Transitions

We are going on furlough or home assignment in less than three weeks.  That means leaving our Cameroonian home for a year.  I means decisions on what to pack up for a year, what to take to the US, what to give away or sell.  It also means goodbyes to people staying, or going and returning, or going and not coming back. It means another year without seeing the people who will return from furlough while we are away or who leave for a year just before we get back to Cameroon; goodbyes to friends who were displaced from CAR but who will be going back to serve there soon.  So many goodbyes! Enjoying fantastic pineapple and mango and avocado for the last time in a while; taking the last taxi ride; going on long walks with friends in the neighborhood: Goodbyes for all of it.

Then on the other side of the big pond, it means saying hello to friends who have changed and grown; meeting new people; church that has more new faces than old; a different house to live in – sharing with my mom; new schools to understand and navigate; a new-to-us car.  It also means holes where loved ones have died and left a void that we didn’t have to completely face before; friends who have moved away; lives that are full without us.  We can’t wait to eat certain foods again, drink real milk, see the mountains, drink from the tap, flush all the time, have regular garbage pick up; not worry about water being out, or internet being out or power being off;  go to wal-mart at any time of the day or night; shop for clothes and have a selection in multitudes of sizes; eat berries. 

There is excitement of the new and fresh and things missed accompanied with the mourning for the lost and different and changed; laughter and tears; distinct purpose and foggy brain. 

Our friends Laura and Emily have been doing a series of videos on living in Cameroon called ‘Bama meets Britain." on Facebook.   This week was on transitions.  It was good to watch last night as the emotions of leaving swirl – to know again that what we feel and think are normal parts of transitions. 

But it’s also the end of the school year so here are some highlights of the last little bit of our world before we transition again. 

Saying goodbye to Sara-Maria who came for 4 months from the Netherlands to serve here.

Praying with and for many friends

Buying hair for the new do.

Taking photos in the neighborhood-
I wanted to get the guy on the pole-
But there is so much more....

Murder mystery night/Happy Birthday Stacy.
The Cawley family decided to have Dan take the part with the Spanish accent!
I just send part descriptions to each family.... 

Cameroonian dinner-

Our house help Hortense.  She's awesome!

On the balcony of CABTAL for the airshow for National Day with friends
(This is Bama and Britain in person!)

My daughter: start of the show The Three Bully Goats Griff

Her brothers trying to re-enact (unsuccessfully) the show

Noah at Banquet with his friend Cassie

Kristin having her hair braided 

It only took 6 hours.
Love power outages....

Singing and playing in church with dear friends we won't see again for a LONG time!

The Hair

Rabbits

All the kids did a dance as part of their dance section in PE.
This is Ben's group.

Taking pictures off my fridge

Packing craft supplies

Noah was in a play/skit today at school

Thanks for praying for our transitions!
Pray that each kid has a friend who 'gets' them and asks good questions and listens.
Pray for my mom as we move in with her for the year. (and for us...)
Pray for the work in Cameroon that is not done and that the people would be transformed by God's word in their mother tongue.
Pray for divine appointments to share with about our work. We will need more prayer and financial partners.

Thank you for reading and praying, and thanks be to God, the author and finisher of our faith.