Amy and I have been called by God to serve Him full time at Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, Africa. We are eager to get there, but understand there is process and training necessary to serve in another culture. We started the application process with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in May of 2014 and have been progressing through their requirements and interviews over the last 15 months. While this may seem a long time, as is usually the case, God's timing prevails. He has taught us many things through the process and will continue as we progress to working at Bongolo. 

We sold our house and moved to a condo a few months back. We are getting settled in and continue to "downsize" and get rid of our "junk". This summer we also completed medical exams, personality assessments, and language learning assessments. I have no idea how I scored "above-average" on the this test.

The next step is our final interview with the CMA. It is with the International Ministries leadership and will be held in Lexington, KY on August 18 from 9a-12noon. Please pray for our preparations for the August 18 interview. Also pray for the interview, specifically that we would communicate our calling and answer any questions clearly.

There are still many steps until we see God's calling fulfilled. We remain obedient to the call and simply concentrate on the next step. That's all God asks of us. He will work out the details. 

Thank you for your prayers, counsel, and support to date. We may be the ones heading overseas, but you all are a much needed and significant part of our ministry. Join us on this journey. God bless you as you surrender to Him daily. 

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" --Romans 10:14-15

In a recent BBC article, the author quotes a study by the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery - "Five billion people have no access to safe surgery." Another staggering statistic from the study shows that "a third of all deaths in 2010 (16.9 million) were from conditions which were treatable with surgery. That was more than the number of deaths from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined."

People sometimes ask me, "why do you spend your time and money to make short-term trips to Africa and why are you on a path to go there full-time?" Aside from the primary reason, a call of God to go, I am burdened by the abysmal health care situation in sub-Saharan Africa, especially as it relates to surgical services. People are dying of very treatable surgical diseases due to lack of resources and education. Here in the US, if you have belly pain and it is determined you have appendicitis, you undergo a relatively simple and safe surgical procedure with safe anesthesia. In a lot of areas of Africa, people with this very treatable disease die due to lack of resources or qualified surgeons. Even if the procedure is attempted, the patient may die from the anesthesia. This same scenario is played out daily with other surgical and obstetric conditions as well.

While it seems like an overwhelming task to even make a dent in the substandard surgical care in Africa, people are making a difference. One program I work with is the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons - PAACS. The organization trains and disciples African Christian doctors in a Western equivalent surgical residency program. After training, these qualified surgeons then go to underserved areas to serve as leaders and improve the care in these locations. One of my long term goals is to start an anesthetist training program at Bongolo Hospital in Gabon in a similar style, training and discipling Christian anesthesia personnel to go to underserved areas to be leaders in perioperative safety to improve care and save lives.

More great stories from a plastic surgeon friend of mine who recently visited Bongolo Hospital. It is a blessing to see how God uses visiting doctors to teach and serve there--making a difference in the hearts and lives of the patients and residents.

Dr. Rigano's story

God's perfect timing was on display earlier this year bringing the needed healthcare resources to Bongolo when a major trauma occurred. The two teens lives were saved and now they are sharing not only the good news of their return to health, but the great news of Jesus Christ.
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Click here for the story.

While traveling home, I had the opportunity to reflect on this trip to Bongolo.  It was different, but in a good sense.  It was truly amazing to have my family there to experience the hospital and mission station and to see where we may serve full time someday.  It was also wonderful for me to come "home" from the hospital each day to my family.  In another sense, this trip (and the lead up to it) brought me to another level of trust in God and His purposes.  As many of you know, we were close to not making this trip due to my health.  While I was still questioning the advisability of making the trip even up to time of departure, God kept bringing me back to trusting Him on a deeper level--"just take the next step, I'll take care of you."  Well, this wonderful trip is over and we are home now.  He did indeed take care of us on this trip.  Trust.

God taught me an addition lesson with a pediatric case in the eye clinic.  In my prior trips things have gone well with very little clinical problems and good outcomes.  Yet, this case was different.  God reminded me that despite every effort to make anesthesia as safe as possible, things don't always go right.  People die.  Babies die.  Doctors are human.  If you want to work here full time, will you be able to handle this?  Hurt, suffering, and death are all around us and will continue, yes, even at Bongolo and likely more often.  Trust.

Both of these are trust issues and while suffering (experiencing it or observing it) is never pleasant, it does bring us to a new level of dependence on Christ.  Over the last few months God has continually brought me back to Philippians 4.  While in no way am I equating any of my suffering to Paul's (not even close and never will be), his example of steadfastness and resolve in continuing His ministry despite setbacks is one to follow.  He trusted God in all circumstances.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" -Philippians 4:13

​We had the opportunity to spend a few days in Paris on the trip home.  What a wonderful city and great time exploring a few sites with the family.  We will make it a point to go back someday.