Dear Family and Friends,
Each year in January, we help host the annual Cameroon Missionary Fellowship (CMF) retreat. The CMF is made up of all foreign missionaries serving with the Cameroon Baptist Convention. They come from various sending organizations – NAB, Converge Worldwide, World Team, Samaritans Purse, Reach Global, etc. This year we were 70 in number with the Canadian Director of World Team, Bill Allan, teaching on the theme of “Community Development”. In this case, the “community” referred to was the body of Christ – Christian community. It was a good reminder that while here in Cameroon we are not just called to serve God and the Cameroonian people, but each other as missionaries as well.
With Christmas, New Years and the CMF Retreat behind us, we’ve been able to focus on life, ministry and service that God has for us in 2014 in Cameroon.
Susie and the girls are back in the home school routine. The girls have enjoyed opportuntities to ride horses and Ysabelle is having fun learning ballroom dancing. The quickstep has so far proven to be the most fun.
We have been tying up 2013 year-end ministry reports. While for some, this may sound like a tedious task, it is actually a great time to reflect on how lives are being transformed through the ministry partnerships we administer and lead. Whether it is through full-time missionary personnel, volunteers, or financial and material resources, great needs are being met. Many of you, through your prayers, giving and even coming to volunteer, play a big part in these ministries. Here is just a sample of what our combinded efforts accomplished in 2013:
105 students graduated from seminary and are now serving in communities, churches, hospitals and schools
47 seminary students were assisted through the work scholarship program
Over 2000 HIV/AIDS orphans were able to attend school, receive medical care and be well fed
121 deaf children attended primary school
64 blind children attended school
Two Internal Medicine residents graduated from the Christian Internal Medicine Specialty program, and three more joined.
550 special wheelchairs were distributed to disabled persons
Four 40 foot sea containers filled with medical and educational supplies were received
Cameroonian missionaries to unreached peoples were assisted with ministry materials
More than 300 lay people and rural pastors did correspondence Bible courses through Theological Education by Extension
Needed medical text books and periodicals were supplied to the School for Health Personnel
Youth Ministry leaders were trained and renovations on a youth camp facilities begun
Two dilapitated primary schools were renovated to create more condusive learning environments for children
These ministries and more will continue into 2014. Imagine with us, what God will do to continue building His Kingdom through our joint efforts this year. Our relationship with our national partner, the Cameroon Baptist Convention, remains strong. As they lead the way and invite us to join in what God is calling them to do, we look forward to reporting of even more great things accomplished by the end of 2014.
Mt. Carmel Church Update:
We hope that in our next newsletter we can report that Mt. Carmel Church has moved into our new building – back in our original community. Though the law courts have given final judgment that our opponent, who siezed the church’s property illegally almost four years ago, is not guilty of any wrong doing, we as a church body are not shaken. We are determined more than ever to get back to “Old Town”, the community that desperately needs a lighthouse of Jesus. Construction work is progressing with the goal to complete at least the lower level of the new building for now and begin services there before Easter. God is gracious.
Calvin, Susanne, Ysabelle & Elianna Hohn