Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Community Church of Moab
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: Mission Support

Dear Sue,
I can't tell you how excited we were to receive your email!  We checked our email just minutes before seeing our administrator who officially releases us to return to Cameroon.  One of the major criteria is our support level.  We were able to go into the meeting with the great news that we had just met our quota!  Praise the Lord for His awesome timing.  He is never early, never late, always right on time!
When I saw your name on the email it seemed vaguely familiar.  Maybe if you sent me a photo I might recognize you.  There are so many people that I know by sight, but not there name, you are probably one of them.  You have asked for prayer requests and in general want to know how we are doing.  In turn, it would be nice to know about you and any concerns that you have that we might be able to pray for you.  A photo of yourself would be great if you have one.
You mentioned that the church is wanting to have better communication with the missionaries they support.  Communication has been a weak point for us over the years.  This January we set aside time to evaluate various aspects of our work and lives.  Improving our communication with supporters was very high on the list.  There is always the excuse that we are very busy, but then who isn't?  The reality is, our supporters (financial & prayer warriors) should be given feedback about what they are investing in.  On our part, it is hard to always know what we should write about.  Any way, I am going to be giving more time and energy to communicating this year.  I have found that if you write asking for an update, say for a monthly bulletin, I'm pretty good at getting out a little blurb in a timely fashion. 
I hope that I'm not over whelming you, but I thought that I would send you a copy of our January reflection.  It is a little cryptic and may need some interpretation but I thought it would be a good starting point.  If you have questions or I need to explain anything, please don't hesitate to write.  What we did was had six basic questions that we tried to answer.  If you think that this is helpful and that we should occasionally repeat it, let us know that as well.
1. Short term goals
General - Prepare for our return to Cameroon mid-July
Specific:
finish house projects
find a long term renter
buy clothing for this term (3-4 years)
Shirley's passport
arrange vehicle prep/repair in Yaounde
VMS (Vernacular Media Specialist) advanced tutoring
drivers ed. course for Katy
help at JAARS (new members orientation)
establish solid correspondence
Katy visit colleges
glasses for Duane
prepare short term mission trip - 2 girls go with us
vaccinations
Andrew finish TB treatment
Duane regulate CPAP machine for sleep apnea
2. Long Term Goals
General - return to Cameroon for 3 years, working in the VMS department.  Return home 2010 after Katy graduates.  Probably stay for three years to help Katy adjust to college and get Andrew finished with High School.
Specific:
Duane will be heading up the VMS department.  He will be doing Jesus film dubbing, Acts film dubbing, scripture cassettes, training nationals, as well as promoting new oral methods of scripture in use.  He also looks forward to reconnecting with a men's accountability group.
I, Shirley, will initially focus on helping the kids readjust to Cameroon and the stringent school they will be attending.  I foresee that Andrew will struggle the most with the intense format.  My long term role is currently under discussion, trying to take into account healthy boundaries.  We may also be hosting/rooming a ninth grade student next year.  Her family lives in the far north of Cameroon and other wise would be having her live in a hostel.
3.  Current areas of stress and or discouragement
Attrition of members in Cameroon is discouraging.  When we return, there will be five families gone since we left two years ago.  They have older kids and are now in the states, working at regional offices while their kids adjust to college and get married.  Beginning this period of transition, leaving the US and returning to Cameroon, brings stress.  It is always difficult to keep living here with good energy but also starting to prepare for life in Cameroon.  Part of leaving will be especially hard this time as I have become really close to my mom and brother.  For the first time in 20 years our family was together for Christmas. 
General health concerns for myself, Duane and Andrew do cause some stress, though not a significant amount.  Andrew has been off his medication for Epilepsy for a year which is a real praise.  Andrew continues to struggle with enuresis, though is making good progress.  Our hope is that by the time we leave he will be able to consistently go through the nights dry.
Duane is adjusting to a breathing machine(CPAP) at night as he was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea.  The doctors don't see why he can't be successfully treated overseas.  I am currently having a general physical and blood work done.  I probably need my thyroid medication to be adjusted, but other than that I've been doing fairly well.
Communication with our constituency has continued to be a stress and problem area for us.  In general, we struggle with feeling like we don't have anything of consequence to write about.  The reality is, we need to do it and not give excuses.  This is one of our specific short term goals.
4.  Current areas of contentment and accomplishment
This Is a topic that I'd like to review more frequently as it's always good to look back and reflect on what the Lord has done and is doing.  January 25th was my 100th day of not eating any sugar.  This has had a good effect physically and emotionally for me.
The end of December Duane finished a very rigorous VMS course, graduating with a 4.0 and the highest rating possible.  He has a great renewed vision for his work in Cameroon.
We are excited about owning our own home and very thankful to the Lord for providing the finances and furnishings.  The kids are especially enjoying being able to put down some roots and knowing that we will be coming back here.
We are attending a church that we have really enjoyed being a part of.  The kids are feeling connected and showing growth in their spiritual lives.  Katy was baptized last December.
We have been able to raise all but $40 of our $1200 increase that we need to return to Cameroon.  The Lord has also been very creative in the ways he has provided for us as our financial needs here are much greater than in Cameroon.  
Andrew has been off all seizure medication for a year now and hasn't had any problems.
5.  How our health does or might influence our lives.
We have learned to have more solid boundaries so as to not burn out from working too much.  I am realizing that I'm not super woman and that I can't do everything.  At this point in time there doesn't seem to be anything with our physical health that will limit our ability to return to Cameroon or cause us to return early.  My back is doing well.  My therapist helped retrain some damaged muscles which caused some of the secondary back problems.  Duane is using a breathing machine (CPAP) for his night-time sleeping.  If it is determined that he needs to take this with us, it will be adaptable to Cameroon without a problem.
6.  Current state of our families spiritual walk.
Duane feels like his walk with the Lord has grown and is growing a lot.  He is going from pessimism to God's optimism, enjoying God, a personal relationship with him and in turn enjoying life.  The rest of the family is enjoying the change.  I have had some deep personal paradigm shifts as I've addressed emotional and health issues.  I'm currently enjoying a good Bible study and have really appreciated the recent teachings of Beth Moore.  Katy continues to have a very solid walk with the Lord.  She has daily quiet times at 5:45 on her own and is very involved in a small group through church.  Andrew is emerging from the childhood knowledge and walk with God to a more mature understanding and relationship.  In his Middle school group the leaders always comment on his seriousness and desire to study the scriptures. 
As we have been home this furlough, we have been asked why we continue on in missions?  We have seen many colleagues leave, some due to change of vision, some for health reasons, others can't take the rigors.  Over the years we have been challenged physically, mentally, emotionally and we ourselves have questioned our motives and vision.  Through it all, we've not felt the leading or had the peace that it is time to "come home" or get out of missions.  Even more so now that Duane is out of administration, he has an excitement about working in media and seeing the impact he can have in getting God's message out and transforming lives.  Especially as the kids are getting older we are trying to be sensitive to the Lord's leading, not assuming that He wants us in Cameroon forever.
By His Grace,
Shirley