the value of a short-termer

I have been so praised-filled to the Lord to hear people tell me that they have witnessed ways in which I have been of encouragement to the long-termers that I have encountered during my travels throughout Cameroon. All praise to the Lord and His abundant grace that proves Himself strong through our weaknesses!

And, I can even say for myself (although I have only been here three months), that I have been so encouraged by the fresh faces that have arrived to serve as short-termers for various tasks. It is so easy to become discouraged over time, and at times even become desensitized to the incredible work that is going on around you ... and then a new face comes onto the field with fresh vision and passion -- and one cannot help but to be encouraged and refreshed! My charge to you: thinking about a short-term mission trip? any opportunities to go overseas short-term? GO! Not only will you gain a fuller vision of what mission work looks like in action and become a better sender because of it (I'm AMAZED at how much I've learned ... in thinking I already understood so much), but the Lord will use you to encourage, uplift, and sharpen those on the field long-term! GO!


My current loves of my time in Yaounde:

1. My students. Teaching is difficult at times ... but man, these kids are just fabulous ... incredible ... hilarious. I just stinkin like them ... a lot.

2. Building deeper relationships with people I've met along my travels, and starting new ones:)

3. Helping out in the Scripture Use office! I just love a good and concrete task every now and then (updating system that keeps track of all the Bibles and NT translated into Cameroonian languages, helping to publish and assemble Scripture promotion booklets [the parables of Jesus in nine different languages]). NOT TO MENTION: this is God's Word! Getting into the hands of His people! Doesn't get much more exciting:)

thankful.

I'm officially getting to the point where the thought of leaving Cameroon is quite sad:) I have been truly blessed by the community of single women here (mostly teachers and tutors). To have consistent fellowship after two months of traveling, is a blessing that goes beyond words. The Lord is so faithful!

I will be teaching my first class tomorrow (classes were delayed in starting)! And I'm still excited and nervous:)

back home in Yaounde:)

And so, I have returned to the place that I first called home upon my arrival to Cameroon ... right across the road from the Andersons:) And I have a lovely roommate from Switzerland named Esther, a temporary roommate from Korea named Ha Eun ... and a permanent third roommate from Indiana named Lacey, who is to arrive by plane in just a few hours!

It's so lovely to have some consistent people in my life for a change. I am so looking forward to building relationships with people ... after transitioning from place to place and people to people for two months!

The following is a peak into what my life will look like for the next three weeks or so:

8:30-10:00am Teach 5/6th grade MKs English at FES (parent-run school)
10:00am-12:30pm Audit Grammar Sketch workshop
1:30-300pm Help out in the Scripture Use office
3:00pm-?? Prepare lesson plans:)

Now ... teaching is new to me:) So, I would appreciate your prayers! I am pretty stinkin excited though.

one last, and very affirming village trip!

I took a spontaneous trip to one last village before returning to Yaounde! And, it was perhaps the highlight of all my time in the NW.

I have come away from this quick visit realizing that if I pursue linguistics, I'm going for phonetics ... and perhaps even phonology (I LOVE the early stages of language projects!).

I have also come away with my most interesting offer of marriage (remind me, and I'll tell you the story when I return), as well as my most interesting travel experiences (again, a story better saved for in person)!

Not to mention ... I'm beginning to feel quite at home in Cameroun:)

pictures!

I've uploaded pictures on facebook! It took me nearly three hours ... internet is quite slow here:) So ... I'm not even gonna try to put them up here yet.

what joy to have internet! (some internet)

This morning I write to you from a classroom in the SIL offices in Bamenda, Cameroon! I have finished the “village phase” (5 villages tototal) of my trip … and am happy to have running water and electricity (at least, most of the time). I have indeed seen many places in Cameroon! Some long-termers laugh in saying that I have seen more of Cameroon than they have! I am very thankful for all that I have been able to see thus far … but that being said, I am a bit exhausted! My roommate and I took a weekend trip to another village (to visit a Cameroonian man who does family and marriage counseling), and while our visit was delightful (as every village visit has been) … I think I need a break from bush taxis and take some time to settle and relax!

And so today was day one of an SIL grammar workshop on clause and sentence. It is quite exciting (perhaps I am part linguistJ) to observe how one goes about teaching grammar in another culture, and to watch the different language teams tackle their own languages.

Let me paint a little picture of my life and such:

1. Favorite Cameroonian meal: corn fufu (thick corn mush), njama jama (forgive the spelling, cooked bitter greens), and fish

2. Most encouraging moment: seeing a project that has reached translation

3. Most intriguing idea: pursuing Scripture promotion (once a project has reached translation, people in this role encourage churches to help and support translating the Bible into their own language, as well as encourage them to make use of it once it is translated!)

4. Most challenging task: not having a specific task … and learning how to make best use of my time, while not overwhelming myself by taking advantage of every opportunity.

5. Rainy season: I am so happy to have come during rainy season! Although it makes life difficult in some ways (the mud roads become quite difficult and dangerous to travel on), the rain just calms my soul. Not to mention that the landscape is breathtaking; so lush and green, and so many waterfalls!

6. Coming independently: I am so thankful that I came alone; I think the Lord is really using this time to grow me as an adult.

7. Critters: I am happy to say that I have not been too overwhelmed by the wildlife! The most challenging thing I have encountered yet was a spider the size of the palm of my hand. He did keep me company every night during one of my village stays however. Three things to understand, take comfort in, and be unnerved about concerning spiders in Cameroon: 1) They only come out at night. 2) They very much enjoy pit latrines (tip: relieve yourself before nightfall!) 3) They favor the same room/wall every night.

8. Things I wish I had brought: a pair of clean shoes (only for indoors), cardigans/sweaters (it is surprisingly cold here – especially in the NW), planner, notebooks (for all the observing I have done), more wide skirts (for traveling on banskin [a.k.a motorcycle]).

9. Things I’m glad I brought: flashlight, travel hand/face sanitizers, a journal for daily cultural notes and processing, photo albums (thanks Kalli and Katie!), BBC fighter verses, iPod (thanks Tennisons!)

10. Growth as a sender: I praise God that I will leave Cameroon a much better “sender”—even if I do end up being a “goer” myself. I amazed at how much I have learned about mission work in my short time in Cameroon (in having thought I already understood so much).

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- The ability and motivation to pour out and into others (when much of my time has been spent handling culture shock and transitioning from place to place)

- Release of my future ideas/desires (pray that I would just let go and allow the Lord to mold and shape me for His intended plans)

- Preparation for the fall and upcoming years (I can sense that the upcoming years will contain much growth—before the Lord leads me to take a long term assignment overseas; pray for a willing and patient heart, and also for determination in pursuing mission work (so long as the Lord intends).

hello from Banso, Cameroon!

I just wrapped up my first village phase and am currently staying with the family of the helicopter pilot that will be flying me to my next village phase on Wednesday:) My first village phase was a delight ... I stayed with a single woman (a linguist) who is living with a Cameroonian family. I got a very full picture of what linguistic work looks like in a village setting!

The Lord definitely brought new meaning to the passages of Scripture that speak of light and darkness -- you haven't experienced darkness until you've experienced it in a remote village. Praise the Lord that in Him there is no darkness at all, for the darkness is as light to Him!

I have also been deeply encouraged and refreshed during my time in Banso. I have truly felt the Lord's grace covering me and upholding me. And, I look forward to my next village phase ... as well as the helicopter ride to it:)

As much as I have been encouraged and delighted by my time in Cameroon, however, I continue to be plagued with uncertainty. I am confident and certain in the Lord calling me to mission work, but I become more uncertain everyday, as to how the Lord intends to use me. It's almost as though the Lord has deadened or "clouded" my passions. Everytime someone asks me what I am passionate about, and what I desire to do overseas ... I struggle to come up with an answer ... other than: "I love Jesus!" Pray that my unsettled soul will seek the Lord alone for an answer and wait for Him alone to answer. I want to be obedient in serving Him overseas, but I don't have the slightest idea where or how He desires to use me. In all of that though, my hope and my joy remain constant in the God of my Salvation! Praises to Him that there is no uncertainty in that!

My love and prayers are with you!