Last Saturday was my birthday, and Dani rented us a sporty red Mazda (woo hoo!) so we could drive the circumference of the entire island (Efate is one of the only islands in Vanuatu that has a "sealed" road all the way around). On our way around we made a stop at Tanna Coffee (Vanuatu's biggest coffee maker) for a factory tour (and a Mocha), plus an epic picnic (with 7-Layer-Nacho-Dip) overlooking a beach with beautiful aqua-teal water, and we finished with a lazy drive around the island just talking and admiring the volcanic landscape and sprawling jungle.
We wrapped up the day by gathering all our friends who are here together at the clinic for Jello-cake and ice cream!
As we look toward leaving next week - and look forward to meeting up with all the other teams, hearing their stories, hosting some family visitors from the Solomon Islands, finally meeting our little one, and seeing both our sets of parents next year - I find myself reflecting on all the things I am thankful for. What a privilege this life is.
And as I wrap up the birthday festivities, I am reminded of how much I am blessed to have a wife who is so consistent, thoughtful, caring, and beautiful.
I'd encourage you today: Tell the people in your life who are absolute treasures that you're thankful for them.
Nothing lasts as long as it feels like it will, and there's a lot to be grateful for when we stop to notice.
- Gabe
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Friday, November 3, 2017
Vanuatu: Back in Business
After a wonderful visit with family in the Solomon Islands (including many evening conversations as we caught up and shared ideas, a plethora of late-night board-games, and hours of playing "Pirates" with Nicola and Anthony as we sailed my hammock to "distant and magical lands!")...
We're back in Vanuatu! And we've had a blast networking with the rich international community and the visiting missions-groups here in Port Vila (including a group working with "Jesus Film" recording new languages in which to produce the video). Gabe has had opportunities to start a new carpentry, landscaping, and painting projects to keep the "Family Care Centre" in ship-shape, Dani has helped welcome people into the clinic and taken their basic information to keep things running smooth for the nurses.
Many days we are met with unexpected opportunities to show God's love, such as praying for Jimmy, a man we met while out walking who has a broken leg that is slow to heal, and inviting him to come to the next free clinic. Or visiting the jail, where Gabe had the opportunity to share with the inmates a message from Deuteronomy 30:11-16.
What a rich time it was to be able to share hope with men walking through difficult times, saying "You have a God who is not far away! He gives you opportunities to choose between things that lead to life and ones that lead to death, but He WANTS to see you choose life! If you are feeling like there is no hope for you, that is not the voice of your Father, because He will not convict you to take away your hope. Right here in verse 19 He calls out to you 'Choose LIFE, that you may live' because he wants to give you hope that life does not end here. You can have good friends, see your needs met, have a healthy family... God wants you to live with hope, God wants you to choose paths that lead to life!"
We're back in Vanuatu! And we've had a blast networking with the rich international community and the visiting missions-groups here in Port Vila (including a group working with "Jesus Film" recording new languages in which to produce the video). Gabe has had opportunities to start a new carpentry, landscaping, and painting projects to keep the "Family Care Centre" in ship-shape, Dani has helped welcome people into the clinic and taken their basic information to keep things running smooth for the nurses.
Many days we are met with unexpected opportunities to show God's love, such as praying for Jimmy, a man we met while out walking who has a broken leg that is slow to heal, and inviting him to come to the next free clinic. Or visiting the jail, where Gabe had the opportunity to share with the inmates a message from Deuteronomy 30:11-16.
What a rich time it was to be able to share hope with men walking through difficult times, saying "You have a God who is not far away! He gives you opportunities to choose between things that lead to life and ones that lead to death, but He WANTS to see you choose life! If you are feeling like there is no hope for you, that is not the voice of your Father, because He will not convict you to take away your hope. Right here in verse 19 He calls out to you 'Choose LIFE, that you may live' because he wants to give you hope that life does not end here. You can have good friends, see your needs met, have a healthy family... God wants you to live with hope, God wants you to choose paths that lead to life!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)