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Late Pius, the shoemaker, a faithful Christian.
Adapting in Sunday School
For years now I have been privileged to teach an adult Sunday school class at Nkwen Baptist Church, Bamenda. In the beginning of 2020, like so often, I was teaching the Immanuel (English) Choir class – easy for me as they wanted to be taught in English rather than Pidgin English. When the coronavirus pandemic hit in March and public gatherings were limited to 50 people or less, I was now assigned to be the Sunday school teacher for the privileged 50 allowed in the worship sanctuary. Later, when restrictions lessened and the church doors were opened to all wanting to attend, I was now assigned to teach a men’s Sunday school class.
Brother Pius
One of the people I enjoyed sharing with in this men’s class was my friend Pius. He had been my watch repairman. When he made a career change, he became my shoe repair man. (I also have a good pair of sturdy sandals he made.) Coming from a Catholic background, he was very committed in his decision to follow Christ. Faithful in Sunday school attendance, known for his respect of time (fairly unique here), Pius also would go at times to areas outside the city to share the gospel with those he knew needed to hear it – all on his own expense. In Sunday school class he often made contributions to apply the biblical principles of the lessons to what was happening in the society. On Wednesday, October 21, Pius started the morning by leading in family devotions. He then went to his shoe shop on Ghana Street, where he collapsed and sadly died. I miss Pius, a brother in Christ and a role model. He stayed steady in his Christian walk through changing times. Now his wife and children need to make new changes with his sudden passing.
Infrastructure – Changing for the Worse
Off-loading steel pipe for Mbingo Hospital hydroelectric project.
As civil disturbances continue in English Cameroon, its effect on infrastructure is telling. Bad road conditions are getting worse. Hardly is there any road maintenance. Pretty well every day in Bamenda there is in electrical outage, often lasting many hours. For now the expectation is only for things to get worse.
Ongoing Mbingo Hydroelectric Project
Dam wall for Mbingo hydro project.
Compared to Bamenda, the delivery of national grid electricity to Mbingo (about 40 minutes from Bamenda) is even worse. This is obviously a detriment to the Hospital’s ministry of compassionate care. The hospital has several large generators that can deliver power, but they have proven very costly to maintain and run. Situated on a large tract of land with several mountain streams on it, visionaries started a project of joining the streams’ waters to a dam area. A turbine has been obtained from overseas. The anticipation of a functional hydroelectric system is in the air. Originally the entire project was estimated at $ 2.5 million USD. From the calculations I have just seen, another $185,000 USD is still needed to complete the project. Please join in praying that God in His provision would provide the remaining resources needed.
Prayer
- Pray God would bring about His reconciliation to the political impasse and instability in English-speaking Cameroon.
- Pray for perseverance with deteriorating infrastructural conditions in English Cameroon.
- Pray for God to release the necessary resources to finish the Mbingo Baptist Hospital hydroelectric project.
Praises
- God’s resources and abiding presence so His people can adapt to the changing times.
- The resources already provided and work already done in the Mbingo Baptist Hospital hydroelectric project.
Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:51–52 (NIV)
If anyone is moved to give either great or small amounts toward this, they can do so at nabconference.org/give/special-projects or by mail:
US Gifts:
North American Baptists, Inc.
P.O. Box 102493
Pasadena, CA 91189-2493
Canadian Gifts:
North American Baptists, Inc.
PO Box 57235, Station A
Toronto, ON M5W 5M5
Having to adjust to life’s changing circumstances is everybody’s lot. As many reading this have had to make a lot recent changes, I remain humbled by the steadfast, regular missionary support and prayers. Thank you, and God bless you.
Walter & Florence Grob
Nkwen baptist centre, p.o. box 1, bamenda, north west region, cameroon
waltflogrob@aol.com