Generosity, determination, smart people, hard work, God’s providence and timing – brought light and sight to the Baptist hospital in Bandunduville.

The dream to build a proper surgery and maternity for the thriving hospital began several years ago.  One of the first health centers in the story of Baptist medical missions in Congo and initially staffed by two of the first graduates of the Vanga nursing school, the facility maintained a reputation of providing consistent quality health care to the rapidly growing population in that region.  In 2024, the generosity of a donor turned dream to reality.

Early 2025, a floor plan was finalized, a builder contracted, materials purchased, and foundation laid.  The maternity would be named “Mama Sophie” to honor the legacy and faithful service of a Vanga trained nurse midwife delivering babies there since the 1960s.

Mama Sophie and Katherine

Then came providence.  Dr. Rainald, Mennonite missionary ophthalmologist and close collaborator with Baptist mission work through the Vanga hospital, learned of the project.  If we could increase the length of the operating room by ten feet, he and his team could use it to host cataract surgery campaigns.  No eye care existed in the city Bandunduville, with its population of 200,000.

By October construction was completed except for electrical work.  Katherine invited Dr. Rainald to visit and make campaign plans, which included  two unconventional requirements: three operating tables and two air conditioners in the operating room so that heavily clad surgeons could work long hours in the tropical heat.  On the eve of this visit, a powerful storm downed powerlines supplying the city.  Suddenly, assuring a dependable energy supply became critical.  Through God’s providence of another generous gift, reliable power would become reality before the campaign date of Dec 1, six weeks away!

We hastily gathered our “technical team”, developed a list of materials needed, strategized transport for getting the team and equipment to Bandunduville, over muddy, rutted, dirt roads, to do an installation in the time available!  Pierre would do the solar, Kisungu the generator, and John the electrical.  Big items we delivered to a trucker who braves the roads to Bandunduville.  The team would drive in the “Medical Coordination” jeep that Katherine uses for her work.

Kisungu assembled the generator

Then a proper shed was built around it.

Pierre began solar panel installation on an older building, the new roof being too steep.

With solar batteries and invertors in place. Light shown!

John basked in the light that very night – the only place in the city with power!

Heroic efforts were made to get surgical microscopes in place.

During those weeks, Wayne got daily updates on progress, everyone aware of the Dec 1 deadline.  On Dec 3 with energy available,

Dr. Rainald began pre-op eye exams.

85 patients were operated that week, over 40 of them completely blind from cataracts.

Blind eyes see! Dr. Rainald with a now seeing blind patient, her two cataracts removed.

It took the skills of missionary and Congolese cataract surgeons, the determination of a team of engineers, and generous folks like you!  How awesome is that??!!