January 15, 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I was so excited to read this new update from my family. Thank you all for your faithful prayers! God is at work in Cameroon...His Gospel is powerful! The Gospel is the very power of God for the salvation of all who believe and that is what is changing the hearts of these Cameroonians. The Lord is changing their hearts by the power of His Word!! And what is so awesome is that we too have God's Word in our own hands...we too are being changed and transformed by God's Word! So wherever you are preach the Gospel! Share the Good news of Jesus Christ today!!!
The week has been very busy.
On Monday Fidele, Peter, and I traveled
80 miles west on the road to Nigeria to the town of Mamfe where I was scheduled to do a day long seminar on spiritual leadership for pastors and church workers on Tuesday. It took us almost four hours to travel the 80 miles simply because of some pretty rough roads.
Once we arrived in Mamfe, where Fidele once lived as a child, we found the river and much to Peter's delight went swimming. On Tuesday I taught between 60 and 70 church leaders from 10 am to 3 pm. At the end of the seminar they pleaded with me to come back again soon to do more teaching on such subjects as the Gospel according to the Bible, marriage, Principles of Bible Study, and several other courses. I asked the leaders if they would be interested in me bringing other pastors from the U.S. to do some teaching and they all affirmed this would be a great blessing to them.
While us men were out on our adventure Nancy and the girls were busy as well, ministering to our neighbors. Nancy has a Bible study with one of our neighbor ladies on Tuesday nights while the girls put on a Bible Club for neighborhood kids.
We were out at the orphanage on Wednesday to meet with the staff and be interviewed by a team putting together a video to promote some of the ministries of Bread For Life. Thursday was our day to rest while Friday was market day in Bamenda. Then on Saturday Nancy, Fidele, and I hiked almost an hour up to a group of Fulbe compounds where we played John 1 on the Proclaimer for a group of 5 ladies and 10 children. We had a lively teaching time with many questions and comments. We also had a wonderful time playing them some Fulfulde songs which the ladies, children, and Nancy all danced to. Someone had to appreciate the dancing so Fidele and I opted to sit and watch.
After "Dr. Nancy" finished up some medical checks on the kids and we prayed for a young girl in a neighbor's hut that had a fever (Malaria) we handed out some solar light bulbs and left making an appointment to come back next Saturday to teach some more about Isa.
Finally, today the whole family hiked up the mountain to Adam's
compound to hold our first preaching/teaching service with him, his
family, and some neighbors. Once we arrived, Adam's wife, Awey,
brought us a big bowl of rice with some steaming cups of milk. Once we put that away, it was time to gather and listen to John 5-6 on the Proclaimer. Then Fidele retold the stories and preached the Gospel very clearly for all to understand. Once he was done I asked the group some questions about what was taught to make sure all was understood. After clarifying a few points we asked one of the men attending what his thoughts were on the Bible's teaching about Isa Al Masihu. He replied that it was good and that he wanted to learn more about Isa. Following the meeting, Fidele walked this man home only to find out that he too is a Malam (Muslim teacher). Before they parted, this man confided in Fidele that he too has decided to follow Christ and reject Mohammed. He then told Fidele that he would be back to hear more of Isa next Sunday.
We also are praising God for Adam who continues to grow in his new faith and is sharing Isa with his neighbors and family. His wife Awey has also professed faith in Christ and today blurted out, as the Proclaimer was playing, that "the Word was entering deep, deep, deep into her heart". Another blessing of the day was that when our time of teaching ended, all of the people except one stayed and asked to just listen to the Gospel of John on the Proclaimer. So we spent another 3 hours with them until we finished most of the Gospel of John. Thus, our first teaching and preaching service started at 10 am and finished at 3 pm. It also included two meals in which we continued to listen and talk about Isa Al Masihu (Jesus Christ the Messiah).
That brings our week to a close and it goes without saying we are
tired but happy. We praise God for what He is doing which, by the way is what only He is able to do--change hearts! Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. Please continue to pray for us especially as we disciple these new believers. None of them can read thus, everything we do is oral using either the Proclaimer or reading verses from the Fulfude Bible to them. Fidele knows some Fulfulde and is a tremendous help but I am afraid I have miles to go before I am able to teach in Fulfulde. So for right now, I teach and Fidele translates or more and more I just have Fidele do the teaching and preaching while I pray and then ask questions and make clarifications. Nancy, the kids and I are fine and enjoying our new puppy "Judah" and our new kitten "Apache", (which was a gift from Adam & Awey). Our garden is growing and this Monday we are picking up some rabbits to raise for meat. God is richly blessing us beyond all we could ever ask or think. Thank you so much for your generous support that keeps us here trying to make much of Christ for the sake of His glorious Name!Yours For The Gospel,
mark, nance & kids
Held by Grace,
Sara
