Praying, Preparing, Moving, and Packing

It has been our hope to give regular updates through this blog on our preparations for our time serving in Cameroon, and then also to continue blogging throughout the next year. I already feel like we are behind, and many of you have been waiting for us to begin updating you with answered prayer and new requests. This is the beginning of what I hope will become a way for you to share in this mission with us, praying with us and rejoicing with us as God moves in our hearts and those around us.

It has been only 3 months since we learned of the need for teachers this coming year at CBTS. We knew that God was calling us to begin preparing to be a part of the awesome work that He is doing in Cameroon, but we also were very aware that we could not get ourselves there. We began the summer sharing with many of you that we needed a hundred miracles in order for us to go. Right now, as we look back and continue to look forward, all I can say is that it is absolutely amazing to be a part of the miraculous work that God is doing.

Praise God! He continues to perform miracles and also keeps us on our knees as we await His further provisions and perfect timing in bringing us to Cameroon. A glimpse into some of our answered prayers: We have renters! A couple from our church(joining together in marriage this month) will be renting from us, joyfully supporting us in this. We also have been blessed with free storage of our belongings, as well as a place to stay after we move out of our house and await our Visas.There have been many questions in regards to immunizations. Thankfully, I feel a much greater peace in what we should and should not get(especially for Isaiah). Raising support for a family of 7 to spend a year overseas in 3 months is something that only God could do. We are not fully funded, but our support is coming in at record breaking speeds. We trust that God will continue His faithfulness, while keeping us in ferverent prayer, as He brings people around us to pray for and financially support this mission. We are incredibly blessed by numerous conversations and emails that have taken place which have given us a better idea of what our time in Cameroon will be like and some of the things that we can expect.

Please continue to pray for us and CBTS. We have not yet received approval for residency in Cameroon. Paperwork has been submitted and there really is no way to check on the progress. One day, we will simply receive word that it has been approved and we may apply for visas here in the US. We have been told that this could happen tomorrow, or it could take another month. Classes start within the next few weeks, and we will not be there for the first day of school. Dale will teach his courses regardless of when we get there. The shortage of teachers does not allow for someone to pick up the classes in the meantime, but something will be worked out in the schedule so that students will be able to complete the courses even if we are late. We know that God will bring us to CBTS on the day that He intends for us to be there. Please pray for our hearts and preparations as we eagerly anticipate our departure and arrival in Cameroon, and also for the students that Dale will have in class. Please also pray for: our final packing up of our house and moving items into storage, packing for our time in Cameroon(we cannot run to Walmart or ask Grandma to send us the things that we forgot...and yet we may be more grateful for what we have if we do forget some things), our children who are excited and also quite nervous, preparation for teaching and proclaiming God's sovereign grace, immunizations that we will likely be getting within the next week or two, the final approx. 20% that we need to raise in support, our Cameroonian brothers and sisters whose needs and burdens we may not know yet, but God is bringing us to love, encourage, challenge and serve. Pray that our hearts and minds(and yours) would be prepared to receive all that God has for us and those around us(including yourselves) in this upcoming year as we follow God to Africa.