Good news!

So much has happened since my last post. First, last Thursday, I officially received my temporary two-year residency card (just one business day before my visa expired). God was so good in providing all the necessary details in a very timely fashion! Of course, the picture on the card isn’t the greatest. I didn’t smile in it because Africans don’t typically smile in official pictures. I ended up looking mad in the picture. But regardless, I have my card!

Then on Sunday, we had the first baptism at the new church plant in Foumbot. Two ladies were baptized, and both gave very powerful testimonies of how God has worked in their lives. Albertine’s entire family, I believe, attended the baptism service. Please pray that Albertine will be able to present the Gospel clearly to them. Celine’s husband also attended the service. He has come in the past, but I hadn’t seen him recently. Pray that God would soften his heart to the Gospel and that Celine would be a living testimony in her home. What an thrilling experience—to walk down to the river and see these precious ladies give such a public testimony of their faith. I’m sure we were quite a spectacle. It was washing day down at the river, so there were many people standing around, working on their clothes. Then all of our church marches over, with three people going right into the water! Pray that God continues growing His church in Foumbot, and that the impact of the baptism and these ladies’ lives will be far reaching.

On Monday I had two different Bible studies. I hadn’t been able to meet with Frieda for several weeks (since around Christmas), but last week we finally reconnected. It was so encouraging to see her hunger for the Word and to see how God is working in her life. Please pray that God continues to work in her life and in Clementine’s (the other girl I have a Bible study with).

Our national pastor is getting married next month, and the missionary ladies are decorating for the wedding and the reception. The task seems overwhelming right now, but I know that God will give grace. Little by little all the details for music and the decorations are coming together. And the day of the wedding is coming even faster! Please also be in prayer for the wedding—that all the details of that day will be God-honoring, and that we will have wisdom in making the many decisions that are facing us for that day.

Untitled (because I couldn't think of a good title)

In the past month, our household population has fluctuated from one person to six people and every combination in between. The Grace Dental Mission team was in Cameroon for the past two weeks and spent most of their time out in the bush. Carol, Ellen, and C (the Foumban Medical team, if you will) also went to the bush during that time so there was both a medical and dental ministry. From what I hear, they had a great trip with a total of around 25 team members. Ellen calculated the total people that the medical side saw, and in two villages, they saw over 600 patients in less than two weeks. That total does not even include the patients the dental team saw. I was helping count the medicine after they returned from the trip. I was amazed at how much medicine was given out (especially ibuprofen), but, of course, 600 people will go through a lot of meds!

On Saturday, seven people from the medical/dental group came over to Foumban to do some dental work in the prison here. Two of the ladies (and Ellen) stayed with us, so we had a total of six people in the house. Sam slept on a mattress on the floor in my room, and to solve the issue of a mosquito net, we decided to set up a tent for her. The Barillas offered us one of their tents. At first, we were going to just take the small one, but then we weren’t sure if the mattress would fit. So we asked the Barillas if we could borrow the large tent. Now, we didn’t realize how large this tent was. The tent fits six people comfortably (or two queen sized mattresses!). Lydia was over on Saturday while Sam and I were trying to set up the tent. Lydia was absolutely convinced we would never be able to fit the tent in my room, and she let us know over and over of that belief. Well, being rather stubborn-natured, when someone tells me that there is no way on earth that something will happen, I naturally find a way to make it happen. Sam finally told Lydia that if it didn’t fit, we would make her a plate of chocolate chip cookies. However, if the tent did fit, Lydia would owe us a batch.

Lydia readily agreed, fully believing that she would win the bet. As the tent began to take shape in the room, however, Lydia got a little nervous. She began trying to make exceptions to the rule—“Well, the tent has to be set up all the way.” Too late, though. The deal was already set in motion. And sure enough, the tent fit in the room—barely, but it fit! So Sam and I are eagerly looking forward to that plate of cookies!

On Saturday, Sam, A, and I attended the Youth Day parade in town. On this day, all of the schools in the area come to Foumban to march in the parade. Rachel dropped us off in the morning as she was headed to market, and the three of us stationed ourselves right next to the dignitary tent. I think we got more stared at than the dignitaries did. The events started off with a very long recorded speech in French. I didn’t pay enough attention to understand what was being said. Then the parade started off with the youngest kids (some possibly even younger than five years). They were adorable and stole the show for me!! A was really hoping to see a friend march in the parade, but by noon, I was wiped and ready to head out. We finally managed to catch a taxi (which is the first time I’ve ever done that—in Cameroon or in the States) and head home. Despite how exhausted I was, I’m glad I went. I had a great time and got a ton of great pictures!

The dental team headed down to Yaounde yesterday. I was able to catch a ride to Bafoussam (a city about an hour away) with Rachel and completed all the paperwork for my two-year residency card. I even got my fingerprints and photo taken while I was there. Unfortunately, the chief that needed to sign my documents was out of the office yesterday. Lord willing, tomorrow one of the men will head back to Bafoussam to get that needed signature and I’ll have my temporary card in hand before my visa expires. We definitely saw God working throughout the process to get my card. I’m so thankful for how smoothly He allowed the process to be!!

On Sunday, the church plant in Foumbot is having their first baptism. Two ladies have come to know Christ and will be giving public testimony of their faith. It’s so encouraging to see God at work in these ladies’ lives and homes. Please pray for Albertine and Celine that they will continue to grow in the Lord and serve Him with their lives.

Scorpion Number 2

Last night, we heard a knock on our back door at about 8 pm. Sam asked me to get the door since she can’t speak French and didn’t know who it was. Well, it turned out to be Clementine, our next door neighbor and her little brother Frankie.

Clementine asked me for some ice, saying something about a scorpion. Well, I didn’t see the connection between ice and a scorpion, but I went for the ice and sent Frankie to get our guard. I figured Erique, our guard, would know what to do about a scorpion.

Sam came out to see what all the excitement was about, and she realized that Clementine had actually gotten stung by the scorpion. Clementine started saying something about needing a razor blade to cut open where the scorpion had stung. Apparently, cutting open the scorpion sting/bite is to avoid the scorpion’s poison spreading into the blood stream. However, scorpions (at least the ones we have here) aren’t poisonous. At that point, Sam decided to call Carol (the doctor) and see what she had to say about scorpion stings. While Sam is trying to reach Carol, Frankie comes back with the razor blade.

Now, I’m a little skeptical about the cutting open thing (at this point, I don’t know the rational behind the cutting), but I know that at the very least, the blade needs to be sanitized. So Erique and I sanitize the blade with hand sanitizer and fire. Then Clementine’s mom comes out to see what all the excitement’s about. She then grabs the blade, and I look to Sam to see what info she’s getting from Carol. Finally, Sam comes back, saying that Carol insisted that no cutting should happen (at the risk of infection). Of course, by now, Clementine’s hand is already bearing a small knife wound.

For the next few minutes, Erique, Sam, and I converse in three different languages, trying to let Clementine’s mom know how best to care for the wound. We decided the best solution was simply Ibuprofen and Benadryl.

I saw Clementine today and helped her clean and cover her wound. She seems to be doing fine. And Lord willing, no infection will set in.

Another Week

This week has flown by! I’ve had a great time with the Wrights, helping the kids with homeschool and Carrie around the house. The boys have been quite a handful (there’s one in third grade and two in second), and I think they’re used to their own schedule. We start school around 10 and finish sometime after 2, and there are plenty of breaks in between (especially bathroom breaks). I’m used to starting at 8 and finishing at 12:30, so this week has been an adjustment. Thankfully, the boys use BJ Homesat for all of their classes, so I haven’t had to teach much. Instead, I’ve been able to help Carrie get caught up on her grading and recording. My goal is to have everything up to date by the time I leave tomorrow.

I’ve also been able to help around the house. Carolyn and Elizabeth have been a huge help too. They have been staying with another family and have done their schoolwork over there in the mornings. Then in the afternoons, they’ve come over to help. The Wrights’ home is huge, so the girls have done a lot of sweeping and dusting. Today, (after a day and a half without electricity or water) Elizabeth had a great time cleaning off the porch with the hose. She also tried to clean the dog … and the rest of us. It’s so nice to turn on a faucet and have water come out of it. It’s even better to turn on the shower and have hot water come out! I’ve enjoyed my time here. J

Just one last day of school this week and one last day with the Wrights. Like I’ve said before, the best part about being a teacher in Africa is that I get more days off than the kids!