Where are the Bergs?

Since it's been over a month since we've written here, ....

....and because we've received numerous emails asking us what is going on and where we are, I decided to make myself sit down and post this much overdue update.  

 THE SHORT VERSION   

After three years of serving at Kibogora Hospital in rural, southwest Rwanda, we moved this August to Kijabe, Kenya, where Tim will teach surgical residents at Kijabe Hospital and Linda will teach 12th grade English (British Lit) at Rift Valley Academy.  Rift Valley Academy (RVA) is the missionary kid boarding school where Sam is currently a sophomore, Ruthie is a junior and Deste is a kindergartener.  We are very sad to leave Rwanda and feel homesick for our friends there, and at the same time we are so happy to be here and for getting to live with 3 of our children under one roof and to serve in this new capacity.  Working at RVA  and Tim teaching residents with the PAACS Program at Kijabe Hospital, are both behind the scenes mission jobs - Linda is supporting the many missionaries throughout Africa who need a school for their children, so they can remain on the field.  And Tim is working to increase the number of surgeons on this beautiful continent, to help fill that serious need.  We are sad to be away from Rwanda and all we love in that place, but happy about our new positions and the new work that awaits us here. We feel very privileged to join the teams at both of these very respected institutions! 

RIFT VALLEY ACADEMY

For those who want to know more about this big change that seemingly happened overnight, here are more of the long version details. 

THE JUICY DETAILS

I guess the easiest way to catch you up on our move, why we moved, how we are settling in, is to take various questions we have received from some of you and answer them here.  Here we go: 

Q: Did you change mission organizations, or .... ?
A: No.  We didn't change mission agencies, but we have been "secunded" to SIM (Serving in Mission) in order to properly fit into the organizations of both RVA and Kijabe Hospital. We are still with Christian Health Service Corps, a relatively new mission agency, designed exclusively to send more doctors and nurses (and dentists) to the mission field. To reach our specific "page" on this website, go to this link. 
Nevermind that it still says we are in Rwanda.  Soon, we will have an updated picture that includes our new son, Deste, as well as updated locale! 
  
Q. We thought you loved Rwanda and the Rwandan people, and that there was a huge medical need there.  If so, why on earth did you leave all that to go to Kenya, where the medical need is less than Rwanda? 

A. Good question, we are glad you asked!  The answer is rather complicated and multi-faceted, but first, YES, we do love the Rwandan people, the medical need does continue to be intensely serious and dire, and we miss it terribly!

A BUMP IN THE ROAD!

  
The questions started about a year ago, when we realized that Linda's kidneys were not performing near the level they should.  She has had numerous, numerous tests to try to figure out what is going on - but the cause has not been discovered.  All we know is that my numbers are off.  My kidneys are not filtering my blood the way they should at my age.  And, being in rural Rwanda, we were too far away from medical care should they worsen abruptly.  We needed to either find a place to serve in Africa where I could be treated quickly if my situation deteriorated, or we needed to go home. 

WE NEED A TEAM 

Another difficulty we had been facing was the lack of a team at Kibogora. There is an African proverb that says, "If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together."  After three years it became apparent that without the support of a team at Kibogora, it was unwise to continue as we were trying to do too much on our own. The needs were only increasing, and could not be properly addressed without a team. We saw there was no way we could keep up the pace we were both living without burning out - soon. We wanted to go far, but that we could not do that alone.

OPEN DOORS AND ANSWERED PRAYERS

Meanwhile, while we were processing these realities, two amazing doors opened for service in Kenya, near a very good hospital that could continue to treat Linda's kidneys if the need arose.  

First, Kijabe Hospital was looking for another surgeon who could help train surgery residents, who will then go out to hospitals like Kibogora and fill huge needs in the future.  Helping to send out new (younger!) surgeons?  What a great way to help meet the surgery needs on this beautiful continent we've come to love.  

Second, an opening came up in the English department at Sam and Ruthie's boarding school, located just a twenty minute walk from the hospital that needed a surgeon.  My master's degree is in secondary English education - and I've long wished I could teach 12th grade English - exactly the spot that was open!  This school provides a way for missionary families to educate their children so they can remain on the field when they might otherwise have to return to America to seek education for their children.  We serve families from over 17 different home countries, who are working in many, many different countries throughout Africa. 

These facts, combined with a longing to be nearer our children, which has only grown with every year we've been in Rwanda - meant that we decided to try to make the move.  We applied to the two openings, and were accepted to both but sorting out the complicated organizational arrangements took some time. In fact, it took a lot of time.  In fact, we didn't know we could come until just a couple of days before we actually moved!  

This is part of why we never posted much about the move on our blog.  Until just about 48 hours before we actually moved, we were still unsure if all the paperwork would make it possible TO move!  And, we didn't want to confuse everyone with news about a move that never happened.  

Q. So, what will happen with the folks you love and the work you've been doing in Rwanda?

A. Well, that's another good question.  We hope (but of course, only God knows) that we can return to Rwanda someday - pending my health situation and our family situation.  We also hope to keep up with our Rwandan friends and to keep some of our projects running there.  We pray God makes that possible through some good friends we have in Rwanda who can help us stay in touch and up to date on different things there, and through Tim perhaps being able to go and fill in as a surgeon there every so often.

Q. What's your living situation like in Kenya? 

A. We are staying temporarily in another teacher's house, which used to be a dorm, many years ago.  Because it is a renovated old dorm, it is HUGE.  It has a cool wood burning stove for a heater, which we need at night!  We are high up in the clouds here!

With so much new and so many changes we are so grateful for the time in this very comfortable home for our first few months of transition. The missionaries who normally live here are home in the States, due to a medical need with a family member.  While we are so sorry for their situation, we are very grateful for their generosity in opening their home to us, people they've never even met!  Everything in here, except our clothes, belongs to them.  They were so kind to open their home and belongings to us in this way.   

When those teachers return for term 2 of school in January, we will be moved to a duplex close to the hospital.  So, for now, I am enjoying quick walks to school, and come January, Sam, Ruthie, Deste and I will enjoy getting in better shape with our half hour walks back and forth.  (Trying to keep a positive mindset, here!)

 So, we hope this clears things up a bit about where we are, why we are where we are, and what our future hopes and dreams are regarding our beloved Rwanda. 

VIEW OF MT LONGONOT FROM RVA