Friday, March 25, 2011
Maxceline (in Class 4) is a flamboyant young lady who loves to lead the singing at school. We know her mother and father. Her father is one of Sister Elizabeth’s brothers. About a month ago I saw the father in a bar, drinking. He motioned to me that I should join him. I explained that I did not drink alcohol and that it was not good for his body either. He was obviously under the influence that day.
About that time we heard that Maxceline’s mother moved back to her family’s compound, separating from her husband. I have seen and talked to both the father and the mother a few times after that. We often see the father walking out the “bush” near our school to tap the raffia trees to make raffia wine.
Maxceline came to our house today and helped me “select” rice. As we sat in the backyard picking out the hulls, she told me that she had recently taken home a colored memory verse paper from school. She read the verse she had written on the page to her father, and her father was highly impressed. He was glad that she was learning in our school! Also Maxceline gave her uncle a note we had sent home from school today asking the parents to feed their children more protein food like beans, peanuts, etc. Maxceline’s uncle said, “Those Adventists have sense.”
Please keep praying for these young people and their families.
Tonight we are showing the film “Fireproof.” We have invited many families / couples to attend, hoping that they will see that submitting to Jesus is the only way to know how to serve each other in love. Maxceline’s family is not at all unusual to have struggles, partly due to alcohol abuse.
Carol
30 March 2011
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a day full of blessings from God. The story begins Monday. We had been planning for a couple weeks to travel to Kumbo on Monday to purchase various supplies for the school and for the house including fresh market food. The Kumbo market seems to have a wider variety of vegetables that we enjoy, like green beans, lettuce, bell peppers, and beets—things we rarely see in Lassin. We thought Monday would make an excellent day for the trip since it would be the first day of our spring holiday and it would also be Kumbo Market Day, meaning there would be more vendors and a larger variety of products. Ok, so we were all set to go.
Monday morning we ate breakfast early and packed our bags. Our plans quickly changed when we discovered that there was not enough to make payroll and to do our shopping trip both. We had expected some funds to be wired Friday, but we had not received confirmation of that via email, soooo at the last minute we rescheduled our trip, hoping that Tuesday we would be able to go. We were all disappointed including the two other people who were planning to go with us.
Monday night we received notice of fund transfer. So, Tuesday was the day! We were just about ready to leave Tuesday morning when some people asked Steve if a mother and her child could accompany us to Kumbo to the hospital as the child was in critical condition and on an IV. Steve readily agreed, and we rushed to push-start the car and pile in! Jessica and I sat in the back of the station wagon and bounced around as Steve goaded the car over the rough, winding roads.
We made it to Kumbo in just about two hours, about half an hour faster than usual. Another blessing that helped speed the trip was that the last 7-10 km of road has been graded, smoothing out an especially rough area. The tiny, sick baby actually cried a little bit just before we reached the hospital. It was a relief to hear the little waif cry. We felt very blessed to have been able to be traveling on Tuesday when the baby needed the help!
Next blessing--in Kumbo, the power was on and the internet connection was working, albeit ever so slowly! Yeah! We have been there several times hoping to use the internet, but not able to because the power was off or the connection down. We picked up the funds and were able to do all of our shopping and internet use. Then we headed back to Lassin about 5 pm. We even stopped in Mbinon and bought several hands of bananas; Mbinon bananas are the best!
When we arrived home, we had a short discussion of who had the house key. I didn’t have it; neither did Steve. ?? Jessica ran to the house; the door was open, and the key was in the lock on the outside of the door! We went inside; nothing had been touched; a couple computers were out in the living room, a walkman also was sitting out. What a blessing! In our haste to leave, we forgot to lock the door!
The wind must have pushed it open.
God is merciful to us forgetful humans. Even when we forget more important things like being thankful for His generous forgiveness and salvation! God is good!
Another tremendous blessing that we may not have posted on the blog
yet: A family is arriving in Cameroon next week. They are coming to Lassin to replace us. We are very thankful and happy that God is taking care of this special project!
Carol
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
10 Sacks of Cement....
Dear family & friends (again the line seems blurry),
News since Feb 27…
Sunday, Carol and I did a week and a half worth of laundry in our ‘bio-powered eco-green’ washer; okay, by hand, as usual. The normal tasks of the day were still in full swing at 6PM when Gregory showed up for a Bible study with me. The house was filling with teachers wanting to play flute-like ‘recorders’ before the weekly teacher supper and staff meeting. Gregory and I padded down the reddish brown road to the church. I produced our two Walkman players and connected the ear ‘buds’ to each. He just loves hearing the New Beginnings Bible studies that Naphtali and I produce in his own Noone language. He listened to lesson 18 while I, Noone impaired, listened to Desire of Ages being read. He would stop the player periodically to discuss some point of the lesson. Twice he told stories of his childhood that I had never heard. Apparently, his parents died during his early childhood. None of his relatives took him in their homes to the extent that meals were regular. He told of being so hungry that he stole the lunch of ladies working a farm. He jumped into a stream to escape identification, but was beaten badly by his school master when he was finally identified as the ‘thief’. He asked me how he should make this wrong right. How can I answer that? After a quick but sincere prayer, I reminded him of the really good feeling that one has after confessing a wrong. He stated that he planned to apologize to each of the people that he had stolen food from as a child.
After the Bible lesson, we walked together to our home where he had left his t’rusty’ motorcycle. Under a sea of stars, he began discussing ‘our’ school. He has worked so hard to expertly complete the concrete work; four large classroom floors, plastering inside and outside of all walls, and recently the large ‘veranda’ (porches). In doing so, he and his two faithful hard working helpers have heard the sounds from inside the classrooms. They have heard ‘much’. Gregory began saying how he was impressed by the abundance of school teaching supplies, “even more than the government schools have. Even more than the Catholics.” But then he said, “You know what the number one important part of the school is?” He explained how much he valued the Bible stories taught daily in all four classrooms. “My son Ignacius …” (in Jessica’s 2nd grade room) tells the daily Bible study to Gregory’s wife Caroline in the evening. If corrections are necessary, Zachariah (in Vivian’s 3rd / 4th grade room) will fill in the gaps. Although it was too dark to see Gregory’s face beam, his voice was ‘beaming’. He loves the effect of Christian education on his entire family.
With the school building project completed within the budget, the next project is the well shaft casing. We plan to accomplish this using concrete blocks. I called in an order to Home Depot for a truck to deliver 500 blocks this Thursday and charged it to my Discover Card. (Nothing could be more American, or less Cameroonian.) Again, Gregory’s helpers will spend a week or two digging and carrying sand from the nearby creek bed. I made plans to drive to Kumbo for more sacks of concrete. The blocks will be formed from a hand planed eucalyptus form that I made in Franklin’s carpentry shop last school year. My dad gave me the block dimensions via satellite text message exactly one year ago. Gregory will boil palm oil until it becomes greasy, then apply the orange slop to the inside of the form to keep the concrete from sticking.
This is the ‘lead-in’ to yesterday’s drive to Kumbo for 10 50kg sacks of concrete. Naphtali’s brother Alfred accompanied me. But before departing, I added half a quart of motor oil, a couple ounces of power steering fluid (ATF), topped off the radiator and reserve, glanced at the new tires (still beautiful), then recruited Alfred to help push start the car. It seems that the month old brand new battery has failed. No warranty here, of course, that’s an Amer… custom. After driving about 30km (18mi), my taxi driver buddy Gerald honked his horn furiously and informed me that I had a leak, then he leap-froged me for the 3rd time that morning. Sure enough, my engine was heating up and pushing water out from the reservoir. I had expected an overheat since it had happened on the last trip when we accompanied Jessica to Yaounde to extend her visa, but there was only time for my mechanic Njong to rebuild both hydraulic clutch cylinders before we returned home. Now, a little more than a liter of water was enough to make ‘Ruby’ happy to complete the trip to Kumbo. Three hours later, Njong (‘Jong’) had repaired the radiator and adjusted my clutch pedal so that the clutch would not slip on steep hills. Ruby and I headed down the dusty main drag of Kumbo toward the large market and Promise Enterprise. ‘Shey’ greeted me warmly with his massive hand and asked if I needed more cement. He knows the routine well, each Monday I buy another 10 sacks. I paid, the ‘boys’ (young men) were directed to help me, and Ruby bounced down to the warehouse. After these incredibly strong men climbed narrow hand-made wooden ladders to the top of a stack of cement, then climbed down with the 110-pound sack on their heads, and placed 10 sacks into Ruby’s payload, a new face asked me for a ‘book’. Nearly each time I pick up cement, I give out Young Disciple magazines and Sabbath School quarterlies to the warehouse workers. Today I had decided that the guys were probably still reading last week’s copy. Mistake. I explained that I was sorry and had no magazines, but asked how many people worked at ‘Promise’. “Thirteen.” “Okay, I’ll bring 20 books next time.”
Ruby and I lumbered back up the red dirt road, Njong gave his final blessing to the radiator repair and I left for BBH (Banso Baptist Hospital). While ‘collecting’ Alfred, a Lassin woman ‘begged’ a ride for her frail, elderly mother and her to Lassin, explaining that her money was ‘finish’. I had ‘carried’ them to BBH some weeks ago, but then there was room. Now, poor Ruby was bursting with dirty cement, the back seats folded forward to shift some of the weight onto the front tires. But you can’t say ‘no’ to these folks if there is any way to help. ‘Mom’ can sit in front with Alfred. “Would you mind sitting on the front edges of the back seats, just in front of the cement?” No problem. She climbed in and settled down on about 8 inches of space and no seat back except the end of a Chinese cement bag.
Ruby and I eased out onto the ‘Ring’ road leading out of Kumbo for Lassin. It was going to be a ‘first gear’, 3 hour ride home if all went well; after all, 1100 lbs of cement and 550 lbs of people require a gentle touch. All went well until we got to the only police check-point on the road. The officer who usually smiles, drops the rag laden rope across the road, and waves me on had other ideas this night. He walked out to the car. “You are moving with a badly overloaded car.” “Yes sir. But, my grandmother and sister begged a ride at BBH. I couldn’t say no, sir.” The officer studied the faces, the enormous load, then waved us on. “Thank you sir.”
The first half of the road home to Lassin is comparatively smooth; it would cripple an ordinary car. But the last half of the ‘road’ has sections that pound the daylights out of most every vehicle foolish enough to venture over it. For instance, I have had a right rear suspension bracket repaired once and replaced again; the left rear bracket just gave way and was repaired a month ago. The fuel line has been replaced twice now. About five tires have died on that road. My exhaust pipe has been crushed. You would think that to accomplish this disaster that I must drive like a nut or not pay attention to the road. Well, in a feeble gesture of self defense, Tobias, a highly skilled taxi driver was pulled off a car and given an old clunker (even clunkier) to drive because he went through two tires in one week.
The sun had set, the lights were on, but the road was littered with large stones and hard mud ruts. We had been creeping along in first gear, but the sudden sound of breaking metal told me that there was trouble. How much trouble? We’ll see. I found a place level enough for the parking brake to hold and got out to examine. The rear suspension brackets were intact. The muffler was still blowing exhaust and the pipe was in place, but blocking it with my hand did not affect the engine. The wheels were still on, upright, and pointing in the same direction. Try again, maybe the sound was imagined or just normal on these rough roads. The second and third inspections revealed nothing. The steering, braking, and 4WD power each seemed fine. Noticing that the noise nearly resolved when driving less than 10kmh (6mph), we pressed on. What else could I do? Staying overnight with 3 other adults in a cement filled car was not an option.
The 40km (24 mile) trip took 3 hours and 18 minutes; a record ‘long’. But God got us home. Carol, ‘sister’, and I walked ‘grandmother’ home. I ate dinner, washed off and hit the hay.
This morning Ruby carried the 10 sacks the last 5km to the school. On the way, we picked up two friends and carried them to their farms. They did not notice the grumbling coming from the front right wheel assembly. After Gregory and a helper deposited the cement in the school magazine Ruby stood a little taller. She hardly fussed as we went home. Next week Njong will have a wheel assembly to work on. It’s just as well, I told him about the Young Disciple magazines and he was really interested. Maybe only 8 sacks of cement; we’ll see, I hate to waste a trip.
Summary of other exciting stuff:
Naphtali and I begin recording New Beginnings lesson 24 of 26 tonight (Tuesday 3/1/11).
Half of the rented church roof (the part that covers the ‘kitchen / entry’) blew off in a recent rain storm. It landed over the part of the roof that covers the ‘main sanctuary’. Now the leak in that room is covered. Yes, we need a church of our own, but not this year.
Charles Ichu of Douala (our gracious and super helpful Cameroonian host) has agreed to stay with us for up to two weeks to record the sound tracks of all 26 New Beginnings lessons in ‘Pigeon’. The reason that Pigeon is such a big deal is that it is the ‘interface’ language between the scores of languages used in Western Cameroon and beyond (like Nigeria). Most people here do not ‘speak grammar’ (use formal English). New Beginnings in ‘Pigeon’ could be broadcast on radio or used in DVD format where power is available.
We are still planning to have an evangelistic series in April. Keep these families in your prayers. Divine takes the Fujitsu laptop to 5 homes each week, showing the studies in Noone. I take the Toshiba to Naphtali’s folks place Saturday nights. That’s 6 large compounds each week. Seeds are being planted, we’ll see what ‘comes up’.
Thanks to each of you for your prayers, Bible related literature, financial support, and boxed brownie mix! Unless the school well project becomes too big, I think you have given enough; we still have about $750. It should buy enough concrete and repair busted car parts to see us until May 1. If not, I’ll ‘beg’ for a bit more.
Weather: some of you have been complaining to us about the winter like conditions in California. Well, if it really gets to you, come join us. We have not worn our coats since January. We have not had to heat or cool the house. The rains that fell February 3 – 6, then late in the month took care of most of the dust and smoke in Lassin and Kumbo. Basically, it has been an endless Spring / Summer here.
Food: I think we have eaten a pineapple for breakfast on a daily basis since December. You have no idea how spoiled we are. We pay 100 – 300 FCFA each. (Okay, that’s 20 – 60 cents.) Jessica and Carol can hardly wait for mango season; should be here soon. We have seen full size green fruit, but nothing ripe yet. Avocado and oranges have remained plentiful. The other week I found rhubarb at the huge Kumbo market. Mom emailed us a pie recipe and Carol performed her wonders. I contributed by grinding wheat to fine flour for the crust. The pie did not last long.
Thanks for waiting for me to write this letter. Honest, we’ve been really busy, but have not forgotten you. Thanks for the Iridium SMS and emails to LassisFamily@Gmail.com.
Still looking forward to good news that someone is going to come to lead this project next year. Some good sounding rumors are coming from GMI.
Can I tell ‘one more story’? Just a thought really. Would you like to get into trouble for doing nothing at all? Me either. Daniel 12:1 says, “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation…” Well, if we are going to get into trouble, then we might as well ‘deserve’ it. Are you ‘getting me’?
Love you guys,
Steve, Carol, Jessica, and Ruby
P.S. 3/3/11: We ran out of propane for cooking last evening so I had to go to Kumbo again today (Thursday). More stories came out of this trip too, but just wanted to report that the 1/2 inch thick spring in the front right wheel strut assembly had broken and was rubbing against the inner wall of the wheel well. Passed out 34 Young Disciple magazines today: 3 to the guys across the street from the house that usually help me push-start the car, 3 to the officers at the 'highway' check point, 7 to the worker 6 guys at the auto repair place, 20 to the 13 employees of Promise Enterprise (cement store, etc), and 1 to a fellow 'auto-needs-repair' customer. It was so fun to see folks in so many places reading these magazines. I realized that I need to carry a few 'Steps to Jesus' too. There were some adults that would have really enjoyed them; like one man who studied at a university in Cleveland, OH., and another who works for an NGO (Non-governmental organization) involved in improving elementary education. Bright men who needed more 'mature' reading material. Anyway, another long day, but we have propane, another 9 sacks of cement, 3 small bunches of carrots, and some laundry soap.
Thought you may be interested in what I spent and what for:
Auto repair: heavy spring $7, clutch repair kit $8, labor to rebuild both $10. Propane $16, soap $6. Cement $100. Auto fuel $20. These are 'high dollar' days. I'm glad that the school building project is nearly complete.
News since Feb 27…
Sunday, Carol and I did a week and a half worth of laundry in our ‘bio-powered eco-green’ washer; okay, by hand, as usual. The normal tasks of the day were still in full swing at 6PM when Gregory showed up for a Bible study with me. The house was filling with teachers wanting to play flute-like ‘recorders’ before the weekly teacher supper and staff meeting. Gregory and I padded down the reddish brown road to the church. I produced our two Walkman players and connected the ear ‘buds’ to each. He just loves hearing the New Beginnings Bible studies that Naphtali and I produce in his own Noone language. He listened to lesson 18 while I, Noone impaired, listened to Desire of Ages being read. He would stop the player periodically to discuss some point of the lesson. Twice he told stories of his childhood that I had never heard. Apparently, his parents died during his early childhood. None of his relatives took him in their homes to the extent that meals were regular. He told of being so hungry that he stole the lunch of ladies working a farm. He jumped into a stream to escape identification, but was beaten badly by his school master when he was finally identified as the ‘thief’. He asked me how he should make this wrong right. How can I answer that? After a quick but sincere prayer, I reminded him of the really good feeling that one has after confessing a wrong. He stated that he planned to apologize to each of the people that he had stolen food from as a child.
After the Bible lesson, we walked together to our home where he had left his t’rusty’ motorcycle. Under a sea of stars, he began discussing ‘our’ school. He has worked so hard to expertly complete the concrete work; four large classroom floors, plastering inside and outside of all walls, and recently the large ‘veranda’ (porches). In doing so, he and his two faithful hard working helpers have heard the sounds from inside the classrooms. They have heard ‘much’. Gregory began saying how he was impressed by the abundance of school teaching supplies, “even more than the government schools have. Even more than the Catholics.” But then he said, “You know what the number one important part of the school is?” He explained how much he valued the Bible stories taught daily in all four classrooms. “My son Ignacius …” (in Jessica’s 2nd grade room) tells the daily Bible study to Gregory’s wife Caroline in the evening. If corrections are necessary, Zachariah (in Vivian’s 3rd / 4th grade room) will fill in the gaps. Although it was too dark to see Gregory’s face beam, his voice was ‘beaming’. He loves the effect of Christian education on his entire family.
With the school building project completed within the budget, the next project is the well shaft casing. We plan to accomplish this using concrete blocks. I called in an order to Home Depot for a truck to deliver 500 blocks this Thursday and charged it to my Discover Card. (Nothing could be more American, or less Cameroonian.) Again, Gregory’s helpers will spend a week or two digging and carrying sand from the nearby creek bed. I made plans to drive to Kumbo for more sacks of concrete. The blocks will be formed from a hand planed eucalyptus form that I made in Franklin’s carpentry shop last school year. My dad gave me the block dimensions via satellite text message exactly one year ago. Gregory will boil palm oil until it becomes greasy, then apply the orange slop to the inside of the form to keep the concrete from sticking.
This is the ‘lead-in’ to yesterday’s drive to Kumbo for 10 50kg sacks of concrete. Naphtali’s brother Alfred accompanied me. But before departing, I added half a quart of motor oil, a couple ounces of power steering fluid (ATF), topped off the radiator and reserve, glanced at the new tires (still beautiful), then recruited Alfred to help push start the car. It seems that the month old brand new battery has failed. No warranty here, of course, that’s an Amer… custom. After driving about 30km (18mi), my taxi driver buddy Gerald honked his horn furiously and informed me that I had a leak, then he leap-froged me for the 3rd time that morning. Sure enough, my engine was heating up and pushing water out from the reservoir. I had expected an overheat since it had happened on the last trip when we accompanied Jessica to Yaounde to extend her visa, but there was only time for my mechanic Njong to rebuild both hydraulic clutch cylinders before we returned home. Now, a little more than a liter of water was enough to make ‘Ruby’ happy to complete the trip to Kumbo. Three hours later, Njong (‘Jong’) had repaired the radiator and adjusted my clutch pedal so that the clutch would not slip on steep hills. Ruby and I headed down the dusty main drag of Kumbo toward the large market and Promise Enterprise. ‘Shey’ greeted me warmly with his massive hand and asked if I needed more cement. He knows the routine well, each Monday I buy another 10 sacks. I paid, the ‘boys’ (young men) were directed to help me, and Ruby bounced down to the warehouse. After these incredibly strong men climbed narrow hand-made wooden ladders to the top of a stack of cement, then climbed down with the 110-pound sack on their heads, and placed 10 sacks into Ruby’s payload, a new face asked me for a ‘book’. Nearly each time I pick up cement, I give out Young Disciple magazines and Sabbath School quarterlies to the warehouse workers. Today I had decided that the guys were probably still reading last week’s copy. Mistake. I explained that I was sorry and had no magazines, but asked how many people worked at ‘Promise’. “Thirteen.” “Okay, I’ll bring 20 books next time.”
Ruby and I lumbered back up the red dirt road, Njong gave his final blessing to the radiator repair and I left for BBH (Banso Baptist Hospital). While ‘collecting’ Alfred, a Lassin woman ‘begged’ a ride for her frail, elderly mother and her to Lassin, explaining that her money was ‘finish’. I had ‘carried’ them to BBH some weeks ago, but then there was room. Now, poor Ruby was bursting with dirty cement, the back seats folded forward to shift some of the weight onto the front tires. But you can’t say ‘no’ to these folks if there is any way to help. ‘Mom’ can sit in front with Alfred. “Would you mind sitting on the front edges of the back seats, just in front of the cement?” No problem. She climbed in and settled down on about 8 inches of space and no seat back except the end of a Chinese cement bag.
Ruby and I eased out onto the ‘Ring’ road leading out of Kumbo for Lassin. It was going to be a ‘first gear’, 3 hour ride home if all went well; after all, 1100 lbs of cement and 550 lbs of people require a gentle touch. All went well until we got to the only police check-point on the road. The officer who usually smiles, drops the rag laden rope across the road, and waves me on had other ideas this night. He walked out to the car. “You are moving with a badly overloaded car.” “Yes sir. But, my grandmother and sister begged a ride at BBH. I couldn’t say no, sir.” The officer studied the faces, the enormous load, then waved us on. “Thank you sir.”
The first half of the road home to Lassin is comparatively smooth; it would cripple an ordinary car. But the last half of the ‘road’ has sections that pound the daylights out of most every vehicle foolish enough to venture over it. For instance, I have had a right rear suspension bracket repaired once and replaced again; the left rear bracket just gave way and was repaired a month ago. The fuel line has been replaced twice now. About five tires have died on that road. My exhaust pipe has been crushed. You would think that to accomplish this disaster that I must drive like a nut or not pay attention to the road. Well, in a feeble gesture of self defense, Tobias, a highly skilled taxi driver was pulled off a car and given an old clunker (even clunkier) to drive because he went through two tires in one week.
The sun had set, the lights were on, but the road was littered with large stones and hard mud ruts. We had been creeping along in first gear, but the sudden sound of breaking metal told me that there was trouble. How much trouble? We’ll see. I found a place level enough for the parking brake to hold and got out to examine. The rear suspension brackets were intact. The muffler was still blowing exhaust and the pipe was in place, but blocking it with my hand did not affect the engine. The wheels were still on, upright, and pointing in the same direction. Try again, maybe the sound was imagined or just normal on these rough roads. The second and third inspections revealed nothing. The steering, braking, and 4WD power each seemed fine. Noticing that the noise nearly resolved when driving less than 10kmh (6mph), we pressed on. What else could I do? Staying overnight with 3 other adults in a cement filled car was not an option.
The 40km (24 mile) trip took 3 hours and 18 minutes; a record ‘long’. But God got us home. Carol, ‘sister’, and I walked ‘grandmother’ home. I ate dinner, washed off and hit the hay.
This morning Ruby carried the 10 sacks the last 5km to the school. On the way, we picked up two friends and carried them to their farms. They did not notice the grumbling coming from the front right wheel assembly. After Gregory and a helper deposited the cement in the school magazine Ruby stood a little taller. She hardly fussed as we went home. Next week Njong will have a wheel assembly to work on. It’s just as well, I told him about the Young Disciple magazines and he was really interested. Maybe only 8 sacks of cement; we’ll see, I hate to waste a trip.
Summary of other exciting stuff:
Naphtali and I begin recording New Beginnings lesson 24 of 26 tonight (Tuesday 3/1/11).
Half of the rented church roof (the part that covers the ‘kitchen / entry’) blew off in a recent rain storm. It landed over the part of the roof that covers the ‘main sanctuary’. Now the leak in that room is covered. Yes, we need a church of our own, but not this year.
Charles Ichu of Douala (our gracious and super helpful Cameroonian host) has agreed to stay with us for up to two weeks to record the sound tracks of all 26 New Beginnings lessons in ‘Pigeon’. The reason that Pigeon is such a big deal is that it is the ‘interface’ language between the scores of languages used in Western Cameroon and beyond (like Nigeria). Most people here do not ‘speak grammar’ (use formal English). New Beginnings in ‘Pigeon’ could be broadcast on radio or used in DVD format where power is available.
We are still planning to have an evangelistic series in April. Keep these families in your prayers. Divine takes the Fujitsu laptop to 5 homes each week, showing the studies in Noone. I take the Toshiba to Naphtali’s folks place Saturday nights. That’s 6 large compounds each week. Seeds are being planted, we’ll see what ‘comes up’.
Thanks to each of you for your prayers, Bible related literature, financial support, and boxed brownie mix! Unless the school well project becomes too big, I think you have given enough; we still have about $750. It should buy enough concrete and repair busted car parts to see us until May 1. If not, I’ll ‘beg’ for a bit more.
Weather: some of you have been complaining to us about the winter like conditions in California. Well, if it really gets to you, come join us. We have not worn our coats since January. We have not had to heat or cool the house. The rains that fell February 3 – 6, then late in the month took care of most of the dust and smoke in Lassin and Kumbo. Basically, it has been an endless Spring / Summer here.
Food: I think we have eaten a pineapple for breakfast on a daily basis since December. You have no idea how spoiled we are. We pay 100 – 300 FCFA each. (Okay, that’s 20 – 60 cents.) Jessica and Carol can hardly wait for mango season; should be here soon. We have seen full size green fruit, but nothing ripe yet. Avocado and oranges have remained plentiful. The other week I found rhubarb at the huge Kumbo market. Mom emailed us a pie recipe and Carol performed her wonders. I contributed by grinding wheat to fine flour for the crust. The pie did not last long.
Thanks for waiting for me to write this letter. Honest, we’ve been really busy, but have not forgotten you. Thanks for the Iridium SMS and emails to LassisFamily@Gmail.com.
Still looking forward to good news that someone is going to come to lead this project next year. Some good sounding rumors are coming from GMI.
Can I tell ‘one more story’? Just a thought really. Would you like to get into trouble for doing nothing at all? Me either. Daniel 12:1 says, “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation…” Well, if we are going to get into trouble, then we might as well ‘deserve’ it. Are you ‘getting me’?
Love you guys,
Steve, Carol, Jessica, and Ruby
P.S. 3/3/11: We ran out of propane for cooking last evening so I had to go to Kumbo again today (Thursday). More stories came out of this trip too, but just wanted to report that the 1/2 inch thick spring in the front right wheel strut assembly had broken and was rubbing against the inner wall of the wheel well. Passed out 34 Young Disciple magazines today: 3 to the guys across the street from the house that usually help me push-start the car, 3 to the officers at the 'highway' check point, 7 to the worker 6 guys at the auto repair place, 20 to the 13 employees of Promise Enterprise (cement store, etc), and 1 to a fellow 'auto-needs-repair' customer. It was so fun to see folks in so many places reading these magazines. I realized that I need to carry a few 'Steps to Jesus' too. There were some adults that would have really enjoyed them; like one man who studied at a university in Cleveland, OH., and another who works for an NGO (Non-governmental organization) involved in improving elementary education. Bright men who needed more 'mature' reading material. Anyway, another long day, but we have propane, another 9 sacks of cement, 3 small bunches of carrots, and some laundry soap.
Thought you may be interested in what I spent and what for:
Auto repair: heavy spring $7, clutch repair kit $8, labor to rebuild both $10. Propane $16, soap $6. Cement $100. Auto fuel $20. These are 'high dollar' days. I'm glad that the school building project is nearly complete.
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