10/28 - The City and a shower

Hey all -

This morning I traveled to what is more "downtown" Yaounde via taxi (OBIer's, it was Moses!) with Shawn and Matthew. They had a few things to pick up and it worked well for me to tag along as I am still doing orientation. We went to many different stores and stopped for lunch at this sketchy looking place that had amazing beefsteak!

After a very exhausting trip to the city, I came back to the house wanted to get cleaned up, but our water pump was still broke (one reason we went to the city) and the city water was not working either. So I napped for an hour and when I woke up the city water was on! A hot shower has never felt so great!

Now I am all clean and ready to go to dinner at the NewLand appartments tonight with Mr. Brubaker, my supervising teacher, at a lady teacher named Alison Mary's place. This should be a good time of getting to know them better and talk about RFIS. I am headed to school tomorrow morning for my first time meeting everyone and seeing the brand new campus.

I'll leave you with a few tidbits:

1. It rains here every day around 2 or 3, good thing I like storms :)

2. Coke tastes great here too, I wish American coke was this good

3. It is amazing how technology has changed everything. Everyone has cell phones and obviously internet access is available!

4. We have a house-help named Nicolae. She is basically the mom that takes care of all us boys :) Be careful of how you view her work though, It's not that we are lazy, but by hiring many lady's like her, SIL and Wycliffe can provide income for dozens of families in Cameroon! She makes great banana bread!

5. I <3 MMW

10/27 Lots of new, a little bit o' old

Today I was able to sleep in until 9:00, to get some much needed rest, then it was off to meet tons of people. Matthew took me on "the loop" around this little section of Yaounde. "The loop" is comprised of our residence, the SIL complex where I stayed 2 years ago, CABTAL (Cameroon Association for Bible Translation And Literacy) offices and housing, and an Annex where Wycliffe offices, houses and an elementary school is located. All of these obviously make a loop. As I went from place to place, I met many people who are from many parts of the world, but are all united with one common goal of seeing God's Word translated into Cameroonian heart languages. This means teachers, computer techies, construction workers, administrators, businessmen, graphic designers and even a couple nurses are all working together! Not only was it good to meet new people, but it was great to be able to recognize some of these places! Our first stop was basically my home 2 summers ago, so that was a good way to start of today.

I am not quite over the jet-lag, but I have been resting and reading all afternoon so that should help. I have been welcomed here by a meal every night for the first few days, and tonight I will be going to Rachael and Mandi's to eat with others. As I type this the weather has turned from calm and sunny to windy and rainy! So it looks like I'll be wearing my jacket and boots.

I want to leave you with a section of a book that I read today while relaxing:

 "We were all created uniquely and wonderfully... Every man carries the seeds of greatness within him. It is up to us to water and nurture those seeds so that we can achieve the potential God created us for."

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who have helped me water and nurture my abilities. I have been so blessed with the chance to come here to Yaounde and grow into what I hope will be a little closer to "great."

10/26: Travel and first impressions

Hello all, I have had a busy 36 hours of travel, although it feels like it's only been a few hours. But, I am very tired.  Matthew, Don (my supervising teacher) and  Jim came to the airport to pick me up, but I was already in the parking lot when they got out of the van! Matthew will be orientating me for a couple days, and then hopefully I will be going to school on Thursday. Other names you should know are Shawn, who is in charge of our living quarters, Alex, another roommate, and Megan, who had us over for dinner tonight!

I am working on getting pictures taken and put up, but I do not know how many I'll be able to put on here at a time, so I'll keep ya posted.

Tomorrow will be a day of orientation and setting up. Until then, pray that I get used to the time shift!

Kory

I <3 mmw

Africa, here I come!

I am 24 hours away from beginning my travels to Yaounde, Cameroon. This blog will be my attempt to keep in touch with all of you! Thanks for praying and supporting me and following this blog!

Can You Grab the Wind?

Chuck Bomar. I've heard him speak a number of times now, but today was the one time that hit me the most. He was speaking out of Ecclesiastes, which is very quickly becoming my favorite part of Scripture. In his attempt to paint us the big picture of Solomon's last work, Chuck delivered a message that God has been trying to teach me for a couple months now.

What are we doing, today? For most of us young believers, we are continually looking forward to something. I look forward to graduation, getting a job and starting a family. I look forward to the opportunity to impact a young person. I look forward, to the rest of my life. Yet, this process of always striving after what comes next is one that can ruin the life of a young person, one that could possibly put out my flame for the Lord. Because just like trying to catch the wind, chasing after it on my bike with a mason jar, I am always going to be looking forward to my next chance, but never really capitalizing on my current situation. I do not want to lose my heart for youth, or my passion for the Lord. Neither do you.

So what we need to do it a few things. First of all, make sure what we do strive after is something that really matters, something that will impact eternity. For example, what is the purpose of a friendship, or a relationship? It is not to have a friend or a wife, but it should be to come alongside a person in their walk with God, helping them, being there for them, and asking the same from them. Secondly, live every day in light of death. Yeah, death. It's all over Ecclesiastes. Solomon is not being morbid, he is saying that we should make the most of every day, every situation, and every opportunity. And lastly, we should always keep a keen eye on God, so as to never end up pursuing something that will leave us with an empty mason jar.

Forgiven and Loved...

So I heard this song on the radio the other day, and although I have it on my ipod, it really struck a chord this time. Just some of the simple yet magical statements he makes; they make me stop and think about how grateful I should be to have such a loving Creator and Savior. I challenge you to read these lyrics and think about your own life. (i bolded some that got me thinking)

FORGIVEN AND LOVED

Romans 8:1, Ephesians 3:17-19

Written by Jimmy Needham, Ryan Wayson and Blake Samperi

Tell me I’m forgiven and loved

Cause I hear it from the street corner priests

On how God is love and how man can be clean

But my joy has been on holiday

And my peace has almost passed away

Tell me I’m forgiven and free

CHORUS:

O I tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation

But I bought the lie I still have work to do

Now I’m working nine to five like I can earn my own salvation

But there is no condemnation in You

O whisper to me now that its for real

Cause in the silence of these walls righteousness lost its appeal

Dirty deeds have done me in

O but that can’t stop the Faithful Friend

Giving mercy once again as You heal

Here it is I’m feeling it

CHORUS

O He died He died to rectify my hopeless situation

And His blood commands my guilt to leave

Now on Calvary I stand

Empty pockets open hands

O there is no condemnation for me

CHORUS

Child you’re forgiven and loved

Child you’re forgiven and loved

Child you’re forgiven

And Child you are loved

Child you’re forgiven and loved

© 2008 Needhim Music / First Company Publishing / ASCAP / Administered by First Company Publishing

Buffalo Bowl!

For those of you who don't know, Community Grace's youth group hosted a flag football tourny today. First of all it was awesome how God worked everything out for it to happen, with volunteers and donations from many great people. Then, 15 kids made first time decisions for Christ! Along with many other decisions. What an outstanding show of how God can take something so manmade and turn it into a powerful tool. I felt honored to say I was part of it, because I know that if any of us tried to do this on our own without seeking the Lord, it couldn't have happened. Praise God!