Cameroon, Africa

An independent state in western Africa. Cameroon is bordered by Nigeria to the northwest, Chad to the northeast, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon to the south, and the Atlantic to the southwest.

Area:
181,569 square miles

Population:
11,092,470 (1990)

Major Religions:
traditional religions, Roman Catholicism, Islam

Official Languages:
English, French

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your prayers for the BJU mission team to Cameroon. We arrived in Cameroon on Monday, July 12 after smooth flights with no significant problems. Brother Tom Needham met us at the Bamenda airport, and arranged for us to stay overnight in Bamenda before driving to Sabga (where the Needhams live) on Tuesday.

When we arrived, the Skirmish mission team was here holding youth rallies involving games, skits, and a gospel challenge. They saw many young people saved during their time here and we had the opportunity to help out with a rally on Thursday afternoon. They are now on their way back to the U.S.

On Wednesday, the three team members went on a hike with the Skirmish team to see some of the countryside around the Needhams home while I went with Mr. Needham in the airplane to view some of the planned airstrip sites. We landed at one completed airstrip where Brother Needham preached to a crowd that gathered around the airplane. The folks there were eager to hear God's word preached, and they insisted on Brother Needham setting a specific time to return. On Thursday morning the BJU team reorganized and repainted the edge markers on the airstrip at the Needhams home making it easier to see the airstrip boundaries and evaluate takeoff and landing performance.

Friday we hiked to Ntaya where we will be clearing an airstrip. We got to meet some of the people and stake out the boundaries of the area to be cleared. It will involve moving a bunch of boulders, cutting down a few trees, moving a fence, and clearing some large clumps of grass. We are praying that we can finish it quickly and have a good testimony to the folks there. Tuesday, on our way to Sabga, we stopped to speak with the Fon (King) of Bafut, the area where Ntaya is. He is enthusiastic about the project and wants to send us help.

There are so many people scattered through the mountains here who can not be effectively ministered to on a regular basis unless several airstrips are put in. Please be in prayer for these folks.

I must close now, but I thank you again for your prayers. I'll keep you informed of what the Lord is doing here in us and through us. We will be in the bush Monday through Friday each week and then come out for the weekend, so I'll try to get a report out each week.

Until next time, God bless.

In Christ,

John Paul Clough

Wed, 28 Jul 2004
Report #2 from Cameroon

REPORT # 2
Dear Friends,

Thanks for your prayers for the Cameroon mission team this week. The Lord gave us a productive and safe week working on the airstrip at Ntaya. By His strength we have been able to progress much more rapidly than originally anticipated and we hope to finish this airstrip by Wednesday this week. The completion of this airstrip will allow for more regular ministry to the Filani people who live in the surrounding area. The people in this area are adherents of Islam, yet have been very friendly and helpful in the work we are doing. Being Muslim is such an integral part of their culture that perhaps they don't see any conversions to Christ as a real possibility. Please pray for these dear folks to be enlightened with the light of the truth of Jesus Christ.

One enjoyable yet challenging aspect of this project has been the opportunity to live in one of the Filani compounds throughout the week. This gives us a great opportunity to be a testimony to our hosts as well as to observe and participate in their culture. We are now very well acquainted with rice.

The airstrip work has consisted mainly of digging boulders out of the ridge where the airstrip is to be and moving them off to the side. God has protected us from any injuries and we praise Him for that. If the Lord allows us to complete this project this week as we anticipate, we plan to go work on airstrips in some other areas. If we could complete one or two more airstrips before we go, the ministry here would be broadened substantially. We are asking God to allow us to complete at least the Ntaya project and one more. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.

Please also be in prayer for what the Lord is doing in our hearts. We have had some great times of fellowship with the Lord both individually and as a team. Pray that God would continue to bring about growth in each of us, working in us as He works through us.

I pray that each of you will have a joy-filled day.

In Christ,

John Paul Clough