"Lasts..."

We are now at the time at the end of the field service when we start having a lot of "lasts".  "Lasts" entail...good-byes.  On Thursday (Nov 17) the operating room did the last surgery.  The last time we could have visitors on the ship was Nov 20...the list of "lasts" will grow this week as we close down the hospital, say good bye to our day workers, and have many "good-bye" celebrations.

For the Jacobsen Family and a few crew, Sunday was our last day at church.  We have been attending Evangel Baptist Church since March.  We were welcomed into their church community with open arms.  It will be strange not attending church there anymore.

The church had been planning a farewell service for us for about a month now...and with true African flair, they celebrated our final service with lots of love, smiles, and singing.

The youth and children's group presented us a hand made wooden scroll with our name carved into the wood. 

Each family member was presented with a traditional African outfit.

The chief gave a farewell speech....

Lynne, one of our crew members, was presented with a live chicken...which sat with her the whole 2.5 hour service...

Pictures were taken, hugs and laughter were shared.

For Mike, this is a difficult good-bye.  He was made the Associate Pastor of the church and really got to know Pastor Daniel as a true brother in Christ.  We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our extended church family in Lumpa Waterloo, Sierra Leone.  Our prayer is they would continue to grow, stay strong in the Lord, and faithful to what God entrusts them to accomplish.