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Countries and Citizenship
Cameroon, Canada, and the United States of America – these are the three countries that we call home, in one way or another.
- Two of them (Canada & the USA) are our passport countries
- One of them (Cameroon) is where we’ve lived for the past 17 years and where the girls have grown up
- One of them (Canada) is where we live every few years when we’re not in Cameroon
- Two of them (Cameroon & the USA) are currently experiencing a period of disunity and divided options over what society should look like
Not having solid roots in any particular country, it would be easy to feel like drifters at time. But we’re also citizens of another Kingdom – the Kingdom of God. The values and priorities of this Kingdom keep us grounded no matter where we find ourselves – values and priorities like love, peace, patience, kindness, selflessness, gentleness, humility, trust, generosity, honesty, etc.
So, no matter what country we find ourselves in, and no matter what level of unity, peace, and stability it is experiencing, our Kingdom values guide us and enable us to enjoy where we are at the moment and the people we interact with.
Cameroon Highlights
Calvin spent three weeks back in Cameroon as planned in late November. Though the civil unrest curtailed some of the meetings and seminars planned, he was encouraged by what he was able to participate in:
- Celebrated with 75 students graduating from Cameroon Bapist Theologcal Seminary
- Met and prayed with various leaders of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC)
- Attended board meeting where year-end reports were presented – reporting on what God continues to do through the many ministries of the CBC:
- More than 30 national missionaries supported by national churches – planting churches and reaching the least reached
- More than one million patients served by CBC health insitutions in 2016
- Many deaf, blind and orphaned children being cared for, educated and given hope for their futures
What do MKs (Missionary Kids) Do When They Grow Up?
During home assignment in Canada and the USA, Ysabelle and Elianna often get asked questions like, What are your plans for the future? Will you go to university? What career do you want? While Y & E still have a few years to make such decisions, it’s always interesting to meet former MKs, now adults, and learn what their lives are all about. One such adult MK is Kim Lawrence.
Kim grew up in Cameroon from 1952 till 1964. Though his family returned to the USA when he was a teenager, Cameroon was part and parcel of who Kim was/is. He became a lawyer in Colorado, but never forgot Cameroon. More than a decade ago, Kim and his wife, Wren, began making regular ministry trips back to Cameroon. In recent years it’s become an annual event for them. They team up with Cameroonian pastors and churches to teach, preach, and minister to those in need. Kim and Wren recently returned from another two-week visit to Cameroon (pictured below with one of the communities they served with). Kim represents many missionary kids who will always be missionary kids.
Always grateful for your partnership,
Calvin, Susanne, Ysabelle & Elianna
