l'eau vive

Amazed

2011-11-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Have you been amazed by the way God works lately? I’m currently reading through a book called “A Praying Life.” In this book Paul Miller talks about the story that God weaves in our lives.
My story has recently taken an interesting and joyful turn. For years I’ve prayed that God would give me a family of my own. I’ve patiently waited and longed for an answer to that prayer. I’ve had ideas of how God might respond to my request, but I never expected what He has recently done in my life.
Six months ago I learned about a little baby girl who was struggling for life after the death of her mother. I had met her mother a couple months earlier, while she was still pregnant with the baby and struggling for life herself. Medically, there was little I could do for her and she died only 2 weeks after giving birth. When I first saw the baby, she was one month old and barely holding on to life. She was dying of malnutrition and pneumonia. With her family’s permission, I took her home with me, hoping to get her stronger so that she could finish her recovery with her family.
Her first few days of recovery were very uncertain. She weighed only 3 ½ pounds and every bit of her energy was going to trying to breathe. She didn’t even have enough strength to cry. The second night she spent with me was especially scary. In the middle of the night her breathing became more and more difficult. In spite of the medication, care and prayer that I was giving her, her lungs were barely able to give her enough oxygen to survive. It looked as if she would die, right there in my arms. I’ve seen God do a few miracles, so I decided to pray. I prayed that God would heal her body, that He would show Himself powerful, that He would give her a future and that He would draw her to Himself. Before I even finished my prayer, she coughed twice and fell into a restful sleep, breathing much better. The next morning, though she was still a critically ill child, it was apparent that God had already begun a miracle of healing in her little life. She continued to recover very quickly. I was daily amazed at the progress. She didn’t yet have a name, so I named her Annabella, which means ‘easy to love.’ My hope is that God continues to answer the prayer I prayed that night, and Annabella finds her identity in Christ.
Ten days after she first came home with me, I took Annabella to see her family. They were amazed to see how strong she was and rejoiced with me in God’s healing in her life. It was at this visit that I tried to start the discussion of how the family was to prepare for Annabella’s homecoming. However, they recognized the difficulty of caring for such a sick infant and refused to discuss the possibility. Instead they asked me to keep her longer.
At subsequent visits, I tried in vain to encourage Annabella’s family to accept the responsibility of caring for her. Baka babies are raised in leaf huts, surrounded by dirt and germs. One positive for them is that they are always breastfed, which protects them to a certain extent from malnutrition and poor sanitation. Annabella, however, could not be breastfed, as her mother had died and there was no one else who could provide her with breastmilk. Though I wished to see her reunited with her family, I wondered if they would be able to provide her with clean water, formula, food and a clean environment. I was perfectly willing to help out financially, but I feared that she would succumb to the 50% childhood mortality rate in our area.
I agonized over what to do with this little one that God had put into my care. I dreamed of adoption, but I didn't want to deny Annabella's family of the opportunity of raising her. I also wondered what kind of life she would have, raised by a single missionary woman. I could not give her a father. I prayed about this problem, and through tears sensed God telling me that He, himself, would be a father to her and that He would take care of both of us. Through lots more prayer and surrendering to God, it became clear that God was giving me the go-ahead to adopt Annabella. I went back to the family with this idea and they were excited about the possibility. They were particularly happy that she would learn English and go to school.
A subsequent meeting clarified some of the unknowns about adoption for the family and assured me that they really wanted me to go through with this, and I headed to the lawyer to draw up the papers. I had already been through the wringer while trying to get guardianship for Annabella, so I wanted to do it right this time. I was informed that I was five years too young to be able to legally adopt Annabella, so I had to become her guardian instead. This is a different kind of guardianship than I had tried to get earlier and will give me the right to take her to the US whenever I wish. It is basically the same process as adoption, but I can not change her name or her citizenship. It was a huge disappointment for me that I could not adopt Annabella yet, but I know God is in control and that He is taking care of us. There will be a hearing at the end of this week, and I will find out if the guardianship has been accepted by the appropriate authorities. If all goes well, the papers will be finished in January!
There are many more things to praise God about. Annabella is so healthy and strong. After the very difficult beginning she had, I am happily surprised that she doesn't seem to have any health or development problems. She's bigger and further along in her development than other Baka kids her age. Each time she learns a new thing, am completely amazed. Not only that, she is a true joy to have around.
Praise God with me for this new addition to my family and pray that God will continue His amazing work in Annabella's life.

We Will Dance

2010-05-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

We Will Dance

(David Ruis)

Sing a song of celebration
Lift up a shout of praise
For the Bridegroom will come
The glorious one
And oh, we will look on his face
We’ll go to a much better place

Dance with all your might
Lift up your hands and clap for joy
The time’s drawing near
When he will appear
And oh, we will stand by his side
A strong, pure, spotless bride

We will dance on the streets that are golden
The glorious bride and the great Son of man
From every tongue and tribe and nation
Will join in the song of the lamb

Sing aloud for the time of rejoicing is near
(Sing aloud for the time of rejoicing is near)
The risen King, our groom, is soon to appear
(The risen King, our groom, is soon to appear)
The wedding feast to come is now near at hand
(The wedding feast to come is now near at hand)
Lift up your voice, proclaim the coming Lamb
(Lift up your voice, proclaim the coming Lamb)

Copyright © 1993 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

More about Mice

2009-10-05T18:34:00.001-07:00

The other day I pulled out a rat trap for my neighbor, Sanda. I showed him how it worked and told him to keep it away from the kids. Honestly, I was not convinced that he understood my instructions. A couple hours later, I went out to talk to the ladies. I asked if they saw Sanda's new trap and they responded by showing me the rat that he had already caught. By that evening, the count had gone up to 4. And during the night, 7 more! There are still plenty of rats in the house, but the trap has become a big success. Perhaps this will be the end of the rats chewing Sanda's feet.
Another interesting comment: According to my neighbors, rats and mice only live in houses, not in traditional huts. Oh, and mice are considered good food, as long as they are caught in the forest, not in the house.

Of Mice and Feet (warning, this one is kinda gross)

2009-09-20T07:05:00.001-07:00

-You are awake.
-I am awake.
-I want to see you.
-Here I am.
-The mice ate my feet at night.
-The mice ate your feet?
-Yes, the mice ate my feet, and it hurts badly.
-You didn’t wake up when the mice were eating your feet?
-I woke up, but they had already eaten my feet.

This is a conversation I had with my neighbor, Sanda, yesterday morning while I was tending the garden. The mice have been a continual problem in his little house. We’ve talked about solutions, including getting a cat, rat poison and traps, but none of these solutions has panned out. Lendo, Sanda’s wife, wakes up when she feels mice on her and throws them to the side. Sanda sleeps much heaver. Unfortunately, Sanda’s feet are currently paying the price. The mice have managed to chew off most of the callous and have reached the thick pad of the sole of his right foot. Though difficult to believe, the bite pattern is certainly consistent with the chewing of a mouse. The thing I don’t understand is why he doesn’t wake up.

The End of a Long Fight

2009-09-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

While I was spending some unplanned time in the capital city, I received word that Yeye died. I’m not surprised, but it is hard to accept all the same. We’ve been caring for Yeye for the last three months. At her older brother’s request, we went to pick her up from her father’s encampment, and brought her to her brother’s encampment, just a short walk from my home. From the reports of her failing health, I expected to find a very ill child, bedbound and breathing her last breath. What I found when we showed up was a skeleton of a child, still able to walk, in spite of her severely compromised state. A quick physical exam confirmed our suspicions of tuberculosis. We expected that she would die within the week. She survived the week, though her condition was still very fragile. Each time we walked down the dirt road to see her, my ears were tuned, wondering if I would hear the sounds of the death wail as the family mourned the loss of her life. We started her on TB medications, which she could not tolerate at first, and I wondered again if she had any chance of living at all. After a short break for the sake of her weak stomach, we started the TB medications again, in addition to multiple other drugs to lessen her symptoms and improve her breathing.
A month went by, and I was amazed that her lungs, full of fluid, worked well enough to keep her alive. I was even more amazed that her greatly compromised heart continued to beat, though it was doing more than double the work it was meant to do. Her family, though they have very limited resources, cared for her the best they could.
Another month went by, and though we had seen slight improvement, Yeye declined once more as she fought the cold virus that was making its rounds in the encampment. We thought that this must surely be the end. Yet she survived even this setback.
Two weeks ago, Yeye’s brother came to tell me that she was hurting. I went to see her and found that her little heart had finally had enough. She had developed congestive heart failure. I gave her a shot of lasix to make her more comfortable and prayed that God would do his will in her life and in the lives of her loved ones. The next morning she looked much more comfortable, but she required a shot again that evening.
That night I was robbed and the decision was made to go stay with some other missionaries. On the way out, we stopped to check on Yeye. I told her where I was going and that I would be back soon. Though I didn’t expect that she would still be living when I got back, I wondered if God would choose to continue to extend her life, against the odds. He chose, instead, to allow her to die. I don’t quite understand His timing. He preserved her life for 3 months, but she didn’t live to fully understand the Gospel and its saving message. I know that God loves Yeye much more than I ever could and that He desired that she would become His child. I know that He knows best and that He does what is best for us. And I know that He is sovereign over every situation, even life and death. I don’t have to understand. I just have to trust Him and keep doing what He called me to do.
Please pray for Yeye’s family. Pray that they would see how God miraculously preserved her life during those 3 months. Pray that they would begin to truly understand God’s saving grace through the blood of His son Jesus.

Robbed in the Night

2009-09-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

On Sunday night, the 16th of August, I had a new experience, something that is far too common among missionaries. I was robbed. Two men came to my bedroom window on that very dark night and demanded money. They claimed to be armed and threatened to harm or kill me if I did not comply. My first instinct was to pray. I prayed quite simply for help, for protection, and that I would say and do the right things. God responded by giving me all those things and by adding to it a profound peace. I complied with the thieves demand and gave them the requested amount of money, and to my relief, they left. I never saw their faces that night.
The next morning some missionary friends came to pick me up, take me home with them, and offered their hospitality for a week and a half while I debriefed and put some additional security measures in place.
On my birthday, the 26th of August, I returned with my teammate, Reda, this time with a borrowed vehicle and a night guard and supported by lots of prayers. I was surprised to find that even though I had filed a police report and the names of three suspects were known by the local community, no arrests had been made.
The very next day our friend and temporary night guard, Agustin, apprehended one of the thieves, Taya, a boy of about 16 years old. In this country justice is often served by the victim, so I was forced to take the responsibility of transporting Taya to the police station. While in town, we were also able to apprehend another of the thieves, Elese. After three days of detainment, Taya was released. Though he was involved in the robbery, he was not one of the two that were at my house that night. Another robber, and supposed mastermind of the crime, Mole, is still at large. All three of these men live only a couple kilometers from us, in a small community that we know well. They know that we are missionaries, here to help them, to bring them God’s Word, but they saw the opportunity to benefit from us by dishonest means and they took it.
Since the arrest, I have discovered that this robbery had been planned in advance, that the thieves were under the influence of both drugs and alcohol, and that I was a target because I am a single woman. I’ve also discovered that the justice system here is much different than that of North America. Much of the responsibility of justice and of physical protection is left to the victim. In fact, the victim is often charged court fees at the end of a trial, since the criminal will have surely spent all the money stolen before he is caught and will have no money to offer the court.
I’ve also discovered that all of my actions in response to this crime have consequences. If I were to simply let the thieves go, this would certainly have happened again. But since I took them in to the police, I now face unhappy family members who have threatened to practice sorcery against my immediate neighbors and who don’t understand why I cannot just forgive this violent crime instead of pressing charges.
Even through the repercussions of this crime, I continue to ask God for guidance and wisdom. I want to respond correctly to these people, who so desperately need to know Christ. I want to reflect God’s justice and grace, not human anger or vengeance. I pray that each one of these thieves would recognize their own sin and need for a savior, and I pray that their testimony would bring many others to Christ.

The Sunday that wasn’t “a Day of Rest”

2009-07-27T01:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we woke up expecting a nice relaxing Sunday with an intimate church service, an afternoon nap and perhaps a walk in the rainforest. Our expectations were never realized. I slept in a bit, and after feeding the two inside cats, stepped outside to re-hang some laundry that didn’t dry the day before. I found the outside cat, Mixie, lying at the door, panting. Thinking that she is expecting kittens soon, I assumed she was about to give birth to a litter. Upon closer examination, I discovered that she had been injured by a wild animal, her injuries including a badly broken leg. So, church was postponed in order to look up feline pain medication dosages. But while in the process of researching pain medication, we had a knock on the door…
Sufayo was patiently waiting to speak with us. My heart quickened, thinking that he may be bringing bad news about his sister Yeye, who has TB (more about her later). He must have sensed my anxiety, because he had a really hard time stating his business. When he finally found his tongue, he told us that a woman had come to have her arm bandaged. We discovered that this was the same woman that we had seen a couple times about 2 weeks ago. She had come to us with a badly infected cut on her upper arm. It was already sutured, and she was taking antibiotics, but it was infected all the same. Yesterday, I was glad to see that the swelling had gone down and that our patient was much more comfortable. Since she doesn’t speak French or Baka, but only her tribal language and some Pidgin, we instructed her, in very simple English, how to wash the wound today and told her to come back tomorrow for a dressing change. I hope she understood.
Before she left, our neighbor, Angula came to tell us that his wife had an eye infection. We reminded him that we don’t do medicine on Sundays and told him to wait until our church service was over.
We gave Mixie some aspirin and went back to our little church service. We sang some songs and were in the middle of prayer requests when we heard a knock on the door…
It was Sufayo again, this time with a whole entourage of white people! You have to realize at this point that in our corner of the jungle, one rarely sees white people (except when looking in the mirror of course), so a group of 7-8 white faces was a bit of a surprise. They were French students, in Cameroon to help at a hospital and had come to greet us and see what it was that we were doing among the Baka. They got a brief explanation of our ministry and armed with the knowledge that we were in the middle of a church service, were on their way. It was already half past noon when we finally got the sermon tape going, which was entitled, “Being Willing to be Used by God.” Appropriate. It was a long sermon, so it was 2 pm by the time church was over.
Angula showed up at Reda’s door just after I left, so she was left to tend to the eye infection. She took the opportunity to also check in on a young girl with pneumonia who is visiting from another camp. She and her family have been staying with our next door neighbor for the past 3 days in order to get treatment for her illness. Lendo and Sanda, our neighbors have been very gracious to house the visitors in their 120 square foot “house” in addition to their own grandchildren.
After a quick lunch, we all came together again to tend to the injured kitty. I tried to keep her comfortable and still while Reda tended to her wounds. The boys stood by and helped by holding flailing paws and finding the needed bandages and tape. We got her cleaned up, wounds dressed, and a splint placed on the injured leg. Mixie was a good sport about it all, only trying to give me a few warning bites in the midst of all the painful meowing.
By this time, the afternoon was nearly over. We are blessed with a satellite internet connection, but it is not always reliable and we’ve learned that weekend afternoons are the best time to hook up with the rest of the world. Not wanting to miss that opportunity, we sat down to collect and send emails. I was deep into composing my emails when we realized that darkness would be falling soon and we had not yet visited our young TB patient.
We put the internet time on hold and made the short trek to see Yeye, Sufayo’s 12 year old sister, who is fighting tuberculosis. Yeye has been teetering between life and death for the last 2 ½ months while we have attempted to treat her disease with medications and lots of prayer. We were pleased that, though her condition has been getting steadily worse for the last week, she seemed to have improved ever so slightly yesterday. In addition to our patient and her family, there were also two women at Yeye’s home, strangers visiting from another part of Cameroon. One of the women, attempting to be helpful, I think, spent our entire visit instructing us on how to take care of our patient. We were happy to be able to communicate with the family in Baka, a language the women could not understand or easily interrupt.
Then it was back home to finish up the emails and start on dinner. I was cutting up some potatoes when Noah came to my window to say that a woman had been bitten by a snake…
I found the elderly woman outside, sweating profusely and quite scared. Her foot was already swelling, but she was alert and showing no signs of shock. We did our best to stop the spread of venom by using a constricting elastic bandage and electric shock, but, as we have no antivenin, that was about all we could do. For a couple of hours we monitored her pain level and vital signs, all the while concerned about her bleeding gums, which, we feared, could be a sign that the venom had reached her blood stream. There was no place for her to stay in Lendo and Sanda’s already maxed out house, so we made a place for her and a family member to sleep on our teammate’s vacant front porch.
By this time it was 10:30 pm, and neither Reda nor I had eaten dinner. I was feeling the effects of low blood sugar, so I abandoned the planned scalloped potatoes and invited Reda over for some left-over beef stroganoff. We read about snake bites in a tropical medicine book and discussed our planned action. I slipped off to bed while Reda stopped checked on our patient one more time and gave the family some nighttime instructions.

And so ends the Sunday that was not a day of rest…

Our snake bite victim survived the night, and still looked quite strong this morning, but her granddaughter, who has pneumonia, is not getting better. We were able to find a ride to the nearest hospital for both of them with our friend, Pierre, who stopped in this morning before driving to town.

Fight for Life

2009-07-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

I remember little Yeye from several years ago when her mother was still living. A small child with the swollen belly and discolored hair of malnutrition, she was clothed in tattered rags, had a dull look on her face and was perpetually ill with fevers and ear infections. Her mother and infant sister developed TB and the whole family was treated. In a short time, her mother and sister succumbed to the disease. Yeye’s treatment was never finished.

Fast forward eight years. We received word that Yeye was very ill and were asked to go pick her up from the encampment where she has been staying and to bring her back to be with her family. I prepared for the worst and went with my teammate to assess the situation. We returned with a young lady who seemed to be on death’s door.

Yeye, now twelve years old, weighs only 20 kilograms, the same as my teammates’ preschool-age children. Tuberculosis has taken over her small frame. Her heart and lungs are working overtime, fighting to preserve life. Her skin is dry and dusky and her eyes have very little hope left in them. She has no energy to participate in the life that goes on all around her. She looks very much like a walking skeleton.

We’ve been treating Yeye for TB for 2 months now, with no noticeable improvement. We’ve been praying all the while that God would guide us and that He would heal, and we have been surprised to see that she has survived this long in her compromised state.

This week Yeye took a downhill turn. Her breathing, already quite compromised, became even quicker, and it became apparent that she had caught the cold that has been making the rounds of her small little encampment. Her poor little lungs don’t need another assault. Knowing that there is little we can do, we encouraged a good diet and lots of fluids, both of which are very taxing on a family with several other starving children. We decided that we would go see Yeye again half-way through the week.

I awoke this morning with a sinking feeling that Yeye’s condition had worsened still and a burden to pray for her. I told God that I don’t really even know what to pray any more. I’ve prayed for healing, physically and spiritually. I’ve prayed for ease of breathing, for a break from the constant work of each new breath. I’ve prayed that her family will care for her well, feed her nutritious foods and supply her with lots of water. I’ve told God that I don’t understand His ways and that I really cannot expect to understand the thoughts of the One who created all. And I’ve determined to trust Him through it all, even when it makes no earthly sense. This morning I prayed all those prayers again, with weeping and a keen knowledge that Yeye’s life hangs in the balance.

Only a couple hours after that prayer Yeye’s older brother, Sufayo, came with word that Yeye is complaining of pain in her chest and belly, that she is having trouble breathing, and that she is not eating. My heart sunk. I feared, of course, the worst. Could this be Yeye’s last day? Did we really do her any favors by treating her TB and prolonging her suffering? Did she ever see clearly the love of Christ in our efforts to heal her body?

As we prepared the necessary medications, I felt as if our efforts were futile, like I was fighting a raging forest fire with a measly little water gun. But this battle must be fought. We must be faithful to the task put before us.

I would want nothing else but to care for children like Yeye, to show them the love of Christ, to lead them to the one who gives life. But that is perhaps where I feel the most powerless. I long to share with her the love and grace and power of Christ, but I do not have the words. I cannot yet speak the language. I told God today how I want to share His Gospel of hope with Yeye and then my heart cried out, ”Lord, please give me the words!”

Yeye continues to fight weakly for life. Her heart, strained by all the work of recent months, continues to do its job, and her lungs, filled with infectious material, somehow find enough air to keep her alive. But in her eyes I see that she is tired, that she knows death may come soon.

I don’t know what our Sovereign Lord has designed to do with Yeye’s precious life. I know not whether this disease will claim her or if she will be miraculously healed; it will take a miracle. I don’t know if she will become a great warrior for Christ or if she will never know Him. I only know that my Lord is faithful and that I am called to follow His example.

Observations of a Rookie Missionary

2009-06-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went with my teammates to visit a dying woman in the encampment. Kosene had come to see us for medical help a few months ago when she developed a very severe throat infection. The infection responded very slowly to several courses of antibiotics, and Kosene began to waste away before our eyes. She was also about 5-6 months pregnant, and in her weakened state, she lost the baby. The young woman, who was once one the heaviest-looking Baka woman I had known, became nothing but skin and bones and soon required a walking stick just to get around. It became apparent to us, even without any laboratory tests, that she was in the end-stages of AIDS.
My teammates were convicted to present the plan of salvation to Kosene, with the hope that she would accept the Gospel of hope and the gift of eternal life. Even in her very weak state, she was able to understand what was being said, all except for one thing. She became very uncomfortable when the idea was presented that all people have sin in their lives. She strained to look around the room and became obviously agitated. Her response to the idea that she has sin was a very adamant “NO.” It absolutely broke our hearts to see her come to such an obvious roadblock. The question in my mind was how she could possibly believe that she had lived a sinless life. The Bible says that “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” and that “no one is righteous, not even one.” I went home discouraged and confused.
After sharing what had happened with another teammate, she suggested reading about the subject of the concept of sin in an animistic society in a book called “Quest for Power.” That reading gave me some insight, but no answers. In an animistic society, one cannot sin against God. One can only violate certain traditional laws or taboos. To us, these violations would look like sinful behavior, but to the animist, one is only guilty of bad behavior if they are caught. If they are not caught, keeping such behavior secret is of upmost importance. If one is not caught, then one should never admit having done something wrong, because then one can never be guilty of wrongdoing. That explains a few of Kosene’s actions to me. It explains why, when we began to suspect that she had AIDS, she would not give us any information about her unborn child’s father, to whom she was not married. To do so would have certainly caused her to be guilty of wrongdoing as sex outside of marriage is not acceptable behavior in Baka society. It also explains why she made an effort to see who was present in the room when the idea of sin was presented to her. The admission of wrongdoing in the presence of others would certainly been disastrous in her eyes.
So, how, in the light of all this, can we possibly communicate the Gospel to the Baka? Oh Lord, please give us wisdom, insight and abounding love for these dear people.

2009-05-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

After a long break from Blogger, it is time to catch up. Though I have posted since then, I will start in December. This is a fast and furious summary what I have been up to:
December 12, 2008:
• graduated from French language school and packed up for a move across the ocean
• spent a few much needed days of rest with a couple of dear friends and then departed for a wonderful 2 week trip to Israel with my parents
December 17, 2008:
• arrived in Israel
• celebrated our Lord's birth with my wonderful parents!
• enjoyed all the sights
December 30, 2008:
• arrived in Cameroon!
January, 2009:
• some time in the capital city with the Colemans
• a visit to my home in the bush
• an annual missionary conference
• a trip to the beach for a few days
• more time in the capital city
• and finally, home!
February, 2009:
• after much effort on my part, my cargo finally arrived!!!
• a survey trip to the southernmost border of Cameroon.
March and April, 2009:
• lots of travel all over Cameroon with a wonderful group of visitors from North America
• a few weeks up in beautiful Banyo as part of my orientation
• a few days of field conference
• and HOME!
End of April, 2009:
• more orientation to missionary life in Cameroon
• Baka language learning
• medical work, saving the lives of some and watching others leave this life
May 1, 2009
• catching my breath
Who says missionary life is boring? I am looking forward to spending the next few months at home, learning language, orienting to the medical work and learning what life is going to be like for me for the next several years.

A Day in the Life…

2009-02-04T13:52:00.001-08:00

Though this might not be a typical day in my life, I thought it would be interesting enough to share.
My day began at 2am. I awoke to the voice of my teammate and close neighbor Barry, who came to my bedroom window to warn me of an ant invasion that was already beginning to take over my house and come through the bedroom windows. There are many kinds of ants here, but one specific type, the driver ants, can be a true menace. When these insects are on the move, you don’t want to be in the way! They travel in wide trails that can sometimes be several feet wide and voraciously eat any meat that might get in their way, including living animals. The night before last, our friend Augustine lost a chicken to the ants that had come through. He, his wife, and some other close neighbors spent the whole night by the fire to avoid being eaten alive. I was a little more fortunate, as I had ample notice and was able to vacate my house before too many made it inside. I high-tailed it to the refuge of Reda’s house, where I spent the rest of the night on the couch. Barry and his wife Desma spent the night with the kids in their room, as the rest of the house was crawling with the vicious little critters. We were all a bit edgy and on-alert through the night, and every sound and movement was suspect as we kept an ear out for more invasions.
At 7am, I wearily walked back to my house and had a breakfast of oatmeal and a boiled egg. I was very grateful for my cup and half of coffee. After spending some time reading my Bible and in prayer, I headed off to Barry and Desma’s house. I was a little late for our meeting, but they didn’t mind, as they had let the kids sleep in after being awoken during the night. We sang and prayed together, and then we spent a couple hours discussing various aspects of language and culture as a part of my ongoing orientation.
Toward the end of the morning, Reda came to tell me that we had some patients under the mbanjo (a little palm leaf shelter). We saw an older man who has pneumonia and COPD, a close neighbor who has been having lots of trouble with foot sores, a young boy with a badly infected finger, his brother with a tropical skin disease called Yaws, and a young man with a dental abscess. After a bandage change, distribution of appropriate antibiotics to each one, and some patient teaching, we were done, and I headed home to research the best technique for draining a dental abscess. Then I returned to Reda’s for a delicious lunch of grilled fish and fries.
Feeling a bit drowsy, I decided it was time for some R&R. I borrowed a book from the bookshelf and settled down to read for a while. Later in the afternoon, I made a visit to Bilinga Pauline, who lives just a kilometer down the road from us. My goal was to do a little bit of language learning, and Bilinga, her sister and a whole gang of kids were glad to oblige. We talked about the ant invasion, the children, and the animals. Upon returning home, I stopped to visit with teammates and then fixed supper. Tonight we will have a team prayer meeting and then turn the satellite internet on for an hour of internet access. Hopefully we will have an uneventful and restful night

A Dusty Jog

2009-02-04T13:50:00.000-08:00

Today I went jogging on a dusty road carved through the rainforest. For some that would be a once in a lifetime experience, and a dream come true. For me, it is a dream come true, but it is also “just life.” While we were jogging, I commented to my teammate that it sure was nice out today, and she responded by pointing out how cool it is to be able to jog through the rainforest like we do. I agree! As we ran today, I enjoyed the tranquility of birds flitting about, the majesty of some scattered remaining canopy trees and the company of a friend.
The road that leads to our house is much different than I remember it. It has not been maintained in some time, so there are large ruts, potholes and boulders scattered here and there, and the surrounding forest is fast encroaching in on it. If it were not being used at all, I bet the road would completely surrender to the rainforest in a matter of just a couple months.
Today was an overcast day. It was still warm, like it usually is here, but we did not have the dry season sun that is so common this time of year. In fact, even though it is dry season, we have had several hard rains. I think it is quite nice, as the rain keeps the dust level down, but I hope the unusual weather is not affecting the local agriculture.

What I Learned in School Today

2009-02-02T12:52:00.000-08:00

In August of 2001 I went back to school for the express purpose of preparing for the mission field. With nursing school, support raising, mission training, French language learning, and various other trainings and activities, it has taken until now to finally be prepared enough to arrive in Cameroon. So now the learning is finished and I can start this ministry that I have been preparing for so long, right? Well, no, and yes…
Today I started reading a little booklet entitled “Language Learning IS Communication- IS Ministry!” by E. Thomas Brewster and Elizabeth S. Brewster. It talks about how important it is to learn the language and the culture of a target people group. It emphasizes the importance of taking the humble posture of a learner. As a cross-cultural missionary, I cannot pretend to know better how to speak or act in my new culture than the people that I have come to minister to. I have lots of knowledge to share, and a big part of my job here is sharing information, but I am not the ultimate authority on everything. If a foreign missionary were to come to California, he or she would have to earn the respect of those in my home town before having an effective ministry. That respect is not earned by proudly showing how much knowledge one has, but by placing value and importance in the language and the culture of local people.
So my job, as a foreign missionary is to be a learner, for now and forever. No matter how proficient I become in Baka, no matter how many years I am here, no matter how well I do my job, I will always be an outsider and I must always take the posture of a learner. My hope is that by taking that humble posture, I will show God’s love to those around me.

Surrender

2009-01-25T04:21:00.000-08:00

In September, as I started another school year with 30 other French language students and 45 Bible school students, I attended a chapel as I did each week. Mark brought us a challenge; to be completely surrendered to Jesus Christ. He showed us a yellow piece of paper taped to the inside back cover of His Bible which said, “All that I am… all that I have… all that I hope to become… I consecrate now and forever to the Lord Jesus Christ for His glory and for His service, completely and unconditionally.” It was signed and dated and served as a reminder of the commitment that he made to Christ many years ago. I had made the same commitment to Christ long ago, but God was prompting me to renew my vow once more. So, I picked up a small piece of yellow paper from the front of the classroom and sought out two witnesses to sign it with me. It was then tucked away in my Bible. Frequently I pull that little piece of paper out and read it over, many times with tears in my eyes as I think about the fact that the sacrifice of my life is so small in comparison with the reward of being a child of God. The day I left Quebec, I found that pledge tucked snugly next to Psalm 34. With tears streaming down my face I turned to the two young ladies who had signed the little yellow paper with me, and I said with trembling voice, “today I live this.” Even now, as I write this, my heart is filled with so many emotions. I am heartbroken to have left so many places and so many dear people. I am overjoyed to have finally arrived in Cameroon after years of preparation. I am intimidated by the task of learning Baka language and culture. I am comforted to be part of an amazing team of missionaries. And though I can be so unfaithful, I am amazed at God’s faithfulness and love.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T05:53:00.001-08:00

This Christmas, I have the extra special blessing of celebrating our Savior’s birth in Israel. Dad and Mom gave me the Christmas gift of a “lay-over” in Israel. It is so fun to tour this country with my parents. As we travel from site to site, remembering the historical and Biblical importance of each place, I am not quite able to grasp the significance of such a wonderful trip. It hasn’t really sunk in that I am in Israel. Perhaps it is because I have traveled quite a bit already. Perhaps I am not one to make pilgrimages. Or perhaps it is because I have the presence of our Lord with me wherever I go, whether in the Promised Land or outside of it. Wow, what a blessing that we have God’s very presence with us.

Merry Christmas!

Jennifer

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Lac St-Jean!!!

2008-11-01T10:18:00.001-07:00

Béthel Gradu 07-08

2008-11-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Quelques souvenirs des camps d'été (summer camps)

2008-11-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Be Still My Soul

2008-09-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

I got an email update today from a friend who is going through a tremendous amount of transitions right now. I can relate a little. As my heart is heavy with many dear people to pray for today, I was happy that Naomi included this text from a beloved hymn in her email.

Be still, my soul! the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul! thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Résumé de la première semaine

2008-09-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'll start off with a big thank you to all of you who are still reading the blog. Thank you also to Jyll who so gently reminded me that it has been a month since my last post.
I just finished my first week of Fall classes here. It is really good to be back. I have some good news. I tested into the advanced class! That means that I will get to learn lots of new stuff, but I will also have lots of work to do!! Pray for a clear head, good memory, a flexible tongue, and the ability to be patient with myself. I was so blessed to be able to stay in Quebec during the summer and spend time with the Néron family. My teacher here at Parole de Vie Béthel noticed a big improvement in the amount of French I was speaking when classes started. And I also gained some very special friends in the process!!!
I've also moved. Last semester I had the blessing of being in the dorm with the French-speaking Bible school students. That helped a lot with my French, and also gave me the opportunity to have a bit of a ministry with the girls. However, the dorm is too full this semester, and I had to move into the mobile home. I am still on campus, and I plan to spend a lot of time with the Bible school students, so keep me in your prayers as I actively seek opportunities to practice my French and minister to the students here. As I type this message, a whole group of Bible school students are in the process of arriving and registering. Pray for the students and staff of both the language school and the Bible school, as this will be a record-breaking year.

Lac St-Jean

2008-08-04T15:57:00.001-07:00

For the remainder of my summer, I get to hang out with the Néron family just outside of a little village called Albanel. Where's that you ask? Well, it is in the region of Lac St-Jean (lac for lake, St-Jean for St-Jean) in the North of Quebec. It may seem like I am in the middle of nowhere, but there is plenty to do here. Blueberry season is just beginning, and I hope to take part in the harvest. The blueberries here are the best!!! We also go out on the 4-wheeler now and then (thanks Pierre-Olivier). We have gone to the falls a few times, ridden horses, harvested raspberries, gone on a little story telling walk through the woods, and visited the ranch of a man who raises a rare breed of cattle from Scotland called the Haute-Terre (Scottish highland). It is tons of fun. I would be content just to hang out with the family, but I am glad to be kept busy.
Keep me in your prayers as I continue to try to wade through the thick lumberjack accent of Lac St-Jean and as I continue to study faithfully with the hope of advancing my French.
Pray also for the Néron family, as they have been wonderful hosts and great French teachers for this little English speaker.

Goodbyes

2008-07-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

One of my friends here at language school recently posted on Facebook that she is tired of goodbyes. I wholeheartedly agreed. The missionary life is full of goodbyes. Last week I said goodbye to one more group of beloved people. The students of the Bible school here, who I have lived with, eaten with, shared joys and heartaches with, and learned French from, have graduated and moved on to their respective homes. I already miss them dearly, but I pray that God will continue to hold them in His hands of love and continue to guide them in the ministry that He has for each one of them. One thing I have learned in the midst of all of these goodbyes is that God alone is truly faithful. He is the only true constant in my life that I can always, without fail, count on. When others, even with the best of intentions, let us down, God is there, with His arms of love and faithfulness held out to us.

After a long absence

2008-07-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I am back at the blog after a long absence. You know, sometimes I just get stuck in the tyrany of the urgent and forget to do some things that are important. For curiosity sake, and to encourage me to write more, who is still reading this thing? Click on the comments link just below this message and write a word or two.

Le voyage missionnaire

2008-05-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

The mission trip to Sept-îles and Matane went quite well. We got to talk to so many people about the Gospel and we did many presentations in churches, schools, and at the Moose lodge. And I got to practice my French, a lot!! One young man accepted Christ and a few others showed genuine interest in a relationship with Christ. Praise God! He truly showed us His glory these last 2 weeks.
Pray for me now as I am jumping right back into French classes, but without a dormitory full of tutors and friends. Pray also for the Bible school students as they are on a 2 week break before they come back for summer camp.

Waiting for la traversée.
La traversée est arrivée.
Attends un instant Katherine. Je vais te sauver.Mes belles filles.

Matane

2008-05-12T06:08:00.000-07:00

Hi all!! I just wanted to say a quick hello from the beautiful town of Matane. I stayed in the home of a beautiful young family last night. They have 4 young girls. Pray for them, as they endeavor to raise their children in the knowledge of God. When I awoke, I found that the kitchen windows look out onto the water. Beautiful! God is good.
We`ll stay in Matane today and travel to Sept-îles tomorrow. We would appreciate your prayers as we share with churches and minister to young people. Pray also for the group who will be leaving us by train to journey on to Schefferville at the end of the week.
Pray also for me as everything that we do here is in French.

To Quebec and Beyond

2008-05-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

Quebec City that is.
Yesterday was the last day of classes for the Bible school students. They finished up their final exams and are in a period of transition. We had a dinner last night to thank some supporters of the school, and we will have a brunch this morning for the same purpose. Then we will all load onto a yellow school bus and head toward the city of Quebec. We have presentations to do in several churches, so we will travel the next day to Matane and eventually to Sept-îles. I'm excited about the trip, but at the same time nervous to do ministry in French. Thank God, I'll always have Bible school students available to me when I need language help. In all, we will be gone for 16 days.
Pray for safety in travel, that the old yellow bus would fare well, that God would prepare our hearts for ministry, and that God would also open the hearts of those that we hope to minister to.

Owl's Head

2008-05-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

For a class outing today, we went to Owl's Head. We were told that we would do some hiking, but I didn't expect to scale a mountain! In the winter, this is a ski resort. The view was great!
A few of us were not quite high enough, so we climbed to the top of a ski lift.The descent was a lot easier, but wrought with havoc, as the snow was slick under our tennis shoes. But fear not, we all made it down safely.
I don't think I make a very good mountaineer:)

Oh, and did I mention that I am experiencing my third spring this year. I got to experience a little bit of California spring, the beginning of the North Carolina spring, and now I am watching leaves turn green and flowers bloom in Quebec. The Daffodils are just coming out here. Trees are budding...

...and dandelions are bursting forth.

Say 'Shibboleth'

2008-05-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim. And it happened when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"then they would say to him, "Say now, 'Shibboleth.'" But he said, "Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of Ephraim.

Judges 12:5-6

That is what I read this morning during my quiet time. What did I learn? Well, I learned how important it is to have good pronunciation. Any English speaker who has had to learn French will agree that French is often difficult to pronounce and the difference between two words or two phrases often hinges on just one little sound.

Incidentally, I told my classmates and my teacher this morning what I had learned. Yeah, try pronouncing 'Schibboleth' in French with the correct accent! Just for kicks, I have included the Louis Segond (most widely used French Bible) version at the end of this post.

So, will bad pronunciation cost me my life on the mission field? Not likely. However, it could hinder my ministry. So, I'll strive to do my best with not only pronunciation, but also with vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.

Voila! Juges 12:5-6

Galaad s'empara des gués du Jourdain du côté d'Éphraïm. Et quand l'un des fuyards d'Éphraïm disait: Laissez-moi passer! les hommes de Galaad lui demandaient: Es-tu Éphraïmite? Il répondait: Non. Ils lui disaient alors: Hé bien, dis Schibboleth. Et il disait Sibboleth, car il ne pouvait pas bien prononcer. Sur quoi les hommes de Galaad le saisissaient, et l'égorgeaient près des gués du Jourdain. Il périt en ce temps-là quarante-deux mille hommes d'Éphraïm.

Plane Crash

2008-04-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Please pray for my friend Debbie, who was in a plane crash yesterday in Africa. She is a missionary in Sudan. After a short time of rest in Kenya, she was returning to Sudan by airplane and, due to weather conditions, the plane crashed. There were only 5 aboard, and all were injured, but no-one was killed. Praise God that he preserved the lives of all the passengers. Debbie has hurt her neck, so please pray for quick and complete healing and for safe transport back to Kenya where she will receive additional medical treatment.

Language Shock?

2008-04-25T11:23:00.001-07:00

Language learning is a bit of a stressful experience. When one learns language by immersion (as I am doing), there is more than just the language to learn. I had a bit of a bad day yesterday. Quite honestly, I was at the edge of tears most of the day. For those of you who know me well, you know that I don't cry often. Fortunately, I benefited from the empathy of a few people who knew exactly what I was going through.
You see, as a language learner, I can really only function as a child. In fact, most of the time I can only function as an infant. However, I still have the responsibilities and desires of an adult. Many times I can't really understand what is going on around me. Even if I understand most the words spoken, I often misunderstand something or miss the meaning all together. One example is when Serge, the chef here, was joking with me yesterday. As he was dishing up some shepherd's pie he explained how he made it. He used a word that I didn't recognize, but I didn't think anything of it. I discovered later that he was telling me that he added glue to the meat. Oops, I was supposed to laugh at that:0)
To add to the stress, I am in a culture and land that I am not yet accustomed to. I don't know the names of streets or stores, and I don't always know the significance of local news. And in addition to that, I have given up much of my freedom to be here. Instead of having my own house and car, I've decided to live in the dorm and to sell my car. And as enjoyable as the Bible School students are here, they are still significantly younger than I am.

Please pray with me, that I would learn the French language quickly and well, and that I would also be able to rely on God in the rougher times. Also, pray that I would remember to set my mind on heavenly things.

Abele Update

2008-04-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

I received an email update from my friends a few days ago. Below is what the Abbotts said about their visit with Abele.

"We were able to stop and visit with Abele at prison on our way home. He is thin and hungry but otherwise doing well and in good spirits. It is still uncertain how long he we will remain there. Continue to join us in praying that God will strengthen him and continue to bring him to complete repentance and restoration."

The Conrods also recently updated their blog with a post about Abele. You can find it by clicking here

Praise God that He is preserving Abele during his time in prison. He is truly suffering the consequences of his actions, but God has more than enough grace for Abele and for each one of us. Continue to pray for his protection. Pray also that he would truly understand the depth of God's grace and forgiveness and that he would be able to communicate that same grace and forgiveness to his fellow inmates and to the guards at the prison. Continue to pray also for his children who are without father or mother until Abele is released.

Coffee

2008-04-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

I have an announcement! I drank coffee today!!
OK, that announcement doesn't usually produce cheers and whoops of joy. In fact, most people would respond with a confused look. So, let me explain. Yesterday at dinner I spoke with my new French teacher. He was asking what my plans were for the evening. I responded that I would probably study. His response to me was that it was Friday night and I shouldn't be studying on Friday night, especially since classes haven't even started yet. I was reluctant at first, but with some prodding from another student, I decided that I really wasn't going to study.
You see, I have been expecting a lot from myself. I've been in Quebec for one week now, and I don't know French yet. Absurd, I know, but I fully expected to be able to understand people much better than I can, and I also expected that I would actually be able to contribute to conversations. So, in an effort to survive my experience here, I have been hitting the books hard, and being hard on myself when I don't understand or when I can't communicate well.
But, I have to remind myself that I am a language learner, and learning a language takes time. It will take time to get used to the Quebecois accent, to the slang, and to the speed of speech here (let alone to figure out the language itself).
Later yesterday evening, I read the blog of a friend, who, in the midst of many piles of things to do, decided that she would first have to just eat her strawberries. That inspired me. I decided that since I have not been fair to myself, I would set an attainable goal for myself. I thought about what would be attainable, practical, and enjoyable. Coffee! Perfect! I set a goal to drink coffee today. And guess what! I attained it! I am so proud of myself.
In addition to drinking my morning coffee, I also attended a conference on ministering to Muslims, attempted to go shopping with some friends, had some valuable conversations, attended a piano concert, and drank more coffee at Tim Hortons.
Ah, Timmy's. That is another Canadian thing of note. I guess the American equivalent to Tim Hortons would be a Dunkin' Donuts. Hmmm... I wonder if there were a competition between Timmy's and Dunkin' Donuts...Ah, it would probably be a draw, Eh?
Speaking of competitions, I just want to point out that the Americans won against Montreal today. Please pray for me, as I might get mobbed by angry hockey fans.

La Tire

2008-04-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

I went with the Bible School students to la cabanes à sucre today. It was a uniquely Quebecois experience. Most Americans are familiar with the Maple tree, but many of us don’t even know the difference between real maple syrup and the imitation kind. Well, I now know the difference!!!

We had a tour of the facilities, which consisted of tapped maple trees, a collection shack, and a larger shack for boiling the sugar. Once the sugar is boiled enough, it is syrup.

We all headed outside, where there were long wooden boxes filled with packed snow. Each of us took a popsicle stick and waited for the treat, ‘la tire sur la neige.’ A pot of sugar was boiling in the sugar shack, and at the right moment, it was brought out and poured into the snow. That is when the sticks came in handy. We poked and twirled our sticks in the sugar and out they came. Maple popsicles!! Yum, c’est tres cool!!

I start classes next week. In a way, I am glad to have some time to rest a bit, but at the same time, I am working hard to strengthen my French now, in order to be able to communicate with my new friends.

Wide-Eyed Foreigner

2008-04-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

I’ve made it!! My first destination after leaving California was North Carolina. I took a course called Missionary Medicine Intensive (MMI). I learned a ton, but still feel quite unprepared for the immense medical needs that I will no doubt encounter in Cameroon. The best part by far was the interaction with other missionaries.

After a very intense 12 days in North Carolina at Equip International for their Missionary Medicine Intensive, I flew to Quebec. The night of the 10^th was spent in a hotel in Montreal, since it was too late to catch the bus to Sherbrooke. Yesterday, the 11^th, I took the bus two hours and was met by the Christensens at the Sherbrooke bus station. It was so good to see familiar faces!

I am staying in the dorm with all of the Bible students, who speak French as their native tongue. The girls that I am staying with made a point to come greet me when I arrived. They are quite friendlyJ There is also another single gal, named Jen, staying in the dorm who is also studying French. I anticipate making a bunch of new friends here.

Yesterday, as I was making arrangements for the bus, I realized how foreign this little piece of North America is to me. I looked around, and everyone looked so American, but, in fact they were French speaking Quebec natives. I imagine that I probably resembled the foreigners that visit the United States, wide eyed and confused. But God is good, and He has provided for me a wonderful place to learn French and to make new friends. Soon I will be able to communicate with more ease and will know better how to navigate life in Quebec.

24 hours 8 minutes

2008-03-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

I just attempted to check in for my flight tomorrow, and the website wouldn't let me since it was more than 24 hours before my flight. I guess I was about 8 minutes early:)
Well, the suitcases are packed, the boxes are packed, and I am loading the crate today, so that it can get shipped to Cameroon.
I read Deuteronomy 6-8 this morning. As the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, God again reminded them of His providence, power, and grace. He reminded them that He was the one who led them out of Egypt and who was their protector throughout the whole ordeal. He told them of the prosperity that they would experience and commanded them not to forget God, who was their provider. God told them that remembering Him and obeying His commands would guarantee prosperity, but warned them against disobedience.
As I leave in 24 hours, I will do my best to remember that it is God who leads me to Cameroon. I will remember the many things He has done on my behalf. I will remember His providence, power, and grace, and I will serve Him only.

Packing

2008-03-19T17:03:00.001-07:00

I think I am nearing the last stretch of the packing phase. Almost everything that needs to be in boxes is in boxes and will likely fit on one pallet to be shipped to Illinois and then on to Cameroon (I am not going to IL, but my stuff will be shipped to Cameroon in a container that will originate in IL). The suitcases are almost ready too. I have most of the winter stuff I will need in Quebec in one suitcase and I am living out of the other:) There are several more odds and ends to attend to, but it will be a great relief to have the packing finished.

Not Soon Forgotten

2008-03-16T16:08:00.001-07:00

I spent a few days this week with dear friends. This time will not soon be forgotten. Thanks Robyn and Lindsey for sending me off with such fond memories.

Robyn

Lindsey

Upper Yosemite Falls

Is it safe to camp in a tent so close to a mountain made of solid rock that creaks and groans and emits sounds like thunder? With the changing of temperature, it was possible that some of that rock could come right down on us.

A land of contrasts. Gigantic and magestic stone walls surrounding such fragile and delicate small things.

Exploring the thawing valley on two wheels.

North Dome

A shroud of clouds. It almost seems like the mountains aren't even there.

From the most popular viewing point of Yosemite, the famous Half Dome is hiding behind the clouds, but El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls are both peeking through.

Rosalynn got to join us on her day off.

Two Weeks

2008-03-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

In two weeks, I'll begin my first term of missionary service as a church planter with World Team. I'll board a plane for North Carolina for a 2 week training and then travel on to Quebec for French language school. Then, after 7 years of preparation, I'll finally move to Cameroon. There's lot's to do in the next two weeks, but it will soon be done, and I will be on my way.

Incomplete Peace

2008-03-11T11:45:00.001-07:00

I haven't heard anything official, but the word I have received from friends in Cameroon is that the rioting has come to an end. It's interesting that I couldn't find any news articles on the peace in Cameroon. Peace is not as exciting as violence, I guess. I have heard, though, that the aftermath of the riots is quite bad. It seems that the death toll is much higher than official reports have stated and there is quite a bit of damage. Some friends of mine have informed me that many vehicles were destroyed, fuel stations were demolished and government buildings are rendered unusable. Though some friends who were in the larger cities found themselves very close to the violence, God protected them. Keep praying for peace in Cameroon, as I am sure the tensions remain high. Pray also that the political and economical problems would be resolved and stability restored in this developing country. Pray, most importantly, that Christ's name would be glorified, in whatever way possible, because without Him, our peace is incomplete.

Comissioning and More Goodbyes

2008-03-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday I was honored to be commissioned by my home church of Calvary Community. It truly was an honor to be prayed for in front of the congregation, but the highlight was the opportunity to talk to individuals between services. As always, it was both an honor and a humbling experience, as it is at these times that I am acutely aware that I am just a normal human being. I am nothing special, except for what God has done in me. I serve Him, not because I have to, but because I get to. He doesn't need me, but He chooses to use me to pronounce His kingdom. What an honor.
After church, I hurried over to a potluck with some extended family. We don't get to see each other very often any more, but my impending departure was a good excuse to get together, and I had a great time. It was truly bittersweet to say goodbye to some loved ones who I will not see for a few years.
On my way back home, I used the opportunity to snap a few more pictures of the almond blossoms. Most of them have already fallen from the trees. I love the way the trees are planted in perfect rows, the allusion of snow on the ground as the blossoms fall, and the contrasting strips of green grass between the rows. You might find it funny, but the almond blossoms are a big part of my heritage. I remember going to my Great Grandmother's house every year to watch the annual almond blossom parade. We would sit on folding chairs on the sidewalk and snack on yummy things like grandma's cookies and cream puffs. Sometimes we would visit the bake sale, art show, or other events that went on during the celebration. Grandma VanderVeen had a giant stuffed almond king in her back room, and our family was always somehow involved in the festivities. Those are old memories now, but I get a little nostalgic when I see the trees turn white.

Good Goodbyes

2008-03-09T17:13:00.001-07:00

Last week I had the chance to take one more trip to SoCal to visit friends, family, and supporters. I had a great time with loved ones. Some highlights...
Freezing on the beach (the only chilly day that I was there).
Sunday dinner with the Kappen clan.
Thai food with friends.
A walk through a nature reserve.
Meeting one of the newest editions to the World Team family.
Visits with friends and with my Grandparents.
Sale of my Cabrio.

In the midst of all of these fun things, I was constantly reminded just how long 4 years is. Chances are that all of the people I saw will have undergone major life changes before I see them again. Some will marry, others will begin having children, and some may move away. Little Shelby, who I met for the first time will likely be telling me her alphabet (in English and Spanish) and will have developed a distinct personality.
While I complete all of the tasks necessary for moving to another continent, I will continue to say goodbyes. Pray that I would be able to balance the necessary goodbyes with the necessary tasks.

Update on Rioting and Abele

2008-02-29T10:23:00.000-08:00

I have some good news to report. Unfortunately, the rioting in Cameroon continues, but my teammate, Nathan, has been able to safely drive back home to the bush where his family has been waiting for him. He was quite resourceful, and was able to get word that the route he would take out of Yaoundé was relatively safe. He then hired a motorcycle taxi to drive in front of him and alert him of any trouble. Continue to pray, as many of our missionaries are in the larger cities that are affected by the riots and could become targets if the rioters become desperate. Some of these missionaries are also away from home at a biannual educational conference for the kids and will need to travel home soon also.

On his way home, Nathan stopped to see Abele in prison. Here is an excerpt from his email regarding Abele’s condition.

“I found the prison without too much trouble. It’s held in an old structure that the German’s had built many years ago before Cameroon’s independence. …they called Abele and I greeted him, noticing that he seemed a bit slimmer than the last time I saw him. We talked for a bit and I found out that he gets one meal each day, though there’s a place for prisoners to buy food if their families bring them some money. I left him a little, along with some food, soap and a toothbrush. I told him that his family is praying for him and he said that he is also praying for all of us. We prayed together and then, after encouraging him with the fact that one day this will all be over and he can return home, I left.”

Please continue to lift Abele up in prayer. Prison life is very hard. Abele is also very much a minority in prison, as he is a pygmy and looked down upon by most Cameroonians. It is not uncommon for pygmies to be taken advantage of. Pray for his safety, that he does not become a victim of violence, for his health and ability to get enough to eat, but most of all that God would minister to him in a very special way during this time. We do not yet know how long Abele will be in prison.

Beginner

2008-02-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to announce that I passed my oral exam. The findings of this exam are that I can start the conversation course in April with the beginning French students who are in their first semester now. However, given the difficulty of doing such a test over the phone, we will repeat the test when I get to Quebec. The instructor who gave the exam said that I might be able to get into the intermediate class. Pray that the remainder of the financial support would come in within the next week, so that I can solidify my plans.

Almond Blossoms

2008-02-28T09:37:00.001-08:00

Cameroon Background

2008-02-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

The rioting in Cameroon has prompted me to highlight a little bit of Cameroon's background. Cameroon has been known as a peaceful African state. This is credited mostly to its diversity. There are over 500 ethnic groups in Cameroon, so the country has managed to avoid any tribal wars that might have resulted from having two or three majority tribes. Cameroon's ethnic diversity is complemented by its geographical diversity. The country is known as "little Africa," because every major geographical region in Africa is represented in Cameroon. It contains rain forest, mountains, coastal regions, desert, and grasslands.
However, Cameroon does have a large disparity between the upper class and the poor. Poverty is very widespread in Cameroon. If the poor were to unite, much violence could result.
Most of the population depends on public transport. The recent riots over gas prices are fueled by the fact that those in the transport industry must foot the bill for rising gas prices.
In addition, there is growing opposition to the president of Cameroon, Paul Biya. I will not make any political commentary here, except to say that Biya, Cameroon's second president since its independence in 1960, has been in office for 25 years and is pressing to change the constitution to extend his presidency. The fuel crisis has given those in opposition to Biya an excuse to voice their displeasure, and the rioting may continue even if the gas prices are adjusted sufficiently to appease those in the transport industry.
The last military coup of note in Cameroon was a rebellion that took place about 50 years ago, at the time that many African countries were gaining their independence from European countries. Cameroon is a former colony of both France and Britain.
From news reports, I have learned that the rioting has affected many more Cameroonian cities beyond Douala and Yaounde. I've heard that Kumba, Buea, and Bamenda are also affected. My suspicion is that many more cities are feeling the violence. Please pray for a peaceful resolution to this new unrest.

Rioting in Cameroon

2008-02-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

I want to start off by saying that my teammates and other members of World Team are currently safe, most of them in their homes. However, Nathan Conrod is in the Capital city of Yaounde, working on the logistics of getting his truck fixed and is unable to safely travel back to the bush due to road blocks set up by rioters. Nathan's family, their tutor Karla, and the Abbotts are all safe at home in the bush, where there is currently no rioting. Read on for more details from Nathan.

Greetings from Cameroon! I’m here in the capital city of Yaoundé and since I happen to have some extra time on my hands today (since I’ve been advised not to venture out) I thought I’d send out a news brief to let you all know what’s happening in our neck of the world. There have been some riot outbreaks here in Cameroon over the past few days. At first it seemed that it was only a strike held by the taxi drivers because of the recent jump in fuel prices. However, it is now clear that there has been tension growing under the surface against the current president, Paul Biya, and his government and the taxi strike seems to have been a small break in a much larger dam. Well, the dam is breaking and nobody knows what’s next. I’ve included a partial e-mail that the US Embassy sent out to US citizens living in Cameroon.

The following is a message from the American Citizen Services unit at the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé.
Due to continued violence in Douala and increasing outbreaks of violence in the Littoral, South West, West and North West provinces of Cameroon, American citizens in those provinces are advised to remain in their residences for the next twenty-four hours. Americans in other parts of Cameroon are encouraged to limit their travel and be alert to potential hazards. Travel between urban areas should be avoided, as roadblocks have been erected without notice by both demonstrators and petty criminals on many of the major thoroughfares of Cameroon. Food, fuel and water are increasingly scarce, not only in Douala but in other cities where expectation of shortage has sparked a run on gasoline.

Please pray for Nathan's safety, the safety of some other missionaries that live near the areas of rioting, and a peaceful end to this unrest.

Intermediate

2008-02-25T15:17:00.000-08:00

I just finished my French placement exam last night, after studying for a solid week. I am pleased to report that I am at an intermediate level. If the oral exam on Thursday reveals the same results, I will be approved to begin study at Parole de Vie in April. Now the only thing that is holding me back is the finances. Pray with me that God would bring in the remaining monthly support by the end of next week.

Daffodils

2008-02-18T09:11:00.001-08:00

Mom's daffodils in the front yard

Disappointment

2008-02-16T10:27:00.000-08:00

What do you do with disappointment? Does it cast a gray hue over everything or is it an anomaly that can be learned from, overlooked, or even treasured? Does it drive you to seek God? Does it bring about uncomfortable emotions that you would like to avoid, but you know you must deal with? Does it sometimes come in waves, one annoying event after another, until you think you might break under the pressure?

We all deal with disappointment and frustration from time to time. Last night, I found out that my support level dropped from 90% to 76%, thanks to the weakening of the US dollar. I knew this was coming. My field director warned me that my support level would have to be adjusted, but it was still a shock to see the actual numbers. This came just after I decided to postpone language school until May, when the next class starts. Everything that I have been doing as of late has been for the purpose of getting to Cameroon as soon as possible. Naturally, anything that postpones my departure will be a disappointment.

But in the midst of all this disappointment, I know that God is in control. If He wanted me to be at language school in two weeks, He would make sure it happened. He’s really good at pulling stringsJ Instead, I have a new opportunity. I am now freed up to go to a training for medical missionaries. This is something that I have wanted to do, but had scheduling conflicts with other commitments. So, here I am, disappointed, frustrated, but thankful that God has my best interest at heart.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Silver Creek Falls

2008-02-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

We took a drive to Silver Creek Falls today. The weather was perfect, and the falls were beautiful.

Uncle Don and I with his two dogs

There is a little snow on the ground.

Uncle Don and Aunt Belinda

So much green moss!!
Back side of water. It's wet back here!!!
Front side of water:)

Hiding Mountains

2008-02-11T09:03:00.001-08:00

I'm in Oregon visiting family and friends. What a great break this has turned out to be. Just in case you think I am being lazy, I did work last night. I shared about Cameroon with my Uncle and Aunt's small group. But don't feel sorry for me. I always enjoy these sharing times, and come away greatly encouraged.
Below is a picture of Mount Shasta, that I took on the way up. The light cloud cover reminded me of another volcanic mountain. Mount Cameroon is the highest peak in West and Central Africa.

Photo courtesy of Google Earth

Like Mount Shasta, it is volcanic. However, there is one big difference. Mount Cameroon is an active volcano. In the most recent eruption the flow of lava covered one of the main roads. We drove right up to where the lava flowed and were detoured around it. The funny part was that the entire mountain was covered in clouds. Even though the lava was visible, it was hard to believe such a giant was hiding in the clouds.

Memories

2008-02-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

I am taking an other break from packing to show you one of the pictures I found while thinning out my belongings. This was taken at the end of a trip on the bush taxi from Yaounde to Bertoua in 2000. There were 5 of us traveling together, and you could scarcely tell us apart because of all the orange dust that had been deposited on our skin and clothes. Do you know which one I am?

Abele Update

2008-01-30T15:36:00.001-08:00

Many of you have been praying faithfully for Abele, his family, and the Baka missionary team. Thank you for your faithful prayers, your expressions of concern, and your caring questions about how everyone is doing now. I received an update from my teammates today, so I thought I'd pass it on. Please keep praying.

Abele and his father Sanda

From an email update from Barry and Desma:

We got to the clinic in the morning and watched as the kids visited with their father. Margaret, our friend and househelp, also requested to come with us. She addressed Abele with a sort of recounting of Ecclesiastes chapter three and we were able to witness compassion, exhortation, and encouragement in true African style communication. We took note, because what she said truly seemed to minister to Abele. She said that this was his time to suffer, but this time will not last forever and his children are still there waiting for him even if he goes to prison (which is inevitable). She explained to him that despair will kill him and exhorted him to seek the Lord and lay these things before him. We were amazed at Margaret's ability to communicate so much spiritual insight to him in his hour of need.

After Margaret left, Ebote began to talk to Abele which seemed to bring out more regret and remorse on Abele's part. He began to cry out about all that has happened. He named his children in his cries and even admitted that this has caused trouble between the families involved. It was at this point that we began to talk to him about accepting the full blame for his sins. There were many issues surrounding and leading up to the actual murder and he seemed to be pointing out the blame of others. We encouraged him to let others deal with the sins they have committed and to focus on what he has done. I shared Romans 6:23 with him and noted that death has come as a result of his sin and that it is far-reaching, pointing out that he cannot truly ask for forgiveness until he accepts the fact that he is to blame. We went on to share with him his need for confession to God first in order to receive His forgiveness and then to the others involved when he has the opportunity. He heard God's word with tears in his eyes and we are encouraged that he is taking the beginning steps.

Abele will probably be transferred to the district prison this next week and we know that this is going to be a long process, but we are also praying that God will be glorified in the end. Abele prayed over his children before we left.

Prayer for Abele

2008-01-30T15:13:00.000-08:00

Early this month, I sent out an email requesting prayer after a tragedy in Cameroon. Since some of you may not have gotten this email, I'll copy it here before posting an update.

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing with a heavy heart to ask for your prayers. On December 31^st, I received word that there had been a tragedy in Cameroon. One of our close Baka neighbors and friend Abele became drunk during the New Year celebrations and stabbed and killed his wife, Iya. Abele was beaten by some villagers and then was taken to the government clinic by the gen d’arms (police). Abele and his family are the Baka team’s closest neighbors, and naturally, we care deeply for them. The loss of Iya will be deeply felt by the team.

Also, the couple has 4 children, ranging from about 13 to about 3 years of age. Their names are Kinge, Epele, Joe, and Kunde. They will be cared for by family members. Please pray that they would experience the love of God in the midst of their grief.

Pray also for Abele. This act of violence was very out of character for him, and was due in part to drunkenness. When asked why he did it, he said that he remembers stabbing Iya, but doesn’t know why. He also said that he would kill himself if he was given the opportunity. He is deeply distraught after this tragedy and is also suffering physically after a brutal beating. Pray that God would heal his body, but more importantly, pray that he would remember what he has been taught about God and cry out to Him in the midst of his pain.

Pray for the families of Abele and Iya. Abele’s family is fearful of retribution. Pray for protection for them.

Two other people were injured during the stabbing, so pray for a smooth recovery for both of them.

Also, pray for the community. It is customary for lengthy death ceremonies to take place, sometimes for several nights. These “celebrations” are accompanied by drinking and dancing. Pray that the community would see that drunkenness can have horrible consequences.

Lastly, pray for the Baka missionary team. The Abbotts were in Yaoundé, the capital city, when this happened, so the Conrods were left to deal with this alone. Pray that they would be able to process their thoughts and grief well, and that God would give them an extra measure of wisdom and grace when dealing with the individuals involved in this tragedy. Praise God that both couples are out of the bush right now at an annual conference for Cameroon missionaries. They are surrounded by friends who understand the challenges that the team is facing.

Your prayers are much appreciated. Thank you for all the encouragement and support that you have poured out on me. I truly thank God for you.

In Christ,

Jennifer

Orange Land

2008-01-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

I'm in the middle of the last few weeks of preparation. I've got so much to do. One of the projects that I have been putting off is going through some of my old notes from college. Much of it was burned in the fireplace, but some will be tape bound and stored for future reference. It is all full of memories. One of the assignments that I came across caught my eye. I thought some of you might be interested. Here is the introduction.

As soon as we left the paved road, everything began to melt together into a hot orange dust. I had only arrived in Africa a couple of days earlier. It could have been the motion sickness or the jet lag, but the blur was definitely the color orange. As heavy-laden logging trucks whizzed by at twice the speed any sane driver would, they seemed to pick up buckets full of the fine orange dust and deposit it on the giant leaves of the great, green forest. The houses were even made of it. They were constructed of long straight sticks, and the orange clay was used to fill in all of the spaces and smooth out the rough spots. Some of the houses were finished with a thin layer of cement on the walls, to make it more pleasing to the eye, and to tell all who saw it that the owner was wealthy enough to buy cement for his house. However, the dust covered the cement too, so that even the prettier houses seemed to be one with the earth around them. Teenage boys walked the dirt road with the coolest clothes that they could scrounge up. They wanted to be in the spotlight, to be the best dressed in their little village. However, even the coolest of clothes attract dust. Women worked in their little houses and outside in the open with their babies strapped to their backs with a length of cloth. Even the infants had an orange glow about them. Older children played soccer in cleared areas of forest. Their shoeless feet kicked up even more of the orange powder, and each child went home to his mother where he was dusted off with the same cloth that had secured his younger sibling to the back of his mother only a few minutes before. It too, was orange.

Sing to the Lord

2008-01-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

For years I have believed that King David must have been bipolar. When I read his writings in Psalms and studied his life in I&II Samuel, I noticed that he had very high highs and very low lows. He was either praising God exuberantly or he was in the depths of despair. He was probably just a charismatic personality, and things weren't worth writing down unless they were something that he felt deeply about. Whether coming from a high or a low, David usually came back to a correct perspective of God. Psalm 13 was a good reminder of God's unfailing love today.

Psalm 13

For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!"
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the LORD
because he is good to me.

The Mantle

2008-01-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

Today I watched The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring. You know, I think every one of us can identify with Frodo Baggins at some point. Often he pauses, and the look on his face says it all. “Why was this burden given to me. I cannot carry it alone. I am weak and I fight against such darkness.” His struggle with his responsibility drives him to the brink of giving up, but his resolve is strong, and he continues, supported by the few who call themselves the fellowship.

We have also been given a burden to bear. Ours is not an instrument of great evil, but it carries power greater than Frodo could ever imagine. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t bring destruction, unnatural long-life, or division. No, it brings hope, abundant life, and unity. It is the very love of God poured out for us.

Often I wonder why I was chosen to carry this load. I consider giving up, but though my resolve is weak, my Sustainer is the source of all strength. There is nothing else to do in this life but carry the mantle of the Gospel. Those of us who do so bear the title of Beloved. He does not promise a life without struggle. His promise is to see us safely home. Home to the place that He has prepared for us.

The God Who Sees Me

2007-12-30T01:40:00.000-08:00

Hagar, in a time of deep desperation, after conceiving a child by Abraham and being mistreated and driven away by her mistress Sarah, encountered God Himself. He told her to name her child Ishmael (God hears), because God had heard her affliction. She then proceeded to name the nearby well Beer-lahai-roi (the well of the living one who sees me). God was attentive even to an Egyptian slave. I venture to suggest that God not only saw and heard Hagar; He knew her pain. He understood her plight even better than she understood it herself. That is the kind of intimacy experienced by the Beloved.

2007-11-27T11:27:00.001-08:00

Autumn was gorgeous in North Carolina. It was all I could do to stay in class during the day. In Strengthening Your Interpersonal Skills class, we learned all about relationship issues, from drawing people out and listening well to mediating conflicts between others. It was great input and will certainly be useful on the mission field where relationships with partners and nationals are so important.

One of the topics we covered was grief. Of course the content will be useful to help others through the grief process when necessary, but we were told to pay close attention to dealing well with our own grief associated with leaving our home country and traveling to a new place. Though it is a good move for all of us and filled with many joys, it also involves letting some dreams go and giving up some things that we have become accustomed to in our home country. Part of adjusting well to the new country is grieving those losses well. A friend of mine who was in the first class with us just wrote in her blog about the Ugandan orphanage that she is volunteering in until the regular school starts and she can begin teaching the older children. Her heart is absolutely broken with the horrible conditions that the babies are in. Grieving well in situations like this is so important in order to avoid excessive stress and burnout.

2007-11-27T11:13:00.002-08:00

I’ve neglected the blog for nearly a month now, and needless to say, a lot has happened since the last time I posted. So, I’ll start where I left off.

A few months ago, I heard that my friend Dana from Taiwan, was not only in the USA, but that she was staying in North Carolina! Needless to say, the opportunity to see each other could not be passed up. Early in November, I made the 3 hour drive from Union Mills to Raleigh and enjoyed the fall colors the whole way. We had some great catching up time and took a long walk together. It was great to see her!

The next day was our last day at Gold Hills Missionary Baptist Church. A few of my fellow students and I really enjoyed our time at Gold Hills. We were welcomed every Sunday as if we were family. The last Sunday Pastor Oglesby took us out for lunch. We ate like kings and queens and had a great time with the pastor and his family.

Valuable

2007-11-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today a friend asked me to come over and help her understand how she can better help a friend of hers that is struggling with being single. Wow!

We talked a little a few days ago, and she showed so much concern, empathy, love, and genuine interest in what I had to say about my experiences as a single woman. She recognized that my marital status doesn’t define who I am, but it does affect every area of my life. And she accepted me as a valuable friend and a healthy and complete individual.

She took the time today to invite me into her life and to glean important truth, so that she can be a better friend. Her love for me and for her friend that is struggling is priceless.

What did I learn from her? I am valued. I am not valued even though I am single. I am valued because I am me. I am even valued because of my singleness. Most of all, I am valued because God made me valuable.

Another Look at the Trinity

2007-10-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

We talked about the Trinity on our first day of teams class. Since then, we have done so much more. But the importance of looking at the Trinity for the model of the perfect team seems really important to me. So, since we started with it, I thought I'd like to end with it too...

20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:20-23

The first team was the Trinity. God is a perfect union of 3 distinct persons. They each have different attributes, but they are all equally God. Together, they form a perfect communion. That communion is the very essence of unity, peace, interdependence, perfection, and love.

Several years ago, I struggled with the philosophical question of the purpose of man. Why did God design us and create us. Surely it is not just to watch our silly antics all of the time. If that was the case, He would have destroyed all of us long ago because of our sin. No, I think He created us out of love. I think that the perfect love that flowed out of the union of the Trinity was something that God couldn’t help but share. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness (Genesis 1:26).’” That was God’s first act of love toward man. But the love continues to flow from God to man, even now.

When I was little, I wondered what it meant to be created in God’s image. Certainly it doesn’t mean that we physically look like God. No, it had to be something else. Many adults tried to explain abstract ideas about what it meant to be created in the image of God, but none of them were satisfactory (I guess I was analytical as a child too). It wasn’t until I discovered this idea of unity and love that I felt I was beginning to understand God’s image. God is not just the Father or the Son. He is not just the Holy Spirit. He is all three, in one, perfectly unified and springing forth love. That is what His image is. So, to be created in the image of God is to be designed for community. To bear God’s image, we must bear also His love. To experience life as we were designed to experience it, we also must be unified with one another.

The purpose of man: to bear God’s image

The image of God: perfect unity and love

Two very difficult answers to two very difficult questions. Bearing God’s image is not easy, but it has great reward.

WinShape

2007-10-23T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today we got out of the classroom and did some activity!! A group from WinShape came up and did the training for the day. It was raining, so we spent most of the day in the little community gymnasium across the street, but it was physical activity, and it was good!!
Of course, it was all about teamwork. We broke up into teams and began doing activities that required cooperation, communication, leadership, and a bunch of other critical stuff that we are learning about. To give you an idea of what the day looked like, I'll describe two of the activities that we did.
One activity was to get into the middle of a small contraption described as a jail. We were to "escape" from this jail, but we had to devise a strategy based on some rules that were given to us by our facilitator. We lifted some people over the top bar, helped others through the middle, and cheered others on as they squeezed under the lowest bar. There was lots of cheering, and by the end, some of us were a little smelly:)
Another one of our exercises was to do a trust walk with a partner. First, I was blindfolded and my partner led me around the campus, up and down hills, under bars, through trees, all without any words, only physical guidance. We had to accomplish certain tasks, which was difficult without any verbal guidance, but not impossible. Next, my partner, Jim, put his blindfold on, and I got to lead him around, only this time, I was not allowed to touch him at all and had to guide him with verbal guidance only. Without the physical contact, the tasks were a lot less comfortable, but a little easier to accomplish. Surprisingly, I think it took more trust to follow verbal commands than to follow physical direction.
It was great fun, and we learned a lot about ourselves during the debriefing time at the end of each exercise. Three things I want to take with me from these experience are to listen with the purpose of really hearing those I am communicating with, to trust and be trustworthy, and to use the gift of encouragement better.
A bit of trivia: WinShape is an organization formed by the owner of Chick-fil-A, a fast-food chain specializing in chicken. The owner is a Christian, and part of the profit from the business goes to support WinShape.
A group of us made the 35 minute drive to the nearest Chick-fil-A for dinner tonight as a show of support for the organization, and as an excuse to go have fun together:) YUMMMM...

Trinitarian Unity

2007-10-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

For the next two weeks I am in the Effective Teams and Team Leaders module of CIT. This morning we were challenged to imagine the Trinity before the creation of the world. We were told to envision how the three persons of God interacted with each other and to think of adjectives and nouns that would describe this interaction. Words like perfect harmony, interdependence, peace, love and unity came to mind.

Then in groups, we were asked to look at different Bible passages and find the principles and values about teamwork that were illustrated through the Trinity. My group was given Genesis 1:26 “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.” God’s very identity in the trinity is diversity unified. The three persons of the Godhead had perfect unity and love even before the creation of mankind, but God desired to draw us into that unity. He wanted to create man in order to generate even more unity, not that God could be more unified.

No wonder the two greatest commandments are love God and love people.

Transitions

2007-10-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

I was going over some material from our first module today, and I found something that I want to share.

When I first went to Cameroon, I experienced a strange phenomenon. As time drew close for me to leave, some people grieved openly and said heartfelt, genuine goodbyes, and others just closed off, unwilling to invest any more in our relationship. It was an exciting time, full of new adventures, but it was also difficult, due to strained relationships. I noticed the same thing happening when I left for Southern California for school, at the end of each school year, and each time I changed employment and/or moved. In short, leaving others behind has become a painfully familiar theme in my life. It comes with the territory, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

I know that my family and friends also grieve each time we must separate, and they don’t get to be the one going to a new and exciting place.

Taking leave of loved ones is only one aspect of the changes that become all too familiar to a missionary. Many things are lost, many things change, and many things simply end. I have to come to grips with the fact that even the loss of insignificant things like my kitchen in Manteca, may be painful. Then I have to deal with changes in climate, culture, language, cleanliness, and privacy. All these changes precipitate an internal transition from what I know now to reality in my new place. This takes time, but knowing what is happening makes a difference in understanding how to make a good, though not painless, transition.

Through this portion of class, I realized that I have been undergoing almost constant transition for the last 8 years. No wonder I feel homeless sometimes!

Transition involves many endings, a long unsettled neutral zone, and many new beginnings. Transition is not over until the new beginnings begin to normalize and I become settled once more. I am looking forward to ending this time of transitions soon, and settling down to my home in Cameroon. Home, that sounds good!

Lord, until I reach my final home, my real home with you, help me to live well in the many transitions that you have given to me.

Credit goes to G. Schultz at Center for Intercultural Training for many of the ideas expressed in this entry.

Childlikeness, Phonetics, University and Village Life

2007-10-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we finished up the Second Language Acquisition module. No, I am not yet fluent in either French or Baka, though I hope to be near fluency in both within the next few years. To be completely honest, we didn’t even work much on our individual languages (people here are going all over the globe, so we are not all working on the same languages), but we certainly learned a ton. Through the course of this 2 week module, we learned how to approach a new language humbly, how to find a language helper, how to supplement language school, how to use different tools to learn the language in a more effective way, and how to better articulate the sounds of the language we are going to learn.

I found out that I am a structured, analytical learner, and that I will probably do very well in French language school. However, I will probably be challenged when it comes time to learn Baka, since there will be no structure provided for me. We discussed different language learning options ranging from very unstructured tribal type situations where one must learn from an illiterate native speaker, most likely without a “bridge (common) language,” to a highly structured university type setting. I get to try to learn language from both ends of that spectrum. Many in our class will have to do something in between.

With the help of one of our instructors and many people in Wycliffe, I was able to procure a copy of a Baka phonology. This is a document, written about 25 years ago, that describes, in linguistic terms, what sounds are in the Baka language. It was very difficult to locate, but it is a very neat tool to have.

At the end of last week, when I was beginning to get a little discouraged about learning two languages, God used two events to encourage me. First, I heard from a teammate, who has just reached level 2 in Baka. That means that he will get to begin doing formal ministry now and dedicate less time to language learning. If he can do it, then it must be possible! Second, when I met with our phonetics specialist to go over some of the sounds of Baka, I was told that I was making all of the sounds just perfect! I knew that I had been listening to Baka the whole time I was in Cameroon before, but I didn’t know that I had heard and remembered the sounds so well. What a great encouragement at the end of two weeks of learning. Now, I can’t wait to get started!

Sunday Morning

2007-10-21T12:05:00.001-07:00

I went for a short walk this morning before church, and look at all the little treasures I found!

Linville Falls

2007-10-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

A week ago, a few of us took a trip to Linville Falls. It was only about an hour drive, and we got to enjoy the emerging fall colors the whole way. We took a short hike, and saw the falls from several different viewpoints

Then we piled back into the cars and drove about 4 miles on a dirt road to a canyon overlook. It was quite a spectacular view.
After our hike, we were all quite hungry, so we invaded a little home town style restaurant, and enjoyed some southern cooking. It was just what we needed!

Language Aquisition

2007-10-07T18:35:00.001-07:00

It's time for a new course here at CIT. We've finished the Equipping course, where we learned some of the basics for leaving our own culture and entering a new culture. What I have learned is priceless, and I am still trying to process some of it, but it is time to move on. We begin the Language Acquisition course tomorrow morning. We get to learn how we each individually best learn language and acquire some skills to take into the language learning process. Unfortunately, we don't come away from this two-week course with another language learned:)

Our Heart

2007-10-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

John Chisum, George Searcy

Our heart our desire

Is to see the nations worship
Our cry our prayer
Is to sing Your praise to the ends of the earth
That with one mighty voice
Evey tribe and tongue rejoices
Our heart our desire
Is to see the nations worship You

Heavenly Father
Your mercy showers down upon all people
Every race upon this earth
May Your Spirit pierce the darkness
Break the chains of death upon us
Let us rise in honest worship
To declare Your matchless worth

There is no power that for one hour
Can withstand the greatness
Of Your Word on tongues of faith
So we're bold in intercession
Praying now that every heart will bow
Before You Lord in praise in praise

Our heart our desire
Is to see the nations worship You

© 1993 Integrity's Hosanna!/Integrity's Praise! Music

Modern Epistle

2007-09-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

In the course of my Baka research, I read through an email document sent to a colleague of mine from a missionary working among a different group of pygmies. At one point he said “I notice that the most effective churches are the ones far from where the missionary lives. They take charge of the work whereas the ones close to where the missionary lives develop dependence. With this in mind I see the missionaries task as traveling from region to region and calling the Pygmy Christian leaders of that region together for training, focusing vision and organizing literacy classes. Priority is given to local churches that are planting new churches.”
As I read these words, first it struck me how similar this missionary seemed to the apostle Paul (in fact, his name is Paul).
The second thing that occurred to me is that this work is a big deal, a really big deal. God is allowing my team and I to be involved in reaching an entire people group with the Gospel. Wow! What an honor, what a privilege, what a responsibility, what a burden. This has nothing to do with me. This has everything to do with the Gospel of Christ, which is for all peoples. In the light of this truth, everything else fades. Any sacrifice or suffering is so quickly forgotten in the joy of being a conduit of the Gospel. Oh, there is nothing better!!
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1

He Leadeth Me

2007-09-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

Joseph H. Gilmore

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Refrain
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.
Refrain

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
Refrain

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain

Perfect Harmony

2007-09-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Today we learned about cross-cultural communication. At the end of class we were shown a concert video from Steven Curtis Chapman. The video centered around the 5 martyred missionaries to the Waodani Indians and the resulting ministry among the Waodani. It was a picture of love and sacrifice, but it was also an amazing picture of grace.
The very last song was introduced by Steven as the closest thing to what will happen in heaven that he could imagine. He sang in English, exalting and worshiping God, and beside him, in another language and even another melody sang a Waodani man. Both sang songs of worship.
My heart was pulled to that day when we will all worship God together. Every one of us will express our worship differently. I picture a huge choir, worshiping in perfect harmony, each nation of people expressing adoration for God in a different way. What a wonderful concert that will be! For eternity, all of us praising God in purity and truth.

Variety

2007-09-25T16:17:00.001-07:00

God loves variety. Why else would He create so many different kinds of plants and animals? Why would He vary the landscapes so dramatically? And why would He create each one of us humans to unique?
We were looking at the story of the Tower of Babel the other day in the context of cultures. All of the people of the world had come together and begun to build a great city with an enormous tower. The people were filled with pride and thought that they could overcome anything through their unity. The consequence of their pride was that God confused their languages and caused them to be scattered throughout the earth.
It occurred to me as I read this that God did not want to have one race of people. He valued variety. He was not harsh in His punishment. He did not send a plague or cause the people to die. He simply caused them to no longer understand each other. And now, He's created such a beautiful palette of different people all over the earth.

The Love of God

2007-09-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Frederick M. Lehman

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race-
The saints' and angels' song.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

How Deep The Father’s Love For Us

2007-09-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

by Stuart Townend

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Saved a Turtle

2007-09-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

Mom, this one's for you.
The other day, when I and a couple friends were on our way home from a grocery trip, I spotted a little box turtle attempting to cross the road. Cars were straddling it as they sped by, and it was quite apparent that it was in eminent danger. So, I flipped a U-turn and headed back to save it. The cute little bugger just sucked in all his legs and peered out to see why this car was going so much slower than the others. Karen jumped out, picked him up, and deposited him on the other side of the road. I am sure he was grateful:) It's a good thing that Karen was the one who actually got out of the car, since I might have been tempted to keep him.

Fall

2007-09-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since arriving here, I've wanted to document photos of an East Coast fall. I have not yet found a good place to begin taking my fall photos, but as soon as I do, I'll begin sharing weekly pics of the fall colors.

Culture Shock!!

2007-09-19T16:59:00.001-07:00

This afternoon, we began class by playing a game. It was a simple card game where you win tricks by having the highest number in a suit or by trumping it with a certain suit. We got used to the game by playing it for a few minutes, and then our instructions were taken away and we were told that we could not verbally communicate with each other. That’s when things started to get entertaining. After playing in silence for five minutes, we were instructed to determine who won, and to move to another table based on if we won or lost. We were still supposed to be silent. At the next table, my partner and I began playing with another team. To our frustration, the other team began cheating and stealing our tricks! They kept making motions at us and indicating that we were playing wrong. It was all quite fun, and we were laughing the whole time. It was hilarious, and I would have loved to have it on video. In a moment of humility, I ceded the game. The next round, with a new team was much better. I finally came to the realization that everyone had slightly different versions of the rules, so we quickly, though silently, agreed on a new set of rules and played.

All of this fun and games was an illustration of what culture shock is like. Basically, when we go into a new culture, we are not only handicapped by a lack of knowledge about the language, but a difference in the way the game is played. The big difference between the game and culture is that culture goes so much deeper, down to the very worldview of individuals.

Comforter

2007-09-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the downy bed covering, though I am currently wrapped up in a warm, fuzzy blanket.
I wrote a reflection paper today on the Holy Spirit. I realized that I had plenty of head knowledge about the Great Comforter, but I lack in intimacy with Him. You see, He is the one who gives us power, convicts us of sin, prompts us to action, guides, comforts, and so much more. He is relational, intimate, personal. Though we need to know about Him, He is not just theology to be studied. He is God, just as much as the Father and the Son. I realized today that He is what I have been longing for.
Counselor, Friend, Comforter, please forgive me for neglecting intimacy with You. Draw me ever closer.

Sabbath

2007-09-16T17:53:00.001-07:00

After the last two posts of monsters and mayonnaise, I feel obligated to tell you that I have been working hard here at CIT. I am in class each day from 8am to 3pm, with a generous lunch break. We've been learning about everything from learning styles and personalities to contextualization and spiritual warfare. Each of us are doing a research paper on our target country/people group. We have also read a couple of books on cultural differences. And I suspect that this week will be a heavier week as far a class work. It has been intense, but certainly enjoyable and worthwhile. Please pray for me and for everyone here, that we would learn lots, be drawn nearer to Christ, and that we would remain healthy.
I have, however taken a Sabbath's day rest today. It was quite nice!

Bring out the Best

2007-09-16T17:49:00.001-07:00

Dad, this is for you.
Yes, I am East of the Rocky's
Love ya

Kudzu Monster

2007-09-16T15:12:00.001-07:00

Yes, it really is a monster. While on the cross-country trip, I saw this green monster several times. I thought this vine was interesting, even beautiful, and much different than the greenery that I am used to. The way it grows on trees, bushes, even telephone poles, it looks like a monster lumbering toward an unsuspecting victim.But after talking to people from this area, I realized that it really is a monster, a menace really. Kudzu was supposedly introduced in the US as a way to control soil erosion, but it has done so much more. It is nearly impossible to control, and it kills the native foliage by suffocating it. It even pulls trees and telephone lines down by its sheer mass. And, if you watch carefully, you can almost see it growing!
More info on kudzu:
Wikipedia
Yahoolavista
Kud-Zoo

Worldveiw

2007-09-12T18:24:00.001-07:00

OK, so I was challenged by a fellow CIT student this afternoon to post something, so here goes…

Wow, we have been learning so much here, it is hard to sum it all up. As I think about the awesome and necessary preparation that we are receiving here, I wonder how past missionaries managed to survive without places like CIT. Today we focused mostly on worldview and ethnocentrism. I remember a few years ago thinking how much easier it would be to just evangelize a people group in English, or through a translator. My views have changed drastically since then.
An article that I read this morning dealt with the idea of contextualization. In essence, contextualization is the packaging of the truths of the Gospel in a way that it remains true to itself so that the target culture can both understand and accept it. This can be done only after one spends significant time learning the language and culture of the target group and forms genuine relationships with individuals. We all take our own culture into our ministries, but we’ve been challenged to separate our culture from the Gospel, so that those who hear may worship God in a way that is meaningful and correct in the context of their own culture. This is a big idea, and it is hard for me to even begin to write about it here, but I hope you get an idea of some of the things that we are working through here.
On a lighter note, I went for a walk with a new friend. I had driven by a small lake the other day, and wanted to get down there to explore it a little, so we headed down. I’ll definitely be back, and you may see more pictures of this little spot.

CIT

2007-09-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I’ve finally arrived in Union Mills, North Carolina. It is so good to be here with other people that are also preparing for missions. Our first event was dinner this evening. Even though many of us didn’t know each other before we gathered in the cafeteria, I still felt like I was instant friends with many of them. I am in dorm-style housing with 3 other women. We all got together tonight to compare notes on our experiences so far. Everyone agreed that it is so encouraging to be able to talk to people who understand what we are going through. We are all in the midst of raising support and transitioning from full-time work to overseas missions. In short, the majority of us are unemployed and homeless (in a good way, of course). Well, I better get to bed. I’ve got class in the morning.

Smokey Mountains

2007-09-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

Knoxville

2007-09-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

We got to stay two nights with Don and Cher. It was such a blessing to be spend some time getting to know them a little better. They treated us like royalty, and we got to go to the Lost Sea. Oh, and it was good to be in a home, rather than in a hotel room.

Boomsday

2007-09-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

Every Labor Day weekend, the residents of Knoxville, TN celebrate with a spectacular fireworks celebration. They call it Boomsday. It is choreographed with music and broadcasted on television. Though we were in Knoxville, we decided to watch the celebration on TV and avoid the crowd. What we didn't know is that Boomsday would come to us.
Only moments after I got to sleep, I was violently awakened by a crashing and rumbling. A few moments later, Lindsey was knocking at my door, wondering what had happened. We were both a bit shook up, but managed to find the cause of the explosive noise. We found a tree leaning precariously against the roof of the house and the balcony outside the room that I was staying in. There appeared to be only minor structural damage to the house, and no-one was harmed, but Boomsday has taken on a different meaning.

Southern Hospitality

2007-08-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

We crossed 3 state borders today, and were pleasantly surprised at the "southern hospitality" that we received even at the rest stops. We started off by entering Louisiana, and we were amazed at the amenities of the rest stop/welcome center. We were greeted by friendly and helpful people and given free maps and guidebooks. This scene was repeated in Mississippi and Alabama, where we finally stopped for the night.We discovered a sleepy little Louisiana town near the boarder of Mississippi, and ventured out to where some horses were grazing.

And I got to see the Mississippi river for the very first time.

Western States

2007-08-31T20:26:00.000-07:00

After leaving the Grand Canyon, we traveled on through Arizona, New Mexico, and into Texas.One of the many beautiful geological formations that we got to drive by.
The Texas sky before weather.
The beginning of the effects of a low pressure system. We found ourselves in some weather that outperforms any California rainstorm.
We also discovered just how big Texas is...
At the other end, we met up with Nathaniel, the oldest of the "kids" that I taught in Cameroon. He's now a Junior at Le Tourneau University. It was such a treat to share dinner with him and hear about all of his adventures at school.

On the Road

2007-08-29T00:33:00.000-07:00

Well, Lindsey and I left today (technically it was yesterday, as I am typing in the wee hours of the morning now), and we took a little detour this afternoon.
Can you guess where we went? Extra points go to the people who correctly respond in the comments section.

SoCal

2007-08-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

I got to spend a couple of days in SoCal with some friends. It was so good to see all of them, and I feel so refreshed after our fellowship. Thanks God, for good friends.

Spent

2007-08-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Please pray. I know it may sound petty and unimportant, with all of the tragedies that are happening in our world, but I could use a bit of prayer.
I’ve been in the throes of packing for the last several days. If it were just a matter of moving from one place to another, it would be much easier. However, I am packing to move temporarily to pre-field training, then to language training in Quebec, and then on to live in Cameroon. As a result, I have to sell, give away, and throw away many of my belongings. The constant chore of deciding what to do with each item is exhausting. It is quite taxing emotionally, mentally, and physically to go through this process of transition. I'm spent. Please pray.
I'm leaving tomorrow morning (hopefully) to spend a few days in SoCal before heading to North Carolina. Check back in for travel updates.

Resigned

2007-08-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

From Webster:
resign (ri-'zIn) verb
1 : to give up one's office or position
2 : to accept something as inevitable

Well, I've done both. In the words of some friends who are also preparing for the mission field and of Cortez, I have "burned the ships."
Today was my last day as a PHN with San Joaquin County. As I packed up the last of my belongings and said goodbye to some dear friends, I felt a sense of deep peace and satisfaction. It's not that I didn't like my job. Quite the contrary. I loved doing home visits. But, God is directing me to Cameroon, and I am resigned to do exactly that. Oh, what joy comes from being right in the middle of God's will.
Tomorrow is the garage sale that will further seal the deal.

Burn the Ships
Steven Curtis Chapman

In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors this mission must not fail
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, "Let's sail back to the life we knew"
But the one who led them there was saying

Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy
Quietly he whispers, "Go back to the life you know"
But the one who led us here is saying

Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone

Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

By the Grace of God

2007-08-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

During a daily Bible study today in Genesis 47:7-10, I was challenged to think of how I would describe my years and who I wish I measured up to. By God’s great grace, I was unable to think of any truthful, long-reaching, negative aspects of the life God gave me. Neither was I able to think of anyone who’s shoes I wish I was in. I certainly see many character flaws in my own life. Likewise, I have seen many attributes of others that I wish to emulate, but that was not the purpose of this exercise. Through this exercise, God showed me how His own hand has been working divinely through every moment of this life, directing me to the things that He has for me to do for His own glory. Sure, there have been moments, even years, in my life that were less than ideal, difficult times that were certainly unwelcome, but God has redeemed each one to His own glory. He’s used them to form me and to bring me even closer to Himself. Praise God for His infinite wisdom and His sovereignty over every moment and every circumstance.

*grace - favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God.

*sovereignty of God - a theological term that refers to the unlimited power of God, who has sovereign control over the affairs of nature and history (Is. 45:9–19; Rom. 8:18–39).

*Redeem - to free or deliver, usually by paying a price.

Unexpected Blessings

2007-08-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

I've just found out that a former roommate and friend, who I thought would certainly be out of country, is currently living in North Carolina, only 3 1/2 hours from where I will be next month! Wow! That brings the friend tally up to 6 while I am at pre-field training. A few weeks ago, I could have truthfully said that I didn't know anyone in North Carolina. Now I will be in class with two couples that I met last year, and I will have two friends from school to visit. Add that to a visit with my sister in Maryland, a visit to the World Team home office, and a visit with good friends in Pennsylvania, and I have got a full itinerary!!
Thank you Lord for providing so many opportunities to see how well you take care of me.

9,628 feet above sea level

2007-07-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, 9,628 feet elevation may not be very impressive to some of you, but it sure was a treat for me today. I drove up to Sonora to see my grandparents, and we found an excuse to go up to the top of Sonora pass. The view was absolutely stunning. It's too bad that all I had was my camera phone, but even these low quality photos capture some of the beauty.

Ablaze!

2007-07-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

We had some unusual weather today. It was quite warm and much more humid than normal in our semi-arid environment, which created the perfect conditions for an explosion of pre-dusk color. Well, it was God that created those conditions, and He did a superb job. Spectacular sunsets are not uncommon here, but they are usually produced by pollution and dust. Today's sure made up for the uncomfortable warmth a couple hours earlier.

Quick Answer

2007-07-21T16:31:00.000-07:00

Guess what? I just got my official go-ahead! I'll register for CIT now, in faith that the remaining funds will come in. I am so excited! Thanks for your prayers. Keep praying.

Next Step?

2007-07-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

I received an email today regarding Center for Intercultural Training (CIT) in September. I have the opportunity to register now, but I don't yet have enough monthly pledges to get an official go-ahead from World Team. If I do not register now, I will have to wait until they offer the course again in January. Pray that I would act wisely and seek God's guidance about taking this next step.