Amazing provision!!

Well, it is less than 2 weeks to the Eye/Dental project in Macomia, Mozambique, and excitement is building. I think it is appropriate to share on God's amazing provision for this project, right up til the last minute (and I am sure there will be more to share as the time draws near to start the project). Up until this past weekend, we only had one eye surgeon committed to coming (there was originally 2 but one backed out about a month ago), with so much need and so many patients already earmarked for cataract surgery this was a big disappointment. Then the news came through that the one surgeon we had couldn't make the only flight into Mozambique on the starting day of the project and would only arrive 3 days later, so the time alotted for surgeries was even less. Needless to say, many of us petitioned at heaven's throne on this issue. As I sat in front of my computer on Saturday morning, I was stunned to tears to read e-mails from Canada and the US saying there was another surgeon who had signed up to come and would be there to overlap with the first surgeon who was going to be late. I am still so amazed at God's provision and am now really getting excited for the project and what God is still going to do whilst we are there. Stay reading this blog in the next weeks as I keep you updated on how it is all going.

Barranquilla, Colombia. Do u know where that is?

Finally, I have arisen from the blogger slumber to write on this blog, it has been 2 months since my last post, but just for an excuse my life has been pretty hectic. I have just returned from an looooong trip over the ocean to South America, to Barranquilla Colombia, where I attended the Director's conference of Medical Ministry International. We were directors from all over the world, a whole 80 of us, and we stayed in a stunning 5 star hotel. The conference was really great, very useful, and upbuilding too. It was wonderful to get to meet soo many of the people that I have only been talking to via e-mail. Now I have faces for all the e-mails that come my way.

I am now in the throws of final preparations for the Macomia, Mozambique eye/dental project, which kicks off on the 20th of October, and between last minute flight arrangements for participants, supply collecting I am writing 2 exams, which I now realize was quite silly to write in for, but what's done is done, so I will just have to push through, with God's grace and strength.

Will keep you all posted on developments leading up to the project.

Macomia, Mozambique

Excitement is mounting in Macomia, Mozambique for the arrival of a medical team that have finally been given permission to help the poorest of the poor! Oh, yes, that is us, MMI! :) That is well and truly, true. The people are waiting in anticipation for us to come. I was just up there this weekend, to meet with our hosts and the director of the hospital in the town of Macomia, which actually just consists of a crossroads and a long hill which takes you up to the hospital and then up to the future radio station that is being built by AIM to reach the Mwani people of the area. The meeting went well, as well as can be expected talking through 2 interpreters, and we finally settled on a room or two to do the eye and dental clinic in. The OR needs a bit of work, but nothing that a good scrubbing with jik and a new coat of paint won't fix. They even have a gas powered autoclave to sterilize the instruments, which is HUGE!

The house where we will be staying is in the process of being completed, and will have all its doors and windows in place when we arrive in October, as well as an indoor and outdoor shower and toilet (there is nothing like a cold bucket shower by moonlight after a long hot sweaty day in Mozambique :) ).

Now all that remains to be finalized is the team and the great ingathering of medical supplies. Help is definitely needed in this department, so put your praying hearts and hands together with us to make this happen.

Below is a couple of photos of the hospital we will be working at. I left off taking photos of the house where we will be staying as a surprise, to see it in it's finished state.

Keep your eyes open for more updates as the time rushes faster to October and the project. :)

Oh for the sun and warmth of Mozambique, and the white beaches?! This cold weather in this part of the continent is not funny anymore. I think I was created for the sun, most definitely for the sun. Oh well, just a few more days til I fly north to Pemba, and drive on up to Macomia and Pangane, in the northern province of Cabo Del Gado in Moz. Many questions to ask and sort out for the October project!

Mozambique 2007

After months of umming and ahhing, I have decided to take the plunge into the blogosphere!! Enjoy!! My first project as director for Southern Africa for Medical Ministry International (MMI) http://mmint.org will be in Mozambique in October. It has been an amazing time of preparation already, just to see the hand of God in it all, starting last year already as we submitted the paperwork to the Mozambican government for permission to bring eye surgeons and dentists into the country for a 2 week project. The permission was granted in March this year and so with the full support of the government, the preparations for the project began. We already have 2 dentists and an eye surgeon committed and a faithful helper collecting supplies stateside. I am going up to meet with our hosts in Macomia (northern Mozambique, where we are basing the project) next week, as well as the hospital director, to do some scouting and legwork in preparation for the team's arrival in October. We are still in need of nurses and a couple of helpers, as there has already been over 100 potential cataract patients identified for surgery. If there is any interest out there, please go to MMI's website for further info. Prayers for the project would be greatly appreciated, especially the team members and the supplies we need to still gather. More on this project soon!!