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