The Need is Great.

This past weekend, we went on a trip to Lubango, a six hour drive to the mountains (more like hill country if you live in Colorado). We met with another Ophthalmologist who wants to take John on a village trips, where they are making lists of patients waiting for surgery. At this particular meeting, we learned of two specific villages with over 180 people waiting for surgery. Steve Collins was saying that he would like to go next week, but they are out of surgical material and post-op medications. Even in his Lubango clinic, he is using out of date madeications.
Supposedly, there is a shipment that is stuck in the "system" somewhere. It was expected last month, we have run into many troubles trying to send these kinds of materials. Since ther eare no meds at John's clinic either, they are only able to do durgery on people who can go purchase their own post-op medications, which is expensive. Therefore, only those with some money and resources get surgery at the moment. This is not an option for the villagers. They must wait.
We need your prayers! Please pray that the shipment arrive soon. We need this miracle.
Many of you have also asked what you can do. If anyone out there would like to take a trip to Angola, we welcome you! It would be quite helpful for someone to bring over medications and equipment in their luggage. That's right, I'm asking you. We are currently looking for American donations, when they come together, we will need someone to bring it for us.
Other things you can do is to send your old frames. The glasses deparment of the clinic is also lacking in resources. If any of you would be interested in collecting frames at your respective church, I will find a way for them to get over here when visitors come. Let's work together, to help restore sight to the Angolan people. Please respond to this message if you are interested in helping in any of these areas. May the Lord meet these needs by using us! His body!

 Roman is standing Grandparents!

Zekie

Lubango Visit

                                                Oliver enjoying swing at our base in Benguela.

The road to Lubango.

    These trees are called Baobab, very common, so are the stick Huts you see to the right. I was amazed at the presence of people all along the road. It seemed no matter how desolate they road, if we stopped we had a crowd of folks gathered around.

 This man was blind before our simple cataract surgery restored his sight, he is pointing with joy at his family members. He has just had the patch removed from his eye the day after his surgery. His wife was praising the Lord and singing with joy.

 O Cristo Rei statue depicts Jesus spreading his hands overlooking the city of Lubango.

 This view depicts the beauty and pain of Angola. This beautiful mountain overlook was used as an execution tool during the civil war. Rival soldiers would bring prisoners to the top of the overlook and tell them to run or be shot. People say you can still see human remains at the bottom of the cliff.

Serra da Leba, Lubango. Angola

The man on the left is Dr Jose Afonso de Moraes, he has been at Boa Vista for 10 years. He will be leaving for Brazil in January, I am his replacement. The man on the right is Dr Steve Collins. He is 74 yrs old and still going strong performing cataract surgeries in the Angolan Bush. He was here during the war and has not left. He gave up his Canadien citizenship and owns a house in Lubango, he plans to remain here the rest of his life.

We made a home visit to one of the pastors of a local church in Lubango. This tight, twisting, maze-like alley led to his humble home. It was a mud, block hut with a tin roof.

Culture Shock

 Fish Market

 These fish are drying out.

 Typical Angola Dish.

 Beautiful Church that we visited

It's my birthday! Thanks for the cake Geisa!

I am enjoying life in Angola; John is happy in the OR, and I'm figuring out how to run a household "Angola style". I went shopping at the fish market for the first time this week, and I can safely say that we won't be having fish for a couple of months, until I get over that experience. But then I'll have to go back. eek!
Then, there is the other market that they call the Plaza, where you pretty much can find all necessary items new or used. This is an outdoor experience with many people running individual booths. Let me talk you through this experience:
 As I parked the car, I had to be careful not to knock over the boys waiting for business, whether it be to guard our car, wash it, sell me bags to carry my produce, or carry my bags. About four of those boys will follow me throughout my shopping experience. Then I'll pass a shoe booth, then jeans, then hair beads, then a pig sty full of squealing wiper-snappers. They don't even bother to cage the chickens, they have embraced their roll here in the food chain. Then I go through my favorite part, but sadly very small part, the hand crafted items reflecting the artists African roots. (One must always be careful not to bump into a lady carrying twice her weight in merchandise on her head, or the baby on her back.) Now we come to the grain, in huge open bins, that if you want to buy any of that they just scoop it up with their bare hands into the bag. We have all kinds of fruit and vegetables, beans, dried fish (don't ask me how to cook that), laundry soap, music, furniture, cell phones. . . as long as your willing to elbow your way through the crowd, you can find it here.
I like the plaza, but I haven't gotten up the nerve to go with the boys, and probably won't. I have much more to tell, but will save it for another day. Someone go enjoy an air-conditioned grocery store for me.

First day on the job (John)

So far Angola has been good. Different but good. Language learning is under-weigh. We are communicating in Portuguese, but it's not smooth enough to be independant in clinic. Lori and I are taking daily language classes for 2 hours. Hopefully when we take over in January, I will be fluent enough to work.

I stumbled into a good situation here regarding my goal of training Angolan Ophthalmologists. I was able to attend the first ever national residency program formation council. Angola is trying to start an Ophthalmology residency training program! If all goes well I could be teaching the first class of cataract surgery as early as January.

So, that means that I need to get up to speed quickly on my surgical technique. Today was the first day in the OR, and I did 2 cataracts and a tarrsorhaphy. SO a good start. I'm so thankful for my time training in Paraguay; I was able to hit the ground running surgically here. I have 5 SICS (cataract) cases scheduled for tommorow. We shall see how they go.

First Impressions

 Jean-Pierre and Marie-Claude Brechet

 Flower called "Beak of a Parrot"

 Valley of the Moon

 John is putting four wheel drive to good use!

 Luiza (missionary kid) and Roman

 John's Clinic

 This was our neighbor, at the first house we stayed in. He is caged.

The welcome party at the Boa Vista Clinic

Life in a new culture has been fun, but as far as the Angolans go, I still feel like an outsider. As far as the Brechet and the Alfonso family go, I feel like we've been welcomed in as family. But altogether, life as I know it is changing. I still don't have a firm grasp on day to day living because the Brechet family has been so welcoming and hospitable , that they are showing us all of the best of Angola and treating us like royalty. (being sure to tell us not to get used to it)
The SOLE ministry has also welcomed us nicely making sure we have internet and phones for communication and a guard outside of our house constantly (which is customary). The boys, for the first time, have a "yard" (no grass) to play in and be outside whenever they want. I love our house, the beaches are magnificent, driving is a little crazy, and the church is beautiful.
Speaking of the church, we visited a lovely one this morning. Very different from the American church with all of it's instruments and air conditioning. The choir is just what you would hope from an African choir accompanied only by a huge bongo drum.  I cannot wait until my Portuguese is good enough to get to know the Angola people.
We start language school Tuesday after John get's out of clinic and John starts surgery a week from tomorrow. John is looking forward to that. This week, I will also visit Oliver's prospective school.
We are praying that the language continues to come quickly and becomes more natural, as well as that we can establish some type of routine so the we may be available for the kids emotionally.
Thank you for your prayers.

We made it!

 Here is Roman with our many boxes right before we left.

Well mostly, we still have an 8 hour drive to our home in Benguela (city), but we are in Angola. We will set off for our house on Tuesday. We can't wait to see it! Right now we are getting to know Luanda, the capital city, and meeting all of our contacts. One contact is allowing us to stay in a spare house on the grounds of a certain company in which right outside our door is a mini zoo with caged alligators, monkeys, and a python.
Anyway, the holes in our Portuguese are apparent. Any false hope of our grasp on the language was kicked to the curb quickly.
And we have yet to receive our last bag from the airport. That will come in time, and if not we will learn to do without. The world is still turning and we are hanging on, the kids are adjusting, (they love how the ladies carry everything on their heads), but it will be nice to finally, after 2 months, unpack our belongings. Next time I write, I'll be living in our home in Benguela, Angola.

One Week and Counting

We are already sitting in the supernatural, a week before our much anticipated journey to Angola.

Ten months ago, we were told $45,000 must be raised. Done! In the name of Jesus, the money is here. (Thank you, Lord, and all of you out there that listened to the Lord) We were also told of the difficulties we would encounter in obtaining Residency Visas. Yes, it has been long, and a little anxiety inducing, but not difficult. The Lord went before us and paved the way. As I write these words, our visas are on a Fed Ex truck and they are good for a year! (Thank you Lord, you truly make me feel cherished) With those visas, we will be ready to depart as scheduled on September 7.

By the way, I, Lori, have officially taken over the blog. I look forward to bringing you first hand stories from my perspective as life as a missionary mom.

From Texas with Love,
Lori