Well it has been a crazy couple of days! But it seems that each day here brings it's own challenges. We have decided that we will continue to write our stories and experiences on the blog, but that people should keep in mind just that... that these are just our experiences and one point of view. We also will be more careful in using the names of organizations and individuals. We apologize to LUKMEF a wonderful organization who obviously does great things for the community here. We have always thought highly of them and their volunteers. Again we are writing about our experiences and responses. However in regards to a particular member we will just have to agree to disagree. The German Clinic as well is a fine establishment and we want the best for all of them and of course the people of Limbe (otherwise why would be here). Also we have been somewhat naive to the fact that so many people were reading this!

So we will pick up where we left off. On Saturday we climbed Mt Cameroon. We met our guide, Walters, whom was recommneded to us by the Peace Corp. volunteer in Buea which is just a short bus ride from Limbe. Walters is a 20 year old Cameroonian and has been super nice and helpful to us. He goes to high school but also works in his spare time as a mountain guide. It takes two days to reach the top and he has done it 30 times! (you camp overnight). Now you are probably wondering how we did this and the answer is we didn't. We went about 1/3 of the way up. We hiked up for 4 hours and down for 2 and we never even made it out of th forest and into the Savanah, but still it was a beautiful trip. Walters told us about a friend he has who runs an orphange. She is young Dutch woman and often takes in volunteers to work with the children. He suggested me meet her and so we did! We were at first preparing ourselves for what we thogught would be heartbreaking as neither of us have actually been to an orphanage, but it was actually one of the best times we have had so far. There are nine children total so to us (especially for my mother) it was more like a family. The house was so nice too. It was big and airy and all the rooms were painted in vibrant colors. Mom said, "It looks like the Brady Bunch" when she saw the girls bedroom. The kids were adorable and very well behaved. The woman who runs it has really done an amazing job. She had the house built and they even grow their own vegetables and fruits. She also has to collect water when it rains, which it did last night, because their plumbing doens't always work (bad plumber). They have a dog and two cats which they actualy treat like pets. Walters goes there on weekends to help with maintaince around the grounds. Many of the orphans came from the Francophone area of Cameroon so she is loking for someone to help her teach them English beside what they are learning in school (they are a little behind in their English). Walters is a very nice kid. His dream is to finish high school this June and then move to the United States to join the marines. He has told us that once he is a marine for two years he will become a citizen.