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!

goodbye modern amenities!

It's about 10pm here in Yaounde, and I leave tomorrow morning at 7am:) I'm anxious ... and excited. I'm going to get a real taste of village life! Please pray for health, hope, and inexpressible joy in the Lord! I'll be updating as I am able ... but again ... I may not have internet for a good few weeks:)

alive and well:)

I am currently in Yaounde (the capital of Cameroon)! The Lord indeed proved Himself Faithful throughout my flights; they went incredibly smooth -- I am so thankful! And, my bags even arrived!

I head out to the Bamenda area Wednesday with a English-speaking, Cameroonian believer. He will accompany me on the 7 hour bus ride and then take me by his taxi to my first host family. I am incredibly thankful for the provision of this travel companion/guide!

I must tell you now that I will most likely have NO COMMUNICATION ability while in the villages -- which quite honestly means that you may not here a word from me until I return to Yaounde in August. I will be in very isolated areas, and would GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS during this time. Please lift me to the Lord!

That being said, I am resting in the Lord. The "short-termness" of this trip is helping to maintain my high hopes, and cheerful and trusting spirit, but I do not deny that there may be very difficult times during the next month and a half. Please pray that I will dwell richly in the hands of the Lord and seek Him continually as my Joy and my Strength.

I love all of you! You are so often in my prayers.

anticipation

I fly out to Yaounde, Cameroon in 27 hours ... and the nerves are bubbling up a bit. Pray that I will rest secure in our Great and Sovereign God who is for me and not against me. On that note however, I am SO excited!