Monday, October 26, 2009
Departure: 08:01 PM New York, USA - John F Kennedy, terminal 1
Arrival: 07:40 AM +1 day Casablanca, Morocco - Mohammed V, terminal 2
Airline: Royal Air Maroc AT201 Duration: 7:39
Aircraft: Boeing 767-300/300ER
Change of plane required. Time between flights = 6:00.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
confirmed Departure: 01:40 PM Casablanca, Morocco - Mohammed V, terminal 2
Arrival: 10:55 PM Brazzaville, Congo Brazzaville - Maya Maya
Note: includes 1 technical stop(s)
Airline: Royal Air Maroc AT287 Duration: 8:15
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800

#302: Press Release

Dear Friends,

I passed my board exam.
Jay van Achterberg was able to fix our computers.
Our e-mail is working again.

Delphine appears to be having a miscarriage.
A couple of nurses just hired left of their own accord.
We have an immediate critical need for a doctor, nurse practitioner, and/or physician's assistant to cover medicine, pediatrics, and some OB in the month of September & early October.

Thank you for your praises & prayers.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Thursday, September 3, 2009

#301: Friday, August 28, 2009

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2009
DEAR FAMILY & FRIENDS,

GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS!

If you are reading this, perhaps we finally have access to a computer that is working. We've had a lot of trouble trying to switch to Mac (understatement). When we finally got everything switched over, our MacBook Pro died, just 7 months after the 1-year warranty expired. I've had personal computers since 1980. This is the shortest any of my computers have ever lasted (even re-furb, used, and hand-me-down ones). Buyer beware! We apologize for allowing our personal computer problems to keep us from updating you.

HOW'D THE TEST GO?

As you may recall, we are in the US, having come to NY from Congo the end of June, so Joe could prepare for and take the American Board of Family Medicine recertification exam July 20.

I used to enjoy being in a downtown hotel ballroom with hundreds of other physicians, breaking the seal of test booklets with my number 2 pencil, and filling in the little circles. STOP. I need to come to grips with the fact the good ol' days are quickly fading away, forever.

The exam I took this July in the jail cell-sized room of a computerized testing center, under video surveillance, after getting fingerprinted and having my pockets emptied, gave disturbing clarity to the direction medicine in America is headed. The format and content of the exam also changed dramatically in the last 7 years. I have a hard time believing some of the things they think are important for a family doctor to know these days!

After weeks of wondering, I finally found out through a 'live chat'
with the 'site operator' named 'John', that my results will not be available until September 3rd. That's the day the resutls are supposed to be posted on my physician profile on the board's website. I'm not so sure I want to be certified any more! No wonder so many doctors (and patients) want to retire early! We are waiting to find out the results before finalizing reservations for our return to Congo this Fall.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO SINCE THE EXAM?

The kids finished their standardized exams for the year. We had some fun birthday celebrations. Olivia turned 18 and graduated from Harvey Christian Academy. Claire turned 16 and got her Learner's Permit. Isabelle turned 13, and got her ears pierced. So we now have 3 teenage girls in our house at all times (usually more, with the friends that we hope feel at home here). Noah got us to half-celebrate his half-birthday. Becky made half a cake, with 8 and a half candles, and we sang half of the birthday song as he blew out half of the candles.

We made a trip to Andrews, South Carolina, for a Harvey family reunion the end of July. Mom Harvey and Esther and Priscilla and their families live there now. We visited Aunt Berta & Uncle Walt Barth and cousin Elaine Bonds in Camp Hill, PA on the way, and Becky's college roommate Laura Grim Anderson & family in Johnnston, SC, and Paul & Sara Harvey and family in Wyomissing, PA on the way home.

In August we made a trip to Long Island, staying with Sid & Susan Harvey, and visited Beth Ferguson and children Michael, Andrew, Timothy & Daniel, in Bangor, PA on the way.

We have spoken at Grace Church, Smithtown, and Baptist Church of Perry, NY. This weekend we will be visiting the van Achterbergs who just had #9 (congratulations Jay & Crystal & Evelyn) and connecting with New River Community Church and Christ Chapel in CT. After Labor Day, we hope to take a trip to Quebec to visit Rachel Maurais & her family. Later we plan to tour a few Christian colleges with Olivia & Claire, attend Samaritan's Purse/World Medical Mission's Prescription for Renewal Conference & Missionary Medicine Seminar (Ashville, NC, Oct. 8-11), a Huntington Christian School reunion (Northport Baptist Church, Oct. 16), and the Missions Conference at Loudonville Community Church (Albany, Oct. 13-19).

When not on the road, we enjoy having people visit or call us here @ 74 Saint Helena Street in Perry, NY. Our phone number is (585) 237-3557. Lately I've been spending hours and hours trying to get computers to work and recover addresses, e-mail and financial data!

HOW ARE THINGS IN CONGO?

President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected for 7 more years, adding to the 25 he has already faithfully served. Election day came and results were announced without things getting too much out of control.

From what we hear, our missionaries are doing well, and there have not been any major problems at the hospital. Miracles of God's saving grace and healing continue to happen on a daily basis, as lives are transformed.

We do have some prayer concerns:

1. Our stock of supplies and medications at the hospital are at an all-time low. Please pray that our urgent orders from Germany & Brazzaville will be filled and delivered quickly.
   
   
2. Dr. Fuka has had to work as the only physician covering the hospital for
   9 weeks now. I am sure he must be exhausted. Before leaving, I told him God would send more doctors. Either I was wrong or my faith is too small.
   Please pray that help would come very soon, and that the patient load will lighten up until then.
   
   
3. Praise that LORD that Siko Bambemba's wife Delphine is pregnant! You may recall she had surgery in Louisiana in 2008 to remove 15 fibroid tumors.
   Please pray for a healthy pregnancy and other health concerns for both Siko & Delphine.
   
   
4. Please pray for Patience and Kelly Fuka, and our daughter Claire, who have been sick often lately.
   
   
5. While we remain fully supported, our new missionaries the Ralstons, Marshes, and Wegners could really use some extra help to get to the field (and stay there). Please pray for all of their support to come in.
   

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS

While we won't have enough time on this side of the ocean to connect with everyone we would like to see, we are grateful for your friendship, prayers & support. We do not take it for granted. We miss you all, and look forward with eager anticipation to the greatest reunion of all time when we get to heaven. Thank you so much!

FOR HEALTH & HOPE,
Joseph and Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah

#300: Home Sweet Home

Dear Family & Friends,

We arrived at our home in Perry, New York, late Sunday night after 10 days of travel. It feels so good to be home! On the way we were able to enjoy 3 nights at our mission's base in Brazzaville, 1 night in Casablanca, 5 nights on Long Island with Joe's Mom, and a brief visit with Joe's sister Beth in Bangor, Pennsylvania.

After 70 years on Long Island, Mom/Grandma Harvey is in the process of moving to Andrews, South Carolina, to be closer to "the 3 little girls" as we used to call them. Mary Esther, Sarah, & Priscilla all have homes in Andrews with their families (though Sarah & Ken are currently living in Wisconsin). It was a privilege and fun for us to be able to help Mom/Grandma pack!

We expect to be in the US on furlough until October 20th or so. Our main reason for coming at this time is so that Joe can take the American Board of Family Medicine Recertification Exam (something he has to do every 7 years to maintain his specialty board certification). Of course there are many other reasons as well (we want to see as many of you that want to see us as we can too).

We are happy to be home, but at the same time, we are struggling to readjust to the fast-paced, multiple-choice, multi-tasking lifestyle that predominates life in America. We find ourselves frequently overwhelmed by the plethora of opportunities for social interaction and communication. And we sorrow over some of the changes we see.

Some of you have been praying for us for another doctor to help Dr. Fuka cover the hospital while we are gone. Just before we left Impfondo we received word of a Christian senior surgery resident from Kenya who hopefully will be able to come for 3 weeks in July. We are very grateful. We still have an critical urgent desperate need for doctors and nurses for August, September, and October.

Please pray for more doctors, nurses and students willing to serve in Congo!

Please pray Joe as he tries to study at least 8 hours a day in preparation for his board exam on July 20. American medicine has changed a lot in the last 7 years.

Please pray for God's guidance during the Global Outreach Mission/Pioneer Christian Hospital Annual Executive Committee Meeting this Thursday & Friday, June 25-26.

Please pray for our entire family as we go through reverse culture shock.

Please pray for yourself and your families too, as you pray for us, to make wise choices in life.


leaving Hotel Bravo in Brazzaville for the airport

midnight on the boardwalk in Morocco

the Happy 20th Anniversary Couple in Casablanca

Packing up Mom's house

until we meet again in South Carolina

we're almost there!


For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Thursday, June 25, 2009

#299: Beware of Time Saving Devices

Dear Friends & Family,

14 days ago I experienced the disappointing loss of all e-mail, address changes, and financial data on my computer since October 28, 2008 @ 10:35 AM. It is taking a long time to get my computer back up and running, and recovered up to that point (thank God I made a backup in October). Finally a chance to feel relieved that I didn't have my financial records up to date (since I would just have to re-enter that data now if I did)!

Of course, this inconvenience comes at a time when we are trying to get ready for our imminent departure for a 4-month home-assignment in the US, and when we are experiencing high patient volumes at the hospital (twice as many patients as usual). The hospital is full to overflowing! I keep saying to myself, "I really don't have time to do this," but you know what, that doesn't make my problems go away. I know most all of you can identify with my pain!

One of Becky's favorite sayings is, "Beware of Time-Saving Devices." Often they don't actually save that much time in the long run. At the same time, I wonder how many letters I would actually write if I didn't have e-mail. Before e-mail I defintely didn't author the 200-300 messages per month that I write now. But how much of what I say is of eternal significance? Jesus said, "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." I suppose if that includes all the idle words in e-mails, God still has all of my data on His hard drive!?

Well enough amateur philosophy, I've got work to do!

Please pray for us in these last days as we pack up our house, say goodbye for now to our family of missionaries and friends and patients, and try to make sure all the bases are covered at the hospital. We still have a critical urgent desperate need for nurses and doctors. If you know any health care personnel or students who may be willing to serve short or long-term at Congo's Pioneer Christian Hospital, please tell them to get in touch with us right away! We especially need help for the rest of June, July, August, September and October 2009.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Thursday, June 11, 2009

#298: Thompson's Guest PrayerNet

Dear Friends & Family,

Please read and enjoy the following PrayerNet (with photos) from Sean & Candice Thompson, healthcare volunteers who recently served at Pioneer Christian Hospital for 2 months.

May it remind you that we are still trusting God to provide doctors, nurses, students, anybody with useful skills and a servant heart, to come over and help us. We have an urgent critical need for primary care providers (doctors, physicians's assistants, nurse practitioners, and/or 4th year medical students) to help cover inpatient medicine, pediatrics, and outpatient services, for all or part of the time that we are away on furlough, June 12 - October 20, 2009.

This is our number one prayer request at this time!

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah


This “guest prayernet” was submitted by Sean and Candice Thompson.

Sean is a recent graduate of medical school and I, Candice, am a recent graduate with my masters in occupational therapy. Sean had the opportunity as a 4th year medical student to do an international medical elective for 2 months during his 4th year. The timing was right, and we both decided to go to Pioneer Christian Hospital in Impfondo, Congo during February and March of this year. We have always been interested in international experiences and mission trips. Sean has spent time in Guatemala, Jamaica, Haiti, and Mexico. Candice has spent time in Honduras, Jamaica, and Ukraine. After Sean connected with Dr. Joe Harvey through the organization of HCJB, we were drawn to the Congo. We were anxious, but excited, and didn't know what to expect, but were flexible. And, wow, was it awesome. We miss it, but are so grateful for having had the opportunity. Thank you for caring for the Harveys and the lives they touch... which are so many!

We began each workday in Impfondo with all the hospital employees crowded into the Conference Room of the Administration Building when, promptly at 7:00 am, someone would begin singing… “Tu es là, au coeur de nos vies…” (or another selection in French) and others would join in, their voices becoming boisterous. It was such a gift to take the time to begin each workday in this manner.

After a song or two, an employee read a chapter from the Bible. While we were there, we read from Judges, Daniel, Genesis, and Revelation. They read the scripture in French, and when a word was pronounced incorrectly everyone, okay maybe not everyone, but a handful of people would correct the pronunciation. It was very important to everyone that the scripture was read properly.

After the reading, Dr.Harvey, Dr.Fuka, Pastor Yvon, Pastor Jean-Pierre, or Siko gave a lesson on what we could take from this text. Following was time for questions. Marie-Rose, an amazing woman, ALWAYS had a question, and really good questions. You know when you can tell that someone wants to learn, really wants to learn, that they apply not only their time, and effort, but their mind too... that is Marie-Rose. I always appreciated her questions because they challenged me to think deeper and wider, to question what the message is in the passage.

We closed this time of devotions with prayer and the non-medical staff (guards, maintenance, custodial, and administrative) would move on to their work duties. The medical staff stayed for the ‘morning report’ of the current status of the patients by the night shift nursing staff. All of this was done in Frangala (French and Lingala). Sometimes Sean translated for me by writing, or Ginny would translate. By the end of our time there, I could "catch" the general gist of most things.

After morning report, Sean rounded on patients with Dr. Harvey, Dr. Fuka, or alone, depending on the day. It felt natural after awhile to openly pray with each patient, or to pray for the patients collectively in each building. When asked, the patients shared their concerns and it was remarkable what a touch, smile, or prayer (even if done in English) meant to the individual.

A guard walked through the hospital grounds ringing a bell at 9:45 every morning calling for patients and family members to come to chapel at 10:00. Around 10:05 you could hear a resounding sound of joyful songs again, and the beat of the passionate playing of the drum.

Our time was full of medically interesting cases and social problems with patients and their families (lack of care, lack of money, and negligent parents, to name a few). It was somewhat exhausting both emotionally and physically. We had a few patients die, and a few make some great gains, while others stuck around because they couldn't pay. I had a first time experience one Wednesday; I was talking to a 60-some year old patient in the morning during rounds about his pain in his arm and leg and showing him positions to protect his joints from pain so he could rest. He understood with my limited language skills. Later that afternoon, I was in the office with Sean reviewing charts, and the man's wife came looking very worried, and said that her husband wasn't looking right. We went straight to his bedside, and he was not breathing, had a flutter of a heartbeat, and barely a pulse. He had just died. His wife immediately began to wail. It was difficult to know exactly what to do, but I was humbled to be there. Sean was so calm and collected. I felt sad, and hurt for the wife. Jesus said, take care of the widows, and I pray she is being taken care of by her young adult son who was with them.

I tell you that experience because it was a first for me. I have had patients pass before, but never ones that I had communicated with just hours before. It makes me ask "why?" and we don't know "why," but it is another opportunity for me to be in the moment, and ask God what do you have for me to learn from this experience? And allow my heart to be molded. I have learned how precious life is... and at the same time how death is a real part of our time here... it can be painful, but valuable still. I am able to love at a greater level and care at a greater level if I am willing to accept that I, or the next person, may not be here tomorrow, or a few hours later for that matter. I don't want to be misunderstood... we aren't called to wander around worried about who is not going to be here tomorrow. No, rather to find freedom in the fact that NOW is a gift! It won't be here again. We appreciated the many opportunities to serve the Congolese in the ‘now’ that were available to us then.

Candice worked with Feda, a 5-year-old girl with burns on the palms of her hands. She tripped on a banana peel and fell into the fire hands first at her house. Her wounds are healed, but her skin is very tight. It is difficult to communicate the importance of stretching her skin to her mom. At least her hands are still very functional! Not much holds back this little one!

When I first met this young girl, she NEVER smiled. She had a very uncomfortable rash, creating swelling in her lymph nodes and an itchy sensation over her entire body. After spending a few moments with her for a couple days in a row, she would give me a shy smile when I walked by. Then I couldn’t resist but to come and just be with her. I prayed for her and her family (her younger sister was in the hospital as well, with malnutrition). I love this young girl… she just needed a little encouragement to allow her joy to shine… even still (her smile is small in this picture… but I’m certainly happy!)

Here Sean is examining a new baby, after taking her by C-section. Even the smallest interest, touch, care, words, smile, can make such a difference. Even here, being home in Indiana, what can our smiles do? Maybe a lot, if we let it be used... and I hope to.

After reflecting since being away from this daily routine, I realized that we were living "church" each day. Church isn't just the place you go on Sunday or the people that make up the infrastructure. Church is so much greater than that. My church is how I live out and experience LOVE, God's love, through each day. That doesn't mean it is always pretty, always easy, always nice and fuzzy.... but always real. These people were real, and I was challenged to seek the face of God each day in so many different ways. Through beginning the day with praise, teaching, and questions… through seeing faces of pain, hunger, hurt, and still reaching the innermost joy of the people in the hospital… through thankfulness of what is offered to me. Church is greater than I imagine. When I hear a bell... what is it calling me for?

There was so much to take in, so much to learn, so much to reflect on. I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow in huge ways for those 2 months. Before we left, I thought – wow, 2 months is a long time. Boy, how wrong I was! It went by so fast, and not only that... it was enough time to truly establish relationships... to see other ways that we could serve as God's hands, feet, and mouthpiece. Am I glad we went?... yes... would I do it again?... in a heartbeat... do we want to go back?... you bet... do we know when, where, and how?... no way... but we trust and will work towards learning where God will have us. For now, it is Indianapolis, Indiana where Sean will finish his medical training in emergency medicine and pediatrics. From there we will see... while we continue on this journey... we are thankful. So thankful for our new friends, who we keep in our thoughts and specific prayers... friends who we learned so much from!

Just a few things we learned:

• you can pray... anytime.. anywhere... if we are anxious, frustrated,
  happy, worried, joyful... pray
  
• bugs really aren't that bad
  
• if you’re hot, you will sweat
  
• rain is fantastic, even just for the mere fact that it cools things off
  
• Lingala is one SWEET Language (and kudos to Olivia for being
  Candice's translator!)
  
• foam mattresses in Congo are not the best... waterbeds are.
  
• God's people are God's people no matter where you are in the world.
  
• A smile, a touch, a willing heart can have a huge impact.
  
• God truly will provide...
  

Monday, June 1, 2009

#297: Gone Fishing

Dear Friends & Family,

Noah & I just got back from a 3-day fishing/camping trip with Paul Ohlin and Serge Ngalipe and his son Guylvie. The fishing was great, and God led us to the most wonderful campsite: a sandy island in the middle of the Likouala aux Herbs River. We fished from the shore on all sides of the island, and caught fish on all sides! We fished from the dugout. We fished in the morning. We fished at night. The site had a nice shade tree, and plenty of dry drift/firewood. Most of the fish were small, but even small fish taste great smoked and mixed with Saka Saka!

Serge, Joe, Guylivie and Noah in the Dugout

Noah declared the best part of the trip was going to be the eating...and we did eat well...but when it came his turn to cook, he said he wasn't taking any surveys (orders). His recipe included spaghetti, tomotoes, oil, sardines, toast, and a good dose of help from Guylivie, but it tasted great! He also got to have candy on non-candy days, and drink Coffee for the first time.

It rained our first night, but there were only two small holes in the tent, and none of us got wetter than we wanted to. Every sunrise and sunset a flock of noisy African Grey Parrots flew over our camp...commuting between their favorite fruit and roosting trees.

Serge, Joe, Noah & Paul Ohlin at our campsite.

Papa Alexander came by the first morning and welcomed us to his ancestral fishing grounds with a gift of 3 long-nose, bottom suckers, and we gave him a loaf of bread from the bakery in Impfondo. Otherwise the only human-generated sounds we heard were our own, or the occasional "Mbote" and the sound of a wood paddle stirring the water or rubbing against the side of a passing dugout canoe.

Back at home: Noah & a fish we didn’t catch.

We hope to return to the same spot next year.

In the meantime, there are lots of exciting times coming. Art & Danielle and Michael Ralston have been cleared by the mission for departure May 25! Dr. Stephen & Anna Wegner and their 3 children are planning to come in the Fall. David & Brenda and Tabitha Marsh may be here by early 2010 too. We are anticipating a housing crunch here on the mission & hospital compounds, and need wisdom to know how to proceed.

Some visitors are planning to come in a couple weeks with CDC Atlanta to work on Monkeypox Surveillence and Education. Others are coming from Mercy Ships to assess whether or not the African Mercy hospital ship should dock in Congo February - December 2010.

We Harveys are scheduled to make preparations for visitors and new missionaries, finish our home school year, keep the hospital running, and leave for furlough all in the next 6 weeks! We still do not have any doctors or medical students signed up to serve this Summer! Your help is needed! Please spread the word, and pray that God helps us locate some medical volunteers. French-language ability would certainly be helpful, but at this point we are open to any solution. Housing, local transportation, and fishing guides provided!

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Tuesday, May 5, 2009