Warm summer greetings to all friends and supporters of Crossing Bridges! Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ whom we serve. What follows is a report on Crossing Bridges’ recent ministry in Cameroon, a follow-up to our ministry in Cameroon in 2007-2009.
A team of eight from the U.S. traveled to help with the first ever Cameroon Family Retreat for families affected by disability. The Family Retreat was sponsored by Joni and Friends International Disability Center, in cooperation with the Center for Empowerment of Females with Disabilities (CEFED), the indigenous ministry with whom Crossing Bridges worked while we were in Cameroon. Others on the U.S. team besides David and Florence were:
- Sam, our grandson
- John, Director of Special Projects for Joni and Friends
- Bonnie, and occupational therapist from California
- Suzanne, a special education teacher from Wisconsin
- Ashlie, a freshman at Elon University, North Carolina
- Shannon, a disability-rights advocate from California
Twelve families were invited to participate in the Family Retreat, including the parent(s), the child with a disability, and up to two siblings. The site of the Retreat was a Government Technical High School in Bamenda (about one mile from where we lived while serving in Cameroon).
David taught a group of pastors, church leaders, and parents about God’s view of persons with disabilities and the responsibility of Christians to reach out to persons and families dealing with disability. Bonnie, Suzanne, and Shannon worked with each family to evaluate the children and develop simple “home programs” which the parents could do to help their children. Ashlie and Sam helped with the children, and Sam worked with Pastor Charles, the worship leader for the Retreat, sharing his singing and guitar-playing skills and showing Charles how to use a video program on his computer. Florence provided general support as needed and served as photographer.
Several Cameroonian pastors or leaders who had previously been trained by Crossing Bridges helped in sharing God’s Word, translating, and leading discussion groups for men and women “retreaters.” Several others served as short-term missionaries, assisting with the children and the various activities. Especially helpful were Chris and Karen Jackson, long time missionaries in Cameroon with SIL (Wycliffe), who, along with their two daughters and an extended “family” of missionary kids from Rain Forest International School in Yaoundé, planned and carried out all the activities for the children.
The theme for the Family Retreat, “More than Imagined,” was taken from Ephesians 3:20-21 (see the logo, below). The purpose of the Family Retreat was to allow the families to have fun, connect with others, and learn of God’s love through teaching and action of the volunteers and short term missionaries. Families and individuals with disabilities are often excluded from the community because of ignorance, prejudice, and the belief that either personal sin or cursing is the cause of the disability. Through experiencing the Family Retreat and learning of God’s love, it is hoped that lasting change will occur. In fact, a few of the families testified to being reconciled (husband with wife, parents with children) as a result of these few days of relaxation, teaching, fellowship, and joy.
NOTES OF PRAISE TO GOD:
- For all who prayerfully and financially supported Crossing Bridges in this ministry.
- For those in Cameroon who helped make this Family Retreat a success.
- For safety in traveling to Cameroon, while in Cameroon, and on our return to the U.S.
NOTES FOR PRAYER:
- Pray for the families who attended the retreat that God will continue to open their hearts to the gospel.
- Pray for the pastors in Cameroon who will follow up with the families.
- Pray for the ongoing ministry of CEFED as it serves children with disabilities in the CEFED Special School and as the leaders continue evangelistic outreach in the villages and towns of Cameroon.
Also, please continue to pray for the ministry of Crossing Bridges and the financial needs of our ministry. Thank you for your continued interest and support.
David and Florence
