January 2012

Beautiful wishes to everyone for a very special year – where your days are filled with an awareness of the Father’s amazing love and mercy as we all desire to grow into an intimate relationship with HIM!

After the 17 week semester, school closed for Christmas break and we hosted Harry’s parents for a very sweet two weeks.  We made day trip visits to nearby villages to visit Christmas markets, learned so much more about the German culture and ‘discovered family time’ again!  After Harry’s parents left, we fell into our beds for the next few days and tried to recover from the very full and demanding semester.

Then,  it felt as though the first layer of sleep allowed us to move into the second layer of recovery and we simply started re-connecting with each other through a few daytrips to nearby villages in France and Germany!

Of course we prepared the dorm for the student’s return, but also worked on maintenance issues such as the complicated telephone/internet system.    Now, the girls have been back for almost a week and we are in the thick of sports events, homework demands and checklists.

We praise the Lord for a delightful staff and how HE prepared us for each other.  This semester is as full as the previous, but we are looking forward to a spring break in April (two weeks) and then another six weeks before this semester would finish.

Karmyn & Benjamin have had adjustment challenges and there have been several days that we just felt strongly how the Lord prepared us for this moment in their lives.   We are not always sure of our role here, but confident in the fact that we are suppose to be with our children to help guide them through these days – unsure of how long it will be, but for now, we are living it day by day, learning daily!

This school functions as a well oiled machine, the structure and rhythm is so well organized and we have respect and appreciation for the dorm infrastructure and the way that the students are cared for.  Of course the demands are many on the dorm parents and staff, but it is a learning curve in another realm!

We want to thank you sincerely for your prayer- and financial support.  You are part of an incredible moment where your support has extended far beyond the initial tent pens……!  We are so aware of your partnership and thank the Father daily for the way that  He takes care of you and our family!

May all HIS delight radiate through you this year!

We love and appreciate you dearly!

Stephne, Harry, Karmyn & Benjamin

 

Update and Thanks

Today, our purpose and intent is that of appreciation! We simply want to take a moment to thank and appreciate the Lord for HIS ever faithfulness through allowing us to walk beside you – be a tool for HIM to use and work through us.   He really does not need us, but we so desperately need HIM to purify our hearts, our minds and hands!

We appreciate each one of you, you who support us spiritually, emotionally, financially, physically!   We do NOT see ourselves serving the Lord alone – you are vital parts of our daily thoughts and prayers.  We try to consider how you would respond in various situations, we try to consider your hearts and advice, we try to consider the impact that our decisions and responses would have on your lives as we also live through challenges and tricky situations.

BUT, MOST of all, we try to be VERY considerate of JESUS’ example, that of the FATHER’s HEART!   It has been more and more our daily prayer and plea with HIM to reveal to us those things that are on HIS heart – how to eliminate the distractions to stay clear minded and pure hearted about the things of HIS heart!

We have NO agenda or alternative message here, other than thanking HIM and thanking each one of you who are connected in our lives.  THANK YOU for your always support, encouragement, motivations, accountability and honesty with us.   Thank you for your unfailing support and love when we walk out this call of serving HIM in uncomfortable spaces, places of insecurity and even when decisions that we make may seem to be unclear to you.   Thank you for trusting the FATHER’s heart in us – in order to extend HIS Kingdom and honor HIM through acts of worship!

We value your involvement and interest greatly!    Thank you for even being gracious with us through this transition to Germany – we apologize for not being able to maintain a stronger line of communication, but we so desire to change that soon!  As we now start to settle down, we hope to be able to understand better when to write with purpose and joy as we walk out this season of serving HIM through helping our children in their High School adjustment – as well as partnering with so many mission families in supporting their work and call on the field, while caring for their children.

Know that each one of you are dear and close to our hearts!  Be blessed as you prepare for THANKSgiving – we have just served the students with this experience last night – 35 guests lined up on both sides of a very long table – it was a delight!

With love and an intentional appreciation!

Harry & Stephne Bowers

Bowers newsletter: November

Dear Friends,

Still in this very long first school term in Germany, we had to pull out the warm woolies and this is quite an adjustment after 5 perfect Ethiopian weather years!  This term has 4 weeks left over before students can leave for a Christmas break.

We have had an intense term with really great adjustments.  Karmyn & Benjamin are adjusting to the demanding school schedule and Harry has a final contribution tonight at the School Musical where he has been playing clarinet and saxophone for SEUSSICAL.

Two weeks ago, the seniors hosted an open house here in the dorm.  We invited our German neighbours to join in the fun and we have had such a great response.   Harry and the School Principal took over 2 students with a basket of cookies and invitations, introduced the dorm and invited families to come over for cookies and milk.   This was such a special moment as they were so surprised over our efforts to reach out to them.  Many families came and we communicated in our broken, limited German, many facial expressions and had to really suppress the confusing Amharic file with which we have great difficulty to close down.

This morning however, Harry and I prepared to take Selah for her early walk, but discovered that we had overnight burglars!   Yes, in this safe, quiet little village, we had a burglary!   The heavy metal safe with all our students’ passports & pocket money inside, is gone!  It was locked inside a hidden desk – we felt it was safe……?    At first, our dorm administration thought that it could have been a ‘prank’ played on the dorm, but this was not the case.   So, the police was called in.   Harry and I had to file reports, inform the students, inform their parents, etc., etc.   We feel terrible of course…..!    This is getting close for the students to leave for Christmas vacation, so passports are needed and we will have to travel the 4 hours to Embassies, etc.

Please pray for a quick solution, since many students have to travel to various countries where they need special documentation which was difficult to get prior to their coming here.

This has been a very distraught morning for all.  Thankfully, Harry made copies of the student’s passports and stored it elsewhere – this is good.   The difficulty, is that the student’s famlies left money for them here with us, which was also kept in that safe…….  We are truly looking forward to see what the Lord is going to show us through this event!

Blessings to you all and thank you for standing with us in prayer!

In His Joy,

Stephne for our family

Yep, it is me, and updating you, finally!!

Dear Precious Friends,

Alright, I win the prize for the absolute worst blogging person in the world!! I am well aware that it has been some time and my dear wife has tried to keep you all up to date, however the demands here occupy a very large amount of our time.

Let me share with you a typical day: 6:45 we get up to serve breakfast and have pack-able lunches ready for 22 high school students, 21 girls and Benjamin. Two to three times a week we do a hot breakfast, which may be oatmeal, eggs, waffles, etc. The rest of the time if is cereal, yogurts, bagels, toast, juice and mik. The ravenously hungry students start arriving at 7:15 and we serve until 7:45. You would think they had not eaten in DAYS!!! Then they all scamper off to finish getting ready for school. There are those whose “gratis” which is really another phrase for chores, is to wash the dishes, cups, wipe down tables, and pack everything away.

We do provide the option of an early van trip in for those who do sports or music practice or who want extra with their teachers. That leaves at 7:35. They return at 8:20 for prayer time and then the bus comes and they are off. During all of this, I try to get a cup of coffee but after they leave we, meaning the staff catch our breath and start thinking about the day ahead. By staff I mean Steph and myself, and then we have three RA’s, which are resident assistants who live here in the dorm with us and we all serve these girls together. In this dorm, it is three young ladies in the 20’s who come to serve here in the dorm. So if you add it up, there are 20 high school girls, 3 RA’s, and my family of 4. You quickly get to 27 people living here. We have 3, 9 passenger vans, so when we go somewhere as a “family” it is a major achievement in organization. We then start thinking about the rest of the day.

Some days are slightly different from others. Monday for example, Steph and I head out to Kaufland, which is a very large supermarket, for our food purchases for the week. We always have two absolutely stuffed carts, and sometimes a third. Remember, we are buying for 27 people. The good thing is we do not to do the evening meals during the week, but still we spend about $600 each week to keep appetites satisfied here, or at least most of them. Trust me, there is no way we can please all of them at the same time. We buy several loaves of bread, English muffins, 25 litres of milk, bags of apples, grapes and whatever fruit happen to be on sale and available. We have a tight budget so we adjust the meal plan for the week according to what may or not be on sale. We then head home, and unpack all the fruits, vegetables, breads and meats in the 4 refrigerators and two freezers that we have.

This usually takes us until slightly past noon. We do then get to catch our breath until about 3:00pm when we start preparing for the return of the students at 4:10. We have a snack ready, and it is just like the morning, you would think they had not eaten for days. This is when the first students come home. There is a later bus for those students who stay behind after school for sport practice, music practice or just socialization, which is one the things we are dealing with ☺. High school girls- high school boys and rules on when and where they can be together. You can only imagine those challenges. Our evening meal is prepared at the school by a great German lady, Frau Volkmar, who rolls out our dinners promptly at 5:55 each night for us to pick up and we then take the dinner back to the dorm. We all gather at 6:15 to eat, which takes about 20-25 minutes, then a few announcements of who, what, when where and how, the the gratises for the evening are done, and then study time from 7:30 until 9:30. This is when we help the girls with homework, computer issues, anything else you might possibly think of.

Then at 9:30 the social networking on the computers start until about 10:30. They of course, try to do the social networking during homework. They think they can change to their homework screen on their computer fast enough before I see them on FaceBook, but they seem to think we were born yesterday. I sound so much like my dad lately, yikes!!! 10:30 the freshman and sophomores are tucked in, the juniors at 11:00 and the seniors by midnight. Between all of this we are preparing and working out who is driving someone to be at the volleyball teams bus trip at 5:30am, then who is going to do extra shopping for the weekend. Then we ALWAYS have a few girls going to and from with friends and need to be picked up or dropped off somewhere. Factor in some extra time to simply fuel the three vans with fuel, wash them, check the oil, log books, and total all of that and turn it into the finance and maintenance departments.

Now add to this, small groups for the students on Wednesday nights. Currently we are in musical practice, doing a dorm open house for the community, taking ALL the students, both dorm and home students to a carnival on Monday night. There is a 3 x 3 basketball tournament on Tuesday because it is a German holiday so there is no school. Heaven forbid we actually take a day off……… Then also factor in birthday parties both here and other dorms that girls want to invite friends over. Ah, I could go on. You know, bottom line, the Lord placed us here, and it is from His strength that we draw from which is limitless. It is a blessing, really it, to take care of these girls, as their parents serve in countries such as Russia, China, Korea, and some that cannot even be mentioned. We are able to provide care for these children while their parents are planting churches, doing Bible translating, building schools or working with orphanages. It is a pleasure to serve with so many believers and help build the network of the church.

Thank you all for your support. We know our work is very different than in Ethiopia, but really it is only a different perspective. We are all serving the same Lord and King and to Him be all the praise and glory that we get to do this with the families of the girls we take care of here, their families, and you all who have been so faithful to us in prayer and financial support over the years. Thank you so much for your faith and trust in us. I will try to be a better blogger, really I will!!

Love and blessing to all Harry

October Bowers Blog

Dear Friends,

This message comes to you from ALSACE in France – where our family rests in a tiny little wooden cottage amongst the Vosges Mountains.  We are surrounded by history – ruins, castles, farm houses, even the trees feel as though they hold possible secrets of the WORLD WAR I and II-action!  The tree tops on hill and mountain sides around us, are indicating the change of the season and splashes of orange and red tint the overall green splendor!

Karmyn & Benjamin visited the World War I-trenches as part of their school curriculum.  They shared of the experience with amazement as we descended the zig-zag road down the mountain  (we met the school group on the way to our weekend spot to intercept our children for our family time).

This is our first rest time after we committed to the Germany adventure during May 2011.   The quiet here, is wonderful, the calmness in the valleys filled with old family homes, is evident as the cows in the meadows peacefully graze in between the wealth of history!  We read about Albert Sweitzer’s family home (which was closed today) in the nearby village of GUNSBACH, the storks in MUNSTER, we also discover its famous cheese.  We witness graveyards of fallen heroes next to beautiful, old churches (often the Catholic- and Protestant buildings face each other).

This morning, we walked the local farmer’s market of one of these villages.  Flavors and odors alternated between sausage varieties, fresh veggies & fruits, cheeses and warm breads!   We enjoyed our supper this evening next to the little stream outside the chalet’s front door – fresh rye baguette with sausage & cheese – hmmm!

One more sleep, then this moment is part of our memory bank and we return to the dorm where Monday will be a German holiday, which means that we will be back in full swing!

We trust that your lives are in a place of joy and peace!  May the blessing of the Father be your portion as we appreciate your interest, support and love in our lives!

With joy,

Stephne, Harry, Karmyn & Benjamin Bowers

Update from the Black Forest

Dear Friends and Family,

THANK YOU for your prayers!  We have surely felt the presence of the Holy Spirit during this ‘almost’ first month in the beautiful Black Forest!

Our family is well, feeling as though we may soon be finding a rhythm to the busy days which are filled with 21 girls (& Benjamin)’s routines, joys and sorrows!

We feel blessed to be hosting these students, observe the layers of interesting teenage dynamics, be able to guide in the most unexpected ways!  This school and dorm’s schedule functions like a well oiled machine – the activities are multi layered and after we shared with the students that this schedule is simply like visiting a restaurant – you get to choose only those activities which appeals to you, of which you have time for, etc.  This seems to be working for at least this day!

Harry and I serve early morning breakfasts, make available a smorgasbord for the students to pack their lunches with, hug and hold snuggly bodies, not quite ready for the day and get to love on the girls before Harry takes the first early birds to school for individual commitments with teachers, sport teams, etc.   Then Harry returns, in time to pray over the girls and we wave them good-bye as they depart on the public school bus.  NOW, is when we meet with our Resident’s Assistants (3 graduates who serve with us).   We catch up on individual student needs, general administration and the schedule of meeting with Resident Staff from other dorms, under the guidance of the Res Life Director.  Mondays, the RA’s have a day of rest, this is when Harry and I leave with my weekly menu planner, shopping list in hand, to shop for the two carts of food for the week!    On Thursdays, Harry and I have our day of rest, then we try to catch up on lost sleep, correspondence and spend family time when our children return from school.  Weekends are filled with activity and we are trying to create a calm atmosphere……ha-ha – so that the students can also rest a little bit.  This is when the dorm staff is very busy with food preparation, guiding a thorough dorm cleaning and then we try to visit with students in the garden, go on walks, have picnics and teas under the beautiful English walnut tree.

We are now getting to know the girls better and it is such an amazing life where girls from all over the world get to gather and share their life experiences from far away places.  This is a unique moment in time, since we get to be a part of the next generation who are developing from parents serving all over the world in various capacities, mostly mission families.  These students are growing up with a very wide world view which is refreshing to see, but there is also a beautiful innocence which allow most to desire only the best for their lives!

We are honored for this moment in our lives – you and us, get to help fellow believers serve while they entrust their children’s education and growth to us.  This is an overwhelming call when looking at it through human perspective, but praise Him who allow us to hold on to His Hand and watch HIM at work!

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

- We are preparing music (CD’s) for the 3 vans and if you would like to invite your sunday school class to create a few Christian Music – Light Opera (maybe sound tracks from Musicals?) and Classical CD’s for our daily trips, that would be so wonderful!

 

Thank you for all your hearts!

We value and appreciate you greatly!

Stephne Bowers

A much needed sabbatical – of a different kind!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the complicated packing regime in Soddo a week ago, we travelled to Addis, where we met Benjamin at the airport, then re-organized his luggage to fit the requirements for check in, sunk back into  airplane seats and exhaustion overtook us!  It was an uneventful travel with Selah at our feet in her carry on, no questions asked at customs, a simple entry!  German efficiency is a fresh, welcome affair!   We delight in the simplicity of daily routine already and are reminded of ‘work to live’ and not the other way!  It was delightful to ‘make a nest within the past three days – we arrived with personal basics and with the essentials provided here in our apartment, we are so content with being together!  We praise the Lord for this opportunity!  Next week, we start dorm orientation and will know better what we are in for!  I hope to take a moment every week to keep you updated on this journey!   Thank you for your continued prayers and support – you continue to be close to our hearts & minds!

Click the link below to view the full update.

Bower’s Update

Thank You for Your Support

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your faithful support to Wolaitta Village through the supporting fundraising ministries:  www.jahelps.com  and  www.newcovenantfoundation.com

When you send personal donations for our family, please just mention that to our friends at jahelps and newcovenant, by specifying that your giving is for the BOWERS FAMILY.

We want to also take a moment to especially thank and appreciate you for supporting our family personally!   Your financial and prayer support allow many to see the Father’s love for them in action on the mission field.   We especially appreciate your faithful giving to our family as our travel expenses have especially been a demand since the children have been transitioning to Boarding School.  We understand the rising living cost and only have admiration for you and continue our prayers for overflowing storehouses as you continue to hold us faithful to serve the Lord in Africa!

With deep appreciation!

Harry & Stephne, Karmyn & Benjamin  Bowers

Ode to Mission Doctors

Dear Friends,

Medical care on the mission field can be risky business….. but, then again, when you find yourself on a hospital compound, surrounded by a growing variety in specialities, the ‘risky’ part, quickly transforms into ‘opportunity!’

After being able to be blessed by the use of the newly brought over ultrasound machine, then another examination later by our newly joined OBGYN, who performed a biopsy of my uterus, concerns were serious enough to discuss surgery……. two days later, our team of 2 US-OBGYN’s and Norgewian Anesthesiologist sat Harry and myself down on the porch to discuss the small window of opportunity before they had to pay attention to other commitments….. the past 18 months of constant discomfort and pain, was strong enough of a motivation for me to submit to this alternative.  The options were simple: general- or spinal anethesia,  OR-recovery or home…….?  No forms, no signatures, just so simple – loved that!

Two weeks ago, on a cloudy, misty morning, Harry escorted me on the walk to the OR where our team welcomed us with lighthearted conversation and they moved swiftly after I layed myself down on the cold surgery table – I remember the scrub nurse’s hard slaps on my hand – to find the vein for the necessary medications.  I felt Dr Aarsland’s activity on my left while I kept my focus on Dr Hail and Dr Karnes as they entertained me with delightful stories of recent happenings – still have to get to the endings…… since I drifted off quick!

I awoke in our home later that night – NO NAUSIA!!  Dr Hail promised me that she was going to treat me for that in the OR – it worked and I am ever thankful!   All went well, the doctors performed friendly and caring home visits regularly during these past two weeks  -  I was told that after they completed the 2-hour procedure, I was pushed to the side, watched carefully while they had to perform an emergency C-section!   While this surgery took place, I was then brought home on a stretcher.

Harry & Karmyn took care of me from that moment on, but the surrounding medical staff made frequent visits to monitor my response and recovery.    Now, two weeks later, I am humbled and blessed beyond words for all the tender care and interest from friends and family – near and far!    Thank you to everyone for your prayers, words of encouragement and constant reminders that I need to allow myself 6-8 weeks for this kind of recovery.   I am trying my best to adhere to all this good advise!

Blessings to each of you!

In His love,

Stephne

Soddo….. News & Notes

Dear Friends,

Since it has been a while……. – I am intentional about refraining from sad stories during this writing, since I feel it most important to remember the good during this writing……..so, here the good news!

WOLAITTA VILLAGE:

- Mark, Harry & Henok are in agreement with the potential contractor who has been selected from the 13 applicants to start with the Children’s Home and an announcement of this builder will be released on Monday morning;

- As soon as a contract is signed with the Contractor, we will let you know of the groundbreaking day!

- Harry is in communication with the ‘water people’ who are guiding us as to where the well should be drilled;

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- Please THANK the Father with us for His grace and mercy and His perfect timing as we are quite anxious to get these buildings rising from the earth!

- Please ASK with us for funds, endurance and wisdom as we are trying to get the infrastructure prepared for the Children’s Home;

- We need a 20-foot container on the sight to store building materials, etc and these have become expensive and in demand, making it difficult to get to Soddo also;

- Please pray for efficient use of time – we are anxious to start building!

- Please THANK the Father for HIS funds as we will need large amounts soon!!

WV MANAGER – PERSONAL HOME:

- As soon as the first shovel lifts the soil from the earth to build the Children’s Home, this is when we may be able to get land secured for the Manager’s Home.  We are now in May, we only have until November on this compound……

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- Please THANK the Lord for pledges of $ for this home, we are only waiting on $

GENERAL MINISTRY:

- Harry has been working diligently to get MMI-registered in Ethiopia – almost there! This will mean that the 3 Ethiopian trainees (whom Harry has been training during the past 4 years) will be able to get official qualification status for their Eye Clinic Training and the MMI-EYE HOSPITAL may be built soon;

- Harry is still acting as ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT to the PAACS program here for SODDO CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL;

- Harry is busy with the demands of WOLAITTA VILLAGE  - acts as Project Manager and enjoys the adventure!

- Steph continues to manage the three CCC-Children’s Homes with CWA and is very busy with community projects to help ato Henok strengthen the CCC-Infrastructure to help the poor more effectively. The community projects are expanding tremendously (wells, chicken farming, injera making, etc. and we are excited to plan a Church Leadership- and Pastoral training seminar soon to start with the activation of equipping the Church to care for the poor in their own communities!

- Steph ministers in the SCH as needs arise, donating blood to weak, young mothers, recovering from child birth, help caring for new borns until mothers are strong enough to care for them;

PRAYER REQUESTS:

- Please THANK the Lord with us for amazing opportunities to share in His love and grace as HE lays before us, the demands of the day!

- Please ASK Him to equip us with wisdom and discernment as to what HE needs us to touch, where to pay attention to and where to withdraw from, since the demands stand high all day long!

PERSONAL:

- We thank the Father for our family – Benjamin just returned to RIFT VALLEY ACADEMY for this last term in grade 8. We had a wonderful family time this past month here in Soddo when he came home;

- We delight in the joy of Karmyn’s constant growth and maturity in the Lord as she is also tasting success through her homeschooling curriculum. She has been invited to return to RVA for grade 9 and we are waiting on the Lord’s confirmation;

- Thank you for your prayer support as we journey through days of unknown demands and ministry opportunities. We never want to get stuck in the ‘to-do’ list, but as we grow in closeness with the Father, our heart’s desires are to hear His whisper for every opportunity, to be so connected and confined in Him, that we will always know where we are to be involved and where not.

Harry & Stephne Bowers