June 2006
Dear Church Family,
God is faithful!
Over the years of mission engagement in Africa, I have truly
witnessed the many wonders of God’s love, understanding,
and peace. Even in the midst of sickness, war, drought, uncertainty,
and the “newness” of another country, God has continually
manifested a faithfulness that, even if all the waters of the
earth were ink, it still wouldn’t be sufficient to write
of this faithfulness.
God has protected us and given us days of joy, celebration, fellowship,
and challenge as we have lived among and with our Basotho (Lesotho),
Zimbabwean, Burkinabé (Burkina Faso), Congolese (D.R.C.),
and now, Cameroonian brothers and sisters. In fact, just the opportunity
to be part of God’s larger community in so many contexts
pales any moments or lingering memories of sadness I have felt
or tears I have shed. Yes, God is faithful!
As my colleagues in mission, you too have been faithful. Repeatedly
you have lived out your belief—not only as individuals but
also as members of the PC(USA)—by reaching out to others
spiritually, morally, politically, and financially and being a
great witness in a world where there is more distrust than trust,
hatred than love, and feelings of alienation than kinship. I often
marvel at the way in which this corporate body does not draw back
from intense issues, or is willing to take risks to hear the gospel
afresh and from afar. And you have uplifted me in so many ways
without ceasing. Yes, you have been a faithful people of God.
Scheduled to celebrate its ruby jubilee later this year, the
present Presbyterian Teacher Training College (PTTC) is an outgrowth
of the concern by the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon (PCC) for
training and providing teachers to teach in its primary schools.
PTTC’s roots, however, are embedded deep in the 1950s. As
one of the first and most recognized teacher training colleges
in English-speaking Cameroon, other church-related and government
schools as well as NGOs and governmental agencies aggressively
recruit PTTC graduates. The coursework consists of content, methodology,
and applied courses, numerous practice teaching experiences, and
a thesis paper in addition to active participation in the spiritual
and social life of the community. It is even tougher academically
when one takes into consideration the manual workload of the students:
preparing meals on the weekend for the entire student body, cutting
grass by hand, digging furrows on the school farm with short handled
hoes, and bathing in cold water during the often-chilly mornings.
Many are parents with children also in the different levels of
the educational system.
One of the eight subjects I teach is computer sciences to the
final year students, and it is a joy seeing them grow and develop
in their computer savvy! The majority had never even been in the
same room as a computer, not to mention having touched one! As
far as we know, PTTC is the first teacher training college in
the country to institute such a program as part of its teacher-training
curriculum. What a challenge! (When you upgrade your computers,
we would be more than happy to put your oldie to good use.)
In 2005, the PCC decided to strengthen PTTC financially while
providing a much-requested secondary school in this area. Seemingly,
the campus transformed overnight from a quiet studious setting
to one of high energy, noise, and constant movement as the first
batch of secondary scholars was admitted. These 11- to 13-year-olds
are all over the place and into everything and they love calling
my name, sharing their problems, and eating American sweets and
playing American games! I am exhausted just thinking about it!
But it is challenging and many times, it feels overwhelming. During
the latter, I struggle to be faithful, for much has been given
to me to share and much is there to receive from others.
One would think that with two different generations on a small
campus sharing the same facilities, faculty, and “personal
space,” there would be chaos. As indicative of the sense
of community in African culture, the senior students took the
junior ones under their wing as sons and daughters or younger
siblings, and the youngsters call all of the older students “auntie”
and “uncle.”
Brooks ‘Mabotle, now 16, falls into this group as well.
Having spent one year on campus fully interacting in the life
of the campus, she was both happy for the new challenge of boarding
school and sad to be leaving home. Happily, her venture out overlapped
by a few hours with PTTC/PSS’ opening day. She shared hugs
with the “aunties” and “uncles,” basked
when they admonished her to be good, and received treats from
their various cultures. She took on the role of a big sister by
welcoming the pioneer batch of students, giving study tips, and
warning them that I am pretty strict. They all keep each other
in thought and prayer, surely what mutuality and respect is all
about.
Let us, too, continue to uplift one another in thought and prayer
and to be faithful to whatever it is that God is calling us to
do or to be.
Sincerely,
Leisa Wagstaff and Brooks
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 315
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