Category Archives: Ceremonies & church happenings

Beginnings and UCC invite

In less than 2 months’ time we will be retired.  We have been so blessed over these past 43 years – yes, we left for Zaire from Davis, California in May of 1978!   University Covenant Church, UCC, in Davis nurtured …

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Nursing school graduation!

Last Sunday, we had the pleasure of attending the mission’s nursing school graduation.  Nineteen new RNs received their diplomas with the blessing of the school, local authorities, the church, friends, and family.  What a celebration, and what joy to see …

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Gamboula’s new city hall dedication

Roy and I went to the opening and dedication of the new city hall in “downtown” Gamboula on Wednesday, August 14th.  The 14th is CAR’s actual day of declaring independence in 1958, and the independence was set …

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Celebration at the local Catholic Church

Wow!  The pomp and circumstance of the local Catholic Church’s service was something to experience!  We were invited to attend the blessing service, on Pentecost Sunday, of 3 newly appointed Abbes.  Complete with incense and bells, parading the cross up …

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Blessings for new deacons and deaconesses

Our helper in our home, Sylvie, recently was asked to be a deaconess in the local church.  She took some time to pray about it, at first not sure of accepting the position.  After consideration, she felt that even though …

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Worship at the CEFA farm

As we wrote about in our recent newsletter, we felt led to start up a Sunday morning worship service at the farm.  There are many families that have joined us the last two Sundays, and we are excited to think …

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Celebrating Jesus’ birth

It’s summertime in S. Africa.  School has just finished and families are heading off for summer vacation.  Businesses slow down and tourists fill the area, in spite of the great white sharks roaming about in the nearby ocean.  Because of …

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Easter! He is risen! Allelujah!

We celebrate the Messiah’s resurrection in so many different ways.  We gathered around a bonfire in Josh & Kimia’s backyard with family and friends, to sing praises as the sun rose early Sunday morning.  The girls dyed hardboiled eggs and …

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Seder – our version of the Passover meal

 

 

Josh had researched and put together a Seder celebration to do with some of his high school kids he’s mentoring, so he led our family through the same ceremony.  We do try to have a Seder supper before …

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Pastor Bertelot Bedagba is back at Gamboula

 

When we first arrived at Gamboula back in 1998, yes!, about 17 years ago now, Past. B was our next door neighbor and he was the mission hospital’s chaplain.  He went on to pastor churches in a couple of …

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