Going home & going home

I am officially living in Tsiko, Togo!  It has felt like a long time in the making, but I have arrived and have started working at the Karolyn Kempton Memorial Baptist Missions Hospital (AKA HBB by the locals).   For those of you who don’t know, I left Switzerland on March 23^rd and traveled to Chicago where I got to spend about 7 days with my family.   I was so blessed during my time in Switzerland with a church base, an amazing Swiss woman, Monika, to live with and other amazing friends.  I was sad to go but excited to be able to visit my family in the States. It was the first time in a while that we were able to be together in one place and it was quite a blessing!  The Lord was gracious and the airfare was actually CHEAPER to go Switzerland à Chicagoà Togo than direct to Togo from Switzerland.   I was able to see my extended family as well, including some aunts that I hadn’t seen in many years.   It was difficult to leave family, but I had no doubts that I was following the Lord in where he wants me to be.  

My arrival in Lomé, Togo (the capital) was largely uneventful and I was greatly relieved and thankful for having received all my luggage!  Thank you to everyone who was praying!  I spent 2 days in the capital trying to accomplish things such as money exchange, visas, and shopping for necessities.   It just so happens that the Mercy Ship is docked in Togo until mid-July and I was able to take a tour.  This is a huge ship run by a Christian organization that travels to West African countries bringing free surgical care to those in need.   We even got to see some patients that HBB had referred for treatment.  It was an amazing ministry where people could get physical healing along with hearing spiritual truth.  Please continue to lift up their ministry in prayer!

I finally arrived in my new home Tsiko, Togo on April 3^rd.   The other missionaries were extremely welcoming and gave me a few days to get settled in before starting work in the hospital.  (Truthfully, they planned on giving me 2 weeks to settle in before starting work, but I “happened” to wander into the hospital on April 5^th instead!) 

The first week has been bittersweet.  I have been away from practicing medicine for about 9 months and it was great to be back doing what I love.   Unfortunately, in the seven days I have been in the hospital, 6 infants have died.   It has been sobering and frustrating despite my mental preparation for such.   One child was born very prematurely at home, and by the time the family arrived at the hospital there wasn’t anything that could be done for the small baby boy.  That day happened to be Good Friday.  I got to sit down and talk with the mom about Good Friday.  I told her that the Lord knew her pain because he had also lost a son on this day.   And because his Son was raised on the third day and concurred death, so too can we conquer death through Jesus Christ.  

I have also been reminded of, and been able to share, the story of King David in 2 Samuel 12 when he fasted and prayed for his sick child for seven days, after which, the child died.   Surprising to elders of his home, (an myself!) after learning that his child was dead, David dressed himself and began to worship the Lord.   His reasoning? “When the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”    What a response!!!!  I don’t think David’s response was callous to the death of his son.  I believe it showed great faith, understanding, and comfort in the Lord.  David knew that the only way to see his son again would be when he himself died and is in heaven, which prompted him to worship!

For the believer, this is a temporary place where we live by faith, waiting to see God face to face in Glory.   Sometimes, God is gracious and allows me as a Pediatrician to extend the lives of those who are ill.   But death awaits us all.   I hope and pray that the work I will be doing over this next two years goes beyond the list of who lived and who died.   For if my purpose here is to “heal all of the sick”, it will be a losing battle from the start.   For no doctor conquers death with their remedies, they just delay it for a time.   But, if lives can be extended for the purpose of meeting Christ, repentance, glorifying Him, and becoming more like Him—then the battle will be won……the battle has already been won! 

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.  At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ…that I might make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

-Colossians 4:2-4

Grace and Peace
Kel

Reflections

2 Corinthiens 3:18
Nous tous dont le visage découvert reflète la gloire du Seigneur, nous sommes transformés en la même image, de gloire en gloire, par l'Esprit du Seigneur. 


And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  


I'm not sure what I was expecting when I arrived here in Switzerland four and-a-half months ago--cheese and chocolate, I suppose!  While I have enjoyed PLENTY of both, I have found that my time here has provided just as much of a spiritual education than a language one.  


 Anyone who has spent any amount of time with me can attest to how difficult it is for me to remain silent.   As my dad put it recently (I inherited the trait from him): "It's like a fire-hydrant is filling your mouth with water and it has to burst out!"   While this is a completely accurate description of us both, unfortunately, many times I walk away from conversations wishing I had guarded Proverbs 10:19 "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."
Thankfully, we serve a God who is patient and kind, yearning that we become more like him everyday.  In that process, He must burn away that which does not look like Himself- John 15:2 "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  While in language school, I spent many months understanding conversations around me without yet having the ability to speak the language.  As you can imagine, this was extremely frustrating for a extraverted person like myself.  It is much like a 2 year-old child who is able to understand those around him/her but is forever crying and screaming because they can't communicate their wants and desires--hence, The-Terrible-Twos!!  I felt like a fire-hydrant wanting to burst, but knew that my foreign English words would fall to the ground, and my little French knowledge wouldn't begin to communicate my thoughts.  I had an internal "Terrible- Two's" battle going on within me.  I felt like the people around me NEEDED to hear "the important things" I had to offer to the conversation.  It sounds dramatic, but it really felt as though my personality was being taken away.


  But over time, the Holy Spirit took my times of silent frustration and showed me how to listen.  Not only to listen to others, but to listen to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.   It was as though the Lord said, "Maybe they don't need to hear what YOU  have to say.  Maybe you should wait until you know what I have to say."  OUCH!  There came a time of repentance, realizing that I more often speak without asking the Lord for wisdom or truth in the matter.  I offer solutions to problems that are wrought with my own opinions and subjective truths.  


When the time came that I was more able to speak the language, I was still like a child with only a fixed amount of vocabulary to express my thoughts.  I had to decide what was the most important point, and choose words carefully and thoughtfully and slowly.  ( I realize that many of you who know me are having a hard time picturing this!!)  I had to spend time weighing my words, their necessity, and their truth.


I have come to realize that I currently reflect Christ more in French that I do in English.  Jesus always chose His words carefully, and exactly--admonishing , encouraging, mourning, healing, and showing the way to the Father.   There are times when I feel like the fire-hydrant still fills my mouth and I must speak, even in French.  But I pray for  those moments to be when the Holy Spirit fills my mouth with Gospel truth so His message of repentance, healing and forgiveness can go forth.   


Being transformed into the likeness of Christ means recognizing the parts of ourselves that do not resemble Christ and asking Him to remove them.  I do not pretend to mirror Christ, with the clear edges that make it difficult to tell the original from the reflection.  But like a sea reflecting the mountains, I do pray that the choppy waters blurring His image may be stilled, so that His face can become more clear to those searching and seeking for Truth.


Grace and Peace
Kel

3 down, 2 TO-GO!

Greetings everyone!  I can't believe it is the end of January already!  I have been here in Switzerland for exactly 3 months now and the time has flown by.  I am still attending class 5 days a week for about 3 hours a day and taking the rest of the day to study, build relationships, read, crochet, and catch up with family and friends.  

January 21st was my 31st birthday and although it was difficult to spend it away from home, my Swiss friends made it a wonderful day filled with cheese, chocolate, conversation, and lots of laughter!  A special thanks to my adoptive community group at sojourn who sent me wonderful birthday cards that they made themselves.  I was able to talk to my family via Skype, and my mom is arriving in Switzerland tomorrow so we can celebrate my birthday and her "I'm finished with Cancer treatment!" celebration!

As you can see, I am also busy trying to make hats for the babies in Togo (see the Crochet TOGO tab) and I'm trying to work on other things I (and you!) can make for some of the children.  If you have any ideas or want more information how you can help, please send me an e-mail (klfaber@gmail.com)!

I have also started to look into ways we can improve the lives of the Togolese children outside of medicine.  This brought me to the subject of literacy, of course!  In the United States, 99% of people over the age of 15 can read and write,  compared to 53.2% in Togo.  Togo ranks 167 of 183 in literacy rates.  What better way to start to fight illiteracy then giving children books!  Currently I have started discussions with Scholastic® who has agreed to set up an account for me in which people and/or companies can donate money into the account towards the purchase of books.  I currently do not have all the details ironed out, so please continue to be in prayer over this project as we try and get it started.   If it goes through, we have to decide whether we have the resources to give to books away or if starting a library of sorts would be more beneficial and/or realistic.   

I am also quite close to booking my ticket to Togo.  I should arrive on either March 31st or April 1st.  Please be praying for my upcoming transition as I know these next 2 months will pass very quickly.   My time here in Switzerland has been a true gift from the Lord, in many ways, but I am eager to get to Togo and start the work I know I am called to do.  I appreciate everyone who has partnered with me with encouragement, finances, and prayer.   They are all gifts that can never be repaid and I pray that Lord will use all if exponentially to further His work, as I know He already has.  

Grace and Peace,

kelly

Christmas, New Years, New and Old Friends!

Notre-Dame Cathedral.  Paris, France

I was hoping to write a Merry Chritmas blog, but failed.   I pray that everyone had a joyous time spent with friends and family, remembering that Jesus Christ is worth celebrating year-round!!  I pray that the time we take to praise the Lord for His gift of sending the Son doesn't stop just because Christmas is over!

Although I miss my friends and family dearly during this time of year, the Lord blessed me with some new and old friends.  I got to spend Christmas in Grenoble, France with some missionaries who I had "met" through e-mail and phone conversations a couple years ago.  There are also in language school as they prepare to move to Mali, Africa.  They invited me to stay over Christmas and we had an amazing time of fellowship, fun, and FOOD!  We spent a lot of time visiting Christmas marchés (outdoor markets with tons of stands selling homemade goods, crafts and amazing food!), watching classic christmas movies (like Elf!) and laughing.  It was a true blessing!

Some amazing friends from my home church, Sojourn, also put a fun video together filled with messages from friends who are part of community groups who have "adopted me" as a missionary.  It was an unexpected, overwhelming gift that I have re-played many times!

Then, on the 29th of December one of my best friends from Louisville, KY along with her parents, came to Switzerland for the week!  Although the trip started off with me over-sleeping, missing my train to meet them at the airport, and some American credit card issues.....the visit was amazing and we have stories to keep us laughing for years to come!!  It was quite surreal to have them here and I was sorry to see them go, but was so grateful for the time with them.  I was able to function as a mini-translator during the trip which was fun and helped me build some confidence using French in everyday life.

School starts up again on January 9th and will continue for me until the end of March.  I had originally planned to leave Switzerland in Mid-February and was quite determined not to extend my stay; but after several people advised me to stay, including the doctors in Togo, I decided that the Lord's wisdom was speaking through others, and my own pride of "finishing in 3 months" should take a back seat.   I know that the extended time hear will only be better in being able to speak clearly with my patients and their families in Togo, and it is a gift.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and sending words of encouragement!  I just found out that my mom is coming to Switzerland for about 6 days on February 1st.  Please pray for safe travel for her.  We will be celebrating her completion of cancer treatment and my 31st birthday, so I think it will be a very sweet time together.

Press on in the faith
no matter the cost
for He will be waiting
when all else is lost.

Grace and Peace
Kelly

Cheese, trails, and churches

I just realized that it has been almost a month since my last post.  Somehow the days seem to run away from me.  It has been an adventurous month with a lot of travel and a lot of French (of course!)

A few weeks ago I went to Gruyeres where they make lots and lots of cheese.  It was very amazing and I'm sure I ate more dairy products in one day than anyone should in a lifetime.  In the same area there is a small village along with a the Gruyeres castle that you can tour.  It was an amazing experience, especially because there were some sheep that I got to pet as well!! (if you don't know me well, you should know that I have a small sheep obsession (as does my mom!))

Many weekends we (me and the other missionary couple from SP that is here with me learning French- Zach and Jenny) go hiking in the areas surrounding Neuchatel.  Jenny likes to say that we found Rivendale (Lord of the Rings Elf Land).  I don't think any place on Earth can compare to the amount of beauty in such a small place, like Switzerland.  It is such a blessing to be able to breath in the Lord's creation and see His creative works.   As I sit and marvel and the majestic mountains and roaring waters I can only imagine how much more majestic and powerful the Lord himself must be!

Switzerland also has an unending amount of churches and cathedrals that were build over 500 years ago.  The church shown above is in Lausanne and construction began in the year 1170!!  This catholic cathedral was later taken over during the Reformation by John Calvin and remains a reformed church do this day.  The stone floor, the towering organ, and the detail in all the carvings makes you feel like you are transported back to the middle ages.  It was truly an experience!

As you can see, I am enjoying myself here in Switzerland while I have this amazing opportunity.  It is still difficult not to see family and friends, especially around the holidays.  I am being blessed with the visit of one of my best friends along with her parents in late December.  They will be staying here for a week from Dec 29-Jan 4th.  Please pray for safe travel and a time of great fellowship while they are here!

Please continue to pray that I might know the exact right time to leave Switzerland and head to Togo.  Currently, I am planning on leaving here in mid to late February.  Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Grâce et Paix


Romains 8:38-39: En effet, j'ai l'assurance que ni la mort ni la vie, ni les anges ni les dominations, ni le présent ni l'avenir, ni les puissances, ni la hauteur, ni la profondeur, ni aucune autre créature ne pourra nous séparer de l'amour de Dieu manifesté en Jésus-Christ notre Seigneur.

Revelation 21

"I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.  The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.  On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.  They glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.  Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Rev 21: 22-27

It  has been two weeks since I left the US for language school in Switzerland.  It has been an adjustment, but a good one.  Language school is intense, and French is not as easy as Spanish, but I am always excited to be able to learn how to communicate in new ways!!  The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful woman, Monika, who has opened her home to me.  I am also taken care of through a church here in Neuchâtel, where everyone has been very helpful and mindful of the fact that I only know 2 weeks worth of French!

The picture above was taken from the balcony of my apartment this past Sunday morning.  As I looked over the lake that had disappeared under the fog, it felt as though the houses were built in the clouds.  For a moment, I felt as though I had a small glimpse of heaven, as I imagined golden streets and endless days without darkness.   That Sunday also happen to be a yearly event where several protestant churches come together for a church service.  Naturally, the service was in French.  I couldn't help but think about how one day, all believers will be united together; every tribe, tongue, and nation worshipping the Lord. It was a great day of looking ahead to a day when this world will pass away and a new will come: no tears, no darkness, no death.  Until that day, may we faithfully serve Him and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel!

Once again, I thank everyone who has been lifting me up in prayer and following my journey.
Grâce et Paix

ça vaut le coup....

In about 24 hours I am saying good-bye to the US for about 2 years.  Many people ask me if I'm scared or excited.  It's a very difficult moment to articulate the emotions that accompany leaving.  Saying good-bye to Louisville, where I have lived for the last 12 years, was extremely difficult.  The people who are a part of your everyday life are no longer around.  It's a bitter-sweet moment.  Going to the mission field is the realization of a dream for me- the fulfillment of a calling heard long ago.  Stepping out in faith sometimes means stepping away from the life you've always known.  In God's graciousness, I know that I am not walking away from family or friends.  Those that I love and have grown to love will be supporting me along the way.  I pray that by my going, someone else is able to grow, heal, or step out in faith to what the Lord is calling them to as well.  I know that this journey I take across the ocean is just a continuation of God's story.  And who doesn't want to be a character in God's story of the redemption of His creation back to Himself.  So as I go I can only say that no matter the pages that follow, "ça vaut le coup"-- it's worth it.