We're still here (at the Evangelical Hospital in Bongolo, Gabon) and we still appreciate your prayers.
The outbreak of pneumococcal meningitis has subsided for the moment.
The medication order that was 5 months late arrived the very same morning that we ran out of several essential medicines. God is good. We should've known that would happen.
Olive (the 2 y/o girl with meningitis) is doing well. She was discharged last week, and sat in front of us in church on Sunday with her mother.
The resident doctor's ulcers are once again under control.
Thank you for your prayers.
Now we have another semi-urgent request.
Today is the third day of a town-wide strike. All roads coming into town have been cut off with barricades manned by threatening young men (mostly unemployed and drinking palm wine). They say it's their right to block the roads in protest because the government hasn't kept it's promise to install a remote television station, repair street lights, and provide running water. The electricity to the hospital & mission has been shut off several times, and some are threatening to cut it off entirely, which would seriously threaten many vital functions (refrigeration of vaccines, oxygen machines, lab equipment, etc.).
The government hospitals have been closed for a month now, because the civil servants are on strike for better salaries. Lamberene (of Dr. Albert Schweitzer fame) and Bongolo were the only hospitals still functioning normally, and now access to Bongolo has been severely restricted.
We are struggling to find the balance between righteous indignation and quiet understanding. What would Jesus do? Our hearts go out to the patients who will suffer as a result of this "civil disturbance."
Please pray that this strike will come to a peaceful end. Please pray for us as we weather yet another storm in turbulent Central Africa. To God be the glory.
In Him,
Joe & Becky Harvey & girls
Serving with Global Outreach Mission in Bongolo, Gabon, Africa
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