Julia's girls and their mom

What world that God has made.  You never know who you are going to meet and how you people are going to connect.  All of this because of the love of Jesus.  It is wonderful to know Winifred and her daughters, Scipora, Emmanuela and Marinnet from Babanki in the North West Cameroon.  The girls are doing very well in their education while the mother (widow) is working hard on the farms, rearing pigs and chickens taken good care of them.  May the Lord richly bless these girls to grow up to be wonderful women with a heart for the Lord.  Thank you Lord for giving us an opportunity to minister to them in our own small way.

Send off for Roland & Lena & Bjorkestedt's

Roland & Lena has been serving with CABTAL since 2009. Lena worked in Bafmen doing

preliminary linguistic work. She traveled to Bafmen even so often and most of the time by motorbike something that is not common especially for women of her age. She also found a family and stayed with in Bafmen whenever she goes out there.
He worked more with Literacy especially functionary literacy with the Meta & Oku teams. He traveled to these villages every so often with the Suzuki vitara. They were also able to teach at the Ndu CBTS Seminary where CABTAL & SIL are running a BT degree program for sometime. Today we could hear everyone say it has been a blessing to have this couple. They've also been a source of encouragement to many people through their simple nature and teachable attitude. Roland wounds it all up saying that in all that we do, let us look at it a little more and be sure Jesus can be seen in it.

Development brings difficulties

When development comes, things can also be stressful for some people at least for a short while.  The people on one side of the road in Kimar in Jakiri Sub Division in the NW Region of Cameroon are having a hard time going home due to the road construction going on.  They rely on ladders to across the road for any business.  For kids, this is very interesting as they are smart but for adults, this is a very challenging exercise.  This also mean that they will have to work on their own to fix the roads to theirs homes when the road works company must have done its part.  This can really be very frustrating for these people.  In some cases two or three ladders are needed to reach one house.  Ladder makers can certainly make some business here.

Eulogy to Eve

Sister Evelyn,

The last time we spoke at length was on the 4th of May and our subject of discussion was that we were afraid we were missing one member of the family.  Thankfully, the Lord did not allow that to happen.  Little did I know that we will be missing you for real in just less than two months? 

I always look forward to talking with you because you are such an important person to me.  My wife Lilian was not only your sister but you were a father and mother to her.

When I got a "call me back" from your telephone number that fateful Friday night, I was excited to call you back but just to get the heart breaking news that you had already gone home!  To this very day, it is still very difficult for us to come to terms with the fact that you are no more. 

Just this year, I cannot count the number of times you've sent us food at the least opportunity that you see someone coming to Bamenda.  We did not even get the chance to say thank you for taking care of us.

Thank you very much for your silent lesson of love and concern for every member of the family. 

We will miss you so much

Adieu Eve, until we meet again in glory

~Frans, your brother-in-law

Bible Translation Sunday (BTS) in CBC Church Bambui

In the Bambui CBC Church, Brother Ernest Kinga presented about CABTAL saying what God is already doing in the lives of people around Cameroon as they hear Him speak in the langauge that they understand better.

Pastor Claude in his preaching said that we ought to watch out for the historic gospel, the gospel that saves us from sin and not only the gospel that heals us quickly or makes us rich.
When the work of Bible Translation succeeds, evangelism will equally succeed because people will understand the gospel clearly and live spirit filled lives to the glory of God.

People are encourage to join CABTAL which is the arm of the Church to partner in the work of Bible Translation.  People are encouraged to NOT only give money but to commit to prayer.  If we are to succeed in Bible Translation, we need to pray and pray and pray because the enemy doesn't want this work to go ahead


~Frans

Adieu Evelyn!

Evelyn & Caritas during our wedding in Nov 06

My sister-in-law Evelyn Leila was in good health from every indication until the late hours of Friday 21st June 2013 when she suddenly started vomiting and later collapsed, she was rushed to the hospital but couldn't make it.

She was staying by herself in the neighbourhood of Ngambe-Tikar in the far off forest area of Yaounde.  We hardly could reach her by cell phone so normally she is the one who will call us from time to time when she gets into the network.  When I saw a "beep me" from her number that Friday night, I was quick to call hoping to talk with her was shocked to hear she had died.  I was the first family person to get this sad news.  The last time I spoke with her was on the 4th of May when she was in Nkambe visiting her brother Hans.

Leila was the first in a family of four - Lilian my wife is the fourth.  Leila was more like the head of the family since their parents are all of late.  She has left behind Caritas a 9 year old who is now without a mother and a father as her father died a few years ago.

Leila always has time for everyone.  She never forgets to send someone a gift at the least opportunity.  In fact it is not long that we finished the "bush meat" that she sent to us.  We did not even have time to send you a gift.  We did not even have time to thank you for always sending us something.   You have just gone so fast my sister, it is hard to believe that we will not see you again until that glorious day.

Pray for comfort, joy and peace for the entire family as this difficult moment.

Leila, sister Eve or Mami Caritas as we fondly call you. Adieu! until we meet again in glory

~Frans

Africa IT Connect Series 3 in Nairobi - Kenya

Africa IT Connect is a community for Africa based IT support staff.  IT Connect series 3 was help at the BTL center in Ruiru from the 12 through the 24 of May 2013. It was a wonderful two weeks of sharing, problem solving, getting to know one another and to hear the stories of one another.