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

"Against All Odds"

Friday morning, April 11th, I was scheduled to fly from Omaha to Chicago and then to New York City before then flying to Africa. I had reservations on American Airline, an airline that was canceling many flights last week. In looking at the Weather Channel, I saw that it might snow in Omaha on Friday and it was supposed to be rain stormy very near to Chicago. I had not looked at the New York forecast. God is a miracle working God and I knew that I could get back to Gabon “AGAINST ALL ODDS”. I asked people to pray. A verse came to mind. It was Joshua 1:9b (Bible in Basic English) and states, “Take heart and be strong; have no fear and do not be troubled; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,”

On Wednesday before those flights I called the travel agent. She said that I was not scheduled on an American Airline’s MD80 plane, the one that was grounded last week. I was scheduled on two other planes. She said to call her on Thursday to see if the flights were still ok. On Thursday she called me instead and told me that she had noticed that she had double booked my flights, on American Airlines through Chicago but also on Northwest Airlines through Minneapolis. She had never canceled the Northwest reservations!!! Thursday she arranged to transfer my payment from American Airlines to Northwest and I soon received a new e-ticket!
Friday I flew Northwest Airline from Omaha through Minneapolis to JFK in New York City. From there I flew to Casablanca. In “Casa” I left the airport and was picked up by a nurse friend of mine. I got to meet two girls she had raised. We went to the beach and watched one of them have her surfing lesson and then ate lunch together before I was driven back to the airport for my flight from Casablanca to Libreville. What fun it was to see my friend, “her kids” and also to see Casablanca!
I arrived in LBV on Saturday night at 11:30pm and rode down to Bongolo Hospital yesterday with someone going. I said that “I ARRIVED”. My two suitcases did NOT arrive on my flight. They came the following day, after I had already gone down country. Both had had their TSA padlocks removed. They will come down country by truck sometime in a week or so.
Praise the Lord that I arrived in Gabon despite American Airline’s grounding planes, bad weather, etc. I arrived home “Against all odds”! Thanks for praying!

Family Visits

Last week I had visits from three brothers. Larry and his wife Leslie were in Omaha the evening of March 24 until the morning of March 26th. We had lots of fun chatting and going out to Applebee's, Chipotle's and Pepper Jack's. To the right see a photo of Larry, Leslie and I in the March wind of Omaha!

During the weekend, March 29-30, I had visits from brothers Glenn and Bill. Glenn came with his grown daughter Kristi. Bill came with his grown daughter Loni. We visited the Village Inn, China One Buffet! We also visited my Uncle Dean and cousins. See a photo of Glenn, Carolyn, Uncle Dean and Bill.

EASTER Weekend

I'm now on vacation in Omaha. On Saturday my step mom and I went to cousin Roxanne's home for "Easter dinner". I was able to see my Uncle dean and cousins. Easter Sunday Mom and I went to church at the 9am service. We went to dinner at step brother Bill's house and stayed most of the afternoon. We rested in the evening. Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!

AIDS Outpatient Clinic

This photo is of the new AIDS Outpatient Clinic at the hospital. We have finally received official permission to order Anti-Viral medicine against the AIDS virus and to open this clinic. Pray that the medicine arrive quickly and pray for wisdom as to how to proceed with opening the clinic.