Our little Girl

So someone asked me to blog about Jordan some more.... no problemo there! I could write about her all day! She is just changing all the time and some days when she wakes up, she is like a whole new baby. Jordan got her six weeks shots and polio drops this week, she weighed in at 12 and half pounds, she's a big girl (she is a Schilinski after all :-). Jordan is letting me get about 7 hours of sleep at night which is wonderful! She does like to eat and sometimes it seems like I'm nursing all day but I've got another month till I start home schooling so hopefully she'll be in more a schedule by then. I'm just enjoying our time together and not worrying to much about the piles of laundry. Jude is my big help, he loves to help me change her nappies and bath her (and jab the pacifier in her mouth :). Seth has got the touch and she usually falls right to sleep when he is holding her, so cute! 

I did my first big shopping on Thursday since Jude was born. I'd forgotten how people just love babies here, and really help you out with them, even more so in Bamenda than in the capital Yaounde. At the "supermarket" the workers carried her while I shopped, and then when I was in line, the lady behind took her and was just snuggling her to death (and they don't ask you to take her, they just take her :). Then even at the outside meat market there was an old mama sitting there and she just put her hands out and held her till I was done getting my meat. Makes life a lot easier, (especially as there is no carts to put her into). No wonder Cameroonian babies go to anyone! We were at Teen Missions last night and I didn't see Jordan for the whole meeting, she just passed around to everyone (good job she is easy to spot). It's the same at church too. 


Below are a few pictures of the last couple of weeks:

Getting a kiss from her big brother (and not too sure about it!)

Jake is great at getting her to smile

We think she looks like a little turtle in the one (click to enlarge to see her little turtle lips! :D )

Thinking while she's sleeping

Pretty in Pink

Awwwww!

Teen Missions

Nine of our kids (including Ma and Pa's grandchildren) headed off to Teen Missions last week. For those of you who don't know, Teen Missions is a summer missions camp. First the children spend 10 days at Boot Camp where they'll have classes on evangelism, puppets, drama, singing, construction, and biblical teachings. They'll sleep in tents and run an obstacle course every day. They have to learn 40 memory verses and have a 30 minute personal devotional time. They have a big rally every night which is always a lot of fun.

Then they head out in teams to different villages to put in practice all that they've learned. They'll be gone for  total of five weeks. It's not always easy but it's usually a life changing experience. Please keep these children in your prayers that they have a great time and their walk with Jesus becomes stronger and that this time will ignite a passion for missions in their hearts. Also keep Ma and Pa in your prayers as when the older kid's leave they have a lot more on their plates even though there are less kids. The older children are a big help with the little ones and do lots of the odd jobs around the Children's Home.

Jake will be speaking at Boot Camp rally tomorrow night, please pray that he'll be lead by the Spirit and lives will be changed for the glory of God.

Cidoni, Mirander, Aruna, Mary, Joel, Blessing, Joseph, Kari, and Rodine all set to go! 

And their off! They were so excited!

Fresh air!

Yesterday we went for a hike up in the village of Sabajora (not sure of spelling). It is a Fulani muslim village that some of our missionary friends are outreaching too. It is breathtakingly beautiful and everyone is so friendly. We had a great time and got some good exercise too. This country continues to amaze me.

Jordan of course gets made a fuss of wherever we go. These are the three wives of one man up there (they each have their own house/room). The first thing they asked me (through motions, they don't speak English) was if I was breast feeding... very important here :-D. To which I answerd the affirmative.

At our friend's house, their cow had just given birth to a calf a bit early. He was so tiny and soft and kept following Jake around! All the families up there are cow farmers.

Jude was amazed!

This is the father Jakuba and he 7 month old son.

We hiked up to a cave, it is enormous! The cave (as most caves and waterfalls here) is used as a place of idol worship. Usually you just see some stones and chalky stuff sprinkled around but this one actually had statues and grave sort of things.

So here is a little "joujou" spot. The Cameroon culture is definitely a fear culture. Christians often struggle to break ties with their traditional belief because of fear of witches and evil spirits.  These people need to be set free with the power of Jesus!

An amazing view of the Ndop plain. There is a huge lake in the disance but hard to see. God's creation is  amazing. My legs have been aching today!

A couple of weeks ago...

Here's a few photos of when we took Jordan down to the Children's Home for the first time. Everyone was so exctied and she got passed around to everyone :-D. Every time I go down there now I never see her, the girls whisk her off. Jordan loves to be held so makes my life a little easier!

Eliza and Jordan... it wasn't cold but if you don't put a hat and blanket on a baby here everyone shouts at you (even if it's 90 degrees!)

Pa was so cute with the baby, I think he held her the longest.

Jordan being admired!

Old acquaintance

Craziest thing happened today. We live right behind a lawyer who has a huge house. Lots of people live there, Josh and Seth play over there a lot. A lady that lives there (the lawyer's niece) that we have seen a few times and said hello to. She stopped Jake the other day and asked if she could come over and talk about the orphanage. Well, she came over today and we sat and talked about the Children's Home. She says she loves children and would like to come and volunteer at HHCH, spending time with the kids, playing with them. She is a believer and said that she has always worked with children in her church. After chatting for about half an hour she mentioned that she had moved to Bamenda from Limbe two years ago. Well, we lived in Limbe for 8 months when we did our internship here in 2000. So we started talking about that and mentioned which church we worked with. She asked "With Pastor Isidore?" Yes we said and then she said, "Are you Jake and Holly?" Turns out she was the children's workers at the church while we were there. I thought she look familiar! We remembered her as soon as she said that. She hadn't realized that we had moved back to Cameroon. Now what are the odds of moving next door to someone we went to church with 10 years ago in another town 6 hours away? Pretty slim!! We talked about old times. So looks like she will come and help out when she can at the Children's Home. God is Good!

July 4th

 Been wanting to blog forever but seems every time I've sit down to write, Jordan wakes up or I remember I need to hang a load of laundry on the line or something :-). It's been a busy but great few weeks (Jordan is four weeks today). She is soooooo sweet and changing everyday. She is more of a baby than a newborn now. We've had a team here, been out to the village, lots going on at the Children's Home.... but I'll blog about all of this when I get the chance. 

We had a great July 4th (also Jake's 31st birthday), we had a bunch of friends over (missionaries and Cameroonians), 24 in all! Praise the Lord the weather was great with only a sprinkling of rain. Jake grilled, everyone brought great food; it was a feast with wonderful fellowship. 

The trampoline got a good use and Jake got a game of American football going, a first for the Cameroonians. We had some Fulani girls over too, that's a muslim tribe here (they don't look Cameroonian, more north African), and they even joined in the game, they were a lot of fun! We said goodbye to our last guest about 7pm; it was a great day!

Seth took photos before anyone arrived and then we completely forgot to take anymore till the end when they were playing football.

Jake grilling (our BBQ is an old water heater cut in half)

Kebabs, yum! We had burgers too.

Jude cleaning up the grass before everyone arrived :-)

Seth told me to make crazy face!

Football game