Dear family!

4/13/10

As I walk through Lassin now, I have realized just how important greetings are. I must wave at the open door of a house just in-case someone inside, cooking over a small fire, is watching me pass. Really, it's no bother at all. By the time I reach the market or center of town, I have been greeted, respected, asked, 'how yu sleep?', 'how fo yu skin?', 'yu go fo schoo?'. In short, people really care, but they also feel the sense of obligation to greet. It's hard to be lonely, at least when you're walking.

I have found myself lonely though, really lonely. Discouraged too. Seems crazy with so many people to visit with and so many projects going well.
The other week I discovered the source of this 'pothole' in the road of life. I got an SMS from our daughter- discouraged, needed to talk. I practically ran the 1.5 miles to the airstrip where cell phone reception is dependable. We talked. We're better now. Then, I got an SMS from our son- discouraged, was seeking courage from Christian friends. Three of the four of us had been battling discouragement, thousands of miles from each other, at the same time. Each of us have been attempting to share the gospel and each of us were being 'punished'. You too? Don't be surprised. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Pray without ceasing.

Weather: rainy season is coming slowly but steadily. The lightening shows are great! The air is clean again; what a relief from the harmiton dust!
Temps are in low 80's with humidity not far behind. Again, another month of 'T' shirt weather. Roads are wet, but not too muddy. The little red Toyota still climbs the hill to Binon.

Home: I tapped the neighbor's water pipe last Thursday and now we have indoor water! (super rare here) Well, we have water when it flows; usually after 10 PM and before 5 AM. As the rains progress though, the water runs for a few minutes during the mid day and evening too. Next year, a real ceramic, indoor toilet! Ah, the simple joys.

School: the children are reading little blue and red books now- thanks Mom!
Our assistant teacher Naphtali is so excited to see first graders reading 3 letter words and small books! This is just not done here until much later; a neighbor girl in 5th grade was assisted in reading by one of our 1st graders. As I work outside the school as 'grounds man', I hear happy sounds and songs coming from Carol's classroom. She is leading 20 kids to Jesus as a little flock.

School well: the 2 room house has been built. One room around the well, the other for storage. The roof should be on by Friday the 16th. Gregory is doing great work.

School desk lumber: half of it has arrived in Franklin's carpenter shop. He has worked so hard to coordinate the sawyer, then find a truck driver willing and able to transport the lumber. He will build one prototype desk before we leave, then make 44 more before September.

Church: on the 3rd of April, Naphtali told me that his son David would like to be baptized. Wow, out of the blue. David has been attending church and a Bible study on Thursday nights at Franklin's house; just down the foot packed path, along the row of eucalyptus and heavily laden mango trees, past the mounded rows of sprouting beans and corn from his own 'compound'. I had wondered if any baptisms would result from our work here. Really, we have not been asking people if they would like to be baptized, we've just been having bible studies. But then we began to ask. Yes, Franklin and his two eldest sons would like to join us by profession of faith and baptism. Then Naphtali requested to join on profession of faith. His second Loren wishes to be baptized. That just leaves Divine. "One must not refuse to be baptized", he said. Sounds like 'yes' to me. That's 7. Now I understand why, in Heaven, we'll 'cast our crowns' at Jesus feet. God has been busy!
I have just pressed the 'play' button and kept the New Beginnings bible studies going. Honestly, I think that teaching the members to give Bible studies on their own has increased their interest and understanding tremendously too. We have a 3 week baptismal class planned, 12 sessions.
'D' asked if he could join me at our house for his sessions, the other sessions are to be held at Franklin's place.

We would like to thank those who donated to this project. I spent most of your money on lumber and school furniture construction labor. It will also keep Naphtali on the payroll while we're away. He'll supervise the work projects and enroll students in classes 1 - 5. THANK GOD, he'll be our new lead lay pastor while we're away. 'D' & 'Naph' will take turns providing Sabbath school lessons and sermons. They already have plans for increasing the level of children's participation in church.

We're also thankful for those who gave Bibles to Cameroon. We have given out about 4 cases of 36 and have 3 more cases. Others donated boxes of 'Your Bible Saves' (yourbiblesaves.com) 20 lesson Bible studies. We give out one set with each Bible. These have found their ways to Baptist pastor'
s conventions, Baptist college students, and many little homes in Lassin and homes on the road to Kumbo (where we get our mail). Two boxes of 'Born To Die' and one small case of 'Steps to Jesus' have been given out. These are seeds, can't farm without them.

Every day of the next 3 weeks is packed. The last full day in Lassin,
5/5/10, we'll have the baptism, then communion with our church family. We
bounce up to Kumbo in the little red Toyota 5/6/10, then catch a bus to arrive in Douala by the 7th. See you in June.

Keep us in your prayers!

Steve & Carol

P.S. we're both healthy & no jiggers.