Decisions Decisions

So when we were in Bongolo, we had to decide what type of ministry here we would plug into and do the rest of the summer. I was between Hope House, Medical clinic, Church Plant/work projects, or work in the SNI clinic. So, we went around the circle saying what we thought God was leading us to. I honestly didn't really know what he wanted me to do but I knew he would lead me either way. So we had to choose at least one and somehow I went last. But as people around the group kept answering, only 2 things were being said (Hope House and Medical Clinic). About 3/4 around the circle, everyone had pretty much said the same thing. And I couldn't help think to myself, what about the church planting? That takes soo much work, time, and lots of people. And no one is saying it! But I said I have NO CLUE as to what I would be doing (Tim didn't really dive into the description/I have Zero experience) But I really felt like God was telling me," since when do you not like doing something that you know nothing about? You have no idea what your doing and that is perfect cause now you are really going to have to rely on me" So I thought "oh, poo he's right (again)" and so I will be heading up building projects to put a roof on a church, making a concrete gate thingy around the Hope House, and totally redesigning a storage shed into a full blown guest house! I am the only one who decided to do this, but another intern is joining me since he picked other ministries to start other than those four. Also, Tim Kelly is a beast at stuff like this, so he is helping me through things. Again, I have no clue what I am doing, and have screwed up a couple times already. But I am kind of excited because this is an opportunity to really grow in certain areas. Woot Woot for cluelessness!

Bongolo

I just got back from 4 days at Bongolo Hospital. It has an insane history dating back to 1930 something and has grown a lot since then. Through those years they have had to overcome some crazy circumstances. For example, they tried to get a bridge to cross over the river when they founded the place. People would come for help, travel for days, only to end up on the other side of the river where they couldn't get help. Sometime traveling 4-6 days just to die 100 yds from the hospital. The strange thing about it, is that the bridge wasn't allowed to be put in until around the 90's! I can't imagine how many people got to that side of the river, only to find out that they missed the fairy (which was insane-o dangerous anyway) and have to WAIT for an emergency situation to be dealt with the next morning. But, since the bridge has been put in, the hospital has grown like crazy. In most African countries, you would have to travel to the capital city to pay and outrageous price for whatever you need done. But in Gabon, you have to go to the middle of no where, practically in the heart of the jungle, 12 hours away from the capital city to pay 1/16 of the price!! How great is that!?!? (Please feel free to compare and contrast haha)

Although this is all crazy awesome stuff. There are still needs. There always will be. But, prayer is the key to fulfilling needs. Because unless it is God's will then it is not going to happen no matter what we do. Continuously looking to God to fill the need instead of us "solving the problem." If he does it, it's so much easier and done 100% awesome. He Is Faithful.

So I leave you with one last story...

One of the nurses there, took us on a tour. When we went into the maternity section she told us the procedures they have to go through. She told us when a mother has a premature child, as soon as it comes out, that nurse has to RUN about 50 yds outside to another building where the incubators are. Because of certain things, the hospital was not able to put the incubators in the same section as where the babies were being born. Can you imagine if this was how it was done in America?

Snow

Today, in the car I was kinda struck by and idea. The idea was that people in Gabon will most likely never see or experience snow. Don't ask me why I thought about that, but it all of the sudden hit me. What would I do if I saw snow for the first time? I would go bonkers! Can you imagine all your life without ever seeing, touching, smelling, and hearing anything about snow? Not that snow is that great but I think we take simple things for granted sometimes. Snow is not even one of our possessions and we take it for granted.

So as I was thinking about all this, I was looking out the window, and started to get this big grin. Because I couldn't imagine introducing any one of the people here to something like that. Something that would just totally boggle their mind. Prior to that moment, that certain individual could not even think of something like that. All they would have known is rain and fog. But now that they have seen and experienced snow, their whole outlook on LIFE has changed. They would expect new possibilities for situations. Why couldn't snow come here? Could we bring some here? How could I use my new knowledge of snow to help people realize that there are somethings on this earth we just can't explain?

It's the same thing as introducing God. Everything changes! New things are possible! And their mind would be boggled! Only because most of them have never imagined anything like him.

The First Days

Well, I am finally here. It took 31 hours, crossing 8 time zones. At first it didn't hit me but then when I layed in bed I finally realized that I was in AFRICA. Tim and Merideth met us at the airport and we immediately got down to business roll starting the van! haha A couple of people in the group were not sure if we were going to have to work the first day or not. I wasn't sure but I was hoping we wouldn't. Sure enough, all we did was go to the beach for a while. SO CLUTCH! First day was just coping to the time change and stuff. Second day we had our orientation in the morning, then going around town to the ministries they have going on here. We met a lot of people, shook a bunch of hands, and butchered the word "bonjour" a ton!!

In orientation, we were talking about how some people go to certain places and expect their schedules to be full and to be exhausted by the end of the day. It is quite the contrary here. The Brokopp's try to connect us with certain people and not necessarily getting things done. Because, for one, doing a lot of work and stuff is impersonal with the people and the culture around you. Second, when you are thinking about getting stuff done and focusing on not being tired, you might miss things that you would not normally get to see/hear/taste. NOT that we are not wanting to get things done. WE WILL DO WORK. But, it is so easy sometimes to think that we are here to DO things and not here to BE here. We should be more focused on being instead of doing.