Missionary Bio

International Mission


Oldberg, David and Karin Serving in Cameroon


Ministry Description:
David and Karin are currently serving in missionary children’s ministries in Cameroon at the Rain Forest International School.

The Oldberg’s have four children: Andre, Joie, Erik, and Eleanor.

Country Profile:
Cameroon, sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa, is located in Western Africa, between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. The population of approximately 15 million people fluctuates due to AIDS.

The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.

There are 24 major African language groups in Cameroon, but English and French are both official languages of the country. In religion, Cameroon has equal sizes of indigenous and Christian with the remaining 20% made up of Muslims.

Testimonies:
David was raised in Zaire as an MK. He was converted at the age of 6. David remembers that when he asked Jesus to forgive him and to come into his heart, he felt as though a big load of sin was taken from him and that he felt the joy of being truly clean. Since then, there have been both good and bad times, but David has leaned much about God’s nature and His purposes.

Of his call to missionary service, David writes: “At Urbana I committed myself to obeying Christ wherever, whenever, however, and whatever; I felt at that time like it was overseas.”

Karin grew up as an MK in Africa. She accepted Christ at the age of 12 at an outreach rally in Durban, South Africa. When she was 16, the Lord convicted Karin of her need to have God’s spiritual armor encompass her daily to withstand the powers of the evil one. She rededicated her life to Christ and made him Lord of her life.

Karen’s motive in offering herself for foreign missionary service was to serve Christ to her fullest capacity. She felt that the Lord had already prepared her to a certain extent by allowing her to grow up on the mission field and see some first hand mission work. Since she herself is an MK, she had a desire to work with MKs because she understands some of the joys and trials that they go through in their cross-cultural upbringing.

Home Church:
First EFC, Ames, IA

Birthdays:
David–September 7
Karin–September 23
Andre–5-11-80, Joie–1-15-82,Erik–9-15-85, Eleanor–11-8-86

Wedding Anniversary: May 28