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

Introduction

Hello,
My name is Carolyn Thorson. I am a missionary nurse at Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, Africa. I teach in the Bongolo Nursing School. I also am the hospital bookkeeper. I have served with the Christian and Missionary Alliance since 1975.

I have had two the other blogs. One did not permit me to add photos. The second one did allow photos but was not at all user friendly and did not always do what I wanted it to do. This was likely due to me not understanding the settings. I have just decided to use Blogger instead as I have worked with it before and think that it is user friendly.
I will be posting a variety of letters, photos, links, etc. I am the developer for the Bongolo Hospital website and blog but this one is for me.
Check out this blog for my news, views and photos.
Warmly (I live on the equator),
Carolyn