This week I traveled to Boone, NC to have lunch with Dr. Jim
& Martha Foulkes. Jim and Martha
both served at Mukinge Hospital where Jim was a surgeon for 38 years and Martha
taught and practiced as a nurse for 25 years. It was so great to hear their
stories of decades of ministry! I read in
Jim’s autobiography that it was once the responsibility of the mission doc to
provide the meat for the hospital patients and staff, and he did this by taking
down an elephant or a big hippo on a safari game hunt each year. Jim was able
to answer some long-standing questions about exactly how one gets an elephant
from the bush to the freezer. I am SO thankful that because of poaching laws, this will NOT be part of my duties at
Mukinge! More than hearing their
stories, I loved their infectious passion for Mukinge Hospital and the people
of Zambia. I am grateful for these wonderful saints, and I am excited to be
carrying on in their footsteps at Mukinge.
Their enthusiasm and zeal bring fresh life to the story of Caleb in
Joshua 14: “So here I am today,
eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out;
I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.” (Joshua
14:10-11) Thank you Lord for the
marvelous things you have done!
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| Dr. Jim & Martha Foulkes |
In this season of thankfulness and celebrating time with
family and friends, and especially for me as I am saying goodbye to so many
dear friends, I am particularly grateful for those God has put in my life to
walk with me and strengthen me on the journey.
There are so many people – so many of YOU – who have encouraged and
inspired me, who have been my teachers, my cheerleaders, my coaches, counselors
and colleagues, who have sharpened me as iron sharpens iron, and who have faithfully
prayed for me through years of study and preparation. I am thankful to be
surrounded by “such a great cloud of witnesses” – thankful for each person who
has made my life so FULL, who has walked who has cheered me on to keep running this race
with perseverance!
“Therefore, since we
are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1
love your bed...something the great cloud of witnesses would understand! Haven't read all yet, but your blog is intriguing, so i will be back. Love seeing you with a group of "cohorts'.
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