We have a new group of Fulani women and children, staying in downtown Gamboula at the Catholic church there. We are so thankful for their open hearts and welcome for these refugees. In this group, there is one man among several women and many, many children. These friends walked for 42 days from their home to our little town on the border, and now they await news of the men and elders from whom they split earlier as they fled. I didn’t hear the whole story of their journey, but I imagine the men took their cattle out deep into the grasslands and forest while the women and children headed for the safe haven of the border to Cameroon. I didn’t hear any stories of witnessed violence, which distressingly has been the story of so many. At least one third of the children have infected eyes, and we were able to teach a bit about hygiene and the spread of germs, as well as helping them out with antiseptic soap and medicated eye drops and then some basic food staples. Our hearts melted at the sight of these little faces, torn from their normal life and thrown into the challenges of a refugee’s life, complete with fear, hunger, sickness, and weariness. I do confess to a fit of frustration with the little ones, though, as I gave out some lollipops which had been donated by a Fulani merchant in Kentzou. You can imagine the scene: the sweet little faces (maybe about 40 kids) took on a look of competition as they all crowded into me to make sure they got their lollipop and maybe trick me out of a 2nd one if they pushed up close enough a 2nd time withan empty hand outstretched! Whooee, not a cheerful experience for me, but those treats probably made their day!
This morning, Saturday, I saw Kim Cone on his way to take a jeep full of these voyagers to the bridge which crosses the river into Cameroon and gets these women and children to a place where they will not have to fear. PLEASE keep praying for this CAR. The bad news just keeps coming from the rest of the country.
