Travel Report 2008 Nigeria - Cameroon

January 25th to February 11th, 2008

As DRAE president I was able to vist our members in Nigeria and Cameroon.

In Nigeria I met the Deaconesses of the Order of Deaconnesses, Methodist Church Nigeria, who are members of DIAKONIA since 2003. It was the first time to meet, as none of the deaconesses could attend assemblies due to visa problems.

It was great to meet Sister Ronke Owuru, who had searched the internet for diaconal organizations and found DIAKONIA as well as her co worker in the office of the women's desk at Wesley House, the church headwuarters in Lagos, Sister Anietie Akpan. They had organized an itinerary for me that was rather full - flying or driving to several dioceses of the church to meet with deaconesses, womens groups, bishops and archbishops. Lagos, Kaduna, Calabar, Umaihai, Ibadan in one week - full of wonderful exchanges, discussions, fellowship and sharing as well as long waiting times at airports and in traffic jams! I could even use some Hausa language - spoken in the northern parts of Nigeria and my language for 11 years as missionary in Nigeria!

The deaconesses were very eager to hear about diaconal ministries worldwide and how some of the orders or sisterhoods are organized. Their education is alongside the ministers, without any diaconal input. Some of them work in congregations with children and women groups, assisting the parish minister. Others, only a few are so called tentmakers, working professionally and volunteering time for diaconal ministries.

With the support of some archbishops the order is setting up a constitution and specific curriculum for training deaconesses. We hope and pray that finally Sister Ronke and Sister Anietie will be able to attend the assembly in Atlanta, USA next year.

From Nigeria I flew to Cameroon to visit the Sisterhood of Emmanuell, Bafut, Bamenda. The week with the sisters, sharing in their daily prayers and common life was so refreshing - it felt like much longer as I felt relaxed and strengthened.

I was very impressed by all the services and ministries the sisters offer to the churhc and community: the bakery that provides all the bread for the schools around, the tailershop, sewing and embroidering altarcloths and beautifull clerical robes, bags and all kinds of clothing, farming, animal husbandry and producing dairy products, papermaking, guesthouse and retreat facilities, counselling ... the list seems endless. The big dream right now is the start of a centre for handicapped people. The central house is partly finished. As two of the sisters, including Sister Judith the prioress are handicapped and wheelchair bound, this ministry seems very appropriate.

It was so refreshing to meet Sister Judith in her home, to share some of the burden she feels, caring and being responsible to the 36 sisters - worried there is not enough room for more even with more women asking to be members of the sisterhood.

I will never forget the trip to the building side for the centre for handicapped nor the visit to a newly started orphanage. Never forget the one hour walk early morning uphill to meet with one of the sisters at open day at school - she is finishing secondary school hoping to continue with nursing.

I will not forget the early morning prayers in the beautifull chapel of the convent, the singing, reciting psalms, prayers, meditation, nore the sharing of our experiences in ddiaconal ministries!

I hope and pray that the sisters may be able to continue with their services and one day open the centre for handicapped!

I was very priviledged to visit these members of DIAKONIA !

Doris Horn
DRAE President