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.

         

Short Update

I've tried to do a blog entry a couple of times again but they would not post. I'll make a short try again.
The Ethics and Management class I have been teaching to student nurses finishes on Monday when they hand in their a project that each one is working on. The next two weeks they will be Team Leading on the wards and we'll have a post work conference each day to see how it's going.
My friend Nancy who returned to Africa with me on December 11th will be leaving tomorrow to head back to Omaha. It's been having her here with me these weeks.

Here are couple of photos. The first is of me chatting with a student nurse and the second is me with another student, going over her project.





Today's Positives:
1. The students seem to have all passed the Ethics and Management course I taught this past month. I still need to correct their final projects.
2. I've enjoyed doing some remedial math with a few first year students who are having problems with math.
3. Yesterday I got to share Christ with a women at the Maternity who had a premature baby. She is from a village deep in the jungle. She goes to an Alliance Chapel that does not have a Pastor nor regular teaching. She told me that she sings and prays but does not know Christ. Please pray for "A" to accept Christ while she is waiting for her baby to grow.

Entertaining Student Nurses!

Tonight and two weeks ago my friend Nancy and I entertained first year Nursing Students. Half of them came to dinner two weeks ago Friday and the other half came over this evening.  We ate and then watched a movie of their choice. It was a way to get to know each other since they entered school during the time I was in the States. There are 16 of them. It's hard keeping track of their names!

Today's Positives:
1. The student nurses seemed to enjoy their meal this evening.
2. It's FRIDAY!
3. I have NO PLANS FOR TOMORROW!!

I hope you're having a good day.

Christmas Celebrations!

We celebrated Christmas for four days. On Saturday the 22nd we had a Bongolo station Christmas Carol at Drs Zach and Jen O'Connor's home. All the Americans and Africans living on the station were invited.

Sunday the 23rd Nancy, Deborah Walker, an African couple Felix and Adele and I went to the Nzoundou Chapel and had a Christmas service. Everyone enjoyed singing lots of Christmas carols.

We Americans had a Progressive Dinner on Christmas Eve. It started at Deb Walker's home where she and I provided appetizers.

We went to a total of six homes that night.

 

On Christmas we Americans had dinner at Barry and Terry Newman's home. Everyone brought part of the dinner. We were 18 people and most of us stayed for many hours. It was a very nice day.

 

Back in Africa....and Driving!!

I have tried several times to post a blog letting people know that I'm back in Africa but each time I write... my blog does not post. I'm not sure if it's an internet problem or what.

My friend Nancy Stauffer and I arrived in Africa on December the 12th. See the photo of us at the Libreville Guest House. I now have my long term visa which lasts two years. We took the ride down to where I live and are getting settled in. My house is all decorated up for Christmas and Nancy is now baking some Christmas cookies. :-)

Today's Positives:
1. We had good flights to Africa and I have my long term visa.
2. I'm about settled in at my house.
3. My house is all decorated up for Christmas.
4. I am able to drive my vehicle...using my left foot/leg to work the clutch!

Preparing my Return to Africa!

Last week I moved out of my apartment and now I am at my step Mom's house until my December 11th flight back to Gabon.  I am so glad that my Gabonese Entry Permit (visa) just arrived today so I will be able to enter the country. Many people were praying for this because a colleague of mine has had to cancel her flights twice because her visa did not arrive. She got one today as well so I'm sure she is thrilled!

My friend Nancy did not receive her Visitor's visa yet so we're still praying about that. She is flying to Africa with me on Tuesday.

Monday I had a good Orthopedic Dr. visit. It was my 6 month post TKR Total Knee Replacement appointment but it has not quite been 6 months. The Xrays were good but did show a bit of calcification on the sides and back of my knee, perhaps why I have not made further progress with bending my knee. Dr. said that I can still make progress with my knee bend up to one year after the knee replacement. I need to really work on bending my knee.

Today's Positive:
1. I received my Visa!
2. Mom and I are going out to eat dinner this evening with my friend Nancy and her Mom. We are going to one of my favorite restaurants, Summer Kitchen.
3. I am making progress with my many projects that I'm working on before traveling.