Pierre and Martine Boumtje, two members of the First Presbyterian Church
of Magnolia, are natives of the central African nation of Cameroon. Martine's
late mother, Erna Yick, was an elder in her Presbyterian church in the village
of Nkom, Cameroon, but she was much more than that -- she was a community
leader, village treasurer and a woman well known for seeing to the needs
of children and others with physical and spiritual needs. After discussions
with the Boumtjes, and with the acceptance by the five churches of Betania Parish
of the Eglise Presbyterienne Camerounsaise of the concept of forming
a mutually beneficial partnership, the Session of First Presbyterian Church
has agreed to move forward with prayer and study.

Martine and Pierre Boumtje talk about their recent trip to Cameroon for the funeral of her mother, Erna Yick. They also spoke about the work of the Presbyterian Church in Nkom.

Nkom,
Cameroon
May 8, 2009. 

  (The original letter is in French and was translated by Pierre Boumtje. The letter reads as follows).

  Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ at First Presbyterian Church in Magnolia, we greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  “The session of the Betania Parish (of the Eglise Presbyterienne Camerounaise) has received with great joy and excitement your message and your initiative to start a friendship and working relationship with us, in honor and memory of our beloved late elder, Erna Yick, and her works in the church and community. We look forward to exploring the many opportunities such a relationship would bring. As we still mourn her death and the vacuum it has created in our midst, such news couldn’t have come at a better time.
  Martine and Pierre Boumtje will communicate with you other aspects of our discussions with them.
  May the Almighty God continue to bless your congregation and its works.
  In Christ,
  On behalf of
the session,
The Rev. Joel Julien Ngoue
Moderator of
the Session

The town of Nkom, Cameroon, is located east of the port city of Douala -- on this map, about one fourth of the distance between Douala and the national capital of Yaounde.