We are home. It's amazing how much easier it is to post stuff when you don't have to walk several miles to an internet center with random power outages. The women's conference went very well. There were about 500 women there. Many had walked 2 1/2 to 7 hours to get there. I was so humbled. We did have a good day and I spoke 4 times (I had prepared for three times but Mercy asked me to start with what I taught at Anyajua).

The trip home was long. From the time we left the orphanage via van to when we arrived at DIA was 42 hours. We are still not functioning at full power and somewhere between Paris and Canadian airspace Jim lost his voice and is still whispering . Please pray that he's okay by Sunday. I leave tomorrow for a family reunion in Oregon so won't be at church on Sunday but Alan is coming up from Colorado Springs to share. We are so grateful to have people who love and pray for us. This trip would not have been possible without you. Callie

Cameroon Team - Continued Ministry Opportunities

Thursday, May 21
9 A.M. Jim will preach at Salem Church for their Ascension Day Celebration.
10:30 Jim will speak to the orphange staff on the importance of communicating well with each other in order to work well together and to effectively care and nurture the 75 Children.
1:00 The Interdenominational Pastors tea. Pray that many denominations will be represented and that this connection will result in a fellowship of pastors working together in the Fundong area of NW Cameroon.

Dale Fisher had an amazing conversation with a Fulani woman (Muslim) who agreed to have him come to their village to show the CCC Jesus Film on Thursday evening, May 21. Please pray that these people will have visions and dreams of Jesus and respond to an invitation.

On Friday, May 22, Callie will travel to Belo to do one last time of training with the Women's Ministry Leadership. Pray for effective communication while they are together and that the women will apply what they have learned.

Trip to Akeh

Thank you all for your prayers! God is so good and has answered your prayers! regarding the trip to Akeh!

Alan, Callie, Jim, and Pastor Emmanuel Ful went to Akeh today. It is a very, very, rough, rough road! It is 25 miles each way on steep dirt roads with ravines, rocks, and large mud holes in the road. It took the team 2.5 hours to get there and 5 hours to return. They were in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle but the driver was inexperienced which provided lot's of opportunity for the team to pray enroute. Fortunately, he was an experienced mechanic because on the way back the vehicle broke down. The driver removed the carburetor, fixed it, and replaced it while the team waited and prayed. Another place in the road there was such a big mud hole, the team helped to collect rocks and fill the hole so the car could journey on. More then once the team seriously thought they would be spending the night on the mountain. But, they are back in Fundong safe and sound and praising God.

As they approached Akeh, about a 1/2 mile from the village they were greeted by the church choir (dressed in choir robes) who sang and escorted them the rest of the way into the village. In the church courtyard they were mobbed by the church people who each wanted to personally greet them and thank them for coming. Jim said they felt like royalty. Callie went with the women and had an opportunity to give them some training. Meanwhile, Alan trained the small group leaders. Then about 250 people gathered for a church service with Jim preaching the sermon.
Afterwards, Callie was presented with a new dress made especially for her and they were all given gifts of Papaya, Pineapple, Bananas, and Sugar Cane. It was a very special time!

Please pray for David, Alan's father. While the majority of the team was in Akeh, David and Dale walked into Fundong and visited the Cow Market. A bull attacked David and he is suffering from bruises in various places. He required stitches in his heel which was done by the nurse at the orphanage where they are staying.http://www.crycameroon.org/ Tomorrow they will take him to the "local" hospital an hour's drive away to have him checked out thoroughly. http://www.cbchealthservices.org/html/Mbingo.html

Please know that the team is so grateful for your prayers for them. They know their journey to Akeh was covered in your prayers and they feel blessed to have you on their team!

Friday May 15

Friday May 16, 2009 Our time here has been going very well. The pastors have been very engaged and interested. Alan Weaver who had worked with leaders all over the world says this is the most receptive group he has been with. Yesterday Jim led a very lively and profitable discussion on Bible application and on communication in marriage. He and Alan are hoping to spend individual time with the pastors

Today they will be talking about the pastors’ own spiritual lives and encouraging them to develop accountability partners. Pray that the principles shared will be incorporated into the lives of the pastors and shared with their people. One of the pastors said “we are never the same after you are here.

I {Callie} went to a neighboring town on Wednesday and spent the night with the district women’s ministry president and her team at the local rest house. Thirteen women shared two rooms—eating, sleeping, praying, singing, and fellowshipping together. Eight slept on four oversized twin beds and the rest slept on the floor. I was happy to be sharing a bed. The next day began with singing and prayer though we ran a little long and were late for the 5:00AM prayer time at the church. (I am not a morning person) Later the group went to a remote community. The journey was made in a jeep over a road that would make 4-wheelers jealous. It rained for several hours while we were there so the trip back was even more adventurous as the jeep hydroplaned in the clay mud. I keep wondering what a housewife from Loveland is doing bouncing around rural Africa. Our God does some unusual things J

Please pray for a trip planned for Jim, Alan, and Callie for Monday. The ladies say the road is worse that than what I was on before and it is farther. At this point the plan is to take a car part way and then go on motorcycle taxis for 2 more hours to reach this community. The road can be very bad especially if it rains. It has rained every day except one. The people here are trying to find a 4-wheel drive truck to take us all the way which would be VERY helpful. Pray this works out, that there will be no rain, and that the ride on steep rocky roads won’t hurt Jim’s back (which has been doing well).

Shannon (one of the 2 college students who have joined us) was sick her first day but other than that, we are all healthy. We are getting tired so pray we sleep well.The ladies are very excited about the new computer

And how much it will help them with their Bible manual which the women use for the Bible studies throughout the area.

May 12 Cameroon update from Callie

Callie met with the Women's Bible study leaders on Mon. Mercy had said there might be 50 women but there were more than 60 & they were very responsive. It was fun.
Tomorrow, May 13, Callie goes to Belo & will work with Mercy on the women's study manual during the day, speak to a number of women (?) and then spend the night at the guest center with the leadership team (16 women) and go to an outlying area the next day. Callie has no idea of what the accomodations will be so it should be an adventure. Wonderful things are happening here & they are so eager to learn more!