Syncretism

Syncretism is a religious belief that is more believed and practiced in the foreign countries. There known to be spirits, magic and witch craft, and sacrifices. In the area where they have all these different beliefs it is best to go in and not to change things right away; but to get to know the people and observe to find out what they believe. We can’t just step in and change these people’s beliefs. I think it is very important to tell them about the gospel and Jesus and we have to make sure we wait until we make relationships with the people. I believe that we should go there learning and come out as the teachers. We can make syncretism less practiced by getting more people willing to go and learn about the lifestyles and then teach them who to really worship over time. Syncretism is very hard because people do learn about God and who he is, but they don’t really drop all their beliefs. Instead they add it to what they already believe and continue holding on to the practices and beliefs that mean nothing. All we can really do to stop and make less syncretism is really stepping out there and doing God’s work the best we can and teach them about God.       

Jiggers

In Cameroon there are times when Cameroon can become very dry and dusty and in those times jiggers are every common and there are many of them on the ground that hide in the. Jiggers are these bug that looks kind of like a flea that get in under your toe nails and feeds your skin cells. They also nest under your toe nail and in your skin which I think is really nasty. There are ways to prevent jiggers but you can still get them even doing things to prevent. Jiggers are very common to find on animals like goats, pigs and chickens. If you try to stay away from animals that is a good way to stay away from some major area’s where they are. Also if you where closed shoes, wash your feet, check your feet a lot you should be able to not get any or not many. My idea that I decided to come up with to prevent this from happening ,and yes I thought of ways but I would duck type my toes everyday so that they are not able to get under my toe nail. Do I think that is a very bright Idea I would say so thought about that one real hard let me tell you. For I am not looking forward on how they take this bug out of your foot. The way they move the jiggers is taking a sharpen piece of bamboo and taken all the skin away from around the jigger and after that it is exposed and is way easy to remove it from your foot. You want to make sure you get the head with the body for then the jigger will bite back into your skin to hang on and not depart from your poor foot. This is something really to prepare myself for getting ready for heading into Cameroon not being too worried about it and not to let it detract me while I am there. 

http://www.travelr.org/travel-updates/thosedarnjiggers

You’re Calling in life and how do you know what it is.

1"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.  7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.  8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men."  9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?  10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)  11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:1-16

I think this scripture is every clear about being called as a Christian to serve him with your gifts. God has blessed all his people with spiritual gifts to that they could go out in to the nations and tell about God and who he is and what he has done. I really like that part in this scripture where it says its talks about God giving grace according to their gifts and it says he gave some to his apostles to his prophets and to the evangelists and some pastors and teachers. God has gave all of us gifts that might be the same as someone else’s or different and sometimes we don’t use are gifts and following are calling with what we are suppose to do with that gift. It is sometimes hard to find out what it really is that God is calling us to do and really what are gifts are for but reading though this scripture I believe that what it says in verses 1-8 really summaries what your calling is and what is in you. It also talks about what things come with doing God’s work like humility, gentleness, patience which are big things to have while doing great things for God. When you listen to Gods calling he helps you and leads you though it and guides you every step of the way. I few other really good bible verses that I think are really good verses that touch on your calling and gifts are Mark 10:45 Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…" I just really that verse it really straight forward on we are here to serve God by serving his people not for us to be served. The other verse is Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."  Therefore whatever your gift is let it be what it is and use it to the fullest and serve God with it.

In the books of Acts it talks about the journey of Paul going to spread the “good news” about Jesus Christ to the people in Jerusalem. In the book of Acts there are a few verses that display Paul’s witnessing and evangelization to the people In Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Paul was a leader and had authority over the people but he also was a responsible leader. Paul would not minister based on the wrong understanding; he would be sure and would go on Gods authority, he would pray about where God was to lead him. In Acts 1: 8; it says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Then there is 3:19; where he speaks with authority “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” I feel this verse is telling people to wake up and ask for forgiveness so they can have a fresh start. I like this verse because this is what our mission is; to go out to people who are hurting and don’t know God and then tell them the word and how they can be given a new life since God is forgiving. This leads me to the next verse; which is Acts 4:12; “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” I feel those three verses really look at evangelism then and make me think how they evangelized in the Bible. Going to Cameroon will be a journey stepping onto the mission field. I believe the way you evangelize is affected by the way you act towards others, and those on your team. I need to start thinking in what ways I can be a better evangelist in the time that I will be in Cameroon by using the book of Acts as an example. Acts is a starting point to really understanding what evangelism is.     

Elections debates in Cameroon

In the Cameroon elections the government is trying to encourage women to play part in the elections to and show them that they have the rights and the power to vote in their culture. They want all their stereotypes against women to drop. For women will feel comfortable to vote without men in their cultural getting in their face for voting ,and look at them different.  The Elections Governing Body as made a time that they are meeting in order to plan the workshop to help women vote. I thought this was an interesting because in Cameroon you see the ways women are treated and you see what they are looked down on by their own cultural. I feel it shows that woman are looked down on as little power.

The Global Adventures task of climbing Mount Cameroon

The Global Adventures team has a chance when we go to Cameroon to climb Mount Cameroon as a team. Mount Cameroon is known as the highest mountain in West Africa and is more or then less straight from coast and right though the tropical rainforest. It is hardly ever seen from the coast as weather and clouds come around and cover the land. It takes I believe about two days to go up and down the mountain. As a team builder are team is to do this to encourage each other and build each other up before we step in to Cameroon and work with the Cameroon team with assisting with the translating the Bible and making books for the children . So we can learn how to work with each other and how to support. I am really excited for this just, because it is a fun little thing for are team to do. I am excited to climb it but not very excited to feel the pain afterwards.  

being rooted in christ

Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus, continue to live in him. Rooted and built up in him strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.  
 This verse is about being rooted in Christ and to remain in him with good roots and by following and living for him he will strengthen you in your faith and keep you anyway from sin. For he will give you good roots and if you stay rooted in Christ you only grow more with him and you 
 are thankful for what he has done for you. I personally fine this just a great verse for because some time we can get in these path ways of us just giving into easy things that take us away from God and detract us. It can be the simplest thing like we would rather go on Facebook then spend time with God and we kind of just push prayer or devotions to a back burner. All those little things can mix into are good roots and really just tug us away from where we need to be. I can say that I find myself struggling to just take a break from homework or Facebook or even socializing and just read the bible or pray. For I am just more focused on what I need to do or what I want to do. Looking at this verse I just remember that I need to make sure my roots are staying strong in Christ and if I keep my focus he will strengthen my roots therefore it will get harder for me to fall.