Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 1 for the Gakuto Team
We had a fantastic day with our team of 10 people from Aiken, South Carolina. Met with the Chief of Gakuto, church elders, church leaders, the school teachers and all of the community leaders (or should I just say all of the community). The team got a taste of the "laid back" time schedule of Botswana. They did great and were very flexible and "go with the flow". It was so nice to have the whole team at our house tonight for dinner. We are very grateful that God brought our friends and family to serve here. Tomorrow begins the actual VBS. Please join us in praying for everyone that will be impacted by this team. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as savior!!! This team is so prepared and we know without a doubt that GOD is working through them. Gakuto- a small village that could seem forgotten... God didn't forget!! He put together and sent one of the best teams of people to love on them, serve them, and show them JESUS!!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Busy Season
I know some of you can relate to this being a busy season. I remember plainly the month of May in the states being as busy as the month of December with all of the end of school year stuff. Seems like everything has to get crammed in to one month. Tests, field trips, parties, programs, and graduations all at once!! In Botswana the month of May is a different kind of busy. As everyone in the states is winding down for some summer fun we are "ramping up" for some summer serve!
In 10 days we will welcome our first short term mission team. Are we thrilled?? You bet!! The team is coming from Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, SC. We can hardly wait to serve our Lord alongside close friends and family from my hometown. Hosting a team is a highlight for us but requires a lot of prep work on this side. Please pray for us as we continue to daily put together the necessary arrangements, secure supplies, build props, paint posters, plan meals and meet with the local leaders.
Please pray for the team that is coming: Mike, Makela, Susan, Ricky, Stan, Joan, Janet, Lindsey, Justin, and Karla. Please pray for safe travel, for prepared hearts, and for the kids and community of Gakuto. We are planning to serve 300+ kids. I told Susan as we were making some preparations, "We are trusting GOD to supply the kids, the energy to reach them all and the supplies we will need." Pray that God would use this camp week to change lives and an entire village for His Glory. Pray that children would meet Jesus and would be drawn into a life-saving relationship with HIM. Please pray for the teachers in Gakuto as well. These 13 ladies are the ones that invest into the lives of these children on a daily basis. Pray that their lives will be touched by Jesus and they will be the leaders, mentors, examples for these kids everyday ... even after we leave. We will be providing Bibles for them, presenting some teacher training workshops - thanks to Karla, providing some school & teaching supplies. Pray that we not only leave with physical needs met but more importantly that their hearts and lives will be changed by Jesus.
As we anticipate the arrival of this team we are also planning and preparing for others. Continue to pray for the Alice Drive Baptist Student team and the Highlands Baptist Team that both come in July.
Please also pray for us as we prepare to lead our first Children's Ministry Conference in August and for the Alice Drive team that will come to assist us in that.
Our call to Botswana and our prayer has been for the church leaders of Botswana to catch the vision and passion to reach children for Christ and to begin Children's ministries at their churches. Join us in Praising God for answering our prayer. We have been approached by some church leaders to be a part of the Gakuto kids camp so they can learn and then run one at their own church. Please pray that God continues to burden the hearts of church leaders to reach the next generation and that more and more ministry to children will be started and sustained.
Busy, Busy, Busy but filled with so much anticipation about what OUR GOD is doing in lives of Children, Church leaders, and even us here in Botswana.
We love you all and are thankful for your prayers!! ~ Tonya
Phl 4:19-20 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
In 10 days we will welcome our first short term mission team. Are we thrilled?? You bet!! The team is coming from Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, SC. We can hardly wait to serve our Lord alongside close friends and family from my hometown. Hosting a team is a highlight for us but requires a lot of prep work on this side. Please pray for us as we continue to daily put together the necessary arrangements, secure supplies, build props, paint posters, plan meals and meet with the local leaders.
Please pray for the team that is coming: Mike, Makela, Susan, Ricky, Stan, Joan, Janet, Lindsey, Justin, and Karla. Please pray for safe travel, for prepared hearts, and for the kids and community of Gakuto. We are planning to serve 300+ kids. I told Susan as we were making some preparations, "We are trusting GOD to supply the kids, the energy to reach them all and the supplies we will need." Pray that God would use this camp week to change lives and an entire village for His Glory. Pray that children would meet Jesus and would be drawn into a life-saving relationship with HIM. Please pray for the teachers in Gakuto as well. These 13 ladies are the ones that invest into the lives of these children on a daily basis. Pray that their lives will be touched by Jesus and they will be the leaders, mentors, examples for these kids everyday ... even after we leave. We will be providing Bibles for them, presenting some teacher training workshops - thanks to Karla, providing some school & teaching supplies. Pray that we not only leave with physical needs met but more importantly that their hearts and lives will be changed by Jesus.
As we anticipate the arrival of this team we are also planning and preparing for others. Continue to pray for the Alice Drive Baptist Student team and the Highlands Baptist Team that both come in July.
Please also pray for us as we prepare to lead our first Children's Ministry Conference in August and for the Alice Drive team that will come to assist us in that.
Our call to Botswana and our prayer has been for the church leaders of Botswana to catch the vision and passion to reach children for Christ and to begin Children's ministries at their churches. Join us in Praising God for answering our prayer. We have been approached by some church leaders to be a part of the Gakuto kids camp so they can learn and then run one at their own church. Please pray that God continues to burden the hearts of church leaders to reach the next generation and that more and more ministry to children will be started and sustained.
Busy, Busy, Busy but filled with so much anticipation about what OUR GOD is doing in lives of Children, Church leaders, and even us here in Botswana.
We love you all and are thankful for your prayers!! ~ Tonya
Phl 4:19-20 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
First Bible School Planning - Gakuto
We had a great meeting in Gakuto today. Tonya and I along with our summer intern, Chelsea, looked over the church to make account of what we would need to do while a team from Aiken, SC is here to do a VBS. Gonna be a busy week of hard work and seeing true needs being met. We need to paint, hang some screen to prevent birds from roosting in the church, repair some broken windows, hang some doors and replace broken locks. Not to mention we have some serious yard work to do. Chelsea commented when she saw the thorns, she thought again about the crown of thorns Jesus wore. These things look like sharp tooth picks heavily covering branches from every direction. The great part is we will work along side the people there and another church here in Gaborone for their first mission trip.
Another wonderful part of this trip, we will work with the primary school there to encourage and help the teachers. With the strike, this is great timing. We met with teachers and they were happy to hear we are bringing a team in 3 weeks to help the children and church in Gakuto. Their faces were filled with brilliance when we said we are bringing a teacher to provide a workshop for them who specializes in reading. The teachers were literally dancing when they asked if we could bring them each a Bible since they did not own one and we said yes, of course. They asked if we could help them with supplies they have difficulty receiving. This list includes Glue bottles, glue sticks, skinny and fat markers, pens (red, blue, and black), water color paints, teaching aids (specifically phonic posters, charts, etc.), colored pencils, pencils, paint brushes, rulers, board games (Scrabble), puzzles, whistles, and tennis balls. The teams along with us here will work hard to get this list complete. The headmaster even said "that these kids needed God to know the right way. It will change Gakuto with hope."
The Lord has big things in store, moving in amazing ways and has a BIG VBS in store. The teachers said today that there are 300 kids enrolled at the school and think every kid will want to come because there has never been anything like this in the village. We were expected half that number. This church has no running water or electricity and limited toilets. It's going to be a great experience!
Please continue to pray over our preparations, the teams travel and our week together with them in Gakuto. The VBS will start 13 June. Pray also for the kids, the church in Naledi who has their first mission trip with us and for the church where we are working at that only has twenty regular members. What a might God we serve.
The Shipes & Chelsea
Another wonderful part of this trip, we will work with the primary school there to encourage and help the teachers. With the strike, this is great timing. We met with teachers and they were happy to hear we are bringing a team in 3 weeks to help the children and church in Gakuto. Their faces were filled with brilliance when we said we are bringing a teacher to provide a workshop for them who specializes in reading. The teachers were literally dancing when they asked if we could bring them each a Bible since they did not own one and we said yes, of course. They asked if we could help them with supplies they have difficulty receiving. This list includes Glue bottles, glue sticks, skinny and fat markers, pens (red, blue, and black), water color paints, teaching aids (specifically phonic posters, charts, etc.), colored pencils, pencils, paint brushes, rulers, board games (Scrabble), puzzles, whistles, and tennis balls. The teams along with us here will work hard to get this list complete. The headmaster even said "that these kids needed God to know the right way. It will change Gakuto with hope."
The Lord has big things in store, moving in amazing ways and has a BIG VBS in store. The teachers said today that there are 300 kids enrolled at the school and think every kid will want to come because there has never been anything like this in the village. We were expected half that number. This church has no running water or electricity and limited toilets. It's going to be a great experience!
Please continue to pray over our preparations, the teams travel and our week together with them in Gakuto. The VBS will start 13 June. Pray also for the kids, the church in Naledi who has their first mission trip with us and for the church where we are working at that only has twenty regular members. What a might God we serve.
The Shipes & Chelsea
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
A New Botswana
Words can not express how my heart aches for Botswana. This nation has been the most peaceful country in Africa. Just 2 years ago, Botswana was the 5th most civil place to live in the world. Now it is in civil unrest. A country-wide strike by public sector employees, which began April 18, 2011, has been extended by the labor unions and declared “indefinite.” This strike is based on a rejection of a 16% wage increase request and a rejected offer of 5% from the government. Independent demonstrations by secondary school students in Molepolole, Ramotswa, and Mochudi took place on May 13 and May 16. At least one of these protests resulted in a confrontation between students and police. The result was damaged vehicles from thrown rocks, school vandalism and students put in jail. While the level of violence accompanying these demonstrations has been minimal, it has shaken up this small nation.
The strike, involves 20,000 - 30,000 government employees nationwide, has disrupted service delivery in public hospitals and clinics. On May 16, government schools closed until further notice, and most private schools in Gaborone closed on May 17 apparently at the request of the Government of Botswana. Services such as electricity, water, and telecommunications, however, have not been severely affected. Military and police are prohibited from striking and have adhered to this directive. President Khama announced all employees who did not show up to work this week are no longer employed.
The Shipes family is doing well and the streets are calm today. Demonstrations are at specific places and we do not go near there. We are moving forward with our work and see the need even more to reach the children here. To understand the grace and truth of Jesus Christ is so important right now. He is the only way for reconciliation for them to deal with what is happening around them. A population of 1.9M with 700,000 children out of school is tragic. Their belief system has been wrecked. This is a God moment as I see for the children, a time for a new generation, a new Botswana to trust in the Lord.
Please be in prayer for the nation of Botswana and the safety of its people.
Scott Shipes
The strike, involves 20,000 - 30,000 government employees nationwide, has disrupted service delivery in public hospitals and clinics. On May 16, government schools closed until further notice, and most private schools in Gaborone closed on May 17 apparently at the request of the Government of Botswana. Services such as electricity, water, and telecommunications, however, have not been severely affected. Military and police are prohibited from striking and have adhered to this directive. President Khama announced all employees who did not show up to work this week are no longer employed.
The Shipes family is doing well and the streets are calm today. Demonstrations are at specific places and we do not go near there. We are moving forward with our work and see the need even more to reach the children here. To understand the grace and truth of Jesus Christ is so important right now. He is the only way for reconciliation for them to deal with what is happening around them. A population of 1.9M with 700,000 children out of school is tragic. Their belief system has been wrecked. This is a God moment as I see for the children, a time for a new generation, a new Botswana to trust in the Lord.
Please be in prayer for the nation of Botswana and the safety of its people.
Scott Shipes
Monday, May 16, 2011
First Day Back In Action
Today is May 16 and our first day of getting back into the routine. Have not settled on a Botswana time yet. Keep waking up at 3:30 AM and not easy going to bed at night. Becky Chennault gave us some tips we are going to start and see how it goes. Went to Old Neladi today to work at the feeding station. It is such a joy to for me to be there and have the children and workers recognize us and give big Botswana hugs. Many of the children ran to me and told me they are wonderful and special because God made them this way. The message I have been telling is sticking with them. Thank you God for your Word and promises. Shared the message on the power of God/Jesus. He can stop storms and calm our fears, we have to have trust and faith in Him.
We have a friend here with us, Chelsea Arthur, from Aiken, SC. She is spending the summer helping us. Pray for her as God reveals what He is doing in Botswana and what plans He has for her. Being around all our boys has been a bigger shock to her more than Africa. Always something going on in the house at all times.
Pray for stability and calmness in Botswana. Government workers have been on strike since we left for the 5th week. They have not had a raise in 3 years and the government is not meeting their requests. This is a large group of people who impact the country. Doctors, nurses, teachers, policemen, garbage collection, immigration and street cleaners are all on strike. Children in the schools were going to school just to set because attendance is so importent but no teachers. Students rioted Friday and today so the government closed all schools until further notice. This is hard to watch for me because the ones who suffer are not involved but victim to the process.
Pray for our boys as they readjust to the culture again. It has been real hard them.
Thank you for all the hugs, love and support everyone shared while were home last month. Words can not express how much it meant to us.
Scott Shipes
We have a friend here with us, Chelsea Arthur, from Aiken, SC. She is spending the summer helping us. Pray for her as God reveals what He is doing in Botswana and what plans He has for her. Being around all our boys has been a bigger shock to her more than Africa. Always something going on in the house at all times.
Pray for stability and calmness in Botswana. Government workers have been on strike since we left for the 5th week. They have not had a raise in 3 years and the government is not meeting their requests. This is a large group of people who impact the country. Doctors, nurses, teachers, policemen, garbage collection, immigration and street cleaners are all on strike. Children in the schools were going to school just to set because attendance is so importent but no teachers. Students rioted Friday and today so the government closed all schools until further notice. This is hard to watch for me because the ones who suffer are not involved but victim to the process.
Pray for our boys as they readjust to the culture again. It has been real hard them.
Thank you for all the hugs, love and support everyone shared while were home last month. Words can not express how much it meant to us.
Scott Shipes
Friday, May 13, 2011
Reflections on God's Gifts
I was given a book by a dear friend(thanks Lisa) while I was in the states. It is titled "One Thousand Gifts" and came to be when the author Ann Voskamp was challenged to write a 1000 item gratitude list. I decided to use this idea to blog my trip home.
I am grateful to Almighty God for these and all blessings:
1. Safe flight; 2. Reunion hugs; 3. Sisters; 4. Felicia's quick diagnosis and treatment plan; 5. Late night prayer sessions; 6. The ability to care for my recuperating sister; 7. Joshua's healing; 8. Uneventful flight for Scott and boys; 9. The Keelty's Taylor street home; 10. Stan Harmon's Sunday School Class; 11. A box full of goodies to bring back; 12. The Overmans and Darrs setting up our "Aiken" home; 13. Unlikely reunion with the Gillaspie Family; 14. Surprising Karla at the park; 15. Unexpected hugs at Firehouse ... Denise & Celeste; 16. Wednesday night at Alice Drive Baptist Church; 17. Frazzled Females; 18. 4 bedroom Mission houses; 19. Spontaneous "circle-up" in the Hafner's living-room; 20. The ability to Praise HIM during the storm; 21. A church family that loves us like we never left; 22.A completely stocked mission house! Thanks Mandy & friends; 23. A van to use as our own - Thanks Mike & Felicia; 24. having "church" at chemo sessions; 25. talking in "code" and getting each it - Fe; 26. Nurse Dennis at AOA; 27. Affirmation through Dr. Lawson; 28. Prayer time with sister and Mike; 29. Sharing our life in Botswana with our ADBC family; 30. A Braves game for the boys; 31. Cousin time at Aunt Lea's; 32. Flat hair, laughs and great food at the Melting Pot - Thanks Mark & Karla; 33. Dr's that love Jesus enough to ask their patients if they know Him; 34. Seeing Mrs. Cantwell after 25 years; 35. Reunion with Judy-picking up right where we left off; 36. Tyler living with the boys...a natural fit; 37. Helping other chemo patients; 38. Clay Smith - not only concerned about what we've accomplished but how we feel too; 39. Staff development meetings; 40. Having the chance to tell Ed team how good they've got it; 41. Brent Limbaugh(oncologist); 42. A mom and dad who are always there and willing to help; 43. My momma's sewing: 10 ties, a flower girl dress, 4 waistbands and flowers, and numerous tablecloths; 44. 2 "spend the nights" in the dorm room - just me and my girl; 45. Bridal Shower Hostesses: Maxine, Susan, Lindsey, Cheri, Dawn, and Michele - thanks girls!; 46. A Shipes Family Reunion including a peaceful Scrabble game; 47. Dressing Room laughs with Moma; 48. Lunch with the Drawdy Family; 49. Shower hostesses: Mandy, Karla, Melissa, Patti and Amanda - Thanks friends!; 50. Lingerie and sex talks; 51. My sister Lea who handled the wedding details for us - even the hard ones; 52. Kissing my Hampy's head in person; 53. Seeing Benton play with his faves...josh and joe; 54. New Church; 55. Extended stay in Sumter; 56. My boys visits with their friends; 57. Late night with Missy and Karla; 58. Madea; 59. Scott getting to attend Orange Conference; 60. Wedding preparations coming together; 61. A week at Edisto Beach; 62. Meeting and sharing time with Johnny and Donna Smith; 63. 3rd chances on tests and understanding nursing professors; 64. passing exams; 65. Makela McAlpin, Abbie Geddings, Terri Jowers, Carrie McLeod, and Ashley Brokop for sharing their talents; 64. A perfectly beautiful Wedding; 66. being witness to my daughter's first kiss; 67. placing Makenzie's hand in Tyler's with complete trust; 68. seeing them off at the airport; 69. Goodbyes - even though they hurt; 70. safe flights; 71. A place to call home in Botswana......
The list could go on and on - How can I ever stop signing HIS PRAISE!! ~ Tonya
I am grateful to Almighty God for these and all blessings:
1. Safe flight; 2. Reunion hugs; 3. Sisters; 4. Felicia's quick diagnosis and treatment plan; 5. Late night prayer sessions; 6. The ability to care for my recuperating sister; 7. Joshua's healing; 8. Uneventful flight for Scott and boys; 9. The Keelty's Taylor street home; 10. Stan Harmon's Sunday School Class; 11. A box full of goodies to bring back; 12. The Overmans and Darrs setting up our "Aiken" home; 13. Unlikely reunion with the Gillaspie Family; 14. Surprising Karla at the park; 15. Unexpected hugs at Firehouse ... Denise & Celeste; 16. Wednesday night at Alice Drive Baptist Church; 17. Frazzled Females; 18. 4 bedroom Mission houses; 19. Spontaneous "circle-up" in the Hafner's living-room; 20. The ability to Praise HIM during the storm; 21. A church family that loves us like we never left; 22.A completely stocked mission house! Thanks Mandy & friends; 23. A van to use as our own - Thanks Mike & Felicia; 24. having "church" at chemo sessions; 25. talking in "code" and getting each it - Fe; 26. Nurse Dennis at AOA; 27. Affirmation through Dr. Lawson; 28. Prayer time with sister and Mike; 29. Sharing our life in Botswana with our ADBC family; 30. A Braves game for the boys; 31. Cousin time at Aunt Lea's; 32. Flat hair, laughs and great food at the Melting Pot - Thanks Mark & Karla; 33. Dr's that love Jesus enough to ask their patients if they know Him; 34. Seeing Mrs. Cantwell after 25 years; 35. Reunion with Judy-picking up right where we left off; 36. Tyler living with the boys...a natural fit; 37. Helping other chemo patients; 38. Clay Smith - not only concerned about what we've accomplished but how we feel too; 39. Staff development meetings; 40. Having the chance to tell Ed team how good they've got it; 41. Brent Limbaugh(oncologist); 42. A mom and dad who are always there and willing to help; 43. My momma's sewing: 10 ties, a flower girl dress, 4 waistbands and flowers, and numerous tablecloths; 44. 2 "spend the nights" in the dorm room - just me and my girl; 45. Bridal Shower Hostesses: Maxine, Susan, Lindsey, Cheri, Dawn, and Michele - thanks girls!; 46. A Shipes Family Reunion including a peaceful Scrabble game; 47. Dressing Room laughs with Moma; 48. Lunch with the Drawdy Family; 49. Shower hostesses: Mandy, Karla, Melissa, Patti and Amanda - Thanks friends!; 50. Lingerie and sex talks; 51. My sister Lea who handled the wedding details for us - even the hard ones; 52. Kissing my Hampy's head in person; 53. Seeing Benton play with his faves...josh and joe; 54. New Church; 55. Extended stay in Sumter; 56. My boys visits with their friends; 57. Late night with Missy and Karla; 58. Madea; 59. Scott getting to attend Orange Conference; 60. Wedding preparations coming together; 61. A week at Edisto Beach; 62. Meeting and sharing time with Johnny and Donna Smith; 63. 3rd chances on tests and understanding nursing professors; 64. passing exams; 65. Makela McAlpin, Abbie Geddings, Terri Jowers, Carrie McLeod, and Ashley Brokop for sharing their talents; 64. A perfectly beautiful Wedding; 66. being witness to my daughter's first kiss; 67. placing Makenzie's hand in Tyler's with complete trust; 68. seeing them off at the airport; 69. Goodbyes - even though they hurt; 70. safe flights; 71. A place to call home in Botswana......
The list could go on and on - How can I ever stop signing HIS PRAISE!! ~ Tonya
Thursday, March 31, 2011
HE will make a Way!
It’s been a while since we’ve updated, seems like life just gets in the way sometimes. Speaking of Life I am being reminded just how precious life is. I am sitting here this morning with my precious sister Felicia as she starts Chemotherapy. What a difference just a week or two or for that matter even a day can make. A few weeks ago she was living a normal rather healthy life and began to vomit. She thought she had a stomach virus so put off seeing the doctor. She was busy helping our Daddy through his two surgeries and Dr. appointments that go along with that. Finally after feeling bad for over a week she decided to see her doctor. The Dr. listened to her abdomen and could hear a very strong pulse and thought that was abnormal. She ordered an abdominal ultrasound since we have a history of abdominal aneurisms. The test was scheduled for Thursday. The technician’s facial response made Felicia know there was something wrong. They told her they were ordering a CAT scan on Monday along with more ultrasound. She was told on Tuesday that she had cancer. There was a mass on her pancreas, a mass on her left ovary and lymph node involvement throughout her abdomen. Are we ever prepared to hear that kind of news? Our only preparation is our trust in our all-knowing completely in control God. Our trust in the Lord has been our Rock. HE is the firm foundation on which we stand so that news of this magnitude does not make us fall. I am so grateful that we know the ROCK and that our house is built upon HIM!! The Lord brought to my mind the verse from Isaiah 43 – “When we pass through the waters, He will be with us, and when we pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over us. When we walk through the fire, we will not be burned; the flames will not set us ablaze.” Here I was 9000 miles away from my family and totally helpless. My Daddy had received news on that Monday before Felicia received her news that his pathology reports had come back and were not what they had expected. They told him that he needed to be followed up with an oncologist. When all this news was delivered to me in Botswana I was for the first time since my arrival 8 months ago longing (actually aching) to be home. The longing was not for me but for them. I knew I needed to be there to help. Not only to help through medical testing and doctor’s appointments that would ensue but also to take over Makenzie’s wedding preparations that my family was handling in my absence. I am so overwhelmingly grateful for my husband. Scott knew without me even saying or asking him that my heart was in SC. He told me to go. He told me he could handle what was happening in our home and ministry. We had tickets to fly home on April 3rd so we knew there was a possibility of changing my ticket to an earlier flight. A friend of mine was driving to Johannesburg that same day and was leaving at 3pm. Our travel agent is in Tampa, FL so there office wasn’t open to call to make ticket changes. It was 12 noon and my ride was departing at 3. I began to pray for God to make a way. Scott began trying to contact the travel agent as soon as we thought they might be open. Of all times (actually on a pretty regular basis) our internet at the house was not working. “Dear Lord will you make a way? I am going to trust you because that is what you ask of me.” I knew that I could go, trusting in our Mighty God to provide. I left that afternoon at 3 not knowing when or how but trusting completely that when I arrived at the airport I would have a ticket and be on my to SC. As soon as you cross the border into South Africa you have no cell phone connection so my blind faith was leading me. I was so grateful for our friends Des and Lara that were traveling to Joburg and that knew the area so well. Scott and I had never ventured from Botswana to Joburg so it was all new to me. When we arrived late that evening in Joburg I had a message from Scott that the ticket had been arranged and I would be departing the next day for SC. I sent out a Facebook message to my other sister Lea to arrange for someone to pick me up. As I was in the air on my 17 hour flight my sister Felicia was undergoing surgery to remove a lymph node from her abdomen. I was greeted Friday morning at 10am (SC time) at the Charleston airport by my sweet daughter and future son. Surreal – I think that is a pretty good word to describe the feeling of getting off that plane being back in my “familiar” place and in my daughter’s arms. We headed straight to the hospital in Augusta, GA where Felicia was recovering. She had no idea I was on my way there. I made it to her room to where Momma and Daddy were waiting. Oh the joy of reunions but oh so bittersweet. We had been counting down and anticipating our reunion and how wonderful it would be. It was wonderful to hugged and kissed by my parents but the tears that flowed from all 3 of us on this day were not of joy but of sadness for what Felicia was facing. They rolled Felicia down the hall from a scan and I stepped out to see her. There she was the healthy sister I said goodbye to in August on a gurney moaning in pain. I kissed her and stroked her face and she was overcome with emotion. She was crying - she couldn’t believe I was there. She told me later that she was surprised but then again not sure why she was…she should have known I would come. My sister Lea was there but once again we didn’t have the reunion we had been so looking forward to sharing. From that moment on it has been a whirlwind of activity. Did I have jet lag? I don’t think so. If I did there wasn’t time to concentrate on me or the effects. We took Felicia home from the hospital and began keeping up with pain medications, changing dressings, and Doctor appointments. We saw the oncologist on Wednesday and he made the plans for her to begin Chemo today. In the meantime I took Daddy to see the oncologist and were told he has stage 3 melanoma. They found a lymph node that was positive in the tissue they removed near his tumor. “Dear Lord help us” was the cry of my heart! “How do you want us to do this? Will you show us Your way? Your ways are so much higher than ours.” After talking with that Doctor, Daddy and I left both feeling certain that God didn’t want Daddy to seek any chemo treatment. We all started praying that God would affirm what we were feeling and that we would know it was from HIM. We had a desire to walk in confidence and never have any regrets. While I had Felicia at her first chemo treatment Lea took Daddy to a melanoma specialist at Emory. So many questions ran through our heads but in them we trusted God to make a way. He answered our prayers through that specialist. The Dr. said to consider his quality of life, what he is facing with his daughter, to enjoy his life and celebrating his granddaughter’s wedding. He said he is cancer free today and melanoma is a strange cancer. It may never come back or may come back next year. If or when it comes back he can deal with it then. The Dr. agreed to follow Daddy with observation. We were all praising God for answering our prayers and Daddy left with an affirmation knowing he was doing exactly what God wanted him to do.
God will make a way when there seems no other way! I left my very supportive husband and 5 boys in Botswana. I knew it would be difficult for Scott to handle it all by himself but I knew without a doubt that he was more than capable. I have been praying that God would make their path straight and easy until we were reunited. I prayed for God to give Scott an extra measure of HIS grace as he took on the roll of Mr. Mom and took care of our ministry commitments. God is faithful even when times are tough. Scott, by God’s grace, was able to lead training at Flying Mission, complete a packet of training information for the pastor’s conference in Zambia, train someone to lead in our absence and take care of a sick little Joshua. I am so grateful for Scott. He has cooked the meals, paid the bills, ran the errands, met all previous commitments and nursed a sick little boy. I am grateful for Scott’s heart for our Lord and his heart for our kids and me. He is one of a kind!! God made a way for me to be here to minister to my hurting family through the sacrifice of my man!! Thank you God!! And thank you Scott.
Please continue to pray for our family and our ministry. Pray for healing for my sister Felicia. Pray that Felicia would be a light for Jesus throughout her journey with cancer. Pray for Daddy to continue to walk in confidence of what the Lord has done for him. Pray for peace for my sweet Momma. Pray that she would find a new level of trust in our Lord through all of this. Pray for Scott and the kids as they travel this weekend to SC. Pray that Joshua would continue to get well before they leave Botswana. Pray for the details of Makenzie’s upcoming wedding to come together. Pray for the pastor’s conference in Zambia. Pray that the materials we put together would be used to reach many children and that they would come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord!! Most importantly pray that God would be glorified through us!!
God will make a way when there seems no other way! I left my very supportive husband and 5 boys in Botswana. I knew it would be difficult for Scott to handle it all by himself but I knew without a doubt that he was more than capable. I have been praying that God would make their path straight and easy until we were reunited. I prayed for God to give Scott an extra measure of HIS grace as he took on the roll of Mr. Mom and took care of our ministry commitments. God is faithful even when times are tough. Scott, by God’s grace, was able to lead training at Flying Mission, complete a packet of training information for the pastor’s conference in Zambia, train someone to lead in our absence and take care of a sick little Joshua. I am so grateful for Scott. He has cooked the meals, paid the bills, ran the errands, met all previous commitments and nursed a sick little boy. I am grateful for Scott’s heart for our Lord and his heart for our kids and me. He is one of a kind!! God made a way for me to be here to minister to my hurting family through the sacrifice of my man!! Thank you God!! And thank you Scott.
Please continue to pray for our family and our ministry. Pray for healing for my sister Felicia. Pray that Felicia would be a light for Jesus throughout her journey with cancer. Pray for Daddy to continue to walk in confidence of what the Lord has done for him. Pray for peace for my sweet Momma. Pray that she would find a new level of trust in our Lord through all of this. Pray for Scott and the kids as they travel this weekend to SC. Pray that Joshua would continue to get well before they leave Botswana. Pray for the details of Makenzie’s upcoming wedding to come together. Pray for the pastor’s conference in Zambia. Pray that the materials we put together would be used to reach many children and that they would come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord!! Most importantly pray that God would be glorified through us!!
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