Bongolo Hospital, Easter, English Tests, and Gilmore Girls

Psalm 145

 ³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
   his greatness no one can fathom.

 ⁹ The LORD is good to all;
   he has compassion on all he has made.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
   and your dominion endures through all generations.  
The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises
   and faithful in all he does.

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth. 


I've been spending a lot of time in the Psalms since I've been in Africa. There is something about Africa that opens your eyes to God's greatness. You no longer see Him with just your American eyes but instead you see Him as the creator of nations. Somehow, when you look around He appears different. The way He made the trees, the clouds, the animals, the people, the ocean it's all unique to Africa. Yet as you look at each of His masterpieces you can't help but see the same God. One who is full of love, hope, compassion, a God who has a plan for each part of His creations and promises an everlasting Kingdom to His precious children. A Father who give protects, comforts, and blesses us and who is faithful and good. When I start to think about all that God is, I can't help but be in awe and overwhelmed with just how great and holy He is. And when I try to comprehend even one aspect of His being, I can't. He is so much beyond anything we could ever understand so much larger and more powerful than we could begin to fathom. I wish that I could see Him in all of His glory and I know that I will one day.  But for today, I can't help but be humbled and my heart full of praise and worship for them mere speck of sight and understanding that I have been given. And I will lift His name high!

Libreville, Gabon 
Week 3&4 (April 17th-29th)

I realize that it's been awhile since I last posted a blog and I apologize. I know many of you enjoying hear what God has been doing in Africa and much as I look forward to telling you. I have just been really busy and didn't have the access to a computer for awhile. I hope that this post will fill you in on a little of what has been happening these past two weeks. I miss you all and I am so excited to be coming home soon! I really can't do any justice to what has been happening here over the computer so coming home will be a chance for me to share the many stories and experiences that I've been a part of.


Bongolo
Last week we took the Lewans (Dan and Alicia) down to Bongolo and helped them move into their new house. They will be running the Envision Center there by Bongolo Hospital. Monday the 17th Hannah, Alicia, a doctor (who had just flown in the night before) and I took a public bus to Bongolo. Leanne, Olivia, Dan, and J.R came in the Land Cruiser the next day. Our bus was packed full (and I do mean packed:) with people and luggage. We left Libreville at about 8:30AM and arrived at a little after 6pm. Over all it was a pretty smooth trip. We were only stopped twice by the police and only one of those times did we have to wait while they sorted someone's papers out. The ride was really nice given the state of the roads, which are very Gabonese...lol, stretch after stretch of giant potholes and small canyons.

While we were in Bongolo not only did we help the Lewans move into their new place but we were also able to reconnect with and get to know many of the doctors and missionaries at the Hospital. It's a pretty tight group, which can be expected when you are surrounded by jungle. We were only there for about  4 1/2 days but on one of those days Olivia and I had the opportunity to visit Bongolo Hospital. After I'd been given a tour we were shown into a surgery room and allowed to watch two surgeries. Olivia had been to Bongolo before but this was both of our first times seeing surgeries preformed first hand. We were given scrubs, hairnets, and masks and told to avoid touching anything that had been sterilized and then we watched the surgeries  and took pictures. It was really an incredible experience. The first surgery we saw the doctors put a shunt into a hydrocephalus baby. Before we came into the surgery room a friend (and nurse) of ours Lisa, told us what was going to be going on and asked us if we both thought we could handle it (they don't really want people passing out in there). Olivia had been looking forward to watch surgeries for awhile as she is considering a career in the medical field and I really felt like this was something that I should see. At first seeing the baby asleep on the surgery table was a little overwhelming. I couldn't help but realize how fragile life is and without even realizing it my heart was going out to this baby. But then I started thinking about how God is always in control of every situation and how He alone controls our destinies. This baby was going to be given a chance to live and God was there in that moment and there in the child's future. Suddenly, instead of sadness I felt full of joy and excitement for what was about to happen and I watched in awe of all that one surgery was going to change. The second surgery was on an older man and he was having his thyroid taken out. During this surgery we were able to get up pretty close and watch the doctors and they slowly burned and cut through his skin. I actually found myself fascinated by what they were doing. Not that I would ever be able to do something of the sort but I definitely appreciate doctors a lot more now!!  And I am very thankful for the doctors at Bongolo, both the American and Gabonese who work under such limited and hard conditions. Doing so with joy instead of complaints They really are God's workers!!

I also really enjoyed getting to spend time with two missionary kids (Luke and Sarah Thelander) while I was there. We spent an afternoon playing games, another dying Easter eggs, and an evening playing Jenga and eating yummy food at a party hosted by our friend Lisa (an American nurse whom I got to meet in Libreville my first night in Africa). We also got to send some time with a few christian boys who've become friends with many of the Bongolo Hospital workers. We had the opportunity to hear about the education system in Africa and many of trials they face when they graduate and try to go to a university. About how hard for a christian to have a good job and to feed their families because of the foothold the devil holds on many secret groups that hold power here. After telling us how they probably won't get to become pilots, and computer engineers, or see other dreams they have come true they reminded us that with God anything is possible and they pray constantly for what seems impossible!

After saying goodbye Saturday morning to Dan and Alicia we headed back to Libreville in the Land Cruiser. I started getting carsick right away but after pulling over, taking some motion sickness medicine, and rearranging I was okay for the rest of the long trip. We stopped at the Equator on the way back and I did take a picture with the big sign. Other than the sign though there really is nothing that would let you know that you are passing over the Equator:) The roadsides are always filled with wandering animals (lots of dogs and goats) and on the way home we played a fun game that included counting how many animals we saw. It was made more challenging by the fact that you lost half of your animals every time the other team spotted a grave on your side of the road....which was pretty frequent. It seemed like as soon as I would reach 40 I would loose half of my animals every time:) We got back to the Envision Center and pretty much crashed. We also found out that we didn't have internet. That stayed off for three days I think.


Easter
So, this past Sunday was Easter! Here in Africa they call it Paques (pronounced "pack"). It's not quite as big of a deal here as it is back in the states. And other than in the church I didn't really see many people celebrating it. Though everyone does celebrate Easter Monday, which is really just a holiday from work.

Anyway, we started Easter off by going to a church that is right down the road. It was crazy how even after the building and chairs were filled there were still a ton of people sitting outside in the sun listen and praising God. We started off with worship, which I love! The African people definitely have hearts of worship, every time you hear them sing or see them dance it's obvious to everyone just how much they love the Lord! I was so excited when we sang one of the few African songs that I know, I was dancing and turning right along with everyone else!! The sermon was on the historical and prophetic meanings behind Easter and from what I understood (Olivia translated bits of the message for me because it's of course completely in French), it was really encouraging and just an awesome reminder of who our God is. We also had baptisms and child dedications which made me think of Easter back home. After the service was over we were all dismissed by rows and as you left the building and went outside everyone was waiting to greet you. It was pretty cool.

After church we went over to the Straws (Steve Straw is the pilot for Bongolo Hospital and they also run the guest house here in Libreville), we all went out to lunch and then walked on the beach together. It was a lot of fun! We had lunch at a place called Beach Burgers which is literally an old van turned into a restaurant. The beach is always beautiful with the sky, the ocean, and the feeling of the sand under your feet. I thought it was a great way to end a special Easter here in Africa.


OSPAC and English Tests
Yesterday, we all went out to OSPAC for the day. It was great to be back at the clinic and with all the people who work at there! Getting smothered in hugs and hellos is always a great way to start any day!! And at OSPAC you can expect a big welcome every time. I helped at the Pharmacy table, counting out pills with the help of Mama Perrine. Later after lunch I went outside and play with some of the village children who were hanging around the medical clinic. They became my little shadows for the rest of the afternoon:) After closing up OSPAC we gave an English test. It was a lot of fun just being a part of something like that. It was also great to have small English conversations with the same people I've been struggling to speak French words to.

The Girls
Something else I should mention is just how blessed I have been by the girls I am staying with at Envision, Leanne, Hannah, and Olivia. It really is true that you form special bonds with the people who go through the same things as you do. And being here in Africa away from friends and family these girls have become my family. I love that we get to do everything together. Whether that's working at OSPAC, helping at Hope House, washing dishes, or watching Gilmore Girls. The latter has become a sort of fun tradition we've taken up in the evenings:) I will definitely miss them and it's going to be hard to say goodbye, but hopefully it's only a short one!


It's hard to believe that I've been in Africa for over 4 weeks now and that I leave in just 12 days. Time has really flown by! I am still trying to process all that I've seen and heard, to understand everything that I've been a part of and experienced God doing. I have a feeling that even once I get back home I'll still be trying to figure it all out. But that's okay, I am thankful for each moment that I have had here.

Goodbye for now! It won't be to long before I'm home again. I miss you all!
Shannon

Hope House Kids

Hello Everyone!
So, I've been in Gabon for about two and half weeks and already I've seen glimpses of just how big God is. I've seen and heard things that are impossible, seen God do miracles! In coming to Africa I was forced to open my eyes, I couldn't just keep God in my American box. Instead I was seeing Him in a whole new and different light, one without the limits of just what I knew. And it doesn't matter how long I stay here I still won't fully understand how big God is. I am just blessed to be able to see and start to understand pieces of His Majesty.

A lot has happened in the past week and I have a few particular moments I'd like to share, but I'll give you a quick run down first. This past week was a little more low key since we were all a little tired from the week before. I went to the clinic a couple times, went to a sort of super market ( it was indoors and clean!!), walked on the beach, went to Hope House a couple times, we had a movie time, our bible study night, we went to PK 27 and took out the four wooden post frames that we had made with the team, had dinner at Pastor Jacobs, Church this morning, packed for Bongolo, and tomorrow bright and early (actually it might still be dark and early) we leave for Bongolo. I know I'm forgetting a couple things..... OH! When we were all watching Despicable Me (yes, that was our movie choice) we enjoyed a delicious treat called Magnum bars. Which are THE best ice cream bars I've ever had. Sorry, you have to come to Africa to try them:) And on a side note most of the food here is more expensive so things like ice cream really are a treat. I mean you usually don't spend $14 when you want some Ben and Jerrys....lol

Okay, the first story I want to tell is something I witnessed at the medical clinic. Olivia and I were helping the with the exams and got to hear an incredible moment of God's healing. The woman was there to have results read from a sort of X-ray test and thus her story started. A few days prior she had come in with a large mass in her stomach. She was sent to have X-rays taken of it. Well, before she had the chance to go in she had a strange dream. She was sleeping and in her dream someone put what felt like paper on her stomach and it shocked her. It made her jump in dream because she could feel something happening. Well, when she went in to get her X-rays the doctor couldn't find the mass and told her that there was nothing there. So, she came back to the clinic with her results to make sure that the mass was gone. We checked and the mass was completely gone!!! God had healed her in just a couple days! We then had a chance to pray with her and praise God for the miracle!!

Another thing I'd like to share about is the Hope House and the children there. The House is run by a pastor and his wife who have made it their mission to rescue neglected and abandoned orphans. They currently have about 30-40? children in their home. These kids have some really hard and heartbreaking pasts, they grew up in terrible homes but now they have a good home and a family and they know their Savior loves them each dearly! Yesterday, (Saturday) we went over to the Hope House for a little bit and while we were there the kids gave us an amazing presentation. They started off with a sort of dance battle which was SO much fun to watch (Olivia took some videos which I'll add at some point) and then they sang for us. All I can say is that they may be some of the most talented children I've ever seen. They had a full acoustic musical track going just by banging their hands on a table. They were doing all sorts of super cool dances moves all of which they'd just taught themselves.They memorized huge chunks of songs they created. It was just amazing! And they all were having so much fun doing it. You watched each child light up as they came together and did this presentation for us. It was really such a special moment!!!

I'd love to keep sharing stories but it's getting late over here and I have to get up in six hours. I won't have my computer in Bongolo but as soon as I get back I will updated about my trip! It should be a lot of fun! A seven hour drive on a public transport through CRAZY roads:)

I miss you all and am so glad that I can share a little bit of my experiances in Africa with you!

Love,

Shannon

Africa Adventures

Libreville, Gabon-- Day 4-11 (April 2nd-10th)

It's been about a week since my last entry but this past week has been crazy busy! It might be my busiest week that I'll have while I'm here in Gabon. Anyway, here is the update that you have all been waiting for. Enjoy!

Saturday- April 2nd
We woke up ready to go to the market and were met by a rain storm, so we waited that out and then headed to the market. After we got home we spent the day getting ready for our team who were arriving that night. So, Saturday evening our team of twelve guys arrived from the CMA church Fellowship Alliance in NJ. All older men who are passionate for the Lord and were truly inspiring to be around. They were only here for a week but they gave so much more than a week! I think we all learned so much from each other and made friendships that will last way beyond just this week. It was so much more then just doing projects and working with sick patients it was doing God's work. It was following the Lord's leading and serving and loving His people, His children. It was being welcomed into the Gabonese family and discovering what a special place that Africa holds in your heart.  Thank you, Erik, Mike, Don, Mark, Brian, Papa John,  John 1st, John 3rd, Kevin, Fred, Dave, and Tim! I really appreciate just having had the chance to spend the week with so many men who are on fire for God! I loved getting to know each of you, all crazy car rides:) the bible studies, the meals, the fun and jokes, just everything really! I feel so blessed to have met all of you and gotten to spend a week serving the Lord in Africa with you. And thanks for always keeping an eye on me:)


Sunday - April 3rd
Sunday was pretty amazing! Since there were a lot of us here at Envision we split up into three groups, each going to a different CMA church. I was in the group that went to a village church about forty minutes away and was also the smallest of the three. The others had a few hundred people whereas our only had about fifty. The building was out in a field and was only partly built. It had half walls and a ceiling, that was the structure. It was really a unique, special, and inspirational morning. Before we even went into the church we walked through the village and talked to some of the people and met the village chief. It was just a completely different and eye opening experience. When we started the worship (which was of course in French) it was purely amazing! You really can just see a whole different level of joy and worship within the Gabonese people. God was so evident! I could on and on about that church service and the stories and sermons and all the people who we met but it would take me too long. I'll have to tell you about it in person. I will say at the end of the service everyone ran around giving each other huge hugs saying "Samba!" which means "to hug". It really was such a beautiful moment! The whole experience lasted well into the late afternoon. Which makes you rethink the way we rush through our days back home.

That night we had a huge dinner celebration and our Gabonese friends from OSPAC all joined us. We had about fifty people (possible more?) in the Envision Center. After a big African dinner we had another amazing time of worship. These people just have hearts of worship and it is truly inspiring. We sang both French and English songs, some of which included motions and dancing. It really was just beautiful to be there in that moment declaring God's greatness with the Gabonese church. We then closed in prayer. Gabonese style, in which everyone prays out loud at the same time and then a few people pray louder to close. It really was a wonderful night!!


Monday- April  4th
I woke up that morning not feeling that well so I stayed home most of the day ( though Hannah and I did go get dinner in the downtown part of the city with J. R. which was a long process but a lot of fun too). Which was a bummer because the team started their projects that morning. They came ready to do a couple different projects (with our help). Building a guest house for the CFTAC (the CMA base here) near the Gabonese bible school, working at medical clinics, and doing a project on the church's land PK 27 (which right now is pretty much just a jungle, the work we did there was the first work that had been done on the property). We had three doctors come on the team and they spent the week working at two of the medical clinics here (OSPAC and Snee), while most of the other guys worked on the construction project.


Tuesday- April 5th
Tuesday, I went with one of the medical teams to help at a clinic. We were there seeing patients from about 10 to 2:30 and then we went to the other medical clinic to help there for another three hours. It was great to help the doctors in their work and just see how passionate they are for these people. To see how despite the language barrier and translations that sometimes weren't clear they were so committed to their patients and how they had God's love for these people! At the end of the day as we were packing up we had a few minutes to play with some of the children outside the clinic, which I loved! It was so special. These kids here are just so full of joy and so eager to love. Even though most of us couldn't communicate with our words we still we able to communicate. And we had a lot a of fun with those children!


Wednesday- April 6th
Wednesday morning Olivia and I went to the construction site (instead of helping at the medical clinics) we used a nail gun and got all hot and sweaty (I think I'll leave the nail gun to Olivia:)  Then later that afternoon we went to the Hope House to give the kids a medical exam and play with them. I loved it! Those kids are all so sweet and loving. And they loved all the balloons that Mark brought! I can still picture them with their little animals, hats, and flowers running around with huge smiles on their faces! I had one little boy, Christopher who wouldn't leave my side. The whole time he pretty much had his arms wrapped around me. He made me promise to come back, and kept coming to give me one last hug. I found it hard to leave him too! His story is pretty heartbreaking and I can't wait to go back and just shower him in the Father's love. I know that God has special plans for this little boy!

 
Thursday- April 7th
Thursday we had our mobile clinic in a village about two hours away (well, with traffic two hours:). It was our group from Envision, our team, and our friends from the OSPAC medical clinic. We had an amazing time at the church there. Altogether we saw about 50 patients for medical care and 30 for eye care. We started out with sing out praises to the Lord, a testimony, words from our pastors, and medical care information about Malaria and eye care. Then we started giving examinations. Doctor Mike and Brian ( a PA) were giving that medical examinations, and the rest of us were helping in some small way. Whether it was checking in the patients, weigh them, doing pharmacy, checking blood sugar (that was my job...yes, I had to take a sample of their blood), eye care, or praying over patients. We saw people with cancer ( one man had a tumor the size of a papaya) and malaria, it was just so moving. It sad but yet the day was so full of God hope. There were many stories about that day and I wish that I could share every moment with you but just know that God is here in Gabon and here in the church working!


Friday- April 8th
Friday we spent the day in a jungle! We (our Envision peeps, our team, some of our Gabonese friends) headed out to PK 27 which is the land that the CMA church has bought and has great plans for in the future! We literally carried bags of a cement mixture (cement, sand, and gravel) along with buckets and shovels into the jungle, dug holes, found water and made 4 cement posts that sit on the corners of the land. These posts are first step toward the future that the church and the CMA have plans for. It was SO exciting being a part of what God has placed on the hearts here and of what He is going to do here!! It was hard work. I don't think I've ever carried a bag of cement before and I've definitely never hiked through a jungle. But it was so worth it!! Using the few tools we had and what God had given us and just being a part of something that is the beginning of something HUGE!

Later that night we were invited to dinner with our Gabonese friends at Mama Jeanine and Pastor John Marc's house for dinner. It was really just a great time of fellowship, fun, and yummy african food (yes, I can now say I've eaten porcupine...). I spent part of the time holding little Timothy, Pastor Jacob's son. (Pastor Jacob is probably the funniest man I've ever met as well as an incredible man of God!)  Then after dinner and just a great time of talking with friends we worshiped our God together (this is going to be one of the things I really miss when I come home, praising God with my Gabonese brothers and sisters)! Then our Gabonese friends gave gifts to all our incredible team of men and we said our goodbyes. It was an amazing day!!


Saturday- April 9th
This was the last day our team of incredible guys were with us. Even thinking about them now makes me bittersweet. I miss them already! We started the morning out at the tourist market where we went shopping,yes, I did get a few gifts...though everything is more expensive here. Then we went to the Market (this was the HUGE one) and walked around went through the meat section (I barely managed not to puke...lets just say I have seen everything), I also bought some fabric there (I have plans for an african outfit and some purses...). After lunch we went to a beach, it was beautiful! Olivia and I had a lot of fun in the water, walking down the beach, laying in the sand, and digging up clams. We came home and packed up all the luggage and had one last meeting with the guys, took some group pictures and headed out to dinner. After some pizza (not the same as american pizza) and meeting up with our Gabonese friends we headed to the airport. It was sad to see all the guys leave but I am so excited for what God has done in them and what He has planned! So, overall it was a fun day, though we did have a few bumps.... a dead car battery at the market, a flat tire at the beach, and someone got stung by a jellyfish, but really it was just a great last day and end to an incredible week!!


Sunday- April 10th
I was planning on going to Nzeng Ayong church (Pastor Jacob's church....remember there are three different CMA churches here) but I woke up with a bad headache so I stayed home instead. I slept for a couple hours and then after lunch had some quiet time. And now I am writing this blog entry:)


My camera unfortunately seems to have randomly broken, so I can't upload my pictures. Don't worry you will still get to see a ton of pictures. I've been having other people take lots of pictures for me. Olivia is going to share her pictures with me so you should see a few soon:) Also, all the pictures that the team took I will get to share, though that might take a little longer. So hang tight!  I do have some cool pictures, like one of me holding a giant rhino beetle:)

I miss everyone and can't wait to see you all again! It's hard to believe I've been here for 11 days but at the same time my time here is flying by so quickly. Already I feel like Africa is a part of me I can never loose. I've been so blessed and I am just honored to be here and be a part of what is happening!

If you want to send me a letter here is my address (it might take two-three weeks:)
Bongolo Hospital
BP 13.021
Libreville, Gabon
Africa

Love,
Shannon

Settling In

Libreville, Gabon (Africa)

Days:1-3

Life in Africa has it's similarities and differences from life back home in the states. On the surface it seems very foreign and contrary to "what I'm used to" and it would be easy to just leave it at that. I think that when we don't understand something we are much more likely to just accept our differences and not look for the similarities. And while at first it might be uncomfortable and even hard to be in a situation where you are out of what you know, if you let yourself you can learn so much! That is what I hope to do. Just because life here is different means I can't learn from it. And considering how much I'm already learning, I know there is lot more for me to learn. 

So, far things have been going great. I'm starting to fit into the way things go over here and I've gotten to go out a couple times already. I'm getting to know the others at Envision pretty well, especially Leanne and Hannah who run the Envision Center and Olivia my roommate. 

The hardest thing over here for me is the language barrier. Everyone over here speaks French, which I knew coming over here but  I just wasn't expecting how limiting it makes communicating. Fortunately, I never go out by myself so I have someone who understands what is going on or being said and can communicate with the Gabonese people. I've picked up a few phrases and I'm learning more each day. Last night we played Racko with French numbers, so I'm doing as much as I can to pick up bits of the language but there is SO MUCH!

I went to help at the medical clinic yesterday and was able to call patients, take blood pressure, and really just interact with and observe the Gabonese. I really enjoyed that. This morning we went out to the Market, I took my first taxi bus which was interesting (I guess the other people in the car were debating whether we were German or English the whole ride:). While at the market I saw a ton of bush animals for sale, so I have seen monkeys, a crocodile, my second iguana (this was a GIANT one though), rats (the ones that our like 2 feet long), porcupines you name it....of course they were all dead and cooked so I'm not sure if they count.  I did see a live iguana in our back yard two days ago and got a picture of it, but it was pretty small:) Other than that we have been getting ready for a team of 12 that is coming this evening. I have a busy week ahead and I will keep you all posted on what happens. I will also try to upload some pictures soon.

Miss you all!

Love,

Shannon