Many Times Blessed

This morning at church our Team Congo had the amazing opportunity to be prayed over in  five services by our congregation. Words can't begin to describe how much each of us felt the love of our brothers and sisters during those prayer times. I cannot stress enough how important it is to be covered in prayer when embarking on a trip such as this. In my past experience on short term teams, I have found that you really feel the prayers. There are moments you just stop what you are doing and feel the power of the prayer that someone has just expressed to the Lord on your behalf. It is a calming peace that suddenly washes over you- it is quite amazing.
We are blessed in so many ways by so many people who touch our lives. This morning was an excellent example of this. Several people came up to us after each service offering an embrace, words of encouragements and promises to pray for each of us.

Team Congo
Wilma     Wendy     Jeannie

What a blessing indeed.

Two weeks to go...

So now I am collecting supplies, finalizing plans, packing, shopping for needed items and trying to not feel overwhelmed. Every time I take a mission trip, I have the same feelings just about two weeks out. Am I prepared?  Is this really going to happen? Will everything fit in 2 checked bags and a carry on? Will the flights be on time so we can make our connections? What if I get sick a day before we leave?  Silly to worry, I know but I can't seem to help it. I usually calm down once all the bags are checked and we are preparing for take off. At least I can check "getting our African visas" off my worry list, those came on Monday. 


Someone asked me the other day "Aren't you afraid to go there?" I quickly answered "No - why should I be?" The phrase "the safest place to be is in the will of God" came to mind and the conversation quickly turned into a witnessing opportunity. I explained that if my time to be called "home" was when I was on the trip , I certainly had no control over it and what better way to go serving Him...right?  And although I do not have a death wish on myself, it is something predestined to happen at some time in my life. This brought a surprised look on the face of the individual and probably got them thinking. 

Grassy plain in Congo

Our time here on earth is but a blink of an eye to God - we need to be obedient to whatever he calls us to. For me it is traveling to hot, humid, remote places in the world to use the gifts and knowledge given to me. For you - it is something completely different and that's OK. We are all not called to do the same thing.
So..two weeks out and my stomach has butterflies, packing needs to commence, house needs to be put in order and worries need to cease.


Thanks for your prayers 

Planes, canoes and automobiles...

Last night I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker at a local churches VBS.  It has been several years since I have been involved in a VBS and I was very excited to be a small part of this one. The weekly theme is "Africa", so I was invited to briefly share of what life is like in Africa before these precious smiling faces boarded their"airplane" and headed for points unknown! As I was sharing, I realized again how difficult it is to travel within the country of Congo. After spending roughly 16 hrs on two airplanes, you arrive at a small airport that is crowded and stifling hot. Waiting in long lines through immigration while hearing a language you cannot understand and all the time hoping a praying all your luggage made the journey and that your ride is here to pick you up! After a nights rest, you head to the border crossing where a dug out canoe will ferry you across the river to a small outpost where once again you will have to go through immigration while waiting in the hot sun. Of course, since you look very different from the rest of the people milling about, you are virtually on display. You smile and wave at people and try not to look too nervous as the soldier with an automatic weapon walks by. The next part of the journey is a dusty 10-11 hr truck ride down country. It is not actually very far - about 150 miles, but the condition of the roads makes it impossible to travel more than 25 mph. The dirt roads are filled with potholes and in some places huge crevices oh and did I mention the bridges that are really just two planks across the road? And keep in mind you are sharing the roads with pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, animals and other vehicles. In many ways though, this is my favorite part of the journey, because you get to experience the countryside, the jungles, the people and the beautiful foliage along the way. However, by the time we reach our destination, I am more than ready to leave that Land Cruiser behind!
So why I am going on and on about all this? Two reasons: one - to help you realize how easy it is to travel here in the USA and two- so you will pray for us as our team travels on our journey.

As I looked out into those little smiling faces last night, I also wondered how many of these children would give their lives to serving our great God. How many would actually get to to travel to Africa or another hurting country to share the love of Christ and make lifelong friendships. I don't know the answer to those questions, but God does and if I had anything to do with influencing those young minds last night, it was all because of Him!

6 Weeks Away

In roughly six weeks, my team will be boarding an aircraft for the wilds of Congo. If you have ever gone on a mission trip, you understand all the preparations that need to be done before you leave. Passport, visas, airline tickets, fund raising, budgets, immunizations, ground contacts in Congo and gathering supplies you need to name a few. Though necessary, all of this can take time away from the initial purpose of going in the first place. Prayer and time with the Lord get shoved aside as the busy-ness of preparing to go along with your daily life struggles take over your precious time. I keep telling myself "focus", take the time you need to pray, dig into your devotions. I would ask that anyone who happens to read this - please pray for me and my team. Pray as we prepare, pray that we will keep focused on Him, pray for funds, pray for safety in travels (especially on the 11 hr  truck ride up and down country)  and pray we can assist and encourage our Congolese brothers and sisters and do it all with a servants heart. 

For we want to walk down the road less traveled to experience all that He has in store for us!

Future New Travels

Hello
Just a heads up that I will heading back to Congo DRC Africa in September. There will be 4 of us (all women mind you) traveling together. We are comprised of a nurse, a dentist, an AIDS Educator and Medical Technologist. I am so excited to be a part of another team ministering and teaching at Tandala Hospital.  Please keep us in your prayers as we plan all the details out. 
More to come......

Two Videos

                                        

senoir high choir

baptism

A Time for Goodbyes

                                                            9-29-2010

After two exhausting days in the clinic it is time to start the long return trip home. Packing up is bittersweet. I am ready to go home, but sad to leave knowing it will be my last trip to Hauna. Walking away from the clinic one last time , I glance back over my shoulder for one last teary eyed look. How many thousands of people have come through those doors since 1999? Hopefully every person has seen the love of Jesus in us.  Close to 1000 people came through the clinic doors this year. Many eye surgeries and general surgeries were done. I performed close to 300 lab tests which includes drawing the blood, processing and doing the tests.

As we loaded up the canoes with our gear, we said teary goodbyes with hugs and handshakes. We pulled away from the bank of the river with arms waving.

I forgot to mention earlier that one of Shirley’s former house workers named Danny died while in Lae receiving treatment for a lung ailment. They will be flying his body back to the village today on an  MAF airplane due to arrive shortly after we leave. The mourning family waited at the airstrip wailing and crying. Several men dressed in white shirts, red ties and black slacks were to serve as “pall bearers” for Danny’s body.

Flying over the jungle one last time, I took in the serene beauty. Had my father who served here in WWII seen the same jungle, had he appreciated the beauty and majesty of God’s handiwork as I had? Our descent into Wewak on the shores of the Bismarck Sea is a breathtaking sight. Swirls of green, turquoise and blue interrupted by breaking waves. We say goodbye to Gail Dooley RN (my Hauna roommate) as she will head back up to the Highlands to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital Station. She was a huge help to the team with triaging, OR and outpatient. Knowing Pidgin was a huge help as well.

Back at the SIL Guesthouse in Wewak and dinner again at the Wewak Boutique Restaurant. Louis invited Zech and Priscilla, Reggie and Susan and 2 couples from the SIL Guesthouse along.  After many hugs I said goodbye to Priscilla, she hopes her and Zech and the kids can come to the USA in the next few years. What a wonderous notion knowing I will see my New Guinea friends again - on the other side :)

Long day of flying tomorrow