Day 11

Today is Thursday. Earlier in the week, Ann agreed to conduct the devotional this morning at chapel. She had been in a mild panic as to the topic and scripture she should discuss. Each of us offered encouragement and suggestions, but she faithfully continued to pray and wait for God’s leading as to what she should share. She arose about 4 this morning to make her notes, confident that she had received the direction she’d been waiting for. She thinks she isn’t a public speaker. She thinks she too easily breaks into tears and chokes up. She did great. Her topic was on obedience. The outcome was a wonderful testimony on the importance of emptying ourselves of our selves and waiting on the Lord to fill us for his purpose. She was congratulated by nearly everyone, was greatly relieved, and looked forward to a nap.

After chapel, the construction team finished hooking up the float based automatic shut off for the water tanks. We tested it and it worked (hooray). This was a much bigger job than several of had expected it to be.

Once that was accomplished, we fixed a couple of other things at the towers, especially adding a piece of flashing to deflect dripping water away from the metal tower frame and platform, as well as the wooden support beams we had added. Once we are gone, some of the local workers will cover the wood supports with a pitch like substance to protect the wood from both water and termites.

Later in the afternoon, Bud (and Larry) installed two new light fixtures in the sterilization room next to the old operating room. Then they joined Mark and Glen who were busy fabricating metal countertops for Janet (missionary) in her kitchen. She has been a great help to us. Making the countertops and attaching them seemed like a very small task for us to do to return a favor to her.

Dr. Kari had invited Anna to have dinner with us. Anna is a former nurse at the hospital who had to retire a year ago. Dr. Kari and Barb got to know her on the team’s first trip to Zimba and they’ve employed her as a translator on each of the last two trips which we did this trip as well. She is a very strong, active Christian. At dinner, she described some of the activities she and women from several churches in Zimba are engaged in to relieve the plight of women and orphans in the community. Also, when asked how she had acquired such strength to deal with the challenges she faces, she unloaded an amazing life story that would make an inspiring motion picture, although many would probably not believe it to be true. It’s a story of death, wrongful accusations of murder, of ostracism, ridicule, contempt, theft of children and property, of depression, of resilience, of perseverance, struggle, of reconciliation, of reunions, salvation, and recovery. We were able to capture most of the conversation and story-telling on video. If it turned out well, it should make for incredible viewing.