Week-end!!

Hi, dear everyone!
Benvolguts tots:


First of all, a little tip: Thanks to my mother, I realized that the blog wasn't in Catalan only for me, but for all of you. I didn't know it was default. So I changed it to English so everyone who wants to comment at the end of each post (which is most welcome and appreciated) can do so through understanding the steps now that it is in English. Pictures have been taken with my mobile phone.
He canviat la llengua del bloc a l'anglès perquè la família i les amistats guiris puguin deixar comentaris sense problemes. Ah, les fotos les he fet amb el mòbil.
He cambiado la lengua del blog al inglés para que la familia y amigos extrangeros puedan dejar un comentario sin obstáculos. Las fotos las he hecho con el móvil.

Now for the real thing. :)
¡Ahora sí de verdad! (en castellano próximamente)
Ara sí, de veritat...

Careful not to step on any toes!

Aquest cap de setmana ha estat un bon moment per descansar una mica després d'una setmana de feina lingüística. Ahir, dissabte, vaig trucar diferentes persones per planejar la setmana vinent... I després de començar a passar a ordinador les dades lingüístiques, vaig anar a un sopar de Sant Valentí que organitzaven els de segon de Batxillerat de l'escola del SIL pel viatge de fi de curs. Un sopar deliciós espaguetis a la carbonara, verdura, i pastís per postres. Les taules estaven decorades amb cors petits de plàstic, em vaig asseure amb tres parelles més grans, així que erem 7 a la meva taula.

This week-end has been a good time to relax a bit after a week of linguistic work. Yesterday I called people to plan my up-coming week, and for supper, after starting to pass the linguistic data from the village on to the computer, I went to a special Valentine supper that grade 12 from Rainforest Academy (the SIL school for MKs here in Yaundé) was organizing to fund their grade 12 trip. It was a delicious supper: greens, spaghetti (à la carbonara maybe?) and cake for dessert. The table was decorated with little hearts, and I joined three older couples, so we were 7 at my table.

A baby I got to hold for a while! :)

Llavors vaig trobar molt a faltar la Christina, ja que hi havia música romàntica, i hi havia parelles ballant valsos. Les taules estaven al voltant d'una pista de bàsquet, i es ballava al centre. Em vaig quedar assegut mirant les parelles ballant mentre xerrava amb els altres sobre les organitzacions amb les quals formaven part, com Wycliffe, World Team i Wycliffe Associates. Em va fer gràcia veure un noi que intentava no trepitjar-li els peus a la seva pobra parella de ball, que anava descalça.

I really missed Stina then, as there was some love songs in the air, and people waltzing. The tables were set around a basketball court, so people danced in the center. There was a couple in grade 12 who could dance, so they taught some couples the basic steps in a waltz. I just sat there and watched the people dance, and laughed at the sight at one poor guy trying not to step on his poor Valentine's toes. It made me think of the times in the masters when Stina and I would occasionaly waltz around for fun at any given moment. It was also a great moment to talk to the people at my table about their experiences in different organizations, such as Wycliffe, World Team and Wycliffe Associates.

Avui al matí he anat a l'església baptista de Etoug-Ebe a Yaundé. Ha estat una bona ocasió per estar en contacte amb germans en Crist, que m'han donat una bona rebuda. He arribat a la segona meitat del culte en francès, i m'he quedat per tot el culte en anglès. Hi havia quatre cors de cantants, cadascun amb la seva vestimenta. Dos cors cantaven en llengües autòctones, i dos altres cantaven himnes coneguts, que també cantava la congregació. El sermó, per un membre de la congregació, era del tema de la nostra responsabilitat davant del Senyor en sis àrees diferents de la vida: el meu temps, els meus talents, els diners, la meva relació amb Crist, la meva influència (porto als altres al Senyor o a coses dolentes?), i la meva família, la última àrea i probablement la més extensa (com a marit, esposa, pare o mare). Ha estat un bon recordatori no esperar fins a la vellesa per començar a considerar si la meva vida ha estat d'honra pel Senyor, sinó demanar-li al Senyor dia a dia que m'examini. M'ha fet pensar en els versets del Salm 139:23, 24: "Examina'm, Oh Déu, i coneix el meu cor, prova'm i coneix els meus pensaments, mira si hi ha algun camí de mal en mi, i guia'm pel camí etern."

Jam-packed! I was sitting at the middle row.
¡Estaba repleto! Yo me senté en el banco del medio.

End of the service
Final del culte

This morning I went to the Etoug-Ebe Baptist church in Yaundé. It was a good chance to meet brothers and sisters in Christ, who gave me a warm welcome. I arrived at the second half of the French service, and stayed for the whole English service. There were two choirs who sang in regional languages, and two other choirs who sang beautiful known hymns in English that the congregation sang along to. Each choir had their own colourful array. The sermon, by a lay member of the congregation, was on keeping accountable in six different areas of life: my time, my talents, my substance (money, etc), my relationship with Christ, my influence (am I leading others to the Lord or to bad things?), and my family, which was the last area, and probably the longest. It was a good reminder to think that each one of us will stand accountable to God on these areas, and that we shouldn't wait until old age to start observing whether my life is being lived in a way that is God-honoring or not, rather to ask the Lord to examine me day by day. It brought to mind the verses in Psalm 139:23,24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way."

Una forta abraçada per a tota la família i amics que estigueu llegint això! Considero molt valuós el temps que passo aquí al Camerun, el Senyor m'està ensenyant moltes coses que em seran de profit per quan si Déu vol servim per llarg termini. Us agraeixo les pregàries i els encoratjaments, sou molt amables.

A big hug to all of you, family and friends who are reading this. I really value my time here in Cameroon; the Lord is indeed teaching me many things that will be profitable for long term service, Lord willing. I appreciate all your prayers and encouragements, you are all being very kind and supporting.

Moltes benediccions en Crist!
Love in Christ,

Ricard