Laterite
Recently teams from South Shore and Faith visited to Bongolo and rocked the roads. Well actually they repaired the roads using laterite. Laterite is a naturally occurring gravel formed by the dissolution of primary rock. Located approximately 3 meters below the surface, laterite needs to be uncovered
then broke up with picks, a task that South Shore from Mass and Faith from Ohio, gladly accepted. These 2 teams put their heart and back in it and got the job done. In a matter of a few days all the roads on the mission were repaired what a great blessing to the mission staff. They are coming by the truck load and Jumping for Joy!
South Shore was the first official team for STMO (Short Term Mission Office) at Bongolo. A 22 person team could be viewed as a challenge to host, but working out the logistics for this team was well worth all the preparation. South Shore was a blessing not only to the mission but very specifically to the Kelly’s ( The STMO family at Bongolo). With a heart to serve they arrived willing to sleep wherever space could be found and the men were even willing to do all their showering outside to avoid an overload of the septic system. One evening there was a time of praise and worship, God was glorified as praise emanated from Foyer and ascended to the throne of the “KING”. The evening concluded as this team of 22 servants gathered around the Kellys and lifted them up in prayer. A day after their departure the Faith team arrived and finished the road work that South Shore started.
Thanks South Shore and Faith.
The Gabon Mission gets many visitors each year. Now with a Short Term Mission Office (STMO) in both Libreville and at the Bongolo Hospital, our visitors to the field have increased many fold. A group of YOUTH from Lancaster Alliance Church from Lancaster, PA were just in Libreville and kept a good blog of their experiences in the country. Please check out their blog by clicking “how to put it into words…” . You will get a little glimpse into village life.
Lancaster Alliance Youth visit Libreville
In May we finally were able to take X-rays again. Mark Heydenburg from International Aid, spent four days with us and helped us set up a used X-ray machine we purchased last year. Thank you, Mark!
A couple of weeks ago Paul Davis and the hospital maintenance workers installed a plywood ceiling and air conditioning in the old hospital storeroom now serving as our temporary X-ray room, and in an adjoining room built us a darkroom with black plastic sheeting. Our four months without X-rays have ended!
Thanks to a gift of $45,000 from Samaritan’s Purse, work started a month ago on a new X-ray floor that’s rising up to meet the all-steel second floor that was built by Jason Kalb and his team last January for conference rooms, medical records and office space. This photo shows the second floor with the first floor not yet completed.
Today (May 1, 2009) is the official launching of this new Bongolo Hospital website. Many hours have gone into this project. A special thanks to Jeff Miller, one of Bongolo’s many visitors. He used his graphic design talents to design this new website. Thanks Jeff.
Many people have contributed articles and photos to this new site. Thanks to all.
Please be patient as I have been on a steep learning curve, developing this new website using new-to-me software. Suggestions are welcome to the email address: bongolohospital@gmail.com.
Carolyn Thorson
Bongolo Hospital as seen from a distance
