Bongolo - Changed Lives
God is doing great things at Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, Africa. Both short-term and long-term, He is changing the lives of all those involved in the hospital and mission complex. Patients, healthcare workers, missionaries, visiting physicians, families and more are being changed physically, educationally, and spiritually by His power and wisdom.
Physically
Through His power and the skills He has given to the physicians and nurses, God, the great Healer, is changing the lives physically for many people at Bongolo. I think of the children with club feet who now have a chance to grow up and walk normally. They will not be marginalized by society and can be productive, hopefully getting an education and job someday. I think of the adults with fractures either not repaired or wrongly fixed who may now live pain free with better function. I think of the trauma patient who had emergency life-saving surgery and is recovering well and chooses to stay at Bongolo for better care rather than go home to the capital city.
God is sustaining the permanent healthcare workers and missionaries at Bongolo. Despite the difficulties of living in the jungle (high heat and humidity, bugs, little air conditioning, isolation from modern conveniences, etc.) the staff presses on to help those who are sick and to share the love of Jesus with them and their families. As a visiting physician way out of my comfort zone physically, God gave me the strength to proceed and serve Him in the jungle. He sustains!
Educationally
God, the great Teacher, is providing a foundation of education for both physicians and nurses at Bongolo. In His great wisdom, Christian doctors from all over Africa are being trained in surgery at Bongolo and upon completion will return to their home countries. When they return they will not only be skilled as surgeons capable of helping in underserved areas, they will also be bringing the Gospel witness with them to share. Some of these countries are predominantly Muslim with limited access from foreigners. These men can return to their countries with minimal limitations. Praise God.
As a visiting physician, I was able to show the doctors and nurses new practical anesthesia techniques to help them care for their patients. They can use these skills at Bongolo and throughout Africa when they return to their home countries. Thank you God for giving me these skills to pass on. Mike Welker, an orthopedist and friend of mine demonstrated to the physicians and nurses new surgical techniques. It is new techniques like these that change lives--both surgeon and patient.
God is training young missionary surgeons at Bongolo to expand His kingdom. Through a post-residency fellowship coordinated by Samaritan's Purse, Zach and Jen O’Connor will spend 2 years at Bongolo learning all the various facets of missionary medicine. They can then proceed to other mission hospitals where needed most to care for patients and share Christ’s love.
Spiritually
God, through His Spirit and faithful workers, is changing the hearts of people daily at Bongolo. The Gospel message is shared with every patient and many come to a relationship with Jesus during their stay at the hospital. The hospital has a reputation for great care throughout Gabon. Patients will travel many miles from multiple countries, passing other hospitals along the way, to get care. What a great way to expand your field of evangelism!! God is bringing the people to the workers. Amen.
The doctors training in surgery are all followers of God who live out their faith daily. While gaining an education in surgery they are also growing in God through Bible studies and mentor relationships. It was a joy to interact with them on a spiritual and biblical plain. God has blessed them for making the commitment to become excellent Christian surgeons returning home to spread His message.
Through this experience, my heart has been changed as well. God took me out of my comfort zones and allowed me to rely on Him for strength and support. He allowed me to endure the high heat, humidity, bugs, etc. and sustained me. Over 60% of the surgical cases were on pediatric patients. In my practice in the US, I do less that 1% pediatrics. He was there to guide my hands and mind taking care of these precious children. With very limited technology and a minimal safety net, we were able to safely proceed with the surgeries. He was there.
I went into the trip with an attitude of openness--trying to gain some insight as to how this experience may change my life in some way. Kind of a like, “OK God, what next?” Well, isn’t it like God to speak to you in the strangest places. He gave me an idea as I was floating in an inner tube down the river. While I need to continue to pray about what this will look like, I feel a calling to teach anesthesia in places like this (mission hospitals, underserved hospitals with minimal resources, etc.). While the anesthesia is decent at Bongolo, there is much room for improvement. I heard on more than one occasion from different missionaries how it needs to be improved (you think God was saying something here). God has given me the talents and desire to do this. We will start with developing an anesthesia training curriculum for the Bongolo Hospital. If all goes well, my desire would be to spread this training throughout Africa and even to other continents, God willing. God is providing great care through His missionary surgeons throughout the world. There should be safe and excellent anesthesia to go along with this. It will only serve to enhance the reputation of these hospitals thereby allowing His Word to reach more people.
