One Slightly Odd Sunday in Africa

A new adventure in Malawi:

Elizabeth's purse is stolen at lunch. We were upset. Our friends suggest we pray.

We prayed.

After Elizabeth canceled all her credit cards by skype, a friend calls. Her name is Amanda, the first name on Elizabeth's phone. The central police station called Amanda saying that Elizabeth's purse had been recovered. We celebrate, but know that the $100 cash is gone, but hope the credit cards and license are still there.

We get to the station, and see the purse on the desk. The police woman says it was found in the bathroom with a note inside saying it was "found" at the restaurant where it was stolen.

No cell phone, but the credit cards and license are there.

I call the cell phone. A man answers. I say that we're at the police station. He answers that the purse is in the bathroom. He says that we will find her car keys, her documents, "and everything."

Now I know who put it in the bathroom, the guy who answered my wife's phone.

I ask, "OK, can we have the phone back, too, please?" I actually said "please" to a thief.

He answers, slowly, "OK" then CLICK.

So I sent the guy a text, to my wife's phone, "Thanks for returning the purse. We will pray for you to stop sinning. We forgive you. God loves you."

I couldn't fit in one text, " I'm glad you have half a conscience, but I hope you regrow the lost half, because if you aren't careful you will lose both halves permanently."

We go back to the scene of the crime, a longer story, and just for the heck of it I call the phone, hoping to hear a guilty cell phone, but since this is not a movie, the cell phone is turned off and no guilty ring.


T I A this is Africa

Something about me

Elizabeth tells her story

I grew up in a nominally Catholic home. I also grew up as an expatriate in South America, my father was a businessman, and in my youth I met a number of children of missionaries. I first heard the gospel in an understandable way from missionaries when I was fifteen years old. When I went to college in the US, God brought me to a church where I could learn and grow in my faith.

In college I decided to study nursing specifically so I could do mission work anywhere in the world. A few years out of college I joined a church planting team to start a Hispanic church in Miami, Florida. I began graduate school to become a Nurse Midwife, when I met Jerry at the University of Miami. We married and moved to Tampa for him to start medical school. During the following years I entered a time of serious questioning and exploration of my faith, and at the same time we began having our children. I thank God for this time, as it helped sharpen and mature me, and prepare me for service.

We moved to Tucson AZ in 1996, so Jerry could work at a community health center and help pay back the student loans he owed. We became involved in leading a marriage ministry (and worked on our own marriage as well!). By 2002 all our student debt was paid. We applied to HCJB World Radio after exploring other medical mission’s options at the Yearly Global Medical Missions conference in Kentucky. I remember seeing the tremendous medical need in Africa, yet feeling that we fit better with South America. As I was struggling with that idea, I spoke with a representative of HCJB World Radio Inc. who told me of a great place to work for in Ecuador, but that they were opening doors to Africa, and looking at options in Malawi! I thought, “What a perfect fit, we could get our missionary feet wet in ‘comfortable’ South America, and yet Africa could be in our future some day!”

We have been in Ecuador for four wonderful years. I’ve worked part time in the hospital, begun a health education and community outreach program and started and a pre and post test counseling program for our HIV. I also lead an evangelical Bible study for Ecuadorian women who have had little or no background in the Bible. We have loved living and serving our awesome God here, and don’t feel our time for serving in missions is anywhere near up. Perhaps, If God allows we can continue to serve Him with the needs He puts before us in Malawi.

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit…” John 15:8

Elizabeth Koleski