Journey to Gembu!

Since arriving in Jalingo, I’ve been told about Gembu. It is located in Taraba State on the Mambila Plateau, which I vividly remember seeing on a map as I was reading the World Book Encyclopedia article in the Wilton Public Library before leaving. Needless to say, after listening to countless people rave about it for months I was both excited yet slightly doubtful that it was as wonderful as people were claiming. Regardless, I was eager to finally see it for myself!

I went with two friends from school, Asper and Helen and a driver. We left Friday morning and spent most of the morning driving to the base of the plateau. We stopped to have lunch at this little “restaurant”. I have eaten at enough of these “dives” to know that even though the look dilapidated, austere, and a little scary I have never been disappointed with the food! It’s also entertaining to hear from my friends the incredulous comments of the other customers in the restaurant that I’m not only eating there, but I’m eating tuwo and soup with my hand!

After lunch, we proceeded along the meandering road up to the top of the plateau. The change in elevation provided the most delightful reprieve from oppressively hot and sticky weather! Soon, we were surrounded by rolling mountains, towering eucalyptus trees, roaming cattle sans herdsman (up here, the cattle are smarter and can find their way home each night!) and a delightfully cool breeze!

We visited the Highland Tea fields and factory. This whole new experience is detailed in the pictures and captions. Then, we went to the Mambila Baptist Hospital which is locally and aptly known as the “Bush Hospital” because it’s most definitely located in the bush. While we were there, we were invited to participate in the going away party, known here as a Send Forth, for one of their doctors. It was nice to get to share in the celebration and have a mini-worship service!

My friend Ezekiel is from Gembu, so although he was unable to come along, he connected us with his brother. He walked us around town and took us to their parents’ home which was fun. The language barrier was a bit of a challenge, but we were able to manage. A few times it was pretty funny because I would say something in English, then Helen would translate my American English into Nigerian English pronunciation, then his brother would translate that to Hausa so that his parents could understand. This system isn’t exactly conducive to long, in-depth conversation, but it worked!

Sunday morning, Ezekiel’s brother led us on an excursion to a “near-by” village that can only be reached via motorcycles. The experience is what I would term indescribable, but I’ll try!  These so-called roads were actually more like uneven, rocky paths that wound up and down, around mountains, through valleys, next to small farming plots. As I was gripping onto the back of the seat of my motorcycle with one hand, I was holding my camera with the other hand trying to somehow capture the passing women trekking the 12km to Gembu, banana and pear (avocado) trees, and the majestically green and pristine beauty that was surrounding me on all sides.

Then, we reached the Donga River. It can only be crossed by canoe, so we each boarded a canoe with our motorcycle, driver and poler. Yep, I felt like I was riding in a gondola in Venice, except it was better because we were able to buy fresh bananas from a man sharing our canoe and gaze at mountains along the way! We made it to the village safely, met the village chief, toured their water distribution system, see a school, church and eat some delicious and ginormous avocados before returning back to Gembu and heading back to Jalingo.

I felt so incredibly blessed to have experienced this excursion. People here in rural Nigeria never travel for pleasure, only when the trip is absolutely necessary. Therefore, when I returned, I realized that many of the people who had told me about Gembu had never actually been there themselves! It was a wonderful opportunity to see, feel, smell, and taste the delights of this luscious place created by God!

Here's the link for pictures!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=63882&id=501312909&l=97991