May Newsletter
May 2008
Word of the day:
Surprise: n,
In Tonga, ‘ncigabwyo’ means ‘a surprise.’
Dear friends and family,
I have always loved surprises. So, it is with great joy that I get to share a few of my surprises with you today…
First, do you see how our team has grown?? It is incredible to us, as well! Susan is now training 6 health care workers, and 2 nutrition workers. I have 3 midwives and 1 administrator for paperwork and files. Our nutrition program has gone from 11 to 17 children since November, and we are continually working on new ways to provide quality of care to our growing number of patients! God is truly blessing our ministry here. We are astounded by the responsibility and ministry God has given us in the Gwembe Valley.
I… have an announcement to make. This will be one of the last “Stephanie’s Mustardseed”s that you will be receiving. “Why?” you ask. Well, because Mr. Motorcycle has asked me to become a permanent part of his life—and I said, “Yes!” Therefore, I think it’s only right that I make some changes in my life to include him- like put his name in the title, or something, don’t you? :) I will be returning to North America for a three month furlough and for orientation with Missionary Ventures International in October. So, we are busily planning a January 2009 wedding from Zambia, which means my sister (thanks Jen!) is busily planning! “Then what?” you may wonder. We plan to return to the base here in Sinazongwe to continue in ministry together. Mr. Motorcycle is a mechanic and handyman here on our mission base and helps to host short term teams. I will continue in the medical ministries.
Wait! I’m not done yet! Believe it or not, there have been more surprises these past few months! Co-founders of the Care Now Foundation (the main support of our Medical Ministry), Ed and Wendy, flew Susan and me to California for 12 days to present at their annual fundraising dinner! We spent about 4 weeks before leaving Zambia and another 1 ½ once in Arcadia with Susan’s family and support team preparing! We built three sets to look like some of the situations we run our medical ministry and nutrition program out of here in the bush. Michelle drew a 12x10 ft backdrop for us to paint and use, as well as several beautiful portraits of Tongan people for the silent auction! We wrote stories typical of our patients’ lives, supported by facts of life situation here in Zambia and pictures from our work. Our mothers and sisters helped us prepare for the event (yes, my sister, mother, and niece were able to visit for a few days).
Then, three days before our big presentation I was able to fly up to Ontario, Canada, to attend one of my best friends’ weddings, unbeknownst to her! What a fun surprise and a wonderful reunion.
The Fundraiser was quite an experience for the guests—and for us! We just arrived back this week and are in full swing again. I am going to start taking the midwifery patients out of our clinic here on base and into the homes of my students. I would eventually like to hand over patients into their home-based care and felt like now would be a good time to start. Please pray for me and Sandra, Favorite, and Uvenia as we transition! Susan and I also have plans to work with more pastors away from Sinazongwe and host clinics at their churches. It will be a lot of work to pack up the clinic for bush clinics, but we are hoping to be even more effective this way.
I believe that God delights when we take delight in something. He loves plotting and planning just to see how we take joy in Him—whether it is the opening of a flower bud or the beginning of a life relationship. I pray that God will be bringing some surprises into your lives this summer that will remind you, again, how much God loves you, and how astounding he can be!
Stephanie
Please note that I have no internet access where I live; please allow 2 mnths or so for replies and blog/picture updates, thanks!
Missionary Ventures International: www.mvi.org
*Notwithstanding any other statements in this communication, please remember that any contributions to MVI are under MVI's full discretion and control as required by IRS regulations.
Word of the day:
Surprise: n,
In Tonga, ‘ncigabwyo’ means ‘a surprise.’
Dear friends and family,
I have always loved surprises. So, it is with great joy that I get to share a few of my surprises with you today…
First, do you see how our team has grown?? It is incredible to us, as well! Susan is now training 6 health care workers, and 2 nutrition workers. I have 3 midwives and 1 administrator for paperwork and files. Our nutrition program has gone from 11 to 17 children since November, and we are continually working on new ways to provide quality of care to our growing number of patients! God is truly blessing our ministry here. We are astounded by the responsibility and ministry God has given us in the Gwembe Valley.
I… have an announcement to make. This will be one of the last “Stephanie’s Mustardseed”s that you will be receiving. “Why?” you ask. Well, because Mr. Motorcycle has asked me to become a permanent part of his life—and I said, “Yes!” Therefore, I think it’s only right that I make some changes in my life to include him- like put his name in the title, or something, don’t you? :) I will be returning to North America for a three month furlough and for orientation with Missionary Ventures International in October. So, we are busily planning a January 2009 wedding from Zambia, which means my sister (thanks Jen!) is busily planning! “Then what?” you may wonder. We plan to return to the base here in Sinazongwe to continue in ministry together. Mr. Motorcycle is a mechanic and handyman here on our mission base and helps to host short term teams. I will continue in the medical ministries.
Wait! I’m not done yet! Believe it or not, there have been more surprises these past few months! Co-founders of the Care Now Foundation (the main support of our Medical Ministry), Ed and Wendy, flew Susan and me to California for 12 days to present at their annual fundraising dinner! We spent about 4 weeks before leaving Zambia and another 1 ½ once in Arcadia with Susan’s family and support team preparing! We built three sets to look like some of the situations we run our medical ministry and nutrition program out of here in the bush. Michelle drew a 12x10 ft backdrop for us to paint and use, as well as several beautiful portraits of Tongan people for the silent auction! We wrote stories typical of our patients’ lives, supported by facts of life situation here in Zambia and pictures from our work. Our mothers and sisters helped us prepare for the event (yes, my sister, mother, and niece were able to visit for a few days).
Then, three days before our big presentation I was able to fly up to Ontario, Canada, to attend one of my best friends’ weddings, unbeknownst to her! What a fun surprise and a wonderful reunion.
The Fundraiser was quite an experience for the guests—and for us! We just arrived back this week and are in full swing again. I am going to start taking the midwifery patients out of our clinic here on base and into the homes of my students. I would eventually like to hand over patients into their home-based care and felt like now would be a good time to start. Please pray for me and Sandra, Favorite, and Uvenia as we transition! Susan and I also have plans to work with more pastors away from Sinazongwe and host clinics at their churches. It will be a lot of work to pack up the clinic for bush clinics, but we are hoping to be even more effective this way.
I believe that God delights when we take delight in something. He loves plotting and planning just to see how we take joy in Him—whether it is the opening of a flower bud or the beginning of a life relationship. I pray that God will be bringing some surprises into your lives this summer that will remind you, again, how much God loves you, and how astounding he can be!
Stephanie
Please note that I have no internet access where I live; please allow 2 mnths or so for replies and blog/picture updates, thanks!
Missionary Ventures International: www.mvi.org
*Notwithstanding any other statements in this communication, please remember that any contributions to MVI are under MVI's full discretion and control as required by IRS regulations.
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