My Journey

The work and improvements have continued this month.  Our new Digital X-Ray machine has arrived and been installed!!  This is a great improvement for our hospital and community.  We praise the Lord above and our Christian brothers and sisters who provide us with support.  With God all things are possible!  and he is using us to help this community. There were 5 big heavy boxes which were off-loaded during the night with a big lift.  We then closed our x-ray department for removal of the old, remodeling and installation of the new.  We were without x-ray for 15 days.  But now look what we have!  Next we will need to install hospital-wide internet and purchase computers for all the doctors offices and wards.  This way all x-rays can be seen anywhere in the hospital by any doctor.  Of course, with installation of hospital-wide computers, we will be able to begin converting to computer documentation and reporting as well....

I want to start this entry with trying to explain my financial situation to you in more detail.  I placed an entry on facebook a couple of weeks ago about needing some support money for my work as a missionary in Chimala.  The post brought with it lots of questions.  When I first began as a missionary, I was quite confused as well.  Terms and differences between support & workfund; over-seer & supporter. Supporters are you!  Any individual or group who partners with me to continue the work in Chimala.  The largest number of my supporters are individuals with a few churches helping as well.  My home church, Memorial Road church of Christ, is my largest supporter in terms of dollars.  However, all my other churches and individuals added together make up almost the same amount. The over-seer is the individual or group who is ultimately responsible for the missions' success.  New York Avenue church of Christ in Arlington, TX is the ...

Most of us who are missionaries use blogs to communicate to our supporters, family and friends.  We depend on their availability and ease of access.  We also need our blog to look appealing to attract people to read them....especially if you are not a great writer...which I am not.  Since I am not the best and most entertaining writer, I hooked up with a person who told me he and his new company could help me build a website and blog as well as post the stories for me.  As many of you know, I have used www.cherylinchimala.com as my website and blog page for the last two years.  It worked really well and looked good.  I got use to posting my own stories and you, my readers, knew where to find me. Well now I have a sad ending to that story and a new story to this blog site.  The man who "helped" me with the new site, is no longer reachable with the information I had on him anda a neither is his company.  The company who runs the web page browser c...

Many of us, myself included, take tomorrow for granted.  We plan for tomorrow, next week, next month often to the point of not enjoying or living for the day!  Some of us may clarify our plans by stating "if the Lord wills", but we really believe our plans will work out. Take my plans for this week as an example.  I have been planning a trip to the states for October and November since early this year.  I made my plane reservations in August and had appointments to go to the dentist, eye doctor, dermatologist and to get my hair cut!!  Last week, I began e-mailing friends and others involved in my work here in Tanzania so we could see each other and discuss more future plans.  Then, BOOM! Everything changes at the drop of a hat!  OR I guess I should say a "slip and fall".  The day before I was to board the plane for America, I slipped getting out of the shower and fell with a THUD on the concrete floor.  All plans have now gone out the win...

....is found in ways which may be very different that those of your life.  God brings joy to my life every day in many ways.  Knowing that God is with me, surrounding me, leading me, protecting me and strengthening me is my constant joy.  But then he gives me gifts daily which brings special touches of joy. Working side-by-side with the special and wonderful staff of Chimala Mission brings deep joy each day.  So many of these people have become very special to me and will always be in my heart.  We have struggled, cried, laughed and prayed together over the last three years and will hopefully have many more challenges and successes in the future. I am asked frequently to post pictures of my work here and especially pictures with me in them. This is often difficult for two reasons.  When I am working, I am thinking about what I am doing and the people I am helping.  Sometimes, I think afterwards that I should have taken a picture, but the moment is ...

I have read several posts from other missionaries over the past several years which have expressed my feelings so very well.  It is difficult for me to write about the challenges of being in the missionary field for several reasons.  First, I am so blessed in all I am doing that it seems petty to talk about the challenges.  Second, missionaries (in my opinion) are often afraid to discuss challenges as it may offend someone or cause them to lose support.  And then there is the ole' saying "Don't air your dirty laundry". A few months back, I was talking with another nurse who had taken some courses in "Being a Missionary".  We were discussing the different challenges which are faced in missions and she told me that on one of her exams was this question - "What is the biggest challenge for the missionary?"  The answer:  "Other missionaries".  I was shocked, but then realized that this is also one of my biggest challenges.  It is a pretty s...

The Gospel Chariot has come to Chimala!  For those of who do not know what the Gospel Chariot is, let me give you a little information. This large red truck travels throughout much of Africa helping to spread the Word of God and teach the Gospel.  This truck is carrying a platform, speakers, chairs, and has a baptistry.  When the truck arrives in Chimala, our preachers join the drivers and travel in our area to many.  Just this week at one village, 17 souls were added to the Lord's kingdom and 2 were restored.  Praise His Name!  Spreading the Word of God is our number 1 priority as missionaries in this land. The name of Chimala Mission is known all around this country and especially that of the hospital.  While I cannot stand up and preach, I can help the people of this land with their much needed healthcare through the hospital and our mobile medical clinics.  It is amazing how many people I now know and help each month.  By wor...