It's hard to believe we've been in Africa for 3 weeks now, and we haven't heard a single gunshot. Gabon seems so peaceful compared to Congo. Even before the war in Brazzaville we would frequently hear guns going off in the night. Sometimes far away, sometimes close enough to make you want to get up and look out the window to see what was going on.
We knew we had arrived in a country more advanced than Congo when we saw that the luggage carts had wheels! Here in Bongolo, they can even leave wheelbarrows outside at night without locking them up! What a difference good jobs and a stable government can make.
Things are going well for us here in Bongolo, Gabon. Joe started at the hospital last week, and this week is on call for medicine, pediatrics, and OB. The hospital is calm right now as people are avoiding travel because of the presidential elections this Sunday, December 6. Please pray that the peace and quiet we are enjoying will endure, and that the right man win the election.
Joe has been covering the inpatient medicine service, and seeing a number of outpatients as well. Opportunities for presenting the gospel abound. Please pray that we will have the courage to lead people to Christ. Joe enjoyed taking the hospital chaplain with him on rounds this week. In the past 2 weeks, over 50 patients and family members accepted Christ!
Medically the experience is proving to be challenging and rewarding. The variety of illnesses he's seen already is astonishing: metastatic osteosarcoma, liver failure, hypertensive crisis, tuberculosis, AIDS, hemolytic anemia, hyperactive malarial syndrome, aspiration pneumonia, delerium tremens, fetal distress, retropharyngeal abcess with acute airway obstruction, tropical myositis, leprosy, rheumatic fever, partial bowel obstruction and worms...to name a few. Resources are limited. We do all we can, and trust God for the results.
The girls' school boxes arrived today by truck from Libreville. They've been busy making new friends, swimming like crazy, and working on the books we had in our suitcases.
Isabelle is recovering from her initial insect bites--over 300--from the Bongolo Bufutu. Bufutu ("no-see-ums") are small biting flies--so small they can fly through the screens without even slowing down. You don't notice them biting you so much, but the bites soon itch. Isabelle is most susceptible because she never keeps the covers on at night and is always changing her clothes b/c of potty training.
Would you please pray that God would wipe out the bufutu population? We'd sure appreciate it. He got rid of the frogs, lice, flies & locust in Egypt, didn't He? Even with these pesky things, we are enjoying our time here, and already it has been quite profitable.
Becky is going to a Christmas cookie exchange tomorrow evening. There are 7 single women and and 4 missionary couples here now, so I'm sure there will be lots of cookies. The girls helped us get in the spirit by decorating a small borrowed tree this evening while we listened to a tape of French carols.
May God bless you and yours.
Thank you for your prayers.
In Him,
Joe & Becky Harvey
Serving with Global Outreach Mission in Bongolo, Gabon, Africa
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