Classes start tomorrow!
Well, we just finished dinner at our house and are settling in by the fire in our fireplace (yep, rainy season is still here in full force, which keeps things wet and chilly, especially the asphalt floors in our house) to do some last-minute class preparations. Tomorrow's the official big day. We're all a mix of anxiety and eagerness. All are syllabi and schedules are printed out and copied, sitting in stacks on our desks. We've met a lot of our students already too, since Friday was orientation and today was "Spiritual Formation Day," both of which all new and returning students are required to attend. So all that's left to do is teach!
Life here this week has been slow and easygoing, as Charlie described our first week in the last post. We've been on long walks and a couple of jogs around some backwoods paths around our house that wind their way through nearby thatched-roof villages that overlook some of the most spectacular views you're likely to see anywhere in Cameroon (so we're told).
We've spent quite a bit of time with the Yongs, learning more about the quirks---some of them endearing and some not so much---of CBTS culture (such as lengthy faculty-meeting disputes over the finer details of tea and coffee breaks each day for the faculty and staff---nope, not kidding!). They've been very hospitable and helpful as we continue to settle in.
We also met a Peace Corps volunteer this week who has become a new friend. She's 23 years old, from Colorado, and now lives just across the valley from CBTS' campus (about a 5-7 minute walk from our front door). She hangs out with the Yongs quite a bit and has another 15 months here in Cameroon, so I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other.
Some other news: We're still not able to email. Hopefully (and I know every post has said the same thing for the last couple of weeks) we'll have it up and running within the next few days. The hold-up has to do with the Baptist center in Bamenda needing to coordinate with an office in Douala (one of the major coastal cities in Cameroon) in getting us set up with a Cameroon Baptist Convention corporate phone account. We have been able to call our families though, so that's been a blessing that has tided us over until we have a more reliable communication system.
Our fridge broke down---twice. Our cook, Zaccheus (we call him "Pa," a name Cameroonians use as an affectionate title of respect for older men), has taught us how to make do without one, but---again, hopefully this week---we'll get it fixed. :)
And, maybe the best news of all this week, we got to meet up with our friend from last summer, Tamfu Dieudonne, who's now a pastor in Limbe, another coastal city in Cameroon. Some of you will know that he applied to The Bethlehem Institute and got accepted. He's hoping to attend next fall and enroll at Bethel Seminary for an MDiv as well. It was so cool for Charlie and I to see him again, and Tommy enjoyed meeting him for the first time. He is doing great, leading a men's discipleship group (going through, I think, Paul's letter to the Ephesians), and preaching Christ-centered sermons to his growing, mainly-newly-converted flock. We got to hear him preach at Ndu's First Baptist Church on Sunday. His text was Matthew 5:13-16, and he made the point that Christian's being the light of the world and a "city set on a hill" is not owing to some natural light of our own. No, he said, we are a light only because Christ has invaded our lives and shared HIS light with us. It was a powerful sermon (in the middle of our a three-hour[!!!] service), and we all three came away encouraged.
Well, I think that's all for now. Obviously, we'd covet your prayers for tomorrow. I think the classes we're most nervous about are Exodus (Tommy's), Research Methods (Charlie's), and Acts (mine), so please pray especially for those. We want Jesus and the gospel to become more precious and exciting to us and those of our students who already know him, and for those of our students who perhaps have not yet come alive to the wonderful reality of grace, we want Jesus and the gospel to stun them irresistibly for the first time. So please keep praying with us that God will do amazing things through these classes.
THANKS to all of you who have been leaving comments. We haven't read a lot of them (yet!), because we're sending our blog posts to our friend Alex Kirk via email and not logging onto the blog ourselves, but when we get our email set up, he'll forward the comments to us so we can see them. So keep 'em comin'!!
Much love to all of you.
grace+peace,
wes, for the team
Life here this week has been slow and easygoing, as Charlie described our first week in the last post. We've been on long walks and a couple of jogs around some backwoods paths around our house that wind their way through nearby thatched-roof villages that overlook some of the most spectacular views you're likely to see anywhere in Cameroon (so we're told).
We've spent quite a bit of time with the Yongs, learning more about the quirks---some of them endearing and some not so much---of CBTS culture (such as lengthy faculty-meeting disputes over the finer details of tea and coffee breaks each day for the faculty and staff---nope, not kidding!). They've been very hospitable and helpful as we continue to settle in.
We also met a Peace Corps volunteer this week who has become a new friend. She's 23 years old, from Colorado, and now lives just across the valley from CBTS' campus (about a 5-7 minute walk from our front door). She hangs out with the Yongs quite a bit and has another 15 months here in Cameroon, so I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other.
Some other news: We're still not able to email. Hopefully (and I know every post has said the same thing for the last couple of weeks) we'll have it up and running within the next few days. The hold-up has to do with the Baptist center in Bamenda needing to coordinate with an office in Douala (one of the major coastal cities in Cameroon) in getting us set up with a Cameroon Baptist Convention corporate phone account. We have been able to call our families though, so that's been a blessing that has tided us over until we have a more reliable communication system.
Our fridge broke down---twice. Our cook, Zaccheus (we call him "Pa," a name Cameroonians use as an affectionate title of respect for older men), has taught us how to make do without one, but---again, hopefully this week---we'll get it fixed. :)
And, maybe the best news of all this week, we got to meet up with our friend from last summer, Tamfu Dieudonne, who's now a pastor in Limbe, another coastal city in Cameroon. Some of you will know that he applied to The Bethlehem Institute and got accepted. He's hoping to attend next fall and enroll at Bethel Seminary for an MDiv as well. It was so cool for Charlie and I to see him again, and Tommy enjoyed meeting him for the first time. He is doing great, leading a men's discipleship group (going through, I think, Paul's letter to the Ephesians), and preaching Christ-centered sermons to his growing, mainly-newly-converted flock. We got to hear him preach at Ndu's First Baptist Church on Sunday. His text was Matthew 5:13-16, and he made the point that Christian's being the light of the world and a "city set on a hill" is not owing to some natural light of our own. No, he said, we are a light only because Christ has invaded our lives and shared HIS light with us. It was a powerful sermon (in the middle of our a three-hour[!!!] service), and we all three came away encouraged.
Well, I think that's all for now. Obviously, we'd covet your prayers for tomorrow. I think the classes we're most nervous about are Exodus (Tommy's), Research Methods (Charlie's), and Acts (mine), so please pray especially for those. We want Jesus and the gospel to become more precious and exciting to us and those of our students who already know him, and for those of our students who perhaps have not yet come alive to the wonderful reality of grace, we want Jesus and the gospel to stun them irresistibly for the first time. So please keep praying with us that God will do amazing things through these classes.
THANKS to all of you who have been leaving comments. We haven't read a lot of them (yet!), because we're sending our blog posts to our friend Alex Kirk via email and not logging onto the blog ourselves, but when we get our email set up, he'll forward the comments to us so we can see them. So keep 'em comin'!!
Much love to all of you.
grace+peace,
wes, for the team
posted by Charlie, Tommy, and Wesley | 7:20 AM
10 Comments:
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases! His mercies never come to an end! They are new every morning...great is your faithfulness..."
God is faithful; we're praying your first day of classes will be encouraging.
-Tabbs
Well, for the sake of Alex AND for the sake of the long download that could occur once you do get email up and running, this will be the last post from me for a bit. Thanks Wes for the update - we've been praying for those specific classes on your behalf. I'm sure that all three of you will do a fantastic job!! What a blessing for those students.
I'm glad to hear that you are at least able to call your families - it must be wonderful for them to actually hear your voice and ask questions, etc.
Enjoy that beautiful scenery and try to stay warm and dry! :)
TTFN
Liz,
Tell me it's not so--you're not throwing in the blog towel over a few minutes of download time! Walter and I will miss your comments! At least don't tell Anie and Anders to quit!!
Waiting patiently until you return,
Suzanne
P.S. Wesley, Tommy, and Charlie, we are so thankful that everything is going so well. We are thinking and praying for you often throughout the day!
Tommy,
We miss reading your comments this year, too! What is it like being on that side of the blog?!
fair facts
prca championship rodeo tonight and today and its cheaper if you are a kid
you can pet a stingray at the sealife encounters exhibit
kenny rogers and the oak ridge boys are at the grandstand for 25 dollars
Ok, so I said I wouldn't post but that was BEFORE I actually went to the Great MN Get-Together. Now I really have to send an update. First of all, I recognize that this is going to sound like gluttony in contrast to life in Cameroon. So that is the disclaimer which will come before the food consumption list; also keep in mind, that most of these items were shared between 5 of us. Here goes...this was the year to try new things
2 About A Foot Long Hot dogs
1 Pronto Pup (yup, just 1)
5 mini scones and coffee (The French Meadow Bakery has a booth in the food building - a delicious discovery!)
2 Apple freezies
1 BBQ Beef sandwich
2 milk shakes
1 small cone of chocolate chip cookies with 1 glass of milk
1 medium container of French Fries
As always, eating was a treat, but I think the greater treat was attending the RODEO! Yes, we took Mari and Anders to their first-ever rodeo. They loved it! Anders particularly loved the bucking broncos and the bucking bulls. Mari, of course, loved the barrel racing - girls on really fast horses are great! I loved it all, as did Dan.
A bonus was being able to hear the Kenny Rogers concert as we sat on the curb by all the insane rides (things that are very high in the sky and go around and around and around - Charlie, I think you might remember those from last year -yes?). The finale was riding the sky ride in the dark and then seeing the fireworks following the Grand Stand show. A lovely day at the fair with two happy kiddos and two happy parents. Mari was a bit concerned that it would be boring without Anie and Gus but quickly discovered that wasn't about to be the case.
OK - enough for now. Just thought after that earlier fair post you might be worried that it was dull - not to fear, it is wonderful as always! A great way to end the summer. Maybe you would like to join us next year?
TTFN
yes i'm ashamed only 1 proto pup ushaly i have about 2 or3. This year was for new things like the scones and coockies.The rodeo was awsome and Miss Rodeo Wisconsons name was Mari! Wish you gyes were there with us:)
sorry about all the bad spelling i'm still working on that subject.
Tommy~ We are reading your blogspot messages and praying for all of you in our small group. Remain in the grip of God's grace!
Polski
Tommy we just finished eating lunch (4:00) and we stared at 1:25(it isn't exact time) because you weren't there to tell my dad that he had an appointment at 1:10. Just had to share my hunger at 1:00 with you . My mom would not let me post at that time so thats why i'm sharing this with you now(4:52 apoxametly)
miss you all
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