Dear friends,

You and a caring young doctor provided a young boy critical care because you support the continuing work at Vanga Hospital. Thank you!

Recently a 7-year-oldboy was hospitalized here in Vanga and found to have a hole between the main chambers in his heart.  Dr. Pimba, one of the residents on the pediatric ward, called his colleagues in Kinshasa to see if there was some way to get this patient the surgery he needed.  To his surprise, a visiting team of pediatric cardiac surgeons were concluding their time in Kinshasa.  Dr. Pimba came to our house one evening to request funds to support the transport of this child to Kinshasa immediately so he could be evaluated prior to the end of the program.  The mother had never traveled outside the local area, so Dr. Pimba offered to accompany this mother and child to Kinshasa to assure all the necessary connections were made.

Ready for the 2-hour motorcycle ride from Vanga to the paved road to catch the 7-hr bus ride.

Dr Pemba with Mom and child waiting for the bus on the side of the road.

All aboard for Kinshasa.

By God’s grace, they made it to Kinshasa and were eligible for surgical treatment!  He has successfully undergone surgical repair and is currently recovering well.  This trip (in addition to a part of the normal salary for this resident) is supported by funding from you, our financial partners.  We are so thankful to our partners who help make this possible.

The smiles say it all!!!

We also want to thank all the donors that generously contributed above and beyond their normal contributions in December.  We were able to make up a large part of the deficit we experienced earlier.  We are truly grateful.

We are looking forward to the upcoming fistula surgical campaign coming at the end of February.  With the help of our donors and our new partners, the Fistula Foundation and Samaritan’s Purse, we will be providing care for 50 women who have been suffering with loss of control of urine and/or stool after childbirth injuries.

God is at work!  Isn’t God always at work?  We just forget to look for Him sometimes.

From the banks of the Kwilu river, Tim and Kathy Rice

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