Greetings in the Strong Name of Jesus from Mbingo, Cameroon!
We rejoice in reporting to you that God has been at work in a mighty way in our part of the world. He continues to amaze us in the small things as well as the big things.
From June to now we have been through a transition time. We had the CIMS/PAACS (the medical and surgical residency programs) graduation in June. There were 2 graduates this year that completed their residency program. We are praying for these Christian doctors to now go out and be a light in the places where they will serve. The surgeon will go to northern Cameroon and serve. One will remain with us here in Mbingo for now. We just had a “White Coat Ceremony” today welcoming in 4 new residents. We have had several full-time missionaries go on furlough and another couple about to leave that has served with us for 3 years. Goodbyes are always sad, and it has meant our workload increased in the absence of these. We know it is by your prayers that we are coping. We are now waiting for the reinforcements to come. Dennis and Nancy Palmer have returned after a month in the States so that is a huge blessing. We have a speech pathologist that has just arrived, and that is a new area of ministry for our hospital; we are excited about that. We also have a new surgeon and family coming through Samaritan’s Purse to serve with us for 2 years. Some good friends, Andy and Judy Norman, will be coming at the end of this month to help in GYN work and nursing. We are so glad for this since we no longer have an OB/Gyn doctor on site.
We would like to close with an amazing story of how God has worked in the life of one of our colleagues here at Mbingo Baptist Hospital (MBH). Mildred is a nurse who had been working on the ulcer/leprosy ward. One day she was on her way to work and was involved in an accident and suffered a traumatic head injury and was unconscious. She was on a motorcycle and a big truck coming from behind that was out of control basically ran over the top of them. The driver of the truck has yet to be found, as he left the scene. The driver of the motorcycle and Mildred were brought to MBH. The driver had only one small bone in the finger dislocated and did not need surgery. Mildred suffered no internal organ damage, no broken bones, but was unconscious on arrival. This in itself was a miracle. She laid on a bed for over 2 months with no response. The nurses here took excellent care of her, monitoring vital signs, I.V. and turning her every few hours to be sure she did not have skin breakdown. She began to respond after about 8 weeks and little by little, “small, small” we’d say here, she was able to walk out of the hospital after several weeks of therapy. Mildred has a slight limp, and continues to recover mentally day by day. She had begun working in our admissions department. She has a great enthusiasm for the Lord that is contagious. Recently we attended her thanksgiving service in her village church in Oku about 2 hours away on bad roads J In Cameroon one of the customs we enjoy is when God has done something for you that you want to thank Him for and give Him the credit and glory, you invite all your family and friends to church and that Sunday morning there is a special part of the service for testimony and giving. People bring mostly their crops and also money gifts to honor God. The food items are auctioned off to all attending after the service is over. All proceeds together with the money gifts go to the church for ministry. It is a great way to be a witness to neighbors and church members and an encouragement to all to see God’s faithfulness.
Let us all come before the Lord with a spirit of thankfulness!
In His Matchless Name, Rick and Debbie