Comprehensive Exams!

I am thinking and praying for the Nursing Students who I left in Africa. February 16-20 they will take Comprehensive Exams of everything they have studied since September 2012. They will then have one week off  before their March 1st Graduation from Nursing School. They will be new Nurses. Many will be hired by Bongolo Hospital. A couple will take the Midwifery course. Others will move on, some to return to their families they left in order to get an education.

SNOWSTORM!

Having lived on the equator most of the last 40 years I have avoided living in SNOW country. I'm now back in Omaha, NE and after a mild beginning of the Winter season, it has shown up this past week!! This past weekend we had a snowstorm which closed down many activities on Sunday and Monday. I watched my church church service online so I did not have to drive the ten miles or so back and forth. I heard that there were 2000 people online for the services.

Here is a photo taken Sunday from my apartment's balcony.

I was able to attend a Bible Study at church on Tuesday morning, and then do some shopping. It was very slushy on most roads but other roads still had lots of snow. Today though, Wednesday, it snowed again. Most if not all the Omaha schools closed for the second day this week. On Wednesday evenings I have been one-on-one teaching English to Internationals but that too was canceled for tonight.

The snow today did not stop a Respiratory Therapist from arriving with my CPAP machine. I was just diagnosed with sleep apnea. Actually, during the Sleep Study I only had 5 times of apnea  (lack of breathing for at least 10 seconds), but I had 91 times of hypopnea (very shallow breathing for at least 10 seconds). This Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine will force air into my mouth and nose to keep my airway open so that I will sleep better. Tonight will be my first night on the machine besides several hours I was on it during the Sleep Study.

Since I will be retiring this summer, I am trying to figure out how to continue to communicate with my many friends and prayer partners. Using this blog is one way that I can share photos and let people know what is happening in my life. In the right column you can sign up to get an email when I write a blog entry. That will help us keep in contact.

Thanks for your interest in my blog.
Carolyn

Update!

My last months in Gabon at the Bongolo Hospital and area were good with many farewells as I said goodbye to the churches where I had ministered in the past over 37 years. Also farewells given by the Hospital and my missionary colleagues as I left Gabon at the end of November, for eventual retirement.

I have been in the States on Home Assignment for two months now as I finish up my 40th as an Alliance International Worker. The Lord has helped me with the many decisions I have had to make: phone, apartment, car, etc. I feel settled in my new apartment, even though it will take me quite awhile to sort through all my stored "bins". I have seen friends and a few relatives but still have many to see, those who do not live in the Omaha area.

Four weeks from today I will fly to New England to participate in Mission's conferences in three states: Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. I will be speaking in eight churches as I finish up my last tour. Besides tour I have spoken at Alliance Women and adult Sunday School. I also have times set to speak in two churches in Minnesota and to other Nebraska groups as well.

During the past two months I have had doctors visits, various medical tests and even a biopsy which was negative. I did have it verified that I have obstructive sleep apnea, something I already pretty much knew. I am now willing, however, to get treatment for it. I am awaiting my CPAP machine which should help me sleep and keep me healthier (breathing!!).

I will be at the Retirement Luncheon at Alliance Council in California during the last week of May. In June my home church will have their Global Mission's Conference and will recognize me for my retirement. I am seeking the Lord's will for some future U.S. ministry as I shift my focus from Gabon to Omaha.

My First Flying Experience!

Tuesday I left the hospital where I have worked for over 37 years to return to Omaha, Nebraska for eventual retirement. Friends came to the plane to see me off.



Here is a selfie of me sitting in the Co-Pilot's seat.



So why is this my "first flying experience"? We have had a Mission plane for a number of years but I have never flown it either to nor from the capital city. It is a 1 hour 45 minute flight. It was also my "first flying experience" because I got to actually FLY the plane (while the pilot took several photos of me).



Our flight was cloudy but smooth. I was able to see some of the terrain below.



Here is us coming into the city.



Oh, I was the only passenger. Here is the back of the plane.



When I got to the capital city, I was picked up by long time friends so we could go out for lunch. I had my last Vogene pizza! I don't think that Omaha sells them which is probably a good thing!! They are made of white sauce with cream, ham, bacon and an egg on top.



Tomorrow I will fly to Paris, then Atlanta then Omaha.

Today's Positives:
1. I had a great flight to the Libreville.
2. The Guest house where I am staying for a few days is having a Thanksgiving meal this evening... because there are three of us who are American and a forth who did College in America.
3. My flights to the States are tomorrow night!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all who celebrate it!!

Retirement Ceremony and Service Award!

Sunday afternoon November 9th, at 2pm, the Bongolo Hospital held a retirement celebration in my honor. It was held in the Bongolo Church. At the same time there was an official government service medal ceremony where about 30 of us were honored for 10, 20 or 30 years of service.

Here was the program (in French of course).



The Hospital staff and students sang a special song.



Almost all the Hospital staff were there, plus some people from the church.




The Administrator of the hospital then the Medical Director both gave speeches then I did too. I shared Psalms 71:17-18.



I was give a beautiful Mbigou stone placed on glass wall hanging. It will be a challenge to pack it in a suitcase as it is so wide and fragile!



I received a gold medal from the Government for having served at the Hospital for 30 years (actually 37 years).



A dinner was held in my honor, and to honor all those employees who received medals from the Government.



The cake says "Merci" or "Thank you". The outfit I am wearing was a skirt and top sewed by a local tailor, with material that had been given to me as a farewell gift.

My Farewell Tour Continues!

Each Sunday I visit another Church/Chapel to say farewell. I am moving from Africa to America next month, at the end of November. I have lived and worked in Africa since 1977.

On September 21st I said "Goodbye" to the Yisinga Chapel.





On September 28th I visited the Bilengui Church. I had never been there before but had promised Pastor Moukingui that I would visit sometime before leaving Gabon. The trip to Bilengui was through the mountains but of course I could not take photos in the mountains as I was driving.





These are the two ladies who went with me to Bilengui.



After church we went a bit further up the road to visit (and say goodbye) to an old "Mission" where missionaries lived when I first went to Africa. You can see some of the mountains in the background, like the ones we went up to get to the little village of Guevede.






We had a good day as we traveled to Bilengui and Guevede.
This weekend I will be traveling to a little village of Mouyamba.

I only have a bit more than seven weeks left before moving back to the States. I will be teaching a Pediatric course in the Nursing School during that whole time. I try to make constant progress in finishing many projects plus getting rid of EVERYTHING in my home.