To the ends of the Earth

I had a chance this month to head out into the far eastern part of the country with Dr. Steve Collins and Dr. Jean- Pierre Bretchet to a place called Mavinga. The Portuguese called this part of Angola "The end of the World" and it just about seems like it. From Luanda it's over 1200km away and over 800km from our base in Lubango. The people in this part of Angola are truly part of the most remote and needy. The purpose of our visit was to support a mission station that one of the national churches has started, by doing cataract surgery and providing other medical care. So here in pictures is a trip to the end of the earth.

Mission Hospital at Mavinga

Dr. Steve Collins at work doing eye exams.

Labour and delivery ward Mavinga Mission Station

Labour and delivery kit

Dr. Jean-Pierre Bretchet presenting leprosy medication to the Municipal and Hospital administrators in Mavinga.

Umbundo couple, he is missing an eye and she can't see because of cataracts.

Waiting for the results of cataract surgery

Seeing again!

The Team.
You can't see all of us, but there are 14 of us in the Land Cruiser...
and four chickens under the seats for supper!

Thank you for all your prayers and support. Your gifts and prayers do make a difference, just ask the Umbundo lady in this post! We pray that you will all have a wonderful Christmas and that God will continue to lead and direct as you seek Him even more in the New Year.

I have an excuse...honestly!

Really, that's the truth, I do have an excuse. I guess the question really is, an excuse for what!? The reality is, is that most of the ladies out there know what I am talking about and the guys have that blank look, you know the one, when you guys are in the "nothing box" part of your brain. The excuse is for why has it taken so long to update the blog after your daughter got married, I mean like it has been over a month since the big day, hasn't it? The truth is that we have been thwarted by our internet connection which is now only allowing us to post anything with pictures...so there! See, I told you I had an excuse. The ladies are now just doing that nodding thing, which means, "yeah right" and the guys...well they are still in their "nothing box" Anyways here are some pics...

Doesn't she look amazing? And I think the bride has grown into a lovely young women as well!

The big moment.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Evans.

The "New" Goertzen Family.

It was a truly amazing day. One that we will treasure forever. We are blessed to welcome a young man to our family that we know will love, care for and treasure Kait for the rest of her life. Besides Richard...we know where you live!