Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Here is a link to my latest email newsletter.  I wanted you to know what is happening next.
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers!

http://eepurl.com/ZkZvH

Friday, June 27, 2014

zambia presentation

Here's a link to a video overview of what I did this past year in Zambia.  Sorry the sound didn't work well on my last video.  I'll try and figure out how to get it to work.

zambia presentation

Saturday, June 14, 2014

I have been back in the U.S. for one month now.  Much has been accomplished.  I took my test for my license to preach pastoral license and interviewed with the credentialing board.  I passed and a letter of recommendation for my license is on its way to Headquarters!  I met with the Michigan missions committee and they also have endorsed me to the national office for career missionary status.  I am almost ready to send my application to Springfield.  On the home front, I found a lovely little house to rent in Michigan and did my computer training and reappointment paperwork for working at the clinic.  I'm looking forward to sharing at Poplar Creek tomorrow morning and at the Blue Roof Church in August about my last year.

I was missing my African friends so here is a video of part of worship my last Sunday at Oasis of Love.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Sorry to be so delinquent in posting the last few months.  Much happened in April and May since I last wrote.  I won't share all the stories today but will have to fill in some later.  I completed my missionary associate term at the end of April and traveled back to the United States.  On the way I stopped in Greece for two weeks.  Christine and I attended the Christian Medical and Dental Associations international conference for medical missionaries.  It was an incredible time with over 700 medical missionaries from all over the world.  It was great to see several of my partners from SWMC in Michigan.  We had rich times of fellowship and worship and sharing along with learning new things in medicine in the 2/3s world.  We met several doctors from Zambia.  Some working in the northwest province with SIM at a hospital and several Zambians from the University Training Hospital in Lusaka.  So good to know of fellow Christians working in the medical field alongside of us.  We are looking forward to connecting with both these groups more as time progresses.

We also spent several days exploring Greece.  My favorite was our tour of Corinth.  This is a picture of me on the road we know Paul walked on.  Our guide was excellent at telling us about Paul and the events of Acts and the accuracy of the Biblical account as far as archeology goes.  It was very faith building.

Now I am back in the States.  I'm staying with my parents for a little while.  I've gone one weekend to Michigan so far to reconnect in clinic and take my pastoral licensing exam.  I passed the test! So now I interview with the credentialing committee in a few weeks and the missions committee of the Michigan District so I can be on my way to full missionary appointment for the national interview process in October.  My plan is to work part time at my clinic starting in midJuly.  Thank you for all your prayers and support.  My transition back to the U.S. has gone smoothly so far.  I'll share later about some of the last days in Zambia and the new things to come.

Monday, March 17, 2014

The last few weeks have been the "usual" if that is possible in Africa.  There has been so many malaria cases in clinic and several more severe cases at the hospital.  I was worried about what I would find Friday at Liteta because of how many I saw in clinic on Thursday.  I was presently surprised when all but one of the kids with malaria at the hospital Friday were ready to be discharged home.  It's a good sign when you have to go find the patient because they are playing outside.  Another little girl was practically jumping on the bed as I came to round on her and giggled through her whole exam.  She was rightly named Gift.  Her smile was my gift that day.  It helped when we lost a little three month old girl to sepsis/pneumonia.  

This week also included a belated birthday party for two team members.  Black raspberry pies turned out well for the celebration (and even coincided with Pi day:).  Wednesday was Youth Day in Zambia.  I was able to do a follow up talk with the youth of my church on HIV/AIDS and purity.  We had a good time demonstrating how quickly diseases pass when we don't follow God's guidelines.  His rules aren't to be mean and say we can't have fun, but are to protect us.  

Yesterday had an amazing day at church, Dominion Centre Grace Ministries.  It was one of those times the presence of the Lord was so powerful it felt like you were in the very throne room of heaven.  Christine had a picture that this was just the hem of His garment in the room.  I like how that fits with the image of the earth being his footstool.  How incredible and big is our God!

During worship God dropped a word into my spirit that I felt I needed to share but wasn't sure how or when in the service.  He was faithful to make it clear when Christine got up to preach and started with asking me to greet the congregation.  The message was that even in all the bad and difficult situation in each of our lives, God says He is working them to bring glory to Him.  Political upheaval in Ukraine/Crimea, disappearing planes, thyroid cancer with paralyzed vocal cords, three month olds dying of sepsis, chronic medical problems that interrupt life plans...we live in a sinful world but He is working in every situation to bring glory to His name.   

It was a beautiful lead in to Christine's powerful message on "By Faith...Trust God!"  (I had no idea what she was preaching beforehand) As she read Hebrews 11, the words just leapt off he page talking of Abraham, Joseph, Moses etc walking by faith, looking forward to a promise, not seeing it fulfilled in their lifetimes but seeing the heavenly home...the builder and architect being God.  They believed in what is not seen so were able to step out of their comfort zones and let God work mightily through them.  They weathered dry seasons, becoming stronger in character and faith.  They faced and overcame giants of all sorts through His strength.  And the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living in us so we can do the same today!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Our music class ended well.  So you don't think the topics were just history, we also taught about evaluating the songs we sing in church, arrangements of instruments, choirs, songs in a service etc.  One of the pastors asked us to come do a one day music seminar at her church later in April.  Great pastors to work with and great connections!

Last weekend we held a health screening and evangelism day at my church, Oasis of Love PAOG.  There is a Zambian doctor in the congregation and at least 4 nurses.  Christine joined us on Saturday.  We checked people's blood pressure, height and weight for BMI, blood sugar and HIV.  We had a great turn out.  I only know the numbers for Saturday.  We saw 70 people total with 1/3 getting tested for HIV.  The evangelism team had 5 people accept Christ.  Sunday morning there were definitely more visitors in church.  We saw a good number of people after church and had some good health discussions.  The evangelism team normally goes door-to-door on Saturdays but during the rainy season that produces muddy shoes.  They were afraid people were more worried thinking about the house getting muddy than listening to the message.  This was a way to be seen in the community during the down time and is a great touch point later when they go out again.
 Praise team helping to draw people's attention while worshiping.
 Two of our nurses getting ready for the day while Bishop waits for his turn.
Pastor Malembeka, Christine and me talking about health matters.

Monday, February 24, 2014

     One of the reasons I went into general pediatrics is because I like variety. Friday at Liteta was above and beyond. Started out with stitches on a little girl's face who "got stoned" (o/w known as neighbor kid threw a rock and hit her) in clinic. Then a seizing child with malaria at the hospital. While going to tell the nurse orders after seeing a newborn with hyperbili and sepsis, I walk into him in a room with two women delivering babies at the same time-grabbed gloves and caught one on the way out. Thankfully he had the woman with twins. Back to outpt clinic for new dx kaposi's sarcoma, hernia, and help remove foreign body from eye. Then unhappily pronounce the child with malaria dead, and as I'm walking back from seeing another septic newborn with pneumonia that I'm very worried won't make it, the grandma of the baby I delivered runs into me. She is smiling ear to ear and wants to know my name so she can name the newborn girl after me. Poor thing having a name no one here can pronounce! Quite the fun conversation trying to get her to even say my name...what does it mean etc and she even had me write it down for her. Hope she goes with the derivation she mentioned, "Oh Heather, that's like Ethel."  Throw in at least a dozen more "regular" cases and that was my day. (followed by the harrowing 1.5 hour drive home). Think I need a slow day soon. So glad for everyone's prayers. I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me!

     In between clinics this past week and this week I am co-teaching with Christine at the Bible School again.  We are teaching Intro to Church Music. I'm learning new things along with the students. Like how to pronounce antiphony, polyphony, and monarchic. Just wish technology would cooperate more. Powerpoint, youtube clips, projectors and windows vista do not get along yet. (nor will they ever but I figured out a work around mostly).  It seemed partly a course in church history as we went through the history of church music starting from the Old Testament (Moses and Miriam's songs with shofars and tamborines)  and worked our way forward through New Testament times, Reformation, Baroque music to modern day hymns and gospel songs.  The students did a great job learning the difficult material.  I learned myself as I looked up Old Testament musical instruments and heard clips on Youtube of shofars and harps.  I enjoyed sharing some of my favorite Baroque pieces with them like the Hallelujah Chorus and Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.  They said they enjoyed hearing the variety of music-much which they have never heard.  Fun to see their surprise when I played Joy to the World and told them the music was written by Bach and the words by Isaac Watts.  Who knew Fanny Crosby wrote over 8,000 songs! Finishing the class out later this week with a round of Jeporady to review for the final and playing the viola for them.  

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes and cards.  I had a lovely birthday week, starting last Sunday.  (Nothing wrong with spreading out the celebration).  Sunday Christine and I did a spontaneous bday dessert after a full day of church, orchestra practice and running around getting my phone to work again.  Then in the evening I got to talk to lots of family and a few friends.  Skype is so helpful.  Monday the missions team got together for dinner at a Chinese place and had cake at Christine's afterwards. Here's a few pictures from the celebration.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

The last couple weeks have brought several big changes.  Nancy, Lovemore and I did one more training for Helping Babies Breathe in Choma.  Fourteen ladies did a wonderful job learning the skill of simple neonatal resuscitation along with normal newborn care.  On the way home from that trip, I received a phone call from the director of the Ministry of Community Development Mother Child Health.  They received my letter listing the program dates but hadn't received a letter from the permanent secretary giving me permission to do the trainings.  They are shifting their focus some and don't want me to continue my trainings at this point.  They want to implement a more comprehensive teaching, including obstetrics emergency care and complete newborn care (not just breathing resuscitation) with the focus being on healthcare workers and not community health workers.  I am sad that I can't deliver the training as promised to the rest of the CHE groups but am looking to see the bigger picture.  The doctor was grateful for my enthusiasm and has invited me to be a part of the the discussions for their technical working group.  I have a sense more opportunities lie ahead that I wouldn't have planned. It is just going to take a little more time.  The other benefit is I will have a slightly slower pace for the last three months here.  Not that I have ever been known for trying to do too much!  So couple last pictures of HBB in 2014, Choma.






This is little Rosie two years ago when I first met her...not walking at 4 years old because malnurished.  Here she is today! Can't keep her still.  





     The other time of change was sending Cheryl Ann on the next leg of her journey back to Canada.  She goes back to start chemo for colon cancer.  She has served in Africa for 35 years.  We pray for many more years of serving her Lord.  It may look scary or bleak but in her words, "BUT GOD"



Monday, January 27, 2014

Jumped right back into the saddle after vacation.  I had a steep learning curve about bringing in shipments to Zambia.  Learned about clearing agents, duty, clearing tax, manifest fees etc.  After visits to the airport, talking to clearing agents, moments of anxiety that I had paid large amounts of money to the wrong people, and with Peter's help, my Helping Babies Breathe equipment made it into my living room.


Lovemore and I traveled to Chingola for our first training last Thurs/Friday.  We made it a very productive trip by dropping off feeding program supplies in Mungule, Kabwe, and Kapiri Mposhe along with a survey in Kitwe and food drop in Ndola.  Chingola is just over 400 kilometers from Lusaka and is in the Copperbelt.  It was fascinating to see the big open pit copper mine and here about the mining process by one of the CHEs who worked 25 years underground in the four shafts.  They go down 500 meters and some are big enough to drive dumptrucks through!


The training went very well.  Always a few bumps the first time but good overall.  I had 21 students who are CHE trainers in their group.  It was so fun to see their expressions turn from frustration to excitement as they mastered getting air into the lungs of the dolls.  They all did very well with the hands-on tests where I give a scenario and they have to respond correctly without help from me.  Below are some pictures from the training.  Tomorrow I head to Choma with Lovemore and Nancy for the next training.



Wednesday, January 15, 2014

I have to gush about the wonderful time I had in South Africa the first two weeks of January. It was a great way to start the New Year.  The first week was spent at a conference in Johannesburg of all the missionaries in Africa, over 200 people plus their kids.  I met so many new people.  The best part was sitting next to people I grew up hearing missionary stories about.  Eating dinner with missionary heroes from my childhood...doesn't get any better then that.  Or does it?  The theme of the conference was Lordship and Lostness.  This is going to be a recurring theme like the Decade of Pentecost was.  God laid it on Mike McClaflin's heart a few years ago. It encompasses the following ideas. Are we truly living under Christ's lordship in our personal lives and as an organization?  Are we keeping the lostness of people (particularly Africa) in the front of our minds?  Not only heaven is real but hell is too.  Our we doing good in our work and ministry or the best?  All this undergirded by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It was amazing to see a large organization of very independent people (Pentecostal missionaries) come together in such unity knowing some of this will bring change.  Along with that, two couple are retiring with new couples taking their place.  I've been through major organizational changes before that haven't been pretty (Christian organization or not) but this was so different.  There was incredible respect and love given to those retiring.  The humbleness of the new leaders was striking and the sense of unity behind the new leadership was palpable.  The picture below is the leaders looking at the covenant we all signed committing to the ideals above.  The second picture is of the baton (or gavel) being passed from Mike McClaflin to Greg Beggs, our new Africa area director.  
The icing on the cake was playing my viola as part of the worship team with Paula (who I met first in Zambia 10 years ago).  I haven't played that style of songs with such freedom in 10 years.  It was a refreshing time.  


After the conference, Christine and Nancy Biffert and I headed to Capetown for holiday.  Below is the view from the second mission house we stayed in.
We visited the penguins at Boulder beach.  They are so awkward on the beach walking but are beautiful to see fly through the water.


Below is the Indian Ocean at Hout Bay.  It's more a working harbor.  It felt like being back in Michigan, except the water was salty.  It was headache freezing cold.
This is a very cool snail from the beach. Within a minute of putting him down on the sand, he would be buried with only his shell showing.

The pictures don't do the landscape justice.  This is along Chapman's peak drive.
I loved finding the sea anenome in the tidal pools.  They feel sticky when you touch them.  That's because they have poison on the tips and think you are a fish.  Thankfully our skin is thick enough we just feel it as sticky instead of stinging.
This is a black girdled lizard.  It was so cold up at the top of the mountains I was surprised to see reptiles.  His black color helps him absorb all the heat from the sun he can.  Great design!
This is Cape Point, the southern most point of Africa.  It was quite the climb!
Ostrich by the beach.
This is Cape of Good Hope the most south-western point of the continent.  It was super windy!
This is Table Mountain.  It's a flat topped mountain-hence the name.  Very windy there too.  Top of the bottom of the world!
Nancy and Christine said I couldn't go abseiling.  I really thought it was where you got to jump off the mountain in a neoprene suit with wings (you look like a bat) but on further research it's just another word for rappelling.  Either way they wouldn't let me do it but had to have a picture.
Now you can see why it's called Table Mountain.
Loved this sign we found on the top of Table Mountain.  If you read all of Psalms 104, it is a beautiful poem to the signs of our God in nature.  So appropriate for the wonders we saw all that week.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

A very late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!  Time slips by and it's already the second week of January.  My first Zambian Christmas was wonderful.  The eve of Christmas Eve we had dessert, exchanged gifts and sang carols with our fellow missionaries. I even pulled out the viola.

Spent the majority of Christmas day at church. Singing worship songs, kids performing Christmas story and songs, special music, challenging sermon, carols (viola and all), Father Christmas visit and dinner. Very sorry I didn't get pictures. Father Christmas and his wife came all the way from Botswana! Not sure too many Americans would spend 9 am to 3 pm at church on Christmas day, but I had a wonderful time.  They really made me feel like family.  Looks like I'll be joining the worship team weekly with my viola aka "violin."  Then I had a lovely dinner (always eating this time of year) with the McMillens and Christine with a time of prayer and reading the Luke's Christmas story from the Message.  

Before we set off for South Africa, I had an  exciting day at Liteta. This very dull looking picture has an intense story. In the middle is a broken piece of a sewing needle. The other instruments are what I used to get it out of a woman's wrist. It got there while she was washing her clothes. On xray the one end looked close to the surface and at the entrance on her wrist there was a small whitehead. Choices were sending her to a hospital an hour away or trying myself. I wish the lidocaine numbing medicine would have worked a little better but after 2 hours and the patient holding a light for me 1/2 the time, we had success! In the middle of it she told me she would give me a chicken if I got it out. By the end she said I needed to come to her home and she would give me a goat! I think I at least owe her a chicken pie lunch. She was incredible enduring the pain. We had a big hug at the end.