Friday, December 7, 2007

The CHRISTmas Quilt


December 2007



We have a jigsaw puzzle we delight in this time of year—a snowy scene with a trio of colorful quilts draped over a split rail fence for a winter’s airing.

Adapting to our new location and combining new roles and areas of ministry with the old has been kind of like piecing together a patchwork quilt. There are many pieces in this complex pattern.
· Both boys adjusting and fitting in to a new school environment
· The close quarters of urban living when we were very used to an isolated bush setting
· Arnie’s new role as high school Bible teacher
· Making new friends and keeping the old in new ways
· Karen developing her role as Student Care Coordinator for the high school
· Learning a new city on a long-term basis—we’re no longer just passing through town, so we need to know how to navigate in new ways
· Enjoyable new opportunities for hospitality—we’ve filled the same number of pages in our guest book in the last five MONTHS as we did the first five YEARS in our village of Benade!
· And speaking of Benade, we are all still grieving the loss of our old home and friends there, and remembering the wonderful times we had there.
· Balancing our new roles with the Esimbi Bible translation project and our passion to see the Esimbi people have the Word of God in their own heart language someday
· Karen’s new assignments as prayer coordinator and part of the Leadership Team of World Team Cameroon South Field (happily we now have to say Cameroon South since World Team is also working in the Grand North of Cameroon, a dream we’ve had as a field for many years!)

The word “new” appeared 10 times above. But we are all adjusting and doing well with the newness as we patch the pieces of our quilt together.

This season marks the beginning of Jesus’ adjustments to a very new environment and new limitations—a dependent little newborn who would grow up to be Savior. We pray you are enjoying the celebrations and pausing some to remember why we celebrate—the Good News of His arrival and our opportunity to trust Him as Savior and honor Him as Lord.

With Love from Cameroon,
Arnie & Karen <><
Zac and Noah