Sometimes God's Plan is Different...

My friends,

Out God is a good God who works in ways we don't really predict or always understand. I never predicted God's answer to my plea to learn French would come like this. Praise the Lord with me, lift His name, and thank him for His good plan. Even though it tends to look a bit different than ours.  

Yesterday, I was asking the treasurer questions about the program he is using, the learning process and what he likes or dislikes, for information for my report. It was a program that I learned when I arrived in Yokadouma and taught to him over the course of a few weeks, with a couple things left to learn. Even though he had no previous computer experience he learned quickly, with much enthusiasm and ability. Answering about the learning process, he said that it was such a blessing that I came from far away to help them learn, because I had such a gift for teaching, using simple words and going slowly enough for him to understand well. How our God works in funny ways! I can't take credit for any of those compliments - I teach with all the French I know, poor grammar and simple words included. I teach slowly because I can't handle too much French in a day, and I was learning the program as well. While I thought that my French was a terrible detriment, it turns out God has used it for His purpose, and His glory. Only by prayer, and His power does that happen. Praise the Lord :)  

Be encouraged with me. And don't stop praying!  

*Henny is teaching a financial management course in one of the churches this Saturday (March 26) Pray that those who attend will learn and understand, that they will put these practices into their lives, and that it will spread through the churches. Pray that God's will be done, and His plans realized in the lives of the Mpumpong people.  

Our God is good. 

-Andrea 

The Adventure Continues

My friends,  

Thank you for being on this journey with me. Thank you for caring about life here and how God is working among the Mpumpong in Yokadouma. Thank you for being among the people who sent me and are supporting me day by day.  

The translators returned this last week from their time in the villages, they came back with stories and much feedback – on the flow of the language and on their translation. People who were interested in only the language development came and listened to the scriptures, when they would not normally step foot in a church! God's word is being shared and heard. Praise the Lord!  

As part of developing the interchurch committee Henny and David attend a different church every week. On Saturday we went to the 7th Day Adventist church, where one of the translators is the pastor. I wasn't really sure what to expect as I don't agree with everything they believe. We were welcomed with open arms, by people who loved Jesus and the same God that I do, we worshiped God with them, and learned with them. I was encouraged, and strengthened in that. I realized the HUGE importance in building inter-denomonational relationships even back home. We all serve the same God and can accomplish so much more if we focus on God and how we can serve and grow together instead of putting each other down.

When David and Henny first arrived here 5 years ago, most pastors didn't know each other and were often convinced that the beliefs of the other denominations were very wrong. As the inter-church committee developed, pastors came together with the common goal of translating the Bible, believed by all the churches to be the Word of God. They are now focusing on the similarities of their beliefs  and their desire to bring people to know God. They are studying the Bible and praying for their country together and developing relationships.  

Not all churches have caught the vision, nor have they all embraced their similarities. There are still some on the outskirts, spoken badly about by others. Pray for unity among the pastors, pray for courage for them to begin loving the other churches and encouraging the people of their church to  reach out in love as well.  Pray for wisdom, and for encouragement and peace. Pray for God's will. God has plans for Yokadouma even more beautiful than we think.

Pray For... 

*churches and unity 

*God to provide a location for Audrey to live when Henny (1 month) and I return to Canada 

*Pray for efficiency, but an attitude of sitting and learning from God this week as I have lots to do and accomplish, but I desire so much to spend more time growing and learning from God. I have to write a paper, plan and work on a promotional video with Audrey, and get in as much computer-learning time as possible!) 

*Henny as she finishes writing a short course on financial management principles, and presents it at one of the churches on Saturday. Pray for clarity and understanding, for her French, and for the people coming. 

*David as he needs to turn his focus towards more linguistic analysis, and things seem to always pop up! 

*My French, as it is improving (I understood most of the message on Saturday in French) but will need improvement until even after I come home! 

*Wisdom for me in preparing for next term, and not taking on too many activities or commitments as I tend to want to jump at every opportunity.  

Ps. We went to the village on Friday, and went out to the fields with a friend. An amazing trip for so many reasons! Trees with above ground root systems that were 2-3 meters in diameter, and women carrying heavy loads on their back by a strap across their forehead for a 20 minute hike in the forest. Incredible women!  

The forest made me think of this song. And the hugeness of what it is saying.  

Who is the King of the Jungle? Who is the King of the Sea? Who is the King of the Universe? And who is the King of me? His name is J-E-S-U-S! Yes! He is the King of Me! He is the King of the universe, the Jungle and the Sea!  

Because our God is big. And good. 

-Andrea 

March 9th Update

Friends!

I would love to write you a huge long post describing life in Yokadouma to you in detail, but I think you should just come to Cameroon instead. *There are many opportunities for short-term missions assignments! (from months up till 2-4 years!) (check out the wycliffe Canada website!)

Quick updates on life

*Adjusting to life in Yokadouma has gone pretty well, I'm feeling quite at home 

*I've been able to start developing good relationships with some of the people in the office, despite the fact that I still have lots of French to learn 

*Audrey and I have made friends with the daughters of one of the pastors. It's really fun and interesting and informative to just hang out with them and talk. What a blessing! (Audrey went  with them to an all night prayer meeting last week which she really loved!) 

*There was a COCELMPU general assembly meeting last week that went really well (it was the highest attendance yet with about 25 people) afterwards, I was speaking with one of the mobilizers (in charge of publicity and communication with villages) and he was saying that the growing interest and participation in the committee was so very encouraging. It was cool for him to see how God had worked to connect more people with the ministry and to give them this passion and desire! Also during the meeting, a couple people spoke with such passion that even I was encouraged (and I didn't even understand what they were saying!) 

*We (D, H, A , and I) have been reading through the book “When Helping Hurts” and I've been finding it incredibly interesting – it talks about development from a Christian prospective (Something I don't get in school) and really stresses how central relationships, especially our relationship with God, are in development. It talks about how we all are living in some sort of poverty and that Jesus is really the only way to fix that – be it material poverty or poverty in our relationships.  Join me this week in praying for... 

*Charlotte – the literacy coordinator of COCELMPU is traveling to villages for the next 2 ½ weeks working with the 'monitors' (people who live in the villages who are responsible to continue teaching literacy while she is away) to help them improve their teaching. Pray that she will be able to communicate well, and that her passion for literacy will be shared among the monitors. Pray for her travel and her health, and the reception of the literacy classes! 

*Joseph, one of the translators who is spending time in the villages over the next week and a half to improve his Mpumpong and test out some of the scriptures that have already been translated! Pray for his health, energy, further improvement of Mpumpong, and for good communication and feedback from the scritpures. 

*Audrey and me as we continue to adjust to life in Yokadouma, and develop relationships here 

*And last but not least, my French!  

Because Jesus Saves! 

-Andrea