Greatly missed

Dear Stuart and Sindia, 

Thank you for the pictures.  Uncle Bob to us, is a treasured memory. 

He is one of those people you just do not think of as dying!  He was one of the people that made me feel more secure in the world, just knowing he was there. I know for the family he is a greatly missed rock.

Love and prayer, 

Steve Fields

A few memories I have of Bob

Dear Belva and family,

Pam Young from Brantford, as well as Doreen Ross, let me know of Bob’s death. He will be sadly missed by all of you. However, it is a great consolation that he is free from pain and rejoicing in the presence of his Saviour & Lord. Our loss is heaven’s gain.


Bob was a classmate of mine in Medical School in Toronto. We graduated in 1947.


Bob was a real inspiration to me. I was not a Christian when I started university and he greatly influenced my life. He has been a mentor for me down through these many years.

I fondly remember your parents

Hello Steve and entire family,

I'm Roy Howarth's daughter.  We met many years ago when the Foster family was living in the States (New Jersey, perhaps?).  I live in Oakville, Ontario and my brother, John, is in Mount Albert.

Dad has never embraced the computer world, so I am emailing the attached letter for him.

I fondly remember your parents.  I saw your Dad more often than your mom, and in thinking of him, remember his booming laugh.

Hopefully Dad's letter will be read by your Mom and siblings too, 

Janice Ghent

Praying for you all

Dear Stuart & Sindia,

We were privileged to serve Dr Bob and Belva with Mercy Air, flying them to Zambia.  They visited where they had lived, and the hospitals he built and worked at,  and lots of people came to see them and hear them teach and share.

We had read Dr Bob's book before we flew them so we relived their adventure with them.  What an amazing couple with an incredible Lord leading and guiding them throughout all the days of their lives!

We are praying for you and your family during this time of rejoicing for your Dad life and the great memories you have to cherish, until on day you see Jesus face to face and your dad too!

Hugs,

Barbara and Ron Wayner

Mercy Air

A special heritage

Dear Sheila and all of the "Family Robert Foster," 

It seems difficult to think of our world without your very special Dad, Dr. Bob, sharing it with us.

For  each of you, I imagine the hole that is left in your heart is still raw and weeping  around the edges and

you may often or occasionally, be ambushed by tears, at the most unexpected times and places.

A handwritten note from your dad

I was so surprised last year to receive a handwritten note from your dad.  Such a busy, competent man took time to greet me and thank me for a word of appreciation!

The legacy of a missionary doctor

Throughout the centuries of past medical ministry, missionary doctors have sacrificed much to serve the needy with vital medical care.   One great example of this commitment and service is Dr. Robert Livingstone Foster.  Dr. Foster was a pioneering missionary doctor in western Zambia and Angola and in conjunction with his son, Dr. Steve Foster, they worked to establish the CEML Hospital in Lubango. 

www.angolarising.blogspot.com

A wonderful family

I remember both Dr Bob and Belva coming home on furlough to Central Baptist Church in Brantford, Ontario. I remember him preaching on various occassions at Central and Belva sharing with the different ladies groups at Central. They made you feel like you were there during their time in Africa. Dr Bob has left a legacy behind and a wonderful family that I have had the oportunity to meet. May God be with the family at this time. 

Mary Armstrong, Central Baptist Church, 

Brantford, Ontario, Canada

SIM Canada remembers Dr. Bob

 

Dr. Robert Livingstone Foster (USA) passed into the presence of His Lord on January 8 2012 in Angola.  Although Dr. Bob was a member of SIM USA he was a much loved missionary within the Canadian SIM Family.  Dr. Steve & Peggy Foster serve with SIM Canada in Angola. 

In the forward to the book that documents Dr. Bob Foster’s career - Sword and Scalpel: A Surgeon’s Story of Faith and Courage in Africa - Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and World Medical Mission and son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, writes: "I believe Bob is the number one missionary statesman in the evangelical world today and the man God has used in a mighty way to open up new frontiers for the Gospel in some of the roughest areas of Africa.”

Tribute from Advancing the Gospel in Angola (AGA)

Dr. Robert Foster

In the forward to the book that documents Dr. Bob Foster’s career,  Sword and Scalpel: A Surgeon’s Story of Faith and Courage in Africa , Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and World Medical Mission and son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, writes: “I believe Bob is the number one missionary statesman in the evangelical world today and the man God has used in a mighty way to open up new frontiers for the Gospel in some of the roughest areas of Africa.”

In all, the Greensboro, N.C.-based Dr. Foster devoted his career – some 60 years of medicine and ministry – to the people of Zambia and war-torn Angola, founding four hospitals in remote areas and serving as a surgeon and medical director.

Dr. Foster has been described as a modern Christian hero, serving in primitive conditions and helping those in need despite suffering some of the worst conditions possible, including a civil war that saw thousands flee Angola for their lives. In 1988, World Vision International named Dr. Foster as its Missionary Statesman of the Year.

A graduate of the University of Toronto’s College of Medicine, Dr. Foster completed his medical residency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 1949 and immediately went to Zambia where he founded and served for 12 years as medical director of Mukinge Hospital. While in Mukinge, he also founded the school of nursing.

In 1962, he founded and served as medical director at Luampa Hospital in Zambia, leaving in 1967 to serve as interim director of Africa Evangelical Fellowship.

In 1970, Dr, Foster became medical director of Cavango and Kalukembe Hospitals in Angola. He remained in that role in 1981 when he became international director of Africa Evangelical Fellowship and medical coordinator for mission medical work in Zambia, Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Since 1990, he has performed short term medical work at Jamba, Lubango and Rio da Huila clinics in Angola.

From 1990 to 2008, Dr. Foster served as the United States representative to AEF-SIM.

In 2005, Dr Foster created a non-profit organization called Advancing the Gospel in Angola (AGA). AGA is dedicated to promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ by facilitating the exchange of information, and providing for the delivery of goods, services and finances to various ministries throughout Angola.

In the summer of 2010, Dr Robert Foster and his wife Belva returned to their beloved Africa to live out their days with their family members serving in Angola. Concludes Franklin Graham in Sword and Scalpel: “Bob Foster has inspired and challenged me, not only in the ministry with which I’m involved, but also in my personal spiritual journey. When I get to the end of life’s road, I pray that God will have used me even a fraction of the way He has used Bob Foster.”

www.hopeforangola.com 

website of AGA Advancing the Gospel in Angola

The exciting story

Sword and Scalpel Sword & Scalpel is the exciting story of how God has used Dr. Robert L. Foster to spread the Gospel and bring healing across southern Africa. Through the dangers of civil war and the difficulties of missionary life, he served four decades as a surgeon in Zambia and Angola, founding four mission hospitals.  "When you read Sword & Scalpel, I believe you will see why Dr. Bob Foster is not only a great surgeon, but a great preacher as well. God has used this missionary statesman in a mighty way to open up new frontiers for the Gospel in some of the roughest areas of Africa." --Franklin Graham

Dr. Bob tells his story

Westover Church

Robert Livingstone Foster, 1924-2012
Our prayers go out to the family of Dr. Bob Foster. His wife of 63 years, Belva, their 7 children, 17 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren, sister Rhoda Lane, 4 hospitals in rural Africa, countless churches, and the many missionaries called into service by God through his counsel. He will be deeply missed and heaven all the better. Watch this wonderful biographical video by Samaritan's Purse. God is good.

Sword and The Scalpel - Dr. Bob Foster

www.youtube.com

Dr. Bob Foster shares his experiences on the mission field

In Memoriam

God's faithfulness proven over and over

Sword & Scalpel

By Lorry Lutz, the biography of Robert L. Foster, M.D.

"This book is for anyone who has ever considered missionary work, and for those who are missionaries. . . ."

Sword & Scalpel is the true story of Dr. Robert and Belva Foster--their lives, their work and their determination to serve God in Africa, even during the war-torn years of emerging independence. You will be hard-pressed to put this book down and will want to re-read it many times. It is exciting reading - God's faithfulness proven over and over.

facethechallenge.org

from Samaritan's Purse: In memory of Dr. Bob

Medical missionary pioneer Dr. Robert Foster passed away on January 8 in Angola, Africa, at the age of 87. 

Samaritan’s Purse and its medical ministry, World Medical Mission, worked with Dr. Foster for decades to help send Christian physicians to mission hospitals in Africa on short-term assignments, and to provide those hospitals with medical equipment and supplies. 

Dr. Foster was born to missionaries in Zambia, grew up in Canada, completed his residency in the United States, served as a medical missionary in Zambia and Angola, and was a mission leader in England and the United States. He was involved in numerous medical and evangelism outreaches in Africa. He established Cavango Mission Hospital in Angola, and Mukinge and Luampa hospitals in Zambia. He also helped launch church planting and medical projects in Madagascar. 

When he was 83 years old, Dr. Foster camped for six weeks in the Angolan bush to help build a medical clinic. 

"I was just looking for a place to use the gifts God had given me," Dr. Foster said as he looked back over 60 of ministry. "I wish more young people would do that."

Dr. Foster’s greatest motivation was to serve the Lord by sharing the Gospel. The hospitals he created were also centers for evangelism. 

"I believe that medical missions is the most valuable tool of evangelism," he said. "People are needy when they come to the hospital, and the opportunities for reaching them for Christ are tremendous."

Quero ser missionário

Pelotas, 18 de janeiro de 2012,

Para Stephen, Sharon, Sheila, Stacey, Stuart, Stirling e Shelley,

Olá, irmãos Foster,

Precisava compartilhar algumas coisas com vocês. Meu nome é Juliano Coimbra, nasci e vivo em Pelotas, sul do Brasil e tenho 21 anos.

Um irmão querido da minha igreja voltou do CBM (Congresso Brasileiro de Missões) que ocorreu outubro passado trazendo um livro, "Espada & Bisturi". Ele leu na praia, entre o Natal e o ano novo, e me indicou. Pedi, meio sem esperar muito do conteúdo - nunca havia ouvido falar em Robert Foster.

Comecei a leitura e a cada página, meu coração se encantava com a história de coragem, fé e perseverança. Em uma semana, havia terminado as 340 páginas. Tanto me interessou, que hoje fui em busca de informações sobre Bob Foster na internet, até que encontrei a nota do obituário. Certamente, como o próprio Dr. Bob mencionara no livro, ele soube como terminar a sua corrida, permanecendo fiel ao nosso Senhor. Sou grato a Deus por me mostrar servos que não acreditam que uma vida de entrega e renúncia por Jesus seja algo utópico, inalcançável. 

Hoje, com 21 anos, estudo Arquitetura e Urbanismo na universidade. Amo o curso e a profissão que escolhi, mas como o pai de vocês, eu não quero me limitar ao padrão de nossos tempos - conforto, estabilidade, segurança financeira, enquanto tantos continuam na escuridão, sem conhecer ao Senhor, vivendo em condições desumanas. Eu sei que quero ser missionário e levar o Evangelho à outras culturas, e se esta certeza hoje está mais viva do que nunca, muito eu posso agradecer ao exemplo e ao testemunho do pai de vocês.

Fiquem na graça e na Paz de Jesus,

Um abraço do Brasil,

Juliano M. Coimbra

May God give us grace to serve Him faithfully in our generation

Dear Stuart and Sindia,



Thank you for your email telling us of your Dad’s going home, Stuart. Praise God for faithful servants like him and your Mother. May she know God’s comfort in a special way with the loss of her life companion. And may God give us grace to serve him faithfully in our generation and encourage others to do the same.



God bless you richly. I have many precious memories from our times together in Mozambique. And so we continue in the good fight of faith in this New Year 2012 knowing that our times are in his hands!



Love,



Henry and Stella

Mixed feelings of sadness and joy

Dear Stuart and Sindia,

Thank you so much for sending us the news of the homecall of Stuart's father, Dr. Bob.

We do send our sincere sympathy to you and all the family at this time of mixed feelings, both of sadness and joy. It is great to know of faithful warriers of the Lord being now in their Heavenly Home away from all the difficulties and pain of this world, but it is sad for the family to be without their loved one, and for the many friends he gained along the way who felt it a privilege to have known Dr. Bob.

We do hope that the funeral was uplifting for all those present, especially Belva, if she was well enough to be there. We will continue to think of you all and pray for you and the work which you as a great family are doing.

Our love to you all,

Michael and Pat Brazier

P.S.  We have sent the news to Goring Free Church and the friends there

A vossa carta tocou me muito

Querido Pastor

Dr Stuart

 

Antes porem quero pedir as minha desculpas por ter lhe espondido tardio o E-mail, foi por que eu estava de ferias durante os meu 30 dias so hoje e que entrei no escritorio, porque nao tenho computador em casa e nem internet, aproveito quando estou de servico.

 

A vossa carta tocou me muito no meu coracao na perca deste grande homem no qual Deus usou lhe sobremaneira excelente na obra ministerial, que pena perder este grande homem na arena espiritual, mas eu sei que o senhor tem um proposito mais que nos no seu reino celestial, por isso ele lhe chamou para um lugar maravilhoso de paz, amor incomparavel, misericordia, caloroso, cheio de protecão e acima de tudo um lugar cheio de esperanca vindouro em Cristo Jesus.(João 3:36)

Pastor eu digo que neste mundo ha muitas aflicoes mas tenha bom animo porque o nosso rei e salvador ja venceu tudo aquilo que o Satanas colocou como barreira da vida neste mundo, por isso todos aqueles que creem no senhor sao e serao mais que vencedores.

 

Pastor os vossos choros sempre devem chorar reparando na santa cruz, pois e la onde somos limpos as nossas lagrimas, visto o senhor enxuga as lagrimas no interior dos nossos coracoes e ele nos da o melhor consolo nas vidas.

 

Que Deus vos console eternamente e que de ao falecido um eterno descanso em Cristo Jesus.

 

Pastor

Teixeira

What a special man

Dear Stuart and Sindia,

We were so saddened to read about the passing of Stuart's father. What a special man and what an incredible legacy he has left in you and all those whose lives he touched. Although we didn't know him personally, we feel blessed to know Dr. Bob through you. Hearing about your mother is heartbreaking, but it is good to know that she seems to be more at peace.

We are glad that Luke is feeling better. This cold weather is brutal even for New Englanders, so it must be a real challenge for him. We have no doubt he can handle it, especially in NYC, which is teeming with activities and ways to escape the winter blast.

You all remain in our prayers and we hope to see you on the 22nd.

In His love and with our deepest sympathy,

Ann and Dan

Rest in His peace

May God fill each of you and the children with His peace and may you rest in the shelter of His everlasting arms during this time of grief. 

Millie Webster

SIM Mozambique

May the Lord encourage you

Hi Sindia and Stuart,
               May the memories of Stuart's Dad encourage you always. I will be praying once again for Luke as I pray for our Andrew for his 2nd semester. Boy, did he catch a nasty virus. 
Will endeavor to keep the Psalm corrections in prayer. Remember us and Exodus. I quoted Stuart on Sunday that It is " a foundational book."
Norm

Heart-felt condolences

Dear Stuart,

Our heart-felt condolences to you and your family in this time of grief.

But what a legacy, what an example of honouring of God your father has left us! May we all be found to be worthy successors, and may the ministry of the Word go from strength to strength through his many spiritual heirs.

Greet your family on our behalf. It comes with a great respect.

Warm greetings,
Sebastian and Karen

An incredible story

Building hospitals, fighting mambas, serving the Lord... what an incredible story! thank you for sharing. :)

 

Chelsea Lindley Ragland

 

Um grande abraço

Prezado Stuart,

Lamentamos profundamente a morte do seu pai. De um lado estamos triste mais do outro,  sabemos que ele está com o Senhor que ele servui por muitas  decadas. Que todos que lhe pretence, digo os filhos , netos e familiares  sejam consolados pelo Pai de todas as consolacoes, o cridaor do ceu e da terra.

Um grande abraco de um amigo,

Kitoko e familia

Great sadness and great joy

Dear Sindia and Stuart,


I was so sorry to hear of Dr. Bob's passing, yet it is
amazingly comforting to know he now has a complete and healthy
body with which to praise God in His presence.  I have been
praying for your entire family during this time of loss.
There are no words that can eliminate the sorrow, but aren't
we grateful that we don't grieve as those who have no hope?  I
am also glad to hear from Donna that Belva is sleeping and
managing reasonably well, and I will pray for her peace and
comfort.  I loved the picture of the 6 kids with Mum and Dad,
and I'm sure you are grateful that you were able to be
together.  You truly have a rich heritage.

Much love to you

Dearest Peggy and Steve,

Very saddened to hear of your loss, but know you will be together again and Bob is in Paradise. 
Much love to you and Belva and family,

Barb and Doug Cochrane

A tremendous privilege

Steve, 

What a tremendous privilege it has been for me to have known your Dad and Mum and to have worked with him so long ago at Kalukembe. It is a very sad day to hear of his home calling yet it is a triumph for him. My sympathies, my prayers and my love for all of you.

Paul Cole

Luto

Luto: Morreu ontem um dos homens que mais marcou minha vida com o seu testemunho de vida dedicada a Obra Missionária, Dr. Bob Foster, pai do Dr. Stephen James Foster, diretor do Hospital em Lubango - Angola.
Tive o privilegio de lançar a sua biografia em portugues "Espada & Bisturi."
Tenho certeza que se voce ler nào será mais o mesmo.

Eduardo Pellissier

Celebration of your father's life

           Yesterday’s influence

                Today’s memories

                Tomorrow’s reunion

Those who have shown us love,

Brought us joy, and made us laugh

Have given us the lasting gifts

Of a beautiful life –

And blessed our memories forever.

Please accept our sincere sympathy to you in the loss of your father. He was a wonderful man of God who faithfully served the Lord throughout his life and his influence and input in peoples’ lives was great. We were challenged as we saw his determination to continue serving, despite his aging body.

It has also been obvious to us as we have seen your selfless service to the people of Angola, that you learned this passion from your parents.

You have been much in our thoughts during these days and we pray that the celebration of your father’s life with family and friends, truly was that – a celebration.

May you find comfort in the sure knowledge that your loved one has stepped onto the shore of Heaven and has been welcomed by the loving hand of God.

Love,

Doreen & Gary Toews

Praying for you

Dear Foster Family,
I feel sure that you are experiencing a great void left as your husband, dad, grandad and great grandad has left for glory. I pray God's peace for all of you. If I knew him at all, I know he was prepared and ready to go.
Much love to all of you,
Jennie Van Schaick

The Lord comfort you

Dear Belva and Family,

 

We just want to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing to Glory of our dear Dr. Bob. We both have wonderful memories of his fellowship and service.  David in particular gives thanks for having worked closely with him and knowing his genuine fervour and love for the Lord.  

 

He leaves a large imprint on the continent of Africa and he will never be forgotten.  

 

The Lord comfort you all at this time until you join him in the Heavenly Home. Our love to you all,  

 

David and Joan (Manley) Evans

May the Lord comfort your mother

Thanks, Stuart, for this inspiring tribute to your father.  He was truly a man of God and a remarkably competent and contagiously passionate ambassador for Christ. May the Lord genuinely comfort your mother in what must be a grievous loss to her, and may He also comfort you and your entire family.

Gordon

Memories of Dr. Bob

A special connection of Dr. Bob of AEF was his friendship with SIM’s General Director, Ian Hay, in their early years.  They both lived at SIM’s Gowan's Home for Missionary Children in Collingwood, Ontario, on the south shore of Lake Huron.

My last contact with Dr. Bob was the 1990s in Thailand at an SIM conference for the East Asia and Pacific Area leadership. Deputy International Area Director Omar Djoeandy asked Dr. Bob and me to join in a little ceremony of “passing the baton”. The occasion illustrated the ongoing growth of SIM.

--Harold Fuller (at the time, SIM Deputy International Director)

Heartfelt condolenses

Dear Shelley and Peter with Steve, Sharon, Sheila, Stacey, Stuart and Stirling

My heartfelt condolences for the loss of your dear dad. But well done for looking after him so well in his last years. When I saw him and Aunty Belva 3 years ago, I realised how much care they needed, and I am astounded at how long Uncle Bob actually stayed around. He had a presence amongst people that is extremely rare. I remember my parents saying when I was still a young teen “I shudder to think how much damage Bob could have caused, had he used his great talent for leadership in a negative direction!” Instead, he employed it for the Kingdom of God, an exemplary life that touched so many lives. For one, my mom Elfride’s life was completely swayed through his input.

I wish you all great blessings as you reminisce together, and great peace about a life well lived. And great strength in caring for dear Belva.

Lots of love,

Ilse Andrag

Memories from Shelley

Hi Stu and Sindia,

 Just sent you a few of the pics I took yesterday - all pretty self-explanatory, but if you need any interpretations just let me know!

 Everything went really well.  There were many moments of sweet tears - for me when they sang Great is Thy Faithfulness it brought back the recent memory of singing it as Dad went Home....so brought a large lump to my throat and tears! 

 Steve gave a brief word of thanks at the grave side that also brought him to tears and then many joined him in the tears but otherwise it was primarily a day of rejoicing in a race well won and a fight well fought. 

 It does seem a bit empty around the house without him, and we all miss his smile which was with him to the very end.  Even in his deepest struggles with his broken body - especially in trying to communicate - he would laugh at himself!  One particular occasion was just after he had been given a frozen goat from a grateful patient of years back. 

 He called us into the bathroom urgently to tell us something - I had just finished making some ice cream and he said "I want to (blank) frozen (blank)" but sounded like a Oh sound...so we jumped to the guess that he wanted a "frozen (ice cream) cone".....but he just started laughing and laughing....so we knew it was a wrong guess!  Then we finally took out the alphabet page and he spelled out that he wanted to G-I-V-E the F-R-O-Z-E-N G-O-A-T T-O S-T-I-R and D-O-N-N-A as a thank you for their help....

It was very sweet and one of the last good laughs that he enjoyed! 

More pictures from the funeral and graveside