Monday, January 21, 2013


Anna hands out a scholarship.


Jessica gives a heartfelt embrace to one of the girls at school.

Hello everyone, It is 4 am here in Cameroon and we are up and getting ready to leave Bano. We will catch the 5am bus and hopefully get there around 1:00 pm. The ride should take about 4-5 hours. Pray for safe travels for all of us to the village. Thanks everyone for all of your prayer and well wishes. Internet will be spotty in the village, so I don't know when my next post will be. God bless.

Jihye and Nate Marvel at the innocence of the children

Mbankomo-"What a Blessing"

We had our first big day of the mission trip today. What a wonderful day of blessings. We couldn't have planned things any better, it was obvious that God had set his plan in motion, we were just along for the ride.

We received some bad news once we got to the school in mbankomo. The director greeted us at our vehicles and informed us of the fact that the school was closed because the government  will rebuild in a new location. Currently the children will go to two different schools, one up the mountain and another down the mountain. We decided to go downhill first.

We met with the director of this school before we met with the children. He asked that we continue the partnership with his school that we had started with the first school. Bruce gave a brief message, Amanda gave the gospel story with the evangecube  and Anna spoke to the children about being a nurse. At the end of the presentations we played soccer. 

Near the end of the game a little girl tried to shy away from Jessica when she walked up to her. After Val talked to the girl we found out that she was shying away from Jessica because she afraid to get Jessica dirty.  Jessica embraced the girl and this sparked an entire discussion about skin color and it is not a determination of who is cursed or blessed. Anna led the discussion about how we are all the same under the skin and that through Jesus we are free from guilt, condemnation and shame.

We gave 5 scholarships at the school. Just as we got done with handing out scholarships it started to rain. Each time we hosted games at  schools in Cameroon during the last trip it rained. The amazing thing this time around is that it is the dry season. Last time we were here in the rainy season. Here they see the rain as a benediction.
Simon pierre was no longer in mbankomo, because of problems with the school the distance to the public school us to great. The private school is close but very expensive. After we tried to find Simon we found out that he is no longer in town. This was because of an issue with the father. 

Home visits: the first house we stopped at the women did not want to have anyone pray for her unless they were Catholic. Val told her that it was not a matter of religion but a matter of Jesus Christ and his love for us. Then the woman wanted us to lay hands on her. But she only wanted the men to touch her head.
I gave the rice to the grand mother and she took us to her kitchen. Them a young lady Celine Atangana wanted us to lay hands on her and she didn't care who. Everyone was welcome.

The second house the grandmother was sick but we were able to give the rice to her granddaughter. She was open to prayer.

The third house we saw the grand mother that we were able bless the previous year. Before we for out of the cars she greeted us. She gave big hugs to everyone. She grabbed Jessica and took her to her son. Jessica wanted to take her home. We prayed for her  her, husband and a granddaughter.

At the fourth house we blessed a grandmother who had lost her sight. She ask everyone to shake hands and them burst into tears. She hugged everyone and gave each of us a blessing.

The fifth house was the home of the directors parents he wanted a blessing for his parents. So, we prayed for both parents and a thrid member of the household when she asked for prayer.

Today was truly full of blessing and share God's love. It's late so I'll be getting to bed soon. We had for Bano in the morning. God bless. 

The Soccer Game in Mbankomo.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Looking at Fabric


Anna, Jihye, and Lizi looking at fabric.

In Cameroon

Hello everyone, We are in Cameroon. Sorry for the late post but we did not have power the night we came into town. Today was the day that we encouraged the team to get some rest and they did. We did do a little shopping in the afternoon. Those who wanted to purchased fabric for custom made Cameroonian clothes. But, of course the main reason that we went shopping was for rice to distribute in Mbankomo on Monday. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel. In Mbankomo we will do home visits, as well as visit the school to hand out scholarships and host another soccer game for the children. If the power holds out I'll have more information soon.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Happy Trails


One last Taste of America before Cameroon.

Hello everyone, The Brookings crew will be leaving shortly for Cameroon. We'll join the Utah crew on Saturday and begin the mission in earnest. Before we go to the village of Bano we will make a stop in Mbankomo to bless the children there with school supplies and a soccer game. Happy Birthday to Amanda. She will celebrate her birthday during our layover in Paris on the 19th. Thanks for your prayers and support. I'll be sending more info soon.

Fred

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Hear we go again.


Anna packing medical supplies for the trip.

Hello everyone, We are getting ready to break ground on the orphanage. We have a group of ten individuals going this year. Included in the group are a nurse, a pastor and a film crew. The film crew will document the mission trip and create several promotional videos for the ministry. The film crew arrived yesterday and the rest of us will land on Saturday. Please keep all of us in your prayers for safe travels and a blessed mission.

Thanks.