Friday, February 17, 2006

Out of water

Well, isn't this quite a reminder of life in Cameroon! Here we are with no water coming from our taps, we're not flushing the toilet unless we really have to, and we're dipping from a bucket for essential washing. Yes, this is Canada, and yes, these things still happen. We're thankful for kids who know exactly what to do in this kind of situation!

Actually, we're very fortunate, because our missionary landlords had kindly alerted us to the possibility, and we DO have some washing water and drinking water stored up.

Ok, back to the Cameroon scenario. In Bekondo, if this happened, we might be out of water for 2-3 days or longer, depending on whether the "water fix-it guy" decided to push his low-salary agenda by going on strike or not. And eventually he and some other young guys would head out to the "bush", after coming to borrow tools, "rubbers" (to tie the pipe together again), etc. In the meantime, either we could catch rainwater from our roof, or we could get some of the village kids to carry water for us (or our house-help or yard worker would get it for us - they usually took good care of us!).

But here... you're talking -16 degrees Celcius (plus wind chill) and snow on the ground - yes, we're actually getting winter weather for a change! And there are men working on the pipes right now, and they will probably continue to work until it's fixed. So we only have the inconvenience of maybe 6-12 hours (it started around supper time). We're spoiled!

But it still makes us anticipate heaven, when we'll be with the Living Water, and never have to thirst or wash again!!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

A passage I love

Well, this is a bit late for Valentine's Day, but it is still true, so bear with me.

I John 4:18a (NLT) "Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear."

In context, this is talking about a fear of future judgement, which we as Christians do not have to worry about. Why? Because Jesus Christ has taken that judgement on Himself, and has already paid the penalty. Wow! What love!

On a more practical level, because we know that God is in control and LOVES us so much, we do not have to fear. Period. End of discussion. He will not let anything happen to us that He does not want to happen. Yes, this may mean that at times, something "bad" may happen, but He has a reason; we just don't have His perspective on the situation.

This verse really started "coming home" to us after armed robbers broke into our house in our village in Cameroon, less than a month after we had moved in (1998). While we watched, they stole a lot of our stuff, then tied us up and drove off in our vehicle. Talk about fear after that! It took quite a while for God's Word (and many loving people's comfort and support) to soak in. And yet today we can say that we KNOW this verse is true. While we are still human, and still fear at times, we can always come back to this promise - perfect love DOES expel all fear.

What greater love do we need?

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Youth Group

Scottspiel
Hmmm...how do you define "youth"??

A couple of decades ago, I was in a "youth group" that consisted of high schoolers or college aged kids.

In Cameroon, "youth" can be anyone from 13 or so up to in the 30's.

And last night, Christy and Jenny went to a newly established "youth group" for kids in grades 5 and 6. Interesting. By the way, they loved it. It is an "inter-church" youth group (kids from all churches in town can participate), and it is a time when Christy can see one of her friends who is home-schooled (who she usually only sees in church).

It is so encouraging to see churches work together for a change - after all, are we not all the body of Christ? Tomorrow I, too, will enjoy this, as I will be attending an inter-church ladies' retreat :-)

Mouse Control

This isn't about the capture and demise of little furry rodents, although that probably still needs to happen in this house. Rather, this is about the manipulation of a computer pointing device.

Why talk about such a mundane subject? Because our youngest, Laura (2 1/2), was finally able to control a computer mouse enough to play a game (coloring) all by herself last night. What an accomplishment! That was the first time she had tried to use Mike's mouse, which is a wireless and smaller than usual, and that is what she needed for her small hand.

Now, this may be a moment of triumph for Laura, but I am ecstatic for another, more selfish, reason. This means that no longer do I have to sit down at the computer WITH her - she can play by herself!!! No, this doesn't mean I'll abandon her to the computer babysitter, but it does allow for some respite in hectic days.

So YEAH for mouse control!