What's up with me?

These past two weeks the 3rd year Nursing students at Bongolo Hospital have each had an experience at Team Leading on one of the wards. They did well. Yesterday was their final day of working as Nursing students. Next week will be a week of Revision of the coursework they have had since September 2010. We professors will work with them in class for that week, helping them to review the material, then the students will have another week to study on their own.  14 comprehensive exams will be given on March 4-8.  Graduation Day is scheduled for March 17th during the Sunday morning service at the Bongolo Alliance Church. This will be followed by a reception for the graduates. Oh, and a Barbecue dinner is scheduled for the Friday evening before Graduation. Did I mention that all eight students have applied to work at Bongolo Hospital after Graduation?

Last week I went to Kanda Chapel, not knowing that the lay pastor Wilfred had been called out of town. After service opened with singing and prayer, I was announced as the teacher of the day. I was prepared, but did not know I was going to give the message. I gave the same one at Kanda that I had given in Nzoundou the week before. After the message on Cain and Able, one 18 year old man prayed to accept Christ. Pray for Abraham, that he grow in his new faith.

Thursday afternoon I showed the movie on the porch of the maternity. There were from 6-12 who watched the movie, some coming and going back and forth to the kitchen where they were preparing meals for their family members who were admitted in the hospital. Alida saw about half of the movie. After showing the film I gave an invitation to those who wanted to start believing in Christ. Five women prayed to accept Christ. Praise the Lord!

After lunch yesterday Terry Newman called to see if I would like to ride with her out to Yisinga to transport several ladies to the Alliance Women's Retreat that was to be held during the weekend. That way I could be with Terry on her return trip through the forest. We left Bongolo just after 4pm for the half hour trip to Yisinga. We stayed for the opening session which lasted until after 9pm then we returned home. The ladies were really glad to see me as I had not been to Yisinga for many years. There were about 75 women at the retreat last evening , along with some children and men who also attending the first session.  I had used "work of" ministry money to pay for seven women from the Nzoundou Chapel to attend the Retreat.  See the photo of these seven. Thanks to those who give towards my ministry. Part of the first evening of Women's Retreat is always a special offering from each of the Women's groups. I did the African shuffle with the Nzoundou women as we brought our offering up to the middle of the circle, sang a song and then gave a prayer request for Nzoundou and shuffled back out of the circle. Terry Newman went to the retreat today for part of the day. She said that God is working in the hearts of the women as they look to HIM. Terry will give the closing message of the retreat tomorrow morning.