Keir and Joanna Thelander

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Prayer Letter

Surgery, Snakes, and the Son #34
Thelander Update

September 22, 2008

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1



Here there and everywhere!!
Our last letter was in March of 2008. Here is what we have been up to and how God continues to work in us and through us.

• April - Indianapolis!!!
o Great times with Grammie and Roy!!
o Reporting on God’s work in Gabon: Men’s Breakfast, Sunday morning services, Senior High Youth Group, Ministry Update at Southport Presbyterian Church. It was great to see many of you during these times.
o Times with friends, what a blessing!
• A night in Toledo, updating some short-termers. Thanks for all of your work and sacrifice !
• May – Rochester, NY!!!
o More fun for the kids with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Deborah and Aden!!
o Reporting on God’s work in Gabon: Missions Connection and Ministry Update at Browncroft Community Church. It was privilege to see many of you during this time.
o Times with friends!
o Keir and Joanna to San Francisco for the funeral of one of our long/short-termers Chad 
o Reporting on God’s work in Gabon: Stop in Los Angeles for a ministry update, Sunday morning service and Ministry Update at the Alliance Church of Kailua, Hawaii
• June – Cleveland and Philadelphia!!!
o Time with friends! Thanks for making our time in Cleveland special
o Reporting on God’s work in Gabon: Sunday morning services, Ministry Update, time with our Adopt-a-Missionary Group of Grace Church – MHC and Sunday morning services and Ministry Update at Grace Church – OBC!!
o Fun time with Uncle Kirk, Aunt Gina, Eva, Mia, and Erik!!
• June – Back to New York!!!
o Family reunion – a wonderful time with relatives!
o Final speaking engagement in New Hartford, NY
• July - Home to Gabon!!!
o Hospital work!
o Departure of our house help who will be getting married and moving to Libreville
• August
o Field Forum in Lambarene - Thanks Pastor Bill for your great teaching !
o Joanna’s parents arrive.
• September
o Another trip to Libreville for renewal of long-term visa, God provides!

As you can see the last 6 months have been quite full. The above “itinerary” was thankfully filled with real people, not just events. Praise the Lord for the many of you who have and continue to support us in prayer and financially. Six months like that couldn’t be made in our own strength, but only by God answering the prayers of our family and many friends (some new, some old).


Jungle Jewel

Anyone need a ride?

This story starts the day after our return from the US. Keir was asked to see a patient in Libreville. After evaluating him, it was decided he should come down to Bongolo when the specialist (Dr. Ron Sutherland) was to arrive about a month later. Finally, we made it to Bongolo. After about a month Keir and Luke took Grandma and Grandpa to Mouila (the closest airport) so they could fly back to Libreville.

As a good grandchild, Luke wanted to stay and wave “good-bye” to Grandma and Grandpa, which just provides a myriad of cultural experiences -watching the parade of Zain (the major cell phone company) employees bring flowers to a certain popular singer as he exited the plane. Next, we saw the circus of impatience as people rush to leave the airport (remember the plane only has about 20 passengers), as we were lagging behind, a big risk. Next a gentleman came to me and said, “Are you going to Bongolo?” It must have been the signs on the car that gave us away. “There is someone who would like a ride.” Keir said, “Yes we are.” Though we don’t routinely pick up people, Keir and Luke had an almost empty car and said ok.

Who do you think it was? The man Keir had seen in Libreville right after returning from the US! As we recognized each other, someone else approached Keir asking for a ride for himself and his wife. Another, “Sure” and finally a young woman with a large bag asked for a ride into Mouila. Another passenger taken. So with 2 in the front and 4 in the back we headed to Mouila, dropped off our first passenger and the next asked if we could stop by the “hotel” to pick up his luggage before heading down to Bongolo, 20 minutes later, after he changed clothes and paid the bill, we were on the road. The man from Libreville was operated on by Dr. Ron, the woman was operated on by Keir and the residents and today they were all discharged home, but this time they have to take a taxi to Mouila! Only in the jungle!!

To see some neat videos of the jungles of Gabon go to www.audio123.net/beyond.html. For more information about taking a short term mission trip to Gabon go to www.stmogabon.org.



If you would like to contribute financially to the work God has called us to in Gabon you may give through: Grace Church, 7393 Pearl Rd. Middleburg Heights, OH 44130 and write “Thelander Ministry” in the memo line or the national office at CMA, P.O. Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. Thank you for your prayers and financial sacrifice to support the work God is doing at Bongolo Evangelical Hospital.


In God’s Overwhelming Grace,

Keir, Joanna, Luke, and Sarah

Joanna and Keir Thelander - thelandersofgabon@yahoo.com
Bongolo Hospital – bongolohospital.org
Christian & Missionary Alliance - www.cmalliance.org
PAACS - www.paacs.net

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Prayer Requests
• Praise God for a safe and people-filled 3 months in the States.
• Pray for the arrival of Jessica next week. She is coming to assist with PAACS, assist with Luke and Sarah, and discover what life is like as a missionary.
• Pray for Luke and Sarah as they adjust to life without their friend Cherissa.
• Praise for our newest addition – Mocha – our puppy!
• Pray for all the upcoming travel and planning of the surgery residents’ rotations.

Gabon

Approved Specials

If you wish to contribute to one of our specials (vehicle funds, building projects, etc.) you may select it from the Approved Specials List.

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