Family Reunion!

Here is the whole Loren Thorson/Bardon clan!

Last weekend, August 7-9, we had our first ever Loren Thorson/Bardon reunion. We met at the Best Western Hotel in Nebraska City, Nebraska. All of my five brothers, their wives and some of their children and grandchildren were able to come. Also many of my step family (Bardons) were there for part or all of the reunion. We came from five States, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado and Missouri.
Here I am with my brothers Glenn, Bill, Larry and David. I used to be the tallest!Here is the Loren Thorson clan!

Carolyn's Capers Letter.. July 24

I’m just back in Omaha after a nine day trip to Ohio. July 15-18 I attended the Dynamic Communicators Workshop along with 24 other International Workers and a few Pastors. We each had to give three speeches during the workshop and then received encouragement and constructive criticism to help us do better. On July 18th, in the afternoon, we were shuttled to Beulah Beach Conference Center on Lake Erie. There over 60 International Workers for a re-entry Seminar. We had group sessions and other sessions where we had optional topics from which to choose. We had worship times and fun times together. I flew back to Omaha yesterday. The word from Gabon is that the ship with our annual “Food Orders” arrived and that the food for those of us who live at Bongolo Hospital started arriving by truckload. See photos: Yes, I did order food but not much since I will not be there until December. I ordered mostly canned goods. The men will carry it into my home for me. We have found that food items ordered from the U.S, shipped and trucked to us at the hospital are cheaper than foods bought in the country. Gabon is one of most costly countries IN THE WORLD. We each make one food shipment order per year. It is always a fun day when the food arrives!

June 8th the President of Gabon passed away after 41 years in office. The National Presidental elections are scheduled for August 30 with several candidates running for office. Pray for peace to continue during and after these elections.

The Mission holds an annual Field Forum Conference which is like family camp. The dates for this conference are set for August 31- September 4, the days just after elections! Pray for wisdom in planning the meetings and safe traveling for this conference. A hotel in the town of Lambarene has been reserved for Forum. Pray for spiritual refreshment for all who attend.

While in the States I am doing quite a lot of speaking. Here is my schedule for the next months.

7/26 Speak at Soujourner's SS Class- Christ Community Church
7/27 Priscilla Women
7/30 Missionary Coffee 9:30am in Blair
8/30 Christ Community Church- Sarpy County Site
9/13 Speak at Ambassador's SS Class- Christ Community Church
9/18-20 Alliance Women's District Conference- Orange City, IA
9/22-27 Millard, NE Millard Alliance Church
9/28-10/1 Workers Retreat – Colorado Springs, CO
10/2-4 Colorado Springs, CO- Crossing Church
10/5-8 Travel/Time Off- Visit with my two brothers who live in CO.
10/9-11 Grover, CO - Friendship Alliance Church
10/12- Fly back to Omaha from Denver
10/18-21 Princeton, NE- Countryside Alliance Church
10/23-25 Bellevue, NE - Bellevue Community Church
11/1-4 Hamlet, NE- Hamlet Union Church
11/5 Travel 11/6-8 Brunswick, NE- The Community Church
11/11-15 Wahoo, NE- Wahoo Community Church

Pray for me as I prepare both my heart and my messages to present to the above churches. Thanks so much.

Happy July 4th Weekend!

Look what is NOT for July 4th dinner. SNAKE! Yes, snake tastes like chicken!

July 4, 2009

It is hard to believe that it is already July 4th. Freedom is something to enjoy in all seriousness. Not everyone is FREE like we are in America. It is good to be able to celebrate that freedom this year on home soil! I think of John 10:10 that says “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ASV” I think of those around the world AND in America who are not free but are bound spiritually by the thief (Satan) and who very much need the Lord to “free” them. I rejoice in that freedom that I have in Christ who gives me abundant life. I plan to attend a picnic at my cousin’s home late this afternoon. There should be about a ten or so of us together. Tomorrow after church I’ll have lunch together with my stepfamily right here at home.

I heard that the Missionaries at the Bongolo Hospital are getting together this evening for a BBQ dinner as they celebrate July 4th. It is nice that it fell on the weekend so that they could take the time off of their busy schedule to be together.

July 5th Update: Check out the parade that they had at Bongolo Hospital yesterday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CazIOPAXYas

Carolyn's Capers from Gabon to Omaha!

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16.

Thanks for praying for me these past two weeks as I traveled from Bongolo Hospital in Gabon to Omaha, Nebraska where I will make my Home Assignment/Furlough home. My last few weeks at the hospital were very busy as I sorted, threw and packed up my “stuff”. I also oriented Eric Hofman to the Hospital bookkeeping as well as helped him with Mission bookkeeping. He was a quick study for which I was very thankful.

May 18th I flew to Libreville and on the 19th and 20th went to the government office to obtain my Exit Visa. Thanks for praying. At that time I also heard that my Saturday night flight out of the country had been canceled and I was given the choice to leave one day later or one day earlier. I chose to leave on Friday night.

Friday night I flew from Libreville to Casablanca, Morocco where I then had a thirty hour layover while waiting for my next flight. Remember, I had flown there one day early. The airline gave me a hotel room. I have a good friend who works near Casablanca so she drove to the city and airport and picked me up. I had a great time as we did some sightseeing together. Above is a photo of me while in Casablanca. The second photo was taken that evening. Yes, I went to McDonald's while there! You might not be able to read the writing but you should be able to notice the "Golden Arches"!After a night in the hotel I then flew from Casablanca to New York City to Chicago and then to Louisville, Kentucky as planned, arriving complete with my luggage intact. Thanks again for praying.

Last week I attended Pre-Council for International workers and then the Alliance annual meeting called, “Council”. It was held at the Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky. There were good speakers and it was fun seeing lots of people I knew. My brother Larry, his wife Leslie and their daughter were also there so that was a treat. Sunday I then flew to Omaha and was picked up by my Stepmom and a friend. We then went to the Village Inn for a supper. Later that evening I went to pick up the car that I plan to borrow until mid August.

I will let you know what I’m up to as my plans unfold. I do know that this JUNE I have several medical appointments, a Bible Study on Tuesday evenings, shopping to do, friends to see and messages and audiovisuals to prepare. I have joined CURVES for the summer so will be exercising many mornings during each week. June 28th I have a speaking engagement in Maple Plain, Minnesota and I am now planning that MN trip. I do not know the exact dates or length of the trip.

Prayer Requests:
1. Praise that I have a car to use for most of the summer but please pray that I find another car to use from August 12 until December 8th when I return to Gabon.
2. Pray as I prepare messages to give in churches. I will be speaking to congregations, men, women, children, youth, and various small groups.

Thanks again for your prayers during this time of transition from Bongolo Hospital to Omaha!

"Christmas Boxes" in April!

This morning it was Christmas in April at the Memba Chapel. For a couple of years Samaritan's Purse has sent the church in Gabon containers of "Christmas Boxes", presents for children in a plastic "shoe boxes". These have not come down into the Southern part of the country where I live but other boxes have. Pastor Joshua Thompson grew up in Gabon as a "Missionary Kid". His California church sent out boxes of gift items for some of the children in this area. This morning Missionary Amanda Kelly, her three children and I had fun handing these boxes out to surprised children, age 2-13. See some photos of the morning.

Make a Difference in Africa

Steve (BongoloPilot) and Alace Straw created a video about Gabon and their ministry. Enjoy and at the same time learn more about the country where I live.
Click and watch, "Make a Difference in Africa".