Well, update due so here goes (and if you want an explaination of the title, read on)! It's been a busy month here, especially for Patricia, who has been offered four 'jobs'! She has spent a while trying to find one, and now, like buses, lots arrived at the same time. She had been helping out in Pharmacy doing stock checking stuff, and did such a good job of that that she is now stock checking stationary part time. The job that she is most excited about though is working as part of the mental health team. This means that she
will be doing a mixture of admin, and going out into communities meeting people. This is what she really has a heart to do, to come alongside people and be a vehicle of God's love and power! For the past few weeks she has been visiting patients on the wards and befriending them, which she has also enjoyed, as those of you who know Patricia will understand. She also met one lady who was coming to visit, but had been operated on previously on the Anastasis for a VVF. This basically means that she had an obstructed labour, a stillborn baby, and damage to her that resulted in her constantly leaking urine. The operation was successful, and she later conceived and gave birth to a lovely boy. Patricia found this out, and asked if the lady could tell her story to the ladies currently awaiting VVF surgery, as an encouragement to them. They were indeed encouraged, and she was then asked by the Communications Department to write up (with permission) the story for possible publication! After her story was submitted, she was asked if she would join the department as a writer...job number four!!!
Elliot has been busy; he has had some of his schoolwork on display at a school concert. He has also been learning the recorder, and, thanks to some help from Mum, learnt all the songs for the concert, so was in it, doing two duets n'all! He seemed to pick it up quite quickly, and now he can play a reasonable nmber of notes, enjoys trying out new tunes sometimes, just because he enjoys it!
Last Sunday we went to a church about 4 minutes drive away with some others from the ship. We left the noise and dirt and bustle of town and arrived in Cheesemanburg, a place in the countryside. It was so beautiful; green trees, birds, and people with warm hearts toward us and firey ones for Jesus! Even here though, the war had left its cruel reminders; derelict buildings with bullet and shell holes, families without a parent, and many orphans. We were unable to go there again today (read on for the reason), but we are sure we will be back there soon.
This morning was a time that I am finding hard to find the words about, but I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for it. We went to worship with many of the patients, and quite a few staff, in one of the wards on the hospital deck. The high praises, the prayers, the testimonies of God's faithfulness and power and love were incredible. I felt so privileged to worship our God with these people. I was over 4,000 miles from home with people from totally different backgrounds to me, yet I felt totally at home; it was a tiny glimpse of heaven! We especially went to be a support to a great man called Andrew, one of the patients that we have got to know. He was preaching, and he shared part of his testimony, some of which we already knew. I will tell some of his story another time, but I will say that he has suffered such unbelievable
afflictions, and yet his confidence was in God; as he said "my confession to myself was, my delay (in healing and restoration) is not my denial." Jesus is restoring him day by day, and it's a joy to see. He also is probably the most skilful bongo player I have ever heard! Quite a morning, and I'm not ashamed to say I wept in that meeting, because Jesus was there in a way I have never experienced. The afternoon had a treat in store too, as I found that we could see the FA semi
-final match of Barnsley v Cardiff live on a TV (yes here, in West Africa); and Cardiff won! Hopefully we'll be able to see the final next month.
afflictions, and yet his confidence was in God; as he said "my confession to myself was, my delay (in healing and restoration) is not my denial." Jesus is restoring him day by day, and it's a joy to see. He also is probably the most skilful bongo player I have ever heard! Quite a morning, and I'm not ashamed to say I wept in that meeting, because Jesus was there in a way I have never experienced. The afternoon had a treat in store too, as I found that we could see the FA semi
-final match of Barnsley v Cardiff live on a TV (yes here, in West Africa); and Cardiff won! Hopefully we'll be able to see the final next month.
Well, enough for now, I'm off to enjoy some great home-made yoghurt; a big thank you to Anne-Marie for giving that to us!!
