Week Four

Week four has come to an end. This week the teaching has been on the voice of God, it has been very interesting.
We had a test today on what we have learnt in the last three weeks it went okay.
The rain is starting to become more frequent now which is good.
I have found another internet cafe and have tried to put photos up but have not been able to yet.
A few prayer requests YWAM is looking at buying a piece of land here in Douala it is much bigger than the current base and would be very useful to YWAM. The director, Jacob is currently discussing the price. Prayers for this situation would be very good.
Also on the 4th of June is the Global Day of Prayer there is going to be a big meeting here in Douala and it would be good if you prayed for it.

Love you all
Steve

Week Three

Well another week is over the last two days have been mind blowing God has opened a flood gate of stuff for me to think about. I feel like God has already changed me dramatically after only three weeks here.

The classes have been on the Fear of God which has been interesting i had never really understood it before.

I still havent got use to being a curoisty every where i go. It has its advantages though Augustine and I went out giving pamphlets and all the little kid wanted one from ¨le banc¨Augustine couldnt stop laughing and now he has started calling me ¨le blanc as well! Its going to be even wierder when we get out in to the villages in two months time.

Serge is trying to teach me French by only talking to me in French its not working. I have got to the stage where I can introduce myself in French, ask how some one is, answer the same question, say goodbye, please, thank you and can understand the Bible refrences in French.
I miss going to an English Church though it is so much more disjointed when its translated.

Love you guys
Steve AKA le Blanc

Hey Everyone

So this week we have been talking about intercession, sin and values. The subjects are not really linked. The speaker is a lady from Argentina who is married to a guy from Cameroon. She seems to be fluent in Spangrench. (Spanish + French)

On Friday we went to watch a drama that some of the students where in it was pretty funny even if i couldn't understand it cause it was in French. On Saturday We (Serge Kahlia and I) went to visit Serge's sister. Both where quite long walks so on Sunday i was pretty tired so we stayed at the base and had our own Easter service thing. Including the communion (powdered) milk.

It rained really heavily a few nights ago which is good because it means a drop in the humidity. We are also getting closer to the rainy season which is good.

God is good all the time

God has done some pretty cool stuff this week.
He has shown me some of Himself. The classes this week have been on two diffirent things. Personal devotion and the Cost of Discipleship. Both have been really good. In terms of assignments we keep a journal and we are also doing a book report.

I am almost getting use to the heat in terms of what do you do to keep cool? mostly sweat! you get real nasty and sweaty real quick here and have two take a few showers a day. I drink lots and try to get lots of rest during the day.

The fruit here is great i really like African pineapples they are not as acidic as the Kiwi variety. They want Kahlia and I to cook some Kiwozzie ( Kiwi + Ozzie) food. We are not sure, they dont exactly have the same cooking implements.

Im becoming a real African!
I can use a well! Yeah thats right!
I can do my washing by hand and even have a shower out of a bucket when the water turns off!
Im even remembering some of my fifth form French.
The langauage thing is probably the hardest thing. Class isnt too bad but Church is difficult. One of the choir translated for us, which was cool. One of the students is determined to teach me French by onlt talking to me in French. Some of the students have started calling me by my French name Etiene. I looked up Acts 7 in a French Bible to see what the French equivqlent was ;)

The other thing that takes some getting use to (apart from the heat and the French) is the fact that everywhere you go you have hundreds of African eyes watching you. When i played football they where watching and responding to everything i did.
I got promoted - when walking down the street i normally get "Bonjour le Blanc" translated as "Good day whitey" yesterday i got "Bonsuit Monsuier le blanc" translated as "Good evening MR Whitey" so they obviously can tell im becoming African.

Miss everybody very much.
Steve AKA Etiene

Week One

Well the first week is over. All the students are here now. All of them are from Cameroon except Kahlia (Aussie) and I.
The subjects this week have been Praise and Worship and the founding values of YWAM.
We have been given Loren Cunnigham's book "Is that really you God?" to read.

There are four guy students ( and one staff) and four girls (and one staff) and the director his wife and little girl. There are five guys in the room which is pretty small.

It is VERY hot here and this part of Douala is pretty poor the roads are all dirt roads. I get lots of looks walking down the road with my African bodyguards
There is an internet Cafe and a market fairly close.
I have had one game of football but i couldn't keep up with the African kids. They are very fast and very skilled.

The classes this week have been in French and translated into English. Most of the conversation in the base is in French or broken English. All though it has been good to have someone who is a natvie English speaker from Australia to talk to in normal speed.
Both the director and his wife are fluent English speakers except they have been away at a wedding this week. Of the eight Camerunese here at the moment four are pretty fluent in English, that is you can hold a conversation if you are patient and concentrate. I can pick up a few words here and there in the French and can say the simple stuff.
Quite a few of the students want to come to New Zealand to ski, learn English, play rugby and find wives that dont need dowries ;)

The food has been pretty good lots of bread, fish, beans, rice, African Tea, differnet sauces and fruit. The fruit here is quite different - the "oranges" are green and not as acidic as Kiwi ones.
In terms of African wildlife i have seen lots of lizards, mosies, cockroaches, frogs and goats and not much else.

Photos

I cant seem to put photos on the site or on here :( so you may have to wait until i get home. To see anymore photos.

The eagle has landed

Well here i am i have finally arrived in Douala! The Visa came through after i spent a few hours at the airport. I did have a problem with my bags for some reason when you fly from Nairobi to Douala they dont put your bags on the same flight. Anyway after three days with the same clothes and no tooth brush etc my bags arrived Praise God. I thank you for your prayers. The students here are mostly from Cameroon some speak English well others are learning and im practising my French. There is one Aussie from Gold Coast Carlia so far she is the only other blanche -white- person i have seen outside the Airport!!! I went to my first African Church service yesterday it was pretty cool even it was all in French. After the service the pastor translated the sermon so i got to hear it twice!
I have put some photos of the base up on the site. Love you all and God Bless.
Please excuse any mistakes as i am using a "French" keyboard!!!