The Shepherd and Juliana
About a week ago as I was walking with Juliana to school, we saw a sheep standing in the river where Divine was baptized. The shepherd was scrubbing the sheep with soap. I had never seen this before. I asked Juliana why the shepherd did this. She simply answered "to clean it." That day in school assembly Juliana gave a worship talk about the sheep hearing the shepherd.
She even sang a song about the shepherd's voice.
Talk about deep symbolism! I, like the sheep, need to stand patiently by the Shepherd and allow Him to scrub me clean. The washing may be uncomfortable, it may pull my dirty wool, but if I stick around and not run away, I will end up clean. Perhaps the shepherd even calmed the sheep with his voice as he washed. We all need to spend time listening to the Shepherd 's voice and follow wherever He leads. The Shepherd has left us his voice/message in His word.
Juliana is Naphtali's wife, and she has been assisting me this year with the Class 1 students. She is doing a marvelous job translating and relating to and enjoying the children. We have been praying since last year that Juliana will hear the Shepherd's voice and follow Him. I can tell from different things she says and how she acts that she loves God very much.
Yesterday she even attended church with us. Please pray with us that she, as well as each one of us, will continue to be led by the Good Shepherd.
This past week in school was busy. We had a PTA meeting and a visit by the Inspector of Basic Education. There was much preparation needed for these events-clearing and cleaning the school grounds, rebuilding of the "outhouse," and food preparation since we fed the visitors. We even showed a New Beginnings Film about Jesus' Second Coming at the PTA meeting.
This week the teachers will be compiling midterm grades. That should keep us very busy.
Divine has been sharing the New Beginnings in the Noone language to several families, including the Fon's compound! Steve continues to take it to Naphtali's father and Franklin every week after the translation is completed. He and Naphtali have been very busy translating and editing the NB programs; they complete one a week. Steve has also been working on the translation of a whole series of health topic programs into the Noone language. Shey John and Divine are assisting with this.
Thank you to all who have sent Sabbath School quarterlies and children's papers. Most of the adult church members can read English well enough to enjoy this literature and translate for the children. Thank you, also, those who are supporting us. Keep on working for the eternal reward! It's
going to be great! We love you all!
Carol
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Oct 8, 2010
Dear family & friends!
Here's what's up in Lassin for the last couple weeks.
The school is going really well. There are 18 or 19 first graders, 15 fifth graders, 22 second graders, and about 20 in the 3rd - 4th grade combination class. The teachers seem to be doing a great job of maintaining order and communicating. Last Wednesday I saw Jessica get her 2nd grade class seated after lunch and working quietly on a project by herself. Her assistant, Naphtali, had gone to teach the Noone language at the government high school. Nice work Jess!
Kimberly has the desks in her room arranged very neatly with colored name papers on each. She uses chalk board and iPad to teach her kids.
Carol provides her little 1st graders with personal size chalk boards, as well as the big board up front.
Sometime during the day, each class takes turns using the Bible in felts as they listen to a story- they all love it.
Our neighbor, Divine, who lives across the street and translates for Kimberly's 5th graders sends a bucket down the well to get fresh water for the children to wash their hands and to moisten the dirt floors. The little house that Gregory built over the well has a solid eucalyptus door and sturdy lock; so far we have not lost any children.
Next Monday, Franklin and his boys will ride to the school with me. We'll haul his new window shutters, storage room door, and teacher's desk doors so that he can install them over the course of the week. It'll be nice to be able to really lock up. Then we can take more of the supplies to school that we / you shipped here last August.
I can hardly wait to tell you about my Bible study project. Naphtali and I have recorded and produced 3 of the New Beginnings Bible studies in the Noone language. I'm learning a bunch about video production and having a good time doing it. The next phase involves 'post production' editing, where the 45+ minute full length version and cut it to about 15 - 25 minutes for showing at the school. Each Wednesday at about 12 PM, I show the cut version to the school children. They have the typical response- curious, and restless. But it is amazing to see how many really pay close attention throughout the whole program.
We have resumed showing these Bible studies in individual homes, but the response is different this time. Last night, Thursday @ 7PM, I showed the new Noone version in Franklin's home. He was there with his junior brother, his children and 2 of Naphtali's kids; about 8 in all. They sat silently glued to the laptop; the only source of light in the home, except for the small cooking fire in the kitchen next door. After the lesson, Franklin commented on the different countries that came to world power status as predicted in the dream recorded in Daniel 2. I decided to have some fun, "So. What is the next kingdom that will come?" "Jesus' second coming." He got it! Of course he did. Every word was in his 'mother tongue'. They all got it, from oldest to youngest!
We're giving these lessons in Naphtali's father and two mother's compound- they are so proud of their son's new 'film' career! They invite their neighbors to view the new film each Saturday night. Our neighbor 'boy', a high-school senior who made our garden fence last year has invited us to show the 'films' in his father's compound each Sunday evening. Moses' wife has invited us to show the films in her house again this year; we have not established a night yet. You may recall that Moses is a tailor and has made several of the new school uniforms again this year; 2 of his kids attend again.
Okay, how about a Cameroonian rainy road trip story? "The road seems better this year. The worst hill has gravel on it now. I believe the little red Toyota could climb it in the rain. I'm sure we can get to Kumbo now." I was confident and Jessica was a willing passenger. Kumbo is home to many internet cafés, an international calling booth, stores that sell foods like you can get back in the ., school books, and other stuff that is more or less vital to the operation of our school. The little car started and we were off. One point seven km from our house was the former trip killer hill. We climbed easily. Nothing to stop us now. There were small puddles, small streams, muddy places, rough rocky patches, but all had tire tracks on both sides of them. Then, just past the wood fired white bread bakery was this mud pit. I got out and took a second look. Seems that a stout looking Toyota 4WD pickup loaded high with stuff was clawing for traction with a crew of about 5 equally stout young men pushing various parts of it. After a few minutes the truck was free. A neighbor man advised me to bypass about half of the pit by using his driveway. "Just turn there and you'll have no trouble", he said. It looked safe enough. I had little choice. Well, our car was not stuck for long. After backing up a bit, the second attempt got us free. The rest of the trip to Kumbo was as uneventful as a day at the roller coaster park. I only took out one wooden foot bridge between the road and some lady's driveway; easy to put back in place.
We shopped and enjoyed the 'big city'. The rain began to fall. The road began to get slick. We began our ride home. There is a feature that forms here, two wide ruts that leave the center of the road high above the sides.
The crown is so sharp that you wonder if the car belly will drag. Normally you straddle this crown. When the road gets slick, this is a bit tricky. I was able to stay atop for all but the last 60 feet. Driving along while scraping the right side of the car against a muddy bank does not seem as bad as having to spend the night in a rut. Most of the road was reasonably uneventful, but the thought of that mud pit up ahead weighed heavy on my mind. Then, there it was. Unavoidable. The left side looked best, but it was where the truck had been. The right side had pretty deep ruts with standing water so low that I could only see it by sitting straight up. As I sat inspecting the pit, a small group of people formed; the same stout men we saw earlier. We prayed, pushed the electric 4WD button on the front panel, let the clutch out and headed right. The car sank deep into the ruts and continued for about six feet. All four tires made it painfully clear that they were not up to the task. Turning to either side was not possible.
Backing up- yea right. I really did not want to get out in that muck - call me spoiled. Soon the group of smiling faces converged on the car. They lifted the front end and tried to get it out of the rut; nope. Then one man began to fish around in the mud. He extracted two rocks about the size of soccer balls from my 'track'. The order was given, "try again". The little car tried and a dozen strong hands pushed on various parts of the car. Once on firm ground a small piece of paper with red ink was placed in the rolled up sleeve of the group leader. His beaming face confirmed that the payment was adequate. We got home. "Next time I go to Kumbo, it will be in a taxi"
, I said. The next time I went, last Monday, it was in a taxi. We were pushed three times (hills too slick), stuck in mud once and pushed free.
Dickson said that his car had suffered. I gave him my condolences. But, I was glad it was his car and not mine.
When dry season comes, about mid November, we'll buy concrete and begin making floors and plastering the walls of the school; but not before the roads firm up.
The ladies are in the process of moving into their new house. Pretty upscale. It has a flush toilet, indoor shower, propane stove. The glass should be in the windows by Sunday. Kim & Kataya have slept there once.
They love it. Having a phone that works from within the house helps too.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.
Steve, Carol, Kimberly, Kataya, and Jessica.
Here's what's up in Lassin for the last couple weeks.
The school is going really well. There are 18 or 19 first graders, 15 fifth graders, 22 second graders, and about 20 in the 3rd - 4th grade combination class. The teachers seem to be doing a great job of maintaining order and communicating. Last Wednesday I saw Jessica get her 2nd grade class seated after lunch and working quietly on a project by herself. Her assistant, Naphtali, had gone to teach the Noone language at the government high school. Nice work Jess!
Kimberly has the desks in her room arranged very neatly with colored name papers on each. She uses chalk board and iPad to teach her kids.
Carol provides her little 1st graders with personal size chalk boards, as well as the big board up front.
Sometime during the day, each class takes turns using the Bible in felts as they listen to a story- they all love it.
Our neighbor, Divine, who lives across the street and translates for Kimberly's 5th graders sends a bucket down the well to get fresh water for the children to wash their hands and to moisten the dirt floors. The little house that Gregory built over the well has a solid eucalyptus door and sturdy lock; so far we have not lost any children.
Next Monday, Franklin and his boys will ride to the school with me. We'll haul his new window shutters, storage room door, and teacher's desk doors so that he can install them over the course of the week. It'll be nice to be able to really lock up. Then we can take more of the supplies to school that we / you shipped here last August.
I can hardly wait to tell you about my Bible study project. Naphtali and I have recorded and produced 3 of the New Beginnings Bible studies in the Noone language. I'm learning a bunch about video production and having a good time doing it. The next phase involves 'post production' editing, where the 45+ minute full length version and cut it to about 15 - 25 minutes for showing at the school. Each Wednesday at about 12 PM, I show the cut version to the school children. They have the typical response- curious, and restless. But it is amazing to see how many really pay close attention throughout the whole program.
We have resumed showing these Bible studies in individual homes, but the response is different this time. Last night, Thursday @ 7PM, I showed the new Noone version in Franklin's home. He was there with his junior brother, his children and 2 of Naphtali's kids; about 8 in all. They sat silently glued to the laptop; the only source of light in the home, except for the small cooking fire in the kitchen next door. After the lesson, Franklin commented on the different countries that came to world power status as predicted in the dream recorded in Daniel 2. I decided to have some fun, "So. What is the next kingdom that will come?" "Jesus' second coming." He got it! Of course he did. Every word was in his 'mother tongue'. They all got it, from oldest to youngest!
We're giving these lessons in Naphtali's father and two mother's compound- they are so proud of their son's new 'film' career! They invite their neighbors to view the new film each Saturday night. Our neighbor 'boy', a high-school senior who made our garden fence last year has invited us to show the 'films' in his father's compound each Sunday evening. Moses' wife has invited us to show the films in her house again this year; we have not established a night yet. You may recall that Moses is a tailor and has made several of the new school uniforms again this year; 2 of his kids attend again.
Okay, how about a Cameroonian rainy road trip story? "The road seems better this year. The worst hill has gravel on it now. I believe the little red Toyota could climb it in the rain. I'm sure we can get to Kumbo now." I was confident and Jessica was a willing passenger. Kumbo is home to many internet cafés, an international calling booth, stores that sell foods like you can get back in the ., school books, and other stuff that is more or less vital to the operation of our school. The little car started and we were off. One point seven km from our house was the former trip killer hill. We climbed easily. Nothing to stop us now. There were small puddles, small streams, muddy places, rough rocky patches, but all had tire tracks on both sides of them. Then, just past the wood fired white bread bakery was this mud pit. I got out and took a second look. Seems that a stout looking Toyota 4WD pickup loaded high with stuff was clawing for traction with a crew of about 5 equally stout young men pushing various parts of it. After a few minutes the truck was free. A neighbor man advised me to bypass about half of the pit by using his driveway. "Just turn there and you'll have no trouble", he said. It looked safe enough. I had little choice. Well, our car was not stuck for long. After backing up a bit, the second attempt got us free. The rest of the trip to Kumbo was as uneventful as a day at the roller coaster park. I only took out one wooden foot bridge between the road and some lady's driveway; easy to put back in place.
We shopped and enjoyed the 'big city'. The rain began to fall. The road began to get slick. We began our ride home. There is a feature that forms here, two wide ruts that leave the center of the road high above the sides.
The crown is so sharp that you wonder if the car belly will drag. Normally you straddle this crown. When the road gets slick, this is a bit tricky. I was able to stay atop for all but the last 60 feet. Driving along while scraping the right side of the car against a muddy bank does not seem as bad as having to spend the night in a rut. Most of the road was reasonably uneventful, but the thought of that mud pit up ahead weighed heavy on my mind. Then, there it was. Unavoidable. The left side looked best, but it was where the truck had been. The right side had pretty deep ruts with standing water so low that I could only see it by sitting straight up. As I sat inspecting the pit, a small group of people formed; the same stout men we saw earlier. We prayed, pushed the electric 4WD button on the front panel, let the clutch out and headed right. The car sank deep into the ruts and continued for about six feet. All four tires made it painfully clear that they were not up to the task. Turning to either side was not possible.
Backing up- yea right. I really did not want to get out in that muck - call me spoiled. Soon the group of smiling faces converged on the car. They lifted the front end and tried to get it out of the rut; nope. Then one man began to fish around in the mud. He extracted two rocks about the size of soccer balls from my 'track'. The order was given, "try again". The little car tried and a dozen strong hands pushed on various parts of the car. Once on firm ground a small piece of paper with red ink was placed in the rolled up sleeve of the group leader. His beaming face confirmed that the payment was adequate. We got home. "Next time I go to Kumbo, it will be in a taxi"
, I said. The next time I went, last Monday, it was in a taxi. We were pushed three times (hills too slick), stuck in mud once and pushed free.
Dickson said that his car had suffered. I gave him my condolences. But, I was glad it was his car and not mine.
When dry season comes, about mid November, we'll buy concrete and begin making floors and plastering the walls of the school; but not before the roads firm up.
The ladies are in the process of moving into their new house. Pretty upscale. It has a flush toilet, indoor shower, propane stove. The glass should be in the windows by Sunday. Kim & Kataya have slept there once.
They love it. Having a phone that works from within the house helps too.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.
Steve, Carol, Kimberly, Kataya, and Jessica.
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