By Nancy Young
Enquirer contributor

Cindy Stricker (right) and Cameroon native Yinyu Divine-Grace Mburi at the St. Gabriel Consolidated School. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

GLENDALE - The child Cindy Stricker met while serving in Central Africa 23 years ago is now experiencing the Tristate and helping teach local students about his homeland.

Ms. Stricker joined the Peace Corps right out of college back then, and answered the call for a math teacher in Cameroon in Central Africa.

Ms. Stricker, a music therapy major but math buff, found herself living next to a large family in the poverty-filled country. She befriended the family's 5-year-old. She never forgot him, and today, Yinyu Divine-Grace Mburi, 28, is enjoying his first visit to the United States, thanks to Cindy and Lora Davis, a Colorado resident and also a former Cameroon volunteer.

Divine, as he is known to his new American friends, has been sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with the students of St. Gabriel Consolidated School, where Ms. Stricker is a music teacher. He will also soon visit other local schools, including Winton Woods High School in Forest Park, which Cindy's own children attend.

Yinyu Divine-Grace Mburi and Cindy Stricker in Cameroon in 1979. (Photo provided) | ZOOM |

"I bonded instantly with Divine's mother Pauline, and kept in touch with the entire family," Ms. Stricker says. "Because much of the family was illiterate, I left a cassette recorder and cassette tapes in the beginning so they could send me tapes."

She also sent money, which enabled Divine to go to a Catholic school operated by British missionaries. After he learned to read and write, the two began exchanging letters. More recently, Internet access has helped Divine communicate regularly.

The children at St. Gabriel are learning about his country and about African music.

Divine is also sharing his culture with sixth- through eighth-grade students in social studies and health classes. He intends to do the same with Winton Woods students.

Divine is also soaking up American culture. "In Cameroon, America is still viewed as the promised land, the land of the free, but with certain problems. Before I came here, I was told I should worry about racism and the number of guns. But I have been shown nothing but kindness. And for the first time, I went trick or treating - with Cindy's children - dressed as an American with a painted face."