A word from Fenton and Pat: Join us on a meaningful journey to Gabon, West Africa, as we prepare to serve at Bongolo Hospital starting April 10, 2024. 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.
Map of Gabon showing location of Bongolo Hospital
Despite its seemingly small appearance on the map, Gabon is a country of significant size, comparable to Oregon in the U.S. or New Zealand. Straddling the equator, it boasts a warm climate year-round, with a lengthy rainy season that spans eight months. Most of its approximately 2 million inhabitants reside near Libreville's capital, leaving the rest of Gabon a vast expanse of tropical jungle punctuated by the occasional town. Our stay coincides with the tail end of the rainy season, expecting daytime temperatures around 90°F and morning lows of 75°F. Given the high humidity and general lack of air-conditioning, we've secured a portable air conditioner for our accommodation, hoping it will relieve the heat.
You might wonder why we choose to volunteer under these conditions. Pat will be stepping in for doctors attending a conference, contributing her skills in surgery, and mentoring residents at this teaching hospital. My role, Fenton, stems from a previous visit with an EMI team in 2015, where we recommended installing a voltage regulator critical for protecting the eye clinic's sensitive equipment. I'll deliver spare parts and assist with maintenance, an ever-present need in this challenging climate.
Our motivation for this journey is rooted in our belief in the mission's purpose—serving the needy in Jesus' name. With mission hospitals providing a significant portion of Africa's healthcare, Bongolo Hospital plays a crucial role in Gabon, offering medical services to a substantial part of the population. Established by missionaries in the 1940s, it has transformed a region once untouched and influenced by animistic practices. Despite Gabon's oil wealth, much of the country's villages remain underserved, making Bongolo Hospital's contribution, including its renowned Eye Clinic, all the more vital.
With our preparations—plane tickets, visas, immunizations—nearly complete, we request your prayers for our journey, customs clearance, living conditions, interactions with the hospital staff, and our health, recalling a bout of malaria from our last visit.
We look forward to sharing this experience with you and are grateful for your support.