“In the family medicine residency program at Vanga, I learned medicine and surgery, but I never mastered delivering a baby in the dark,” stated Dr Arnold, medical director at the Baptist hospital in Mulolo. As we sat under the moon on that cooling evening, we noticed the night watchman’s solar flashlight bobbing around the hospital and turning our direction.

Earlier that afternoon, our medical coordination team arrived in Mulolo on a two-fold mission.  First, for problem solving and accompanying the medical team with various challenges, and second, for replacing the entire solar energy system installed eight years earlier.  Despite past efforts to replace worn out batteries, the whole system was now dead and at night, darkness smothered the hospital.

On our arrival, Emmanual our driver, and Pierre, our solar technician, went to work immediately, assisted by an eager crowd of youthful volunteers.  They removed old solar panels, disconnected the mal-functioning inverter and dead batteries, and removed burned out lights.  Then they installed the new equipment (solar panels, large lithium battery, new modern inverter) getting all in place before night fall.  Pierre advised not turning the system on until the next day to allow the new battery to charge a few hours in the sunlight.  There certainly was not yet enough charge to run lights all night, so the hospital would sleep another night in the dark, barring an emergency.

Pierre (yellow shirt) and helpers

That “emergency” announcement arrived with the watchman – a lady in obstructed labor.  Dr. Arnold jumped up, with Pierre on his heals.  The delivery and post-partum room windows lit up!  A cheer rose.  The hospital had not seen such brights lights in months!  A cluster of patients dragged raffia mats to bask in the halo of light on the dark lawn.  Light shining into pitch darkness.  There is nothing in the world quite like that.

Later, Dr. Arnold re-joined us.  With infant safely delivered and mother at rest, the lights went off.  Rounding early the next morning, before the usual hospital morning “circle” and devotions, the relieved father happily announced to Dr. Arnold, “Her name is Lumière” (light).

Baby Lumière

Thank you for partnering with us, with Dr. Arnold, and with the staff at the Mulolo hospital who sacrificially provide quality health care in a remote under-served area.  Your gifts to our Better Health Care in Congo project provided the sizeable investment made for light to shine so babies are not born in darkness, and supporting the work of the dedicated team in Mulolo.  There, and throughout the network of Baptist hospitals, the good news of Jesus Christ is ministered by nursing care and scalpel blade.  We feel blessed, as do the folks in Mulolo.  Be blessed yourselves, as together we bring life, hope, care, and God’s kingdom, in Congo as it is in heaven.  Thank you.