So Praise the Lord! We and all our luggage made it back safely. Now we will try and put posts up about what our past month has looked like. Sorry for the lack of posts while we were in the Congo. The internet connection was less than ideal and we had some technical difficulties so not many posts made it up but that it isn't to say we didn't try.
More posts coming soon.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Safe Arrival
The nine of us who left on the 12 arrived safe and sound with all of our luggage: Praise the Lord!
Paul will be flying in this coming Tuesday and then we will have the whole team together.
This first week has been mostly introductions and building relationships with the Congolese people. Kinshasa is a beautiful city which feels like a small village. The people are friendly and welcoming. Some members of our group are finding the air pollution stifiling but for the most part we are all doing well.
We are learning to make the adjustments that living in a new culture requires. Yesterday we went and spent sometime at Boma yi sika an orphanage that the regular team will be working with more as the month progresses. Today we spent time at Bon Berger the clinic that the nurses will spend some of their time at. Both projects were started by local people with extrodinqary vision and heart for their people.
Now I have to go. We pray that our families and friends are doing well at home.
Thank you all for your continuing prayer and support.
Britt on behalf of the team
Paul will be flying in this coming Tuesday and then we will have the whole team together.
This first week has been mostly introductions and building relationships with the Congolese people. Kinshasa is a beautiful city which feels like a small village. The people are friendly and welcoming. Some members of our group are finding the air pollution stifiling but for the most part we are all doing well.
We are learning to make the adjustments that living in a new culture requires. Yesterday we went and spent sometime at Boma yi sika an orphanage that the regular team will be working with more as the month progresses. Today we spent time at Bon Berger the clinic that the nurses will spend some of their time at. Both projects were started by local people with extrodinqary vision and heart for their people.
Now I have to go. We pray that our families and friends are doing well at home.
Thank you all for your continuing prayer and support.
Britt on behalf of the team
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Reflections on Orientation
As Loyd and Carol (the coordinators for the Winnipeg Action program) say our team is the largest and most diverse as far as age and experience. We are the first team to have professionals going in a professional capacity. So this poses unique challenges to our team but nothing we can't overcome with love and humility relying on Christ's strength and grace.
Our first week and a half of orientation has been good. I feel as if it has given us tools to equip us in transitioning between cultures. For the first week we had twice daily sessions on topics from evangelism to listening prayer. We also had powerful worship sessions. During the evenings we did team bonding activities like rafting or floating down the Roseau river, square dancing. Our days quickly filled up with team times, intercession prayer time and logistics meetings.
Most of the groups flew out on Thursday but our team and the Peru team spent some extra time here. Our team flies out on Sunday the twelfth at 6:00pm. We did language training because most people speak French or lingala. So we tried to learn a few key phrases.
Tonight we tackled team packing and somehow we managed to fit everything that needed to go into our bags including medical supplies donated to the clinics. We were all so relieved when the packing was done.
Today we Skyped Jean Baptiste the local pastor that we partner with. I think I speak for the whole team when I say we are so excited to just be in the DRC. Only one sleep and close to 28hrs of air transport stand between us and the DRC.
God has blessed us with a team filled with amazingly talented and gifted individuals on our team. I cannot wait to see how God shapes and forms each one of our lives during this trip and how He will use our journeys to impact and encourage others.
While it is getting late and I should try and rest before we fly out.
I'd like to leave you with a few prayer requests
>Unity and humility within our team
>Safety while traveling, Paul, our leader is flying out a week later so He is flying alone and we are flying without him.
>Pray for patience and grace as we adjust to living life within a new cultural context
>Pray that we can encourage and lift up the Congolese people that we meet and interact with
Merci Mingi (thanks so much) for your prayers and support.
Brittany on behalf of the Congo team
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Meet Our Team
The Regular Team
Brittany Abrahamson• Age – 19 (turns 20 this year)
• Home – Winnipeg, MB
• Life now – I am currently attending CMU and living in Winnipeg,
attending the Grain of Wheat Church in Winnipeg. This past
year God has been reminding me over and over that “A man’s
heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps”
(Proverbs 16:9). I am learning to hold all things loosely. This
includes my long-term plans. At this point in my life the only
plans I know for sure are that I want to love and follow God and
share His love with other people. I’m not sure what shape these
plans will take but I’m open and excited to see where God will
take me as I continue to remain open to His guiding.
Luke Brodland
• Age – 18
• Home – Winkler, MB
• Life now – Last year I graduated from high school. I am
currently trying to figure out where God wants me, in the future.
I feel he wants me to go into some sort of ministry and have
been thinking of going to Bible school. I have been working at a
bakery, have started working construction and will most likely be
framing homes in spring. I enjoy playing sports with friends. I
also love reading books that make me think a lot. I was baptized
recently, after much searching for who God is. And so, I’m really
excited to learn more about God.
Carianne Neufeld
• Age – 21
• Home – Jordan Station, ON
• Life now – I am currently finishing my 3rd year at Brock
University in Ontario. I look forward to teaching French, English
and the arts to children. I have a heart for kids and youth, and I
love the idea of having my own class one day. My favourite
past-times are volleyball, gymnastics and swimming. I also love
to play the guitar and sing. I lead worship at my church and at
the camp I work at in the summer. I am passionate about
sharing Christ’s love to people, making people feel valued and
cared for. I think that is why I want to be a teacher, and why I
am interested in ACTION for this summer.
Paul Peters
• Age – 22
• Home – Gnadenthal, MB
• Life now – I am a student at CMU in the Biblical and
Theological Studies program with hopes to work in Youth
Ministry in some capacity one day. During the summer I usually
farm with my dad however for the last two years I have been
spending the months of July and early August in the DRC. I
have really grown to appreciate and love the Congolese people
and I am excited to join the team again this summer.
Phillip Unruh
• Age – 18
• Home – Valley Center, Kansas
• Life now – Our family consists of my parents and 5 boys. My
two younger brothers are 11 and 12 and my two older brothers
are 23 and 26. My home church is the 1st Mennonite Brethren
church in Wichita. I go to a small private school called Berean
Academy and I’m a senior. I am graduating this year and for the
first part of the summer I hope to work with my friend’s Dad
taking down old telephone poles. Over the past summers I’ve
worked construction and odd jobs for neighbors. I love hanging
out with my friends and making new ones. I like to hunt when I
can.
Cathy Wall
• Age – 21
• Home – Portage la Prairie, MB
• Life now – I grew up on a farm, in a Christian home with my
parents and an older sister and brother. After high school I
spent a year at Providence College in order to make my faith my
own. Currently I am at U of M and I just finished my Bachelor of
Environment, Earth and Resources in Geography. I have been
working at Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary School this past
year as an EA. I currently attend Fort Garry MB Church, teach
Sunday school and attend the College and Career. I am hoping
to get into Education in Sept. and prayerfully wait on God to
direct me for the next couple of years
• Home – Winnipeg, MB
• Life now – I am currently attending CMU and living in Winnipeg,
attending the Grain of Wheat Church in Winnipeg. This past
year God has been reminding me over and over that “A man’s
heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps”
(Proverbs 16:9). I am learning to hold all things loosely. This
includes my long-term plans. At this point in my life the only
plans I know for sure are that I want to love and follow God and
share His love with other people. I’m not sure what shape these
plans will take but I’m open and excited to see where God will
take me as I continue to remain open to His guiding.
Luke Brodland
• Age – 18
• Home – Winkler, MB
• Life now – Last year I graduated from high school. I am
currently trying to figure out where God wants me, in the future.
I feel he wants me to go into some sort of ministry and have
been thinking of going to Bible school. I have been working at a
bakery, have started working construction and will most likely be
framing homes in spring. I enjoy playing sports with friends. I
also love reading books that make me think a lot. I was baptized
recently, after much searching for who God is. And so, I’m really
excited to learn more about God.
Carianne Neufeld
• Age – 21
• Home – Jordan Station, ON
• Life now – I am currently finishing my 3rd year at Brock
University in Ontario. I look forward to teaching French, English
and the arts to children. I have a heart for kids and youth, and I
love the idea of having my own class one day. My favourite
past-times are volleyball, gymnastics and swimming. I also love
to play the guitar and sing. I lead worship at my church and at
the camp I work at in the summer. I am passionate about
sharing Christ’s love to people, making people feel valued and
cared for. I think that is why I want to be a teacher, and why I
am interested in ACTION for this summer.
Paul Peters
• Age – 22
• Home – Gnadenthal, MB
• Life now – I am a student at CMU in the Biblical and
Theological Studies program with hopes to work in Youth
Ministry in some capacity one day. During the summer I usually
farm with my dad however for the last two years I have been
spending the months of July and early August in the DRC. I
have really grown to appreciate and love the Congolese people
and I am excited to join the team again this summer.
Phillip Unruh
• Age – 18
• Home – Valley Center, Kansas
• Life now – Our family consists of my parents and 5 boys. My
two younger brothers are 11 and 12 and my two older brothers
are 23 and 26. My home church is the 1st Mennonite Brethren
church in Wichita. I go to a small private school called Berean
Academy and I’m a senior. I am graduating this year and for the
first part of the summer I hope to work with my friend’s Dad
taking down old telephone poles. Over the past summers I’ve
worked construction and odd jobs for neighbors. I love hanging
out with my friends and making new ones. I like to hunt when I
can.
Cathy Wall
• Age – 21
• Home – Portage la Prairie, MB
• Life now – I grew up on a farm, in a Christian home with my
parents and an older sister and brother. After high school I
spent a year at Providence College in order to make my faith my
own. Currently I am at U of M and I just finished my Bachelor of
Environment, Earth and Resources in Geography. I have been
working at Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary School this past
year as an EA. I currently attend Fort Garry MB Church, teach
Sunday school and attend the College and Career. I am hoping
to get into Education in Sept. and prayerfully wait on God to
direct me for the next couple of years
The Nursing Team
Marina Doane
• Age – 24
• Home – Halifax, NS
• Life now – I graduated from Dalhousie University with a BScN
in 2007. I am currently working as a Registered Nurse at the
Children’s Hospital in Halifax on the medical/surgerical unit. I
went to the DR Congo with the ACTION team in 2007 and have
been patiently waiting for God to call me back. Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Mariam Entz
• Age – 25
• Home – Winnipeg, MB
• Life now – I am a third culture kid who spent most of my
growing up years as part of a missionary family in Burkina Faso,
West Africa. I moved to Canada for post secondary education
and have just finished my Bachelor of Nursing from the U of M.
I really enjoy holistic community centered care with specific
interest in HIV and AIDS. I am excited to see what is going on
in Congo and learn more about the church and health care in
such a setting. After a few years of clinical experience, long
term I would like to work in community health development in
Rural, Northern Canada, inner city Winnipeg or in Africa.
Linda Pimentel
• Age – 26
• Home – Winnipeg, MB
• Life now – I graduated from university with my nursing degree
in October 2008. I work at a hospital in Winnipeg caring for
patients who have had surgery. I found out about MBMSI from
some friends and they told me they knew a group that was
looking for nurses to go to DR Congo this summer. I have been
thinking about long term missions for a while. I have been on
many short term mission programs, mainly to Mexico, but I have
never done any medical mission trips so I am excited to be able
to use my nursing knowledge on this trip.
Michelle van Nes
• Age – 31
• Home – Winnipeg, MB
• Life now – Winnipeg has been my home for the past 6 years.
Prior to that I've lived mostly in Saskatoon & Prince Albert, SK.
I've been a public heath nurse for the past 7 years, working in
the inner city & the suburban areas of Winnipeg & Saskatoon.
This summer I'll be completing a 2 year masters of nursing -
nurse practitioner program from the University of Manitoba. I've
chosen ACTION because I've had a longstanding interested in
volunteer nursing and the timing works out perfectly to finally
give it a try.
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