Ok, I got a comment on a post that just reminded me of all the other things I wanted to share about the Men’s team…


For my first year in Gabon I attended a church. Every Sunday they give the statistics of how many men, women, youth, and children were present. “Men” were always the lowest number.

So when a group of twelve men come on a missions trip to Gabon it was a huge encouragement to me. Yes! There are still men of God who want to serve Him and grow in their relationship with Him! And to top that - two of the men were 72 years young! Proof that you never stop growing in your relationship with Christ!

So the team of twelve was split into two different teams: a medical team and a construction team.

The medical team was highly praised by the people that worked with them and those who had the benefit of their consultation (including me – sinus problem). But more than just being good at their job, they were also teachers. They were fantastic at training our medical ministry partners in medical stuff* (*- highly technical term). Sorry for my lack of knowledge as to what they taught, but the more important thing to me was that they were taught! Even if we don’t have a formal continuing education system, we need to continue in educating!

The construction team actually had some guys who were in the construction business! It was impressive to see how well they operated as a team during their work on the guesthouse at CFTAC (Bible School). I was very proud that these guys understood that it is not all about the task here but more about the relationships they build – they took a minute to play some football with a youngster that showed up.

The entire team also went to the Hope House (abandoned children’s home) and gave each kid a comprehensive physical exam… eyes, teeth, ears, height, weight, range of motion, checked for scoliosis, etc. They also played football with them and did those cool balloons that you can make into shapes! They made us a bouquet of balloon flowers!

We also trekked into the jungle as a team to put up four concrete posts at the PK27 property.

I'm going to become a sailor

Since I was a kid we've always had a boat... 22ft Catalina - it had a small cabin; but we only spent the night in it once. The next boat was a 19ft Flying Scott, which my dad still has. So I have some experience sailing… I know what a jib is, and I know how to yell “coming about! hardalee” (although I’m not sure how to spell it). I think I’m ready!


About now you are thinking... "Where is Leanne going with this?"

I have a decision to make... my boss has asked Hannah and me if we wanted to apply for the position that we now occupy. Apparently our status cannot remain "temporary" forever. Now please understand that it is an application process and just because we apply does not mean we will get the job. Nevertheless we are approaching it as if we would and how that affects our futures.

I tell you this to let you know what is going on in my heart and to ask for your prayers!

Please pray for guidance in making this difficult decision.

If you've heard this before plug your ears... I love seeing things/people grow! This past team reminded me why I love this ministry so much! To witness how the Holy Spirit works through another culture and people to touch hearts and lives is amazing!
But it is difficult living 6000 miles from dearly loved family and friends.
Torn is the word that comes to mind.

So I'm thinking a happy medium would be to become a sailor and travel from the US to Gabon. Dad, do you mind if I borrow your boat?

It's raining men!!

Last week we had a team of 12 men here from NJ. 

Twelve men who understood that their time here was limited.
Twelve men who were focused on how they could serve the church here - through construction projects and through the medical ministry. 
Twelve men who were focused on how God would move in their hearts and lives to make them more like Christ. 

It was amazing to watch the Holy Spirit guide and use these twelve men! 

One felt the LORD guiding him to reprioritze his life and to really take a look at what matters the most to him!

Two other men who did not know each other before the trip decided to form an accountability partnership!



Our best silly poses!  This was a fun team!




Mixing the dry cement mix on the side of the road... then hauled it into the jungle to mix it with water.





Mark and John (behind the grass) hauling the form into the jungle



We divided up into 4 teams to mark corners of a new plot of land.  Here is the finished post!

We had our ministry partners over for dinner one night!  After this picture the singing and dancing started!

It was a priviledge to serve these men and to be a witness of how the Spirit moved in their hearts during their time here. 

An encouragement to parents...

We have our first team here!!! They have been awesome – for numerous reasons which we will get into in another blog. For their first day here, Sunday, we split them up and I went with three of them to a small village church called Okolasi. They shared their testimonies while Tim translated. Normally Okolasi's church services are pretty short - not this time! After the guys finished their testimony a lady got up to give “an encouragement” – which lasted an hour!

Despite its length it was still a good story, and I wanted to share it with some of you parents. Now I’m going to just give you the gist, because in reality that is all I got! She had a son who was bad, in and out of jail, and had people that wanted to kill him. She prayed and fasted for her son for three days and begged God to change him. Somehow he got the opportunity to move to another city here, Port Gentil. Before the flight his mom met him at the airport and he told her that he knew that she loved him and that God loves him. When she talked to a cousin of hers in Port Gentil, he remarked that her son was a changed man. Now if I understood correctly this story happened awhile ago and now that son is in the ministry, either a pastor or an evangelist.

Now comes the brutally honest part… as she was telling this story my thoughts immediately turned to wondering how she and her husband had raised him. Had they disciplined him like they should have? Shown him love? Etc… This would be the point where God gently reminded me of two things.  One - I had no idea how he was raised, especially since they raise their children much differently here.  And two - am I the one to say that the parents did a good job or a bad job - God reassured me that I was NOT the judge!

As each parent can testify… you only have so much control… which eventually dwindles to little more than an influence. You can hope that you have given them a good base of values and character, but at some point they start making their own decisions.

Well this whole episode just reminded me of God’s redeeming capability. He is a powerful God that can make dramatic changes in someone’s life, no matter what their upbringing or poor decisions!