Shake Ya Ga-bon-bon!: August 2009

Today is my last day in Gabon....which is still not feeling real. This whole week has just been a whirlwind of goodbyes. Last Friday, we said goodbye to the Washington team as well as Torey :(:(:(!! I cried for a good 15 minutes haha...definitely didn't see that coming. Saturday we did a medical clinic with the Pittsburg team. Mama Jeanine gave us all dresses as a gift...so sweet!!Sunday, we went to Avea II (the biggest CMA church in Libreville)...which was also the first church I went to here in Gabon. My good friend Martin goes to this church. He is starting an NGO in Gabon called HIV Hope. It's already legalized in the States. It's purpose is to slow the spread of HIV, while getting rid of the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. Many people here in Gabon are shunned and ridiculed if they have HIV/AIDS. HIV Hope is designed to give these people HOPE that only comes through Jesus....pretty awesome concept. Torey and I partnered with Martin this summer, and hope to raise awareness at our schools. Martin is an awesome guy! Sunday night, the Pittsburg team left :(....last team of the summer! Monday we all went to the Straw's to hang out and watch movies with Megan. Tuesday we went to Point Denis for our final beach day! It was so fun and relaxing. Tuesday night we went out for Chinese food...mmmmm! Wednesday we went to the tourist marche and then to Hope House for one last time. Ah, it was hard to leave! Everyone was crying...even the kids. I'll post those pics later. Wednesday night we went over to the Straw's again. Zach made really good Chinese food!! We watched 17 Again...haha. Today we did our last medical clinic. Mama Christine who always works with us in the pharmacy gave us girls jewelry, and Mama Jeanine gave us all wooden elephants. They are always so kind and generous...the most selfless people I know. This was yet again another tearful goodbye. I don't have much time to write....have to go pack! Our flight leaves tonight at 12:30 am. For our final meal, our mother (Meredith :) ) is making us grilled cheese sandwiches, brownies, and icecream....mmmm!! I love everyone, and I can't wait to be back in the good ole' United States and see everyone!

Tim, Mer, Leann, and the interns....our big happy family!

Danielle, Christian (an awesome Gabonese guy who worked with us most days) and me

me, Hannah, and Torey

Martin and me at Avea II

the Pittsburg team at the clinic with our new attire from Mama Jeanine!

a beautiful baby boy at the clinic..he was sick :(

all the girls :)

Hello everyone!! So....we FINALLY got internet back here in Libreville! I don't even know where to begin on catching everyone up...let's see. So the teams from Ohio and Mass. left...and we got two more teams! The first is from Washington state (they arrived the 24th) and the second is from Pittsburg, PA (they arrived the 30th). The first week the Washington team worked with a local church Nzeng-Ayong. They are building a new church, so we helped pour cement for the floors and things like that. This team is really great-it's the smallest team we've had so far. They are all really close to one another and are so much fun to hang out with! The Pittsburg team got here on Thurday, then Friday they left for Ndjole. Zach, Danielle, and I went with them. We were helping give Pastor Phillip indoor plumbing for his house. Some of you might remember sweet little Arnold from my first Ndjole trip early this summer... Pastor Phillip is his father. Needless to say, we got a lot of play time with Arnold...so much fun! We got to Ndjole on Friday expecting to stay in a school house that we had scouted out before. We were very surprised to find that the mayor was on vacation...so we got to stay in his house! It was so nice and even had a working toilet! Wooo hooo!!! I was the designated "cook" for the trip...so I was happy to see a real kitchen with a stove as well :). Saturday was a work day...we started by digging a line from the water source to Pastor Phillip's house...200 meters! It was hard work (I stink at digging haha). But everyone was so helpful and the whole village pitched in to help. We got the line dug by the end of the day and were pretty proud of our work! Sunday we went to church and of course did another music special :). Two guys from the team played piano (Ben) and drums (Jacob), and the girls sang (Me, Heather, and Olivia). We had our own little band! haha. As the church service was coming to a close we got some pretty devastating news....one of the Mama's from the village was mad that the line was dug so close to her house...so we had to redig a pretty large portion! Pastor Phillip said that the men of the church would work on the project that afternoon, and we would finish Monday. However, when we got there on Monday...the project was done! They had worked all afternoon to finish...we were so surprised and greatful. We started on a new project Monday...digging a line from the septic tank to the house. It had to be really deep so it was pretty hard work. Monday morning I wasn't feeling too hot and neither was Jacob from the team. We both stayed back with a leader after lunch...and then we got really sick. It was noooo fun. We were both in bed basically the whole rest of the day and night. I was so amazed, though, because the girls from the team really came behind me and supported me. They helped prepare the meals and let me rest. It was really sweet. It also made me realize how blessed we were to have a nice house with a REAL bathroom....being sick in a shack would have been...well..horrible. haha:). Tuesday, we decided to pack up and leave a day early because Jacob's fever wasn't going down and he was still getting sick every hour. We left around lunch time and got back to Libreville that night. When we left, Arnold cried and cried. It was really sad..probably the last time I'll see the little guy. I love him so much :(. Wednesday, we went to the tourist market with both teams, and then to the Hope House. Yesterday we went to Santa Clara (a BEAUTIFUL beach) for the day....it was nice to relax. Today we are doing a medical caravan near our house in Libreville. I can't believe I leave in a week...this summer has seriously flown by. I've learned so much, and I can only hope people will see the change in my life from this trip. Although I will miss it here, I am pretty pumped to get home and see my mom, dad, family, friends, and Aaron :). I can't wait to share all my experiences in person!! It will be great! OOh before I forget...quick update on the Hope House. A lady has given them land (can't remember if I already wrote about that..) but they a lot to do! There is no water or electricity here but there is a water source they can use nearby. The land still had to be cleared and then building plans will begin. Pastor Israel and his wife are really excited to see how the Lord will use this land to further their efforts to take care of abandoned children. Please continue to pray that everything will work out! Here are pics from the last couple weeks: