The things you see on the mission field!

We just got back from visiting some friends who've recently built and moved into their own house. We stopped at the top of our road at the little market stalls to pick up a couple of watermelons to take with us (never visit empty handed here). We pulled up to the little stall and there was a large crowd standing around. This is never a good sight as that usually means thieves have been caught and killed. But this crowd was looking up. There was a "mad" man running and jumping across the rooftops of the shops there. He had a big piece of plastic and long grass wrapped around his head. The roofs were super old so he was falling through the rusty zinc up to his waist and then pulling himself out. People were shouting and throwing stuff at him. Then he starting throwing stuff and a stick hit our truck (time to roll up the widows!). Next he jumped up and twisted himself in the electric wires that were just above the roofs. Finally about 4 guys got up there and tackled him and brought him down. The police were already there and I couldn't see if they took him away or not as there was a huge crowd by then. Seth started to cry when the guys tackled him but I explained that they were trying to stop him from hurting himself. We said a prayer for the man. So we got our two watermelon and headed off. 

There is a lot of what they call "mad" people in Cameroon. In Yaounde you would see them everyday, usually stark naked with bags and twigs in their hair. Bamenda has a few, I didn't recognize this guy though. There is a mental institution in town but I can't even imagine what that is like. I know these people really need Jesus and would love to see a work started with them.  Who knows what they have been through to get to the state that they are in. Anyway, never a dull moment in Cameroon!

Something to pray about

When we lived in the capital, Yaounde, we were involved with a church plant for the Full Gospel Church. It was (and still is) called Yaounde International Chapel and one of it's goals was to reach leaders of the country. We had some opposition at the start from some people saying it wasn't biblical, there is no need for it, etc. I think they thought it was going to be like an exclusive club and of course it is not like that at all... we wanted a church that was open for all people with a focus on leader. Ways we did this was by meeting in a hotel, trying to keep to time, and incorporating some more modern worship songs into the worship. If anyone has been to Africa you know that their praise is fantastic, they put 100% into it... but worship (as in singing worship) is often just one song or non existent. Anyway the church started in 2005 and has been going strong ever since full of people from all walks of life. Jake was the youth pastor there and I ended up being the Children's director. When we left two years ago it was up to two services with about 300 people attending (a big church for Cameroon). Since then they have started a sister church in the other capital city. They are doing a great job of reaching out to the leaders in their city and spreading the light of Jesus.


All of this to say we were approached by a good friend that works at the Full Gospel Bible School here in Bamenda. He's visited the church in Yaounde a few times and has really caught the vision. He is wanting to start something similar here and would like us to be on the leadership team. He even ask Jake to be assistant pastor but since Jake doesn't have enough time as it is to get everything done he is meant to be getting done he politely declined. But we have decided to be on the leadership team and help wherever/whenever possible. Jake will probably mentor someone that is wanting to work with the youth as well and I will head up the children's program again (wohoo!). The church is set to start in August and right now a lot of planning is going on. So please keep this endeavor in your prayers. It is never easy starting a church but it is very exciting and wonderful to see how the Lord helps and sustains us through it all and see the lives that He touches. I'll keep you posted on how things are coming along.

One of the first services at Yaounde International Chapel 

My boys

Yesterday afternoon Jake and I were playing a game of Settlers and I realized everything was too quiet. I knew Seth and Jude were together which is never a quiet union. So popped my head in the school room and there they were, too cute. I snuck out and got the camera, they were like this for half an hour.

Care package!

We just got a package from some of our great friends in England. They're actually Slovak but moved to England a few years back. Stano and Alic were some of the first people that became Christians while my family was missionaries there in the 90's. So they have a very special place in our hearts. We Skype and it is a great practice for my Slovak which is terrible after being away for 13 years! Anyway, they sent us a great care package with lots of English goodies! The Rats did get into it though (at the Post Office) and had a good ol' time munching on Cadbury's chocolate eggs, sponge fingers, and Jello. Praise God they didn't get into the Christmas Puddings!

Yes, that is four Christmas Puds with four mini ones... we are all set for December (I'm sure we'll eat some before then!) YUM!!

Rats had actually made a little nest in there too!

They boys got new cars, they've been playing with them ALL day

Random photos

Something else I would love to do this summer is scrap-booking. I really enjoy to do it and have albums and all the paraphernalia but just never have the time to sit down and do it (I even have the box next to my desk in the school room in case both boys are independently study at the same time but that has never happened :). I've completed one album since I started about 3 years ago, and it's of Jake's and mine dating/engagement years so I have a LOT to catch up on. We have soooooooo many photos on our laptop, using up tons of space; when we get teams we usually download all of the members' photos at the end. So I'm wanting to go through all of them; deleting and organizing. And then hopefully print some and do some scrap-booking while my new baby will be sleeping (maybe I'm counting my chickens before they hatch here). Anyway I sat down for about 2 hours today and went through a bunch already, I've posted some random photos that I just think are awesome. 

Before we had a hot water heater this is how I used to bathe the boys, it worked really great actually, they always had a lot of fun splashing around

 

Jake having extensions put into his goatee!

 

Seth with a friend's monkey when we spent the summer in the East with the TMI team

And Josh with the little fellow too

Seth have a good laugh about something :-)

Kayaking at the beach, good times!

 

Seth and Strider conked out on the way home from the beach

 

Josh with his Kindergarten class
 at FES (a missionary home schooling co-op). Jake made the helmet and I made the costume, we had more fun than he did I think :)

Seth at football practice in Yaounde, he really misses that even though he plays all the time now with neighbourhood kids

And my absolute favorite, this is when the medical team was here in 2005. Gabriel is handing out sweets to the neighbourhood kids and little Seth is at the front asking for one, priceless! (btw, it was very hot)

Jude's birth story

As promised below is the post I put up when Jude was born two years ago... it was quite the experience but by far my easiest delivery. Praying for just a quick and easy delivery for number four. I repeat this is about the birth of Jude, I have not had a baby yet!

Well, I'm back, praising the Lord for the safe delivery of our precious little boy. Jude is doing so well and is such a good baby. He pretty much eats and sleeps, eats and sleeps, opens his eyes for 2 minutes, eats and sleepsJ. For anyone interested I'm going to write my birthing experience (it was really good by the way). First of all, Jude wasn't due for another 3 weeks. Jake had a trip out to the East to check up on the school out there and get some info and pictures. He was only going away for one night and would be back in the afternoon of the next day. We joked about that if the baby came while he was gone, he was going to be in big trouble, but we thought there was no possible way, what are the odds. My past labours had been really long, (over 24 and 16 hours), and Jake said he could get back in 6 hours so there would be no way he could miss the birth, ha! So Jake left early Tuesday morning.

I felt good all day Tuesday, put the boys to bed at 8 and was watching the news. At about 10pm, I started having some contractions, pretty close together but they weren't strong. I just assumed they were Braxton Hicks and walked around for a little bit and they stopped in about half hour. I went to bed and then woke up at 11pm with more contractions. This time they were stronger and closer together. So I started walking around again. Half an hour later they were closer yet and I was starting to get concerned, I thought there was no way I'm going into labour with Jake gone! So I kept walking, hoping they would go but by midnight they were coming every 5 to 4 minutes and were starting to hurt. I called Jake and told him he better start coming home. Then called my doctor and he told me to meet him at the military hospital so he could check me (that's where he works), and then we would go on the CNPF hospital where I was meant to deliver (a lot nicer and cleaner than the military hospital). Then I called my missionary friend, Sun, who was meant to look after the kids, to ask them to take me to the hospital and get the kids. But, woes upon woes, her phone wouldn't go through, I tried and tried, to no avail, so I was starting to freak out a bit. Called Jake up again and asked him to try and call. He called me back and said that he couldn't get a hold of Sun, but had called Emmanuel (good friend from church) and he was coming to get me, phew! So got the boys up, quickly tried to pack my bag, and get all the baby stuff together (I was sooo unready). Contractions were still coming consistently but not too painful. So Emmanuel got here about quarter to 1 and of we went to the hospital. I went in and left the kids in the car with Emmanuel. The doctor was waiting for me in his office and he checked me and I was already at 5 cent. (It had taken me about 10 hours to get to this point before!). The doctor said he thought the baby would be there in less than an hour so there was no time to go on to the other hospital. Called Emmanuel and told him to bring my bags up and take the boys home with him. I was still just walking about the dr. office breathing thorough contractions that were getting stronger but still not too bad.

Then the doctor realized that someone had taken the key for the delivery room home! He called the guy up and told him to hurry up and bring it. About 20 mins. later the key came, and finally got in the delivery room. The doctor checked me and I was at 8 cent. He told me to walk around for about 10 more minutes which I did, by now the contractions were intense, I was shouting "Jesus" out during them J. Then I got up on the table, he told me to push, I did two times and the baby was out! They put him on my chest and I touched his head and he started crying. Then I was like "what is it!!!" and the doctor said a boy. I was sooo happy, it was like a dream, I couldn't believe that it was all over already! It was exactly 2 am in the morning and I had only had about 10 min. of intense pain! Soooo different than my past two deliveries. They took Jude to get cleaned up and he was crying the whole time. His apgar score was 10. About 10 minutes later they brought Jude to me and wheeled me into the room. Jake called just about then… as he had just got into a town that had cell phone reception. The first thing I said is that it's a boy, and he couldn't believe I had already had Jude. He was happy and sad at the same time as he missed his birth. He said he'd be there in about 4 hours.

The room wasn't too bad… It actually had a really nice bed, one that moves up and down. But there was mold on the wall and the toilet had no toilet seat and the shower leaked so when you was on the potty you got all wet J. But it could have been worse.

Jake got there about 7 in the morning, I was so happy to see him! Later he went to get the boys and we were all together, it was so nice. I did have an allergic reaction to something; the doctor thinks it was to the "antiseptic" water that they washed me with after I gave birth. I had hives all over my legs, it was really weird. They gave me a shot and it got a lot better. The water was in an old Fanta bottle so maybe I was allergic to the Fanta instead!Anyway, I got to go home the next morning; the rash was just about cleared up. I'm still amazed at how easy this whole delivery was, God was really with me. Jude is such a huge blessing and the boys just love him (after they got over the disappointment of not having a sisterJ). They just hug and kiss him all the time; I have to watch that they don't smother him.

Home Schooling

I am just about done with home schooling for this school year. Seth's been finished for a week now and Josh just has one Math lesson left, woohooo! I do love home schooling but it will be nice to have a couple months break. I'm just happy I got it all done before the baby arrived. Last school year we started out in the States; is hard to do school when your on the road. So we didn't really get going till December, I was always trying to catch up which can get stressful at times. I also had a K and 2nd graders. This year was a breeze compared to that. I was always ahead and because Josh is in 3rd grade he is a lot more independent. This month I ordered all my curriculum for next year... can't wait to get it. Can't believe I'll have a fourth grader! 


One thing I'm really looking forward too with my summer break (besides bonding with my new baby :), is having a chance to cook better breakfasts. Right now our mornings are pretty hectic. We get up a 5:45, Jake goes for a run with Josh at 6am (I used to run too but haven't since being pregnent... about another month though!). While they are out, I put a pot of tea on (of course!) and check emails. They get back at 6:30 and Jake and I do devos till 7. Then I get breakfast going (with another cup of tea), try to have anything on the table by 7:30, eat together, clear up and be in the school room at 8. So needless to say we eat a lot of omelettes, oatmeal, bagels, yogurt and granola (it's home made though and delicious!). Saturdays Jake always take one of the boys out for breakfast for some father/son time so I don't make a big breakfast then, and Sundays are usually just as hectic trying to get everyone ready for church.... so I really never get a chance to cook a good breakfast. I'm looking forward to some pancakes, breakfast burritos, french toast, fry-ups, crepes, coffee cake, sausage and egg english muffins, breakfast casseroles.... Yum! I'm making myself hungry! Oh yeah, I'll also be trying to lose my baby weight this summer too! :-)


Been feeling great, had a few contractions at night this week so hoping that is a sign that the baby is coming soon!

Farm update

So the farm is all planted and looking great. We've got corn, soya beans, and red beans in the ground. The kids have already been up there to weed once and will keep up on it once a week. We went down there early Saturday morning with everyone from HHCH to thank God and pray for a good harvest. It was a little chilly and foggy as you can see.

Pregnancy update

Had a good checkup at the hospital yesterday even though we were there longer than four hours! There was a total of 55 pregnant women and like I said before, you have to wait for them all to see the midwife, go to the lab, and then have a lecture before they give you your book back and you can go home. I did get my list of things to bring, it's pretty funny;

2 rolls of toilet paper (I just realized they only have squatties... that's going to be fun!)

6 pairs of rubber gloves (for the midwives I'm assuming)

Detol (a disinfectant)

Bleach

Olive oil (to clean the baby with when it's born; going to skip this one)

3 amples of Methergin (will take with me but won't use unless necessary)

Rubbing Alcohol

Baby bath (?, I only planning to be there a day and can't bathe the baby in a bath till her belly button dries up... so skipping this one too)

slippers

diapers

rogam shot (because of my blood type, but I have to buy it and bring it with me :-)

And my personal favorite, a flask of hot water (I asked why and they said, "so that you can drink it when you are thirsty during labour... cold water makes you even thirstier" I told them I was bring some ice water with me instead, they said that's not normal :)

So I can see this is going to be quite the experience... I did find out the price too and if everything goes according to plan with no complications the cost is 20,000 ($40) and it is 4,000 ($8) a night for a private room (if they have one available), so that definitely won't break the bank :). Of course I have to bring all my own food and drink.

When I had Jude in Yaounde (the capital city) we paid about $600 and I thought that was pretty good! We did have probably the best OB/GYN in the country too. I will try to find my blog post of that delivery and repost it, that was quite an experience as well (but by far my easiest delivery). Jake and me are going out for breakfast together on Saturday and then going shopping for all the "paraphernalia". I'm really looking forward to a breakfast date... it's going to be a while before we can have another one all by ourselves again.

Godwill Update

Godwill had his last chemo treatment on Monday. He only has to go back to the hospital in six month for a checkup, praise God! The last treatment did leave him pretty sick though and he looked pretty poorly yesterday. Pa slept with him last night (so sweet) so he could be there to help if he threw up. Godwill was doing a lot better today, please keep him in your prayers. And once again, thank you so much to everyone that prayed and spread the word, we had people all over the globe lifting up Godwill's needs to our Saviour.

Fun day in the village

We had a great day out with our friends in the beautiful village of Bafangi. The roads were really great as the rains haven't been too serious; I was praying they wouldn't be too bumpy, I really didn't want to deliver my baby in the bush :). The Hamms are Bible translators and have been out there since 2004. They have a lovely little home which they share with their three kids (all under the age of four!). No running water, no electric (they have a solar panel for a couple of lights at night). I'll never complain that we have no water to flush the toilet, at least I have one!

Noah, their son, celebrated his fourth birthday while we were there. Another missionary from a few villages away joined the party , it was a great time of fellowship and good food. The boys had a blast too, getting to see their friends and playing with neighbourhood kids.

Jude playing on Noah's birthday present (pink just for girls is a very western concept)

Neighbourhood kids that are always hanging out at the house, so cute!

Sack races (thankfully I had a good excuse to not participate :)

This is Micah, he was born with a cleft palate... the Hamms have set up for him to have surgery at a hospital. Right now he can't talk.

Josh racing the birthday boy

Their front room

A birthday surprise; sand!

Jude and Ellie having fun

Their kitchen (I had the privilege to bake the cake)

Their little Jo Jo with Micah