A timely reminder...

I just read this this morning... and then headed into work which seemed quite a bit like controlled chaos....minus the control.  It kept coming to mind... definitely blog-worthy.  

"Frustration is not the will of God.  Of that we can be quite certain.  There is time to do anything and everything that God wants us to do.  Obedience fits smoothly into His given framework.  One thing that most certainly will not fit into it is worry."

 --E. Elliot

Amen.

Kossi is WALKING!!!!!!

Pictures of my little buddy, Kossi, before his surgery a few months ago....

Picture of Kossi during the loooonnng healing process.... 

two long leg casts and a wheelchair...

Casts OFF!!!!!!!

And THIS WEEK...............................WALKING!!!!!!!!!

Social Committee Strikes Again....

This post is really just for my mom:)...  A couple months back, two of my friends, Karoline and Steph and myself joined forces to take over as the "social committee" for the ward nurses on the ship.  Nurses are always coming and going here, and so it is really nice to plan a little get together every month or so, just so we can all have some time together away from work to get to know each other a bit more.   Much to our surprise, our first two events have turned out even better than we thought... turns out our gifts work well together:  Steph does about 80% of the baking... I do about 20% of the baking.... and Karoline pulls together all of the rest of the logistics (the part of the job that Steph and I hate....).  Our first event was a coffee house night, and the second was a brunch.... So, Mom, here's some of the pics to give you a little idea:)...........

Bible Study Girls Visit Ship

Yep, it is that time again:)... that time that seems to roll around every month or so, when I realize I have not blogged in WAY too long!!  Sorry-o.  I don't know how time passes so very quickly. Last month was full of so many special things...  amongst them was a visit to the ship from our Bible Study girls.  They came out on a Sunday afternoon and had a tour of the ship, saw our rooms, where we work, and stayed for dinner.  They all came dressed in some of their nicest clothes and giggled and laughed their way through the whole afternoon.  I think they really love to be on the ship with us and to see a bit of this world.  What a blessing it has been to have these girls in our lives during this time.  I love them so much.  Here are some pictures from our time...

From S. Korea to Liberia... with love...

Last month, a package arrived from my sister.  In it there were some small cars and some other small toys to give to the kids on the hospital ward.  It just happened that our census was down, and there were only three children in the hospital at the time, and they were three of my favorites~!  So, I thought that these little boys would like the cars, but I had no idea just what a hit it would make.  For the next few days, there were car races down the hallway, the construction of ramps and other things for the cars to go flying down, and all sorts of fun with the little cars.  Two of the boys have now gone home, but Kossi is still here with us.  And when I see him, he STILL says, "How is your sista??  Tell her tank you!  I love the car."  And he really does.  He is always in his wheelchair, and the car is always tucked in beside him.  A small gift has gone a very long way...:)  Thank you to my nieces Ella and Maija, and Caleb for sharing your toys, and thank you to my sister, Julie, who now has a big fan in Liberia:)!!!

Prince and Kossi

James, Prince, and Kossi with their cars!

O PRAISE Him...

Today I went to a dress ceremony on the ward.  I have been working with our patients who have come to have fistula repairs that cause them to leak urine.  The hope is that the surgery will result in these ladies no longer leaking urine.  And when the surgery is a success, we have a celebration!  I love these women.  And my heart swelled today as I watched five of them... five women who have lived with embarrassment, with shame, with ridicule, with separation from family and friends... today stand and give their testimony of HEALING....  One of them had had this problem for 21 years.  I cannot comprehend.  Our God has done a most precious and intimate thing for these women.  So today I stand in awe of a God who is committed to our healing.  His timing is different than ours... but He does not give up on us.  He is patient beyond our understanding.  He is UNDERSTANDING beyond our understanding.  Today I am reminded that He DOES heal.  He will HEAL.  Wait for Him.  Be strong, and take heart, and WAIT FOR THE LORD...