Bum: Motorcylce Trip of a Lifetime!

Yesterday, Ezekiel and I set out for Bum on two motorcycles.  We drove a Yamaha 200 that belongs to Tom Needham as well as my "new" Honda 600 TransLap.  Roger who is from Bum rode with me as we climbed to about 8,000 feet by Lake Oku and then down again through many villages to Bum.  It took us about 4 and a half hours yesterday.  This trip was my first time driving a motorcycle to Bum, and I am now officially initiated as a motorcycle driver here in Cameroon even though I had one last term. 

Yesterday, was about a 6 out of 10 in difficultly level.  Today, we took a different way back which proved to be a mistake...it was an 11 out of 10, at least for my own ability level.  For those of you who drive motorcycles, how many times have you dropped your bike on its side in one day?  Well, I dropped my Honda at least five times and the Yamaha maybe two or three!  Thankfully, the damagas were minor, just some of the plastic protectors and lots of bruises on the driver :)   What made the journey almost impossible for me today was the following factors: rain, tires not meant for extreme bush, a heavy bike, and an 8-10% grade going up through rocks, mud, water, sand, grass, etc!  We were wearing mud boots thankfully, but I honestly ran out of steam and asked Ezekiel to let me drive the lighter Yamaha.  Ezekiel is taller than me and did an outstanding job getting my bike up the mountains when I couldn't do it!  It took us close to 7 hours today to drive back! 

The purpose of the trip was to visit Roger, plant an iron windsock base at the new airfield, and arrange for the grass on the field to be cut again.  Please keep praying for this airfield to be approved by the aviation officials.  We have been ready to use it for a long time.  I would rather fly there in 20 minutes than drive a motorcycle in 4 to 7 hours! 

 Leaving from Ndop on Monday (the date on the pictures is wrong).

 

 Oku Lake is a lake that litterally sits on top of an 8,000 foot mountain! 

 Buying cement at Kimbi, Bum for the airfield

 Roger, his wife, his two children and some nieces and nephews that he cares for. 

Checking the iron base before we left.  There was tons of rain after we worked it yesterday and rain through the night, but it held up great.  We'll install the rest of the pole and sock when the airfield is approved. 

I couldn't get pictures of the boulder roads, but Ezekiel got this one of mud...it was the last of about 5 long mud "roads" coming down into the town of Fundong.  From Fundong to home was a few hours of rain and paved roads! 

Summer News!

Wow, two months have passed since our last update!  Here are some pictures of our family and some of the things we have been doing. 

 

 Me with the kids and chocolate pie birthday celebtration! Thanks for the Tigers hat from MI! 

 Chloe and her candy cake! 

 

Abby's ice cream treat!  She loves ice cream, and it is not always easy to get the ingredients or to take the time to make it!

Elena with her cake and goat friends...thanks from Grammie! 

Elias' Red Baron and runway cake! 

Enjoying the fourth of July on top of a mountain.  We had a picnic and lots of fun together! 

I was able to give soccer balls to this club as well as New Testaments and a salvation challenge.

 Chloe and our neighbors

Elena and our neighbors who are also part of our church

 Baron, our German Shepherd is really growing! 

 Elias and I went flying together a few weeks ago, and then he "helped" me change the oil. 

 

Falls Baptist/BCM Cameroon/USA Team to Akwaya

The majority of the team from the Falls Baptist Church and BCM team arrived safely last Wednesday, while Pastor Gilmore and his son arrived safely on Friday.  They all "enjoyed" a long bus ride to Sabga, a day of rest, and then flights in our small planes out to Akwaya!  Praise the Lord, everyone is now safely in Akwaya trekking, distributing over 2200 whole Bibles, and giving the gospel in close to 30 villages.  Some of the villages have good churches started by Tom Needham and Pastor Felix, while others have had a few opportunities to hear the gospel.  I believe that still others have not yet had an opportunity to hear how much God loves them, that he sent a Savior, and that they can be saved from sin and hell by trusting completly in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  The Falls team joined forces with Cameroon nationals and missionaries as they went out to Akwaya to preach and teach.   Here are a few pictures of the team as they start their journeys in Cameroon:

 

 

 

June Happenings

I hope you enjoy a few pictures of the last few weeks before the next few weeks get really busy.

A team from BCM/Falls Baptist Church arrived yesterday.  We are getting ready to go up and greet them.  I plan to sleep in the hangar tonight and wake up early tomorrow to help fly the team out to the bush.  Tom Needham and I plan to transport about 40+ people and their gear over the next few days.  So, please pray for health, safety, and for good weather. 

 Elias had a bad night breathing, so we took him to the hospital the next day.  He was diagnosed with asthma.  We have wondered about this for a while now, but now at least he is diagnosed and able to get some relief.  After taking the meds and inhaler, he is doing much better.  They are standing on the hospital airstrip that I sometimes deliver patients to, so it was kind of like showing them where I work!  Going down to the airstrip was Elias' reward for being good for the doctor :) 

 Chloe's new favorite pose.

 

 

Tom and I at the Bamenda airport, where we will soon be basing our operations to take the team out to the bush airstrips. 

 Camp Joy basketball court almost done!! 

 Visiting a deaf girl and her grandmother in our town. 

One of my friends visiting church. 

Anniversary!

 

Abby and I had a great day for our anniversary a few weeks ago. The Needhams watched our kids as Abby and I hiked to the top of the mountain that overlooks our town. We then went out to eat at our sole restaurant in town. It was a great day!

 

 

 

 

 

On the way down we got to witness an approaching storm on the right from which we tried to run away to the left.  The rainbow was an unexpected surprise!  The rain ended up stopping about where you see it and went on to the other side of town...we only got a few drops on us! 

Family Camp 2013

 

We had another great missionary family camp in Sabga. This year Pastor and Mrs. VanderHart from Iowa came to challenge and encourage us all. They are from one of our supporting churches and were a great blessing!

With Pastor and Mrs. VanderHart at the conference

 

With bro. Winch early in the morning at the Cowboy Coffee Corner.  I ordered a 26 cup cowboy coffee pot for the conference this year and worked great over the gas stove! 

 

Pastor VanderHart preached for our church on the last Sunday that they were here.  We already miss them and really had a very encouraging time with them!