WON Staff

Friday afternoon the entire WON staff went out for a Christmas meal. It was a fun, relaxing time just to hang out together (and God bless the lady that babysat the 30 kids at HHCH!). 

 Here's a picture of our awesome co-labourers. All this year the Lord has been impressing on us the need to raise up additional Cameroonians to play a more vital part of the ministry. At the end of the day, they know their culture better, can relate to Cameroonians better, and this is their country. In 2013 we added five more people to staff. So let me introduce you to them, starting from the top left. 

Goodness: She is the secretary of Faith Bible College. She is also a student there, she'll will be graduating this summer. Goodness lives at the school (which is in a house), keeps everything spick and span, keeps track of the FBC bibles school, and makes a LOT of photocopies. She is such a sweet girl who loves the Lord with all her heart.

Charlotte: She is the main cook for the orphanage. It is no easy feat to feed 36 people three times a day, but she does it. She is still young in the Lord but we have seen a real growth in her these last two years. We do bible studies together once a week and I'm also teaching her how to drive (hopefully she'll be taking her test soon!).

Rejoice: A lovely Christian lady that joined us this year as the manager of the new Helping Hands Car Wash (which brings in funds for the orphanage). She is still learning the ropes but trying hard. 

Victorine: She also joined us this year. She is the manager of the new Helping Hands Meat Market that opened this month. She has been working VERY hard and is learning the butchery business well. We praise the Lord for directing us to her. She talks about the Lord all the time and uses every opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus to those around her. 

Odette: She is our manager of our second car wash that opened last year. She is our star manager, she is an extremely hard worker and brings in the biggest profit of any of the car washes. She is a true blessing to have working for us. 

Bridgette: She is the wife of Pastor Bennet who will be introduced in a sec. Since meeting her 4 years, she has become a true friend to me. Sometimes in Cameroon it is hard to have deep relationships as we are just so different (in every sense of the word) that everyone else. And sad to say, people often put us up on a pedestal because we're from the West. Refreshingly, Bridgette treats me just like she treats everyone else and we get along great. In fact we just got back from a delicious meal at her house.

Next is me and then Mami Elizabeth and Pa Genesis: They join the Children's Home staff this year after Mami Anna had to rest due to health problems. They are still in training but are doing a great job. All the kids love them and they are trying hard to build a relationship with each and everyone of them. Pa had been a pastor for many years so it is great to have someone that knows the Word so well at the orphanage.

Antoinette: She joined us when Baby Willie joined our family. She was his main care giver. Now that Willie is bigger, Antoinette helps out in the kitchen, gives out meds to Blessed, and does the stretches and exercises with Sandrine. She is also a young Christian but is excited to learn about the Lord. I'm also doing a weekly bible study with her and teaching her to drive too. It was pretty scary to start with, but she is doing awesome now. (Video games must have some advantageous purposes, as no one had to teach me how to steer a car. With Antoinette, she just could not keep the truck out of the ditch for like a month!). I keep telling her, one of these days she'll be driving the bus.

Pastor Bennet: He also joined the Won Staff this year as the Coordinator of Faith Bible College. This has been a HUGE blessing to Jake as it was getting to be too overwhelming for Him at the start of the year. Bennet has been a pastor for a number of years and is also a teacher by profession so he a great asset to have on our team. Currently he is working on how to get the Bible School accredited in country.

And on to the left of the front row...

Norbert: Norbert joined us a teenager looking for work about 5 years ago. Since that time he has really matured in the Lord, become a responsible young man, and is the dorm parent of the boys side of the house at HHCH. Jake taught him how to drive and he is now our main bus driver. He is our fixer upper and in charge of overseeing the animals at HHCH. He is also going to school to be an accountant. Norbert's nick name at the orphanage is Emperor for some strange reason. 

Pa Patrick: Pa Patrick has been the father to the children from the very start with his wife Anna. He is a quiet, gentle-spirited man that is a rock at HHCH. He is such a hard worker and we are constantly telling him to stop sweeping the house, or to stop mixing cement or something. Often Jake will come in to the orphanage with a heavy bag of something, he'll rush to take it out of Jake's hands. He is such a sweet man and loves the Lord deeply.

Saidou: Many of you already know Saidou story. He was a young muslim man who was a washer at the first car wash. He has always been very diligent and when we needed someone to fill in the place of manager, Jake thought he would do good. Jake built a strong relationship with him, and about 2 years ago he surrounded his life to Christ. He has been sold out ever since, despite some persecution from friends and family. This year he started attending Faith Bible College, we are just so proud of him. Also this year we made him the "business manager" of the WON. Keeping an eye on the three car washes was a taking a lot of Jake's time. Since Saidou has taken over, things have been flowing smoothly and it has taken a lot of pressure off of Jake. Saidou is also living at the new Meat Market which is big help.

Linda: She is the manager of the first car wash. You may notice we have women managers for all the business. We've discovered that they are much more trustworthy and hard working that most of the men around. 

I praise the Lord for the team that he has blessed us with here in Cameroon!!!