Tuesday PM Post

Tuesday’s Blog
Hi from Teresa!
It’s about 1pm on Tuesday and I’ve just finished gobbling down Leticia’s delicious tuna and corned beef sandwiches. We were fairly busy in the clinic this morning and I was grateful to have time to rest a bit. Working with Mike,Guy, Michelle and everyone else has been awesome! My interpreter, Leticia, has been a joy to work with and get to know! I wish my words could do her justice. Don, It was good to here from you- tell the kids mommy loves them and I wear their pictures to the clinic and talk about them a lot( as usual) This trip is an incredible experience and I’m grateful for everyone’s thoughts and prayers. I am learning so much! I see God’s hand in everything!
Teresa


Hey everyone (Christy here)! So far, this experience has been one of the best ever. When I got here, I realized it would be hot, but I NEVER imagined it could possibly be this warm in any part of the world! Besides the heat, everything is like something from a fantasy for me… It still hasn’t just well ‘clicked that I am on a mission. I am a missionary right now. It’s crazy to think that all of the fun I have been having, and acting like an 8 year old has been for God. I miss all of you desperately, and hope that you all are having a great time at home!I love you….Christy

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This is James writing. As I sit recovering/cooling down from the visit to Senya church and school, Eric and Jordan are on the porch just outside the window in a Bible study with two young men ages 19 & 20. The clinic is on going; Beth and crew are putting up bulletin boards.

Several of us went to Senya this afternoon to assess the situation. Senya is the next town west of Fetteh along the coast. Even with its fabulous view of the Atlantic Ocean, it is a community where the people scrape out a living at the most basic level. Just outside the building was a woman bending from the waste preparing food in bowls on the ground. Next to her were two open fires in little clay fire pits in the shape of an horse shoes. The real purpose of the visit was to see six or more handicapped children inside the large room with rough concrete floors and windows without screens. I’ll let Beth, Teresa, Stephanie and Michelle fill in on what their professional and caring eyes saw. Watching these three in action will be one of my most powerful memories of this trip. It was like I was living a “Save the Children” commercial.

Christy, Emily, Jordan and myself visited with the school children, entertained them cameras. I gave English lessons which my family will find amusing. We had fun with: head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, arm, elbow and so on.

On the way back to the Village of Hope, we were filled with emotion as we were overwhelmed with what we saw. We said a prayer of thanksgiving for our own lives, we asked for understanding of what we witnessed, and we asked that we may find ways to help these children, their families and the community.

James 2:50 PM

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Hello again from Michelle
Many who know me have heard how I love my job and my profession and always intended to work in some capacity again in the future. I had no idea how much my professional training could be used in God’s kingdom. Truly God can be used in every profession and wherever you are. You read above that we took a trip outside the village today to another community some miles away. I can not imagine a more base way of life yet the children were as adorable as they could be. Surely the Lord was present in that place. I feel humbled that God called this not very well traveled pediatric PT to a remote village in Africa because there were precious souls in need of my very specific training. May I also say that the church family there was humbling – their devotion to children not their own but in desperate need of love and care was overwhelming. We could not give much in our short time but I believe that the greatest gift we gave was hope. Hope that the children can do more and grow in their independence, hope that their efforts can benefit some child of God, and hope that others in the world love and care for them. The Village of Hope could not have a better name. I have treated many children in my years of therapy and it is powerful to see a personality emerge from disability and it is powerful to help give a voice to a speechless child, but truly I am moved to tears at seeing some “voices” emerge today. God is so Good.

To Judah, David, and Abby I am loving you much and hope to get to speak with you soon.

Michelle 4:PM