2017 April DRC Update

Hello, everyone,

Thanks to all of you who have faithfully prayed for me and supported me throughout the last 2 and a half years.

I’m coming back to the US for the next 6 months to rest, to visit you all, to share what God’s been doing here in Nyankunde, and to prepare to go back to the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).

My neighbors and I are hoping to come back to Nyankunde in January 2018 to continue working in the hospital and community.  Because the contract with Samaritan’s Purse isn’t renewable, we are waiting to be accepted by an organization called Serge (previously World Harvest Mission).

Some of the people in charge at this organization came to make a site visit in March. We talked to the chief of the village, all the hospital administrators, the presidents of the medical and nursing schools, and some of the other missionaries to see if it was possible for Serge to start working in Nyankunde.

It was a positive experience and Scott and Jennifer, the couple sent by Serge, went away with the hope of starting a new team here.  The idea is to have people with all different skills working together to help with the physical needs of the community and to talk to share the love of Jesus with people.  Right now our team is me and my 2 neighbors with their 2 kids.

So what’s the next step?  I am filling out an application, getting letters of reference, and planning on attending Serge’s orientation in Philadelphia at the end of June.  I will then become a part of their organization.  One of the biggest differences between Samaritan’s Purse and Serge is that I will now have to raise money in order to live and to work overseas, and not just for special projects. If you are interested in financially supporting me, please, let me know.  I am working on a budget and can give you details, if you’d like to know.

The second biggest change is that Serge is an organization looking to do more than disaster relief.  They are looking to invest time and energy in the community for the long-term.  Part of that is looking to see if anyone else would be interested in joining us in the work that is already happening here.  It wouldn’t need to be in medicine, but people with all different skills…plumber, electrician, accountant, teacher, pastor, homemaker, administrators, nurses, lab techs, or someone who’s really good and sorting and organizing.  If you would like to visit for a few weeks or for several years, we would welcome you.

 

The idea of a team is really important and it’s one of the reasons that I want to come back to Nyankunde, even with all the challenges.  There are people here that I’ve invested in and who have invested in me.  One of these people is Omviti.  He is one of the nurses that came back right after they destroyed the hospital.  He has worked in every department, but now has come to us in maternity as the nurse anesthetist.  He gives anesthesia to the patients so they don’t feel the operations, he helps do minor surgeries and he is in charge of helping babies who have problems breathing after a delivery.

He is an example of being faithful to the community here.  He works despite not getting paid, or getting paid 40-60% of his salary.  He does backbreaking work in his field from 5 a.m. until it’s time to go to work.  He often goes out after doing his job in the maternity to continue working in his field.  He’s been on call every day for the last year and a half and comes in nights and weekends.  He loves the people here and wants to give the best care to them and continue taking care of his family.

It really is an example to me.  To love people so much that he sacrifices his time, energy and effort (and money) to take care of them.  It’s one of the reasons I am choosing to come back, to continue to work with and invest in the people here.

Another reason I want to come back is to continue teaching.  I teach some of the nursing students basic problems in obstetrics and gynecology.  I continue to teach the nurses how to safely deliver babies and take care of their moms.  I am teaching the interns how to be competent in doing a C-section, delivering a baby, and being a doctor who loves their patients and takes care of them.  I am teaching Dr. Deborah how to safely take care of patients, how to diagnose and treat gynecological problems, and how to train the interns and nurses with the knowledge she has.

There is a lot of work left to do. 

I am looking forward to being back in the US.  I will be traveling quite a bit when I first get back, and then I’ll be studying for my board exams that are in October.  If you’d like to meet up or have me share with your church or small group, I’d be happy to get together.

The best way to contact me is still e-mail: medoran82@aol.com.

I’m working on getting a new US phone number.

The plan so far:

May 7^th: leave the DRC

May 9^th-13^th: Samaritan’s Purse retreat in Kenya

May 14^th: arrive in Michigan (happy Mother’s Day)

June 25^th-30^th: Orientation with Serge in Philadelphia

October 20^th or 21^st: Board Exams in Chicago, IL

Prayer requests

1.     Thank God for the repair of our delivery room floor.  We were doing deliveries in a small office.  Now we can do multiple deliveries at a time in a clean space.

2.     Pray for Dr. Deborah that she would learn quickly and be able to help keep people motivated as she continues to learn.

3.     Pray that I will clearly and effectively share what God is doing here in Nyankunde as I travel around the US and prepare to return back to DRC

4.     Pray that I will be diligent in studying for my board exams amidst the travel.