Solomon Islands: Wait, what?!?

This week we've taken a bit of time off. Our Vanuatu tourist visa ran out, and we were asked to renew it. That meant another fee and a bit of paperwork. So, we decided instead to put that money toward plane tickets, leave the country briefly, and get another free tourist visa upon re-entry into Vanuatu.

So, yesterday we packed one backpack for both of us, drove to the almost-empty airport of Port Vila, boarded a Boeing 737 with about 20 other passengers (including a super pumped-up French weightlifting team) and about 200 empty seats... and flew to the Solomon Islands!

We were greeted by Andrew, our brother in law who had managed to keep the whole thing under wraps, and finally, we bounced our way down the dirt road to our astonished (slightly confused) niece Nicola and nephew Anthony, and Dani's very surprised sister Megan. Much smiling, laughing, and catch-up time has ensued since that moment.

Now to enjoy one of life's rare treasures - unexpected time with family! I could say more, but duty calls and we're all off for an ice cream outing!

- Gabe

Vanuatu: and the unpredictable process of healing

I'm often surprised by what God prioritizes, and when He decides to interrupt my agenda for something He knows is far more important.

Take the last few weeks for example: I see there is painting, pruning, plumbing, building, and serving to do here in Vanuatu - so as Dani shops for our supplies and cooks her heart out (tonight was incredible homemade pizza!!!) and the nurses here and DTS School students run medical clinics, I throw myself into the practical work.

What I don't always see is fatherhood, careening towards me, every day a little closer.

Luckily there is one who sees, and He knows how to prepare.
So, as God would have it, every day I find myself feeling oddly strong emotions at less-than-convenient times. And when I've had enough of running away from how I feel by accomplishing tasks, I finally ask:

Father, why do I feel so insufficient?

...and in my heart I sense a subtle response.

"Because, Gabe, this situation reminds you of being a little boy who never felt like he lived up to people's expectations."

Well what do you want me to do with THAT?!?
(Is usually my incredulous response)

"I want you to learn to like him. I want you to like Gabe Kirkwood. Not just the "young man Gabe" - the one who performs well, and smiles warmly, and earns people's respect..."

"I want you to like the 'little boy Gabe Kirkwood', the one who hadn't quite figured that stuff out. The one who made mistakes, who didn't usually get it right."

Why? Why is this important now?

"Because you just may have a little boy soon, and if you do, he's going to be a lot like the boy you were!"

"...And because I have ALWAYS liked the little boy you were. Forgive yourself for everything you couldn't be... So you can love and accept your child with open arms, the way I've always accepted you."

Vanuatu - Life in the Valley

A flurry of activity has happened since I posted last week!  We've said goodbye to our teams bound for Israel, Honk Kong, and India, packed, flown to the island of Efate (Vanuatu) with the remaining teams, re-established connections with friends here, and moved into the apartment we'll stay at for the duration of our outreach.

We are situated in a lush jungle valley called Teouma which is outside Port Vila, the capital and largest urban center in Vanuatu.  Just a couple of dirt roads away from us is our organization's "Family Care Centre" (the "FCC"), where we spend most of our days.  The FCC is a facility offers multiple clinics each week, giving free primary healthcare to anyone who walks in! 

I have been able to take charge of household projects, planting trees, painting furniture, and doing the odd carpentry/maintenance jobs, and Dani has been cooking up an incredible array of delicious and healthy meals!

All in all, it has been wonderful to take care of the practical household needs for Anna and Mel (the FCC's two nurses and only current long-term staff) so that they (and our outreach teams) can focus all their energy on their patients, giving love, connection, and practical medical care to whoever comes in.

Although it's very different from our last outreach (which was in the bush out in the outer islands) we both feel privileged to be here, and when we asked God to guide us to a verse in the Bible that can direct our purpose and focus our efforts here, the last verse that He used to speak to me was Matthew 20:28...

Here Jesus explained that He did not come to be served, but to serve others, and to pour out His life.  It is good and freeing to do simple tasks to serve other people and release them into effective work!

Thanks for your prayers, we appreciate our friends and family!

New Zealand: Visas, Vaccines, and Vanuatu - Staff Adventures!

Thus ends a long period of blog silence!  And although our blog has been uncharacteristically quiet, our lives have been anything but!

Time has flown since we received our NZ visas and stepped on that plane that carried us away from the US of A, through midwife appointments and ultrasounds, mentoring students and a memorial service (Gabe's Grandpa passed away in August), absorbing as many useful skills and spiritual insights as possible from our incredible guest teachers, and preparing for another outreach with our students and staff - with sights set on Vanuatu, Israel, Hong Kong, and India.

Dani has logged the students' vaccine records, sorted, transported, and ensured that each one has received all the immunizations they need to travel to their international locations.  Gabe has been busy with various painting, planting, and re-modeling projects:

As well as coordination of a simulated medical clinic where students got to practice the medical skills they'll use at their destinations.

Lecture phase has been wonderful, as we serve side-by-side, learning how to help students, heal, grow, and become healthy followers of Christ, ready for months of pouring themselves out, serving and healing people of the nations.

As I sit here with amongst piles of clothes and bags, with varied outreach supplies strewn across the floor, I am struck by the strange and transient nature of our life.  Are we ready to go and share the love and truths that have changed our hearts?  Have we given our students all they need to be successful?  Are we ready to be parents?  How in the world does time go so fast?

In light of questions (be they light and ordinary, or the sort that feel overwhelming) I am convinced that God is constant and utterly unchanging, faithful in his love toward us, and I know every good gift comes from him.  I believe He will help us (as we are going to Vanuatu aiming to make Him happy), guide us to the good works He prepared for us in advance, do miracles to prove His love and wonder, and that He will meet with His children.

It's going to be a good outreach.  

Wherever you are, invite Him to pull you into the present, and refresh you by doing something more, something better than what you were expecting from today.

Until next week,
-Gabe (and Dani!)