Winding down

It's been a pretty uneventful week, especially since we've had to re-establish our cover story.  The rainy season brings some changes to Garoua.  Not as hot, more humid, a thunderstorm with rain every few days, some greenery, and bugs.  Lots of bugs.  During the day it's flies, hundreds of them, and at night a herpatologist's (I think that's the name of people who study bugs?) dream.  If you're near an outdoor light you'll be in a swarm of thousands of insects which vary depending on if it's actually raining or how recently it did.  There are gnats, flies, crickets, grasshoppers, various beetles, cockroaches, and many others.  The nights after it rains bring out the type of bug the child was playing with near us on the train.  They're similar to dragonflies and practically form a curtain around the light, then in the morning there are piles of their wings on the ground, and the rest of them are gone.  There are also snails and millipedes all around, and of course mosquitoes.  We're sleeping under a net again, not just for the mosquitoes, but also for all the other pests which seem to want to spend the night with us.  The lizards are shamelessly mating, as well.  Water brings life...
As things wind down here everyone is also having a difficult time staying focused.  Beth and I  mostly know what's ahead, the guys have some things to figure out, but I think it's probably hardest for Jonas and Rebecca who are facing the biggest changes.   They will be moving to Kribi when this DTS is finished and that is consuming much of their thoughts and energy.  They miss their children terribly; for Jonas it's been nearly two months since seeing them, and Rebecca only had the short visit (her and Beth left Kribi one day ahead of us to see them) after leaving them a month ago.  Also they face many other challenges; finding a home, getting their few belongings there (no small feat when transport is so difficult), starting a new job, establishing a YWAM base (their true passion), and getting the radio up and running.
One of the core values of YWAM is to 'live by faith', trusting God to meet all of one's needs, and Jonas and Rebecca exemplify that.  As Christians we're all supposed to live that way, and I think most of us do (or say we do), but personally I've never had to live it the way many do.  I've never been unemployed, or had to rely on God using others to meet my needs.  My heritage makes it difficult for me to live that way or even understand those who do.  Being here, however, has helped me to be more empathetic towards them, and I've seen that it's much more stressful than I've realized.  I'm thankful that even now, as we beging this new way of life, we're able to do so without the additional pressure of having to raise support, and rely on (God using) others to supply our material needs.
School will end soon,  and I ask myself what I've really learned.  The academics haven't been earth shattering and most of the material isn't new.  Certainly some different ways of looking at  a few things, but for me not life changing.  Living in a different culture has it's challenges, and we've had to adapt in many areas.  That as well, has provided for some (I think) interesting anecdotes.  But the true purpose of the Discipleship Training School, is to get people out of their comfort zones, and for them to learn more about God and themselves.  Although this school wasn't what I, or Beth, had envisioned; it has succeeded in those areas, and we have no regrets.  In fact, we've discussed several times that for anyone considering something like this, go for it, stretch yourself.
This may be my last post from here, so now is a good time to thank all of those who have been praying for us, and/or following along.  One thing that has been re-enforced is the need for and power of prayer, and your prayers have been instrumental throughout this.  I will for sure resume posting again from Uganda when we go in the fall and possibly an update or two before then.  Thanks for joining us on our goose chase....
b

hard to see, but they're there.  bugs

escargo, anyone?