So much has happened since our last update, so here we go. In early September we had the pleasure of attending a mission leadership summit in Charlotte NC and had the opportunity to meet with several leaders from various medical mission and support agencies. After the conference we headed to the World Medical Mission/Samaritan’s Purse warehouse in Wilkesboro and were able to look over much needed medical equipment that is being prepared for a shipping container headed to Macha in the next couple of weeks. See the picture below or visit our blog https://markandmaggiebicwm.travel.blog/ for more pictures). We also were able to drop off some supplies that had been donated for the hospital and kids there, from our church VBS this summer, to also be put on the container. While in Wilkesboro we met up with Dr. James Deboe, the current administrator at Macha Hospital. We had a good visit with him and his wife, reminiscing about our first trip to Macha where we meet them in 2009, and also talking about plans for the future work at Macha.
On October 1st Maggie saw her last speech therapy client and on the 3rd I performed my last surgery at Sharon Regional hospital. I will be seeing patients in post op follow up until the 16th of October which will be my last day of work.
On October 20th (at the 9:30 service) we will have our commissioning at Grace Chapel Community Church in Hermitage. On Oct 30th we will be leaving this area and heading to speak to the Awana program at Five Forks BIC Church in Waynesboro, PA followed by our commissioning service there on November 3rd. Quite the birthday present for Maggie!
We will be flying out from Washington DC on Nov 5th. We have been asked to join one of the Dutch collaboratives that works at Macha Hospital for a medical symposium on the 7th and 8th in Rotterdam, Netherlands after which we will fly on to Zambia arriving in Livingstone on the 10th.
So, are we ready?
If you mean, have we sold our house and car, made all of our banking arrangements, and packed all of our things, then probably not. We are fond of the saying “God is seldom early but He is never late”. Although we still have 1 month to go, I have to ask myself what exactly am I waiting on the Lord to do? I recently read of Steve Corbett’s account of his visit to the Kibera slums of Nairobi. I have driven by this massive area of the most poor and destitute on our way to Kijabe hospital in Kenya years ago. It is truly one of the poorest areas of the world. Yet as he was walking through the squalor, he heard singing in the distance. He soon approached a church made of scabbed together wood covered with opened cardboard boxes. Inside were people rejoicing and praising the Lord. During the sharing time he heard these people praying that the Lord would, “heal a son who was going blind” or “provide for their children who were literally starving”. Steve retells this story to bring home the point that in the US we have so bought into the idea of a health and wealth “prosperity” gospel that we don’t even realize it. We associate the blessing of being American with God’s reward for living a holy life, yet here in the slums of Kenya those who were truly serving God struggled for their mere existence.
This gave me pause. I have been praying that God would sell my house. After all I am heading to Africa, should He not bless me with this simple provision? Selling the house would remove several financial burdens and make heading to Africa so much easier. That’s the problem, I want it to be easy and I have an idea of what that should look like but He wants me to go and to trust Him. His selling my house or car is not part of the deal. It’s not my “blessing” for doing something special or for even living the way He expects me do. He has promised to provide for my needs not my wants. He has called us to go and has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19). So, as we go, we are trusting Him that He will supply all we need, not what we want and that His will be done.
So, we praise Him for what He has done.
Praises:
We are at 95% support and continue to anticipate the remaining support coming in through the giving of faithful supporters.
Zach has been working as Music Director at Greenville Alliance church and really is enjoying the work and the people there. This is also a blessing to us as he is staying in the area and will be able to take on affairs for us here (including our house) while we are in Africa.
Please pray:
That God will lead and provide as we pack up our house and make arrangements for our departure in less than one month.
That we will have a peace among the stress of this transition and that we will fully lean on Him.
Pray for good health as we prepare to go (Mark has been cleared by the cardiologist but still is on medication for his myocarditis and esophageal spasm).
Pray for our children as they adjust to the physical distance between us.
Pray for us as we say good bye to friends and family members.
Thanks for your continued prayers and support
Many Blessing
Mark and Maggie
For more information posted on line at https://bicus.org/missionaries/mark-and-maggie-roth/. If you would like to give financially or be a prayer supporter, you can also find information on how to become involved
Online by credit card or bank account (https://secure.etransfer.com/BIC/MarkMaggieRoth.cfm)
· Mail by check
o Checks made payable to BIC U.S. with “preference for Mark and Maggie Roth”
o Mailed to: 431 Grantham Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
· Pledge commitment for future donations
o Electronic pledge for a future donation (click the “give” button on the right of our profile page: https://bicus.org/missionaries/mark-and-maggie-roth/
Mark and Maggie BICWM 