MK Musings

Today, the Bensons left for the States. They got up at 6:00 and waited for Ezekiel to pick them up so they could go to the airport. They left their car, and our dog Georgia, with us. After they left we started our school. Mom hasn’t gotten all of our books organized yet, so we didn’t do as much school as we would have wanted to, but at least we started. After school, we went to Asana. A hotel that is also a restaurant. Their food in so good, and nobody makes better tomato sauce than them. Well, when we got home we did our chores, and practiced our instruments. We had popcorn for supper, and then we did our family Devotions. -Kate

Today was different. We were supposed to start school, but didn’t really because the Bensons, a Missionary family that helped watch our dog while we were on furlough, were coming to spend the night before returning for their furlough, and dropped of our dog, Georgia. Georgia was given to us to watch for another missionary couple while they were on their furlough. They let us keep her. :) We have had her for over six years. She has been a blessing to us. We all love her, except for Drew because she killed two of his pet chameleons! I sleep with her in my bed every night. In the day when you say “Go get in your bed,” She will get in her doggie bed, but if you say it at night, she will get in my bed. She is getting old and might not be with us much longer, so I treasure my time with her. There is no better dog than an already trained, inside dachshund. She is a big part of my childhood.  -Emma

Today was our first Sunday in Bible Baptist church in Bambili. Dad got us up at 7:00 and we left for church at 8:00. When we got there we greeted the people that we hadn’t seen yet, and then the service started at 8:30. They started it off with Sign Language class, and then they had Sunday school. Brother Emmanuel taught Sunday school, and started a series on one of the Ten Commandments. When he finished, we got up and greeted the people that had come in late. We sang some hymns, and then some boys sang a special. They passed the offering box around, and dismissed the kids to Children's church. Miss Diane taught the kids, while Dad preached a message from Psalms. After the service the church held a food and fellowship for us. We ate some amazing Fufu and Njamajama, and fish. I got to talk with my friend, Daniella while we ate, and then we went home for the remainder of the day. -Kate

It was great to meet old friends, and super to make new friends!!!!!!!!!!! I have so many friends. I am spoiled with friends! Knowing that there is someone across the ocean that loves me and is thinking of me means soooooo much to me that there are no words to describe it. The joy and peace that my friends have put and kept in my heart is overflowing. Also the fact that most of my friends stay true to our friendship, even after two and a half years, means even more! I want to say thank you to my friends, and I love you! There is always room in my heart for more friends. -Emma

When we finally arrived in the capital city of Cameroon, Yaoundé, we were exhausted, and tired, and couldn’t wait to get to the Guest house that we were gonna stay in that night. Our plane was originally supposed to land in Douala, but the captain said there was a plane on the tarmac with a flat tire that was on fire so, he landed in Yaoundé first, which was kind of an answer to a secret prayer. When we got all of our luggage, Ezekiel (one of the men from our church) helped us get all of it in the car, and off we went to a Bakery to get some food. I was starving because I had not eaten in two whole days. So Dad bought some baguettes and cokes, and then we made our way down to the guest house that we were staying at.  When we got settled in our room, we ate the bread, did quick devotions, and then fell right to sleep. Someone even said that I sat up in bed and spoke while I was sleeping! Well, in the morning, Dad got us up at eight, and we quickly got dressed and ready for our fin...

It really turned out fine. We got packed just in time and as soon as we were going to leave a very kind man from our church (Mr. Roth ) came and asked us if we needed help packing.We told him that we were just leaving but we thanked him for his kindness. Well we left and another kind man from our church (Mr. Gerald Whitely) came and picked us up in a big bus and took us to the airport. We said our goodbyes and got our luggage checked in and got on the airplane. It is always scary on the first flight and everyone looks cool with it. I wonder how they look so calm? There were a lot of teens in the plane. They were annoying but at the same time amusing. When the plane started rolling one of the teens started freaking out,  it was funny. The plane took off and the rest of the plane rides will get easier.  Kate did not get sick on this flight. It was 2 hours so there was no food and Kate says that is mostly the reason why she gets sick. There were drinks but those don’t smell. We...

Whenever we come back from Africa and we are exhausted, and dirty. But no matter how tired we are, there is always one place we enjoy to visit more than ever. Our home church, Calvary Independent Baptist Church and Christian school of Chattanooga, TN. We have so many friends over there that we love, and that we hate saying goodbye too whenever we have to go back. Pastor Jamie is the best pastor ever. He loves the church, and the school, and everybody there. Miss Tam is his wife, and they have three kids, and one Grandchild. Most of My best friends are there at the church, and the school, like my friends Sam, Gwendolyn, and Rosalyn. -Kate

In the front yard of our furlough house, there is a tree. It is not a big tree, but it is not tiny either. Faith and I love to climb this perfect tree. We would pretend that she was a fox and I was a cat. I would stuff possessions in the branches because that tree was this cat’s home.  There aren’t too many branches, or to few. It’s the perfect place to swing from branch to branch, hang upside down, or just sit peacefully in the branches when the neighborhood is quiet and listen…….. I climb trees a lot in Cameroon, so this tree was great to have! -Emma

God blessed us with our house this furlough. It was very big and when you walked by it you would see a long drive way which is next to our house. The outside of the house is a porch with flowers on it for decoration. Then when you walk up to our door it has a number code to lock and unlock it when you type in the code. When you open the door you see a lovely living room/dining room. If you walk into the dining room to the left is a kitchen. If you keep walking forward you will be in the office. In the office is a door that leads you to the garage - also in the office there is a stair case. If you go up that stair case it is a big open room which is where Me, Kate, and Emma slept. It has a futon and a TV. Back to the living room there is a hallway to the right of it. When you are in the middle of the hallway straight forward is the bath room, to the right is the room where Drew slept with two beds and a dresser, and to the left is where Mom and Dad slept with one big bed and a dress...

    When we arrived at the house in which we would be staying for furlough, we didn’t have quite as much furniture as we needed. Dad needed a desk to do his work and my sisters needed a dresser. Dad and I took a couple days and drove around, looking for these items. A few weeks or so before our trip back, we needed to get these things out of the house and into storage along with several other items. Essentially, we had three ‘piles.’ One was for things we would be bringing back to Cameroon, one was for things that would be going into the storage shed, and the last was for things that we would donate to our Christian school's senior mission trip yard sale. Over the last few weeks, we packed, stored and gave away our possessions. My sister’s dresser that I mentioned earlier was up a flight of stairs so it was a big job for Dad and I to get it downstairs, into the van then making a place for it in the storage shed with some rearranging. Other items we needed to get into the shed ...

I am so excited to write and share that our kids want to post more pictures and videos this year. We began with intentions of posting something every day of 2018, but with the packing, traveling and, settling in we have to do on the other side of the Atlantic this month, we will just try to do a handful each week. While in the States last year, many people mentioned how much they enjoyed watching the kids' news videos, so I encouraged them to share more with our friends and partners in America so you can learn more about Cameroon while getting to know what life and ministry in Cameroon looks like from our kids' perspective. I hope this blog will be a blessing to you. Any feedback or comments you leave will be read by our kids, and I am sure they will be happy to interact and answer questions too. For Christmas, Papa Sykes gave me a drone. The system has a removable camera with a built in gimbal for stabilization. On New Years day I got the camera working independent of the dr...