Oasis

The new Bible study group was called Oasis. They are going to study the book of Romans. It's a hefty book and not my favorite, but it's been more than 3 years since I was in a weekly Bible study. That's a long time. TOO long.
When asked which Bible study I was going to go to this year, my quick response was, 'As many as I can and at least two.  I need to be filled up.'  Today was the first one.
I arrived this morning and the room was already filled with women.  Some greeted me warmly and I searched to remember how I knew these ladies. Name tags helped some and conversations filled in the blanks. But so many women - of all ages - most of whom were unknown to me, was overwhelming. Would this be an oasis?
I escaped to the little office on an errand for my mother.  Greet, smile, deep breath, short prayer, and re-enter the room of the unknown.
Even more women had arrived, and, fortunately, familiar faces - old friends.  We briefly shared stories of our lives - births, marriages, jobs, travel. One sweet friend shared the hurt in her family and tears came.  More prayers needed here.  But these were so much better than the introductory conversations that have happened far too often in the last 2 months.  It was good to be real.
Too soon it was time to go in.
I sat between two of my mom's friends. Hemmed in with people who have prayed for our family for years.
And then we sang.
The voices rang out strong, melodic, and with conviction - loud in the bright room, full of praise and love for our God, glad to be there, heart filled with familiar words and tunes.
And I wept.
Refreshing water in the desert.
I have not heard women singing like this since - the women's retreat I went to in France when we were in French study three years ago.  I have not heard it in English in, well, I don't know when.
What overwhelming joy it is to sing praise together in the body of Christ in my mother tongue and to be with women who love the Lord. Oh how I need this.
Lord, fill me up to overflowing so I can give more of you to others, be your light, show your mercy, love with your kind of love, and serve like Jesus served.
Oasis.  It is here.  Praising God is that green haven in the dry and thirsty land that is my heart.
He is so good.  All of the time.

Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday. She will be a teenager.  Never again that sweet baby girl in my arms, but always my baby!  She is kind, intelligent, responsible, determined and artistic.  I am so thankful God gave me a girl!

There are other times and places of oasis here. My mom's home, our upstairs haven, friends, sunsets, twilight, walks, the pool, a new bed.  People who do for us what we do not deserve - grace again and again. So many stories, so many gifts, so thankful.


Thankful also for answered prayers:

School is going well so far. 

Kids are beginning to make friends.  

Things are going well at my mom's house.
The missionary child we prayed for is getting better.
Thankful that our friend from language school whose newborn had major heart problems can still rejoice in God, even when the child died at six months.
Thankful for some rest here.
Thankful that our journey to Florida was safe and we were able to connect with a lot of family and friends and churches.  Thankful that that trip is over and regular life is going well.

Dear old friends

Cousin Sandra

Susanne and family

Lynn - it's been years

Wendy - first time since her wedding!

Cousins

They drove a long way to see us

Great friends

A hot day at St Augustine

He fixed a dryer for my cousin

Patty's boat in 'dry dock'

Rocky and Mom

Touring my favorite university.  University of Florida ROCKS!

Time with Chris's dad

Thankful for being able to volunteer in the libraries at the kids' schools.
Thankful that I miss Cameroon.  I miss those friends and places and jobs.
Thankful a church here gave Chris an office.
Thankful he will help out at Liberty with a world arts class, that he'll present at a conference in Texas next month, that his boss at the running store asked him to fill in a little this month.
Thankful Ben gets to play the trumpet at school, Kristin will join the school choir, and Noah got in drama class.
Thankful for friends, family, churches.

Hillcats win!

Joyce

My invention

Presenting at Rivermont

And thankful for the unexpected-

This is around the corner from where we live.  See the quarter in the foreground?  HE is HUGE!
I've never seen anything like him!

This dirt road is in Florida just outside of Orlando!

Leaving Home : Arriving Home

Home

I have discovered we will always be far from home.

On June 11, after packing up our belongings for storage or in suitcases and trunks, and many goodbyes, we flew to France.

Ready to go!

We spent 8 days visiting old friends and seeing favorite places and people (and a few new ones) in our old home town of Albertville France.

Now that's a grocery store! 

We enjoyed the hospitality of good friends, ate good food, and saw beautiful things again.  One of the first days there we hiked in the Alps between a series of forts.  My real reaction was, 'I don't deserve to be somewhere this beautiful!'  The intense culture shock of difference between the capital city of Yaounde and the pristine forests in the Alps was, and is overwhelming.

As we immersed ourselves in the Savoie French accent, I felt for the first time to really be able to track conversations completely in French.  The year of study and years of hearing Cameroonian French have paid off, making comprehension a reality (and hopefully I won't always sound like a pre-schooler speaking).  Blessings from French friends and American friends.

Mayos in France - we know them at home on 3 continents....

Bama part of 'Bama meets Britain'.....

Lake Roseland

Red Algae on the snow at the Col du Petit St. Bernard

The pass in late June! This is the Italian side-

And a yummy breakfast it was!

Our friend's bed and breakfast
I can't believe I didn't get her photo!

Then we were off to the USA - stopping in Brussels and Iceland on the way for very short layovers.  How strange to be in the Iceland airport, filled with tall, pale, blond families speaking unfamiliar tongues after two years of dark, colorfully dressed, kind, francophone Cameroonians!  We were met by a friend at the airport and at the exit, our ride home.  Lynchburg was only 4 more hours down the road.  Tired and hungry, we piled in, snacked and chatted happily before drifting off to sleep.

Yes, in Iceland, the pilot cleans his own windows!

Home.  In Cameroon.  In France. In Virginia.  (And going way back, in Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Maryland, Massachusetts, Arkansas....)

Now people ask what we miss, what we are glad to see, what we will do here, how long we will stay.  Sometimes there are easy answers, and sometimes renewed longings for home.

We are thankful for utilities that work well- ALL THE TIME!  Thankful for air conditioning, vacuum
 cleaners and dishwashers, clothes washers in the house - and dryers, family, a car to drive, a bike, public schools that really are free, church in our own language with songs we know and love, food that we have missed, calm traffic with very few potholes.

All these faces - some new, some old, with stories to tell and dreams, and issues and pasts - waiting to talk to us.  Sometimes I remember names - often I do not - but I remember the people. I am so thankful to see friends and family bit by bit as we reclaim this place as home. Thankful they ask questions and listen and share.

We share of the work in Cameroon:  the music, the people, the new alphabet song, the Scripture songwriting workshops, the office.  We tell of the struggles and tragedies our Cameroonian friends have faced, and us along side them.  We pray.

30 eggs for $4

A house help in the communal laundry room

Buying tissues and fans from the car on a busy street

Watching the cooks make fufu

Hortense. Our house help.  She lost 3 family members in a week just before we left.

Giant trees

Our guard and my birthday twin.

Not missing this-

Goodbye to butterflies

Goodbye to birds on wires

Goodbye party for 5-6th grade

Great classmates and friends!

Goodbyes to friends who will leave before we are back 

Graduation from RFIS
Who knows if we'll see the seniors again.

Goodbye to friends

Goodbye to Yvan and his parents.

But then there is the surreal sense of reality or disconnect between what was real and what is real. It is there, lurking in the back of my mind.  I can not yet find words for everything - or if I do, the words do not do it all justice.

We are here for a year. A year for the kids to learn about American culture.  A year of time with my mom and family.  A year for friends.  A year of church and Bible study.  But also a year of work, of time with churches and prayer and financial partners. A year to share about what home in Cameroon is like - the work, the people, the life, the needs.... Some time for Chris to take courses at GIAL in Dallas in January and February.

PA reunion
The 70th Sutton annual family reunion

Remembering Aunt Mary Kay on July 5

My sister and mom

Anna!  A treat to see you and your family in PA not Cameroon!

Aunt Marie stopped by and we went to Appomattox Court house together!

Crabtree Falls with Peter

A year to reconnect.  And then we will be again leaving home and arriving home.

But that won't really be home either.

And that is part of why we have a longing for heaven.  Because only then will we be truly home.



Thanks for reading and praying with us for the people of Cameroon. Keep praying that they are transformed by the power of the gospel.
Keep praying for the transitions!  The kids start school Aug 15th in Forest, VA.
Pray for my mom as we all learn to live together well.
Pray as Chris works remotely.
Pray for our trip to Florida the end of July/beginning of August and weekend trips this fall to share about our work, visit friends and family, and raise new prayer and financial partners.
Praise for all the ways God has provided:  a van, 2 bikes so far, a home, good health, safety in travels, churches to speak in, support that has been consistent, good friends and wonderful family.
Thank you!