I am not going to have time to post anything on Sunday. We have a busy day of church (and we know that will take all morning), lunch (not going to be quick either), and then back to the hotel for a shower and final packing before we leave for the airport at 6:00 pm. As far as we know now, we should make it out on our flight and we are going to the airport as planned. We are all packing what is left of our clean clothes and our essentials in the carry-ons. Pray we make it back as scheduled.
I am planning on posting more reflections and pictures when I get back. Josh and I also want to put together some kind of presentation to share with the people of Wesley UMC and others too. See you back in the USA on Monday. Au revior from Cote d’ Ivorie. I am going to miss this place full of God’s grace and glory.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Radical Hospitality
All week we have been blessed with gracious and radical hospitality over and over again. Today was no different. Our Site coordinators and interpreters went out of there way to be sure we were able to work and able to minister by talking with the people of Basaam. The owner of a local hotel who is a member of the UMC in Basaam provided out lunch all week and it was a delicious spread each day of chicken, fish, or beef with rice, potatoes, or vegetables. People over and over in the villages and towns welcomed us into their homes to see their nets and let us help them.
This radical hospitality was capped today when the pastor of the UMC in Basaam invited us to tour this 100 year old church built in colonial times and then welcomed us into his home for refreshments and to “share the news.” This is an Ivorian tradition to welcome honored guests into your home to share about their day. The pastor had his son begin a video and it was of this pastor’s graduation ceremony from pastor’s school and “commissioning” as a pastor. It was held in Jubilee Church and its celebration put any of our Ordination or Commissioning services to shame. It was full of music and choirs from multiple churches. The new pastors knelt together on the floor of the church (NO KNEELERS) for a long prayer. I shared with the pastor (through interpreters) that I understood how proud and exciting a moment this was for him and his family. We then shared a while about the UMC in America and Texas and the Ivorian UMC and the differences. It was an insightful conversation.
The pastor then led us on a walk through the colonial area down to the beach. We stayed their a while talking and then it was time to go to dinner. The whole Texas team had been invited to dine at the home of the man who owned the hotels which had provided our Basaam team lunch all week. Our Ivorian friends said it was just a bit down the beach. This was a Texas-sized bit and ended up being a hike down the beach.
The home was a beachfront mansion estate. Notice above I said “dine” and dine we did. It was a delicious meal in a beautiful setting. At the end of the meal, our host had his son read a speech thanking us for our work this week and our love for the people of Cote d’ Ivoire.
This night and day was the culmination of week of blessings we received from our new friends and all of the people of Cote d’ Ivoire. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson of being that neighbor Christ calls us to be each and every day.
This radical hospitality was capped today when the pastor of the UMC in Basaam invited us to tour this 100 year old church built in colonial times and then welcomed us into his home for refreshments and to “share the news.” This is an Ivorian tradition to welcome honored guests into your home to share about their day. The pastor had his son begin a video and it was of this pastor’s graduation ceremony from pastor’s school and “commissioning” as a pastor. It was held in Jubilee Church and its celebration put any of our Ordination or Commissioning services to shame. It was full of music and choirs from multiple churches. The new pastors knelt together on the floor of the church (NO KNEELERS) for a long prayer. I shared with the pastor (through interpreters) that I understood how proud and exciting a moment this was for him and his family. We then shared a while about the UMC in America and Texas and the Ivorian UMC and the differences. It was an insightful conversation.
The pastor then led us on a walk through the colonial area down to the beach. We stayed their a while talking and then it was time to go to dinner. The whole Texas team had been invited to dine at the home of the man who owned the hotels which had provided our Basaam team lunch all week. Our Ivorian friends said it was just a bit down the beach. This was a Texas-sized bit and ended up being a hike down the beach.
The home was a beachfront mansion estate. Notice above I said “dine” and dine we did. It was a delicious meal in a beautiful setting. At the end of the meal, our host had his son read a speech thanking us for our work this week and our love for the people of Cote d’ Ivoire.
This night and day was the culmination of week of blessings we received from our new friends and all of the people of Cote d’ Ivoire. Perhaps we can all learn a lesson of being that neighbor Christ calls us to be each and every day.
Saturday: The Final Day in Basaam
Today was our last day of work on behalf of Nothing But Nets and the Cote d’ Ivoire campaign. We were back in Basaam to walk around and help people be sure they are using the nets. We split up into 2 groups with an interpreter each. My team was also paired with a couple of local boys who spoke the tribal language in the area we would be walking through. Early on we came across many who were using the nets with some needing to be lowered a bit to be sure they can be tucked under the bed. But again, we came across some who didn’t understand or had done things wrong or hadn’t even taken it out of the package yet. Even though it was frustrating to encounter this, we knew that by explaining and helping them we were making a difference and that the good information about using the nets would spread through the area.
It was a very hot morning so we needed a break on the air-conditioned bus after a couple of hours. We then set out again in a different area and encountered the same mix of results. However, I was touched by one father who took us to the area homes where he and his extended family lived. He was worried that he had hung the net incorrectly. However, his was the best one we had seen yet, it was tethered in such a way that the net was expanded to its full width and length and the height was perfect. That capped a great morning in Basaam and gave us hope that more would be using it perfectly. Our interpreters and Basaam hosts also shared that all the pastors in the churches were asked to stress the importance of using the net if you had received it and had volunteers that would continue this work. And that the church members would be the voice to their neighbors about using the nets.
This points out how important a church family can be to a community and the influence we can make. We need to be willing and ready and answer that call God gives to us to make a REAL difference in our community and our neighborhoods. Even if it is as simple as making sure they have hung up a net.
It was a very hot morning so we needed a break on the air-conditioned bus after a couple of hours. We then set out again in a different area and encountered the same mix of results. However, I was touched by one father who took us to the area homes where he and his extended family lived. He was worried that he had hung the net incorrectly. However, his was the best one we had seen yet, it was tethered in such a way that the net was expanded to its full width and length and the height was perfect. That capped a great morning in Basaam and gave us hope that more would be using it perfectly. Our interpreters and Basaam hosts also shared that all the pastors in the churches were asked to stress the importance of using the net if you had received it and had volunteers that would continue this work. And that the church members would be the voice to their neighbors about using the nets.
This points out how important a church family can be to a community and the influence we can make. We need to be willing and ready and answer that call God gives to us to make a REAL difference in our community and our neighborhoods. Even if it is as simple as making sure they have hung up a net.
Friday, November 14, 2008
When will we get home…the ongoing saga
If you’ve caught any world news today, you may have learned that about 40-50 percent of the Air France pilots will be going on strike over retirement age. The strike will begin on Sunday and end on Monday. Of course, these are our travel days with Air France. Not all flights are affected but in preparation, Air France has cancelled Saturday’s flight from Abijdan to Paris. We are working with our travel agent and trying to figure out what will happen. Once again, we just have to be flexible. At this point we don’t know when we will get home or through what cities in this part of the world or how long our layover will be in those cities. But, I am not going to dwell on that and enjoy my days in missions in Africa. But, we can pray so please help us all out with that. Good night from Cote d’ Ivoire.
The Collision of Two Worlds
Eventually in our stroll around Samo, our group connected with up with some the UM Communications reporters who wanted to walk with us and photograph and video some from the village. We came to a school were the teachers who lived on site had received nets and were using them for their children. One teacher said he was telling his students that if they received a net to beg their parents to put it up if it hadn’t been hung yet.
We next came to another woman who had a net but hadn’t hung because she was very pregnant and couldn’t reach the rafters in order to hang it yet. Her husband was away working in some fields for a few days. So, the reporters wanted to capture us helping her and interviewed me afterwards. Then they wanted to interview her but she only spoke a tribal language, Jabu (spelling??). So, picture this: We are in an African village and a mud hut structure with a thatch roof. A camera is filming a very pregnant woman and her 3 year old. The mother has a wireless lapel mike on her She is speaking Jabu. A church member is translating Jabu to French. Our interpreter is translating French to English. This goes back and forth for a number of questions. Amazing.
Another great day of a different experience in Africa. Let me wrap this up by saying how rewarding it has been to be at four different sites having four totally different experiences and learning so many lessons on life and faith.
We next came to another woman who had a net but hadn’t hung because she was very pregnant and couldn’t reach the rafters in order to hang it yet. Her husband was away working in some fields for a few days. So, the reporters wanted to capture us helping her and interviewed me afterwards. Then they wanted to interview her but she only spoke a tribal language, Jabu (spelling??). So, picture this: We are in an African village and a mud hut structure with a thatch roof. A camera is filming a very pregnant woman and her 3 year old. The mother has a wireless lapel mike on her She is speaking Jabu. A church member is translating Jabu to French. Our interpreter is translating French to English. This goes back and forth for a number of questions. Amazing.
Another great day of a different experience in Africa. Let me wrap this up by saying how rewarding it has been to be at four different sites having four totally different experiences and learning so many lessons on life and faith.
Friday: A Stroll around Samo
Our journey took us back to the village of Bonoua (I just realized I need to add some pronunciation guides - “Bon-wa”) today. Two from our team of six were back at the Mayors office and two were at the hospital. Both of these sites still had large crowds coming even though it was the fourth day to have the campaign at theses sites. Carmen and I were asked to be partnered with two volunteers from the church to walk around the village of Samo (“Sam-oo”). So, the bus took us their and dropped us off with these two, our intrepeter, and a soldier from the Genmardine (military police) who have been our security while in country.
Let me say this was an interesting journey and a new experience of Cote d’ Ivoire. Samo is a picturesque African village with very poor people who are rich in heart. They seem to be basic subsistence living but content and happy in life. However, we discovered many had not hung the nets they had received the day before. So, we began to urge them and explain to them why. The church members used our presence as motivation and said things like “these have come to help you and you are not using their help.” They said they would be hanging the nets. One mother said she didn’t have string to hang them, but we suggested she use strips from the tattered cloth she had hanging to dry. She ripped it into strips and we went into her home and hung her net for her. Word spread and 3 others asked us to help them too. So this was a rewarding time to know we not only gave them a net but helped them actually use the nets. And that is what this is all about. Give a net, save a life!
Let me say this was an interesting journey and a new experience of Cote d’ Ivoire. Samo is a picturesque African village with very poor people who are rich in heart. They seem to be basic subsistence living but content and happy in life. However, we discovered many had not hung the nets they had received the day before. So, we began to urge them and explain to them why. The church members used our presence as motivation and said things like “these have come to help you and you are not using their help.” They said they would be hanging the nets. One mother said she didn’t have string to hang them, but we suggested she use strips from the tattered cloth she had hanging to dry. She ripped it into strips and we went into her home and hung her net for her. Word spread and 3 others asked us to help them too. So this was a rewarding time to know we not only gave them a net but helped them actually use the nets. And that is what this is all about. Give a net, save a life!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday: Nets at the Beach
You can tell by the title that we had a different experience today. We were back in the city of Basaam and dropped off one team at a market distribution site. Then the bus made its way into the countryside and down a winding road and pulled up at the beach. Carmen and I looked at each other and smiled. We walked down the beach to a pavilion set in the middle of a fishing village called Mondouko
They had already begun the work and a large group was in line. We sat down at the net table and began our work to the sound of the waves crashing and with the feel of the ocean breeze. It made the long day of work a little easier but it was a great day again. This was a remote tribal village with people that would not have likely received the immunizations or nets if not for this campaign.
I had one of our team members who speaks fluent French team me how to say “God Bless You!” so I tried it out as I handed the mothers or children the nets. Some smiled up and said “Merci!” or just smiled. It turns out some only speak the local tribal language (but a smile is universal). The line moved really steady until about 2pm. So, we took some time to walk down to the beach and I got some pics and enjoyed the paradise. I thought about how this same water flows all the way to the US into the Gulf of Mexico to SE Texas and home. I also thought that this is where our Hurricanes come from this paradise. I said a quick prayer for those still recovering back home.
The bus arrived back to pick us up about 4pm and Adrianna from the UN Foundation and Melissa from UMCOR had one of the workers take them into the rows of homes to visit with people about the nets and many were getting ready to hang them. Just before we left, some women walked up with their children. They were from a neighboring village down the beach and had walked about 5 miles to get to the site with their children strapped to their back or walking with them.
The Ivorian workers said they were going to stay until near dark to be sure that any others walking from far away would be able to be served. This reminded me of the dedication to these health care workers and volunteers and the passion they bring to the work as well. I also thought about how coming to this village was a testimony to taking the good news to where the people are and to those who truly need to be reached in their environment. I also saw what we would call extreme poverty but they call life lived in contentment, catching dinner and fish to sell to buy more food for that night or the next day. And I was touched by the extreme act of love for their children that motivated those women to walk a great distance to give their children a better chance to live.
It was the best day at the beach I have ever had!
They had already begun the work and a large group was in line. We sat down at the net table and began our work to the sound of the waves crashing and with the feel of the ocean breeze. It made the long day of work a little easier but it was a great day again. This was a remote tribal village with people that would not have likely received the immunizations or nets if not for this campaign.
I had one of our team members who speaks fluent French team me how to say “God Bless You!” so I tried it out as I handed the mothers or children the nets. Some smiled up and said “Merci!” or just smiled. It turns out some only speak the local tribal language (but a smile is universal). The line moved really steady until about 2pm. So, we took some time to walk down to the beach and I got some pics and enjoyed the paradise. I thought about how this same water flows all the way to the US into the Gulf of Mexico to SE Texas and home. I also thought that this is where our Hurricanes come from this paradise. I said a quick prayer for those still recovering back home.
The bus arrived back to pick us up about 4pm and Adrianna from the UN Foundation and Melissa from UMCOR had one of the workers take them into the rows of homes to visit with people about the nets and many were getting ready to hang them. Just before we left, some women walked up with their children. They were from a neighboring village down the beach and had walked about 5 miles to get to the site with their children strapped to their back or walking with them.
The Ivorian workers said they were going to stay until near dark to be sure that any others walking from far away would be able to be served. This reminded me of the dedication to these health care workers and volunteers and the passion they bring to the work as well. I also thought about how coming to this village was a testimony to taking the good news to where the people are and to those who truly need to be reached in their environment. I also saw what we would call extreme poverty but they call life lived in contentment, catching dinner and fish to sell to buy more food for that night or the next day. And I was touched by the extreme act of love for their children that motivated those women to walk a great distance to give their children a better chance to live.
It was the best day at the beach I have ever had!
Wednesday: Hook `em from Bonoua
We left on our second day full of excitement and anticipation of what we would experience. God had blessed us in our first day and I was ready for another. We were assigned to be serving in Bonoua and Samou (2 small communities outside of Basaam). Carmen and I were dropped off at the hospital in Bonoua. There was a large crowd gathered outside on the grounds and we were working under the covered porch.
We were handing out nets again but eventually the nurse asked us to help hold the children as they were given their measles injections. Many of the mothers had multiple children so that helped in the process. Holding the kids as they got their shots was a mixture of emotions and experiences. Some were brave and cried a little but with some it turned into a wrestling match. Carmen and I had to trade-off to get some rest.
One of the highlights came when a young boy came up wearing a burnt orange tank-top with a Longhorn on it. While he was in my lap, I helped him make the Hook `em Horns sign. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a picture but it was great.
One of the young boys (under 1 year), was sound asleep when the mother gave him to me and the nurse and I tried to wake him up to no avail. So, the nurse went ahead and gave him the shot ready for the scream. But, he just cried one short cry and then crashed back asleep.
We gave out close to 500 nets at the site. Another rewarding day.
We were handing out nets again but eventually the nurse asked us to help hold the children as they were given their measles injections. Many of the mothers had multiple children so that helped in the process. Holding the kids as they got their shots was a mixture of emotions and experiences. Some were brave and cried a little but with some it turned into a wrestling match. Carmen and I had to trade-off to get some rest.
One of the highlights came when a young boy came up wearing a burnt orange tank-top with a Longhorn on it. While he was in my lap, I helped him make the Hook `em Horns sign. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a picture but it was great.
One of the young boys (under 1 year), was sound asleep when the mother gave him to me and the nurse and I tried to wake him up to no avail. So, the nurse went ahead and gave him the shot ready for the scream. But, he just cried one short cry and then crashed back asleep.
We gave out close to 500 nets at the site. Another rewarding day.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Nothing but Nets Becomes Real
Today was an amazing day for everyone on the team. Our group journeyed to the Grand Basaam district, leaving at 7:30 from the hotel (breakfast was a 5:45am – yes AM). We first met the Assistant to the District Director from the Health Ministry at his office and then were dropped of at our sites. We split our Grand Basaam team into pairs and I am teamed with Carmen Rickel, a fellow pastor from the Conference. We were assigned to work at a distribution site at a primary school in Basaam.
To give you some perspective on the project, this week the net distribution is part of a national measles vaccination program. Children from 9 months to 5 years, can come to one of the sites and receive: a vitamin A supplement (helps the immunization work better), a de-worming pill, a measles vaccination, and a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito bed net. So, at a our site, we were tasked with the job of distributing the nets. These nets are ones purchased by the donations and matching grants received by the Texas Annual Conference. It was an unreal experience to put your hands on nets that people from Texas enabled to be given to the people of Cote d’ Ivoire.
Words cannot adequately describe the experience of giving these nets to children or their mothers as they came through the line. We were set up as the last stop so the children came to us right after getting the shot. Many were crying but some were really brave. They ran the gamut of ages but all of them had that same look after getting a shot. It was so great to see the smiles as I handed them a net. One little girls frown turned to a big smile, as she said “Merci!” (thank you) to me. After that, I knew the whole work of this campaign and trip was worth every ounce of energy.
At our site we gave out just over 500 nets in one day. Our Grand Basaam team gave out just over 2000 nets in one day. The Texas Conference Team approximately 8000 nets in one day alone. You need to know that our team is working only in 5 of the 18 districts targeted in the campaign. In those districts, we are working at 3 sites each. So, our work is a small part of the overall distribution campaign this week. So you can see how it is possible to get 850,000 nets out this week. But how awesome is it to know that our work alone saved over 8000 lives just in one day. That is what Nothing But Nets is about.
Pray for all of us as we look forward to another hard day of work but a blessed day of work tomorrow.
To give you some perspective on the project, this week the net distribution is part of a national measles vaccination program. Children from 9 months to 5 years, can come to one of the sites and receive: a vitamin A supplement (helps the immunization work better), a de-worming pill, a measles vaccination, and a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito bed net. So, at a our site, we were tasked with the job of distributing the nets. These nets are ones purchased by the donations and matching grants received by the Texas Annual Conference. It was an unreal experience to put your hands on nets that people from Texas enabled to be given to the people of Cote d’ Ivoire.
Words cannot adequately describe the experience of giving these nets to children or their mothers as they came through the line. We were set up as the last stop so the children came to us right after getting the shot. Many were crying but some were really brave. They ran the gamut of ages but all of them had that same look after getting a shot. It was so great to see the smiles as I handed them a net. One little girls frown turned to a big smile, as she said “Merci!” (thank you) to me. After that, I knew the whole work of this campaign and trip was worth every ounce of energy.
At our site we gave out just over 500 nets in one day. Our Grand Basaam team gave out just over 2000 nets in one day. The Texas Conference Team approximately 8000 nets in one day alone. You need to know that our team is working only in 5 of the 18 districts targeted in the campaign. In those districts, we are working at 3 sites each. So, our work is a small part of the overall distribution campaign this week. So you can see how it is possible to get 850,000 nets out this week. But how awesome is it to know that our work alone saved over 8000 lives just in one day. That is what Nothing But Nets is about.
Pray for all of us as we look forward to another hard day of work but a blessed day of work tomorrow.
Monday Shopping
Since I am so behind on blogging this one is going to be short. Monday morning was spent in an orientation session led by leaders from the General Board of Global Ministries, the United Nations Foundation, and Cynthia Harvey (one of our team leaders). We also had a chance to meet our Ivorian site leaders and interpreters. We are going to be working in the district of Grand Basaam which is just east of Abidjan (about 1 hour away). Our interpreter is named Julianna and she is a PhD student at Cote d’ Ivoire University studying economics. She told me her dissertation is on the long-term economic impact of child labor in African countries.
The rest of the day was spent in shopping at a market in Abidjan and Basaam. It was an interesting shopping experience battering prices with the help of our Ivorian friends. I was able to pick up some great gifts and souvenirs.
Tomorrow begins our first day of work. I think we all went to bed tired but full of anticipation of what Tuesday will bring.
The rest of the day was spent in shopping at a market in Abidjan and Basaam. It was an interesting shopping experience battering prices with the help of our Ivorian friends. I was able to pick up some great gifts and souvenirs.
Tomorrow begins our first day of work. I think we all went to bed tired but full of anticipation of what Tuesday will bring.
The Journey of the Nets
At lunch on Sunday, I had a chance to visit with a fellow UT Longhorn (Hook `em!!) who is from France named Cedric. He works for PSI, a NGO from the US working in Cote d’ Ivoire on community health. PSI has handled the logistics of moving the nets out into the distribution sites. The nets arrived via ship in 29 forty foot containers. They then had to be divided into the various allocations, counted and counted again, and then transported out to each of the 5 health districts and the various sub-sites within the districts. But the nets are out and ready for us to distribute. And that has truly been an act of God since they arrived only 2 weeks before we arrived. They are ready for us to begin our work on Tuesday. To God be the Glory!
A True Sunday of World Communion
It was a truly amazing day of worship with the UMC of Cote d’ Ivoire. The service was held on the grounds of the Methodist Hospital in Dabou. The ministers all were involved in the service (including robes – not the most comfortable wear outside, in AFRICA). We processed in with the Ivorian Methodist Choir and were seated in the main tent. The rest of the tents made a square in the field and were filled with members from various local UMC’s including 3 choirs. Bishop Huie gave the sermon (with translators) on Paul’s message of living hope. We then shared in Holy Communion. All of the pastors (Ivoiran and Texans) were served by Bishops Huie and Boni. We were then asked to go out to the tents to serve along side an Ivorian pastor. It was an amazing blessing to place the bread in their hands. This reminded truly how God’s spirit unites us together through Communion and our faith in Christ across barriers of language and distance. World Communion Sunday took on a whole new meaning for me.
At the end of our 4 our worship service (Yes, 4 hours – but it didn’t seem that long) we were journeyed to a church member’s home for lunch. Her father had been one of the original UMC pastors in Cote d’ Ivoire. It was a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship.
At the end of our 4 our worship service (Yes, 4 hours – but it didn’t seem that long) we were journeyed to a church member’s home for lunch. Her father had been one of the original UMC pastors in Cote d’ Ivoire. It was a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship.
The Trip Across the Pond
It was an exciting day at the team gathered in Houston at the airport to begin our 11 day journey to Cote d’ Ivoire. For the most part it was an uneventful journey. I watched a movie (Indiana Jones 4) and won 500,000 virtual pounds on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) on the TV in the back of the seat in front of me. I did manage to get a few hours sleep but it wasn’t’ great as you could imagine.
We had rough landing in Paris as it felt like the pilot dropped us onto the runway. I didn’t get to see the Eiffel Tower except for the souvenirs in the airport gift shop. My time in Paris consisted of a not-great cappuccino and croissant in the airport. Bishop Huie joined us in Paris and we boarded the plane for Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire.
Then we waited in the plane at the gate for 2 hours as they refueled the plane. Apparently, there was a strike going on with the fuel workers. Some in the group fell asleep on the plane and were surprised when they woke up still on the ground. We finally took off and I slept a good bit on that leg.
We arrived in Abidjan and were greeted by Bishop Boni of the Ivorian UMC and Ivorian Methodists. When we arrived at the hotel and were greeted by a choir and band. After a pizza dinner, quick meeting it was off to our rooms.
Thanks for your prayers for a safe journey.
We had rough landing in Paris as it felt like the pilot dropped us onto the runway. I didn’t get to see the Eiffel Tower except for the souvenirs in the airport gift shop. My time in Paris consisted of a not-great cappuccino and croissant in the airport. Bishop Huie joined us in Paris and we boarded the plane for Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire.
Then we waited in the plane at the gate for 2 hours as they refueled the plane. Apparently, there was a strike going on with the fuel workers. Some in the group fell asleep on the plane and were surprised when they woke up still on the ground. We finally took off and I slept a good bit on that leg.
We arrived in Abidjan and were greeted by Bishop Boni of the Ivorian UMC and Ivorian Methodists. When we arrived at the hotel and were greeted by a choir and band. After a pizza dinner, quick meeting it was off to our rooms.
Thanks for your prayers for a safe journey.
Posting Delay
Sorry that it has taken so long for me to get this going. It’s been sketchy on the Internet here at the hotel. But we’ve figured it out. So begin to watch for more on the trip. Remember that you can also check out these blogs too:
Josh Hale: http://expatriateminister.blogspot.com
The Conference blogs: http://www.txcumc.org. Look for the buttons on the homepage for photos or blogs.
Josh Hale: http://expatriateminister.blogspot.com
The Conference blogs: http://www.txcumc.org. Look for the buttons on the homepage for photos or blogs.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Au Revoir
The bags are packed, passport ready, and I hope I have everything I will need. Our plane takes over at 4:30 tomorrow for the all night flight to Paris. We have a 4.5 hour layover and then on to Abidjan in Cote d' Ivoire with a 6:45 scheduled arrival on Saturday. FYI, Cote d' Ivoire is 6 hours ahead of Beaumont time.
As we travel, I covet your prayers for a smooth trip. My prayer are that each of the 35 on this trip would maintain that servant's heart that one needs for long mission trips in with all the unknowns and new experiences. I also ask that your pray for our families. It's not easy to be gone from loved ones, especially the kids. I also ask that you pray for God to bless our work to impact the lives we will encounter with the love and grace of Christ.
It will be a while for the next post. So until then au revior.
As we travel, I covet your prayers for a smooth trip. My prayer are that each of the 35 on this trip would maintain that servant's heart that one needs for long mission trips in with all the unknowns and new experiences. I also ask that your pray for our families. It's not easy to be gone from loved ones, especially the kids. I also ask that you pray for God to bless our work to impact the lives we will encounter with the love and grace of Christ.
It will be a while for the next post. So until then au revior.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Packing
Well, it was a packing night. That really puts things in perspective that I really am going. Packing for 11 days overseas is not an easy task. Since we are only checking one bag and taking on one bag, the reality that you are going to have to reuse clothes sets in quick. To make this a little more pleasant, I am taking some Tide sink packets (that will be an interresting endeavor). We are also taking UM Hymnals for the Cote d' Ivoire choir so that will take up some space. Well, back to the bags. Thanks for the prayers. Offer up some prayer for space too.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Nothing But Nets
One of the reasons that I am pround to be a part of the United Methodist Church is it's efforts in missions throughout the world. One of the recent successes in this work is the UMC commitment as a partner in the Nothing But Nets campaign. Nothing But Nets is a grassroots efforts to save lives by preventing malaria. Malaria is the number one killer of children in Africa. Every year over 1 million people die from malaria (one person dies every 30 seconds).
But Malaria is both preventable and treatable. The main way it is preventable is through the use of insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets. Nothing But Nets seeks to blanket the continent of Africa with bed nets to rid the scourge of malaria. For $10, a bed net can be purchased, delivered to a family, and it's proper use explained. It is really that simple: $1o, buy a net, save a life.
The people of the UMC are partners in Nothing But Nets, along with the United Nations Foudation, Sports Illustrated, and NBA Cares. Along with the Measles Initiative, bed nets and measles innoculations are being delivered and given all across Africa and lives are being saved. What better answer to the call to missions and love in Christ's name can you find.
So, if you want to be a part of an amazing work of God's grace, check out: www.nothingbutnets.net.
But Malaria is both preventable and treatable. The main way it is preventable is through the use of insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets. Nothing But Nets seeks to blanket the continent of Africa with bed nets to rid the scourge of malaria. For $10, a bed net can be purchased, delivered to a family, and it's proper use explained. It is really that simple: $1o, buy a net, save a life.
The people of the UMC are partners in Nothing But Nets, along with the United Nations Foudation, Sports Illustrated, and NBA Cares. Along with the Measles Initiative, bed nets and measles innoculations are being delivered and given all across Africa and lives are being saved. What better answer to the call to missions and love in Christ's name can you find.
So, if you want to be a part of an amazing work of God's grace, check out: www.nothingbutnets.net.
Welcome
Welcome to my first endeavor into the world of blogging. Over the next few weeks as I begin this blog, I hope to share with you initially about my preparations (physical and spiritual) for my upcoming trip to Cote d' Ivoire in West Africa. I am going to be part of a 35 member team of clergy and laity from the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church as part of the Nothing But Nets missions project. We will be helping to distribute over 850,000 mosquito bed nets to prevent malaria. In forthcoming posts, I will share more about that cause and how you can help. In the meantime, I hope you will be blessed by this blog as a part of the prayer support for my missions journey
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