Sinterklaas Day!

Today, December 5th, the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas Day (Santa Claus Day). I am half Swedish and was raised with Swedish traditions but my next door neighbors here in Africa are Dutch. This is their first Christmas season in Africa. I dressed with a "Mrs. Sinterklaas" hat and delivered a little Christmas Bear gift to their 16 month old daughter, Rebecca. It was fun to see Rebecca's reaction to me. She just stared and stared.

For a history of Sinterklaas Day, look at the following Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas

Christmas is NOT about Santa Claus. It's about CHRIST.

"The historic record of the birth of Christ can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20. Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. He was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1-3, 14). He is God, the Son—Creator of the universe (Philippians 2:5-11). This is why Christmas is called the incarnation, a word which means “in the flesh.” In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing Creator came to earth in the flesh."
The above description of the birth of Christ can be found in the link:

http://www.christiananswers.net/christmas/home.html

Picture from: http://download-free-pictures.com/

Videos of Gabon

(photo taken on Bongolo Mission Station)
I have had fun today posting YouTube videos on this sight. Go to the bottom of my blog and you will find several videos about Mission trips to Gabon or other ministries here at the Bongolo Hospital. Check back again I will try to keep my blog video list updated as they are produced. Please comment here if you enjoyed the videos.

Thanksgiving Celebration!

I celebrated Thanksgiving Day on Friday. There were 14 of us, 9 adults and 3 children. We had a delicious meal, with more than enough leftovers to eat again in the evening!

During the afternoon most watched a football game and then most played Mexican Train Dominoes. It was relaxing, spending the day with my Missionary family.

Why am I Thankful ?

Photo by http://download-free-pictures.com/

Why am I Thankful?
1. I am thankful for Eternal Life in Jesus and that I know that "My Redeemer Lives"
2. I am thankful for physical life and health. I am a 4 1/2 year ovarian cancer survivor.
3. I am thankful for family. I have four married brothers, 8 nieces and nephews, a loving StepMother, 2 living step siblings with 8 step nieces and nephews and lots of grand nieces and nephews and of course an Aunt, Uncles and lots and lots of cousins!
4. I am thankful that I am a missionary in Africa. I've been here over thirty years and love what I do.
5. I am thankful for my missionary family. All my colleagues and also their children who call me, "Aunt Carolyn".
6. I am thankful for all my friends, prayer supporters, those who write me emails, those who gave to my new car, those who support me financially.
7. I am thankful for a new Nissan Patrol and that the title for the vehicle was finally issued!
8. I am thankful for cell phones in the jungle.
9. I am thankful for electricity in the jungle.
10. I am thankful for satellite TV in the jungle.
11. I am thankful for satellite internet in the jungle.
12. I am thankful for a Vonage internet phone in the jungle and that I have unlimited phone calls to the USA and Canada! WooHoo. I have a US phone number.
13. I am thankful for a bridge over our river. From 1977 to 1994 I had to cross my car from one side of town to the other on a glorified raft!
14. I am thankful that my cousin sent me an invitation to SparkPeople and that I opened it rather deleted it!
15. I am thankful that SparkPeople is FREE!
16. I am thankful that with SparkPeople I have been able to lose 20 pounds , rather than gain 20 pounds!!! WooHoo.

My list could go on and on..........

Thanksgiving Day Plans

November 21, 2008

Dear family and Friends,

It is almost Thanksgiving Day so in America people may be getting some Thanksgiving cards in the mail. Someone came towards me this morning with a pile of mail. Mail is that which comes through the post office and not the computer. Our Airmail arrives at the Bongolo Hospital about once a month. The U.S. will no longer accept boat mail for Gabon and several other African nations. Well, anyway, I got some mail today. I said immediately, “Oh, my Birthday cards have arrived”. Sure enough! There were four Birthday cards for me. Now my Birthday was August 16^th, over three months ago. These cards were mailed AIRMAIL in August! They just got to me today, November 21^st. Thanks Hamlet, Maple Plain, Irene and the C&MA! If you mail your Christmas card now, I should be able to get it by about mid March! We get Christmas mail for MONTHS! Now, I’m not asking you to send me a card. I’m just giving you the facts! Please do send one if they have a Christmas letter in the. It’s best to send E-Cards as they arrive instantly!

Before Christmas though is Thanksgiving Day! Each Thanksgiving here on the Mission field we get together for a meal. We chose a day that will allow us the most relaxation. Normally it is Friday so this year we'll be celebrating on Friday instead of Thursday. Thursday will be a regular work day.

We will eat at the home of one of our surgeons. He and his wife have two children, 6 y.o. Luke and 4 y.o. Sara. There is another family with 15 month old Rebecca. In addition there is one couple who's kids are grown and in the States and there are five single women right now. We'll have three visitors too, a doctor and his two teenage daughters.

We ladies got together to make sure that we'll be preparing all the necessary foods. We can't get turkey in town except for turkey wings. We have decided to have both roasted chicken and turkey wings. I will put turkey wings in the crock pot to take it off the bones. I will then make dressing and put the turkey on top and heat them up in the oven. We will have mashed potatoes (either real or from Mousline, a French made instant potatoes that is tasty), sweet potatoes, veggies, salads, etc and of course desserts. I plan to make a peach pie.

We will meet for lunch at 1 pm. After lunch our hostess says she has some "trivia games" for us. They also have a Wii and we'll play some Wii this year. Everyone brings games and favorites include Dominoes, Mexican Golf, Smarter than a Fifth Grader, etc. Some will watch a football game that will be prerecorded off of Satellite TV.

After an afternoon of games and football, we'll eat leftovers for supper. It is one of two days in the year that we spend together as a station, eating two meals together. This has been my typical Thanksgiving Day for over thirty years now.

I give thanks to the Lord for all He IS to me and for all He does for me. Praise His name!

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (KJV)

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Where are the Elephants?

In the thirty plus years that I have lived in Gabon Africa, have I seen an elephant? Not even!
I've seen what was probably "droppings" from an elephant. I've seen photos that others have taken of elephants. I've heard of elephants trampling Africans' gardens but never have I seen one. I've seen elephants in the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo but not in Africa!

Exciting News!

(photo of "Super Berries growing on the bark of a tree)
Here is a PRAISE REPORT: In September I wrote a letter that our Bongolo Hospital maintenance man Henri had given notice and would be leaving us in a couple of months. The very same week that Henri gave notice we learned of a couple from the U.S. Midwest who were interested in coming out to Gabon to do maintenance for the Bongolo Hospital. Paul and Meladee Davis have now been appointed to Gabon and are about ready to come! Thanks for praying that their house sell. It did. They have had a garage sale to sell off their belongings and they fly from the USA on December 8^th, arriving in Gabon on December 9^th! Praise the Lord for their willingness to come join us in Gabon. Pray as they say goodbye to their family and friends. Pray for their travel to Gabon and their adjustment to living on the equator! Thanks.

The Memba Chapel was struggling with attendance running about 10-15 people on Sunday mornings? You prayed and last Sunday there were 35 people. This weekend, November 15-16^th we are going to have a Seminar with Pastor Guy Patrick and I as speakers. There will be two sessions for children and two sessions for everyone. On Sunday Pastor will give communion and then we’ll have a potluck dinner. Pray for a message preparation for Pastor and I. Pray for a good attendance for Saturday and Sunday. Pray that God will move hearts.

Some of you are praying for Tim and Amanda Kelly and their three children who should arrive at Bongolo about March 1^st to head up a Center for receiving visitors to our hospital. We just got word this week that Tim and Amanda are coming to Gabon the first week in December for a site visit. Please pray that they get their passports, visas and necessary vaccinations in time for their flight.

To the right is a photo of a Frangy Panny Tree that near my house.

Please continue to pray that my old vehicle get fixed and then sold. The Isuzu Trooper is located in Libreville problems with the motor block, the same problem as the summer of 2007 when it broke down for me. Arnie even tried to sell it “as is” at a reduced price but was unable to do so. I am thankful that the car did not break down in September when I drove it to Libreville! I need the money from the sale of that car to pay for my new Nissan Patrol. and Arnie Solvig is trying to find someone to fix it. He will then put it “on the market” for selling it. The problem is that it has serious

The Title for my Nissan Patrol still has not been issued so I am driving on an expired “temporary” document. Pray that the title be released soon and that Arnie find a way to get it from Libreville down to me at the hospital. Other than that and the fact that my car fund is still in debt, it runs beautifully! It is hard to know how much I still need since I have not yet been able to sell the Isuzu Trooper. Please pray that this all get regulated soon. Thanks.

You can tell by this blog entry that your prayers are being answered but that your prayers are still needed. Thanks for praying.

My Survivor Gabon T-Shirt !

I ordered a Survivor Gabon T-Shirt and it arrived in Gabon a week or so ago. I just thought you'd like to see that I've got the shirt. I watched the first night of the TV series but not the following weeks. I think that someone is taping it so I should be able to see the series later on.

My Update /STMO Coming to Bongolo

(Photo of Tim, Amanda Kelly and their family)

I wanted to say a quick “hi” from Bongolo Hospital. I’ve been busy teaching Pathology in the Nursing School, doing hospital bookkeeping and assisting in doing Mission bookkeeping. There is plenty to keep me busy.
Please continue to pray that my old vehicle get fixed and then sold. The Isuzu Trooper is located in Libreville and Arnie Solvig is trying to find someone to fix it. He will then put it “on the market” for selling it.
I am enjoying driving my new Nissan Patrol vehicle. I bought it September 2nd and its two month temporary registration paper has just about expired. The government has not yet issued the permanent Title for the vehicle though. Please pray that the Title for my new car be issued and get from Libreville to me down at the hospital as soon as possible so that I will be able to continue driving with up-to-date papers. Thanks.
November 15-16 I will be helping with a weekend seminar at the Memba Chapel. Please pray for planning for that two day seminar. Pastor Guy Patrick will participate. He is the Pastor at the Lebamba church. The Memba Chapel is an annex of that church.
We have had many visitors at the hospital this month. Seven people from Florida left just this morning. Six other visitors are still here. The STMO is planning to set up a Center here at the hospital. STMO stands for Short Term Mission Office. Tim and Amanda Kelly and their three children should arrive at Bongolo about March 1st to head up a Center for receiving visitors to our hospital. One prayer request for the Kelly family is that their house sells before they move to Gabon.

The website for information about STMO is: http://www.cmalliance.org/serve/stmo/?/stmo.jsp.
The Kelly family has their own website at: http://stmogabon.org/index.html.

Well, I promised you that this would be a quick Update. Thanks so much for your support financially through your gifts to the Great Commission Fund. Thanks for your prayer support.

Halleluhia !

I just got word of some large donations to my Carolyn Thorson Vehicle Fund! When my old ISUZU TROOPER is sold, I will then have enough money to completely pay for the beautiful black NISSAN PATROL that is sitting in my garage! PRAISE THE LORD!

PRAISE the LORD:

For friends who have given money to my car fund during the past few years.

For friends who have prayed for my car fund during the past few years.

Thanks to everyone!

Pray:

That my old Isuzu Trooper be repaired quickly.

That when sold my Isuzu Trooper brings a good sale price.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

Travel, Seminar, Teaching!

October 14, 2008 Email Prayer Letter

It's been three weeks since I last wrote and you are probably wondering if I am still "Surviving" in Gabon, the theme of my last letter. I have been so very busy but now want to update you. Since I last wrote I caught up after my car buying trip to Libreville, then made another trip to Libreville for Field Leadership Team meetings, returned to Bongolo Hospital and immediately attended a three day seminar. That ended late Sunday yesterday.

This week I am getting caught up on many projects, besides working hard on preparing and teaching Pathology to the nursing students at the Bongolo Hospital. We still have 11 nursing students but Oscar continues to do poorly with his studies so may have to be let go at the end of the trimester. Either way, I am sure he needs your prayers. Please also pray for wisdom for us, the professors.

My new Nissan Patrol vehicle runs great! It has now been back to Libreville for its first “check up” with Nissan Company and it passed.My vehicle account is in debt. I still have my Isuzu Trooper to sell but the problem is that the Trooper is again having motor problems and needs repairs before it can be sold. Please pray that the car be repaired to the point that it can be sold, that it will bring in a good selling price and that I will receive additional gifts to my vehicle fund to make up the difference. I figure that after the old car sells, I will still need $5,000-$6,000 to break even. I want to sincerely thank those of you who have given and given towards my Nissan Vehicle. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks!

This past weekend we missionaries attended a seminar using the book “Beyond Your Best- Develop Your Relationships, Fulfill Your Destiny” by Thrall, McElarthn and McNicol. An attached photo will show us working hard at completing our in seminar assignments! This seminar was taught by Chris and Marcia Braun. Chris is the Africa Area Director for the Alliance missionaries.

Allan Ballard our field bookkeeper was also visiting Bongolo this past weekend. He lives and works in Dakar Senegal. He is our Gabon Bookkeeper and I am his Assistant. It was good to be able to chat face to face about some transition issues and bookkeeping.

I still attend church in Memba Chapel and sometimes do the teaching on Sunday morning. I am trying to get a Seminar together for Memba for mid November. The Gabonese like concentrated teaching times. Please pray that the Lord direct in this. I think the weekend will be November 16^th but this is not certain.

This evening we missionary women here at Bongolo will begin the Beth Moore Bible study on “Daniel”. It will be our first get together for this. We’ll be having Bible Study on Tuesday evenings. Please pray that the Lord use this study in our lives. Thanks.

You ask how I spend my spare time. I am active on www.SparkPeople.com , an online weight loss site. I’ve been able to lose about twenty pounds through the support I get on this free site. Ask me about it if you wish!

Thanks to all of you who give to the Great Commission Fund. That is the fund that supports me. We heard this weekend that so far the gifts to that fund are meeting budget. Praise the Lord that in times of financial crises, people are still giving to the Lord’s work.

Thanks so much for praying, giving, writing, and encouraging me.

Mangoes !

I have five huge mango trees in my back yard. The mangoes will be ripe at the end of October. There are thousands of mangoes on the trees this year! I am looking for mango recipes: mango pie, mango crisp, frozen mango, baked mango, etc. If anyone has a good mango recipe, please send it them to me. Thanks.

It's hard to get fresh fruit and veggies here. Lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers will only grow for a couple of months out the the year. Otherwise it is too wet here in the rain forest of Gabon. We're eating lots of veggies right now. Soon they will be gone and we will be back to canned or frozen veggies.

SURVIVING IN GABON !

Yes, I am SURVIVING in Gabon! For one thing, I had my physical exam this past week and had a good checkup. I have been SURVIVING Ovarian Cancer since June 2004!

I teach in the Bongolo Hospital Nursing School and I survived the first week and a half of teaching Pathology class. I’m not sure though if my students successfully SURVIVED their first exam which they took this afternoon. I still need to correct the exam.

Our hospital maintenance man Henri has given notice and will leave us in a couple of months. We have good news that a couple from the Midwest is interested in selling all and moving to Gabon to help us with our maintenance needs. Praise the Lord! Pray that they be able to sell their house. In the meantime, pray that we SURVIVE the time between Henri’s leaving and the arrival of this couple. Our station is huge with much electrical, plumping, building, telephone, yard-work problems that need overseeing.

The Memba Chapel is having problems SURVIVING. In a village of about 800 people, this chapel only has about 10-15 regular attendees on Sunday morning. The only other church in town did not survive. This one is struggling. They have no resident Pastor so I help out with teaching in Sundays. Pray for the believers in Memba, that they would not neglect getting together for Sunday worship time or the Memba Chapel might not SURVIVE. The church is not just a building, it is PEOPLE.

Yesterday a cargo boat sank at the Port in Libreville Gabon. We have expected a container of items that we shipped to Gabon and that ship with container was to have arrived about NOW. We were very grateful that the ship that sank was NOT the ship that has our container on board and “our ship” SURVIVED! Please pray though as now there is a delay in docking “our” ship, the one that has the container that we had shipped!

I am back to my theme of SURVIVING in GABON. I have been a missionary in Gabon for thirty one years, since 1977. Some things from my past that no longer exist or things that still exist and I continue to survive include: a gasoline powered wringer wash machine, two years without the electric turbine, using lamp light, Kerosene refrigerator, malaria twice, bad roads, car breakdowns without AAA, Congo Fever, no see-um bugs but they bite anyway, snakes, rats living under the stove, “outhouse” boards that gave way, jigger fleas, flashlights instead of street lights, 18 years of using a ferry boat to get to the main part of town, mail delivery taking up to three months, breaking a leg that needed surgery in our jungle hospital, using bug spray, asthma, hardly any stores in town, no restaurants (no Fast Food), many missionaries coming but then leaving, goodbyes, the life and death of three cats (I apparently have more lives then them), and I could go on and on!

How am I SURVIVING? Well, now I have 24 electricity (when it works), satellite TV, electric stove, wash machine and refrigerator, toaster, Magic Bullet, microwave, bread maker, bridge over the Louetsi River, a borrowed cat when the neighbor is on a trip, lots of shops in town, African restaurants (still no Fast Food), indoor plumbing (have always had that in my house), email, Internet, Vonage phone, a new NISSAN PATROL vehicle (my old one still needs to sell) and I could go on and on! I am blessed!

In June and July the TV series “Survivor Gabon: Earth’s Last Eden” was filmed in Gabon. The filming was not done near the hospital where I live. Some missionaries living in the capital city were able to meet some of the film crew. This TV series will have its two hour CBS Premier this Thursday evening, September 25, 2008. I have seen very few of the other Survivor series but this one, well, it’s from Gabon! What can I say? My brother will record at least the first one for me. It won’t be shown here until probably next year! I do not promote this TV series. I merely know that there are a lot of you who watch it and I want you to know that Gabon is where I live!

Click below for Previews of “Survivor Gabon: Earth’s Last Eden”. These links will tell you a lot about the country where I live, work and SURVIVE!

Survivor: Gabon Season17 Preview

“Survivor: Gabon Preview Part I”

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for me and have supported me financially for all these years. You are loved.

Joyfully Surviving in Gabon,

Carolyn

My New Nissan Patrol !

I am so excited to have a new vehicle to drive, a Nissan Patrol Van. My trip to Libreville went like this:

Monday: Drive ten hours over dirt and paved roads.
Tuesday: Shop at different Car dealerships. I was looking for a diesel, 4 wheel drive vehicle that would last me for the next six years, until my planned retirement.
Wednesday. Go with the Mission Business Agent to the Nissan dealership to pay for a Nissan Patrol. It is listed as a van but I always thought that vans had a sliding side door. I guess not. The only colors available were black and white. The only color available immediately, was black.
Thursday: Wait all day until 6pm when my new, already licensed van was delivered to the Mission.
Friday: Be driven to pick up the Insurance card for my Nissan and then go shopping for school and hospital paper supplies. In the afternoon I drove myself shopping at our "mall". It's mostly a grocery store.
Saturday: Also went shopping a bit, getting used to the new vehicle.
Sunday: Drive back home. Because I drove on Sunday there were no logging trucks on the road and hardly any traffic. None of the police checkpoints stopped me to look at my papers. The trip took only 9 hours.

Today, Monday, I ache all over. If you haven't driven on African roads, you may not know know what it's like to "grip" the steering wheel as you go over all the bumps and avoid the holes in the road. At least the road has recently been road graded. I always ache all over the day after taking that drive. A little Ibuprofen should take care of it for awhile.

I want you to know that I talk about "my new car" that it was not paid for by my personal account. People, some I know, some I don't know, have given money to the church for me to have this new car. I am very grateful. I also want you to know that I dove my old car to Libreville for selling. It did make it up there but then we found one major bolt had rattled off and it is now not drivable before it is first repaired. I have my new car just in time!! God is good!

Thanks to those who gave towards my car and to those who prayed for it!

59th Birthday

August 16th I celebrated my 59th Birthday. Karen Fitch had me over for dinner along with two other Singles. After dinner the other Missionaries from the station came over for cake and presents. I am thankful to the Lord for giving me these 59 years ! Thanks too to Karen for hosting a Birthday party for me. WooHoo!

Missionary Family

August 4-9 the Gabon Field had our annual Field Forum conference at the city of Lambarene. We always stay in the Ogoue Palace Hotel. Our guest speaker was from California and gave a series of messages on "Grace", using the Old Testament book of Ruth. Field Forum is like going to family camp with the kids participating in Vaction Bible School. It was so nice getting away for this time of relaxation, refreshing and time in God's Word.

The Spelunkers are here!

What you see is a slice of the rocky mountain on which I live. What you don't see here are the caves that are under that mountain.

Speleology is the scientific study of caves. We have a team of Spelunkers camping on our station, exploring and mapping our caves. In my thirty years of living here I have explored the caves only twice. Both times I was in the caves for several hours. There are stalactites and stalagmites. There are places where you can walk and other places where you have to crawl. Lots of exercise!

By the way, these scientists are here through a grant from the National Geographic!
Check out this link:
www.blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/gabon-caves/team.html

Find out more about Gabon here:
www.africas-eden.com/index_home.html

JULY 4th BBQ

Yesterday was JULY 4th. We had a BBQ followed by a DVD. There were 16 of us present, 8 of whom were visitors from the States and UK. There was lots of food and we had a good time together. Doctors were not called down to the hospital for an emergency so it was a nice Independence Day celebration. No fireworks though.

EXAM TIME

This week is a busy week for students at Bongolo Hospital. The Nursing students will start their final exams for the trimester on Friday when I give them their Bible Exam. Their other exams will be next week. Friday after their Final they will come over to my house for supper and maybe a movie.

Since September I have been teaching midwifery theory to two nurses, Rose and Patricia. Last week they successfully took the final exam for their third trimester. This week Thursday they take their Comprehensive exam covering the whole year. Their supervised practical work in the Maternity will not end until August.

The past month I have taught Obstetrics to Dr. Christine Bataneni. She and her husband Jean Claude are both Doctors from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr. Jean Claude is a Surgical Resident at the Bongolo Hospital and Dr. Christine is a one year Intern. She is rotating through four different departments before returning to the DRC to take an exam. Dr. Christine will take her final exam in Obstetrics next Monday.

That pretty much sums up my week.

JUNE 7th UPDATE

I know, I know, it's been awhile since I wrote. I guess I just wanted an
idea of something to write about. Since I wrote I made a four night, five
day trip to Libreville in order to attend a 2-3 hour meeting! I left on a
Monday in a car driven by our hospital administrator. The meeting was
Wednesday. It was a meeting of the church Medical Ministries committee. I
had to present the new fiscal year budget for the Bongolo Hospital. I flew
back down to Mouila for the ride to Lebamba where the Hospital is located on
Friday. That was already over a week ago!

There have been around 1000 people who have accepted Christ at the Bongolo
Hospital in 2008! The year is not quite half over. Because of this, Satan is
working over time to discourage patients, personnel. Etc. So many patients
go to the witchdoctor before coming to Bongolo Hospital for help. There are
others who have terminal illnesses for instance who leave our hospital to go
to the witchdoctor. Or family members ask a sorcerer to let them know who
put a curse on their loved one, making that person ill. Pray for Chaplains
Pascal and Michel as they minister full time at the hospital. Pray for these
many who have professed to know Christ in 2008. Pray for safety of our
personnel.

The Nursing School now has11 students, one left after first trimester
because of grades. I continue to teach their Bible Class each Friday
afternoon. Pray for the students as they do their practical work and take
their courses that they will learn well and be able to apply what they
learn.

I am now teaching Obstetrics/Maternity to two different "classes". I still
have Rose and Patricia who have not finished up their Midwifery course. The
theory is done but they still have the final exam for the third trimester
and then an exam over all the material for the year. They still have
practical experience throughout the summer. Now for five weeks I am teaching
Dr. Christine Bataneni as she rotates through the Maternity on an Internship
rotation. Her husband is a Surgical Resident. She is taking her one year of
Internship following medical school which she completed in the Democratic
Republic of Congo. I need to prepare an exam for her for Monday. Pray for
Rose, Patricia and Dr. Christine.

My car has been fixed AGAIN so I have "wheels" and will be able to get to
Memba Chapel tomorrow. Last week I could not go because my car was in the
garage. Last month I received gifts of just over $3000 towards my next car.
I am very thankful for those of you who gave. Thanks.

I'm busy these days with year fiscal end bookkeeping for the hospital. It is
going well.

My Uncle Marlin passed away in April and my Uncle Dean about a week ago.
Uncle Dean's funeral is today so I am thinking about and praying for family
who are gathering now for his funeral.

Prayer Requests:
1. For enough money to come in so I can buy a new vehicle.
2. That the Nursing students, Rose, Patricia and Dr. Christine do well
in their studies.
3. For the around 1000 people who have accepted Christ at the Hospital
this year.
4. For God to intervene to restrain dark powers that hold people in
bondage.
5. That the Lord be exalted in our community so that He draws many
people to Himself.

PRICE OF FUEL

I just calculated the price of gas here in Gabon.

GASOLINE: $4.97 a gallon.
DIESEL FUEL: $3.99 per gallon.

I have an Isuzu Trooper which takes Diesel fuel!

Moving Day/Nursing School/Car

May 16, 2008

It’s been a busy time for me here at Bongolo Hospital. Thanks much for praying for me the past several weeks.

Last month the C&MA opened a Short Term Mission’s Office (STMO) in Libreville, the capital of Gabon. Missionaries Tim and Meredith Brokopp moved to Libreville to host teams of visitors. They are joined this summer with Missionary Intern Joel Trainer. (Tim and Joel both grew up in Gabon as Missionary Kids). The STMO is accepting teams of visitors who want to see what “missions” is all about. Most of their ministries will be in Libreville. The website for the STMO office is: http://www.cmalliance.org/serve/stmo/

Last week we had a team of ten STMO visitors come for two days to see our hospital. While visiting us they helped move our bookkeeping office and the cashier office into the newly finished two story building where the AIDS Clinic and Pharmacy will be. It is fun for Christine and me to have a new office!! Above the photo is of moving day. This second photo is of Joel and Christine.

Hospital bookkeeping is up to date as Christine and I are working on the May books. May is the last month of the financial year so it is very important that we look at all files, troubleshooting where necessary. We likely will not finish the May books until mid June. Your prayers are needed that we do not forget any detail.

Our eleven nursing students are busy with their second trimester of classes. Jacob did not pass last trimester and had to leave school. Please pray for Oscar who was put on probation and was taken off of clinical work so he can concentrate on his academic studies this trimester. If he is allowed to continue he will make up his clinical work this summer (during his vacation). I am teaching the Bible Class for the nursing students. They will have their midterm exam this afternoon.

Praise the Lord that my old car is finally fixed and again out of the garage. Pray that I can get it to Mouila for its safety inspection as that expired just before my trip the States. I had not been able to get that renewed because of bad tires and breakdowns. It now has two new tires so I need to try to get it to that town to get the inspection done.

Praise the Lord also that just over $3000 came in during in the past month for my vehicle fund. Once I have enough money in this account I will combine it with money from the sale of my old car to then buy a new one! I already have a buyer for my old car. The Bethel Bible Institute in Libreville has asked to buy my old car.

If anyone would like to give towards my account “Thorson Vehicle Account-Gabon”, please send your well marked contributions through your local Alliance church or mail them directly to the Christian and Missionary Alliance at:

Christian and Missionary Alliance
Box 35000

Colorado Springs, CO
80935-3500

You may also give at the Alliance website by using the link: https://www.cmalliance.org/give/onlinegiving.jsp?project=47200&projectName=Approved+Special&projectDesc=Carolyn+Thorson+Vehicle+Fund-+Gabon&projectNumber=

A combined Mission and Church committee for “Medical Ministries” will meet in Libreville on May 28^th. I will join Pastor Serge Batouboko, our Hospital Administrative Director, to represent the Bongolo Hospital at this meeting. That means that I’ll have a short trip to Libreville from May 26^th or 27^th until May 30^th when I’ll fly back down here.

Our Bongolo internet went mostly down yesterday. The wireless works in the office but the rest of the station does not have internet. Please pray that we can figure out what switch or router is not functioning. Thanks.

I appreciate those of you who give towards my support. The account which receives these money gifts is the “Great Commission Fund”. That fund supports all Alliance missionaries as well as provides money for our ministries around the world. This month of May, Alliance churches in the U.S are having special offerings to boost this account up to meet the needs around the world. Thanks to those who have already given to this fund. You may give online to the “Great Commission Fund” at the C&MA website at: https://www.cmalliance.org/give/onlinegiving.jsp?project=1-1401&projectName=GCF&projectDesc=Great+Commission+Fund

I am very appreciative of the financial and the prayer support that you give me. God bless you!

In Christ,

Carolyn

Carolyn Thorson

Missionary with Christian & Missionary Alliance
Bongolo Hospital
Gabon, Africa

"Against All Odds"

Friday morning, April 11th, I was scheduled to fly from Omaha to Chicago and then to New York City before then flying to Africa. I had reservations on American Airline, an airline that was canceling many flights last week. In looking at the Weather Channel, I saw that it might snow in Omaha on Friday and it was supposed to be rain stormy very near to Chicago. I had not looked at the New York forecast. God is a miracle working God and I knew that I could get back to Gabon “AGAINST ALL ODDS”. I asked people to pray. A verse came to mind. It was Joshua 1:9b (Bible in Basic English) and states, “Take heart and be strong; have no fear and do not be troubled; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,”

On Wednesday before those flights I called the travel agent. She said that I was not scheduled on an American Airline’s MD80 plane, the one that was grounded last week. I was scheduled on two other planes. She said to call her on Thursday to see if the flights were still ok. On Thursday she called me instead and told me that she had noticed that she had double booked my flights, on American Airlines through Chicago but also on Northwest Airlines through Minneapolis. She had never canceled the Northwest reservations!!! Thursday she arranged to transfer my payment from American Airlines to Northwest and I soon received a new e-ticket!
Friday I flew Northwest Airline from Omaha through Minneapolis to JFK in New York City. From there I flew to Casablanca. In “Casa” I left the airport and was picked up by a nurse friend of mine. I got to meet two girls she had raised. We went to the beach and watched one of them have her surfing lesson and then ate lunch together before I was driven back to the airport for my flight from Casablanca to Libreville. What fun it was to see my friend, “her kids” and also to see Casablanca!
I arrived in LBV on Saturday night at 11:30pm and rode down to Bongolo Hospital yesterday with someone going. I said that “I ARRIVED”. My two suitcases did NOT arrive on my flight. They came the following day, after I had already gone down country. Both had had their TSA padlocks removed. They will come down country by truck sometime in a week or so.
Praise the Lord that I arrived in Gabon despite American Airline’s grounding planes, bad weather, etc. I arrived home “Against all odds”! Thanks for praying!

Family Visits

Last week I had visits from three brothers. Larry and his wife Leslie were in Omaha the evening of March 24 until the morning of March 26th. We had lots of fun chatting and going out to Applebee's, Chipotle's and Pepper Jack's. To the right see a photo of Larry, Leslie and I in the March wind of Omaha!

During the weekend, March 29-30, I had visits from brothers Glenn and Bill. Glenn came with his grown daughter Kristi. Bill came with his grown daughter Loni. We visited the Village Inn, China One Buffet! We also visited my Uncle Dean and cousins. See a photo of Glenn, Carolyn, Uncle Dean and Bill.

EASTER Weekend

I'm now on vacation in Omaha. On Saturday my step mom and I went to cousin Roxanne's home for "Easter dinner". I was able to see my Uncle dean and cousins. Easter Sunday Mom and I went to church at the 9am service. We went to dinner at step brother Bill's house and stayed most of the afternoon. We rested in the evening. Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!

AIDS Outpatient Clinic

This photo is of the new AIDS Outpatient Clinic at the hospital. We have finally received official permission to order Anti-Viral medicine against the AIDS virus and to open this clinic. Pray that the medicine arrive quickly and pray for wisdom as to how to proceed with opening the clinic.

Tour in Western PA

Thanks for praying for my trip from Bongolo Hospital to the States from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25^th. Although we had a flat tire on the way to the Mouila airport, everything else went smoothly. I arrived in Pittsburgh, as did my suitcases. A lock was missing on one suitcase but I think that nothing was missing. Thanks again for praying.

I am already at my fifth church of this tour. I am traveling with Don Kramer, missionary to Taiwan. Although we are on opposite churches we are sometimes transported in the same car or taken out for dinner together. I had not met Don before. I will be on speaking tour through the evening of March 19^th. I’m scheduled for a total of twelve churches.

March 20^th I plan to fly to Omaha for three weeks of vacation. I have several plans for those three weeks including a medical exam, visits from friends and some relatives and shopping. My flight back to Gabon is for April 11-12^th and I am supposed to ride back down to the hospital with Becki Thompson who will have just arrived back in Gabon from a trip.

The Nursing students are nearing the end of their sixth week of a ten week trimester. Jacob has been having so many problems with grades that he likely will not be able to pull up his grades to be able to continue into the next trimester. Oscar is also having problems but may be able to pull his grades up. Pray for both of these students as well as the other ten.

I taught the first half of this trimester’s Theological Education by Extension (Bible) class to the student nurses and Karen Fitch is finishing out the class for me. During my last class time with them student Eveline’s water burst and she went off to the maternity to deliver a big baby Boy. The other students told her to name her baby after me because she had been in class at the beginning of “labor” so I have another namesake in Gabon. I guess that they spelled his name a little differently but in a manner easier for pronunciation in French. Good thing since she had a boy! Oh, Eveline and her family are are refugees from the Congo Braazaville and has lived in Gabon for about six years.

I updated the Bongolo website quite a bit in February and so far in March have not had time to do much. If you haven’t checked it out recently it is found at: www.bongolohospital.org.

I went from the warm equator to snow in Pennsylvania. It snowed every day for the first five or so days that I was here. Then we had a couple of nice days. Now it’s getting cold again. I was very glad that I had had my winter coat and boots sent to PA from Omaha! I’m looking forward to Spring, and I just got here!

Have a good day.

New View of Hospital

Below is a new view of the Bongolo Hospital. The two story building is the new AIDS Outpatient Clinic building.

Flight to PA

Just a quick note to let you all know that I arrived well in Pennsylvania. On Sunday night, all day Monday, I flew from Libreville to Casablanca to JFK in New York and then to Pittsburgh. I was picked up and driven for 1 1/2 hours to a small town in PA where my first tour church is located. Yesterday I went shopping, today I am working on tour messages and tomorrow I start tour. One of my suitcases was broken into, I think probably in Casablanca. It was gone through. The only thing I can think that is missing is a very small, inexpensive AM-FM radio. At least I have not found it yet in the other suitcases so perhaps that is gone. If there is something else gone, I haven't noticed. Thanks for so many who prayed for my trip and that my suitcases arrived with me, which they did! I am typing this on someone else's computer so do not have a  photo to add.

Up the Road without a CRIQUE!

I'm on my way to the States for three weeks of speaking at Missionary Conferences in Western Pennsylvania and then a three week vacation. I flew to Gabon's capital city, Libreville yesterday, Feb. 22nd. Karen Fitch drove me to Mouila to the airport to get my flight. Lisa Nicky came along. Well, we were not all that far from Mouila when Karen's car had a flat tire. The photo above is of Lisa (front and left) and Karen trying to get the jack to work.
The hydraulic jack would not go up as it had not been used for awhile and needed fluid/grease or what ever you put into a hydraulic jack. We were UP THE ROAD WITHOUT A CRIQUE (word in French for Jack)! After 15 minutes of trying to get the "crique" to work, along came three men in an empty flatbed truck who stopped and changed the tire using their jack! Praise the Lord and thanks to these men!

My Dining Room

Bongolo Hospital has lots and lots of visitors. We have had as many as 13 at a time. Although the visitors must prepare most of their own meals we do invite them into our homes. At the left is a photo of my dining room, ready for company. I enjoy preparing a meal for others. I do not prepare anything fancy but just plain "old" food.

Bongolo Hospital Photo

Here is a photo of Bongolo Hospital where I work. It was started in 1977 although there had been a small dispensary there for twenty years previous to that. It now is a 130 bed hospital that serves mostly the southern half of Gabon but we have patients coming even from the capital city of Libreville. Bongolo Hospital is located in the town of Lebamba, in the country of Gabon.

USA /School/Vehicle/Memba

January 15, 2008

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 .

Dear Family and Friends,

Time is flying by quickly before my trip to the States. One week from today I will fly to Libreville the capital of Gabon. On Sunday night the 24^th I’ll be flying all night to Casablanca Morocco and then on a second flight to JFK Airport in New York. That will be Monday the 25^th. After several hours I have a flight from JFK to Pittsburgh, PA. I will have a couple of days rest before my three week Missions conference speaking tour begins. I am assigned to speak in 12 churches during the next 21 days. Please pray I will not miss any of my four flights, that the flights be safe and also that my luggage will not get lost but will arrive in Pittsburgh at the same time I arrive. I have never before flown Air Morocco. I have already had my coat and boots sent from Omaha to Pittsburgh and someone will meet me at the airport with them. Remember, I am flying to a winter wonderland from the equator!

I’ve been busy with teaching Bible class to the Nursing Students and with bookkeeping for both the hospital and the Mission. Just today Christine and I finished January hospital bookkeeping. February is Budget month in the mission so I’ll have some work to do for that in the next days. Right after my return from the States there will be an external audit of both the mission and the hospital books so I’m trying to get ready for that.

I’ve enjoyed teaching a Theological Education by Extension (TEE) course to the Nursing students. I am taking them half way through the first trimester of the “Master Life” series on Christian living. Karen Fitch will finish out the trimester teaching this class for me and I’ll pick up with the second trimester when I return to Gabon in April. Above is a photo of the twelve nursing students who began their 29 month course in January 2008.

On Wednesday I drove an hour away to Ndende in order to get my exit Visa before my trip. When I returned to Bongolo I noticed my car had overheated again. Do you remember the problems I had with it in August through October? Anyway, it needed water but I don’t like it having to need water. I am still raising money to get a new car and I thank those who have already given toward this need. I am behind on sending thank you notes so please accept my thanks. If anyone would like to give towards my account “Thorson Vehicle Account-Gabon”, please send your well marked contributions through your local Alliance church or mail them directly to the Christian and Missionary Alliance at:

Christian and Missionary Alliance
Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO
80935-3500

You may also give at the Alliance website by using the link: https://www.cmalliance.org/give/onlinegiving.jsp?project=47200&projectName=Approved+Special&projectDesc=Carolyn+Thorson+Vehicle+Fund-+Gabon&projectNumber=

I continue to update the Bongolo Hospital website and that has become a hobby for me. You may find it as www.bongolohospital.org. Please sign our “Guest Book” when you visit the site.

Since November I have been attending and ministering in the Memba Chapel. I really like that little congregation. Well, last Sunday there were two young men who were there as representatives of the Lebamba Alliance Church. Memba Chapel is an annex of the Lebamba Alliance Church. These two men have just been assigned to minister weekly in Memba. They will do so for a month and then there will be two other people assigned to Memba Chapel. I had been attending there since they had no one else to teach them. This was perfect timing as I am leaving for six weeks in the States. I said “goodbye” to Memba Chapel and will seek the Lord as to where HE would have me serve upon my return from the States.

Thanks for your faithfulness in praying for me. You’re prayers are so needed.

In Christ,
Carolyn