A Day in the Life

This update I thought it would be interesting to take you on one of the trips that we do for the mission hospital here in Lubango. Once a month we take Dr. Steve Foster and his surgical team to the mission hospital at Kalukembe. Since my mom was visiting, she came along and recorded the event on film for posterities sake.

Before the first flight each day the plane is given a thorough pre-flight inspection to make sure everything is ship shape. After all we just can't pull off to the side of the road if something goes amiss.

At the airstrip in Kalukembe we are met by staff from the hospital who will drive us the twenty minutes it takes to get to the hospital.

Dr. Steve(with red coat) and members of his team with a visiting doctor from Germany who is considering moving to Kalukembe. That's me hiding in the back on the left.

The mission at Kalukembe was opened in the 1880's as a rescue mission for slaves that were being taken to Brazil. The hospital itself was constructed in 1944.

So what kind of stuff do you see at a mission hospital?
Well, bandages being changed for one.

This young man has lost his entire calf muscle from a gunshot wound by an AK47.

Burns, this young man has been coming for five years as Dr. Steve slowly restores his arm. The burn had welded it to his side like the wing of a bird.

Crocodile bites. That's right! This young boy was grabbed by a croc around his chest. His mother jumped into the water and jammed her arm down the crocs throat until it choked and let go. The boy managed to get out of the water and while the mom was getting out the croc bit her on the leg. She was recovering in the ladies ward at the same time.

The other thing we got to do was go into the operating room and watch a laporotomy(hope I got that right) That's right my mom came in and watched a surgery! We have some great pictures of the actual operation, but my censor said I wasn't allowed to post them. It is truly amazing to see how God uses these men and women to reach out to the people of Angola. The needs are so overwhelming that it can be so discouraging, but we know that God has a plan and that He brought us here not for our benefit, but to bring glory to His name. Thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement, they really do mean a lot. We look forward to hearing from you and keeping you posted on what is happening here.

Some thoughts and Observations

Hello again, every time I sit down to write an update I am overwhelmed by how blessed we are to be part of such an amazing adventure. To have so many people praying for us and being interested in what God is doing in our lives really leaves me with such a sense of awe.

Work over the past few months has consisted of a whole lot of desk work (which is boring to blog about), but never the less essential as far as the program goes! I have been able to get in some flying, moving some national church groups, doctors and nurses, de-mining groups and even our MAF Canada CEO! Unfortunately, I haven't been smart enough to bring along my camera to show you all what we do and where we fly! I promise that I will have some for you in the new year. I do however, have some pictures of some of the exploring that we have been able to do with friends.

Sometimes to the road isn't that good...

Sometimes things need to be fixed...

Sometimes we are not sure where the road leads...


Sometimes we need to take a bit of a break...


But in the end we are always blessed by another spectacular view of God's creation!

This christmas we are thrilled to have Gary's mom spending the holidays with us. She made the three day trip from Parksville to Lubango, without losing any baggage or her sanity! Way to go mom! We pray that all of you will have a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year as you seek and serve our Lord and Saviour.