Saturday, October 31, 2009
You can send messages to Carol & Steve (Free)
Go to this website - http://messaging.iridium.com/ The number to send to is 881631672129.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Updated SMS number
Hey Glenn, all is well. Looks like carol must have sent you a bunch of photos. Sure hope so. I was at a 'garage' getting our car lifted for the second time. This time for sure. It is about 4 inches higher. This is not an ego thing! Driving 25 miles can really be disasterous for the car. for the first time, we have not had any repairs to make after a 65 mile trip. So. I'm not dreading the next trips to Bamenda next month.
Our sat phone SMS or 'data' number is 8816 936 72129. Sorry, but I gave it to Julie wrong in the early days of trying to communicate.
Could you update the communications note from her. If not possible, could you enter a new one.
Thanks so much and our warmest greetings to the family, the 'whole' family.
Your brother, Steve
Our sat phone SMS or 'data' number is 8816 936 72129. Sorry, but I gave it to Julie wrong in the early days of trying to communicate.
Could you update the communications note from her. If not possible, could you enter a new one.
Thanks so much and our warmest greetings to the family, the 'whole' family.
Your brother, Steve
Update from Steve, Oct 22, 2009
I have been studying with my Muslim friends, each named Abduli; one is the teacher of the new Islamic Primary School of Lassin, the other is a tailor, motorcycle driver, and all-round great guy. Yesterday, after walking home from school (3 miles), I stopped in town and visited Abduli the teacher first.
As we entered his ‘study’, an austere room with a book case, chair, bench, door and small window, he mentioned that his left arm really hurt him from the top of his shoulder to his elbow. I explained my other career (not the school teacher, as everyone knows me here), and asked if he would permit me to ‘work’ on his shoulder. Before beginning to work, I asked if he would offer prayer. Holding his hands cupped in front of him, he prayed. I need to hear this prayer again; how interesting is his relationship with God. Now, with his verbal permission given (no lawyers here!), I began to work on a widely inflamed left shoulder and stiffening elbow. We did what we could without any pain medication (STM & TFM). I gave him a simple home exercise program; within the limits of pain (Codman’s). Then we began the second lesson of the Housa “house a” language; used by many of the Muslims / Falani people in this area.
He stopped teaching after presenting about 8 words & phrases, and we called it a day. He also sent me home with 4 small avocados; my favorites and an important part of getting enough calories here.
Well, today I was passing near his home on my way to market; today is the big Lassin Market day. I met a beaming Abduli. “Look at my shoulder! See how much better it moves.” He was very pleased. Progress was significant, but only about 20% of normal, up from 5%. How happy I was to be able to contribute something of worth to him. I can see how this is another in a series of steps to something of eternal worth.
As we entered his ‘study’, an austere room with a book case, chair, bench, door and small window, he mentioned that his left arm really hurt him from the top of his shoulder to his elbow. I explained my other career (not the school teacher, as everyone knows me here), and asked if he would permit me to ‘work’ on his shoulder. Before beginning to work, I asked if he would offer prayer. Holding his hands cupped in front of him, he prayed. I need to hear this prayer again; how interesting is his relationship with God. Now, with his verbal permission given (no lawyers here!), I began to work on a widely inflamed left shoulder and stiffening elbow. We did what we could without any pain medication (STM & TFM). I gave him a simple home exercise program; within the limits of pain (Codman’s). Then we began the second lesson of the Housa “house a” language; used by many of the Muslims / Falani people in this area.
He stopped teaching after presenting about 8 words & phrases, and we called it a day. He also sent me home with 4 small avocados; my favorites and an important part of getting enough calories here.
Well, today I was passing near his home on my way to market; today is the big Lassin Market day. I met a beaming Abduli. “Look at my shoulder! See how much better it moves.” He was very pleased. Progress was significant, but only about 20% of normal, up from 5%. How happy I was to be able to contribute something of worth to him. I can see how this is another in a series of steps to something of eternal worth.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Dear family & friends! Oct 16, 2009
Thank you for the SMS messages to us since October 6! I really want to tell you collectively that each mail has brought so much joy to our home. I told Carol that this must represent some kind of mental illness to record each note in an expanding Word file on our laptop, but who cares, we have each of them! Communication has taken a giant leap this week! (Have you noticed the abundance of exclamation points, this must be a hot topic). Once again, I connected the sat phone to the old Dell laptop. Wonder of wonders, the configuration worked and we got our first e-mail at our home in Lassin since arriving Sept 1. It was so exciting that Carol took a picture of me seated on a ‘bamboo’ stool under the banana trees, laptop on lap and sat phone in hand.
Here’s our communication ‘protocol’. We ask that you send your messages to us in the same way, via internet using Iridium.com to our number 8816 936 72129. We’ll answer them if you have a direct question for us, otherwise we’ll just ENJOY them. We’ll send short replies via SMS to your e-mail, and send large replies over our PC/sat phone; weekly if possible. I’m really cutting back on voice communication because I can go through minutes like crazy. At 78.3 cents a minute, I have to be frugal. But, it is SO good to hear you!
Okay, so how’s life here?
School: enrollment has increased by one to 14 this week. The teachers (Carol & I, and our dear friend Naphtali) and the students have settled into the routine and discipline has settled down to a pretty low key. It seemed like each student had to establish their rung on the social ladder. We had to defend our rungs at the top too.
The day begins with the 3+ mile walk to school, a brief play period while the window shudders are opened and back-packs stowed, and then singing. What a joy to hear these children singing songs about Jesus! Really, their happy voices and faces make this whole adventure worthwhile. The children sit on rock hard eucalyptus benches and write on hand hewn 1 meter by 12 inch desk tops (we really mix metric and inches here). Subjects include learning the alphabet, numbers, spoken English (American Yankee style vs. the somewhat Caribbean / British), handwriting, PE, math, bible (thanks BW for the wonderful felt set. Thanks Mom and the ‘quilting ladies’ for cutting it out! It’s used every school day. The children pay amazing attention, and they love it!)
The other day Carol remarked that she felt as if she had no time for evangelism. I reminded her that she was a full time evangelist at the school. Honestly, I have noticed such a marked change in the children! They are happier, ‘scrap’ less, sing well, and they are learning like sponges. You all can remain as proud as can be of her!
I have had one of my ‘dreams’ realized. I have wanted to have some sort of bible study, but have been (my excuses) too busy, under prepared, and have had no opportunities (you know, people who beg me daily to study with them until I relent). So, I have shown the New Beginnings seminar by It Is Written on the new Toshiba laptop. The program comes with a booklet that gives suggestions for topic introduction, follow-up questions, and conclusion. (Can’t get any easier!) We show it to our congregation once each 8 days; they really need a refresher course as much as anybody. Then, I carry the laptop to the school once a week to present the same lesson to the father of two of our students. He is an amazing student of the Bible who really appreciates the studies. This is our 4th week. After the ‘formal’ portion of the ‘study’, we discuss other topics that he is interested in and search the bible on the laptop for answers, and then we confirm it with the paper version. This is my most exciting activity; immediately before e-mail.
Can we live here? Can we get the food we need, clean it, cook it, (I could really bore you with details). The short answer is “yes”. One example of the things that we have learned recently was, “who is our landlord, and what is our monthly rent?” About 5 weeks into our stay in the home, we met the guy and got the answers. We have made friends that have explained how folks here get the things that they need. One of the most fun examples of ‘getting things’ is our ‘market friend’ Mary. Carol asked her if she had any coconuts or ‘pears’ (avocados). She stated that these were ‘very hard’ to come by. About 2 days later, she showed up on our back porch carrying 2 beautiful coconuts in their husks. At the next market, she produced 8 beautiful avocados. Each of these fruits had been requested via ‘tell-a-woman’. The news had been carried 45km down to Kumbo. Somebody bought them at the market there, carried them back without a single bruise (you try that in a Toyota Corolla with 11 adults in it as it bounces down a rutted clay road for 3 or 4 hours), and she brought them to us. Seemingly effortlessly; we know that there was considerable effort! We felt it in the price though! Each avocado was 100F; the cost of a small hand of bananas (or about 22 cents).
The weather: rainy season is wrapping up. It has not rained hard since Monday morning, when it rained steadily for about 2 or 3 hours, completely soaking Carol and the children as they walked to school (I stayed home to meet the mason who was supposed to work on our new toilet pit. It’s Friday, and he still has not arrived. I have attended school yesterday and today.) The rain has kept the air fresh and our water buckets full. Note: our city water has been off for about 3 weeks. It came on again last night and has remained on today; one never knows how long this will last. The towering cumulous clouds outside are talking to us, but no rain. Dry season is only 4 weeks away, but already the signs of it are evident. I hope this does not mean an end of the myriad of flowers, butterflies and birds; some will stay. In all this weather we have never been uncomfortably cold or hot. The only real drawback to rainy season is the nearly impassable roads and the occasionally soggy shoes; fortunately, each dry out mostly within hours.
I’m making friends within the local Muslim community. What true fun. My latest friend is Abduli. He has taught me how to say, ‘shalom Ala coo’ (please forgive my spelling, then SMS me with the correct spelling). Then he taught me the standard reply; ‘amin (amen) Ala coo shalom’. Tonight as I was walking home, a small motorcycle with 3 men on it slowed as it came alongside me. A beaming Abduli, perched on back, called out to me, ‘shalom Ala coo’! We are becoming family. If you doubt the authenticity of this bold statement about ‘family’, ask your tailor sometime how much they paid for the cloth that you are purchasing. Abduli volunteered the information and smiled, pleased that the price was fair and that he was honest.
Again, thanks for your prayers and e-mails to our phone! Send comments about your life to us. We love to ‘keep up’. Receiving these is free for us, hopefully for you.
P.S. Does anybody know a Nadia that attended the ‘Arise’ institute? If so, please help her get in touch with us. Thank you.
Yours, Steve & Carol
Here’s our communication ‘protocol’. We ask that you send your messages to us in the same way, via internet using Iridium.com to our number 8816 936 72129. We’ll answer them if you have a direct question for us, otherwise we’ll just ENJOY them. We’ll send short replies via SMS to your e-mail, and send large replies over our PC/sat phone; weekly if possible. I’m really cutting back on voice communication because I can go through minutes like crazy. At 78.3 cents a minute, I have to be frugal. But, it is SO good to hear you!
Okay, so how’s life here?
School: enrollment has increased by one to 14 this week. The teachers (Carol & I, and our dear friend Naphtali) and the students have settled into the routine and discipline has settled down to a pretty low key. It seemed like each student had to establish their rung on the social ladder. We had to defend our rungs at the top too.
The day begins with the 3+ mile walk to school, a brief play period while the window shudders are opened and back-packs stowed, and then singing. What a joy to hear these children singing songs about Jesus! Really, their happy voices and faces make this whole adventure worthwhile. The children sit on rock hard eucalyptus benches and write on hand hewn 1 meter by 12 inch desk tops (we really mix metric and inches here). Subjects include learning the alphabet, numbers, spoken English (American Yankee style vs. the somewhat Caribbean / British), handwriting, PE, math, bible (thanks BW for the wonderful felt set. Thanks Mom and the ‘quilting ladies’ for cutting it out! It’s used every school day. The children pay amazing attention, and they love it!)
The other day Carol remarked that she felt as if she had no time for evangelism. I reminded her that she was a full time evangelist at the school. Honestly, I have noticed such a marked change in the children! They are happier, ‘scrap’ less, sing well, and they are learning like sponges. You all can remain as proud as can be of her!
I have had one of my ‘dreams’ realized. I have wanted to have some sort of bible study, but have been (my excuses) too busy, under prepared, and have had no opportunities (you know, people who beg me daily to study with them until I relent). So, I have shown the New Beginnings seminar by It Is Written on the new Toshiba laptop. The program comes with a booklet that gives suggestions for topic introduction, follow-up questions, and conclusion. (Can’t get any easier!) We show it to our congregation once each 8 days; they really need a refresher course as much as anybody. Then, I carry the laptop to the school once a week to present the same lesson to the father of two of our students. He is an amazing student of the Bible who really appreciates the studies. This is our 4th week. After the ‘formal’ portion of the ‘study’, we discuss other topics that he is interested in and search the bible on the laptop for answers, and then we confirm it with the paper version. This is my most exciting activity; immediately before e-mail.
Can we live here? Can we get the food we need, clean it, cook it, (I could really bore you with details). The short answer is “yes”. One example of the things that we have learned recently was, “who is our landlord, and what is our monthly rent?” About 5 weeks into our stay in the home, we met the guy and got the answers. We have made friends that have explained how folks here get the things that they need. One of the most fun examples of ‘getting things’ is our ‘market friend’ Mary. Carol asked her if she had any coconuts or ‘pears’ (avocados). She stated that these were ‘very hard’ to come by. About 2 days later, she showed up on our back porch carrying 2 beautiful coconuts in their husks. At the next market, she produced 8 beautiful avocados. Each of these fruits had been requested via ‘tell-a-woman’. The news had been carried 45km down to Kumbo. Somebody bought them at the market there, carried them back without a single bruise (you try that in a Toyota Corolla with 11 adults in it as it bounces down a rutted clay road for 3 or 4 hours), and she brought them to us. Seemingly effortlessly; we know that there was considerable effort! We felt it in the price though! Each avocado was 100F; the cost of a small hand of bananas (or about 22 cents).
The weather: rainy season is wrapping up. It has not rained hard since Monday morning, when it rained steadily for about 2 or 3 hours, completely soaking Carol and the children as they walked to school (I stayed home to meet the mason who was supposed to work on our new toilet pit. It’s Friday, and he still has not arrived. I have attended school yesterday and today.) The rain has kept the air fresh and our water buckets full. Note: our city water has been off for about 3 weeks. It came on again last night and has remained on today; one never knows how long this will last. The towering cumulous clouds outside are talking to us, but no rain. Dry season is only 4 weeks away, but already the signs of it are evident. I hope this does not mean an end of the myriad of flowers, butterflies and birds; some will stay. In all this weather we have never been uncomfortably cold or hot. The only real drawback to rainy season is the nearly impassable roads and the occasionally soggy shoes; fortunately, each dry out mostly within hours.
I’m making friends within the local Muslim community. What true fun. My latest friend is Abduli. He has taught me how to say, ‘shalom Ala coo’ (please forgive my spelling, then SMS me with the correct spelling). Then he taught me the standard reply; ‘amin (amen) Ala coo shalom’. Tonight as I was walking home, a small motorcycle with 3 men on it slowed as it came alongside me. A beaming Abduli, perched on back, called out to me, ‘shalom Ala coo’! We are becoming family. If you doubt the authenticity of this bold statement about ‘family’, ask your tailor sometime how much they paid for the cloth that you are purchasing. Abduli volunteered the information and smiled, pleased that the price was fair and that he was honest.
Again, thanks for your prayers and e-mails to our phone! Send comments about your life to us. We love to ‘keep up’. Receiving these is free for us, hopefully for you.
P.S. Does anybody know a Nadia that attended the ‘Arise’ institute? If so, please help her get in touch with us. Thank you.
Yours, Steve & Carol
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
satellite phone texting
This is Julie, Steve and Carol's favorite daughter. :) I just talked to my parents last night, and they told me that they can receive free text messages on their satellite phone when sent from this website- http://messaging.iridium.com/ The number to send to is 881631672129.
It is free for you to send, as well. I'm not sure if their reply is free, but they told me that they would love to get short notes from their friends and family here. It would really be a bright spot in their day!
They are doing well, and are looking forward to a trip to town on the 25th when they will be able to check their email and read the longer letters from you, which they love too!
God bless, please keep my folks and their work in your prayers. Thank!
It is free for you to send, as well. I'm not sure if their reply is free, but they told me that they would love to get short notes from their friends and family here. It would really be a bright spot in their day!
They are doing well, and are looking forward to a trip to town on the 25th when they will be able to check their email and read the longer letters from you, which they love too!
God bless, please keep my folks and their work in your prayers. Thank!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
