Trust

While traveling home, I had the opportunity to reflect on this trip to Bongolo.  It was different, but in a good sense.  It was truly amazing to have my family there to experience the hospital and mission station and to see where we may serve full time someday.  It was also wonderful for me to come "home" from the hospital each day to my family.  In another sense, this trip (and the lead up to it) brought me to another level of trust in God and His purposes.  As many of you know, we were close to not making this trip due to my health.  While I was still questioning the advisability of making the trip even up to time of departure, God kept bringing me back to trusting Him on a deeper level--"just take the next step, I'll take care of you."  Well, this wonderful trip is over and we are home now.  He did indeed take care of us on this trip.  Trust.

God taught me an addition lesson with a pediatric case in the eye clinic.  In my prior trips things have gone well with very little clinical problems and good outcomes.  Yet, this case was different.  God reminded me that despite every effort to make anesthesia as safe as possible, things don't always go right.  People die.  Babies die.  Doctors are human.  If you want to work here full time, will you be able to handle this?  Hurt, suffering, and death are all around us and will continue, yes, even at Bongolo and likely more often.  Trust.

Both of these are trust issues and while suffering (experiencing it or observing it) is never pleasant, it does bring us to a new level of dependence on Christ.  Over the last few months God has continually brought me back to Philippians 4.  While in no way am I equating any of my suffering to Paul's (not even close and never will be), his example of steadfastness and resolve in continuing His ministry despite setbacks is one to follow.  He trusted God in all circumstances.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" -Philippians 4:13

We had the opportunity to spend a few days in Paris on the trip home.  What a wonderful city and great time exploring a few sites with the family.  We will make it a point to go back someday.

Eiffel Tower

Our Hotel

The Louvre

Weekend in Bongolo

It has been a wonderful weekend here in Bongolo.  Friday evening we had a delicious dinner and played some games with the Newman's.  It was great to fellowship with them and hear their insight on being missionaries for many years. 

We slept in Saturday morning.  Aaron and Jeff had the opportunity to tour the water filtration plant and electrical power setup at the mission station.  As Aaron is interested in engineering, it was good to see the inner workings of this place.  God has blessed the mission station and hospital with free electricity and water from the nearby river.  Amy and Sarah attended a baby shower for the wife of a PAACS surgery resident.  They are soon to have twins!

Dr. Jacques (the surgery resident from Congo who visited the US in March) and his wife Dinah had the family over for dinner on Saturday evening.  It was a joy to get to meet his family and fellowship with them.

Sunday morning was a special time to attend the local church with my family.  What a joy to have the family join our Gabonese brothers and sisters in Christ in worshipping God! 

Psalm 67

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the people's praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the people's praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!"

Bongolo Family

As we finish up our first week here in Bongolo, thanks again for your prayers and support for this trip.  While coming here to help with patient care, education, and ministry is the primary endeavor, the highlight is certainly the ongoing relationship building with the missionaries who work/live here.  They are such a blessing to us as we visit and interact with them daily.  On Wednesday evening all the missionary and visitor families gathered for a time of singing and praying.  The visitors (including our family) had the opportunity to share how God has led them to be a part of this ministry.  It was quite a blessing to hear how God is working in the lives of people all around the world to further His kingdom through mercy and compassion.

Bongolo Mission Team 


My health is improving steadily.  This is a healing place and perhaps a visit here is just what I needed.  Thanks again for your prayers.

We look forward to a restful weekend together as a family.  Blessings to you all.

Bongolo with Family

It has been quite a blessing to be here with my family for this trip to Bongolo.  The operating room is not quite as busy so I have had some down time to spend with the family here at Bongolo.  What a great blessing for them to experience how God is working here!  Their first impressions are positive and they are tolerating the bugs.  We'll see how they feel this time next week--probably ready to get to Paris.

Aaron has shadowed me in the operating room the past few days taking in the sites and smells of surgery in Africa.  Amy and Sarah have been busy helping out some of the other missionaries get things organized in storage and preparing one of the apartments for a new surgery resident moving here next month.

There is a group from Cleveland (family of 3 and 2 other friends) visiting as well and it has been great to work alongside them and get to know them.

Thanks for your prayers. 

Phillipians 4:4

Getting Settled

The first day in Bongolo as a family is going well--mostly just getting settled in our guest apartment and checking things out.  Jeff and Aaron delivered medical supplies donated to the operating room and toured the hospital a bit.  Amy and Sarah helped in the storage depot as a new container with supplies had just arrived.  Sarah helped with school this afternoon.  It's good to ease in to the week while overcoming the jet lag and climate change.

Thank you all for your prayers.  It's good to be here with the family.  May God be glorified in all we do.