Harvest School

Quick entry to say thanks to the many people the guys and I met here in Pemba during the last two weeks of Harvest School 13. What an encouragement to hang with folks of all countries of all ages in all professions who want nothing but Jesus and bringing Heaven to earth now.

100 of the 140 students are now out on extended outreach in several remote areas including  Mozambique,Sudan and Nepal.

While here,the idea of the New Testament Church hit me loud and clear.All those who want a deeper relationship with Him look into it at http://www.irismin.org/

Bush Bush

Bush Bush

Below are some shots of last weeks outreach the guys and I went on. Every week two groups with Harvest school students,visitors, and local pastors go out from the base in Pemba. The plan is to tie in with a local Iris church if there is one. Northern Mozambique is made up of synchronistic Muslims, mixing Islam with tribal animism. Interesting side note,we did a Christmas skit here the other day and had to borrow the word "Christmas" from Portuguese as the local Makua language has no such word.

The format on the outreach trips is that we set a a screen for showing the Jesus film then had prayers for healing after a short message. About two hours of singing and dancing as well. Day two is visiting homes then another presentation the second night. Again lots of singing and dancing.

 

Mozambique

Life in Pemba

We have been in Pemba for ten days now starting chapter four of four of our adventure in Africa. The center here is multi-faceted involving 160 children living here full time, a mission school of 140 people lasting three months twice a year, a clinic, feeding programs, widows program and lots and lots of village people being fed both physically and spiritually. In short this is an African missions “factory”. It is also a “faith factory”. No funds are solicited, no debt. The stories of provision are incredible. For readers of George Mueller, I refer to the Bakers as “George Mueller on steroids”.

 

Anyone who feels called to investigate Africa, this is a great place to get exposed to multiple areas. Housing costs are by donation. In addition when you staying at the visitors center, you get exposed to the most interesting people from all around the globe. Our current dorm mates are from Venezuela and South Africa. During a recent pastors conference here we also had the chance to get to know many pastors who are in charge of their provinces. Current estimates are 7000 plus Iris churches in Mozambique. Iris is in 19 different countries.

During the missions school outreaches to the bush go on every week. More on that later. Bye for now.

South Africa

We just completed two weeks in South Africa. It was a mix of relaxation and seeing what Iris Ministries is doing over the globe and more specifically in White River, South Africa. We had a chance to visit the day center and orphanage there. We also attended a true African Revival meeting with a pastor named Surpressa (Surprise) who was the kind of person who after meeting, one will never be the same. Janet and Austin joined us which was great. She is already thinking of getting a group of women to join us back here.

They are now back in Maryland and we are in Pemba,Mozambique at the Iris base (much more on that later).

Scott

We had two days to be in Kruger Park.Rhinos, Eelephants, Giraffes,etc

Nov 2, 2010

 

Hello from the Republic of Congo.

Here in Impfondo at Pioneer Hospital broadband internet used to be available before the system broke in August. Since then the missionaries here have been forced to use a very slow, often unreliable wireless system. Today we went to local Unicef office and they let me up load photos to my face book page and place this entry. If you want to see the photos, head to facebook.

Conner, Luke and I are now in our third week here and are loving it.The hospital is run well, operations happen every day and lives are being saved in the name of Jesus. We leave a bit early next Tuesday because of flight schedules back to the capital, Brassaville. After that we will meet Janet and Austin for two weeks helping at Iris orphanages in South Africa (more about that next week).

Luke first assisting with hysterectomy 

We have gotten in a routine here with 1-3 operations in the morning followed by seeing patients in the afternoon. The language barrier is significant with French the official language and Lingala being the local language. The sonographer here named Alpha has taught himself enough English so that as a team we are working out well. For all you people who took French in school but have no chance to practice, come to Congo.You will have a blast. 

This is a great location to feel like you are making a difference. The people are very friendly and appreciative of any help you can offer. Contact World medical Missions if you are medical or if you aren’t but want to help out go to www.congoharveys.blogspot.com.

Helping build a home

Rounds with Dr. Steve Wagner. One of three physicians

Local pastors family with Sara Spear, here for 30 plus yaers

I’ll make another entry when we are in South Africa. For those praying for us, Thank You

Plans set

Hello all,

We have been home now for three weeks and finally have our next two months in place. We will be hitting three countries in 9 weeks starting Oct 14.

Oct 14 through Nov 13 Impfongo, Republic of Congo. The name of the hospital is called Pioneer Christian. The founder physician we will be working with is named Dr Joe Harvey.

Nov 14 through Nov 26 in multiple locations around South Africa. The really fun part about this

time is that Janet and Austin will come to join us. We hope to be visiting several Iris ministries locations there as well as seeing some big animals.

Nov 26-Dec 20 in Pemba Mozambique. For those who read my entry about books I had read, this is the home base for Iris ministries.The ministry started by Heidi and Rolland Baker. After reading "Always Enough" I had to take my boys there and live it for possible future involvement.

For those praying for us,thank you and please pray more. Pray for our ears to be opened more and for our eyes to see with His eyes. Truly amazing things are happening around the world and in us.

Scott

Ready for chapter two

This will probably be the last entry for our Nigerian experience. Six weeks has gone by quickly. The first four weeks went by especially fast as we were seeing new things daily.

These last two weeks we have been staying at the hospital and following Dr. Ardill (Photo to left) and the residents who are on their surgery rotation. The residency program at Evangel is a family practice residency although that is defined very differently here than it would be in the U.S.

Family docs in Africa are hopefully competent in performing many of the operations that a US general surgeon and an OB would perform. They will likely be in locations where if they are not good at bowel surgery, C sections, hysterectomies, head trauma (burr holes), and orthopedics then people will die.

Below is photo of Dr Truxton (maternal health). She and her husband have been in Africa for 37 years!

I have also gotten a lot of reading in (it is amazing how much one can accomplish with no TV ). Two books I would recommend is, “There is Always Enough” by Rolland and Heidi Baker, and “Left to Tell” by Immaculee Ilibagiza. The first tells of amazing experiences of missionaries to Mozambique the second of the story of a survivor of the ’94 genocide in Rwanda.

From here we head back to Maryland for a few weeks and get the guys a bit more organized with the home schooling thing (new to all of us). After that I am hoping that we go to Kenya. There is a teaching hospital there called Kjabe about an hour outside of Nairobi. The word is that they are very busy in the OB/GYN area and are in need of help. Since it is a hospital and residency (again family medicine) run by the missionaries it will be interesting to see the similarities and differences with what I have seen here (Evangel hospital and residency program is run by Nigerians).

Please pray for us when the Lord brings us to mind. Pray that these experiences will continue to be life changing for all of us.

Scott, Conner, and Luke