CBTS
PO
Box 44
Ndu,
Northwest Province
Cameroon
30
October 2001
Dear praying family and friends,
Greetings from Ndu, where the dry season is just
beginning. I was looking out the
kitchen window this afternoon as a big truck drove by on the dirt road behind
our house. Clouds of dust billowed up
and drifted down across our side yard and over the clean clothes hanging on the
line! I expect we may all have a
reddish brown dusty tinge in the months ahead.
But dust particles in the air make gorgeous sunrises and sunsets so
we’ll praise the Lord for the way he turns dirt into glorious masterpieces.
We just returned yesterday from the Baptist General
Conference Field Council, the twice-yearly meeting of all the BGC missionaries
in Cameroon. We passed by the option of
visiting the Green Valley Resort, whose sign is pictured above, since we were
hoping for a refreshing rather than a hectic weekend. We were delighted to meet
Tom and Ellen Schotanus, from Gardner, MA who are serving a three-year term,
working with construction projects. Tom, who sold a successful construction
business, a boat, and a cabin on a New England lake to help finance his
mission, commented on the great sense of purpose he feels serving here; when
comparing his previous life to his service as a missionary, he said, “How
boring my life used to be!” The Council took place in Mbingo, where Joel was
x-rayed and stitched the night after the accident. It was a joy to return under
more pleasant circumstances. We stayed in the Upper Rest House, which is
perched 200 feet above the hospital overlooking dramatic scenery of rocky hills
and waterfalls. We trekked up and down the steep path to the dining room and
delighted in the peace and quiet of the area. Our children enjoyed playing with
the five Dallman children, and we much enjoyed deepening our relationship with
their parents, John and Gala. We hope to arrange family visits with them each
direction. They minister among Fulani Moslems about 130 miles northeast of us.
Field Council is a
time of assessing what each of the missionaries has been doing and planning for
the months ahead. The meetings were long but very helpful for us, as we gained
a greater understanding of the work being done by others in Cameroon. We were
impressed by the thoughtful, prayerful way in which challenges and difficulties
were discussed, and appreciated the dedication of our colleagues. You can pray
especially for two couples: Jim Smith, a retired doctor, and his wife Ina just
arrived in September. They will work at
a health clinic associated with the Dallmans’ ministry to the Fulani. Second,
at Field Council we approved the application of our friends Travis and Sue
Myers from Minneapolis, who hope to raise funds and receive permission to come
to the seminary this summer.
Teaching continues to go well for both of us. Beth’s
teaching of library skills has been enjoyable and exceptionally well received.
Coty has much enjoyed getting to know some students more personally. Let us
tell you about one. In 1995, Paul Bamnjo had a good job working as a truck
driver in Nigeria. However one night, thieves attacked and robbed him, spraying
a chemical in his face to disable him. His eyes were severely injured. Although
a Christian group sent him to Kenya for an eye operation, the procedure was not
successful; he has absolutely no sight in either eye. Paul felt his life was
over. He returned to his home in Cameroon only wanting to die, and seriously
considered suicide. But God worked a miracle in his life, placing him in a
school for the blind and then, before he even learned Braille well, giving him
the opportunity to come here to CBTS. Despite many struggles, Paul will
graduate in June. He presently spends five mornings a week, from 6:00-7:15 AM,
visiting patients in the local health clinic, and feels a particular calling to
minister to those with terminal illnesses. He hopes to become a hospital
chaplain after graduation. Praise God for the work He has done in Paul’s life,
and for continued guidance as God leads him into the right ministry in the
months ahead.
In the spring, Coty is
tentatively scheduled to continue his three economics courses, and to teach The
Pleasures of God (using John Piper’s book as a resource), Revelation, and
Christian Marriage. Beth will co-teach the last course. Coty has also begun a
weekly, optional meeting to listen to sermons by great preachers, which he
hopes to continue the rest of the year. In the first two sessions, he read
sermons by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and will read one by Charles Spurgeon next week.
The schedule continues to be both exciting and demanding, so once again we
covet your prayers.
The children all continue to do well. Joel lost his
first tooth recently, as is obvious in this picture.
Your great generosity has allowed us to contribute to
the seminary in ways other than teaching. Before arrival, we spent almost $1600
for textbooks and computer equipment, and we have now been able to budget an
additional $2400 for more texts. In addition, we have provided $1500 for
student work-study funds. This will pay for about 7,000 hours of student labor,
helping both with maintenance and building of facilities; these payments will
then enable students to stay in school who otherwise would have to leave their
program for a while to earn money to pay tuition. If any of you feel led to
help the seminary in ways other than supporting us, contact us; we would be
happy to give you a list of needs to consider prayerfully.
Some of you have asked about reaction in this area
to the events of September 11 and the subsequent attacks in Afghanistan. All to
whom we have spoken – including some Moslems in the area – decry the September
11 attacks, and acknowledge that the US has the right and the responsibility to
respond in some way. At the same time, there is widespread concern for the
people of Afghanistan. People here can relate to those who are poor, and who
suffer because they have little or no influence over bad decisions made by
their country’s leadership. Students frequently pray that the bombings will
end.
Other items for prayer:
short months about what facilities to expand and how
to revise the seminary’s programs.
face personally and fervently, and not allow our busy-ness and activities of service to crowd out our time with God.
Himself. We believe that the aftermath of September 11 opens doors to many Moslems; pray that His Spirit will use these terrible events in great ways for the glory of His name.
Thank you once again for your love, your prayers, and your generosity. We are privileged to have such a solid team of supporters. Through our prayers and our work together, may God bring many people to Himself, who will say, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You! My flesh and my heart may fail, but You, O God, are the strength of my heart and my portion forever!”
For
the glory of His Name,
Coty
and Beth Pinckney