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Small and Large Gatherings
One highlight of each year for us is gathering on retreat with our NAB missionary colleagues in Cameroon. Though we serve, interact and fellowship with more than 60 expatriate missionaries in Cameoon, time with just our NAB family is special. Some are “newbies” (8 months on the field); others are “oldies” (more than 30 years on the field). We really do relax and retreat together. We hear from each other and pray over one another.
Another recent highlight was a much larger gathering – the Cameroon Baptist Convention Quadrenial Conference. Some of you have already read about this through the NAB Updates http://www.nabconference.org/news/community-connections%E2%80%93nab-update. The theme was A Church FOR the Community. With close to 4,000 people in attendance, the atmosphere was a non-stop buzz for three days. The teaching was challenging and the worship lively. Rev. Godwill Ncham was re-elected to serve another 4-year term as CBC Executive President. We are very grateful to be able to serve with and under Godwill. We also had the privilege to host Dan Hamil, NAB Executive Director, who attended the CBC General Session.
North America Bound
In just two months (mid-July) we’ll be back on North American soil to begin another year of home assignment. It has already been three years since our last furlough. These next weeks will no doubt be busy wrapping up the school year, getting the house in order for the Moodys to move in, and set ministry and office matters in order to hand over to Craig Moody. In the midst of it, we (Cal & Susie) will be in Hungary for the NAB Global Summit with our fellow mission leaders from other countries, May 20-27. Though transition is a regular and very real part of our lives, it never gets easier. Saying “good-bye” is also a regular and real part of our lives. It, too, does not get easier. While we know we will home-base again in Kelowna, BC, we don’t yet have a place to live or a car to drive. We need to find a furnished place to rent and a reliable car to buy. God has faithfully provided these needs each time in the past, and we know He will do the same again. If you have any leads on housing or a vehicle, please let us know (contact info. below).
During the summer we’ll be drafting up our travel schedule for our year of home assigment. We intend to visit each of our 37 supporting churches in Canada and the USA. Please contact us if your church has a specific missions emphasis event planned that you would like us to paticipate in, and we’ll try to make it fit the tour and calendar.
Learning About Chocolate
One of the highlights of the joint-sessions of our Sonshine Christian Academy home school co-op is the special unit that is studied. During the recent session, the topic studied was Chocolate. Cameroon grows a good amount of the world’s cocoa supply, so could there be a better topic to study? While the history of chocolate, and the production process of turning cocoa beans to chocolate, was interesting to learn, the best part, of course, was the hands-on making of and then eating chocolate. Elianna ate her fill.
It’s Not All Academics
While the academic standards of Rain Forest International School keep Ysabelle well engaged in her studies, there is ample time for fun and games, too. The school recently held its annual Carnival where Ysabelle and some friends openned a nail painting booth. It was a hit. With that over though, now it’s time to hit the books again. Completing final assignments and writing final exams in order to finish up ninth grade is now her focus.
We thank God for you and your part in His Kingdom work in Cameroon,
Calvin, Susanne, Ysabelle & Elianna