Dear family & Friends: let me begin by apologizing for not being on top of sending out updates in 2022. So much has happened that it would take a very long newsletter to capture it all. I promise to break things up in several newsletters beginning in January 2023.
2022 was rewarding as well as a challenging. In it I experienced severe burnout which made it difficult to stay in touch. Almost 30 years on the road and on the go has taken a toll on me. I am, however, so humbled by the favor God has given us in 2022. In the next pages, I will share just a few testimonies.
Over the years, some of the support we receive has gone to student sponsorship. On page two of this newsletter captures one of many stories of those we have supported. In page three, we have the story of a young talented girl from Missouri who braved it, leaving family, friends and comfort to spend three months teaching at our unique all-inclusive school in Cameroon. We end the newsletter on page four by dedicating it to the memory of a long time supporter who went to be with the Lord recently.
In these season of “thanksgiving,” “l thank my God upon every temperance of you in all my prayers for you…” Phil 1:3-6
Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!
Serving Him together,
Ernest Ehabe
|
|
|
(below)Heartwarming letter from one of our 3rd grade students at our unique all-inclusive school in Douala
|
|
Most of our early ministry activities and outreaches in the 90’s and early 2000s were in High Schools and Universities campuses across Cameroon. At that time HIV/AIDS was prevalent. Schools were open for us to speak on “Abstinence Education,” This gave us opportunity to also talk about the beauty and credibility of the gospel of Jesus. In University Campuses, we did evangelistic crusades that brought thousands of young people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at each event.
Our student sponsorship was a by-product of these evangelistic outreaches. Many who came to Christ are often ostracized and cut off financially by their families, especially Muslim students. We had no choice but look for ways to aid these students. Many are now professional across Cameroon. Some have left the country in search of greener pastures.
Jirim Emmanuel Kari was one of the students God led us to assist. “Small Emmanuel”, as we call him, grew up in a Muslim family and was sent to the Koranic School at an early age. His father was married to three wives and had 14 children. Seven of these children were from Emmanuel’s mother who died, and all the kids were left to fend for themselves.
|
|
Emmanuel came to Christ while in high school. With no one to assist him, Emmanuel would spend his summer holidays in the forest hauling logs for timber exploiters. Dr. Daniel Shu, our, then, Executive Director, opened his home to many struggling students and our ministry helped with their school fees and related expenses.
Emmanuel graduated from the university of Yaoundé 1, with a “Diplôme d’études Universitaires Générale DEUG”, and, in 2008, from the “National Advanced School of Public Works Yaoundé” with a degree in Engineering, Topography, and Land Surveying. He was subsequently employed by the Cameroon government in the Department of State Property, Surveys, and Land Tenure. He has held several positions in this dept and has risen to the positions of divisional delegate.
Emmanuel has done exceptional well working for the government and doing private survey work. His work has taken him across Cameroon, as well as South Africa. Emmanuel has been part of two BFL related church plants in the city of Yaoundé, and currently serves as an elder in a new church plant in Yaoundé. He is married and has three children. He recently moved into a house he and his wife built. Emmanuel and others like him are the future of Cameroon and we are proud for the role God has allowed us to play in their lives
|
|
Our school was blessed to have Madison Bickel from February to April this year. Madison, her parents, and their local church have been huge supporters of BFL. Madison and her family had made a family trip a few years back and at that time she committed to returning during her gap year in 2020 to teach art. Unfortunately, she couldn’t come sooner because of the worldwide outbreak of Covid.
She arrived in Cameroon with her family in February this year. She was only 18. Her family spent some time at our integrated sustainable demonstration farm and then in Douala at the school where they left Madison to spend three months.
|
|
Madison was home schooled. She graduated high school August 1, 2020. She graduated with her Associates of Art degree from Mineral Area College in May of 2021. (She had dual-enrolled in high school and maintained a 3.8 GPA in college and graduated with the outstanding student award in art.)
Madison’s classes were an immediate hit with our students and community. While art education means different things to different people, it means a lot more in a unique school like ours as it helps children with the development of motor skills, language skills, social skills, decision-making, risk-taking, and inventiveness.
Madison will return to teach at our school again in January through July 2023. To say we are EXCITED is an understatement.
|
|
In this season of ‘THANKSGIVING’ there is so much to be thankful for. I am particularly thankful for the life of Mr. Ray Solcher, a long time supporter who recently, unexpectently left this world. This edition of our newsletter is affectionately dedicated to his memory and legacy.
I first met Ray and his wife almost two decades ago while visiting a supporter outside Houston. Ray and his wife took an interest in me and our work. I was invited to their home and they began supporting our work almost immediately. God used Ray and his wife at various times to meet huge needs. The first was a badly needed return ticket to Cameroon. They found that I always bought a one way ticket to visit the US and I had overstayed my visit so they bought me a ticket to enable me fly home to my family.
The Solchers were also instrumental in sponsoring our ‘After School Program’. This program employed three full time teachers (along with many volunteers), provided snacks, and ministered to several hundred students each year in the city of Buea.
The late Corrie ten Boom wrote, “Every experience that God gives you and every person He puts in your path is the perfect preparation for the future only He can see.” Ray is one of those God placed in my path. He will be dearly missed. In times like this, so many regrets come up: I wish I could have had more time with him during my yearly visits to the US, I wish I could have given him more details about the impact of his generosity towards God’s kingdom.
Ray was born in San Antonio on December 3, 1941. He attended Notre Dame University and after graduation began a career with Southwestern Bell, retiring after 30 years.
Ray continued working on many entrepreneurial projects in retirement. He also had a heart for philanthropic service, both locally and internationally.
He hosted many trips with Latin America Hearing Aid Foundation to supply Hearing aid to deaf children and adults. As a director of Be An Angel Foundation, Ray served families of children with disabilities. He also coordinated and led many mission trips to Casa de Luz (House of light) in the Dominican Republic. Ray acted as chairman of the board for Christian New Creations, an organization that supports previously incarcerated men in the state of Texas.
In his free time, Ray enjoyed boating, golfing, and traveling. He attended church faithfully and had a positive impact in the lives of many people.
Ray is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter in-law, a granddaughter, siblings and many nieces and nephews.
Join me in celebrating a life well lived and in praying for the
|
|
|
|
