Trip Update 7/4/12

"Lean left!" someone screams. All 20 of us crawl to the other side of the precariously leaning bus. The vehicle slides further down the steep hill then stops abruptly when it hits a large hole.
Well, this looks like a good time to get out.
We all climb out of the bus into a chilly, drizzly evening. The men crawl on top of the bus and begin handing down our 60+ pieces of luggage. We carry a good number of the suitcases about a quarter mile down the muddy, African road. Once free of a considerable amount of weight, the bus makes it the rest of the way to the Sinclairs' home in Bambili.
This is just one of Africa's many ways of welcoming us, and the team took it in perfect stride.


For all you concerned mothers out there, we are all fine! No one was harmed in the least (except for maybe Sarah who took a tumble down a slick part of the hill).

I'll catch you all up on the trip so far...
(the following are journal entries.)

7-2-12
Day 1 of Cameroon trip -- not going so well. I am currently sitting in a plane in Tampa waiting to take off. Our flight has been delayed due to BRAKE TROUBLE!!! Aaaaaahh!..

I have a feeling this is going to be a fun trip. My teammates are hilarious, and I am so excited to get to know them!..

I am sitting by a lady from GHANA! Her name is Mina. I was so excited to meet an African that I started peppering her with questions. I asked her I she knew where she would spend eternity, and she gave a clear testimony of salvation. It is so amazing to have brothers and sisters all over the world!

This isn't a journal entry, but I thought it was too near to pass by. The second leg of our trip (from Washington to Belgium) I was supposed to have an isle seat, but when I arrived at my seat, a man was sitting in it. I almost asked him to move to his own seat (the middle one was empty), but the Spirit seemed to lead me to do otherwise. I took the middle seat. The man, Jean Claude, turned out to be from Cameroon, and was an incredibly sweet person. He too had a clear testimony of salvation. The girl on the other side of me (Tiffany) was a 19-year-old Belgian who had just spent 5 months in Hawaii learning English. She had no idea where she would spend eternity. I gave her (as best I could) the Romans road. I could tell she was having a difficult time understanding it, but I also saw a great curiosity in her. I left her with a tract that explained how to get to heaven in very simple terms. She told me she understood after she read the tract. The seed has been planted. Someone else must sow. Please pray that Tiffany will realize her need of salvation and that she will accept Christ before it is too late! Now isn't God amazing? He put me in an undesirable place in order for His gospel to be spread!

Cameroon is turning out to be much different from Ghana landscape-wise. I have seen some of the most beautiful scenery I could ever imagine! Huge jungle-covered mountains, rushing rivers, and gargantuan waterfalls plummeting into vast lakes -- I wish my pictures could do it justice! But these beautiful scenes are scarred by thousands of dilapidated shacks where millions of the sweetest people must sleep every night. My heart breaks for them.

I tried my hand at trading today -- it didn't go so well... The people here in Cameroon try to sell things to you when your car stops or slows down. I wanted to get some sort of nut they were selling, but I didn't have any money. Instead, I decided to try to trade a rice krispy treat for a few. The results aren't exactly what I expected. The boy took my treat, and all I got was a single nut... and the wrapper back from the treat.

This trip has been amazing so far! God has been so faithful to get us here, and He has allowed us to share His gospel with so many already! Keep praying as we continue the Lord's work here in Cameroon.

Tomorrow's the Big Day!

Well, it's here! Tomorrow, we are flying out of Tampa. Please pray for good team organization as we travel. 20 people with over 60 luggage items is a lot to keep up with. Here is the flight itinerary:

Monday, July 2
Depart Tampa United Airlines, Flight 312 @1:58p.m.
Arrive Washington, DC (Dullas) 4:15 p.m.

Depart Washington, DC United Airlines, Flight 950 5:49 p.m.
Arrive Brussels, Belgium Tuesday, July 3, 7:15 a.m.

Depart Brussels, Brussels Airlines, Flight 371 10:40 a.m.
Arrive Douala, Cameroon 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 3

Sunday, July 15
Depart Douala, Cameroon, Brussels Airlines Flight 372 9:30 p.m.
Arrive Brussels, Belgium 5:15 a.m. July 16

Depart Brussels, Belgium 12:00 noon, United Airlines Flight 951
Arrive Washington, DC Monday, July 16 2:12 p.m.

Depart Washington, DC, Monday, July 16 United Airlines Flight 360 5:30 p.m.
Arrive Tampa, 7:51 p.m.

Here is my "somewhat packed" luggage...

And this is me. TIRED OF PACKING MY LUGGAGE!!!!

"Don't Change Their Culture"

Getting ready for this trip back to Africa is causing me to think back on last year’s trip to Ghana. Last year my aunt was going to Africa on a military-related trip. She was taking air war classes at a nearby air force base and invited me to join her one day. The class was amazing! I learned so much about the African culture and of the civil wars that had recently occurred in West Africa. 

The man had talked basically the whole class about how these wars had ravaged many countries. He talked of the horrors they inflicted on the people. He talked of the hopelessness the people were left with. I was able to talk with the professor after the class. I was eager to ask the man about the culture of Ghana and the things I needed to expect, hoping to prevent a little culture shock; but I left his office in shock of my own culture! 

One of the first things he asked me was what I was going over there for. I told him that I was going on a mission trip. His mouth contorted into a disapproving smirk, and he chuckled and shook his head. The words he said next will stay with me forever. He said, “Just promise me one thing — Don’t change their culture.”

His words took me aback. After telling story after horrible story of the dark practices of many places in that continent, he had the audacity to want me to promise not to change it. These people live in fear! They are without hope! And we are to strive not to change that! This is the world’s perverted ideas of cultural diversity. I can’t change it. But I cannot promise that God won’t. 

It is the people’s choice whether their culture is changed or not. My job is simply to tell them that Someone loves them and wants them to come to Him. I’ll leave the rest to God.

Still Alive!

Wow! This trip to Tampa has by no means been a vacation! (Not that I was expecting one). Yesterday, I woke up early (after staying up packing my bags Sunday night) and went to a local fitness gym with Evan and Seth. Ran 4 miles! Woop woop! Got back home and jumped in the shower, slapped my face on, threw my hair up, shoved my packed luggage into the Templetons' van, and headed to Team Cameroon's all-day meeting. Songs, skits, games, weighing, packing, weighing some more, organizing, food (lots of food), planning, more packing... *sigh* It was a bit overwhelming, but I'm ready! God's going to do an amazing work in Cameroon this summer, and I can't wait to see it!

Evan and Zack lead us in song.

The military skit: Andrew, Evan, and Seth 

That's a lot of luggage (there's even more behind me)

Andrew's sporting a chocolate sauce beard.

4-way tug of war! Booo-yaaaah!

Cameroon 6/23/2012

Sitting here in the Atlanta airport waiting for my connecting flight to Tampa. I was really nervous about flying alone, but it has proven to be rather fun! I guess I could get used to this. I was most nervous about motion sickness on the plane, but I pumped myself full of dramamine and trusted God with the rest! Looks like it worked because I feel pretty good — pretty empowered sitting here drinking a strong cup of Starbucks coffee and writing this post. 

I’ll try to keep you updated as the trip progresses, but in the meantime, keep praying! 

When I Am Weak

Something jumped out at me from the book of Acts this morning. Chapter 4 verse 13 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Peter and John had been preaching the gospel of Christ in Jerusalem, and according to this verse, the religious leaders of the city, when they heard what was spoken, remembered that they had been with Jesus. Their lives pointed these leaders to Jesus. But what was it about them that pointed them to Jesus? Was it the message they preached? That may have very well been part of it, but this verse says that they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus when they saw their boldness and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men. Christ isn't looking for some Einstein to share his gospel. He uses the weak to confound the mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27). God chooses to show Himself mighty through our weaknesses.

Now when I feel too ignorant of the gospel to share it with others, I will remember this passage. I will remember that "when I am weak, then am I strong." Lord, humble me. Show Yourself mighty in my weaknesses, and let others see You through me. Amen.

Bible Club Kickoff

Several months ago, the Lord laid a desire on my heart to start a Bible club near my home that I could use to reach kids in my community. This past Sunday He finally made it come to pass! Four kids came out for the kickoff day and had so much fun that they wanted to bring their friends next week!

Several people from my church volunteered their lazy Sunday afternoon to run around a neighborhood in this humid Alabama climate. I'll tell you what! Our feet were super tired, grimy, and sweaty by the time we finished; but they surely were beautiful to our Savior!