Don't be too proud to accept help

Something we had to do in Cameroon was rely an awful lot on other people.

We needed picked up from the airport. Even if we had decided to get a taxi, we didn't know where to ask the driver to take us and we didn't have the local currency. Coleraine Post Office doesn't do Central African Francs.

We needed someone to fill our cupboard, so we would have food on arrival. We appreciated it, a lot, as we had no idea where to buy groceries at 10pm. When we finally went for groceries, we needed someone to show us where to go. Being one of only a handful of pale-skinned people in our neighbourhood, we needed someone to go with us as we were very conscious of being stared at. It took a while to fully understand this was non-threatening staring-at-the-stranger.

When we went into town, someone had to come with us at first. This was because of the linguistic barriers; the cultural barriers; the sheer overwhelming chaos that was Mokolo market.

We needed someone else to sort out our paperwork. We had no idea what to do or where to do it. Even if we had, our French wasn't anything like good enough.

We were, in short, helpless. If we resented anything about our time in Cameroon, this was probably it. We come from a place where you are supposed to look after yourself and not annoy other people. We needed tools, kitchenware, bedding, furniture and knew exactly where to look – in Northern Ireland. In Cameroon, we had to ask. Our culture encourages useful self-sufficiency to the point where humility is forgotten.

The curious thing was, the people we were relying on so much did not seem too annoyed. If anything, they were enjoying it. We were humbled, while they were humble.

In some ways we were like newborn babies. Totally dependant on others and apart from an occasional wail when things are not right, unable to contribute much to those around, at first.

This summer past we met up with various ex-RFIS people. Staff and students alike, either living in the UK or on the way to USA. Some stayed with us. Others we met on holiday, in one of those coincidences that Christians give God the credit for. Of the ones staying with us, we noticed they were helpless. They needed driven to and from the airport because, apart from the existence of a timetable, public transport in some parts of NI is not much more sophisticated than Cameroon. They needed fed. They needed directed to shops that would not see the souvenir-hunting American as a walking ATM.

And we enjoyed it. We enjoyed showing off where we lived and the surrounding area. We enjoyed sharing stories and reminiscing. We enjoyed introducing visitors to Norn Iron cuisine.

Maybe, we started to appreciate why the people we were a burden to when we arrived in Cameroon did not see us as a burden – but as friends who needed help.

But why are we surprised. Acts shows the early church living as a community of believers, sharing and helping each other. It was only when there were factions that insisted on being separate, that problems arose. “Bear one another's burdens” says Galatians. Good advice.