First Church Service

Phew, it's been a crazy couple of weeks! So much to blog about, just need the time to do it! We had a great home school session with other missionary families and we start regular home schooling tomorrow morning! Yay, can't wait! My first read-aloud with Josh is William Wilberfore's biography, looking forward to that. Anyway, hopefully this week I'll be able to catch up on my blog all that has been going on (all good stuff!).

We had our first service this evening for Calvary Chapel Bamenda (a Full Gospel Church). It was kinda of a trial run before the big kickoff next weekend. Friday and Saturday we'll be holding outreach meetings in a hotel and then Sunday morning will be the official opening of the church, very exciting. Yesterday I was asked if I could lead praise and worship and was told that the pastor's wife would be there to sing with me, so I said no problem. When I got to church I found out it would just be me! Oh well, I think it went pretty well anyway, it always amazes me how the Lord opens up doors for me to sing and play guitar even though it is something I'm not great at. I guess He is continuing to stretch me and take me out of my comfort zone. I'll be helping out with the worship group for a while but my main focus at the church will be developing and training a strong Children's leadership team. Jake is in the church leadership, he led the service today and did a great job. Please keep this all in your prayers, we love seeing a church come together from the very start though of course it's not always easy. Praise the Lord there is a solid, dedicated leadership in place already!  

Leading worship (our close missionary friends, the Dibbits, are in the front row)

Josh was our little picture taker, I think he must have taken at least 50!

Jake leading the service. The church is starting out in a house and we're believing we'll expand in the next few months. 

As promised, here are some photos of summer school at the Children's Home. It's going really well. Since all the older children are at Teen Missions (coming back on Thursday), there are only two classes right now. Main focus is reading, writing, and spelling. 

This is Jeremiah, he and his wife run an A.C.E. school in Ghana (looking at the possibility of starting one in Cameroon too)

The older boy is Jackson who lives with Jeremiah's family in Ghana. He is 15, a very sweet young man.

The little girl is their daughter Hannah, who is three going on 30, she is so smart! Her and Jude have been having a lot of fun together. They also have a 5 month old boy, Jonathan.

The older girl is 15 year old Myriam who is from Ivory Coast but moved to Ghana to go to school there. She is a lovely girl and a great help. She is a whiz a pictionary (we've been playing that with them a lot)!

SCA (Homeschooling co-op) went well this week, the boys are having a lot of fun with all of their friends and learning lots. Jude and Jordan have been doing good too, but by the end of the afternoon I'm beat! I enjoyed sleeping in till 7:45 this morning, I really needed it! On Thursday it was "crazy hair day" so Jake had a blast styling the boys' hair. One more week of SCA and then we start regular homeschooling, really looking forward to it.

Needless to say, the Josh and Seth both have very short hair now :-D

School

Just a quick post, SCA, the homeschooling co-op I'm a part of has started... so that will be keeping me busy for the next two weeks. There are six missionary families participating, with a total of 19 kids. It is a lot of fun, and the boys are having a blast. Will post some pics soon. It has been a challenge to have all four kids dressed, fed and out of the door by 7:30am but we are doing it, it's good to be getting back into a schedule again and it is making me go to bed early (always a good thing!). 


Also summer school started at the Children's Home yesterday. They will have three weeks of teaching. Our missionary friends came all the way from Ghana to help out, such a blessing! Please pray that our kids will get a lot out of it these next few weeks. I'll be posting some pics of that too, probably this weekend. 

In Douala

Sitting in an air condition room at the Baptist Guest house in Douala, munching on Milka Chocolate, yum! My husband knows what makes me happy :D. 

Yesterday we made it safe and sound to Yaounde. Our wheel did start smoking about half an hour into the 6 hour trip but after pulling over, letting it cool off and checking it out, all was OK... Jake thinks it must have been some oil on the brake pads as we had some work done on it a few days ago. So when we got to Yaounde, Jordan got her passport photos taken, then we headed straight to the air conditioned, diaper changing table equipped, American Embassy (it is seriously just like stepping into the US, they even had a movie playing and a kiddies play area). It took a good hour and half to get all the paperwork filed (registration of birth abroad, passport, social security number) but glad we've got it all done and out of the way. We spent the night with some close missionaries friends who have just returned from furlough. It was great to catch up and we stay up way too late talking and laughing. After a hearty breakfast we headed to Douala where we are right now. Lots of time in the car but the kids all did great.

We have a missionary family arriving today from Ghana who are going to be doing summer school at the orphanage for the month of August. There is no Cameroonian Embassy in Ghana so they couldn't get visas there. We went to immigration here and got them a letter saying they could get a visa on arrival. Well, Tim and Jake went to pick them up 7 hours ago and they are still not back from the airport! They are giving them hassle about the visa thing, so frustrating! But it looks like it is all going to work out and they should be here soon (they have two little kids, so no fun for them after flying then being stuck in a hot airport). Anyway, it is a huge blessing they are coming for the month. 

Tomorrow afternoon Josh flies in... can't wait!! The guest house here has a pool so we'll spend the day in that till we need to head to the airport, so looking forward to a nice relaxing day and then getting to see my boy!

In Douala

Sitting in an air condition room at the Baptist Guest house in Douala munching on Milka Chocolate, yum! My husband knows what make me happy :D. 

Yesterday we made it safe and sound to Yaounde. Our wheel did start smoking about half an hour into the 6 hour trip but after pulling over, letting it cool off and checking it out, all was OK... Jake thinks it must have been some oil on the brake pads as we had some work done on it a few days ago. So when we got to Yaounde, Jordan got her passport photos taken, then we headed straight to the air conditioned, diaper changing table equipped, American Embassy (it is seriously just like stepping into the US, they even had a movie playing and a kiddies play area). It took a good hour and an half to get all the paperwork filed (registration of birth abroad, passport, social security number) but glad we've got it all done and out of the way. We spent the night with some close missionaries friends who have just returned from furlough. It was great to catch up and we stay up way too late talking and laughing. After a hearty breakfast we headed to Douala where we are right now. Lots of time in the car but the kids all did great.

We have a missionary family from Ghana coming in that is going to be doing summer school at the orphanage for the month of August. There is no Cameroonian Embassy in Ghana so they couldn't get visas. So we went to immigration here and got them a letter saying they could get a visa on arrival. Well, Tim and Jake went to pick them up 6 hours ago and they are still not back from the airport! They are giving them hassle about the visa thing, so frustrating! But it looks like it is all going to work out and they should be here soon (they have two little kids, so no fun for them after flying then being stuck in a hot airport). Anyway, it is a huge blessing they are coming for the month. 

Tomorrow afternoon Josh flies in... can't wait!! The guest house here has a pool so we'll spend the day in that till we need to head to the airport, so looking forward to a nice relaxing day and then getting to see my boy!

Lots going on!

I've been trying to write a blog for at least a week and just have not been able to! Lots going on. The WON bible school will be opening the first week of September. Jake and Tim have been going around churches in town promoting it, plus doing all the set up of the new place. So haven't seen to much of him the last two weeks. I've been getting everything set up for homeschooling starting in two and half weeks (going over grade four lessons, it's starting to get tough!). Also SCA (Sonlight Christian Academy) homeschooling co-op starts on Monday for two weeks, I'm just assisting music and art this time (phew) plus helping out in nursery and doing the opening devotion. It will be great to have some fellowship with other missionary families.

Tomorrow we head to Yaounde (6 hour drive) to get Jordan's passport sorted out, then we head to Douala (3 hour drive) to pick up Josh on Saturday (woohooo!) and then come back to Bamenda (5 hour drive) on Sunday to be at the kick off program for SCA at 4pm. This will be Jordan's first big trip so keep her in your prayers, she's not a big fan of her car seat! Btw, she is 8 weeks today!!

A big praise it that all the money was raised for the much needed pick-up truck! God is sooo good. Once we got the money in, Jake found an even better truck than what we were looking at before for the same price. It is a super nice little Nissan. We got it less than a week ago and have already used it a bunch, including hauling a pig! It's also a great run around vehicle, it is going to save us a lot on our petrol bill compared to out big truck! Praise the Lord! A few photos below:

Our new little Nissan

Carrying tables and chairs for the Bible school

Moving sand for construction project

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!