Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Lane Family!

"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!"

2 Corinthians 9:15

Visiting Surgeons

More great stories from a plastic surgeon friend of mine who recently visited Bongolo Hospital. It is a blessing to see how God uses visiting doctors to teach and serve there--making a difference in the hearts and lives of the patients and residents.

Dr. Rigano's story

God's Perfect Timing

God's perfect timing was on display earlier this year bringing the needed healthcare resources to Bongolo when a major trauma occurred. The two teens lives were saved and now they are sharing not only the good news of their return to health, but the great news of Jesus Christ.

Click here for the story.

Trust

While traveling home, I had the opportunity to reflect on this trip to Bongolo.  It was different, but in a good sense.  It was truly amazing to have my family there to experience the hospital and mission station and to see where we may serve full time someday.  It was also wonderful for me to come "home" from the hospital each day to my family.  In another sense, this trip (and the lead up to it) brought me to another level of trust in God and His purposes.  As many of you know, we were close to not making this trip due to my health.  While I was still questioning the advisability of making the trip even up to time of departure, God kept bringing me back to trusting Him on a deeper level--"just take the next step, I'll take care of you."  Well, this wonderful trip is over and we are home now.  He did indeed take care of us on this trip.  Trust.

God taught me an addition lesson with a pediatric case in the eye clinic.  In my prior trips things have gone well with very little clinical problems and good outcomes.  Yet, this case was different.  God reminded me that despite every effort to make anesthesia as safe as possible, things don't always go right.  People die.  Babies die.  Doctors are human.  If you want to work here full time, will you be able to handle this?  Hurt, suffering, and death are all around us and will continue, yes, even at Bongolo and likely more often.  Trust.

Both of these are trust issues and while suffering (experiencing it or observing it) is never pleasant, it does bring us to a new level of dependence on Christ.  Over the last few months God has continually brought me back to Philippians 4.  While in no way am I equating any of my suffering to Paul's (not even close and never will be), his example of steadfastness and resolve in continuing His ministry despite setbacks is one to follow.  He trusted God in all circumstances.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" -Philippians 4:13

We had the opportunity to spend a few days in Paris on the trip home.  What a wonderful city and great time exploring a few sites with the family.  We will make it a point to go back someday.

Eiffel Tower

Our Hotel

The Louvre

Weekend in Bongolo

It has been a wonderful weekend here in Bongolo.  Friday evening we had a delicious dinner and played some games with the Newman's.  It was great to fellowship with them and hear their insight on being missionaries for many years. 

We slept in Saturday morning.  Aaron and Jeff had the opportunity to tour the water filtration plant and electrical power setup at the mission station.  As Aaron is interested in engineering, it was good to see the inner workings of this place.  God has blessed the mission station and hospital with free electricity and water from the nearby river.  Amy and Sarah attended a baby shower for the wife of a PAACS surgery resident.  They are soon to have twins!

Dr. Jacques (the surgery resident from Congo who visited the US in March) and his wife Dinah had the family over for dinner on Saturday evening.  It was a joy to get to meet his family and fellowship with them.

Sunday morning was a special time to attend the local church with my family.  What a joy to have the family join our Gabonese brothers and sisters in Christ in worshipping God! 

Psalm 67

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the people's praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the people's praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!"

Bongolo Family

As we finish up our first week here in Bongolo, thanks again for your prayers and support for this trip.  While coming here to help with patient care, education, and ministry is the primary endeavor, the highlight is certainly the ongoing relationship building with the missionaries who work/live here.  They are such a blessing to us as we visit and interact with them daily.  On Wednesday evening all the missionary and visitor families gathered for a time of singing and praying.  The visitors (including our family) had the opportunity to share how God has led them to be a part of this ministry.  It was quite a blessing to hear how God is working in the lives of people all around the world to further His kingdom through mercy and compassion.

Bongolo Mission Team 


My health is improving steadily.  This is a healing place and perhaps a visit here is just what I needed.  Thanks again for your prayers.

We look forward to a restful weekend together as a family.  Blessings to you all.

Bongolo with Family

It has been quite a blessing to be here with my family for this trip to Bongolo.  The operating room is not quite as busy so I have had some down time to spend with the family here at Bongolo.  What a great blessing for them to experience how God is working here!  Their first impressions are positive and they are tolerating the bugs.  We'll see how they feel this time next week--probably ready to get to Paris.

Aaron has shadowed me in the operating room the past few days taking in the sites and smells of surgery in Africa.  Amy and Sarah have been busy helping out some of the other missionaries get things organized in storage and preparing one of the apartments for a new surgery resident moving here next month.

There is a group from Cleveland (family of 3 and 2 other friends) visiting as well and it has been great to work alongside them and get to know them.

Thanks for your prayers. 

Phillipians 4:4

Getting Settled

The first day in Bongolo as a family is going well--mostly just getting settled in our guest apartment and checking things out.  Jeff and Aaron delivered medical supplies donated to the operating room and toured the hospital a bit.  Amy and Sarah helped in the storage depot as a new container with supplies had just arrived.  Sarah helped with school this afternoon.  It's good to ease in to the week while overcoming the jet lag and climate change.

Thank you all for your prayers.  It's good to be here with the family.  May God be glorified in all we do.

Bongolo story in alife Magazine

Check out the latest alife magazine including a story from Bongolo Hospital.

Tools

Here is a recent testimony from a new member of the Bongolo Hospital team:

Dear Friends,

When I arrived at Bongolo, the maternity ward had exactly 2 speculums. There were a few more scattered around the operating room and surgery clinic. (At least 50% of you will understand the importance of that particular tool in my line of work.) I didn't have an office, so the only place I had to consult with or examine patients was the half bed we use for deliveries. There was an ultrasound in maternity, which allowed us to measure fluid volumes and locate heart beats. I think it's younger than I am, but I wouldn't swear to it. Keir kept promising me an office and would even occasionally talk about exam tables, but I refused to let myself hope. I learned secret tricks for stealing, I mean borrowing, the ultrasound machines from medicine and surgery. The consultants hunted me all over the hospital, and I spent a lot of time in the maternity nursing station. It worked to some degree, but it was far from ideal.

Then a few weeks ago, my office was finally finished. I got a desk and a chair, and then one day, I walked in to an actual exam table. Just for the fun of it, I opened the drawers. Speculums! Loads of speculums! Different sizes and types of speculums! It was like a dream come true. I found a bucket and loaded them in. It is my firm belief that never in the history of the world has one woman been so happy about a bucket of dirty speculums! I traipsed up the hill to the "SS Linge" where the ladies work sterilizing instruments for the OR. It was with some trepidation that I handed over my precious supply, but they promised to give them all back, and even counted them out for me. Now, when I need a speculum, I just open my drawer and pull out a little cloth wrapped packet of happiness!

Today, brought another wonderful surprise. The Thelanders came back from a quick speaking tour in the States. I was walking back from the OR to my office when I noticed Luke and Keir and stopped to welcome them back. Keir handed me a gray shoulder bag and it actually took a minute for the news to register. It was an ultrasound! It was a fabulous, brand new, completely mobile ultrasound with a vaginal probe and an abdominal probe. It even has a spare battery! I immediately took it to my office and plugged it in. Within 30 minutes I had used it to diagnoses pelvic congestion syndrome (using the color flow feature) and an enormous fibroid (using the crazy awesome measurement feature)! For the first time since my arrival, I can see a patient and examine her fully, all in one room. It's fantastic!

I have to admit that I don't understand how things get to Bongolo either from the financial or the technical side. I do know that it has a lot to do with generosity and partnerships all over the US and for that matter the world. From my perspective though, I see it as the Lord caring for His jungle swallows.

With elation,

Izzi

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may have her young, a place near your altar - Ps 84:3

Bongolo Team Visits Dayton

Jacques at Kroger

It was a special blessing to have a few precious friends from Bongolo Hospital visit the Dayton area over the last 10 days.  Keir and Joanna Thelander, their children Luke and Sarah, and Jacques Ebhele came as keynote speakers for Fairhaven Church's (www.fairhavenchurch.org) Spring Missions Fest.  They also shared at Centerville Community Church (www.centervillecommunity.org) on March 30 on their Spring Missions Sunday.

During the limited downtime from all their scheduled events, it was a joy to just hang out with the team and with mutual friends here in the Dayton area.  God has built a wonderful connection between Bongolo and the Dayton area.  This partnership is growing every year in many different ways.  It will be exciting to see how God expands the connection for His purposes.

Creation Museum

For Jacques, it was his first time in the United States.  In fact, it was his first time outside the continent of Africa.  We made some special memories exploring American culture (Kroger, Best Buy, the barber shop) and visiting the Creation Museum near Cincinnati.  He stayed part of the time at our home and it was a blessing to share our lives with him.  He shared gracefully at both churches.  His message of compassion and his life example of hearing God's calling, committing to it, and joining God no matter the cost challenged me and others.

"And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." -Matthew 9:35-36

Haircut

Best Buy

Home Safely

The team arrived home safely yesterday after uneventful travel.  Not only were we greeted by our loving family, but also by this continuing tough Midwest winter, quite a change from the jungles of Gabon.  It's great to be home, but I think I would prefer the hot, humid weather over what we have here.


Thanks to all for your prayers and support.  It was another great trip filled with God's presence and love.  He showed up at many times and places, some of them quite unexpectedly.


For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?  -Romans 10:13-15

Thought I was done in the OR, but oh no, you need to do one more case….

So we finished up dinner with the lead surgeon and his family on our last evening in Bongolo and headed back to the guest apartment to pack.  I was exhausted from 2 weeks of busy operating room days and teaching.  The plan was to pack and get a much needed good nights sleep as we had an early departure the following morning.  Well, God had a different plan.  As I was getting my things together, I received a call from the surgeon about an emergency case.  They wanted to bring an 8 year old who had a thyroidectomy earlier that day back to the operating room as she was bleeding in her neck and causing airway compromise.  “Seriously God, this is the case you want me to do on my last night.”  Getting this patient off to sleep would be a challenge in the US even with all the gadgets and resources available at my disposal.  I could only imagine how this would go here in the jungle operating room.

Off I went down to the operating room.  The child was stable but obviously had some airway obstruction and was having difficulty breathing.  I gathered some resources and we brought the child to the operating room.  Oh, and by the way, my anesthesia practice in the US is about 98% adults.  “Really God, a difficult case and on a kid.”  I prayed for this little one as we got started and felt a peace that the Great Physician would be with me along the way.  “Just take the first step in faith and I will take care of you”, I could hear Him saying.  While getting her to sleep and establishing an airway was a little tricky, it proceeded smoothly and uneventfully.  They found the bleeding and fixed it.  She woke up fine and was doing well when we left the next morning.

Life lesson learned again -- step out in faith and rely on God’s strength to make it through a tough situation.

“Physiology is suspended at Bongolo Hospital….”

God showed up in miraculous ways again at Bongolo Hospital.  During a prior trip, one of the visiting physicians coined the phrase, “physiology is suspended at Bongolo Hospital.”  In other words, the normal physiologic processes and outcomes that we see every day in the United States do not occur on some of the patients at Bongolo.  Those that would normally have poor outcomes and even death are spared miraculously.

One such occurrence was a trauma that occurred on Wednesday.  In the local town (Lebamba), two teenagers on a motorcycle were struck by a taxi and showed up in the ER.  One had a broken femur and fractured bones around the right eye.  The other had a broken femur and tibia and a presumed head injury.  His level of consciousness was in and out, at times making sense, but most of the time was confused.  He was initially scheduled to undergo emergent repair of his leg fractures, but in the interim took a turn for the worse, approaching a comatose state.  We assumed he was bleeding inside his skull and rushed him to the operating room.  We did not have any imaging of his head (unavailable) and presumed the bleeding in his skull was on the same side of a head laceration (it could have been on the other side just as well).  After getting him off to sleep, the surgeon drilled a hole in his skull to evacuate the bleeding and release the pressure on the brain.  I never thought I would be doing neurosurgery at Bongolo--simply incredible what was done in the jungle with limited resources.

The correct side was chosen as blood was coming out of the hole, but the source of bleeding could not be identified.  Upon removing more of his skull, the presumed source of bleeding was identified and stopped. But, there was bleeding elsewhere, deeper in the brain.  Not a good sign.  We did not have the capability to go after this and closed him up.  Given this finding, we felt he may not wake up from the surgery.  While he was still asleep, the orthopedic surgeons temporarily fixed his leg fractures and it was time to wake him up.  And that he did.  While he was a bit sluggish, he was following commands appropriately, talking, and asking to eat shortly after surgery.  For the next few days he continued to improve and did not show any further signs of bleeding inside his skull.  The other bleeding we saw in surgery must have stopped. The other patient had his injuries fixed and is doing well also.

God intervened in many places during these traumas.  In Africa, almost all of these types of trauma result in death as the patients either never make it to the hospital, and if they do, they do not go to the OR as the resources to fix these injuries are minimal.  Even though these 2 patients made it to the OR, it still amazes me that the first one woke up and will likely survive.

These two teens, who would have likely not survived anywhere else in the country, now have a chance to lead normal lives.  They now have a chance to hear about God and serve Him and glorify Him.

Recent Highlights

Just a few recent highlights from here in Bongolo:

-On Saturday morning we did the first knee scope at Bongolo Hospital.  It was a great success, not only technically, but most importantly, the patient did well and should have great results.  Prior to the scope the thought was the patient would need a knee replacement and the scope would show likely this.  But when they got in there, the patient had a large tear of the cartilage and no arthritis.  It was cleaned up and he will likely not need a knee replacement for quite some time.

-We had a Super Bowl Party.  While the game was horrible and the satellite feed did not show the commercials, it was a great time of fellowship, food, and fun.  The party started at midnight with kickoff at 1230am.  I retired soon after halftime.

-We had the opportunity to take the PAACS residents out for dinner one evening.  When I say out for dinner, it is to the only restaurant in town.  And when I say restaurant, I mean a simple one room building in front of a lady's home.  She cooks the best food.  The evening was one to remember with sharing and laughing with the people we are training.  They are wonderful men of God, each with a fascinating story of how they arrived in the program.  Over the last few years despite the barriers of geography, language and time, it has been special to build relationship with these men and challenge each other in our faith.

-Last evening we had dinner with one of the original missionaries to this hospital.  She has been here 37 years.  She is a nurse and helped start the hospital and nursing school.  What a joy to hear some of her stories from the initial start up!  Many of her stories ended with a praise to God for His guidance and protection.  She also emphasized the power of prayer in her life.  She will be retiring later this year and moving back to the US.  Pray for her reentry into life in the US.

"I got your back..."

It  has been a very busy week at the hospital.  We have done a number of cases working late into the evening most days.  The child with the diaphragmatic hernia did very well.  Living to 18 months with this condition made him into a little fighter.  Thank you for your prayers.  While he still has a long way to go, at least he has a chance to grow up and live a life worshiping God.

As a part of the PAACS program (see link above for more info), the residents and faculty have a weekly discipleship session where we meet as a group and study the Bible.  This past Thursday we met and one of the discussions centered on the "armor of God" from Ephesians chapter 6.  One point was made that in the description Paul gives of the armor, there is nothing protecting the back.  A question was posed as to why this may be the case.  Some responses included always keeping an eye on your enemy and never turning your back.  Another reply I found insightful.  As Christian brothers and sister, we are called to look after each other and watch each other's backs.  A common phrase today is "I got your back..."  Here at Bongolo the staff is small and many of the physicians, nurses, and staff serve under this principle--watching each other's backs.  This is certainly true if one spots a snake.

One person watching the backs of of the entire place is Paul.  He is an American missionary in charge of the physical plant of the entire mission compound and hospital.  He works tirelessly fixing this and that and responding to emergency issues that crop up.  While not a physician or nurse, he is basically "on call" every night watching the backs of everyone here.  Without his dedication and service to the behind the scenes stuff, it would be very difficult to run the place.  God bless him and his wife, Melodee, in there service.

"I know a guy..."

The hospital administrator is named Pastor Serge.  He is a from Gabon and serves with the Gabonese Christian and Missionary Alliance.  He is a wonderful man with a wonderful wife and beautiful children.  They live here at Bongolo and serve the hospital in many ways.

There is a running joke around here that whenever there is a problem or something needs solved and you go to Pastor Serge, he invariably states "I know a guy..."  He knew a guy that helped get the transformer here quickly.  It is something to laugh at but in reality, he usually does "know a guy" or at least "knows a guy who knows a guy".  You see, Pastor Serge has many connections throughout the country and it has served this hospital well.  These connections are not the corrupt political system you sometimes hear about in Africa.  Rather, these connections result from a man of integrity and honesty who has built the relationships over the years.  It shows in his day-to-day work here at the hospital.

Most of all, he is a man of God, unashamed and confident in his relationship with Jesus.  While Serge is a valuable man to have here at Bongolo because he almost always "knows the guy" when something needs solved, he would be the first to tell you the most important "guy he knows" is Jesus and he knows him well.  Do you know Him?

John 14:6
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the father except through me." -Jesus

God's Provision - Day One

So it seems one of the lessons God is going to teach this trip is to rely on Him for provision.  He will provide strength, wisdom, endurance, power (literally), and whatever else is needed.  He is the Jehovah Jireh--literally The Lord will provide.

God has shown His provision already in the unbelievable 4-day turnaround of a new transformer here at the hospital.  The new transformer comes at great expense ($175,000) and the hospital had to dig deep into reserves.  But, just today I have learned of a very large donation of almost one-third of the cost.  Another example of how God provides.

Personally, I will be relying on His provision of wisdom over the next few days.  We have many cases that will be challenging in this setting including an 18-month old boy who needs major surgery (congenital diaphragmatic hernia for those interested).  It will be a challenge for him to survive the surgery and recovery period.  I use the word challenge in a human sense as nothing is a challenge for our God.  Please pray for the surgical/anesthesia/nursing team on Thursday morning.  Pray for this boy and his family.  Pray for another miracle of God's provision.

John 1:16 - "For from His fullness we have all received..."

Power - God's or Man's

I head out tomorrow for another two week trip to Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, Africa.  I return this time with Mike Welker who I made my first trip with back in the Fall of 2012.  His brother (an orthopedic surgeon as well) and his father will be serving with us.  I look forward to seeing what God will do these two weeks at Bongolo.  Pray for safety and strength.  Pray for our families as we are absent.  Pray for God's glory in all we do.

By now you may have heard that the transformer at Bongolo Hospital caught fire last Friday and they were on backup generator power.  Through a miracle of God, a new transformer has been delivered and they are in the process of installing as I write this.  Yes, this is a miracle--a 4 day turnaround in the jungles of Africa really isn't conceivable in this human mind.  

As He has done repeatedly throughout history, He provides for His children.  But, I must remember, He provides for us not just for us to perform our tasks (run a hospital), but ultimately to bring people to Him and to glorify Him.

I will admit, I was worried about the power situation and how it may interfere with our trip and running an operating room.  Yet, it is just like God to throw in a lesson on relying on His power and not ours.   Heading into this trip, this is where God wants my mindset to be--rely on His power and provision, not mine. 

Phi 4:13

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

(ESV)

New Transformer Has Arrived

From one of the pilots who flies to Bongolo:

Don't ask me how, but a new transformer just showed up at Bongolo Hospital this afternoon! Pastor Serge's (hospital administrator) contacts and trip to Libreville must have paid off! No details of the arrangements, but the price tag is 87 million central AFrican francs- roughly $176,000 US dollars. Installation work begins tomorrow.

Praise God!

Bongolo Hospital Transformer Update

Below is an excerpt in an email from the lead surgeon:

We are on generator and running well.  We have a full OR schedule this week and will keep with it.  The new transformer possibly will be in by next week or the week after.  Pray it goes well and smoothly.  We are dipping deep into almost all of our reserves to make this happen, so pray that the Lord will bring in the necessary funds.  The total for installation is $165,000.

The Welker's and I will continue as planned and depart on Friday.  Keep praying for God's provision.

Jeff

Bongolo Hospital Fire

There was a fire at Bongolo Hospital yesterday.  It was small and contained, but knocked out the main transformer.  No one was hurt.  I do not know how this influences my trip there next week.  We do need power to run an operating room.  Below is an excerpt from an email from one of the team members at Bongolo.  Please pray for a speedy solution to the electric power needs and God's continued safety and provision.

"It is with a heavy heart we write to you this evening.  We praise God for his protection on our team at Bongolo Hospital.  We received a call tonight that there was a FIRE at Bongolo in the main transformer house (see attached pictures courtesy of Dr. Renee Valach), that is the electrical part that brings power to the whole hospital and residences.  Something clearly went wrong with the transformer and the fire began fueled by the oil filling the transformer itself.  Our hospital administrator, Serge, went quickly to the power company to have them shut off our power.  Others gathered and when he returned he joined the rest of the Bongolo team in figuring out what to do.  After opening the door to the building (it is a standalone building) the flames increased raising concern for the overhead wires.  Ultimately, a bucket brigade was formed of missionaries, pastors, hospital staff and residents in surgery.  They tossed sand on the fire and finally were able to put it out.  Because it was initially an electrical fire and then an oil fire, water would have just aggravated things.  We praise the Lord that no one was injured and ultimately the transformer and building can be replaced, BUT for now we are without electric company power.

What now?  Our generator, which has also been a bit unstable lately, is running 24/7.  We don’t know how long it will be until we can get the transformer fixed or if the generator will hold out, so we estimate that we will be forced to run the generator at a cost of around $1,000 per day.  We also thank the Lord for Serge and the contacts God has provided him.  Already he has set in motion a company to come evaluate the problem and site and see what, when, and how a new transformer can be installed.  Could it be days, for sure, weeks, probably, months, maybe?  It will be a cost of between $100,000 and $175,000!!  We know that is a huge sum that we haven’t planned for, but God knows and we trust He will provide one way or another.

What can you do?

First, pray with us as we seek solutions and continue the care we provide for our patients in need.  Pray also that the generator runs well. 

Second, as you feel led you can give to the replacement costs of transformer, installation, and protection, again totaling between $100,000 and $175,000.

How?

Make a check payable to C&MA write “Bongolo Hospital Special Projects" in the memo line.

Send to:

C&MA

P.O. Box 35000

Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500

Thanks for your prayers and we thank God for His protection and provision even in times of need and struggle."