It is 10:30 and I am sitting here alone. The rest of the team are all asleep preparing for another day's work. Tonight is one of those nights where I am tired physically and just too wound up emotionally to sleep. It will be a long night and even longer day.
We welcomed two other teams today...one from the Washington/Oregon area and one from Omaha. The first is a medical team doing training in ultrasound and procedures; the other is installing fiber optics at the hospital. As is normal when teams arrive, everyone gets together for a potluck dinner and a time of fellowship to meet and greet. There were over 50 people in the upstairs of the guesthouse eating spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread, chatting around tables and meshing together as one big family. The evening ended with cake for dessert to celebrate Earl's birthday.
It has been a birthday to remember for Earl. We have picked at him nonstop all day. Although that is not much different that any other day. :=) At lunch, Jerry came out with a stack of cards for him from home. He was pleasantly surprised with the special delivery. Then the cake and everyone singing was the finishing touch to his big day.
The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming visible as we continue to empty rooms of the boxes in the Peds building and move the supplies to their permanent storage area in the new warehouse. Jan and Jean have provided the medical knowledge to accomplish this task with Sandy, Barb, Erv, and many others sorting, repacking, and storing the hundreds of boxes. At times we felt like we were making it worse instead of better; where now we can see the order coming out of the chaos. This will be such a huge help to the hospital staff when they restock and are looking for specific items.
As I sit here, the peace and quiet of the day is settling on me. The hum of the fans, warm air circulating, and the squeaks of the bats hanging from the trees outside the windows is very calming. This could be a warm summer's night at home minus the bat squeaks. In the light of day, you see the yard is surrounded by a high wall and a gate opens to head out. The red dirt and dust, flocks passing with their shepherds, donkey carts, bicycles, motos and people make you aware you are not in Ohio. A short term trip has it's excitements and thrills and is just that...short term.
Our missionaries live around the world with third, fourth, and fifth world conditions on a daily basis. The magnitude of what they give up to serve the Lord cannot be fully comprehended on a short term trip but can be seen and felt. They need our prayers, love, encouragement, and support. We need to be the passionate prayer warriors that hold the ropes as they battle on the front lines for His kingdom. We are all His children; part of His family. Remember our brothers and sisters who are serving as missionaries around the world.
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I love posts like this because it brings me right back to Koutiala. I feel a slight sensory overload as your descriptions flood my mind.
ReplyDeleteEach night, I would sit on the front porch, reading my daily devotions and listenting to the noises around me. It's an amazing thing to sit and listen to the bats or watch three toads on the front porch or listen to the Muslim call to prayer coming from the loud speakers in town.
It's so amazing to see what the full time missionaries are doing and what they've given up to serve out Lord in these countries around the world. I think we need that constant reminder to remind us to pray diligently for them! Thank you for keeping the images and thoughts from Koutiala fresh in my mind!
God Bless you all!
Well said, Bobo Jula and Matt.
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