Twenty five years. It has flown by in a blink of the eye. How well we remember our arrival. Unfortunately we arrived four days before the fax informing our mission of our travel plans. That meant that nobody was at the airport to meet us. We collected our luggage, went through customs, and waited in vain for someone who looked like they were there to pick us up. Finally Jim asked for that little booklet our mission had sent us. There was a map on the back. After studying it he felt he could find the mission headquarters. It shouldn't be too far away. I didn't want him to leave me, but he insisted, so I told him that if I never saw him again, I had enjoyed being married to him. I settled in on our pile of luggage and waited and waited. I was hot, tired, dreadfully thirsty, didn't understand a word of French, and saw only a sea of black people. I tried not to be scared. After what seemed like an eternity, Jim showed up with a car and a bottle of something cold to drink. We were taken to someone's house and given a meal, while others were scrambling to find housing for us. We liven in three locations our first month in country.

Twenty five of us gathered together at Shiloh to celebrate all that God had done during these last twenty five years. Our pastor brought a devotional. Actually there were many pastors among the guests. Each one had to say something. One pastor talked about how Abraham waited twenty five years for God's promised son. He related that to our ministry. Referring to one and another he said they were the son of promise whom God had birthed. He stated that God has more sons to give us. We shared some of the highlights of these last years. We talked about problems and set backs. Health problems, financial problems, interpersonal relationship difficulties. Our focus was on God and His faithfulness.

And then we ate. What a feast we had! We started with potato soup in bread bowls. Then there was our favorite Cameroonian salad, fish, brochettes, fried chicken, rice, fried plantains, plantain pile, folong, and a five layer cake.

As people left we gave them a market bag made by the prisoners from the Fomban Prison. Later while we were doing the cleanup, Doris told us a story. Just the day before her good friend's brother (who is a pastor) was visiting. He saw her market bag and was interested in it. She decided to give it to him. He was so excited! He said “May God repay you with another market bag and may He bless you abundantly!” She was thrilled! She could hardly wait to tell her friend how God DID replace her bag. Right away, too!

What will the next twenty five years bring?