December 2002

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Cameroon! We beg your forgiveness for not writing in a long time. It has been a year that has been very busy and full of many challenges, of celebrations and joys and of great sorrows and hardships. It is hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner.

In the spring semester, besides all of his teaching and student advisory duties, Larry volunteered to oversee the construction of the hardwood ceiling of the chapel. It was hoped that the chapel, which was begun in 1998, could be completed by the time of the seminary's fiftieth anniversary, which is to take place the last week of November. This project, which was supposed to take just a few months, was wrought with problems and is just now being completed, despite the fact that Larry spent his entire summer working on this project! One big problem was that the woods being used kept breaking the tools and machines. Larry has repeatedly said that Cameroon hardwoods give an all new meaning to the word "hard" wood. However, the ceiling, designed by Larry and constructed of eight different types of wood, is turning out beautiful. It will be wonderful when we are finally able to hold worship services in the completed chapel instead of the Women's Center, where all worship and special services are now held.

Carissa and Elijah saw the baby and attended the burial which took place less than three hours after his delivery. Immediately after his delivery, a small coffin was constructed and then the seminary community gathered as the baby was buried in the hillside on seminary grounds. Quite a different experience for us in the death and burial process.

On a happier note, last spring Anna also began to do more structured activities with Carissa and her friends. One activity was a field trip to Limbe, a beach town. These children rarely get outside of the village, so it was a big adventure to go to Limbe, which is two hours away. They got to visit the primate zoo and learn about what is being done to prevent the extinction of some of these species. They visited the remains of the lava flow from Mt. Cameroon in 1999. They were able to feel the lava rocks that still held heat in them. And, their greatest joy of the day, was to see and play in the ocean for the first time. It was such a great sight to see these children's eyes get so wide with wonder at the sight of the vast ocean and to hear their squeals of terror and delight as the waves splashed upon them. It was a wonderful day.

This year we formally started "Christ's Kids" club. We have as many as 20 kids on Friday afternoons. They sing and dance, study the Bible, have "literature" time where a story is read to them, and then do crafts or games. A great time is had by all.

The biggest event of the year, however, occurs in just one more week—the golden jubilee of the seminary! As many as 700 people are expected to attend for part or all of the week's activities. It will be a time of celebrating God's faithfulness to the seminary and to ask God's blessing for the future of this institution. It will be a wonderful start to the Advent season.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, we rejoice in all the good things we see God has done here through the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon. We ask that you continue to hold the seminary in your prayers as it begins its next 50 years of training shepherds for Christ's flock here in Cameroon. We thank you for all your prayers, letters, and support.

A Blessed Christmas to All!

Anna, Larry, Carissa, and Elijah