There has been a lot going on and I am not sure where to start...
Several months ago, I was praying about my future with Orphan Relief and Rescue-- whether I would remain in Liberia, go back home or do something completely different. As I prayed I heard two things very clearly from God. First, it is not time to leave Liberia yet. Second, I felt very strongly that as I continued with ORR I needed to prepare to be doing something new, something outside healthcare. I won't lie, that was very difficult for me, I think nursing is embedded in my DNA. As I continued to seek God I felt more and more peace about it, until I didn't even think about it for a couple months. In March, Tim (ORR's president) visited us here. During that time he asked me to consider taking on the shared role of Country Director for ORR in Liberia. Our current Country Director has decided not to return to the field, so another staff member and I would be sharing the responsibilities of running ORR in Liberia. Tim thought he was going to surprise me with the request, but instead I shocked him when I said that God had already been preparing me for this. Starting this month Matthew Cramer and I will be taking on this new role, leading our team here. I suppose this is a promotion of sorts, for now I will be sharing my time between healthcare and director.
There are other personnel changes as well. Some key long term staff are leaving and new people are joining the team. We also have several important projects going on including the first orphanage we have build from the ground up being completed and moving the kids in next month. We are meeting with over 150 kids each week in small groups, teaching and playing and offering them one on one time. Over all the health of the kids is better than before, but malaria and other illnesses still strike often. One boy, Michael, could use specific prayers as he is fighting severe liver disease. He is hospitalized now and doesn't seem to be responding to the meds. Everything that can be done for him here, is being done.
I would covet your prayers in this crazy time. Please pray for wisdom in this new role and for unity among the team throughout all the upcoming changes. Pray for Michael and the other kids health as rainy season sets in. We long to show them Jesus in everything we do-- to train them up in the way they should go. This is extremely difficult when they are not getting that influence from anyone else.
Currently I plan to be arriving home in mid-July and then return to Liberia at the end of September. Besides catching up with friends and family as able, I will be spending some of that time working in ORR's US office that is moving to Burien, WA this summer, so I will be close to home!
