Thursday, September 13, 2007
Word from Angola
I received word from one of the Short-termers who I was with in Angola. Fernando (who's photo is at the bottom of this page) was able to leave the hospital. He arrived in April with 2nd and 3rd degree burns from his arm down to the tops of his feet. We did skin grafts and dressing changes, he spent 5 months in a wheel chair and his family was such a blessing to me. Praise God he was able to leave the hospital at the end of August. And he was able to walk out of the hospital. What a gift!
Gifts from Above
Never did I realize what a blessing hot running water is for doing dishes. In Angola I had running water sometimes. When we had electricity we even had hot running water but when we didn't have electricity we didn't have any running water other than the water we were carrying as we ran from the big barrel to the kitchen. Here I'm back in Saskatoon and not only do I have constant electricity I also have faithful hot running water. This water is amazing for taking off that stuck on food and grease! Little did I know what a significant choice I made when I decided to sublet my apartment instead of give it up this summer. As I was travelling home people told me about the housing shortage in Saskatoon. This was very surreal at the time but now the I am so grateful that God allowed me to be living here again.
I'm also back in class. For those who don't know I did get into the Anatomy and Physiology class I needed: Praise God. What a gift that was from above! Reminders of gifts from God: yesterday I was riding the bus downtown, it was pretty full. The guy I sat beside began talking to this guy who sat in front of us, who had on this crazy semi-latin american hat. They began talking to me and I asked where he got his hat from he said, "It was a gift from God." He explained how he bought this hat. But it's true everything I have is a gift from God.
My month of August was spent with my family at our farm. My mother enabled me to enhance my skills at the art of cooking. I was able to bake, cook and cann (peaches, pickles, make jam) until my wee little heart was content. I got to do up (snap, wash, cut, blanche, bag, freeze) beans from our garden for THREE days due to the bountiful year of the bean. We were able to harvest about 35 gallons or so- we didn't allow the beans to live on, we pulled out the plants and picked the beans! During this time I was able to think a lot about Angola and process a little bit of what I experienced there- my mom has now heard hundreds of hours about what happened in Angola! However, I'm willing to share with anyone else who wants to listen. I have many photos and stories to share. A huge thank-you to everyone who prayed for me. I had a wonderful, incredible time in Angola and I am forever indebted to you for coming before the Lord on my behalf. It was amazing to see what God did. Here's just a few glimpses:
1. I never knew when it changed. I just knew that in the middle of June I was somehow able to communicate with the Angolans. I couldn't get across everything I wanted to say but somehow we could communicate. What a blessing to have them tease me, admonish me, offer suggestions of people to marry, laugh with me and encourage me. Definitely a gift from God! (I didn't take them up on the offer.)
2. On my last Friday in Angola: there were only 2 of us staying at the flat. We decided to invite one of our Angolan friends for a supper of Canadian food. So Loid joined us, she helped us cook and do dishes and she LOVED the food. She said to us, 'What a blessing it is to have people come here. It reminds me that there are Christians everywhere. We are not just isolated in our little community or city, there are Christians all around the world. Thank-you for giving up your time and your life to come to Angola even for a short time. I know you have a life in Canada that you left to come here. Thank-you. You may not see it now and know what God has used you for but He has used you.'
This was such a gift to hear how this one Angolan was blessed by our coming to Angola! Thank-you for partnering with me in this ministry. God has used you.
I'm also back in class. For those who don't know I did get into the Anatomy and Physiology class I needed: Praise God. What a gift that was from above! Reminders of gifts from God: yesterday I was riding the bus downtown, it was pretty full. The guy I sat beside began talking to this guy who sat in front of us, who had on this crazy semi-latin american hat. They began talking to me and I asked where he got his hat from he said, "It was a gift from God." He explained how he bought this hat. But it's true everything I have is a gift from God.
My month of August was spent with my family at our farm. My mother enabled me to enhance my skills at the art of cooking. I was able to bake, cook and cann (peaches, pickles, make jam) until my wee little heart was content. I got to do up (snap, wash, cut, blanche, bag, freeze) beans from our garden for THREE days due to the bountiful year of the bean. We were able to harvest about 35 gallons or so- we didn't allow the beans to live on, we pulled out the plants and picked the beans! During this time I was able to think a lot about Angola and process a little bit of what I experienced there- my mom has now heard hundreds of hours about what happened in Angola! However, I'm willing to share with anyone else who wants to listen. I have many photos and stories to share. A huge thank-you to everyone who prayed for me. I had a wonderful, incredible time in Angola and I am forever indebted to you for coming before the Lord on my behalf. It was amazing to see what God did. Here's just a few glimpses:
1. I never knew when it changed. I just knew that in the middle of June I was somehow able to communicate with the Angolans. I couldn't get across everything I wanted to say but somehow we could communicate. What a blessing to have them tease me, admonish me, offer suggestions of people to marry, laugh with me and encourage me. Definitely a gift from God! (I didn't take them up on the offer.)
2. On my last Friday in Angola: there were only 2 of us staying at the flat. We decided to invite one of our Angolan friends for a supper of Canadian food. So Loid joined us, she helped us cook and do dishes and she LOVED the food. She said to us, 'What a blessing it is to have people come here. It reminds me that there are Christians everywhere. We are not just isolated in our little community or city, there are Christians all around the world. Thank-you for giving up your time and your life to come to Angola even for a short time. I know you have a life in Canada that you left to come here. Thank-you. You may not see it now and know what God has used you for but He has used you.'
This was such a gift to hear how this one Angolan was blessed by our coming to Angola! Thank-you for partnering with me in this ministry. God has used you.
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Pre-natal Clinic at Rio da Huila
This is me and my chara (person with the same name as me). She is a nursing student in Lubango and spent her holidays at the clinic getting some hands on experience. I was able to teach her how to measure bellies and find heart rates. It was really exciting to see her face light up as she felt the baby.
Pre-natal Clinic at Rio da Huila
This is a traditional olumhuila lady. Her many beads are a sign of her wealth and status within her village.
My friend Fernando
