"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."