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Since our last newsletter, much has happened. We completed our travels to visit our churches, and that was a continual blessing! God provided safe travel over many miles. We were either ahead of a big snowstorm or one had just passed. We got to see a lot of snow, and that is our happy place!! We are so thankful for all 27 of our supporting churches and their faithful prayers and giving to our ministry. Our visits to our churches always leave us humbled to be received in such an overwhelmingly loving way. It’s a privilege to be God’s ambassadors in Mbingo and being able to share with folks in the US what He is doing in our part of the world. We were in the eastern part of the US, so take heart those of you who are in the western half: we hope to get to you in 2027.
We also had more enjoyable and memorable times with our family. Times with our kids and grandkids went from skiing/snowboarding/tubing in North Carolina, to Candy Wonderland in Florida, to riding many rollercoasters at Dollywood, and much in between!! We both turn 70 years old this year, so we are thankful for our health and the spirit to do these things. 😊
We returned to Mbingo in March. We met a volunteer medical team of five, led by Dr. Sharpe from St. Luke’s Hospital in Pennsylvania, as well as our missionary colleagues the Streatfeilds, Laurie and Jackie. We had flown over with the Kochs, a regular volunteer medical missionary couple at Mbingo. We went from a compound of thirteen missionaries to three of us this week. But Dr. Archibald has arrived, and that makes four! We are thankful for so many wonderful Cameroonian friends, so we are never lonely!
We are grateful for a peaceful five weeks so far. The roads have been open, and patients have been able to come. This is better than this time last year, so we are grateful. We pray this continues despite some upcoming holidays (holidays have been associated with difficulties in past years). God have mercy, we pray.
On our return, Rick met a large pile of accumulated work. You may say, “But I thought there was the telepathology service, and Dr. Mbanga was there to cover?” Yes, and if not for these two things, there would have been a LOT more!! Rick has almost caught up now, so that’s the good news. I (Debbie) also came to a pile of work, and that is with Olivia being here to help. There was a back-up of work because the website we use to enter all our data was down for several days. We have worked hard and, with the help of Debbie Koch, mentioned earlier, we have been able to catch up.
There was a big scare in the HIV care department in February over the USAID projects suspension. We lost several staff who were supported by this project and were concerned our HIV drug supply would also be suspended. The staff have been reinstated, and first line drugs are still available, but second line drugs are in shortage countrywide, so we pray God will supply a reliable source and our patient and staffing needs will be met.
We will close with a reminder about the fundraising for the Automated Tissue Processor for the Pathology Lab. To give, go to: nabconference.org/give/special-projects. Then, scroll down to find the project titled “Mbingo Laboratory Equipment.”
In His Matchless Love,