Happy Spring! I find that I have trouble keeping track of what month we're in when I'm here in Africa without the four discernable seasons that I'm used to. But my calendar says that Spring begins this weekend, and so Spring it is! (Actually, I was always struck by the incongruity of the beginning of Spring on my calendar and out my front window since western New York winters tend to overstay their welcome).
There are several things for which we would like to invite you to join us in prayer:
Last week two men from Dr. Dave Thompson's (the medical director of the Bongolo hospital) home church arrived here to film a mini-documentary video that will be used by the Thompsons on furlough as they share with churches and others in the States what God is doing here in Gabon. On his third day here in Bongolo, Jack was in the guest house and lost consciousness and fell, hitting his head hard and hurting his neck. It seems that his spinal cord was traumatized, so that he became partiallly paralysed. He has spent this past week immobile in bed, regaining some movement and strength, but still feeling "pins and needles" all over and unable to move without great effort, and then not properly. His partner took over the filming, and so the video should still come to pass.
Providentially, Jack had (unwillingly) purchased medical insurance for the trip because it was the only way he was able to obtain insurance for the expensive camera equipment he brought. So, he was picked up by helicopter here on the Bongolo High School soccer field today and taken to the capital Libreville to fly back to the US Saturday evening on a stretcher. This special arrangement will be covered by his insurance! The airline would only allow him to fly if he was accompanied by a doctor, so Dr. Thompson is making an unplanned trip to America for a week!
We are praying that Jack would be safe and comfortable during this long trip back home (exhausting even when in fine health); that his wife and family would continue to have peace and composure as they await his arrival; for a complete recovery; and that the video will be able to be completed and used for God's glory.
While Dr. Thompson is gone, Joe will be acting Medical Director of the hospital. We would appreciate your prayers for him and this responsibility. This has been an especially draining week for him, with extra work responsibilities, several on the mission station ill, long days, several disappointments and a nagging pain in his shoulder... Please pray that fatigue and discouragement do not overcome, and that we don't take out our tensions or frustrations on each other (ie. fight:).
You may remember the problems we had here the beginning of February with the strike. The strike ended with the warning that if the government didn't fulfill it's promises by May 5th, there would be another strike. We sense a "you just wait until the strike and we'll see who's who around here" attitude in several individuals, which makes us uneasy. We would like you to really join us in praying now that the strike and potential violence or misconduct would be prevented. We know the power there is in prayer. Pray especially for "Eric", that he would get saved and become an instigator of good deeds instead of bad (like Saul/Paul!).
Easter Break begins next week, and with that comes a lot of traveling-- the kids from the Bongolo boarding school going home, vacationing on the coast, trips to Libreville, etc. We never want to take safe travel for granted just because usually everything goes fine--especially here where travel can be unpredictable and difficult.
Thank you for being part of this work with us. We're thankful for you. We're also thankful for good health, renewed visas, safety, progress in homeschooling, and avocado season.
Also, please continue to pray for Congo. We still intend to return there after our time here, but there is continued unrest, killings, disruption in power and daily living in Brazzaville and the rest of the southern part of the country. The north, where we would be locating, is generally removed from the violence, but the whole country needs peace and reconciliation.
With love,
Becky & Joe, Olivia, Claire & Isabelle Harvey
Serving with Global Outreach Mission in Bongolo, Gabon, Africa
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