More Compelling Than Fiction

More Compelling Than Fiction is the life story of Bernie Lemke, who in 1966, stepped out of his comfort zone and left Canada, taking his young family to the remote grasslands of the Adamawa Highlands in west-central Africa. Bernie joined hands with others working for faith-based organizations and partnered with various people groups within Cameroon and Nigeria in an effort to improve their everyday living conditions. Along the way he also discovered how people have made surprising innovations to adapt to the unique environment in which they live. Bernie shares how he patiently developed the rapport and perspective necessary to work alongside people eager to see improvement in their circumstances. He helped to find ways to address developmental issues and health concerns that were more than often the result of the lack of government support and protection. Bernie used every opportunity to train local people to acquire new skills in order to offer them the ability to make a living as well as to give them a sense of pride. In many instances he worked himself out of a job by consistently training Africans who could assume his responsibilities and carry on with integrity. This book is a graphic portrayal of life in the villages, where the daily struggle to carve out even a modest existence takes place. With over 150 color photos to allow readers to get involved in the story, this book is an exciting journey of new discoveries.

More Compelling Than Fiction is the life story of Bernie Lemke, who in 1966, stepped out of his comfort zone and left Canada, taking his young family to the remote grasslands of the Adamawa Highlands in west-central Africa. Bernie joined hands with others working for faith-based organizations and partnered with various people groups within Cameroon and Nigeria in an effort to improve their everyday living conditions. Along the way he also discovered how people have made surprising innovations to adapt to the unique environment in which they live. Bernie shares how he patiently developed the rapport and perspective necessary to work alongside people eager to see improvement in their circumstances. He helped to find ways to address developmental issues and health concerns that were more than often the result of the lack of government support and protection. Bernie used every opportunity to train local people to acquire new skills in order to offer them the ability to make a living as well as to give them a sense of pride. In many instances he worked himself out of a job by consistently training Africans who could assume his responsibilities and carry on with integrity. This book is a graphic portrayal of life in the villages, where the daily struggle to carve out even a modest existence takes place. With over 150 color photos to allow readers to get involved in the story, this book is an exciting journey of new discoveries.

Bernie Lemke is a retired missionary/architect who worked in a variety of different roles for many years in the remote grasslands of the Adamawa Highlands of Cameroon and Nigeria. His unique training and experience made it possible for him to work alongside the local people to address many of the developmental issues of concern in this region. While in Africa, Bernie's roles included seminary lecturer, hospital administrator, treasurer, facilities planner, construction supervisor, lecturer at a technical college, builder of water supply systems, and AIDS prevention educator. Bernie continues to be engaged in the provision of clean water supply systems and health care throughout the many remote villages of Nigeria.