Saturday 8 September 2018

Hostetter's Summer Update!

Hey All!

It has been quite a summer! There have been challenges and victories, tears and laughter, and many things happening both in the US of A and back home in Cameroon. We wanted to (finally) take some time and update you all about some of the things we've been up to the last few months!


We had a chance to get more A.C.E. Training for our school. Brittney did the Supervisor's training down in Springfield and I did the Administrator's training out in Tennessee. It was a great opportunity and really helped refresh our knowledge on running an ACE School. We pray God gives us many opportunities to be involved in shaping kids' character and leading them in the ways of the Lord. 



 We also have had the opportunity to travel as a family to visit some dear friends and family and to share with brethren in Oklahoma, Illinois, Virginia, and North Carolina.


We really cherish the time with our family. Being in Cameroon means we so rarely get the chance to be with them. We had a great time with the Thomas' family in Virginia. 

We also had a wonderful time being present for my grandparents 60th anniversary. Here they are with their great-grandkids! A great example of love and devotion.  


Brittney's Grandpa Lacy was a hit with our kids, and it was so good to have an impromptu lunch with our good friends the Reijgers as we traveled! 

We even got to enjoy a few days at the beach with some of the kids cousins! 
We really enjoyed visiting Brian and Jael Harris and family as well in Illinois! We sure miss doing ministry with them. 


As we traveled, we also had many opportunities to share about the situation back home in Cameroon and the things God has helped us to do there. It is encouraging to see the concern and encouragement that people offer us. We are blessed with so many who love us and care about the work in Cameroon! 


An example of the great generosity of the brethren in America. Our school's back up water supply (very important as we often have no flowing water for weeks at a time), was in a dire state. The wooden tower had collapsed ruining the piping and tank. We mentioned this need on Facebook and within minutes, had been promised the funds to get a metal tower and replacement tank set up!!! 



Another great project that we were able to help with back in Cameroon... hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the violence in Cameroon. Many brethren in the churches there have been hard hit, even loosing their homes. We were able to partner with a donor organization here in the United States and with a non-profit organization run by a sister in Christ in Cameroon to offer relief to almost 100 families! It was a huge blessing to them, not only the physical relief and help, but also to know that they matter to people outside of the country and that brethren in the United States care about them and are praying for them. 
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After finishing out the school year,  an excellent awards ceremony, and summer school to end the school year last year, school in Cameroon resumed this week! We have some new teachers, many new students and new challenges. There are a number of needs, one of the biggest of which is a school bus, but we know God can supply in the proper time. We also desperately ask for prayers for peace in Cameroon and for the safety of our dear teachers and students. Things are still very very dangerous there. 

Our initial plan had been to go back to Cameroon this past month and be there for the resumption of the school year. Unfortunately, due to the violence and insecurity in Cameroon, we have been unable to return at this time. Things in Cameroon continue to deteriorate. Our plan for now is to remain in the United States for some time as we hope for a resolution to the crisis. Jeremiah will be doing some schooling to help with the running of our school (a Masters in Education) while working at a gym and also keeping things going in Cameroon with our school, gym and home Bible studies. If you would like to know more details about our plans, what we are doing and why, please drop us a line and we'd love to talk! God bless you all!