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.
