What Costs Me Nothing 

"I will not give to God what costs me nothing." 1 Samuel 24:24

What does it cost me to follow this call God has placed upon my life to follow him to a foreign land to carry his Good News?  From watching my youngest nephew take his first walk across the living room, to watching my 16 year old nephew drive his old Ford pick-up, the sacrifice screams in my heart.  These young people, who will change the world, are part of me, yet I do not get to be part of so much that makes them who they are.  

I would enjoy being part of a life group, having well-planned church services to attend every Sunday, grab a Quiznos when I want, stay...just stay somewhere for a while, and maybe plant a garden.  Is the sacrifice worth it?  Is Christ worth it, is the a better question.  Yes, yes he is.

 Lord, may I always give to you, weather I am in want or in a place of abundance, that you might take my my meager offerings and shine your light through me!  

David prayed in 1 Chronicles 29, "Who am I, that I may give generously to the Lord? Everything I have comes from you!" It may seem like a sacrifice, but is truly just good stewardship! 

Resting on the Rock 

"He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:19   Every day is a lesson in resting in the wonder, the unknowns, and the beauty of my faithful God.  Today I went to some nature trails and read this book: Dangerous Wonder by Michael Yaconelli.  He said, "It is time to find the place where the dangerous wonder of faith can be discovered--a place landscaped by risky curiosity, wild abandon, daring playfulness, quiet listening, irresponsible passion, happy terror, and naive grace."  I believe that a faith such as this takes a great deal of resting in the Rock of our Salvation, remembering that he is always faithful, and when we step out, whatever that might look like for us, he is holding us still. 

Reuniting 

8 years ago I translated for short term mission teams in Ecuador.  On Saturday, April 12th, I enjoyed a time of sharing and rejoicing with many from the group that came from Gulf Shores, AL.  Their love and affirmation overflowed.  This is Elaine, one of the dear sisters from that group.  How a treasure these beautiful people.  So many come and go in our lives, some are for a moment, and some for a lifetime. I love how we never know how abundant or far reaching the joy will be as we revel and fully enjoy the moments we have with others.  Thank you GSUM for sharing your God's love with me! 

Beautiful Guatemala! 

 

 
6 hours on winding mountain roads...beautifully embroidered blouses passing by us as we wait for the three wheeled taxi's to clear the...more

I Have Three Dollars 

"Aunt Christy, I have three dollars I want to give to help you," said my niece and then added, "I had saved one, and then the tooth fairy gave me two more."

This reminded me of those new believers in 2 Cor. 8, "Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints."

I do not testify enough to the giving of those who support my ministry. Once I saw a some of my supporters (who had just upped their giving by 10 dollars) at the grocery store setting aside groceries maybe they could afford next time. I have individuals who I know give out of their lack, and God blesses them for it. I have seen God provide for what he wants to do through my ministry by the faithfulness of those who, "gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will." 2 Cor. 8

May I become more like those early believers today. 

GIAL 

Standing for Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, the program I am in for linguistics is challenging my way of thinking and processing information considerably. I have found the teachers to be very supportive and encouraging, and my fellow students to be full of zeal and passion.
It is a very stretching experience for me.
If you would like to see a short video (3 min.) on what GIAL does, go to:
www.gial.edu
Click on GIAL DVD at the bottom of the left hand column.

Lovin' Life... 

 

(Because I don't have a picture of this event I took one off the internet, and will have to let my words construct a picture for you) “I love my life” is what was reverberating over and over in my head as I traveled through the rainforest, down rainy...more

Crossing Bridges 

 
Today we are asked to cross a bridge,
You and I, to step out on a ledge,
Today we are asked if we will truly live,
If we trust our Daddy, and fully give,
Our hearts, our feet, our hands, our all,
To be our best, to answer the call.
Today when I see the bridge up ahead,
I pray I'll remember what my God said,
"Do not be afraid our discouraged, for,
your God will be with you forevermore."
Then step out no matter the cost,
With confidence, I cannot be lost,
I'm found on that bridge and ledge unseen,
Because where I tread, my Leader has already been.

A Jackson Moment 

 
Karen Jackson (pictured above), from the Jackson family I previously mentioned, has anywhere from 20-50 children in her home every Tuesday afternoon for a few hours to teach them about the Bible. She has been writing Sunday school curriculum that is geared toward children in this context that teachers will be able to carry out with the resources available to them. She handed me a lesson an hour before the children were to arrive so I could test it out. As every teaching experience here with Cameroonian kiddoes, the atmosphere was filled with energy and playfulness. Following the activity I carried out, Karen gave a lesson, and it was so neat to see her teaching as well! This is another opportunity for me to be involved here in Cameroon in the future.

Shining Beauty Not of This World 

 
Surrounded by beautiful hills, rolling far into the distance, you find the Handicapped Center in Santa, the Northwest Region of Cameroon. This is a unique shelter where children with disabilities can find a place where they are embraced. My experience is that, out of ignorance, in many developing countries around the world mentally and physically handicapped children are rejected, abandoned, mistreated, or hidden by their families out of the social stigma that having a child like this creates. As many of you know, my younger sister, Leah, is a major reason for my openness to others and love for differences. She has Down Syndrome. An experience, that brings tears even now, is when a little Downs girl, probably about 10-12 years, walked up to me as I sat outside with the children and squarely planted her feet and looked in to my eyes. Her face was almost expressionless, and yet, full of the adorable expectation that I would love her. How she knew, I don’t know, but I did love her. I started singing “Jesus Loves Me” while clapping her hands, realizing she had natural rhythm, and then with a little tickle, she burst into a smile and I embraced her. As I prayed with Magdalen, the director of the School, who is also disabled, the tears flowed because she has experienced the love of Christ deeply and wants that same life changing grace to flow over these precious children of God…created for fellowship with him as we all are. She is reaching out to “the least of these brothers of mine” in a context that is raw and hard and real. Could this be a place of ministry in my future?

The Gadala Morning 
 

By Aaron--- I am sitting on the cool rocks on the tall mountain above the waking people of Gadala. Gadala is a small village in the north of Cameroon. The...more

He Can READ! 

 

Pictured to the right is a small child reading his own language from a phonics book. I had the opportunity while in Bamenda last week to visit a village where they are teaching children in their mother tongue (Kom) their first three years of primary...more

Mofu Bible Dedication 

 
The power of God's word was seen in the Mofu dedication on February 16th in the Far North of Cameroon. It was powerful to see a group of people reading the Word of God in their own language for the first time. To see them raising them up and dancing for joy because of this Living Word. It was an honor for me to witness this celebration and to take part in my own small way as I sat with a group of women on stony ground...delighting in the occasion with them, praying that this Word would penetrate their hearts.

Husked Coconut 
God’s Word in the mother tongue speaks not only to the head, but also to the heart. One Pacific island Christian said, "When we read the English Bible, it's like trying to eat the husk of the coconut. But you (the translator) have husked the coconut for us and opened it. Now we can eat the actual meat."

Psalm 19:8,11, NIV 
"The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart…By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward"
Daily Prayer Request

Teaching in Bambalang 
 
About a year ago I wrote about teaching Anna, a vibrant 3rd grader. She has only gotten more lovely as she has grown. Now a fourth grader, she has grown linguistically, artistically, and in her critical thinking skills, making her challengingly wonderful to teach! We taught ourselves the basics on the guitar, tie dyed, made rag dolls (a past favorite), studied biomes and food webs, made a video for the literacy course spoken of above, memorized 3 chapters of Scripture, and read a very interesting book on Korean pottery that ended in a trip to Prespot (the Presbyterian pottery place in a near by village). We would participate in the course devotions some times, and enjoyed filming them for the video. I am always encouraged to see Anna’s ability to relate to others in her community and her willingness to grow and be stretched. She is truly a remarkable child, and I look forward to the astounding young lady she is going to be someday. I know I say it over and over, but to have a hand in the lives of the children, even if they have a speck of recollection of Aunt Christy in their futures, I am privileged to have been part of their lives.

LIteracy Course 

 
I found myself intrigued with the diverse group of participants in the first Bambalang Primer Course on the Ndop Plain of the Northwest Provence. Two language groups were included in this training as a test run for the facilitators, Melody Grove and Jon and Sandra Blackwell. On our breaks from schoolwork, I found myself wandering into the living room, which served as the classroom for the course, to take in the excitement of if all! Papers were everywhere, as the students collaborated to etch out the first lessons and primers for their languages. They too, are learning and growing in their knowledge of their written language as they write lessons to teach others. It is a rich environment where everyone is comfortable and has something to offer to the team of literacy workers. I listened to their stories during the rest times we shared. Stories of abusive husbands who have come to the Lord, children with heart problems and epilepsy, marriages orchestrated by the Fon (local "king") between them and a much older man, the calling of God while a fisherman on a nearby island, walking away from wealth and worldly prosperity, supportive families, upcoming marriages, and unexpected meetings with missionaries that lead to their passion for literacy and Bible Translation. They were pastors, mothers, and recent graduates from high school. They were dynamic, and I was thankful to be part of their work, of God’s working through them.

Girls night! 
 
Gathered around pots of maple syrup with platters of pancakes to share, the 10 giggly, precious girls eat breakfast after a sleepover in my apartment last Saturday. What fun to spend time, to breath for a moment the contagious life that flows in their midst. How refreshing it was!