Our vision:
Making more effective health services possible in East Africa.
HERE You can learn more about our project.
English version coming soon. For now, try this link and hit the „Translate“ button.
It starts in June!!!
God willing, we will be flying to Kenya at the end of June. There are still many things to organize, which is why David has reduced his hours in his current job (in hospital management) to 80% starting in February. We have already had some wonderful encounters with people who want to accompany us on our journey and look forward to meeting many more in the coming months. Here is our Travel calendar, perhaps you have time to meet us in one of the communities.
News from BANDA Health:
BANDA Health This is the organization David will be working with. It collaborates directly with churches, communities, and hospitals to improve healthcare services through consulting and software. We'd like to tell you about two new developments.
- Until now, most of the clinics and hospitals supported by BANDA Health have been in Kenya. There have been smaller projects in neighboring countries, but now there is the first project on the other side of the continent – in Liberia (see picture).
- Demand for the software solution "Banda Go" is so high that the core team can no longer keep up with its personnel resources. Therefore, an "Ambassador Program" was launched. In this program, technically gifted young unemployed people receive basic training and can help smaller clinics with their most pressing problems. These young men (so far, no women are participating) then receive a small portion of the clinics' savings as payment. A brilliant win-win idea!
Kid's Corner:
This time our older daughter would like to, Noemi Introducing her. She is currently learning to write texts and prepare them graphically using a laptop.
On the home front:
We're currently experiencing a lot of comings and goings. We celebrated Christmas at Lisa's mother's new house. It was wonderful to spend time together as a large family, and also to celebrate with our newborn nieces and nephews for the first time. At the same time, David's parents arrived here in Austria after saying goodbye to their old home in Jordan. Unfortunately, we won't be able to stay in one place together for very long, but that makes us enjoy our time together all the more.
Our Noemi recently answered the question during a family devotional service: „Is there anything difficult in your life that turned out to be good for you in retrospect?“ …“Hmm, I think the move to Kenya will be something like that.“ That sums up the situation quite well. The thought of saying goodbye to our family and friends is very difficult, but at the same time we are looking forward to what is to come.
Finances:
The mane is filling in! This is very encouraging. A huge THANK YOU to all of you who are contributing financially to make our project possible. We appreciate your trust!
Here you can see the monthly Donation status (Colored means financed). Our goal is to give our lion a colorful mane by the end of March (more than 50% financed) and for the entire lion (100%) to be colorful by our departure in June.
Would you like to help us with this lion? to dye?
…not Shirley Temple*, JESUS…
A confident little girl walks onto the stage of a talent show in her tap shoes. She sings and brings the house down. The judges are also thrilled; one juror praises the little princess, saying:
„"Wow, I used to watch Shirley Temple on TV as a child. It feels like Shirley Temple lives inside you!"“
And what does the little girl say to that? Without thinking much about it, she says:
„Yes, I know her… No, not Shirley Temple, JESUS lives in me!“.
I don't know this girl, but what impressed me was the natural way she knew her identity. This thought occupies my thoughts now at the beginning of the year, as we plan and strive towards our goals.
At the turn of the year, personal improvement attempts and resolutions are very popular. Self-help books tell us: "Change your thinking, have these experiences, or do this and that so that you become more the person you want to be." In short: Change either your thinking, feeling, or actions.
But the Bible starts where other guides and systems end – namely at the foundation, at our identity.
Even after almost 25 years of walking with Jesus, I (Lisa) can't remind myself often enough of the new identity I've received through him. God himself says to me: "You are a child of the King. You are unconditionally loved. You are an heir of God."„
Before we embark on this new year with all our good intentions, let's pause for a moment to recognize who we truly are. Because then, "the jury's verdict," the success or failure by which we so often measure ourselves, can't touch us. Then you and I, regardless of whether we achieve our goals, can say: 2019 is a good year!
Prayer corner:
- Transfer of responsibilities in professional and community
- New staff for the youth group that started in autumn
- Preparation for the children's enrollment in the new school
- For our daughters who are having difficulty leaving the country
- Thanks for the encouragement and support
If we have sparked your interest and you would like to learn more about our project, take a look at our Blog over or write to usWe welcome every opportunity to share our experiences and are happy to receive invitations to house groups, youth groups, or church communities.
Many blessings,
Lisa & David with Noemi & Layla
