To God be the Glory Word on the Week 24th February 2024.
Seeing God’s hand on a work is not always apparent until time filters out the incidental from the important. So it has been with Jon and Sandra Blackwell’s search for God’s mission field for them. The initial decisions came slowly. First the Bible Translation work with Wycliffe and second the field; Cameroon.
That was 20 years ago! Today there is a New Testament in a new language. The latter being written down for the first time. This has opened the door for reading materials and adult literacy work to teach the people to read their own language. The latter is being developed by a local translator, Pastor Edward.
Taking advantage of modern technology, LCD projectors show scripture films dubbed in the newly available language permitting 40,000 people access to The Word of God in their mother tongue. The spread of smartphones, powered by solar energy, presents the option of a digital New Testament rather than in book form.
Among the many people from Grace Church in Dublin who visited the Blackwell’s was Mick Toolan. He was struck by dirty water in everyday use. He discovered that the pumps which operated the few existing wells often mal-functioned. From the realisation that something could be done the charity Water for Cameroon was formed.
This has succeeded by having local ownership of new wells and by using simple pumps which could be maintained locally. Mick was able to employ reliable work people and gain acceptance from the local community leaders.
The work spilled out to the making of water filters which are made locally and installed in schools, hospitals and homes. They run on sand and gravity. The water being poured into the top and its cleansing is complete by the time the water reaches the tap at its base.
Allied to these filters is improved hygiene in schools with simple plastic devices for hand washing. Various other efforts have been made in land irrigation and more recently the building of a small school to reach a remote people.
There is also Cameroon Medical where limited financial aid is dispensed to assist in helping to meet the bills as there is no health service available.
Water for Cameroon is ongoing and Mick, having come back from retirement is now looking for a successor, possibly from Grace church. In this, as with all the projects, we seek the Lord’s guidance.
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me (Matthew 25 verse 40).