July 7 Last Day in Africa

We left SIL Cameroon about 11 AM by taxi with Juta (one of Dan's doctoral students who serves in Mali). The bus trip to the port city of Douala was fast and furious, as the photos show. It took about 4 hours and some places the driver was going 80-90 mph. This was the best photo I got of the trememdous traffic congestion in Yaounde. You can see cars turning around in the very middle of the pack-both directions! Amazing. Along the route were small communities that we had to slow down and sometimes pay toll so the locals surrounded vehicles and hawked their wares. Many logging trucks and motor cycles. It was an airconditioned bus and we sat in the front seats so got to enjoy everything, even the 3-part African soap opera in some other language! Juta accompanied us to Douala and we had dinner with her before we went on to the airport, all-in-all a fantastic experience.

Dan learns from grandson Noah

Yes, we arrived in Istanbul and have been having a wonderful time with Ryan, Kelly and 2.5 year old Noah. Here are a few shots showing Dan learning about Noah's world of Thomas the Train ( and friends Gordy, Ben, Bill and more), Veggie Tales, and life in Turkey. See Noah playing with his trains under the table as Ryan and Dan chat.

We are coming to the end of our stay in Cameroon. Yesterday Moussa was here to plan the potential cohort for French speakers and pray with the group of interested students. Here Dan is with a Bettina, Cheryl, Roger and Moussa in our front room praying. Then today we had a surprise visit from our friend Barbara's parents and they brought us gifts. This is such a change from American culture. Here is a shot of Dan and I withTheophilus and Adele Gautrei.

Trip to the Market in Yaounde

Yes, today I made a trip to the artisan market with Pam Robinson and her helper, Rebecca (first photo with two of the men selling items). Butterflies are very popular art here and you can see some of the pictures they make from butterfly wings. It was a wonderful few hours, altho most of it was spent in taxi stuck in traffic. Pam is here working with Wycliffe Associates helping with the volunteers, the clean water program and developing materials to assist in the aide crisis. I feel like the Lord has given Pam to me especially for this trip and I am committed to pray for her. Because she is an older woman of color the Africans respond very positively to Pam.

I took the photo of the butterfly eating a fallen mango just outside our housing.

July 4, 2008 Yaounde, Cameroon

We have met wonderful people here in Cameroon (said to be 'little Africa' because so many of the main tribal groups are in this small country). Today's post is about one of the Cameroonian couples who were Muslim before hearing the good news of Jesus Christ and then became believers.

Cultural Symposium in Cameroon

This is the group of brothers and sisters attending this symposium from all over Africa. Then you see Dan doing his run each morning around the oval here at the SIL property where we are housed. A friend in Pasadena has family here in Cameroon so they came to visit on Saturday, it was wonderful. Five of the 23 people in the symposium are serious 'birders' so I got a photo of them out birding early each morning. This compound is surrounded by a very tall wall and I can hear what is happening on the other side so today I went exploring on the other side. Kids playing kick ball were surprised when I could kick it back, and the road to the south gives you an idea of 'off-the-road' situations here.

New Testament dedication in Cameroon

Sunday June 29
We met Judy and Ken Hollingworth (Bible translators from the northern most part of Cameroon) when we first arrived at the SIL property, he welcomed us at 10 PM and got us set up in the guest house. Then the next morning I met Judy as we waited for 10 AM coffee break and she thought my clothes were too hot for Cameroon so lent me two of her cotton dresses to wear while we are here (now everyone thinks I’m Judy when they see me in her dresses!).

The dedication of their New Testament for the Mofou-gudur people was fantastic, several hundred people gathered in a large Presbyterian Church here in Yaound. Special yellow printed cloth material for their matching outfits, men, women and children. Four choirs sang, played local flutes and drums and held their new red translations high as they sang. We had to leave for another meeting after 3 hours and it was still going strong (that’s the African way I’m learning). Pictured here are Ken and Judy, Ken with the Sultan in their village area, the Chief’s guard, church where the dedication was held, drummers for the singers, flute players, far view of the church and balcony with Dan in foreground, and then Georgia with one of the Mofou ladies holding her new Bible.

Arrival in Africa June 2008

It was fantastic flying over Europe, the French Alps, the Mediterranean, on into Algeria, then the Sahara Desert-more sand than I could ever have imagined. There was a slight change in flight plans as the Central Africa Summit was happening in Yaounde, Cameroon the day we were scheduled to arrive and they closed the airport for the presidents to fly out. So we flew to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and then back up to Cameroon. We arrived at 10 PM and were fast asleep in our little cottage by midnight. You can see how Dan spent his time in the Brussels airport! Friday Dan met with the first group to discuss a cohort for the seminary in this area of the world, pictured here are the potential students.

Arrival in Brussels June 24, 2008

It was a wonderful trip over the Atlantic, horizon never really went dark, crossed the English Channel then on into Brussels. Had a wonderful time with our host John Koeshall and you see Dan at the statue of Nepoleon at Waterloo, then Georgia at the Villers Abbey just outside of Waterloo a bit (see her in one of the top windows of the ruins). Down town Brussells at the Central Plaza was amazing, most beautiful of all Europe's plazas we're told. Seems the mascot of Brussells is the little boy manaquin peeing, so of course we had our photo with the "wee pee" statue!

We took the train down town and I noticed the grafetti, and smart cars, buildings, chocolate stores, here Dan and John are enjoying a belgium waffle treat and lastly one of the many lace shops. Brussells is a wonderful city, "gateway to Europe."

June 2008 graduation

Here are some photos from graduation week here at the School of Intercultural Studies. 1) Dan was selected to carry the FTS mace and open the graduation ceremony with prayer. 2) SIS faculty at the hooding of SIS doctoral students; Lingenfelter, Dan, McConnell, Woodberry, Kraft, Gilliland and Betsy Glanville. 3) Pat Krayer, gets hooded by theology prof. David Scholer, a great man who is dying of cancer, he gave his final message at the bachalorate. 4) Dan hoods Sooi Ling Tan from Malaysia. 5) Joyful moment as Gilliland hoods Ermias Mamo from Ethiopia. 6) Both Woodberry and Kraft hood Jay Muller, who will now fill some of Woodberry's and Kraft's place on the SIS faculty. 7) Timothy Park and Duk Jin Chi Korean missionary to Brazil. 8) Bobbie Clinton blesses the graduates (note his 'faith' tie). 9) John and Anita Koeshall from Brussels (we will stay with them on our coming trip to Cameroon). 10) Dan with some of his gorgeous CCS students, Paphne, Thais, and Brie.

Wedding in Phoenix

May 25, Janne Perona married Adam Gaub in Phoenix, AZ. It was wonderful, all 3 of Dan's sons attended so the whole Shaw family was together, even the Ryan and Kelly's one expected to arrive in September. Two year old Lauren was a precious flower girl, 2.5 year old Noah was a little dynamo, Julia and Stephanie were a delight and the men oh, so handsome! Adam's grandfather and Ryan gave encouraging/challenging words to the couple and they were declared 'married'!

Ashley Thaxton - Cat in the Hat

60th birthday Ladies

Sunday the 18th we attended a party for Peggy and Sandi (home Bible study members) and it was wonderful. The day was fairly warm but more than 50 people came to celebrate in a backyard bash. Mark played his electric guitar and sang "oldies but goodies" as some did a little dancing. Frank and Allen grilled the meat (very tasty guys) and it was just plain fun. The mango cake was great as were the stuffed dates (thanks Chris). Sad to say this will be the last gathering for Jo and Mike as they are moving to Phoenix in June, bless you as you relocate.

Colleen Thaxton takes center stage!

This morning we attended service at Pasadena Covenant Church to hear the Kids musical, directed by Ashley Thaxton. I was on staff at PCC in the 90s and a member of the church. Charlie Barker announced his resignation last week so it was good to be with the group and encourage he and Katie, after 27 years ministry. Yes, we were so proud of Colleen as she sang a solo and held a key role as Mrs. Noah!

Luau at Rich and Phyllis Mouw's home

For lunch Dr. Mouw invited faculty and staff who had supported FTS in the last year, to enjoy a Hawaiian type luau at this home. It was a perfect day for sitting around the pool and a relaxing lunch. Here is Lee Merrit, Dan and I, and a shot of Mouws opening a fun gift and then Dr. Mouw praying for all of us to be blessed and we continue to serve the Lord.

Descanso Gardens

We spent a couple of hours at one of Dan' favorite 'retreat' spots in this area. The doctoral students take one Friday a couple of times a year and listen to the Lord. Here are some shots of our time there; Dan's favorite spot in the woods, the roses, coi pond, sun dial and the car parked by the gorgeous blooming pink trumpet trees. Later Mike Olson stopped into have a sit in the backyard and catch up with Dan. They are long time buds from Papua New Guinea days.

And now the rest of the story!

Last summer Dan and I spent 3 weeks in South Korea. During that time we visited the DMZ between N and S Korea. I took a photo of Dan at the Uniting Painting by Raran Lurie and just today learned more about the man and the painting. Here are photos of Dan, what the painting looks like in S. Korea, then one of the United Nations version, Greek, and Jerusalem. Ranan Lurie appears twice in the same 1999 Guinness Book of World Records, representing two very different categories. He holds for 20 consecutive years the title of “The most widely syndicated political cartoonist in the world,” as well as being a scion to the oldest recorded living family today: "His family is directly descended from the royal house of the biblical King David and can trace its genealogy back to the 10th century BC." Check out the Uniting painting at www.UnitingPainting.com

Ashley's singing group wins!

My God-daughter, Ashley Rene Thaxton loves singing and has such a wonderful talent. (Ashley is in the front row 3rd girl from the left, behind the award--the beautiful young 16 year old!)

Students from Pasadena's Soto Voce choir joined sweltering Renaissance Faire crowds Saturday April 12 for a command performance fit for royalty.
The eight sophomores and juniors from the Marshall Fundamental School choir were invited to sing before the faire's queen after winning the faire's first-ever Madrigal competition.
Hundreds of student choirs across Southern California applied, but Soto Voce "had it perfect," said Colleen Russell-Elkins, who doubles as the faire's musical director and public relations director.
"The songs can be complicated because our modern ear is not used to the tonality and the harmonies," she said. "These kids blew me out of the water ... When I listened to their audition, I got chills."
That's no small compliment, coming from Russell-Elkins, who minored in Renaissance music and has studied the romantic Renaissance-era songs known as Madrigals for more than 20 years.
"It's beautiful music. It's almost addictive," she said, noting the songs were sung for fun or entertainment in the courts of wealthy families.
Soto Voce, which first formed this school year, sung an authentic Italian Madrigal called "Fa una canzona," or "Write me song," written by Orazio Vecchi during the Renaissance.
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School won the grand prize during an award ceremony for the first annual Madrigal Competition (a short love poem that is sung) during the Renaissance Pleasure Faire April 12. 2008 in Irwindale.

Donkey Ollie and Monrovia Street Fair

Last night Dan and I took Betty Sue Brewster with us to the Monrovia Street Fair. I had just completed a CD presentation for Destinations ministry and was scheduled to deliver it to Ramses and Mariam Ibrahim at their table on Myrtle Street (here they are working their table).

One of the most fascinating parts of the evening was seeing this baby watch the DVD "Donkey Ollie", the story of the donkey who carried Jesus into Jerusalem in preparation for the Last Supper. The music and animation are wonderful, I recommend it for all kids. www.donkeyollie.com

My sister Charlene and cancer

The first born in our family, Charlene, was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma last month and had a blast of chemo that nearly ended her life (according to doctors in Ann Arbor, MI). I stayed in hospital with Char for part of 6 days and got to see God restore her health - just this week her daughter sent me the photo of Char getting ready to go home on the 10th. Yes, we are praising the Lord and trusting Him to bring Char thru the remainder of her chemo regiment.