Voices......Part 2

Together!

During this recent journey to Niger, for economy, Paul and I decided that emailing and texting each other would be fine. The trip was only two weeks. We would avoid the cost and frustration of dropped calls, voice-mail, and time zone confusion. Who wants to get called at 3:30 AM for a cheery check-in or romantic tête a tête? The deal was that I would call Paul as I was leaving the USA from JFK in New York and when I arrived back there again. Meanwhile we would communicate via cyberspace daily. Simple, right? Everyone texts and emails all the time. Who needs to actually talk for most communication? Of course, this may be fine for some but......I missed the sound of Paul's voice sooooooo much. The first thing I wanted when I cleared US customs and took care of rechecking my bags, was to get a Starbucks? (NO!!) It was to call Paul on the phone and hear his voice! Words cannot describe the delightful sound of my precious husband's voice on that call. It was sweet, kind, gentle and reassuring. He promised to meet me at the Cincinnati airport in a few hours. Paul's voice was full of love and appreciation of our relationship. It was full of hope for our reunion and a special weekend trip to Atlanta for a friend's wedding. How could I get all that from a few moments on my iPhone? I know Paul well. Our first date was October 19, 1974....since then I have been learning his use of words and what each voice inflection, tremor, and tone means. For me, this is a reminder of my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ......

Do I long to hear His voice through scripture and the Holy Spirit's promptings?

Do I get excited to talk to the Lord in prayer regularly and often?

Are my communications to My Heavenly Father like text messages--abbreviated? 

Do I recognize the tone of intensity, urgency and love of my Savior as I read the Bible?

Does His name thrill me?

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast:

'Tis manna to the hungry soul and to the weary rest.

Dear name! The Rock on which I build, 

My Shield and Hiding Place,

My never failing treasure filled with boundless stores of grace! 

(Public Domain)

Yes, coming home to hear Paul's voice has been so exciting and reassuring! Better still, what a blessing to know and hear the voice of the Almighty God of all nations as He speaks graciously and personally through the scriptures. What about the times when I am too tired, too lazy, too jet lagged, too distracted or have a hard time getting into God's Word? This is when I must recall Philippians 4:13.....'I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength'.....no wonder His voice is so winsome!

The sound of voices....

It seems eerily quiet this morning. Paul and Marie are at work. Zachary who is visiting on his fall break, is quietly studying downstairs. Things seem so odd.....where are the familiar faces of the hospital staff, the dear patients and their caregivers? Where is the desert terrain.....and who turned the outdoor thermostat down so low?
 Yes, these are the normal discombobulating senses of returning from Niger. I miss the sounds, smells, faces and noises of a place that has caught my attention and a people who have captured my heart!  Perhaps the sound of silence has struck me the most this morning. I appreciate the rain that keeps the lawn and garden green. I am grateful for the alone time to rest and think. Yet, I am missing the voices:

...of the Islam's call to prayer broadcasted 5 times throughout the day-reminding ME to pray for the lost and least of these dear people in need of physical and spiritual healing of the Great Physician, our Savior Jesus Christ
... of the many hospital guards and other employees greetings, Bonjour, Ca, va? Mamma Maureen!
...of the caregivers and patients in the outpatient hostel.  Fou, Fou! Bangagie, Madala.....words of greeting and gratitude in local languages.

Caregivers at hostel

Caregivers calling out a morning greeting as we visit them

"Papa Toureg" selling bracelets

...of the hawkers on the street selling everything from phonecards to floor tiles up and down the streets.
 ...of the donkeys, sheep, goats and camels bleating, bellowing and protesting under their loads and severe treatment!

Nurse Rabi and I enjoying a joyful moment in the OR

...of the nursing staff as they chat, argue and joke amongst themselves in several dilects....who knows what they are saying about me right in my presence :)


The sounds of CURE Niger were missing from my first day back! Readjustment and reorientation will take several days. Voices of people are an important part of daily life. They remind us of where we are living and what activities are happening about us. Voices also remind us of the relationships in our lives.

The one voice that can be heard in my heart everyday is the voice of God's Word speaking...

truth of who God is and His character

an invitation to join Him in joyful obedience and fellowship

direction for His kingdom work

help to think, speak and act in a manner pleasing to the Lord

comfort for the hurts and issues that challenge the life of faith

assurance that I am His and He is mine

all this in the pages of my Bible!

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

John 10:27-30

Monday musings...

It was a challenging and busy day at the CURE hospital in Niger today. There were three surgeries and many dressing changes on the ward (Pavillion). It was very challenging to guide and instruct the nurses in some of these complex dressings. In my travels, I have seen many things. The sad cases are the burns. Although, during my time at the Royal Victoria hospital in Montreal, I often cared for burned patients in the SICU, I have not seen anything like this! How could parents allow such horrible burns to happen to babies that can't even walk or crawl? Of course such questions, after the fact,are merely my frustration...I pray that the parents would love and take care of the needs of their little ones. I pray that the loving care and compassion of CURE will demonstrate how much we love and value each dear little life. Indeed they are precious in Jesus'sight and one day by God's grace, each one will be made whole again. Yes, I'll be honest the suffering really got to me today! Even as I blog the tears won't stop! Yet my tears are nothing compared to those of my Lord Jesus, who cried over Jerusalem. Jesus felt deep compassion for the crowds as we are told in the gospels...so I guess my tears are understood by Jesus. Now that I've shed the tears, am I sulking at God? Am I shaking a fist and accusing God of allowing suffering?
Actually, no! As a matter of fact, I am in awe of my great God and His mercy in bringing these dear little ones and their caregivers to a place where they can be lovingly cared for and have the best chance of healing. Thank you, Heavenly Father for building this Oasis in the desert...a place that supplies Living Water and the Bread of Life to nourish and sustain life.
Last night, a dear Canadian missionary spoke to us on Psalms 103. Nothing better could have prepared my mind and soul for today. Sure, the tears still come, but the Biblical, godly perspective was laid as a stabilizer...Isaiah 33:6 says it this way, He (the LORD) will be the sure foundation for your times....! Those of you reading this blog, I wonder what are your 'times' that need stabilizing by our Great God and Savior? Jesus knows and has experienced your emotions...He is truly our Brother in that regard. He is also our eternal high priest forever bringing our needs before the Father.
No wonder Psalms 103 concludes with:
Praise the LORD, all His creatures in all places He rules.
Praise the LORD, my soul!
It is as if the psalmist is telling himself to praise the LORD. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves...ok, I need to remind myself...praise you LORD!

Blessings in Niger

Morning sustenance-Bread of Life, baguette and Starbucks Coffee

The hospital gate....people waiting to come in and be blessed!

One thing I learned many years ago, was that I need to have a regular daily appointment with my God and Savior. He speaks to me through the Bible and I try very hard to listen. I enjoy talking to my Heavenly Father in prayer. It is easy to get distracted though! This particular morning as I read the scriptures on the terrace of the guest house in Niamey,  my eyes were drawn to the men down on the land toiling to get rid of the weeds on the hospital property.  It was very hot, sunny and did I say hot? It was amazing to see how diligent these men were to clear the land to protect the hospital property from rodents, snakes and mosquitoes that hide in the scrub. I was reminded that I too need to clear my life of unnecessary clutter and anything that might insidiously invade my life causing heartache and harm to those around me. How wonderful to enjoy special moments in a new surrounding and be filled by God's precious words. He brings to life Biblical truths. Matthew 13 speaks about different soils that represent my heart's condition when hearing the scriptures......sometimes when I hear God's Word it is quickly snatched away by inattentiveness or distracting thoughts. Other times God's Word is taken into my life but doesn't take deep roots so when the heat of temptation or persecution comes...I've got nothing to show for it!  Sadly sometimes God's message to me is choked out by the cares and worries of life. Oh, dear....! Thankfully Jesus' parable speaks of times when my heart is prepared and ears are listening and much comes from the Word of God planted in me. It is good to be taken away from all that is familiar and be alone with the LORD. These travels for CURE International strengthen my faith and allow me to be quiet, to listen and to be filled....not just to benefit me but so that I can be a blessing to others. That is my heartbeat.....to pour out onto others the many blessings of knowing and living for Jesus Christ my Savior. Look at the faces pressed at the gate....longing for physical healing and in desperate need of spiritual healing too! Welcome dear ones.....you have come to the right place!

Shine the Light!

Rick helping with packing of Bibles

The count-down is getting closer and closer! In yesterday's blog, I shared about the many team players who have helped the GO Team get ready.  You saw the Bible Story telling panels....what are we going to do with this huge display?  One of our team members, Kasie, is organizing our team into groups so that we can not only tell Bible stories to the caregivers...but teach them to tell the stories. It is quite a challenge with those who are illiterate. The symbols that we colored represent various aspects of God's character and specific Bible stories.  Kasie and I talked this morning and we are pumped!
Fortunately there are staff members and others who are able to read English. It is such a joy to bring Bibles that have been donated by loving Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Bibles are heavy! Rick is bringing his second bag almost full of Bibles and helps for the Spiritual Life Center of the CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda. We have had a few frustrating interesting moments trying to keep our bags at the 50 lb. limit. I appreciate Rick's patience and muscles as he hoists the bags on his shoulders to weigh them. Rick assembled a bunch of mini flashlights for us. I asked him to 'Shine the light'....to make sure they were working before we packed them.  That is what he did. In reality, 'shining the light' is what we are going to do.....Shining the light of Jesus Christ! Bringing the Light of the World, Jesus to dispel ignorance, darkness and discouragement.

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins...Colossians 1:13,14 NIV

Rick checking out the flashlights!

All of this is so exciting!  Those of us who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are to be reflectors of  His light. What does that mean? 
Light shows the way....Jesus is the Way John 14:6
Light dispels darkness-reveals truth...Jesus is the Truth
Light is cheerful, giving warmth, encouraging growth etc....Jesus is the Life!

The GO Team is joining the CURE staff to share the Good News with caregivers at the hospital site and Mbarara mobile clinic. We hope that we will 'shine the light' of Jesus Christ with those we leave behind, our fellow travelers and people we meet in Mbale. May we...let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father...paraphrase of Matthew 5:16
May we shine the light of Christ's love to the hospital staff and each other too! We are growing into a team!
I can hardly wait to see Derek, the hospital Executive Director, Miriam the Spiritual Life Director, Florence the Nurse Manager and Elisha her assistant nurse manager, Juma, George, Joseph, Nelson, Collins, Katherine, Justin, Rachel, Rose, Esther, Corrett, Angela, Alex, Stephen x2, Nathan x2, David, John, Simon Peter, Immaculate, Moses x 3, Zephaniah, Sebby, Bonney, Annette, Angela, Helen, Bernard, Dorcus, Mary, Martha, Regina, Monica, Fred, Elizabeth (Betty), Peter Paul, Jonathan, and dear Yocolum.....and so many others.
Do I sound excited? Hope so!

Taking God's Word to the nations.....

For many, the Bible is a dust covered and neglected book on a shelf. In travels with CURE International, I have observed that the one thing people clamor for is a personal copy of the Bible. The scriptures are extremely expensive in comparison to their incomes.
To see the face of a believer who receives their own copy brings such joy!
Several years ago, I met a pastor (James M), who is a headmaster of a government school...in addition to being headmaster of a Christian school in Mbale, Uganda. He has a vision for his church to be used as a training center for church leaders. Each year this church hosts a pastor's conference and training times to refresh, inspire and encourage church leaders in God's Word. It has been a joy and privilege to teach at these conferences. The hunger for God's Word is so refreshing.....and makes for a great attentive audience!
Last summer, this dear pastor asked me if I could give a few hours every afternoon, for a couple of weeks to train Sunday School Teachers.  So, last summer after the GO Team returned home, we held a Sunday School Teacher's conference. I would volunteer at the CURE Children's Hospital in the mornings then go for a few hours to teach in this village church.  Sunday School teachers received a notebook and pen to take notes. The participants in this training time took ownership of their training and delighted in developing songs, acting out Bible stories and classroom situations. We laughed, sang, discussed, pondered, played and prayed together during the conference. It was so delightful to see pastors so concerned about the training of the next generation in God's Word. Upon completion of our sessions, each one received a certificate and a small book outlining the themes of scripture. We had many public school teachers attending to learn classroom techniques!
What a delightful, exhausting and exhilarating time! May God and His Word be made large in these Sunday School classrooms!

  Here is a young man who clearly wanted to show his respect and enthusiasm for the USA by wearing his Obama T-shirt-----as I showed my respect and love for Uganda by wearing a traditional African dress. Pastor James sensibly wore a suit:)