Things that Pull at My Heart

Saturdays at the hospital with the missionaries can sometimes involve a few adventures...today we went tubing on the Luetsi River (not sure how to spell that) which was pretty cool. Despite multiple layers of sunscreen and bugspray, I may now qualify as a coffee bean :-)

Later today I was reunited with Christine Bataneni! I met Christine on my last trip and it was great to see her again. We (me & my housemates) had dinner with Christine Bataneni & petit (little) Luc Bataneni. Christine Bataneni is a doctor and married to Jean Claude Bataneni, a surgical resident from Congo. Jean Claude is finishing his 5th and final year of the residency program. Currently, he is in Kenya on an orthopedic rotation (I believe). Around the end of September Jean Claude, Christine, Luc & their new baby (due in August) will be returning to the Congo to the town/village of Nebobongo. The hospital in Nebobongo has a huge need...from seeing a video about it and talking to Keir, the Nebobongo Hospital makes Bongolo Hospital look high tech...a little scary ;-). Keir was saying that their operations are currently done by a nurse. They are quite limited in what they can do because they don't have anesthesia machines!!! There is only one doctor for the whole hospital. They are not nearly as well staffed as Bongolo. There is such a HUGE need in Congo. I am so excited for the Bataneni's and how God will be able to use them to help people physically and spiritually in Nebobongo. As you can tell, there is such a great need for medical care in Nebobongo & the Bataneni's are currently raising support so they can actually go back and serve there. Pray for them, for strength & encouragement and that they would receive the needed financial support...Hearing about situations like the one in Nebobongo pulls at my heart SO much and makes me so anxious to hurry up and finish med school & residency so I can be useful!!! So frustrating that this whole surgery business takes so long!...Who knows? Maybe I'll end up in Congo after med school and residency?! Christine Bataneni told me that she prays that the Lord will lead me to serve in Congo with them...and I would like nothing better! :-)

Petit Luc & I:


Dinner:


Sarah, petit Luc & I eating dessert:


Afousa & I:


Christine Bataneni & I:


The actual occasion for the dinner was the birthday of Afousa (not sure how to spell that). During my last visit, I met Afousa. Afousa is from Benin and a friend of Joanna Thelander (missionary surgeon's wife). So, Christine Bataneni had us over for dinner and simultaneously celebrated Afousa's birthday.

It was so great to see Christine & Luc again. Two years ago, during my last visit, Luc was born..so we will be celebrating his birthday on May 22nd! He has grown into such a little man!!! I can't believe he is almost two. What a big kid!