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Dear Family and Friends,
On Saturday the school grounds were swarming with great activities and smiling faces. The annual Rain Forest International School Carnival was underway. Each grade hosted at least one booth or activity. Attendees from the community, fellow students and their families purchased tickets to participate. Each class uses the event as a fund raiser for their graduation. There were hamburgers, hot dogs, and funnel cake with caramel sauce for the foodies. A zip line was there for the thrill seekers as well as the opportunity to be pulled around on a go cart by the grade 10 boys. Manicures, face painting, a slip & slide, throwing knives and bobbing for Tampicos (kind-of like bobbing for apples) were some of the other options.
At the hostel we have a number of traditions. Our birthday tradition is that the birthday boy or girl gets to choose what they want to have for supper and then at dessert time the fun begins. Once the birthday person takes their first bite of cake they are not allowed to talk or laugh. 
Everyone does their best to make the birthday person laugh. We hear lots of jokes, impersonations and stories. If the birthday person laughs he has to eat the rest of the dessert while sitting under the table. We always take pity on the birthday person and so everyone finishes eating under the table. So far this year we have made every birthday person laugh! Our last two students’ birthdays will be celebrated this month. It will be interesting to see if our record holds.
The school year will be over in the middle of June and our time in Yaounde will come to a close near the end July. We will be moving to take on new roles in Bamenda. This is all part of a 3- year plan for us in Cameroon and it means we will have to say goodbye to people we have gotten to know this past year.
For the kids in the hostel, there are many goodbyes to be said as well. Some will be leaving for year long home assignments with their families while others will just be gone for the summer. All will be saying goodbye to the grade 12 students, other friends and some of their teachers as well. As a missionary kid or Third Culture Kid (TCK) moving back to their passport countries or staying behind while other friends return to their passport countries brings conflicting emotions and many challenges. As they begin to say goodbye, they are also in the midst of final exams. So definitely challenging times for the kids. Please pray we will be attentive to each of the kids and assist them in these times of transition in a way that fits them.
We’re excited to see our water project has begun. The first stage started this past week. We are raising the level of the tower to give us enough water pressure to make the system usable. Currently the trickle of water that flows is not enough to use at all. Paul, a missionary in Greece, is set to arrive next week. He will be working on the rest of the water system (the pump in the bore hole, pipes and pump housing). We are praying he will complete this project before he leaves June 9th. We are thankful for his willingness to come and help with other maintenance, repair and construction projects in and around the hostel building. We have plenty to keep him busy!
Monday was a public holiday here so there was no school. At lunch time we gathered under our pavillion and roasted hot dogs. The first time we did this it was actually the first time many of the kids had ever roasted hot dogs over a fire. This week, on their second attempt, they roasted like pros and some of them even managed to toast some marshmallows to golden perfection. The others? Well, let’s just say if we had needed flaming torches we had plenty!
Thanks for all your prayers as we guide this group to finish strong and move forward with the certainty of God’s presence.
Craig & Maureen Moody
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8