Count the Cost

Some of you may have heard the news of an American missionary killed in Cameroon this week. If not, you can read about this tragedy here. Cameroon has been in the midst of a violent crisis between anglophone separatists and the government; a crisis that is creeping closer and closer to civil war. Charles Wesco was just one of many casualties of that crisis.

The Wescos were new to Cameroon, having arrived here only two weeks ago, and we did not know them, but Charles death hits hard. Anyone who serves God in foreign missions first counts the cost of a life abandoned to Christ. John Stam, who was martyred in China wrote "The faithfulness of God is the only certain thing in the world today. We need not fear the result of trusting Him." How true those words are!! We can have faith in Him, because He is faithful. Jesus does not guarantee our physical safety, no matter where we are, but we do know that He loves us, that He has a plan, and that He is sovereign. In the words of Job, "the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21b) Let those words sink in. We are in the hands of a good and mighty God. Let us trust Him. Let us bless Him.

Just 24 hours after Charles was shot, a close friend of mine and fellow missionary heard of the death of two dear friends in Canada, struck down by a drunk driver. Their death was no less tragic, and it happened in a relatively safe land. Yet, in spite of relative safety, they still lost their lives. Some may ask why we have chosen to live in Africa, a relatively unsafe land, to risk our lives in Christian service. The answer is quite simple. My life on this broken world is short. Why shouldn't I abandon all for the cause of Christ? Physical safety is irrelevant when we consider the eternity that awaits us. Let us count the cost. For Jesus words on this subject read Luke 14:25-33.

Charles Wesco leaves behind a wife and 8 children. Please be in prayer for the Wesco family as they grieve their loss and navigate the very difficult process of dealing with consular matters and traveling back to the US.

As you are praying for the Wescos, please pray fervently for the nation of Cameroon. The crisis taking place in the anglophone regions of this country has already taken a great toll. Hundreds have been killed, thousands displaced, ministries have come to a halt, businesses and livelihoods have been affected, children have been forced to abandon their schooling, and people are living in fear. World Team does not currently have any missionaries in the affected regions, and we, ourselves are two days travel from the violence, but we do have some missionary colleagues who are still serving in the area. Among them are some friends who run a children's home which is on the same stretch of road where Charles Wesco was killed this week. They are currently searching for a rental in town where the children and staff of the children's home can stay safely.  Please pray for all who are affected by this crisis.

Metcha Day

Tomorrow is Metcha day. It marks the 6th anniversary of the day that Annabella and I met, the day she came home with me, first as a precious little patient and later as my beloved daughter. What a wonderful and unexpected gift God gave me in her!

Tomorrow is also, hopefully, the day that we meet with the president du tribunal (presiding judge) that will rule in Annabella's adoption case.

 

 Please pray for us.

Pray for peace in my heart.

Pray that we would rely on God in the midst of stressful circumstances.

Pray for wisdom and a spirit of justice for the judge.

Pray for safe travel to the courthouse which is about 90 minutes away on dangerous roads.

Pray against corruption in Cameroon courts.

Pray that this process, which has taken nearly 6 years already, will proceed quickly from this point forward.

Pray that God would finally cause us to be a family in the eyes of the law.

The Bondage of Lies

I just got a call from a friend in the village with more bad news. But first, let me give you a bit of background.

A family from a distant camp called Mbang came to Mayos a few weeks ago for the death celebration of an elderly relative. During their time here, the two youngest children fell ill with a virus that has been making its rounds in Mayos. The older one required antibiotics for a secondary infection, but the youngest only needed fever reducer at that time. Yesterday, a week after I first treated the children, the mother brought the youngest child, named Motɛ (Mow-Tay) with symptoms of severe respiratory distress. She had pneumonia, and had been quite ill for two days already. Others in the camp had told the parents to bring her for medicine, but they chose traditional medicine instead. This involved making small cuts in the baby's skin, sucking the bad magic out and applying a poultice of crushed leaves. Cords are then tied around key areas of the child's body for protection. It didn't work.

When little Motɛ arrived, she was already quite compromised and looked as if she could die at any moment. I did what I could medically, prayed and waited to see if she would improve or get worse. There was no improvement, but she didn't seem to be getting worse just yet. I checked on her throughout the day and gave her more medication in the evening, instructing the mother to stay put so that I can keep an eye on her and continue giving the necessary medications. But, early in the morning, while it was still quite dark, the father arrived and took mom and baby from their bed. They bundled up the child and walked the three kilometers back to Mayos in the dark on a road recently muddied from a hard rain.

I awoke this morning to find them gone. The story that I heard regarding the reason for their return to Mayos was as follows. "The father thinks the baby is sick because they stayed in Mayos too long. If they had not come here, she would not have been sick. They tried to remove the bad magic, but it didn't work, so they tried white man's medicine. They want to return to Mbang. They will stop here for another injection in the morning on their way back to their camp."

When I first arrived in Cameroon, I would have taken those words at face value and been quite confused about how a prolonged stay in a different camp could make a child sick. I would have been frustrated that they waited so long to come for help when it was obvious that the child would die if they didn't do anything. I still get confused and frustrated, but for different reasons now. You see, the Baka, like many people in this world, are enslaved to the father of lies. They believe that, in order to avoid catastrophy, they must appease the spirits. If they offend the spirits, they have to somehow make it right. If someone dies, that person's spirit can stick around and cause problems for others, including sickness and more death. Their lives are filled with animistic practices designed to restore a good relationship with the spiritual forces at work in their lives. The problem is that they can never appease the spirits. The father of lies doesn't want a right relationship. He only wants to rule and ruin their lives.

Satan's lies are the reason why this family spent precious time trying to remove bad magic. Satan's lies told them that the child got sick because she stayed too long in Mayos, where evil spirits could invade her body. Satan blinded them to the fact that the virus that infected their children and the subsequent secondary bacterial infections were things that nearly everyone has been suffering from in Mayos, and that they were treatable with modern medicine and prayer.

Don't get me wrong. I am not blind to sin's role in this whole affair. I believe that the family had a responsibility to care for their child. I believe that they have the capacity to accept the truth and do what is right for her. I believe that they neglected her. I believe that their sin of irresponsibility and neglect contributed to her sickness.

The call I got a few minutes ago was to inform me that little Motɛ Eveline had died.

Pray with me for freedom from this bondage of lies. Please pray for Motɛ's parents. Pray for their other children, especially in this time of mourning. Pray that this family would encounter the Author of Truth. Pray that they would find harmony with God by accepting the shed blood of the Truth Giver as payment for their sin. Pray that their lives would explode with truth, spreading it among everyone with whom they come in contact.

Bɛ na sepea joko doto

Something amazing happened last weekend, something that we have been praying for. Something that flew in the face of Satan's plans for the Baka. Something filled with sorrow and with hope.

I participated in a brand new kind of celebration. It was a "bɛ na sepea joko doto." Roughly translated, that means "celebration to rejoice in a life well lived." It was the first Baka celebration of its kind, and it was to celebrate the life of my friend Dali.

Let me tell you why this celebration was the first of its kind. Normally, when a Baka person dies, public mourning begins immediately. The first thing you would notice is the wailing. The family congregates in the family home around the body of the deceased and welcomes visitors. Every time a new visitor arrives, the wailing begins again. This goes on day and night. Often the grieving includes laying blame on someone for causing the person's death, or even accusations of killing them outright by sorcery or poisoning. Sometimes the grief gets violent. Drumming, dancing, singing and drunkenness take place all night long. Family members from distant villages are sent for, and often the initial mourning period is extended until they arrive, causing this period to last two or three nights. The body is usually buried in the morning or evening about 24 hours after death.

After this initial time of mourning, there is a second death celebration called the 6th day. It is celebrated sometime during the weeks or months that follow the death. This celebration is characterized by spirit worship, drunkenness, carousing, marital unfaithfulness, fights and general evil.

My teammates and I wanted something different for Dali's funeral. Dali was a woman of God, and this kind of celebration would not honor her or the God she served so faithfully. We presented the idea of a different kind of celebration to her husband and he was visibly relieved at the possibility. He immediately took us to Dali's family to formally present the idea to them, and they accepted! We set the date and made the preparations. And then, we prayed. My specific prayer was that God would strengthen the faith of believers in our little village and that He would add dramatically to our numbers.

On the day of the celebration we arrived to find a palm leaf shelter erected in front of the home of Dali's mother. The food, to be shared after the service, was already prepared, and people were beginning to arrive. The service started off with prayer and singing. People were joyful. There was a spirit of fellowship. Nestor had asked me to testify about how Dali had placed her life in God's hands, so I had prepared a little message about the cross of Christ and how Dali had faithfully carried her cross, trusting God through good times and bad. I challenged those who were present to live a life of faith in God as Dali had lived, and I was overjoyed to hear Dali's mother, father, and brother commit publicly to trusting God. Barry also shared a message about “how beautiful are the feet,” which was encouraging and challenging to all. Others shared testimonies and commitments to live for God. There was more singing, more prayer, more celebration of a life of faith. Food was served, and people stuck around for a bit more fellowship. God was glorified. Our prayers were answered. Dali's life and trust in God were truly celebrated. The faith of the believers in Mayos was strengthened, Dali's family decided to follow Christ as well, and our hope is that the number of believers in our little village continues to grow.

This celebration was the first of its kind, but I hope it will be the first of many. As God's hope spreads among the Baka, traditions will change for the better and God will be further glorified among the Baka.

A Prayer of Hope in the Midst of Sorrow

Our little congregation lost a dear saint this week. Dali had a gentle, playful spirit. She was youthful, in spite of chronic illness. She was steadfast in her faith, trusting God in the face of immense trials. The day before she died, she said, "If this sickness is going to kill me, I wish it would hurry up and do so." But her words were not words of one who has no hope. She knew that when she died, she would enter glory. She knew her suffering would be finished. She knew that she would finally meet her Savior face to face. Her unwavering trust in God has served to strengthen my faith.

Dali's husband, Nestor, is equally steadfast in his faith. He and his wife have been shining lights in our little community. We can never be absolutley sure of another's salvation, and I often wonder how many true Baka believers we have in our little church, but because of the fruit I have seen in their lives, I have no doubt that Nestor and Dali's faith in Jesus is sincere. Though Nestor is my little brother in the faith, he has been in the position to instruct me on more than one occasion. His knowledge of the Word of God and his wisdom are true gifts to the church. He is the only qualified elder in our area, and he joyfully and faithfully completes his pastoral duties day after day.

It strikes me that, humanly speaking, Dali's death does not make sense. Why did God allow her to suffer so much? Why did she have to die? Why couldn't she experience more earthly blessings? Why did God take her away from her husband and her daughter so early?

This seeming inconsistency is not lost on the members of our little church. Nestor, pastoral even in his immense grief, told me that some of the members of our congregation are experiencing destructive doubt. They have been saying things like, "Look how she trusted God. She refused traditional healers and forest medicine. But how has it benefited her? Now she is dead. She was never truly healed. Who is this God anyway? God who!? God who!?" Some of them are experiencing a crisis of faith. Others seem to have completely lost their faith in God. Nestor has a genuine concern for his congregation. He desperately wants them to understand that God's ways are higher than ours, His thoughts are beyond our comprehension, His love for us is greater than we can imagine. He desperately wants them to trust God wholeheartedly. What an example of unwavering faith! In the midst of his sorrow, his concern is for his sheep.

Could it be that Dali's suffering is the very reason that her faith was so very strong? Did her illness and sorrow give her a better perspective on the temporal nature of this fallen world? Did she understand better than most that there are much greater things waiting for us after this earthly life is over? We know that Dali is finally healed. She is at rest. She is with Jesus. It gives me great joy to know that my friend has finished the race, that she is finally home. Her labors are over. Her pain is finished. She has no more tears to cry. Sorrow is but a distant memory for her now. It is my hope that others also enjoy the peace of knowing that Dali is not lost in death, but rather alive in Christ!

Dali was an exceptional person. She was one of only a handful of committed Christians among the Baka. Her loss is a huge blow to the ministry here. ...or maybe not. Perhaps God will use the doubts and fears of those who knew Dali to bring them closer to Himself. Perhaps loosing one who's faith was so strong will serve to strengthen the faith of others. Perhaps sorrow and doubt can be turned upside down.

Now is the time to pray for hope. The Baka live lives filled with hopelessness. God wants to give them hope. My fervent prayer is that sorrow and doubt would be turned upside down, that they would be transformed into hope and steadfast faith in the Faithful One.

I already miss Dali's laugh, her smile, her love for babies… I miss the little things like the way she would rub her feet together when she was sitting. I miss her steadfastness. I miss my friend. But I will see her again when we are reunited in Christ. Oh glorious day!!

Denis the Menace

This morning Annabella came home crying because an older child had stolen her snail from the fire. She and her friends often collect snails and cook them over the fire for a snack. The child who stole her treat is the older brother of Annabella's playmates. He is often around at playtime, and sometimes he plays amiably with the younger kids, but other times he can be a menace as older siblings often are. Annabella has been learning about forgiveness, so she expressed to me that she wanted this young boy, let's call him Denis, to apologize to her. I told her that we cannot make people apologize, but that I would go talk to him. Annabella often comes home complaining about Denis' latest offense, and I have recently suggested to her that she pray for him, as Jesus tells us to pray for those who persecute us. She had prayed for Denis just this morning.

It was my hope that I would be able to use this latest episode to provide guidance for Denis, who doesn't get much positive parental direction. I went out and confronted the child with his wrongdoing in front of his mother. His mother laughed, as parents here often do when faced with the shame of seeing their child's sin exposed. But as I wanted to display better discipline techniques to her, I continued. I have a relationship with Denis' mother, and we have talked about caring for and disciplining children on many occasions. I told Denis that stealing is wrong and that he should not steal his friends' food, and that I didn't want to hear about him bothering his friends again. I reminded him that he was to be kind to others. He listened to my chastening as respectfully as can be expected, stated that he understood, and then we parted ways. His mom went off to work on her field, and he went to sit under a nearby shelter.

A few minutes later I reminded Denis of the lesson he just learned, but he had his back to me and didn't respond. Then I noticed he was crying. I sat down next to him and asked him what was bothering him. No response. Was he sick? No. Did he feel sadness? Yes. What caused him sadness. No response. Did he feel sadness over the bad thing he just did? Yes. Well, OK!!! We can restore relationship here!! I told him that he can ask Annabella for forgiveness, and I asked if he would like that. Yes. Success! Thank you God for giving him a repentant heart! Baka children do not naturally come to this point so voluntarily.

So I called Annabella over and told her that Denis wanted to apologize. She accepted his apology and relationship was restored. But Denis was still sad. I asked if perhaps he was hungry. Yes. Denis and his siblings don't enjoy plenitude of food very often, and I suspected that was part of the reason why he stole the snail in the first place. It is hard to resist temptation when you are constantly feeling hunger pain. Now was my chance to show him a little kindness and hopefully communicate Christ's love to him with a small gesture of generosity. Would he like some peanut sauce and rice? Yes.

I sat Denis down on the front veranda with a bowl full of food, and he ate his meal quietly, gathering up each grain of rice before asking me to come get his plate. Was his belly full? Yes. Good. I reminded him that the conflict over the snail was over, that Annabella had forgiven him, and that he should not worry about it any more. He nodded. I went back in the house.

I'm going. This simple little statement, made a few minutes later touched my heart. In Baka culture, it is polite to announce your arrival and departure. Most of the kids, including Denis, often overlook this small gesture. But he took the time to take his leave today, and I saw a little change of heart. Perhaps this occasion will open the door for more discussions about forgiveness and love. Perhaps he will be able to better understand God's grace now. Perhaps this is the beginning of a changed life.

I didn't have any grand expectations today as I went outside to discipline a child who is not my own. Though I tried to have good intentions, I was put out by the fact that I had to deal with yet another behavior problem with the neighborhood children. I was weighed down by the fact that much of my interaction with the kids is in the role of disciplinarian. Denis wasn't the first kid that I had disciplined this morning, and he will likely not be the last. My attitude was not good, and my expectations were low. I wondered if Denis would even hear my words, or if he would continue to deny his wrongdoing as the children often do. But God surprised me. Denis had a repentant heart.

Please join Annabella and I in praying for her Baka friends. They desperately need Jesus. Pray that we would effectively communicate Jesus' grace to them. Pray that their little hearts would be open to hear God's Word, and that their lives would be forever changed.

Sunday School!!

We are praising God today that Ngelo was able to participate in a recent Child Evangelism Fellowship training facilitated by fellow missionary Stacey Hare. He began putting his new knowledge into action today with a group of excited kids. Ngelo seems like a natural in this new ministry, and I can tell he is very motivated to continue teaching.

Praise God! We have been praying that someone would emerge to teach the children, and He has provided! Please pray that Ngelo would continue to reach out to children with Sunday school and Bible clubs. Pray that we would know how to encourage Ngelo. Pray that he would be able to translate the necessary Bible verses in advance, so that the children can hear and memorize them in their own language. Pray that other adults would also take on the burden of teaching Baka children from the Word of God. And, above all else, pray that many children would hear God's Word and give their lives to Him.

A New Evil

We, on the Baka team, have always believed that now is an opportune time to reach the Baka with the Gospel. In the last few decades the Baka have gone through a difficult transition. For centuries the Baka lived in the forest. They hunted and gathered everything they needed to survive. Life was challenging, but they had the knowledge they needed to provide for their families. Then the loggers and poachers came into the forest. The plenitude that the Baka had enjoyed turned to need. They had to transition from being hunters and gatherers to being farmers. This new lifestyle clashed violently with their culture, and most have not made the transition well. Instead they have entered into a sort of subtle slavery with neighboring people groups who control the Baka by keeping them subservient.

Alcohol is used as a lure. Many Baka have become hopeless addicts. Often the Baka are paid for labor in alcohol. Sometimes they are not paid at all. I recently learned that when the Baka go into the forest to harvest peke, the nut of the wild mango which is a valuable trade item, individuals from other people groups enter the forest to get first dibs on the peke nut. They bring alcohol. So strong is the desire for alcohol that the Baka gladly sell the peke at a reduced price. Their meager earnings are often spent on alcohol as well.

Even government officials, whose job it is to help the Baka make this transition well, will bring boxes of hundreds of small sachets of hard liqueur, saying "They are lazy. They won't do anything unless we give them something to drink." That kind of backward thinking only causes more laziness and more alcoholism.

As a result of alcoholism and many other social difficulties, the Baka have become apathetic and fatalistic. They are told by others that dirtiness, laziness and worthlessness are their lot in life. Other people groups have sayings like, "you are as lazy as the Baka" or "dirtiness is for the Baka."

Since their parents are often drunk, Baka children live in chronic malnutrition and suffer from frequent, often preventable, diseases. Neglect is the rule, rather than the exception. And these children grow up to perpetuate their parents sins.

But there is a new evil among the Baka. Tramadol is a powerful medication designed to help those who suffer from chronic pain, but it is abused in Cameroon. It is sold on the street and is used by a surprisingly high percentage of young people. And it has reached the Baka as well. Young men often take the drug to give them strength to work hard. They pop 3-6 pills at a time, with no thought of what it is doing to their bodies. Some suffer dangerous seizures and other effects of the drug. But the biggest impact that tramadol has had on the Baka is to perpetuate the slavery that the Baka live under. Young men are lured to work for their non-Baka neighbors with the promise of pills. They get paid very little, but they become willing and faithful workers because of their desire for the drug.

A young non-Baka man that lives near us has taken this slavery to a new level. He has taken in several teenage Baka boys. These boys are given drugs, alcohol, stylish clothes and shoes. They are provided with a place to live. They idolize their "boss." They try to dress like him, wear the same hairstyle, walk like him, talk like him. The gravity of their situation is hidden from them. And as they remain in the service of this young man, their demeanor changes. Their eyes are often glazed over in a drug induced haze, they are becoming skinny and pale, and they no longer care about their families. It is a rain forest version of Oliver Twist.

I had the opportunity to talk to one of these young boys a few weeks ago after he became the victim of an accident. He was carrying a chainsaw on his shoulder and stumbled. The saw gave him a nasty cut on the back of the head. While we worked to repair the damage, we noticed that he was not experiencing any pain from his wound. Afterward, I sat him down to ask him frankly about his tramadol use. He admitted to taking several pills that morning. I explained to him that his drug use had caused his accident and that his body would be suffering more effects from the drugs and alcohol that he used with such frequency. He described to me the situation that he and the other boys were in, that they were supplied with food, clothes, shoes, drugs and alcohol. I expected that he would see this accident as an opportunity to leave a difficult situation, but he instead voiced gratitude for the generosity of his benefactor. I tried to get him to see reason, but I don't think he understood. I presented the Gospel to him. It is true what Paul says, that some plant and others water, but only God can cause growth. Finally I invited some others to join me in praying for this young boy and his friends. We bathed the situation in prayer and offered some advice.

Please pray for God's divine intervention in the lives of those who are affected by drugs and alcohol. Pray for the young men who are abusing tramadol. Pray for those whose lives are ruled by alcohol. Pray for wives who suffer the abuse of a drunken husband, intoxicated couples who engage in mutual domestic violence, and children who suffer both neglect and abuse at the hands of alcoholic parents. Pray that God would give the Baka wisdom to know how to escape the enslavement of drugs and alcohol. Pray that we, as missionaries, would faithfully present the truth of the Gospel as God has called us to do. Pray that God would show us how to love the Baka well. Pray for more workers to join us in the Baka ministry.

The Gospel for Sinners

At church today, we had a visitor. P is well known to all as a drunk who fights constantly with her husband and neglects her children. She walked up to the church shelter exuding a false confidence. She knew she was not in her element, but something drew her there nonetheless. She smelled of alcohol and had a looseness of tongue that often accompanies drinking. The gusto with which she tried to sing was betrayed by her unfamiliarity with the songs.

The message was about Lazarus, how Jesus raised him from the dead, but you could see the conflict that this story produced in her. Her three-year-old son died just one year ago. She spoke up and her questions were addressed. I prayed that God would give the teacher wisdom to handle the difficult situation. Another leader also addressed her, but his response was heavy on judgment and light on grace. We all know that she is a sinner, that her son, who died of measles, suffered from hunger and neglect because of her drinking habit. Most of those in attendance had been first hand witnesses to frequent drunken brawls between her and her husband. It was difficult to hear her objections and respond in grace, so more and more judgmental voices rang out. Surprisingly, she handled the verbal assault well. When the service was over, she tried to go. She hadn't received much of a welcome. The other women didn't know what to do, how to help.

I had an opportunity to speak with P before she left. We sat down and I spelled it out. "God wants to give you good life. You have sin in your heart and have done many bad things, we all have. God is the only one who can heal you and give you good life." I spelled out our need for a savior. I told her who our Savior is. I told her of God's unfathomable sacrifice, how He gave us His only Son, that He would die in our place. I told her how His blood was spilled for our sake. I explained the Gospel over and over, choosing different words, repeating key points, hoping it would penetrate her hard heart, hoping it would get through the fog of alcohol, hoping she would hear, that she would remember my words and open her heart to what God would say to her. We prayed together, or rather I prayed and hopefully she prayed silently along with me. And then I instructed her to go home and think about what she heard. I told her that she should choose her path. I encouraged her to ask God for forgiveness and choose to serve Him with her life. She said she heard me, but God only knows if she really did.

Please pray for P. Pray that God would break through the many strongholds in her life. Pray that the believers that she comes in contact with would be a loving and honest witness to her. Pray for our young Baka church, that they would learn how to reach out to sinners. Pray for the transformation that only God can provide.

It seems like everything is falling apart in our little village of Mayos. A few weeks ago, measles swept into the village, killing 4 children. Another disease claimed the life of yet one more child. Other children have suffered severe illness, injury and neglect. Mendo, after loosing her baby to measles, became very ill herself. She was expected to die and began seeing visions of spirits. She is improving, but still needs lots of prayer. Tuberculosis continues to take a toll on our friends and neighbors, claiming the life of Kweno, Annabella's maternal uncle, last week. Just a couple days later his uncle Sabone suddenly died of a mystery illness. Sabone's young daughter, Jenny, who was near death several months ago, has once again fallen ill. And yesterday Tendi, our neighbor and friend, gave birth to a stillborn child. There are many others who who are suffering in a myriad of ways.
Please keep our Baka neighbors and friends in your prayers. With so many crises, things seem to take a downward spiral. Family members are often blamed for deaths and sorcery is suspected in many cases. Apathy and discouragement seem to prevail during these times, and spiritual oppression is a constant problem.
Pray that Baka believers would be able to minister to and support those who are sick and suffering. Pray that those who have been resistant to the Gospel would turn to Christ. Pray that the ministry would continue and that the Church would grow. Pray that they would do battle with the enemy and come away as victors. Those who have turned to Christ begin to value family more, they live life well, they provide well for their children and help their neighbors. One shining star has been young Pe, who after recently giving birth to her second child, does her best to help her neighbors, cooking food for others, gathering firewood for friends, and generally being a help in the name of Christ. Pray that there would be more like Pe among the Baka.
Pray also for my missionary teammates in Cameroon. They have left North America to minister among the poorest of the poor with the goal of planting a vibrant, reproducing church among the Baka. The job is often thankless and discouraging. They face spiritual opposition and oppression. Please pray for them during this time of increased suffering as they are bombarded by desperate friends who are sick and dying. Pray for encouragement, the comfort that only Christ can bring, and strength to continue this work when it seems like everything is falling apart.

Tendi with her daughter Nu, taken about 5 years ago

Sometimes crises come at you all at once. This is the case in our little village of Mayos. There have been so many sick and dying over the last couple months. Please be in prayer for those who have lost loved ones. Pray that they would find the comfort that only Christ can bring.
This morning my friend, Tendi, delivered a stillborn child. She is also experiencing some postpartum bleeding. Oh, how her heart must hurt today. Please pray for Tendi, her husband Pajero, and their surviving children. I heard from teammates that Pajero, who has been openly resistant to the Gospel, prayed publicly for his wife today. I ache to see this family trust Christ and live their lives fully surrendered to Him. I long to see their children benefit from the love and care of godly parents. Though the pain that they are suffering right now is unimaginable, I hope that they turn to Jesus in the midst of their crisis.

picture copied from mymerrychristmas.com

“And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8 

This little known verse from Micah has become one of my favorite Christmas verses. It fills me with wonder and gratitude. Why? Because I think this little prophecy sheds light on where Jesus was born, who rejoiced at his birth, and why Mary and the shepherds were so amazed.
The tower of the flock, sometimes called "Migdal Edar" was located near, or possibly in Bethlehem. It was a watch-tower where shepherds were able to keep track of sheep. It was possibly even a birthing place for the sheep which would later be offered as sacrifices in nearby Jerusalem. It was important that these sacrificial lambs were born in a ceremonially clean place and that they were protected from injury. Could this be the place of Jesus' birth?
But what about the stable? Wasn't Jesus born in a stable because there was no room in the inn? Didn't the kindly innkeeper make room for Mary and Joseph in the stable behind his Motel 6? The word for inn used in the Christmas narrative is the same word used for guest room. It is more likely that there was no room in the family guest quarters, due to the fact that all of the extended family had descended upon Bethlehem for the Roman census. So Joseph and Mary had to find the next best place, or perhaps the best place of all. Was it a family member who helped Mary find a place to give birth to Jesus?
Where does the stable fit into the narrative? You will not find the word stable in the biblical account of Jesus' birth, so why do we celebrate his birth in a lowly cattle stall? Well, perhaps some well-meaning readers assumed that a stable was involved since a manger was mentioned. If a feeding trough was present, surely a stable was involved, right? Perhaps not, or perhaps so. The manger mentioned in the Christmas story could have been a feeding trough, carefully padded with straw or cloth, where newborn lambs were placed, or it could have been a birthing stall, where ewes birthed their precious lambs. This is likely the setting where Mary birthed our Savior, our sacrificial lamb, the Messiah.
Have you ever found it strange that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes? What are swaddling clothes? Why wasn't Jesus clothed in baby clothes or the ancient Jewish equivalent? Why wouldn't Joseph or Mary have given up their own cloak or other warm garment? Some scholars believe that swaddling clothes were the strips of cloth that shepherds used to immobilize and protect clumsy little newborn sheep so that they couldn't injure themselves, so that they would remain without blemish, spotless and perfect for temple sacrifice. These lambs were, no doubt, treated with the utmost care by shepherds who knew the little furry creatures would unwittingly give their lives to atone for human sin. Could it be that our Savior was wrapped in swaddling clothes because He was to be our sacrificial lamb?
Let's go back to that verse. “And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.” It is certain that the shepherds near Jerusalem and Bethlehem knew of the tower of the flock. After all, they were shepherds, and this was an important place for them. I imagine they also knew this verse well. They may not have understood the full prophetic meaning of this prophecy, but as shepherds, they would have taken note when this prophecy was read in the synagogue. I'm sure they would have wondered about the significance of the tower they knew so well. Fast forward to the night Jesus was born.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'” 

What a glorious announcement! What a majestic way to hear about Jesus' birth! But were the shepherds really the unlikely recipients of this news that we have always believed they were, or were they the most likely to hear this amazing news? I think they were the most likely to first hear of Jesus' birth. Notice the last part of the angel's pronouncement, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” The symbolism would be unavoidable for the shepherds as they would have heard the words 'swaddling clothes' and 'manger,' and they would immediately know that Christ was born in the birthing place of the sacrificial lambs. There would be no searching every cattle stall in Bethlehem until they found Jesus; the address was immediately known to them.
And oh how those shepherds rejoiced! They couldn't help but tell Joseph and Mary just how amazing the angel's proclamation was, and they would not have forgotten to mention the symbolism that was so closely tied to their own profession. I'm sure they also quickly realized just who the Messiah was to be. They were no doubt faced with their own sin and their own need of a final perfect sacrifice. What a mess of emotions they must have been as they realized all of these things. What a marvel it was to Mary as she “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” What a wonder it was to all who crossed paths with the shepherds that night! What an amazing and wondrous night that was!
I am no Bible scholar. I haven't been able to verify everything I've said here, but I find that this version of the nativity is both more likely and more amazing than the typical stable scene. Read the account of Jesus' birth in Luke 2 for yourself today (this has always been one of my all-time-favorite Bible passages) and allow yourself to replace the stable with the tower of the flock in your mind. Perhaps you will be filled with wonder and gratitude as I have.
For more about Migdal Edar visit patheos.com or bibletruth.org or simply do and internet search using the words 'tower of the flock' or 'Migdal Edar.'

Dali and Debora after recovering from measles

Debora was named after the Israelite judge who lead a battle against Sisera at mount Tabor. Her father Nestor named her Debora because he wants her to be a godly leader of her people. Her mother, Dali, struggled for several years to get pregnant after contracting tuberculosis. The disease had weakened her body and caused scar tissue that made it difficult for her to conceive. She was devastated to have two miscarriages, but through it all, she trusted God saying, “God will help me.” We were all overjoyed when we learned she was pregnant. She continued to trust God through the pregnancy, refusing traditional medicine. Debora was born in May, in the middle of the night, during a raging storm to some very grateful parents. Recently both Dali and Debora contracted measles. Both mom and baby were very ill. Debora developed pneumonia and nearly died, but God was gracious and allowed her to live. We are praising God for Debora's birth and her recovery from measles and pneumonia. I'm waiting to see what God will do with Debora. Pray that God would use her mightily, as he did her biblical namesake.

Ateba (right bottom) enjoying a "tea party" with Annabella, Nu and Yuma

Ateba is 6 years old. He is a sweet introvert who desperately desires to be loved. He has tuberculosis, and he lost his mother to TB last year. His father abandoned him in our camp for several months. He was sick and lonely, but he benefited from the love we and others were able to share with him. I started him on treatment for TB, and he began to improve. Still, he wandered our camp desperate for love and belonging. Finally, his father came to get him, causing him to stop TB treatment prematurely. I pray three things for Ateba: that his father would take his parental responsibility to love and care for Ateba seriously, that he would finish his TB treatment and that he would understand that Jesus loves him and will never abandon him.

I recently sent out a new prayer letter, click here to read it.
We are in need of more monthly support. If you would like to give to our ministry so that we can return to Cameroon and continue working with the Baka, click here.

Here are a couple more adorable kids in Cameroon.

Jenny with her mom, Ndae, 
just after she got out of the hospital

Jenny was named after me. She lives about a kilometer away from us in a little encampment called Ko-o. Her family used to host weekly meetings sing praise to God and discuss Bible stories, but sadly, The family now spends most of their free time drinking and partying. Several months ago, Jenny fell ill with a respiratory infection. Her extended family was very concerned for her, but her parents didn't seek medical help. Jenny's body was weakened by this illness, but eventually her father came to me for help. I treated the infection, but the prolonged illness coupled with malnutrition and neglect left her vulnerable. The night after Jenny's baby sister was born, Jenny got malaria and started to have seizures. She continued to convulse in spite of medication and lots of prayer. As we prayed over her, I could hear, in the hearts of her father and uncles, a desire to repent of drunkenness and neglect. We took Jenny to a clinic in town where she could receive intravenous medication, and to the surprise of all, she survived. It is my hope that her extended family continues to see their need for repentance and that they serve the Lord faithfully.

Simon with Buttercup the dog

Simon is two years old. His dad, Samedi, and his mom, Pe, are young people who love to serve the Lord. They are leaders in the church, and they often go on ministry trips to share Bible stories with other villages. Simon is blessed to have godly parents.

Simon is smart, charming and adorable. He loves to make people laugh and he gives the best snuggles. He also loves to hang out with his buddy, Buttercup. Pray that God uses Simon mightily to lead many to Christ.