Content in Cameroon

7 weeks.  Right now I can honestly say that I am happier here than I was in language school in France.  That’s not to say I really like Cameroon better than France; I haven’t been here long enough to know that. But what I can say is I feel freer here than I have in a long time. 

Kristin and Chris at RFIS
Barn dance night

RFIS entrance 

I have the freedom to do what I like to do, want to do, what I’m good at. I am not sitting in class all day feeling unsuccessful.  I am using my French everyday instead.   I can walk my kids to class and volunteer at their school.  I can go to a prayer group and pray for my kids.  I can go to after school activities.  RFIS boys’ soccer team played the Cameroonian women’s national team Monday.  How cool is that?  And I could go! 

Final score 7 - 3
Not bad!

And while I was there, I got to give one of the teachers a backrub – she said it was the first time to have one that really was deep enough since leaving home.  I have time to cook, go grocery shopping, and spend time with friends.  I can tuck my kids in at night and stay with them a while and pay attention to them and not be thinking of my homework or what I should be doing that’s not with or for them. I get to be mom here, not student, not being with my mom and dad while dad died and just helping mom afterwards, not packing, not sharing our calling to friends and potential partners.  This is the biggest adjustment.  I have time to take care of all of those things and have time left over-

Meat counter at the big grocery store

even in a place where it takes a long time to do much of it. I don’t have a system yet.  I have to re-learn to take time for myself, more time to pray and spend with God, to be a good wife.  I have time to be good to my friends and to those I feel called to minister to.  

Heidi and me

I am jealous of my time.  I have said no to many volunteer opportunities- or at least, no, not yet.  I am waiting to know how God wants me to serve here and not to just be busy.  I am loving the time of rest.  I woke yesterday morning with a sty on my eye and feeling like I’m catching a cold. And I could roll over and go back to sleep. Oh it has been so long since I’ve had the freedom to do that!

The water has been out since last night, but today, for the first time, instead of feeling just overwhelmed and helpless, I washed my dishes anyway.  I killed the collecting ants.

Ants- most of them were gone before
I could take a picture.

I used the ‘grey water’ and flushed the potties.  I made ant bait.  I made popcorn for the kid’s snack. I cooked dinner. It was good!  And it was good to get over the helpless feeling.  No one freaked out tonight when the power went out during the thunderstorm.  We all knew where the flashlights were.  The computers and phones were charged.  SO, no water, no electricity, no internet, but we still had gas and 4 of 5 of us had bucket showers (I took a shower at my friend’s house around noon J ).  It was okay.  We are okay.  And tonight to the glow of my computer, Kristin read her book, then we prayed for the folks on our list, we read a chapter in Acts and talked about why Paul and Barnabas split up, but reconciled later.  We talked about how we need to pray for one another and give each other grace.  Undeserved favor. Oh how much it is needed- along with forgiveness and love.  I feel it here.

God is good and we are content with Cameroon.  Thank you for praying, for supporting, for reading, for having grace.

Kristin's first ever taxi ride

Fish dinner Cameroonian style
No silverware!

p.s. Our house Still hasn’t rented in Lynchburg.  Keep praying!

p.p.s. My tooth I had ‘fixed’ just before we left France is bothering me again. L And I am catching a cold.