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HappyThanksgiving!
We are sorry it has been so long since we have updated you all. We have been struggling with consistent internet over the last month. Our monthly newsletter is now a six-month update on what has been going on in our lives and the ministry since we last sent a newsletter.
In the USA
We were in the United States from May through July and while we were there we were blessed to visit all of our Minnesota churches and our supporting church in Illinois. We went to Chicago and packed our container and watched as it was taken to the port. We also were privileged to visit with many small groups and participate in a mission conference as well as visiting a few businesses and raising support for our surgical building project. We also moved Dan’s mother from the family farm into a wonderful apartment in Pine River, and got the house ready to sell and put it on the market before we went back to Nigeria. We had many wonderful baby items that were donated to help our little ones in Gembu that were donated by many. We felt so very humbled by the blessings that were showered on us while in the States.
Back to Nigeria
We arrived back in Nigeria to find that the GECHAAN staff had done a wonderful job of keeping things moving forward while we were gone.
I hope most of you got the special bulletin that our container arrived with all the much-needed supplies. We have sorted, inventoried and begun use of much of it, with some of it waiting for the new building to open.
Building Update:
We have started the foundation of the surgical building and also the FamilyCentre is finished as well as the new toilets and the Last Ward (mortuary). The Technical Training Building is coming along very well. We will be able to hold our computer classes there as well as the Technical Training Program classes, and have some wonderful classroom space as well. We are currently interviewing and doing the background check and vetting process for our first 15 students and their training will start January 1. Please pray for this program as we move forward this is a completely new venture that we are attempting, basically teaching people how to have their own business. We have much to learn on how to best present the material.
Other News
Early in November we had the Leadership summit. Last year we had an attendance of 27 this year we had 54 in attendance! Everyone that came was very pleased with the outcome. We are working on how we can develop follow-up leadership meetings every month to help local leaders grow.
Art Helwig came in September and left in November. Jim Black (a former missionary to this area) was just recently accepted as a Converge missionary was with us for a couple of weeks. He and his sister, Wanda, came to visit us and the surrounding area and connect with people here on a listening group project that he is doing with the Bible in Fulfolde on mp3 players.
The GECHAAN Nursing department has seen a good increase in staff over the last couple of months. We had 2 nurses move on to other areas but in the process of interviewing we had several qualified applicants so we were able to replace them and add two in the process!
Please continue to pray for us as we move forward, each day gets busier and we find we need more wisdom and discernment constantly. We are continually blessed by the wonderful partners in ministry that God has given us and pray for you as well!
In His Service,
Dan & Tina Gibbs
Standing Beside
Visit our website at www.StandingBeside.com
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