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Leaving Angola with mixed emotions

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As I sit in a hotel waiting to leave this mission field my emotions are all over the place. Processing emotions is not one of my strengths, but I’m trying because I’ve learned that taking care of myself is just as important as taking care of others.  So, how do I feel? Disappointed, confused, relieved, expectant, sad, hopeful, GRATEFUL, etc!  Over the next few weeks I’ll have time to process some of these feelings with help from missionaries, ministers, counselors, and loved ones. We’ll have an opportunity to add context to some of my experiences and hopefully I’ll emerge with a clear view of what/where God is calling me next.  The over-arching emotion I am feeling right now, however, is gratitude! None of my experiences since fall of 2018 would have been possible without the support of so, so many people - especially my church family, CENTREVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH! I’m also grateful for the warm reception and even warmer goodbyes from the missionaries and my Angolan friends here. I’ll sh
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Saying Goodbye to Angola (for now)

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Since I left Kalukembe

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 A few months ago, Dan and Priscilla (the other missionary docs at Kalukembe) and I left the Kalukembe (KK) Hospital because of living situations that weren't conducive to our staying there at the time. We weren't in any danger, but thought it best to leave while the ministry organization that manages the hospital worked out the problems we were having. I thought I'd let you guys know what I've been up to since then... The first week during our time away I got to fly to Cavango to visit  Dr. Tim and Betsy Kubacki .  Mission Aviation Fellowship's (MAF) Wings of Hope plane. I and the patients I have been able to care for are grateful to be recipients of the MAF ministry here in Angola . Dr. Tim runs the mission hospital in Cavango with a team of Angolan nurses and staff that he has been training for the last 7 years.   I got to witness medical ministry in action as Dr. Tim gave his daily talk about a medical topic of interest, one of the staff expounded on a scripture
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Pouco a Pouco

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I didn't expect to take such a long hiatus from social media (and other types of media as well) when I returned to begin work at the hospital in Caluquembe, Angola in January. It just sort of happened. I wanted to be intentional about building relationships with my colleagues at the hospital and learning my way around the campus, the language, and the culture so I'd feel more comfortable in my new home. I just checked back in today and...oh no! Kobe died! How sad! I knew that there was a new Coronavirus...but I didn't know that the whole world is having an anxiety attack over it. Elections in the US...I pray for my country every single day. That's all I'll say about that. I'd like to crawl back into my little bubble now! After 2 months I must say...nope, I'm not yet fluent in Portuguese, there's a TON of stuff I have yet to learn about the culture, and some days the hospital can still be as confusing as it was when I first arrived. One phrase I've
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Another (Mis) Adventure in Missions...Another miracle!

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Priscilla had come over to check on me and the story of the injuries sustained by her house-worker and house-worker's child when their pressure-cooker exploded only served to make  me more grateful than I already was. I'm so grateful that I had house guests that evening - Rikka and Teija, friends from another organization who were visiting Caluquembe for only one night. I've thought of them as my angels because they cared for me so very well. About 30 minutes prior to Priscilla's visit, I'd taken off the lid to the pressure cooker (because I didn't know what I was doing, obviously) and was met with loads of steam that burnt my left arm followed by most of the boiling water roiling over the edges of the pot and cascading down the front of my legs and onto my feet. Rikka and Teija jumped into action before I'd even moved away from the stove and stripped off my pants, socks, and shoes. The first words out of my mouth were, "that actually wasn't rea
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Prayer Requests 2020

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For reasons I can't begin to explain, I've been stuck reading Day 329 from the One Year Bible for more than one week now. It is so compelling to me and has been resonating with my heart. Based on my reading, here are my prayer requests as I prepare to return to Caluquembe Missions Hospital: 1 - That I will continue to learn the language and customs of the people  in Caluquembe, Angola (National language - Portuguese; local language - Umbuundu) 2 - That God will give me wisdom and humility and tact when dealing with national leaders regarding local customs in and out of the hospital 3 - That God will grant me the courage to act in faith. 4 - That God will surround me with local friends who know Him and who will pray with me and for me. 5 - That God will give me supernatural wisdom and grace to successfully accomplish impossible tasks  for His glory 6 - That the missionaries and hospital administration team will embody the characteristics of the body of Christ as listed i
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You're invited...to help me get settled in Caluquembe, Angola

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!  I'm home for Christmas for another week and wanted to take this time to personally thank all of you who have been supportive in one way or another of my amazing journey with God.  First, your prayers have carried me through a few difficult times, frustrating times, fun times, and times of transition  over  and  over   again.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you ! Second, some of you have made it a point to connect with me whenever possible through Facebook, phone calls, texts, emails, letters, etc.  I wouldn't have listed this as such a high priority previously, but my time away from home has underscored just how important it is to remain in contact with friends and loved ones as much as possible. Just hearing from you helped me to make it through more lonely times than I care to remember.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Third, many of you have offered financial support that has immensely helped as I tran
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