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Zechariah 9:9  "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Hundreds of years before Mary met Joseph and hundreds of years before Christ was born, Zechariah, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, prophesied the entering of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  Jesus, from the lineage of David,  riding in like a King. The crowd laying down their coats and palm branches before Him.  People shouting out "Hosanna!   Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!"

Jesus did come in the Name of the LORD!  Jesus was from the lineage of David.  Jesus was Blessed.  He was the highest!   

What the people's shouted was all true. The truth and excitement on Sunday would quickly turn to words of hate and condemnation, as those same mouths will shout, "Crucify Him"!

How easy it is for us to sing His praises and shout out on Sunday truths about our King and Lord.  And how quickly our hearts and actions can turn during the week.  

Let your week be different.  Let your action reveal your true heart of love and devotion to your King.  May you worship Him each and every day.  Hosanna to Our King!

I know that some of you out there that read this blog love numbers.  Your brains are just wired that way.  So here are a portion of the numbers from the trip to Ivory Coast.

Impact Cote D'Ivoire Team Stats

Surgical Procedures  145
Number of Surgical Patients (excluding cataract)  90
OB/GYN Clinic  70
Pediatric Clinic  10
Cataract Surgeries  46
Pteryglum  1
Cataract Consultations 202
Eye Glasses, distributed 971
Prescriptions filled  540
Cast of arm  1
School Renovated 1
School Desks built 60
Churches Built 2
People desiring to place trust in Jesus Christ 120

These figures do not include every person we saw or helped.  They do not include the maintenance on the property or vehicles.  

It was exciting and fulfilling work.  The need is great and there is much more to be done.  Begin praying how you can be apart of this work.  

Somethings are just better in Africa.

The Doropo compound was our home away from home.  It is amazing to have 70+ people living together and a miracle that we could all get along.  How come people drive me crazy when I am home?

Everyone had jobs to do;  laundry, cooking, cleaning, guarding, sterilizing, organizing, maintaining, driving...  No matter your age, education, skill, or wealth, everyone was valued.

The Ivorians would wait outside the clinic to be seen by a doctor.  They would stand all day hoping for their turn; some having to return day after day.  I lose my patience, if my doctor keeps me waiting for 15 minutes!

On Sunday, we worshipped in a village church, that was built by our construction team earlier in the week.  
No one complained: 
That is was too hot or too cold.  That the plastic chairs or benches were too hard.  That the music was too loud.  That the sermon was too long.  



We just worshipped together.

Even though our days were long, busy and exhausting,  Brian found the time to walk into town with a new little friend. 


When was the last time you  hold someone's hand?

Many people write about themselves.  Some people write about their encounter with famous people.  Today, I write about my encounter with two African women.

I do not know their names.  I do not know what village that they live in.  I do remember where I was when we met.  It was a little storage room at the Doropo clinic. I do remember the date, Valentine's Day, February 14th, although to these two ladies, it was just another day of disappointment and struggle, not love and cute little cards and candy.

The 1040i projects were coming to a close.  Our departure was nearing too quickly.  The surgery schedules had been full since the second day that we had arrived, especially for all of the women's needs, since this was the first time that an OB/GYN team had visited this portion of the world.  These two women had come for help.  There were a multitude of people coming daily for help, so many that were were having to turn people away.  Yes, we could have help, but there were not enough hours in the day or supplies left on the shelves.  If only they had come sooner.

These two women had a very common problem for this area of the world. A problem that was not due to any thing that they had done.  And a problem that they could not solve by themselves. They had fistulas (Obstetric fistula is a severe medical condition in which a fistula (hole) develops between either the rectum and vagina (see rectovaginal fistula) or between the bladder and vagina (see vesicovaginal fistula) after severe or failed childbirth, when adequate medical care is not available.).  

These women were constantly leaking urine due to the damage to their bladder.  They were outcasts.  They had come for hope and healing.  Hope and Healing were the things that the 1040i team had promised to bring.  

In the small storage room, I gave them little hope and no healing.  I could only offer them a bandaid for their huge problem. Through the interpreter, as my heart was breaking, I told them I was so sorry for their situation and that there was no more room on the surgical schedule for the Doctors to see them.  I offered them the only thing I had available, maxi pads.  The pads would allow the women to go out into public without shame and embarrassment.  

One of woman told me that she had come to the clinic three years ago, and was told that the doctors could do nothing to help her.  She had waited and waited as her condition only worsened.  This year she had heard that there were the right doctors that could correct her problem.  


"Yes, but you are too late.  I'm so sorry.  We can't take even one more patient" I answered.  As I said these words, my eyes looked into both of the women's eyes.  It was as if I was looking into their souls. The other woman's mouth and face did not move as her eyes filled with tears and ran down her cheek. I immediately followed suit. 

I have been in hard situations.  I have delivered sad news.  Never have I felt so helpless and inadequate.  

I held on to my thoughts and feelings until I got back to the pre-op room, where I stood behind the door and wept openly.  My heart was open and raw.  I wanted to cry, scream, and blubber; all of which I did.

We live in a hurting world.  A world with problems as a result of sin.  A world in which there will always be one more need, one more hurt, one more sadness.  Jesus himself said that there will always be the poor.  Even He did not heal everyone who came to Him.  Jesus saw the multitudes and had compassion on them.  

There is one place where there is always room for one more; in His Kingdom.  I can rejoice that I am His and He is mine.  I will never be left out!  That is eternal healing and hope.  

p.s.  I am praying that I get to meet those two women on the first day of clinic next year; with good news of healing and hope.

Are you asking God to use you today?

That was my prayer as the team of 70 Americans began working.  "God use me to make a difference."  I was thinking the difference would be in the lives of the Ivorians, but God seems to always go beyond what we ask.  He generally does more than what we request.  He knows what the real needs are and how to accomplish them.  Sometimes we are the need, not others.  Let me tell my story.

I am not a doctor, nurse or in the medical field and I am at a medical clinic on a medical mission.  Being the organized and administrative person that God has made me, I quickly found a place to serve.  I would be the "gopher" for Sabrina, the head co-ordinator for Everything on the trip.  My jobs included putting patients in order to be seen by a doctor; escorting patients to the surgical tent; locate needed supplies; finding transporter to take patients from the OR to the post-op tent; locating translators (I barely speak English, let alone Lobi); and giving women pregnancy tests.  Yes, you read right!  So I guess I now AM in the medical field.

I can tell you that by the end of the day I was worn out and had no problems falling asleep.  There was no need to hit the gym, I must have walked 5 miles before noon.  

We were making a difference in the lives.  People with cataracts left the surgical trailer seeing.  The lame were able to walk after Dr. Jay, the orthopedic, worked on them.  Women were received their dignity and life back, having been helped by the OB/GYN team.  We were making a big difference.

I was feeling pretty good about what we were doing and the part that I was playing.  In fact so good that I began thinking how vital and important I was as I ran around the camp getting things done. Although I never said it aloud, my self talk went like this "I am getting it done! I am so important here.  I am working hard and I am sure that they are glad that I am on this team.  What in the world would they do without me?"  Now before you start thinking horrible thoughts about me, I know that sometimes your self  talk is not always pure or true or noble.

When out of the clear blue, I hit the skids.  Due to heat exhaustion, I was flat on my back with an IV in my arm.  I found myself with no energy, laying on the hospital bed unable to organize and "get it done".  The team would have to do it without me.   And they did.

I had two days and nights of resting, drinking, cool showers.  But more importantly, I had two days repenting.  Asking God once again to remove my prideful, self-centered attitude.  "Pride comes before the fall" was ever before me.  The forgiveness was immediate, the recovery has taken some time.

My prayer today is that God will use me even if it means that the lesson is for me.  And most of the time, it is! 

Have you ever wanted to see God at work?  Go to a third world country.

I am not saying that God is absent and not where I live.  Not at all.  I have seen Him do amazing things and answer my prayers right here in my own home.  BUT, when you are so far out and help in not available, God is the only answer.

Our ride pulled unto the campsite at Doropo.  With lighting speed, all 60 riders were off that bus!  We gathered our things and found our tent that we would call home for the next ten days.  The advanced team had prepared our dinner and we were excited to be there.  Excited for many reasons- we were off that bus; there was a real white porcelain toilet;  the food was familiar and good. But nothing could compare to the greetings by the Ivorians.  The children ran along side our bus waving and smiling.  The people were already lined up at the gate to be seen by the doctors.  The shouts of praise that we had arrived. We were "rock stars".

Quickly, we were brought back into reality, when we were told that the water pump had gone out.  We needed to pray that the men would be able to fix it or we would have to leave. OH NO, that would mean back on the bus!  

We prayed and prayed.  Pleading with God and reminding Him of all the preparation to get there and what He had done in the past.  Prayers going up over a water pump.  God answered.  In a short time, water was flowing again into our camp.

Here- at my house, if the water stops, my first response is not prayer.  I call the city water works or a plumber. 
There- I must pray, there is no one else.
Here- I go into self sufficient mode, who do I call? Where is my checkbook?
There- I must run to God. 
Here- resources are abundant. 
There- resources are limited, you must rely on God. 
Here- I miss out on seeing God at work in everyday things. 
There- you see first hand how God and only God provides.

I can learn and grow from being there!

What to do on a 10 hour bus ride through Africa? 
Due to the bouncing, sleeping is out.
Due to the wind (the windows must be down to let air in, since there is no working air conditioner), reading is out, (my contacts would dry out).
Due to the people and animals on the road, praying it is!  If you have ever driven in a third world country, you know what I mean.

Actually, I prayed and listened to praise music on my ipod.  For the duration of the trip, the countryside seemed to remain the same, yet the poverty and living conditions, not to mention the road, only worsened.

Psalms 61:1-2a "Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I call to Thee."

It doesn't matter if you are on a bus in the middle of a dry, dusty land with your hair blowing in all directions or in your little kitchen wiping up another spill, prayer and praise are good.  Prayer and praise makes the experience better.  Prayer and praise raises you to a new altitude.   

When you think about it, we are all traveling somewhere.  Prayer and praise just makes the journey.

I am boarding a flight to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.  I hope that someone knows the way.  Just a few months ago I would have been hard pressed to be able to point it out on a map.  Why OUA when the mission station is in Doropo, Cote d'Ivoire?  It is the nearest International airport.  And by nearest, I mean it is only another 10 hour bus ride rather than the 15-18 hours it takes from Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.  

At least I know where I am going, well sort of.  Think of Sarah, who packed up and followed Abraham into an unknown desert. 

I Peter 3:6  "Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear."

Sarah would have missed out on becoming the mother of the promised nation if she allowed fear to stop her.  She would have missed the promise of God if she would have not obeyed the call.  She would not have been our example today.

Fear can grip us.  Fear can stop us in our tracks.  Fear can paralyze us.  Fear can kill our dreams.  Sarah moved forward trusting God.

The pilot did know the way to OUA and after 20 hours, we and all our baggage arrived safely. Although, Sarah on a camel, was probably more comfortable than economy class seats.

What is stopping you from moving forward?  What is holding you back from the promises of God?  Trust the pilot of your life, he knows the way.