April and May of this year involved a lot of activity in various parts of Cameroon! We are thankful for God’s provision and protection as it was necessary to travel to various places in other regions of Cameroon. Thank you all for your continued prayer support; we have been assured of God’s presence and blessing in all the activities summarized below.
April began with a team of about 20 short-term missionaries arriving in Bamenda from the US (mostly Minnesota). These were volunteers with the Joni and Friends Harvest Project, a joint effort of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and MN Joni and Friends. They were in Cameroon to distribute most of the 200 wheelchairs that were sent, and to share the Gospel message with many who needed the gift of mobility which these chairs provide. The distribution occurred in Bamenda from April 3 through 4, and continued in Yaoundé April 6 through 8. David and Florence joined the team. Florence provided general support, especially when children from the CEFED Special School were present to receive new wheelchairs; and David taught about disability ministry. As part of the team, two persons from the Joni and Friends International Disability Center in California were present to document all the activity.
David taught on disability ministry three mornings in Bamenda at Full Gospel Central church, and traveled back to Yaoundé with the team to teach Monday and Tuesday morning at River of Life Church, and Wednesday afternoon at Faith Baptist Church.
One member of the team, Sue Murr, a highly trained physical therapist, spent a day at the CEFED School evaluating the children and creating photo documents which would explain to the staff how to do therapeutic activities with the children.
Then, from April 13 to 17, David traveled with Magdalene in Kribi, in the South Region of Cameroon, well below Douala. It was a journey of nearly eight hours duration. (We thank God for the good driving of Nsangou Tembe, Magdalene’s driver.) For three evenings, David taught church leaders about disability ministry at Rhema Chapel, at the invitation of Pastor Zanga Aristide.
While all this was happening, the CEFED Special Education Teacher Training program was suspended, because of the Easter holiday and David’s travels. The courses resumed on April 24. The majority of those taking the program have now completed the course sequence, and those who joined the program in September 2008 have one last class to take, which begins June 5 and concludes on June 26. Everyone will then prepare for the graduation ceremony, scheduled for August 8.
Stay tuned for more updates for May 2009 Connecting Points….
