"Finish going out strong and faithful", words of the late Charles Wesco, missionary to Cameroon

Charles Wesco (age 44, a missionary at Bamenda, Cameroon) was on his way to an outdoor market October 30th, when he was caught in crossfire and died. Charles' memorial service was held in Indiana on November 12th. The family had arrived in the country just 12 days prior, ready to start their ministry. God put it on their heart a few years ago, and for the past two years they intensely prepared for their move. Please pray for his widow, Stephanie, and their eight children. 

Currently there is ongoing political unrest and conflict in Cameroon. For a year and a half, the Cameroonian military has been accused of beating and arresting people suspected of being separatists, torching homes and killing unarmed protesters. Armed separatists have called for a boycott of local schools, contending that the French-language schools discriminate against English-speaking students. The fighting may lead to a civil war.

The United Nations rights chief has expressed 'deep alarm' at spiraling Cameroon violence, blaming the government and armed groups for a litany of abuses in anglophone regions during the unrest. It has displaced more than 180,000 people.

“We see the situation degenerating from a crisis to a conflict,” said Gaby Ambo, executive director of the Finders Group Initiative, a human rights group in Cameroon. “And if nothing is done soon, it will turn into a civil war with grave consequences.”

Quote by a fellow missionary in Cameroon

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23). God is never taken by surprise. While we may not understand God’s providences, we must rest in His Providence. We live in time; God lives in eternity. Endowed by God with a brilliant mind, Charles desired to do God’s will. One thing is certain. God is powerful enough to use the life and death of Charles Wesco for His glory, and He will. May the God of all comfort bring peace and His all-sufficiency to Stephanie and the family as they go forward, and may the Lord of the harvest use this perplexing turn of events to further His cause and kingdom." ~ John Van Gelderen (https://revivalfocus.org)

I know many of us remember the four missionaries: Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming, all of whom who were murdered in Ecuador in 1956. I wrote two blog posts about their story on the 60th anniversary of their martyrdom. You can read them here and here.

"Finish going out strong and faithful in His power and grace, and you will never regret it." 

~ Charles Wesco (1974-2018), missionary to Cameroon  

Discovering a challenging new place to explore with Robai

Having recently heard about Samich Resort, this was our first time to check it out. And yes, that's really how steep the hill is!

Just like Kerio View Hotel, Samich also sits on top of the escarpment overlooking the stunning Great Rift Valley

Both of us love to be out in nature enjoying the warmth of the sun, and the beauty all around us

Ai, yi, yi! It was a hard climb going what seemed like straight up, with the air getting thinner with each step!

Somehow I managed it, with Robai's encouragement, and we enjoyed a lovely lunch at the restaurant

Visiting Agnes' family and meeting Duane "Junior"!

Agnes plus four of her five sons, along with her first grand-child, Duane "Junior", his mother Lydia, and also Robai

When Duane (left) was born on Thanksgiving Day 2004, he was named for my father.
Now Agnes' first grand-child is also named Duane. How very exciting!

All of us ladies are excited about another Duane in Kenya: Robai, Agnes, myself, and Lydia.

Zachary Caleb was named for my two sons when he was born

Duane "Junior", Adu (Anderson), and Robai

Pope mended the trousers of his school uniform, as Zach watched 

The young people with Duane

The boys all say 'hello'. Duane Junior's father, Tony, was in Nairobi but I hope to meet him again soon.

Another visit with Nathan's family, plus Deb at school

Lunch time at Fountain Grammar School, plus a cute sign :)

One of Deb's teachers gave her extra coaching as she prepared to take the KCPE exam, the culmination of eight years of primary school.

Yum! Roasted maize is one of my favorite snacks in Kenya!

Nathan is building two pit latrines and a washroom for his family. 

He's also trying out a new venture of keeping pigs

A couple of the boys, happy to see me again but a bit shy

.

I took this top video while on Nathan's motorbike, somewhere between Farfaral and Matunda. The second video was also filmed while on Nathan's motorbike, as we drove along the highway at Matunda market, a place I frequented for 8 years when I had my mud hut at Mtoni.

[By the way, just ignore the other video thumbnails that pop up at the end of these videos, as those aren't mine. Also, you can view all of my videos on my YouTube channel. Just click here to see more.]
 

Challenging missionary quotes from the 18th / 19th centuries, plus one from the 21st century - part 2

"Civilization is not necessary before Christianity; do both together if you will, but you will find civilization follows Christianity more easily than Christianity follows civilization."

Samuel Marsden (1765-1838), English missionary to New Zealand

"Oh, that I had a thousand lives and a thousand bodies! All of them should be devoted to no other employment but to preach Christ. In the north I have seen in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been."

Robert Moffat (1795-1883), Scottish missionary in southern Africa

"Trials and hairbreadth escapes only strengthened my faith and nerved me for more to follow. Without that abiding consciousness of the presence and power of my Lord and Savior, nothing in the world could have preserved me from losing my reason and perishing miserably."


John Paton (1824-1907), Scottish missionary to South Pacific islands

"I have always said I have no idea how God has carried me over so many funny and hard places, except in answer to prayer made at home for me. It is all beyond my comprehension. The only way I can explain it is on the ground that I have been prayed for more than most. Pray on, dear one — the power lies that way."

Mary Slessor (1848-1915), British missionary in Nigeria

"I realized my life was to be one of simple, childlike faith, and that my part was to trust, not to do. I was to trust in Him and He would work in me to do His good pleasure. From that time my life was different. Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible, by faith in the omnipotence, fidelity, and wisdom of the Almighty Savior who gave the command."

C.T. Studds (1860-1931), missionary in China, India, Central Arica

"Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. Depend upon it, God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supplies."

Hudson Taylor (1832-1905), British missionary in China




[above photos and quotes were taken from wholesomewords.org]

"My God-given assignment is a simple one, that of loving my neighbor, which is the second-greatest commandment. God orchestrated me becoming friends with a handful of single moms and their children. We do life together - blow bubbles and have picnics at the park; we share laughter and we share tears. These are intimate and close-up relationships, long-lasting and deep, difficult yet rewarding."

Deb Smith (1955- ), American missionary to Kenya