Christmas outreach

Yesterday was our Children Church’s Christmas outreach, praise the Lord it went really well. About 200 kids came and we had a lot of fun with a clown, singing, dancing, and a sketch about the real meaning of Christmas. The kids did a great job, everyone remembered their lines and no one seem too nervous. At the end I gave a short message about the best present anyone can receive is the gift God sent us, His son. 30 plus kids came forward to give their lives to Christ, PTL! At the end we gave out snacks and a small present to everyone. The kids left in great spirits including all the children’s workers which is always a plus as these things can be very exhausting. Well, if I don’t get to write before, have a very wonderful Christmas!!!!

Nativity Scene

Speaking to the kids at the end

Christmas caroling

On Friday, Josh had his last day of FES (Field Education System). It’s put on by the Wycliffe mission and basically it’s where missionary kids from all over the country come together for two weeks of school (there are also sessions in August and May). Of course the kids love it and have a great time together. They’ve been doing a lot of Christmassy things the last couple of weeks and on the last day sang a bunch of carols for the parents as well as recite memory verses and other things. It was really nice and Josh had a blast. Now no more school till January :).

I'm back!!!

Yeah!!!! We're finally back online. We actually had Internet for over a week but been super busy. The Internet is still VERY slow but at least it's finally working. Lots has been happening this least month, hopefully I will be able to blog it all and put some photos on too. For one, my belly is a lot bigger, I've been feeling great, not tired at all, PTL! I'm in my last trimester now, March will be here before I know it.

My parents came in on Saturday for Christmas. It is soooo nice to see them and spend some time with them, the boys were so excited. They'll be here till the 27th, we're heading to the NW with them next week. They also bought a bunch of goodies for Christmas so it's going to be a good one this year with real Christmas pudding, lots of candy and even nuts:). I made bagels today for Christmas breakfast. Not very Christmasy I know but we love them and I don't get to make them that often so it is a real treat. Now we have to find for some cream cheese :). Well, I will write more this week and let you know what has been going on.

No internet :(

Just wanted to let you know that our Internet is down, actually the whole Internet in Cameroon is down, some fiber optic cable is broken or something, not sure when they will get it back up and running. So the only Internet we can use is a Satellite Internet cafe that is across the city so not very convenient... I will blog more once we have out connection back...

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Christmas is coming...

Had a really great children worker's meeting this Saturday. We were discussing our annual Christmas outreach and this year we are getting the kids to do a play plus a bunch of songs and choreography. I found a skit online but wasn't sure if the others would like it as it isn't the traditional Christmas story, it's a sort of set like a TV show, with a host interviewing a panel about their views on the meaning of Christmas. It's really funny and full of characters like Mr. know-it-all and Mr. humble. I read it aloud at the meeting and everyone was cracking up by the end of it. Think it is going to go really well, we start rehearsals this Sunday at Church. It is definitely going to be more of a challenge that previous years as we now have well over 100 kids coming to church and we also now have two services which will make rehearsals very interesting. But I know it will all work out as it always does. Please keep it in your prayers, our outreach is the 22nd of December, where we'll invite a bunch of kids to come.

 

Another interesting thing happened on Saturday. Out truck had been parked outside all day as Jake had gone out in the morning. Then I left for my children's meeting. It is pretty far, all the way across the city, about a 50 min. drive. The place we had it at is also a really bumpy road. I was at the meeting for 2 and a half hours and then came all the way home again. When I pulled into the gate our dogs went mad with excitement as usual. Then when I got into the house they were still barking and jumping around the car. Jake went out to investigate and saw there was a little kitten under the car on top of the spare tire. Poor little thing was trembling and it took us a good 10 minutes to get her out (plus a few scraches). Then we realized it was our neighbour's kitten and must have climbed up there in the morning and gone with me all over town! I'm so glad it didn't jump off somewhere in the middle of town. Our neighbours were really happy to see her again.

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Half Way!

Woohoo! I'm half way through my pregnancy, this is my 20th week! Seems like I've been pregnant a lot longer :). Feeling the baby moving a lot now, especially when I lay down to sleep :). Have my next checkup tomorrow.

swimming time

Had a lovely time in Douala last weekend. We got to hang out at the pool for two days, had great weather, it was so nice just to relax. We hadn't been swimming since before the summer so I was a bit concerned the boys might have forgotten. On the contrary, they did better than last time, I think Josh is part fish as he just swam all over the pool and it was hard to get him out. Seth swims well too, he just can't lift his head up to breath. I had to watch that he didn't go to far from the edge (he's fearless :). Unfortunately Jake's preaching engagement got canceled, but it was worth the trip anyway.

Our little diver

Birthday Boy

Josh had his 6th birthday on Tuesday, got to make him a nice cake. He had lots of fun opening up presents and reading cards from family. We gonna to celebrate it this weekend too as we go to the capital city and get to hang out at the pool all day (can't wait). We also told Josh that now that he is a big boy he had to give up his "blankey" which he's had since he was born. So far so good, he hasn't complained at all :)

Baby update

Had my ultra sound yesterday. Praise the Lord everything was fine, very exciting to see my little guy. The machine the doctor used had a tiny monitor and it was on a table behind/above my head so it was really awkward to see, it made me dizzy to keep looking at the screen (Jake got a good view though :). The baby looked great, everything's where it meant to be. The umbilical card was in the way so we didn't get to see what the baby was :(. I'm not sure if I'll have another ultra sound so it might be a surprise birth. The picture on the left below is of the baby's head. I'm not to sure what the one on the right is, I think maybe the spine.... anyway, I'm finally starting to look pregnant and my clothes are starting to get too small, all very exciting :)

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Traveling to the East

Jake headed out to the East yesterday with Elias (another BFL staff member). It's been the first big test for our new truck as it's rainy season. Jake called tonight and said the roads are super muddy (he sounded kinda happy :) and the truck handled them great and rides so smooth out there.  They're going out there to finish all the work on the school. It'll be so great to see it finished. He'll also be checking up on the clinic to see how work is going on that. Before Jake left I got to go through a bunch of clothes that teams had left here and send them with him. When we were out there in the summer most of the Baka tribe were asking for clothes so hopefully this will help them out a little. We heard about another Baka village of 150 that is about an hours hike into the jungle. So this time they're going to go with the Chief out there and see them. So please keep Jake in your prayers for safety in travel and that things will go smoothly while he's out there.

 

Last time we were in the East we met two missionary families that live about 3 hours away from Mbang. They're with World Team and their primary focus is to start a church amongst the Baka tribe. They speak the Baka language well and live close to a tribe of about 200. On our way back last time we stopped in at their houses, they're in the middle of nowhere, with solar power panels for electricity, a well with a pump for water, very cool. It's been great to get to know them as they know the culture of the Bakas so well and have great advice about working with them. Jake got to spend some time with too yesterday on his way out.

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