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Happy Thanksgiving from the Bardins in Mbingo!
In t
he last newsletter, we asked for prayer for the CIMS residents’ Bible study and the CIMS wives’ Bible study. The new study format has been going well, and discussion groups are proving effective with much more interaction within the small groups. Our annual CIMS/PAACS Spiritual Retreat took place in September and was a great success. This year it was led by Mike Maggard, a missionary with Reach Global. The theme this year was “A Leader’s Heart,” using Matthew 5-7.
Here is an update on what is happening with the plans for pathology residency for Dr. Mbanga. He is currently with Rick in Mbingo for tutoring to help prepare him. Because of delays in provision of a visa, he could not start the program in South Africa on time. The program director of the residency program in South Africa (at Stellenbosch University) has agreed for him to start later, in January. Dr. Mbanga has appealed to the South African consulate in Cameroon and they have required him to resubmit his documents. Let us keep praying for this visa to be granted. If this door eventually appears to be closed, we will be looking for another site in Africa for him to obtain the training. We appreciate your continued support and prayers in this matter. May God be glorified.
It is Thanksgiving offering time in the Cameroon Baptist Churches. In Mbingo we have had these special offerings for the past six weeks and will have our last one next Sunday, November 13. This is a special time to give back to God. Items given are harvested crops from our farms, our animals, our homemade items, and money gifts. The music is traditional African and there is much dancing down the aisles to give cheerfully our offerings. The services are a little longer these days, 2 ½ hours instead of 2, but does provide a more interactive celebration time in giving. Each week there is a designated ‘community quarter’ to lead the giving and the giving that day is attributed to their quarter. It can even be competitive to see which quarter can give the most. After the service, the items are auctioned off one by one and the church receives all the benefits.
In His Matchless Love,
Rick and Debbie Bardin