Blogs Just Posted from
Vanuatu
April Blog From
Needles
Hello Friends! It is with a little bit of awe that
I write to you from Gaua, Vanuatu. Our family has been volunteering here with
Dr. Mark Turnbull & Family since the end of January and we can’t believe it
has almost been three months since our arrival! The last time I wrote, we were
adjusting to the heat. I am not sure if we have adjusted or if it is just a
little cooler than when we arrived. Either way, praise be to God for working
this out for us. We want to say thanks to the team of 3 gentlemen that came from
Australia to help start the construction of a much needed staff house on the
school campus. The project went so well that much more was done than
anticipated. At their departure on Sunday, the flooring, interior framing,
exterior framing, siding and roof were all completed. We are sure God had a hand
in this as well. Thanks Steve, Dennis and Jonathan for all your hard work,
tools, and financial contributions to the project. Our family raised a large sum
of money for this staff house before we left the United States. When we arrived,
and began to calculate the actual expenses, my husband Mike figured out that we
were about $10,000.00 short. We all prayed and then Dr. Mark called Steve and
told him of our need. Steve was able to raise the remaining amount and come with
two other volunteers to make the staff house a reality. We are thanking God for
everyone, both in the States and in Australia who gave of themselves to make
this project a success. Our work lately still involves much needed emergency
medical care too. Our medical staff at the clinic continues to perform
successful operations that, without them, would leave the patients with little
to no help. We are amazed at what God is doing through us with little equipment,
little medications, and a very small and varied staff. This work continues to be
a necessity to the people here and I am asking that you keep the clinic in your
prayers. I am told that, a while back, a generous donor gave us a portable
ultrasound machine. This machine, which has served us
very well, is nearing retirement. We are praying it will continue to last as it
has been crucial in determining fetal status in distressed pregnant patients
here in Gaua. The screen currently has lines where it shouldn’t and goes fuzzy
when it shouldn’t. If you know of anyone who would be willing to donate a new
portable ultrasound machine or funds for us to purchase one, please let us know.
I can’t stress enough how important it is here and how many lives we have saved
through its valuable data. In closing, thanks to everyone for your prayers of
support, packages of supplies that come, and other donations. We really
appreciate you and know that we couldn’t do what we do without you doing what
you do! Thanks and God bless!
Posted on 19th April
2012
by Becky
Needles
Staff House Just
Built
Recently a small team of former Yugoslavs (now
Australian) from Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia, led by Steve Jelovac
came to assist in the construction of the new Training Center staff home for the
Needles family. Against incredible odds, funds were donated and materials got
shipped in absolutely record time for their arrival. Our Conclusions:...?
1/Steve is a man of faith and 2/ "Steve's God can do anything"! We serve an
amazing God! Mike Needles has also been a fantastic contribution to the
work here-so we now have a full time builder on site and lots more
building projects to do, including:
- Building Torba Adventist Training
Center, which will serve many young people into the future
- Building in the lower floor of the existing
hangar in Gaua in preparations for a more economical maintenance arrangement
for the plane
- Building a much needed minister's house
- Building a new church in a strategic
location
- Building a new classroom for Merelava
School
- QUESTION: We already have a
fantastic builder. The needs are great. If someone steps in to fund these
projects, we will most likely get them all done by the end of the year! Who
wants to be part of something that is really on the move. Why not make God's
work a success?...
Meanwhile Mike's wife, Becky has been helping with
medical cases as the medical aviation work continues at full pace. We have many
patients visiting our newly built medical center now-Only one problem: We should
have built bigger! Airstrips are being completed on other islands with ever
widening interest in our medical aviation work around the whole of Torba
Province and even further afield. As the Lord promised:
"Medical missionary work is the pioneer work....It is the gospel in practice,
the gospel practically carried out."
GCB 1901-4-12 p11
"And they...went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and
healing everywhere."
Luke 9:6
As we seek to follow the Lord's plan
for His work, we see Him blessing and providing for His work in amazing ways.
One urgent need we have right now is a portable ultrasound/sonogram scan
machine for our medical center which is in significant demand all the time.
Our previous ultround scanner is about to collapse, leaving a big hole in our
remote area diagnostics. Lives depend on it. Can anyone help?
Posted on 18th April
2012
by Mark Turnbull
Needles First Blog From
Vanuatu
Hello Friends! My husband Mike, our kids Taylor
13, Sidney 11, and Ethan 8, and I want to extend to each of you a warm greeting
from Gaua, Vanuatu! Our family arrived here about a week and a half ago and plan
to stay a year to help the Turnbull familys work. We are adjusting to the
difference in both temperature and landscape. Our family came from Iowa, U.S.A.
where it is currently the middle of winter. We came from snow covered trees and
farmland in the middle of the United States to a very hot and humid jungle
island here in the South Pacific. Quite a change! We hope to assist the
Turnbulls in the much needed medical, construction and education work that they
are undergoing here in Gaua. My husband is a builder by profession, I am a
Registered Nurse, and our kids are willing to help out in all different areas as
they can. We are homeschooling our kids and came here specifically to give
nursing assistance to Dr. Turnbull, for Mike to develop and begin a Trade School
and also for us to build a much needed staff house on the school campus. The
Lord has provided about half of the funds for the staff house through many
faithful donors like you. Thank you! Please keep us in your prayers as we get
settled and help with the Lords work here in Gaua, Vanuatu. We will keep you
updated on our progress!
Posted on 17th February
2012
by Becky
Needles
Needles Just
Arrived
The Needles Family have arrived safely from USA.
They had to be rerouted via Australia to due to a storm in Fiji area, then en
route to Vila their plane had to abort landing at Santo due to the same weather
system in that area. But they are well and making preparations for their new
work here in Vanuatu! We are excited to see what the future holds for this
family. Please pray for them!
Posted on 2nd February
2012
by Mark
Turnbull
Back in
Vanuatu
We have just got back to Vanuatu after a very
refreshing time in Australia. Preparations are under way for the soon arrival of
a family from USA who will head up our new Rural Vocational Training Program.
Just carrried out a Cesarian Section for a lady with Diabetes-the parents are
delighted with their new and only begotten son! Only a few days later, another
Cesarian for a lady with a malpresentation-both mother and baby are doing well.
Praise God for His blessing on this effort to help this family!
Posted on 28th January
2012
by Mark
Turnbull
