New Year, Semester, Challenges

11 January 2008

Our CHRISTmas break was great—really nice to be up in our old neighborhoods! We made it all the way to our village of Benade. It was a bittersweet time of seeing friends, bringing out the last of what we had stored there, handing over our home of many years for use in the continuing work there.

Our Christian Missionary Fellowship annual retreat was very refreshing. And we returned to our home in Yaoundé to find everything in order, a real answer to prayer. Two families were able to stay there part of the time we were away, which was a help to all of us. We have little hope of recovering the things we lost in the burglary, but continue to be grateful for what didn’t get taken. God is using this experience to help me loosen my grip on material things, and that’s a very good thing.

Yesterday was our first day back at school for our second semester. The boys are back into the routine of classes and soccer practices. Arnie’s Bible students broke up into groups to discuss the basics of being a Christian. And my world took an unexpected turn when I learned the guidance counselor who had gone back to the US for the break is unable to return to Cameroon this year. This leaves a rather large gap and much work to cover. I have been asked to be the Examinations Officer, which involves all the details for administering the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, Advanced Placement, and ACT tests over the coming months. Please pray that I will keep abreast of the countless little essentials for these tests. Thanks!

Our new location here in the capital allows us to be involved in the “Member Care” aspect of missions to a much greater degree than ever before. We’ve tried to be an encouragement to colleagues who were involved in a serious car accident yesterday, one of our teams whose drunken neighbor attacked and killed his wife on New Year’s Eve, normal high school kids with normal “growing pains,” and those just passing through town who need a meal or a place to stay. We could use your prayers for wisdom and compassion to minister His care to our colleagues.

We appreciate you and your prayers for us!

Karen <>< for all