A little over 2 weeks til we leave for Zambia! We leave September 3rd and return September 20th (except Jason and Chris return Sept. 11th). Flights are DFW to DC to Johannesburg to Livingstone. Those traveling in our group are myself (prosthetist), John (ocularist), Suzanne (prosthetist), her son Cole, Rochelle (Suzanne's cousin). Jason (my husband) and Chris (engineer) will be working on installing solar energy equipment with another few guys there...we refer to them as "the solar guys". And another young lady is traveling to New Day with us who is taking a gap year to stay for an extended time as a volunteer at the orphanage. Between the 8 of us and our extra baggage with supplies, it will be quite interesting at the airports.
So many emotions this year. And so many areas of personal growth since last trip.
Learning to stay flexible: We've been trying to stay with a trip each Spring but had to push this year's trip back to September to make sure back up generators made it there on the shipping container. The change in date reminded me that I have very little control in this situation...or any situation for that matter. A lesson in trust and faith in our Father to guide me through each day.
The shipping containers have arrived with most supplies and equipment. We are still unsure on several items (like the sewing machine). There will be another container leaving with the rest of our supplies and more that will hopefully be there before next year's trip.
The laminating resin was at the Zambian border as of Monday, coming from South Africa. Praying the rest of transport goes smoothly so that the resin arrives before we do.
Learning to be brave: I'm so sad and so nervous that Chris will not be able to make this year's trip. Suzanne, another prosthetist with years of experience like Chris, will be going but this is her first trip. Chris has been my mentor and "safety net" for the past 2 times I've been to Zambia. I feel nervous that she won't be there. A lot of my excitement I've had in the past as the trip gets closer is overshadowed by doubts and fears. I'm trying to see that this is an opportunity to learn to trust and lean on our Father for strength, wisdom and endurance. I'm so much of a "I can take care of it/I can be strong" kind of person...I need to learn to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6. I keep trying to remember that I am just the "hands and feet" and God will direct this mission where He wants it to go.
Learning to talk in depth about my call (and Chris and John's) to this mission: It seems that the longer and more involved Prosthetic Promises' mission gets and the more discussions I have with people, the more I encounter questioning, even judgement, and self doubt on my part. Don't get me wrong....I've had tons of awesome conversations with people about Prosthetic Promises. It's just not all "sunshine and butterflies". I've found that global missions doesn't appeal to as many people as "keeping it local". Lots of questions about why Zambia, why do you do it this way, etc. Describing why we put this much effort and planning and funds into serving people across the globe is sometimes difficult for me to articulate to someone. And conveying that we really are trying to do responsible mission work is hard since everyone's opinion on this is different. I just feel God has called me to do this.
"Comparison kills contentment". A quote that was shared at bible study this week while we were discussing Luke 18: 9-25. It sure does---I was pretty content in life until I made my first trip to Zambia in 2014. Compare my life, our lives, here in the U.S., the land of opportunity and plenty, to those in many other parts of the world. I'm comparing....and I'm not content....I have the responsibility to do something to change the world. This is why I feel called to Prosthetic Promises' mission.
We would SO appreciate your prayers for our trip! Safe travel, having the supplies we need, that people will be able to get to us for prosthetic services. But above everything...that we give glory to God in all that we do and say during this trip. This is about Him, not about us.
Little connections and big prayers
This blog is small. Like a seriously small audience who reads it. Prosthetic Promises is small. Like tink-tiny small when you compare to many other non-profits. But...I truly feel like God has BIG plans for this small group. It is so awesome to witness the people, conversations and little connections that God is putting in our paths.
Awesome way that God has used PPIHN co-founder and mission team member John Brinkley to reach someone in Peru. John tells this story much better than I do, but here's my best description:
John met an ophthalmologist, Dr. Henson, who along with his wife and family are missionaries at La Fuente Centro de Salud Integral in San Jerónimo, Cusco, Peru. There is a young lady named Yomira, who is a student at the medical facility in Peru, and has a scarred, small eye after trauma as a child. John was able to use a picture that Dr. Henson provided of Yomira to make an ocular prosthesis for her. (John has never made a prosthetic eye and then not be the one fitting it. Most of the time small adjustments are needed for an optimal fit, which he is able to do when he sees a person for final fitting.) John sent the prosthesis with Dr. Henson back to Peru to fit Yomira. And it fit perfectly!! She is a new believer and was very encouraged and cried saying that she knew this was the Lord loving her through others that she didn't even know.
John hopes to make a trip to this medical facility in Peru to see more people for ocular prostheses. We are praying for God's direction in timing and opportunity for John and Prosthetic Promises to visit Peru.
Awesome way that God has used PPIHN co-founder and mission team member John Brinkley to reach someone in Peru. John tells this story much better than I do, but here's my best description:
John met an ophthalmologist, Dr. Henson, who along with his wife and family are missionaries at La Fuente Centro de Salud Integral in San Jerónimo, Cusco, Peru. There is a young lady named Yomira, who is a student at the medical facility in Peru, and has a scarred, small eye after trauma as a child. John was able to use a picture that Dr. Henson provided of Yomira to make an ocular prosthesis for her. (John has never made a prosthetic eye and then not be the one fitting it. Most of the time small adjustments are needed for an optimal fit, which he is able to do when he sees a person for final fitting.) John sent the prosthesis with Dr. Henson back to Peru to fit Yomira. And it fit perfectly!! She is a new believer and was very encouraged and cried saying that she knew this was the Lord loving her through others that she didn't even know.
Before
After
John hopes to make a trip to this medical facility in Peru to see more people for ocular prostheses. We are praying for God's direction in timing and opportunity for John and Prosthetic Promises to visit Peru.
In other news, I was able to represent PPIHN at First United Methodist Church of Colleyville for the Mission Moment at their services on June 12. FUMC Colleyville gave such a warm welcome! Suzanne O'Connor and her son Cole attend church there, and they will be joining team PPIHN for our September trip. Suzanne and Cole have a wonderfully supportive church family! I also met a physical therapist after the contemporary service who is now hoping to join team PPIHN for next year's trip!
We will be leaving in just a little more than 2 months for Zambia. So excited! And so ready to be back at New Day Orphanage! We've been receiving picture updates periodically of the prosthetic clinic that is being built at NDO. Below are the latest pictures.
We will be leaving in just a little more than 2 months for Zambia. So excited! And so ready to be back at New Day Orphanage! We've been receiving picture updates periodically of the prosthetic clinic that is being built at NDO. Below are the latest pictures.
Lots of planning is happening as our trip gets closer. Last year, we had to ship the resin to Zambia that we use for laminating the prosthetic sockets via DHL (the only carrier that would ship it) and it had to be a specific type of resin that is non-hazmat. This cost A LOT of money to do. It cannot be sent on the shipping container ahead with other supplies due to the short shelf life. And it cannot be taken as checked baggage on the plane since it's a flammable chemical. Thankfully, this year we have found another way to get resin. Ottobock (a prosthetic component manufacturer) has a facility in South Africa. I was able to talk with someone from that facility about our needs to get resin to Zambia, and they will make sure it's there for our September trip. This is a huge relief and money saver!
In the midst of these exciting things happening for PPIHN (clinic progress, more people joining the team, looking at expanding to Honduras and maybe Peru, exploring fundraising options to make expanding and sustaining a possibility), I keep stopping to think. Is this the direction God is taking PPIHN or is this me and my enthusiasm? I tend to be enthusiastic about things I'm involved in....perhaps driven is a better word to describe it. I feel like sometimes I may get carried away with ideas and plans and charging ahead. I pray that God steers my enthusiasm in the direction He wants and makes it obvious to all those involved with PPIHN where He wants this mission to go and what He wants us to do, so that we honor Him and show His love in all that we do.
Expanding Love!
There have been lots of awesome connections happening for PPIHN! God is SO GOOD!
First, we had a PPIHN board meeting on May 6th in Temple. This was a fantastic meeting before Ron and Dee Winsman leave for their move to New Day Orphanage, Zambia. There is a great story in the Temple newspaper about Ron and Dee. Check it out here. I also managed to hurriedly take some pictures of everyone before we got started with the meeting...and clearly no one was aware I was doing this.
First, we had a PPIHN board meeting on May 6th in Temple. This was a fantastic meeting before Ron and Dee Winsman leave for their move to New Day Orphanage, Zambia. There is a great story in the Temple newspaper about Ron and Dee. Check it out here. I also managed to hurriedly take some pictures of everyone before we got started with the meeting...and clearly no one was aware I was doing this.
Dee and Ron, John and Robin
Chris, Dee and Ron (Todd had to miss this meeting)
Jordan and Hope in the background playing with their son Izzy.
We are so thankful for such an awesome group of board members! We had great discussions about how far PPIHN has come since 2012, plans for this year's trip in September to Zambia and plans for the future.
The future....
Prosthetic Promises is excited to announce we will be partnering with United With The Same Love for sustainable prosthetic mission work in HONDURAS!
Unidos Con el Mismo Amor, Inc. (United With the Same Love) is a nonprofit organization designed to meet the needs of Central Americans through training programs for Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienists, and nurses. Unidos Con el Mismo Amor, through its trips to Honduras, works to spread the Good News of Christ by spreading dental health through the nation.
Such an awesome way that God puts people in our paths. Jane is who started United With the Same Love. She is a close friend of one of my new bosses, Phyllis. Phyllis and Jane have been talking about starting prosthetic mission work through the clinic United With the Same Love has in Honduras and made a trip in early 2015 for contacts and discussions about the need for prosthetic services in the area. And then I started working for Phyllis in February of this year. Whoa!
We are in the early stages of discussions and planning with United With the Same Love for Prosthetic Promises to work from their established clinic in Choluteca and with connections they have in the capital city of Tegucigalpa.
We will be purchasing and sending equipment to have at this clinic for regular trips to provide people in Honduras with prostheses. We have not identified when our first trip will be, since we will need to raise funds for all the equipment needed and have that shipped to Honduras. Thankfully, shipping containers make it to Honduras much faster than they do Zambia. :)
Stay tuned for updates on both Zambia and Honduras. How very exciting to see where God is leading Prosthetic Promises!!
Another prosthetist joining team PPIHN!
I'm beyond excited to announce that Suzanne O'Connor, CPO is joining PPIHN for our upcoming September 2016 trip! Her son, Cole, will be coming with us also to help out. Suzanne owns her own orthotic and prosthetic facility, O&P Services, in Dallas.
I've known Suzanne since I was in school at UT Southwestern. I did a semester rotation at her facility as part of my course work. I also now serve on an executive board for a state wide professional organization with her. I am so blessed to have such strong Christian women, Suzanne and Chris, as mentors. And super excited to be working with them both in Zambia this year!
Please pray for Suzanne and Cole as they prepare for September's trip. Suzanne will be away from her business for several weeks and Cole will be taking time out of the first part of his Freshman year of high school to go on this trip. I pray God surrounds them both with comfort as they feel excited, yet nervous about the trip. I know each year I feel both a ton of excitement and a ton of anxiety before we leave.
Other preparations: We will be purchasing plane tickets soon and will know exact dates for the trip then. I have not heard any updates on the shipping container, but it will likely be another couple months before it finally gets to New Day. We're anxious to know it arrives safely at New Day, as it has our back-up generators, supplies we need for seeing patients this year and equipment for the clinic that's being built.
We're so thrilled to have Suzanne and Cole joining us this year! We appreciate your prayers and support!
I've known Suzanne since I was in school at UT Southwestern. I did a semester rotation at her facility as part of my course work. I also now serve on an executive board for a state wide professional organization with her. I am so blessed to have such strong Christian women, Suzanne and Chris, as mentors. And super excited to be working with them both in Zambia this year!
Please pray for Suzanne and Cole as they prepare for September's trip. Suzanne will be away from her business for several weeks and Cole will be taking time out of the first part of his Freshman year of high school to go on this trip. I pray God surrounds them both with comfort as they feel excited, yet nervous about the trip. I know each year I feel both a ton of excitement and a ton of anxiety before we leave.
Other preparations: We will be purchasing plane tickets soon and will know exact dates for the trip then. I have not heard any updates on the shipping container, but it will likely be another couple months before it finally gets to New Day. We're anxious to know it arrives safely at New Day, as it has our back-up generators, supplies we need for seeing patients this year and equipment for the clinic that's being built.
We're so thrilled to have Suzanne and Cole joining us this year! We appreciate your prayers and support!
Knees, feet and hopefully another person
Though our trip is moved back to September, preparations are still happening! We're thinking through what was packed on the shipping container that arrived at New Day last summer, what we have on the shipping container that's currently on its way to Zambia and what we need to pack in storage containers to take on our flights in September. Lots of organizing.
We got a large order of AT knees from LegWorks in this past week. This company has been awesome to work with to purchase knees for Zambia! LegWorks company Vision:Our
vision as a company is to develop and supply all components of a complete
prosthetic leg solution for lower-limb amputees around the world, regardless of
where they live or their ability to pay. Prosthetic Promises is able to be a NGO Partner to provide these knees to people we see in Zambia.
We've also had some donations of parts and supplies. Otto Bock, a prosthetic manufacturer, donated 6 prosthetic feet! And I got some great athletic shoes from my coworker.
I was able to take the prosthetic feet and shoes to Chris this past Saturday when we had dinner with Chris, John, John's wife Robin and his daughter Taylor in Temple. So good to see them and catch up!
And super exciting: we potentially have another prosthetist joining us for our trip in September. She's still working out logistics, but we are hopeful she will be able to go. It would be so awesome to have another practitioner to be able to see even more patients!
Stay tuned for preparation updates!
Change of plans
After a lot of prayer and discussion (and pro/con listing on my part), we have decided to move our 2016 trip to September. This is for a few reasons, but the main one is the electricity issue which I talked about in my last post.
Lengthy power outages are still happening at New Day. Though, thankfully it seems they are getting more rain. We have a couple of heavy duty back-up generators on the shipping container that's now on its way to Zambia. These generators will ensure we have power during fabrication (especially laminations which is crucial we don't lose power during this procedure). The container should arrive sometime late spring/early summer. This is the container that also has the solar energy equipment that we did a raffle fundraiser to help out with cost for New Day. Thank you again to all who donated towards the solar energy equipment!
So what does moving our trip from May to September mean??
Having generators for back-up power is a huge thing. Perhaps power outages won't be 8 hours at a time in September, but this is definitely not something we can plan on.
Another difference is temperature. In May, Zambia is in their "Fall" season where the days and nights are getting cooler. June and July are typically the coolest months....October and November are typically the warmest months. So, September will definitely be warmer. Laminations for the prosthetic sockets set off (harden) faster in warmer temperatures, so this is something we factor in. Here in the States, we do laminations in temperature controlled buildings where we have the a/c or heater on depending on the season. We don't really think about the temperature outside affecting our laminations.
Also, this means people are waiting an additional 4 months for us to see them. People who we fit with prostheses last year may need repairs or new parts. People we haven't seen yet for a prosthetic leg or eye may have already been told we're coming in May, and now will have to wait till September. This fact bothers me. Prosthetic Promises is working to establish responsible medical mission work. We are really trying to make sure we aren't doing harm in some way by inserting ourselves and our prosthetic services into rural Zambia (and hopefully more countries in the future). I pray that everyone expecting our arrival, whether they are someone we've seen before or a new patient, will understand the circumstances of why we have postponed this year's trip. I pray that any disappointment there will not hinder our intent to show God's love through our work.
Lastly (and most selfishly), this means 4 additional months till I get to be back in Zambia. I, and I know John and Chris, so often yearn to be there seeing patients for prosthetic legs and eyes, experiencing the culture, playing with the kids at New Day Orphanage, enjoying the beautiful sunsets from the water tower, knowing that we're doing the work God sent us to do...the list goes on.
Looking ahead to September. Continuing to pray for preparations. Trusting God's plan for Prosthetic Promises.
Please join me in prayer for these changes for this year's trip. We so appreciate your prayers and support!
Lengthy power outages are still happening at New Day. Though, thankfully it seems they are getting more rain. We have a couple of heavy duty back-up generators on the shipping container that's now on its way to Zambia. These generators will ensure we have power during fabrication (especially laminations which is crucial we don't lose power during this procedure). The container should arrive sometime late spring/early summer. This is the container that also has the solar energy equipment that we did a raffle fundraiser to help out with cost for New Day. Thank you again to all who donated towards the solar energy equipment!
So what does moving our trip from May to September mean??
Having generators for back-up power is a huge thing. Perhaps power outages won't be 8 hours at a time in September, but this is definitely not something we can plan on.
Another difference is temperature. In May, Zambia is in their "Fall" season where the days and nights are getting cooler. June and July are typically the coolest months....October and November are typically the warmest months. So, September will definitely be warmer. Laminations for the prosthetic sockets set off (harden) faster in warmer temperatures, so this is something we factor in. Here in the States, we do laminations in temperature controlled buildings where we have the a/c or heater on depending on the season. We don't really think about the temperature outside affecting our laminations.
Also, this means people are waiting an additional 4 months for us to see them. People who we fit with prostheses last year may need repairs or new parts. People we haven't seen yet for a prosthetic leg or eye may have already been told we're coming in May, and now will have to wait till September. This fact bothers me. Prosthetic Promises is working to establish responsible medical mission work. We are really trying to make sure we aren't doing harm in some way by inserting ourselves and our prosthetic services into rural Zambia (and hopefully more countries in the future). I pray that everyone expecting our arrival, whether they are someone we've seen before or a new patient, will understand the circumstances of why we have postponed this year's trip. I pray that any disappointment there will not hinder our intent to show God's love through our work.
Lastly (and most selfishly), this means 4 additional months till I get to be back in Zambia. I, and I know John and Chris, so often yearn to be there seeing patients for prosthetic legs and eyes, experiencing the culture, playing with the kids at New Day Orphanage, enjoying the beautiful sunsets from the water tower, knowing that we're doing the work God sent us to do...the list goes on.
Looking ahead to September. Continuing to pray for preparations. Trusting God's plan for Prosthetic Promises.
Please join me in prayer for these changes for this year's trip. We so appreciate your prayers and support!
Electricity
I sit here typing on my computer plugged into the wall socket, the lights are on, the heater is running, the dryer is going. Fellow first world people....we are so blessed.
It's supposed to be rainy season in Zambia, which would mean replenishing of water levels in Lake Kariba, which would likely mean more hydropower production, which would result in New Day Orphanage having electricity more often than they are.
Water levels at Lake Kariba dam are extremely low. They have been for a while. See blog post here that explains why Prosthetic Promises did a raffle to help raise funds for solar energy for New Day Orphanage. And there hasn't been much rain, which not only means continued scheduled black-outs in much of Zambia but also poor crops that significantly impact people in Zambia. Many people in the rural areas depend on crops for both sustenance and to sell for income. Please pray for rain for Zambia!
The long periods of no electricity (8 hours at a time right now) could also impact our upcoming trip we are planning for May. So much of what we do for prosthetics (legs and eyes) requires electricity. Right now we are continuing with preparations for May though, and we are praying for God's guidance. Please join us in prayer!
He is in control, and I have faith in His wonderful plans for PPIHN though it's easy to worry about the lack of electricity. Here we are---praying to our Father for guidance---excited to be the hands for His work---anticipating another trip to Zambia.
It's supposed to be rainy season in Zambia, which would mean replenishing of water levels in Lake Kariba, which would likely mean more hydropower production, which would result in New Day Orphanage having electricity more often than they are.
Water levels at Lake Kariba dam are extremely low. They have been for a while. See blog post here that explains why Prosthetic Promises did a raffle to help raise funds for solar energy for New Day Orphanage. And there hasn't been much rain, which not only means continued scheduled black-outs in much of Zambia but also poor crops that significantly impact people in Zambia. Many people in the rural areas depend on crops for both sustenance and to sell for income. Please pray for rain for Zambia!
The long periods of no electricity (8 hours at a time right now) could also impact our upcoming trip we are planning for May. So much of what we do for prosthetics (legs and eyes) requires electricity. Right now we are continuing with preparations for May though, and we are praying for God's guidance. Please join us in prayer!
He is in control, and I have faith in His wonderful plans for PPIHN though it's easy to worry about the lack of electricity. Here we are---praying to our Father for guidance---excited to be the hands for His work---anticipating another trip to Zambia.
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