It was difficult to leave Uganda last month and we both said, “I wish we had more time”. With Sudanese refugees flooding across the border by the thousands into Uganda, it was heart wrenching to get on the plane. Our hearts are burdened and we are praying earnestly. Promise Child is continuing to minister in the camp alongside the churches that are in the area where BidiBidi Refugee Camp is located. A small team will be returning next month to help put a long-term plan in place to reach these precious people with the Gospel and meet basic needs, which we are thankful for.
Laid Out
Our update last month was titled “expect the unexpected” which seemed to be the theme of our summer in Africa. After returning to So. California, the unexpected happened a few days after landing. Heather became sick and on Labor Day she couldn’t get out of bed. Bond called friends in Uganda and in So. CA as he thought it might be malaria, but we weren’t sure. We were able to get in touch with our friend, Pastor Rob Douglass who also works in East Africa. He had a test kit for malaria and came over right away. The test came back POSITIVE.
In the past, we have taken anti-malarial meds to avoid getting malaria and we will do that again in the future. However, this summer Heather was nursing Breanna and was not allowed to take the preventive anti-malaria meds because of the side effects for the baby.
Malaria is common in Africa and is apart of life. The locals do not take preventive meds and at any given time several pastors in Bond’s discipleship classes and dozens of Promise Children suffer from malaria. With treatment, they are well in a few days. Malaria is transmitted through an infected mosquito biting you and without treatment it can be deadly. Sadly, there are many in Africa that cannot afford the treatment and the results are devastating.
This was unexpected and not part of our plan. Didn’t the Lord know that we only had a few short weeks in the states before heading to Asia. We had treatment that we brought back just in case, but because of the high fevers Bond decided it was best to go to the hospital. Heather was admitted and the first two days were rough, but once the treatment took effect the fevers and severe body aches subsided. After four days in the hospital, she was released to continue to recover at home. Overall weakness lasted a few additional weeks, but she is fully well now.
We are grateful for those who prayed, visited, helped to watch Breanna, brought meals and came to the rescue on many levels. We apologize for not sending an email at the time it was happening, but Bond had his hands full with juggling Heather in the hospital and Breanna on the home front.
He Loves Me
Heather was invited to teach at the CC WestGrove Women’s Retreat, which was held Sept. 16-18 at the Murrieta Hot Springs Conference Center. The theme was “He Loves Me” and she accepted the invitation months earlier, not knowing that the week before she was to teach she would be laying in a hospital bed learning of His love in a whole new way.
It was only one week after being discharged and Heather was still feeling quite weak and was only at about 75%. The ladies from CC WestGrove were so gracious in that they brought a stool in case sitting down to teach was better and they even joked that they would bring a mattress on the stage if laying down to teach was needed. Thankfully, the Lord heard and answered prayers once again and strengthened Heather on Friday to stand and teach the Word the entire weekend by God’s grace. It was an honor to teach the 200 women from CCWG through Zephaniah 3:17 which says, “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” Teaching on God’s great love in light of all that took place this past month and throughout the summer was a true honor and privilege. It is a simple yet powerful truth and the reason we are compelled to share His love with others.
Asia on Mission
On Sept. 21st we set off for Asia, which is where we will spend the remainder of the year. Our first stop was in Thailand for a weeklong conference where “workers” from all over Asia gathered together. Our ministry teams from both India and Nepal were able to attend and it was a valuable time to meet, cast vision, pray and seek the Lord together for what He has in the future. For two married couples that are national partners we work with, Pastor Pratim and Vinita (India) and Jay and Sangita (Nepal) it was there first time ever being out of the country. Although Bond was fighting a nasty head cold he came down with two days into the conference, we were greatly encouraged by over 150 like-minded brothers and sisters that are serving all over Asia.
Secret Seal Team
We have now arrived in Northern India in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains where we will be teaching at several conferences, at the School of Ministry and visiting the Promise Child schools.
Some of our friends and ministry partners shared a vision awhile back about how there are places that the Navy Seals drop into on covert missions and that the Lord would do the same for us in the future. Without going into all of the details, an incredible opportunity has opened up for us in South India where a 40 acre piece of property with several buildings (formerly a Bible College, elementary school and a medical clinic) that have not been used for many years has been offered for use. Pastor Brent Kaser, from CC WestGrove and Bond have met with the family that owns it and several conversations have led to this point. A trip has now been planned to South India to spy out the land. Bond will be traveling with three of our Indian nationals and two pastors from October 24 – 28 for spiritual surveillance, survey of the land and a series of meetings with those on the ground. We want to ask you to join us in praying as we seek to see if this is something the Lord wants us to be apart of in the future. Thank you for sending, supporting and loving us!
With Love From India,
Bond, Heather and Breanna Gaona
