Bongolo in the Rear Vision Mirror--from Portugal

Hi there, family and friends,

We completed what we went to do. Pat survived substituting for three surgeons for two weeks, and I completed enough of what I went to do. I facilitated the repair of two voltage regulators and reviewed the electrical system for any problems and deficiencies.

We are now in Portugal, having joined a small team from BCA (our home church) to check out a possible opportunity to come alongside, in a more meaningful way, one of the missionaries that BCA partly supports. We return home on May 17.

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Update from Gabon: Two Weeks In, Two Weeks to Go

Hi there, family and friends,

So how are we doing? Overall, it is quite OK. Making ourselves useful and not too over-worked.

What about the food? More than adequate, but a bit boring.

- Breakfast: Oatmeal (from Scotland), French-style bread/baguettes, eggs (for Pat), and tea.

- Lunch: Bread & jam, apples (maybe France ?), and nuts.

- Dinner: Potatoes, rice, or pasta; vegetables (canned, China); chicken (canned, US) or dehydrated fish.

- Dessert: Apples/oranges, "fake” ice cream (mushed bananas & Nutella mixed and then frozen);- Quite good.

And, of course, there is always Coke (you already knew THAT), other soft drinks, and juices.

And no restaurants in the nearby village that we would consider safe.

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Safe Arrival at Bongolo Hospital

We safely arrived at Bongolo Hospital without much hassle, including our six checked suitcases. The bags just arrived tonight, as they had to go by road due to the Cessna's limited cargo capacity. Their arrival is much appreciated as they have many of our clothes and most of my tools.

The almost 2-hour flight from Libreville to Bongolo (actually the nearby town of Lebamba) was more interesting than usual because we could see the ground most of the way instead of being above the clouds.

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Heading to Bongolo Hospital In Gabon

Join us on a meaningful journey to Gabon, West Africa, as we prepare to serve at Bongolo Hospital starting April 10. Our upcoming month-long volunteer mission marks our fifth engagement with this incredible mission hospital, the last of which was in 2019. While familiar with the hospital's environment, we anticipate reconnecting with some familiar faces and meeting new ones.

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Blog Update

Fenton and Pat are alive and well and traveling non-stop still. Here’s just a snapshot of what they’ve been up to since 2017:

In recent years, the dynamic duo of Fenton and Pat has embarked on life-changing expeditions across different corners of the globe. With their combined skill sets, they have transformed communities and, more importantly, helped to save lives. Let's delve into the remarkable journey of these two professionals and the impact they've made.

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Remembering Iraq 2017

"On Friday, March 17, 2017, the Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospital received its 1,000th patient on the Plains of Nineveh, Iraq. Due to its proximity to the frontlines of the Mosul conflict, the hospital is saving lives that would likely have been lost in transport to the nearest permanent medical facilities, up to two hours away." [

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Sumba, Indonesia

BCA Church work trip: Constructing a metal frame church in Waingapu, medical clinics at four villages, electrical work, and painting at the House of Hope. Worked with missionaries John Taylor and Mike and Diane Masse.

Galmi, Niger

With Samaritan’s Purse, Fenton helped SP’s construction manager (for the 2-year Phase 1 part) figure out the EMI plan and get some top priority stuff done. Pat relieves over-worked staff and mentors PAACS residents.

Getting Ready for Zambia

This time next week, I (Fenton), will be in full panic mode as I do the final pack for my flight to Zambia the next day (Sept 4).  Yes, this is a return trip with Engineering Ministries International (EMI) to the exact same Salvation Army hospital complex that I visited with them in February. 
Tomorrow, my nephew from Australia arrives here and will be with us for about a week and then touring around until the end of October. Some of next week will be spent helping him find a vehicle to rent or buy. So I’ll be doing a trial pack tonight.

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Do Good to All Men

I arrived home on Sunday afternoon after a thirty-four hour trip from Livingstone, Zambia.  So by today (Wednesday), I am kind of getting back onto the right time zone.

After my last post, I thought I should say a few words about the Salvation Army, for those of you in the US. In many of the other English speaking countries, (ie. UK, Australia & New Zealand), Salvation Army churches are a fairly common sight in most towns, often co-located with a “value village” type shop and other such services. And so it was in Zambia, where we saw Salvation Army churches in some of the towns we drove through.

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Frustrating Beginning

We are now in Livingstone, Zambia, and now have the first access to the internet. We head out tomorrow morning for the long trip back home. So how did it all go?
 
Frustrating beginning: Our take off from Seattle was delayed by snow, so that I missed the connection in Washington DC to Johannesburg, South Africa. There were no good work around options so the least bad option was to go a day later.  It turned out that one of the other team members was delayed for an even more frustrating reason--they thought he needed a visa for Zambia which was not true--and by the time they realized their mistake, it was too late for him to make it to DC. So we travelled together from DC to Zambia. And then the rest of the team that did make it didn’t get their luggage (and so had no tools).  They came on the flight we were on. Ah, the “joys” of flying!

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Countdown!

Only 10 more days until I leave for home! It has been over 10 weeks for me here in Burundi, and honestly, I am tired. Yet, I can't imagine this place without a surgeon to cover while Dr. Fader is home on leave. The patients here are so sick and so malnourished and so poor, but so sweet in spirit. I have been humbled, blessed, and amazed at God. Truly, my experience here at Kibuye does fulfill its motto: "We work with the God who heals and gives life!"

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