Voices from the Field Calvin & Susanne Hohn Get to know Calvin & Susanne

Education and White Cross

Published on August 05, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

White Cross Ministry – 

White Cross has been serving the medical ministries here in Cameroon for decades. Contrary to what some people may believe, it is still a vital and much needed ministry – perhaps now more than ever. With increasing population and growing Baptist medical centres, the need for supplies also increases. One such medical centre, in the city of Douala, serves an average of 600 outpatients every day. Can you imagine 600 patients showing up daily at your local walk-in clinic?

The White Cross centres in Canada (Edmonton, AB) and US (Royse City, TX) each send 40-foot containers twice a year. These containers are filled with medical supplies and equipment – all the way from rolled bandages and baby blankets made by NAB church members, to hospital beds and sophisticated surgical equipment. All of this helps to lower the cost to the patients.

During the last week in May we had the privilege of hosting JJ Williams and Keir Hammer, US and Canadian White Cross directors, and Tim Wilson, Director of Marketing and Communications at Taylor Seminary, Edmonton. It was an opportunity for them to see first-hand, the tremendous impact that their, and White Cross donors’, efforts are having in the lives of real people in Cameroon.

To learn more about the White Cross ministry through the eyes of these three men, check out their recently published report here.

Also, check out their Facebook page of great photos and stories (just click on a photo to get its story) here.

Urgent Need!

In our last newsletter, we shared the need for a couple to come serve as hostel parents for our missionary high school kids attending Rain Forest International School. To date we still have no leads.

Summer’s Over – School Begins

By next week, students of all levels across Cameroon will be making their way back to the classroom to begin another academic year. To one degree or another, we are involved with four different educational systems here in Cameroon.

Sonshine Christian Academy:

This is the home school cooperative that we belong to. We’ll kick-off the school year with a two-week combined session with all families. This session’s special unit will be on Cameroon, and the sport will be field hockey. Ysabelle will be in grade eight this year, and Elianna in grade five. Besides teaching the girls in their respective grades, Susie also manages the finances and curriculum for Sonshine Christian Academy

Cameroon Baptist Convention Seminaries:

The Cameroon Baptist Convention has two seminaries in the country, with a combined student population of about 450. These schools prepare pastors, chaplains, youth, women and children’s workers for the CBC’s many churches, schools and health facilities. Cal serves as a member of both seminary boards of governors.

Rain Forest International School:

This school, in the capitol, Yaoundé, is where most missionary high school kids attend. Other foreign students as well as Cameroonian youth also attend. This is where we urgently need hostel parents for our missionary kids attending this school. Ysabelle will move to Yaoundé and attend beginning grade nine. Susie serves as member of the school board.

CBC Primary and Secondary Schools:

The Cameroon Baptist Convention operates 85 primary schools and 15 secondary schools. Some rural schools are small with only a few dozen students. Other schools are large – like Saker Baptist College, an all-girls secondary school with over 900 boarding students. Most of these schools have chaplains who minister to the spiritual needs of both students and staff. Cal is on the boards of governors of the 15 secondary schools.

Safe and Secure

In case you are wondering if we are safe from Ebola and secure from Boko Haram, the answer, thankfully, is a strong “Yes”.

There have been no reported cases of Ebola in Cameroon yet. The government and World Health Organization are working hard to keep it that way.

As for Boko Haram, their activities are regionalized in the far northeast corner of Nigeria and Far North Region of Cameroon – all more than 1200 kms and a 3 days’ journey from where we are.

While there is always some risk in living and traveling abroad, we don’t feel any less secure or safe than usual. God is our protector.

Calvin, Susanne, Ysabelle & Elianna

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