Cameroon History (with some science of course)

So I searched Cameroon to see what I found and I discovered a rather interesting historical moment that faced Cameroon in 1986. Lake Nyos (pictured) is a crater lake (which is a lake that occupying a crater beside a volcano)  along the Cameroon Line of volcano's which is a chain of mountain ranges and volcano's known as the Cameroon Range or Cameroon Highlands. What makes this even more interesting that it is located in the region where people speak Oku, one of the languages that we will be working with. The magma beneath the lake leaks carbon dioxide (CO2) into the waters. It is important to note that CO2 heavier then air so when released on land it falls to the ground pushing oxygen upwards, thus suffocates life since oxygen is not available. On August 21,1986 the lake Nyos emitted a large cloud of CO2 and caused 1800 people and 3500 animals to suffocate. The release of the gas was possibly triggered by a landslide. After this happened many scientists went to work to try to prevent from this happening again and researching other lakes to see if they had similar properties. In 2001 degassing tubes installed that cause the water with the CO2 to come to the top so that the CO2 can release in safe quantities but additional tubes should be added to make it more safe. 

What fascinated me most about this situation was the questions that came to my mind since this happened only 25 years ago. There are probably people who are still effect by this disaster and possibly had relatives that died or are affected by this incident. Does this situation have an effect on how the culture works today? Does this impact the way that the Cameroonians think? Will we encounter stories of this while we are there? Are there now folk tales and religions associated with this disaster?

It will be interesting to see if these questions are answered even as we learn more about Cameroon leading up to this trip.

He said, Therefore

Over the past little while I have been struggling in reading my Bible and have had doubts about my faith. I have been encouraged again and again to read through the gospels so here I am finally listening and simply reading them as they were written, like a book. So I started with Matthew and came across the sermon on the mount. Jesus is describing how to act and uping the Law. I would think the people that he was talking to must have knew it well. Then after all that, he said therefore. Perhaps the people might have been thinking that Jesus would then comment on how if one did not do these things then there would be punishment or if one did reward. Yet it was something very differant.
Jesus said Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life...therefore do not be anxious, saying "what shall we eat...drink...wear?"...therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow...
What does Jesus offer? Peace. That was the summary and conclusions of all those commands, laws and instructions, Peace. I think this would have really shocked the people listening. After listing all those things that were totally new and unexpected and challenging he says do not worry, do not be anxious.  Wow... He offers peace in our obedience and faith in Him.

Today I was reminded why Jesus is my God. He offers peace. What other religion offers that? What other thought process or god(s) says "Don't worry, I am taking care of this." To my knowledge none. So here I say publicly Jesus is my God and I will allow him to take my worry.

Tender Hearts

Working at six am leaves one a little tired espically when all you do is watch people swim back and forth. Don't get me wrong, I do love my job and it gives me some good time to think and to do my homework. ( no I don't do my homework while I am guarding) As I was on one of my breaks I was looking through the newspaper The Record trying to find an article to talk about that related to Cameroon and Central Africa. I stumbled apon an article that talked about how a soldier was arrested for raping several women in Sudan. What got me the most was the  fact that they only discovered this when one of the soldiers died after an agruement between the two soldiers over one woman. Reading that I actually snorted at the irony of it and then went back to the pool thinking that I had a good article for this blog.

Now take a step back and look at this picture. A women raped and a soldier dead.
Reaction: good article for homework since it happened in Sudan and oh look I have to go guard now.
PROBLEM! I, as a christian should have a heart that is broken for these people but instead I walked away! oh God give me a heart of compassion! Break my heart for the people of Africa! This news should make us alramed and rather then walking away at the very least we should long to do something. So possibly at this point you are probably saying, "Erika you can't change the world". Yes I know, I am fully aware of that. All I can do is ask for a heart that breaks for it and pray that God will save them instead. Our part is prayer.

Eagles Wings

Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength,
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Deuternomy 32:11
like an eagle that stirs ip its nest
and hover over its young.
that spreads its wings to catch them
and carries them on its pinions

The beautiful thing about scripture is that time after time the scripture interprets scripture. I stumbled across this explanation/interpretation while preparing for a sunday school lesson. (It amazes me how sunday school has such an impact on me more then the kids sometimes but that will be left for another day)

The verse in Isaiah is a rather common one that is memorized by various camps and mid week programs by kids (at least the ones that I have been too). Yet now this verse has so much more meaning when comparing it to deuternomy. God pushs us us out of our nests, our comforts zones and places of safety. Then as we struggle to fly and feel like we are falling he speads out his wings below us and catches on his own wings. We are able to go though these situations resting on our creators wings as he gently carrys us to where He wants us to be.

We will soar on Eagles wings!

So the Adventure begins...kinda

Here we are second semester and four months away from arriving in Cameroon Africa. wow! I am glad that it is still four months because there is still SO much to do, including getting through second semester. Cameroon.... Africa, if you asked me a year ago if I would ever go to Africa I would have probably said "I don't know" but now its a reality. This past week in my feild prep class we were watching a movie that was in Cameroon and that was when it really hit me... I am actually going to Africa!! Thats insane! and exciting!! I am going to be in a place that I have only seen on TV and heard about. I am actually can say that I have been in Africa when i get back.
We have had to do some number crunches since first semester too. This is what makes me nervous!
12-4=9
9/2=4.5 or 4 and 5
What does this mean you ask? Well we used to have 12 and now we have 9 and we are still getting split up into two groups. That means 4 people in one and 5 people in the other. I am trusting God that he has a plan and a reason for this and I know that it will work out in the end.
Even through this little change I have learned more about missions. i have learned that change happens and things aren't always they way that you want them. To accept them is a part of the journey and it is important not to jsut except them but to also imbrace them. another thing that i have discovered as I have learned over the break that missions is way of life. Being a missionary your work is never done and your to do list is never complete. So I learned to keep scratching one thing off and adding another thing on.