulnerable children living in the most interior and remotest areas of the diocese of Kumbo. The goal: to help children get an education.

We intend to provide the tuition, books and fees necessary to allow these children to attend school. By completing and furthering their education, the children will be able to bear witness that education brings light to a community. Impoverished families may see that education improves the standard of living, allowing people to acquire decent jobs and work towards achieving economic self-sufficiency.

In order to create a sustainable program, the community itself must also acquire certain basic skills such as: 1) Development skills where those who achieve higher education give back to the community and help to promote progress; 2) Initiative skills that teach resourceful and creative problem-solving; and 3) Technological skills to manage ever-changing innovations. To this end, we intend to create a Community-based Collaborative Group in each village involved in our outreach program. Each Group would be comprised of trained men and women who will disseminate information and dispense the available help to the children in need.

We realize that initially classes may need to take place in temporary locations. However, with the support of our donors and in collaboration with the local community, we hope to aid in the construction of durable school buildings where learning may take place. With the help of God, we pray and bestow our blessings upon all those who will support this venture.