M3 Memories

It had been more than a dozen years since my last visit to the USA; I wasn't particularly eager to see the USA again. At first, when I heard my Uncle Steve was the keynote speaker at the Moblizing Medical Missions (M3) conference in Houston, I thought of it only in terms of what I should share with his supporters, in case any of them wanted to connect with him during his brief visit to the USA.

But when I learned M3 was being held by Lakewood Church, which my wife had attended online regularly during the pandemic, I told my uncle how enthused she was to hear of his role in the conference. He came back suggesting to his parnters at Hope for Angola that it would be a great idea if I attended to give away copies of the Benefit of Steel, the biography I wrote of my uncle.

It took some careful arranging, but my wife and I were able to join my uncle at M3. We took in the entire conference, gave away 160 signed copies of the Benefit of Steel and help connect a number of people to what my uncle is doing in Angola. Hopefully some of these people will eventually visit Angola for themselves and participate first-hand in the work we're doing there. For myself, I've agreed to work more closely with Hope for Angola in the future, in addition to the other roles I'm holding in Angolan mission work.

It was a brief visit and not exactly a vacation, but my wife was thrilled to see Lakewood Church and attend their Sunday service in person. We came away impressed by the helpfulness and generosity of the many people who helped solve logistical problems for us (transportation) or paid for our meals. It was a very special visit.

My Uncle Steve delivered this talk, which is available via YouTube:

Upcoming Book Event

My wife and I have decided to attend the Mobilizing Medical Missions conference (M3) in Houston, Texas, happening February 16-17. My Uncle Steve is this year's keynote speaker and we'll be giving away copies of my book the Benefit of Steel to conference attendees. This will be the first time he and I will be signing the English-version together - previously our only joint signing was for the Portuguese edition!

More about M3 on their website.

Benefit of Steel review at the Saskatchewan Anglican!

My book the Benefit of Steel is reviewed in this month's issue of the Saskatchewan Anglican, on the occasion of my Aunt Peg and Uncle Steve's recent visit to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. It's good to see more promotion for the book, it continues to be bought and read by new people every month!

The Benefit of Steel is available in print!

I am very pleased to say that the print version of The Benefit of Steel is now available from Amazon.com. It has already begun selling a few copies; I hope that I have done a fair and readable take on my uncle Steve Foster's life and that this book can continue to find audiences for years to come, just as Sword and Scalpel did for his father.

Here's the promotional blurb:

Born in Canada; raised in Zambia; serving in Angola. Dr. Steve Foster has lived a remarkable life as a missionary surgeon, bringing what he calls "the benefit of steel" to relieve suffering people in times of war and poverty. Steve is one of many missionaries in his family, a lineage with more than 100 years of worldwide service. This is the story of Steve and his wife Peggy and how God shaped their lives for service in Angola, where they have been since 1978. As the Fosters' story is revealed to you in these pages, you will learn the history of Angola and its civil war and witness stories of miracles, dangers and heartbreak.

The Benefit of Steel is on Kindle!

As I continue to work towards the print version of The Benefit of Steel, the biography of Dr. Steve Foster, missionary surgeon in Angola, I am pleased to announce that the ebook text is now available on Kindle: at Amazon.com! Read and enjoy!

My first prose book has been released!

During the last two years I have been researching & writing the biography of Dr. Steve Foster, my uncle. Dr. Foster has been a missionary surgeon in Angola since 1978 and he's one reason why I've made four trips to Angola and am currently raising money as an associate missionary with SIM Canada.

My uncle's biography is titled The Benefit of Steel and it has begun to roll out in various ebook formats; you can see them all here. Part of each copy sold goes to support my uncle's mission in Angola!

The print version of the book will be coming later; when it arrives, I'll talk about it on the blog. If you're interested in missionaries, Angola or just reading my prose, why not buy a copy?