Summer can be long and dull in Yaounde for students.  Shortly after graduation many missionary families fly back to their passport countries — either for the summer or for a whole year at a time.  Missionary families usually don’t return to Cameroon until just a week or 2 before the start of a new school year.  And so, during a period of several weeks the teenage population is greatly decreased in Yaounde.

This summer Nate arrived ahead of us so he could attend graduation.  And before our arrival, he was here for the period of summer void of very many other kids to hang out with.  He kept occupied unpacking some of our stored household goods, but he and a few boys needed something extra to keep them occupied.

That’s when the Summer Sports Challenge was introduced!  Karl Noren, Covenant missionary, RFIS Science teacher, and MK himself (he grew up in Congo, the son of Covenant missionaries).  The challenge:  Run 100 kilometers, do 1,000 push-ups and read 10 books of the Bible before the start of the new school year.  By the time we arrived Nate and a few of his buddies were well into the challenge — running daily, working out in the weight room, and reading their Bibles.  With about a week to spare before school started, they’d all completed the challenge!

A celebratory lunch was held at Karl & Mary Noren’s place honoring those who had completed the challenge.  And to the winner — the one who completed it first – a prize!  A certificate, a “medal” (superior quality plastic thing that comes on bag of rice in stores) and a package of freeze dried stew!  And of course, congratulatory cheers from his buddies!