Congo Harveys

#341: from Kenya with love

2012-02-09T06:44:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

I am happy to report that I have arrived safely in Limuru, Kenya, with my love. That’s right; Becky and I are here at Brackenhurst Conference Center for a continuing medical education conference with 340 healthcare professionals working in 34 countries. It has been great so far. We are having a great time, and feel like we are back in college, having already completed courses in “Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics” and “Helping Babies Breath.”

Claire, Isabelle, and Noah are home in Impfondo, holding down the fort. Yesterday, they received a short-term team of 3 couples from Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Olivia writes that her trip to Peru with Cedarville University over Spring Break has been fully funded! Thank you for your prayers and generosity. We also hear from Andrews, South Carolina that Mom Harvey has arrived home safely, after 6 wonderful weeks in Congo with us (best Christmas ever).

As usual, our access to internet and time for e-mail is limited. If we owe you some communication, please know that we are doing our best, and are unable to keep up. We hope that doesn’t stop you from writing personal messages, as we enjoy hearing from you when we can. For work related e-mails, if you need a quicker response, please (re)send your message to PCHMedicalDirector@gmail.com. Susan Lardner (our pharmacist and administrative assistant) monitors that account for us. As Susan is planning to leave Congo in May, we are looking for someone to help in the pharmacy, and a full-time administrative assistant to help with communications both at home and abroad. With furlough coming up in June, we are also looking for a doctor and logistics agent to fill in for us at the hospital while we are gone.

If any of you didn’t receive our recent Harvey Holiday Highlights newsletter, please read it here: http://www.congoharveys.org/newsletters/epiphany-2012.pdf for lots more news and pictures.

Thank you for your prayers and understanding! We love and miss you.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Wednesday, February 8, 2012

#340: Peru update from Olivia

2012-02-02T10:43:00.002-05:00

Hello Friends and Family!

First off, I would like to sincerely thank you all for the amazing responses to my earlier email! Thanks to all of you who have pledged to pray for me and support me. I am very grateful for your prayers and generosity! I knew that God would provide, but I am still amazed at how He provides. Thank you!

Secondly, I have recently found out that I was mistaken about the amount I needed to raise! Apparently I only have to raise $1,800! I have received word from my team leader, and I am currently at $1,180. Praise God! I also was informed by the secretary that checks should be made out to “Cedarville University-MIS” with “Olivia Harvey” in the memo. Apparently this helps them with their paperwork and processing of the donation.

My team and I have already had several meetings in order to plan and prepare some of the songs, crafts, and activities for the children, as well as to pray about the rapidly approaching trip. We are all starting to get very excited to see how God is going to use us in Peru! It's also been good to go over the details and get to know the other people on my team.

Thank you again for praying!
With Love, Olivia
February 1, 2012

#339: The Return of the King

2012-02-02T10:41:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

As you enjoy this update from our colleagues here in Congo: David & Brenda Marsh, remember how God gave up His son for us, knowing the outcome.

In Him,
Joe & Becky

From: Congo Updates
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2012 2:30 PM

My eyes open, and for a moment, I can’t figure out why. The light coming into the room tells my that my alarm hasn’t gone off, and a glance at my watch verifies that I still have another 10 minutes. I shift my position so that I can doze, and the sound of the sheet moving stimulates a reaction from the other side of the room.

“Ehhh-hh?”

Giscard is letting me know that he is awake, too. A minute passes and then he speaks again.

“Ehhh-uhh?”

This time, Brenda’s years of mothering experience kick in and she stirs and says drowsily, “It’s okay Giscard.”

Giscard giggles, so she says his name again and he giggles again. This inspires a back-and-forth verbal exchange between the two of them that has us all laughing by the time its all over.

He’s going home today.

It almost seems strange to think that way because he has been at home with us for most of his earthly existence. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. Steve., our pediatrician, came to us a few months ago with a proposition. Would we be willing to take a malnourished child into our home for a month to strengthen him so that he could return to his parents ? His mother was at her end. Her milk had dried up because the baby was too weak to suck and she hadn’t been able to pump enough, She had been at the hospital for two months already, and her child was still anorexic and feverish and she didn’t have the means to stay there.

I stagger off for a cold shower to get ready to take them to the hospital. Why is it that in a country where every coolness is sought after that a cold shower is still an exercise in masochism?

By the time I am finished, Brenda has Giscard out in the dining room laying on a baby blanket. We go through our morning ritual. I talk to him and he locks onto me with his eyes. I close in for an Eskimo kiss and he rewards me with a huge toothless smile.

When we first brought him to the house, he was a fearful sight. At two months old, he was still less than five pounds. Having always had plump, happy children, one of whom weighed twice what he does at birth, it was a bit disconcerting. Brenda said later that the first thing that she thought when she peeled back the blanket was, “I can’t do this. He looks like he might die.” And that wasn’t far from the truth. I tried to prepare her for it. The last thing that I wanted was for her to have a conscience troubled by the thought that she had done something to hurt him.

Tabitha is feeding him rice cereal now while Brenda is trying to get his bags packed. He has just started on cereal this week, and it’s a novelty… for both of them. I sip my coffee and watch them for a minute. Tabitha tries to clean some of the goop that is oozing from the corner of his mouth, and he turns his head just in time to smear it on his cheek. She tries again and now he’s got it smeared under his nose.

That month passed faster than anyone of us could have predicted. The weight gains weren’t all that impressive, but there were some encouraging signs. What was once a listless gaze that stared into nothingness, began to shift into the direction of conversations and loud noises. He had some control problems with his eyes. He was wildly cross-eyed, and as he tried to get focused, his left eye would swing around in circles in an attempt to focus on what was going on.

Bags are packed and Giscard’s getting a bath. Brenda powders his butt, and it is plump and round like a baby’s should be. Not wrinkled and baggy like it was the first time that we saw it He plays with her hair as it hangs down in his face as she straps on his diaper and ties it in place with a plastic cover that is designed for this purpose. I remember us all puzzling over it the first time she put it on, but now she does it with the kind of finesse that makes you think of an old-time butcher wrapping and tying off some pork chops in brown paper.

His mom and dad came to see him a couple of weeks after he came to stay with us. He looked better. We could see that they were happy, and a bit nervous. He still was weak, and I could see their hesitation. We made plans to have the mother come back during the next week to continue to bond with him until we could get an adequate supply of F-100, a formula provided by UNICEF to feed malnourished children.

I am loaded down like a mule as we head to the truck. The other day as I was rinsing out his diapers in preparation for them to be washed, I considered how my life had come full circle. We had used cloth diapers for Jonathan, and this was one of my jobs way back then. Now, as I was then, I am astounded by the amount of paraphernalia that it takes to care for a child. It is doubly difficult because of all of the stuff that Brenda is sending with him; clothes, toys, feeding accoutrements… it’s quite a trove.

Giscard’s mom didn’t come back that week, or the week after, for that matter. We had heard some reports that she was still here, and others that she was in a village over an hour and a half distance by car. It was actually better that he stay with us at that point. We hadn’t had the ability to get more F-100, and baby formula at the market was 3000 cfa a can, way more than an average Congolese family could afford.

Brenda is feeding him a bottle as we head to the hospital in an effort to tank him up. He occasionally has off days, ones where he sleeps most of the time and has to be roused just to feed him, and the previous two days were a bit off. He has an open anterior fontanel, (soft spot to the laymen reading this), and it sinks in if he is dehydrated, like a gas gauge. He is a little low, so Brenda is making up for lost time.

The next time that we saw his parents was a bit of surprise for all of us. I make a trip to Epena every other month to conduct a clinic. It was in the same direction as Giscard’s village, though we had heard that it was another 10 kilometers on the other side by foot. We briefly considered the possibility that we might “run into” them while we were there so we made it a family road trip. As I was conducting my clinic, one of my patients told us that she knew where his grandparents lived; in a village that we had just passed on the main road five minutes before our arrival. She told us their name, and told us to ask at the market for directions to their house.

Back in the present, we are at the hospital now, and Giscard is fed and burped. He is a beautiful little boy. The problem with his eyes is almost totally gone thanks to some Little Einstein DVD’s someone let us use. He is well over 10 pounds and “active and interactive”, (a phrase that I use in nursing documentation to describe healthy children). I take a deep breathe as we enter the hospital to meet and greet his parents.

When we had arrived at his village that day, I pulled over the truck in front of the market and left Brenda, Tabitha, and Giscard inside as I followed a young boy to the house we had been told about. I was greeted jovially by a man who was introduced as Giscard’s grandfather, and I explained our mission. He spoke to a young boy standing nearby and the boy ran off in a direction off to my left, as the man and I set off to the truck. In moments, much to my surprise, we are joined by Giscard’s parents. At the truck, there is a crowd already forming and growing by the minute, much to Tabitha’s chagrin. People are pushing to get to the windows and I can hear Giscard’s name being said over and over. It reminded me of triumphant king returning victoriously from battle. We stayed as long as we could, surrounded by 100-200 people, all talking in a babble of excited voices. It took three separate stops by different crowds to finally extract ourselves.

Even after all of that, it still took us more than two months for this hand-off to occur. We were perfectly happy to have him with us. He was growing daily, and had become somewhat of a celebrity with some of the other missionaries here. So, as we explain to his parents how to feed him and all of the nuances of his care, Brenda and I are watching the father and mother intently. Will they bond together? Will they be able to give him the care that he needs? They listen intently to the interpreter as we share how to prepare his bottles and some of his quirks. Steve comes in to explain his vaccination schedule and to make arrangements for a follow up appointment in two weeks for a check up. All too soon, it is time to wrap it up. One more Eskimo kiss, (too much has transpired to expect another smile), and he and his parents are in the truck with Brenda, so that she can take them to Bakandi to get a ride back home.

I watch them pull away and before the inevitable sadness can set in, I start the game that I have played with myself each time that I have had to endure a separation like this. I tell myself, “He isn’t gone. I’ll see him tomorrow.” It doesn’t work quite as well this time, and instead Brenda and I secretly plan on going for a surprise visit the next week to bring him “Mr. Snow”, a stuffed snowman that we held back for that specific purpose.

Epilogue:
I had actually started this update the day of Giscard’s departure. Writing is like a catharsis for me, and I felt that because of his impact on our lives, he deserved more than just a passing reference to do homage to his presence in our home. Writing is hard work, though, and it joined my pile of things that I need to finish.

Until today.

Today, a well-dressed woman came to our house to tell us that Giscard was dead. It was less than a week after he left, and a day before our planned voyage to see him. And frankly, I don’t think that there is enough paper in the world to sop up the tears I have to commemorate his brief little life. There are not enough words in all of the languages of the world to tell you of our pain and regret and sorrow for the loss of one so dear to us.

I wish I could close this with a deep spiritual lesson, a bright spot, the truths that I know exist, but they will have to wait for another day. A brighter day than today.

We love you, Giscard.

Please pray for our whole team as we mourn Giscard’s return to the King. We are planning to have a memorial service for him at our house later this week.

David Marsh serves as Nursing Supervisor and Coordinator of TB/HIV/AIDS Prevention & Treatment Program at Pioneer Christian Hospital. Brenda is Mom & Grandmother, and schools Tabitha (12 y/o) at home. The Marshes are currently lacking about $1,000/month in support. If you want to help, contact GOM@GlobalOutreachMission.org or visit the website www.MissionGO.org.

If you would like to send the Marshes a word of encouragement, their e-mail address is CongoFROG@gmail.com.

Thank you.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
January 11, 2012

#338: from Olivia with love

2012-02-02T10:32:00.000-05:00

December 31, 2011
Dear Family and Friends,

I hope that this Holiday season found you all well. It seems like this year of 2011 has really slipped away! When I was younger I always used to wonder what adults were talking about when they told me that the older you get, the faster time flies. I always thought they were joking! Unfortunately now I find myself saying the very words I thought couldn't possibly be true.

I am currently halfway through my sophomore year at Cedarville University, and was very blessed with the opportunity to "come home" for Christmas. Yes, I am back in Impfondo Congo for about 3 weeks, and have about a week left. It feels very good to be home with my family. Although the trip is pretty short, it was really nice to be home for such a tradition filled time of year, and get a break from the cold windy winter weather of Cedarville Ohio.

As the New Year draws closer and closer I realize that Spring Break is not that far away. I have been accepted on a short term mission's trip to Peru this Spring Break. I am very excited to be going on this trip and can't wait for spring to arrive. Our team will be traveling around to different children's homes in Peru and doing children's ministry. We will be doing crafts, singing, and sharing the gospel with these children, and whatever needs to be done. The team includes myself, 9 other students from Cedarville, and our team leader.

I am very excited about this opportunity to go to Peru. Since last year I have been praying about doing a mission's trip this year. Growing up as a missionary kid we often had teams of college students coming through to help out here at the hospital. I always had a lot of fun with them and they really encouraged me and had such a positive influence in my life. I always thought, "When I get to be their age I want to go somewhere and serve too!" Now I finally have the opportunity and I really am looking forward to see how God will use me during this time in Peru.

In order to go on this trip I will need to raise $2,800 by the end of February. It's a big undertaking and I am very tempted to worry about the money. However one thing that I have learned in college is that He does indeed provide for His children, even when they leave for college. Last year, and as well as this year God has proved Himself faithful and I have always received things right when I needed them most. I am so blessed and there are so many people who are so supportive and pray faithfully for my family and me. So, I believe that God will provide.

I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider supporting me financially. But most importantly I would love it if you would pray for me and my team as we prepare to serve the Lord in Peru. For unity of the team, and mostly that we would be good reflections of Christ and a good picture of His hands and feet. If you do feel led to give financially towards my trip, then please send checks to the address below, and make checks payable to "Olivia Harvey Cedarville University MIS Fund." You can also give online by credit/debit card through Cedarville's website at: www.cedarville.edu/Missions. All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you so much for considering partnering with me to help bring the gospel to the children of Peru. I hope that you all have a Happy New Year.

Love,
Olivia Harvey
Cedarville University MIS
251 North Main Street
Cedarville, Ohio 45314

#336: All Dressed Up, With No Way To Go

2011-11-20T14:42:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

I was planning to leave Impfondo for Brazzaville Thursday in order to catch my flight North early Monday morning. I was informed Wednesday that the departure time of one of my connecting flights had been moved up. The airline was offering a full refund, since they had no room on alternative flights that could get me to my destination around the same time. I found cheaper tickets with another airline, but figured I would just wait and check with the original airline when I got to Brazzaville, in case they had found another solution.

Thursday morning I was all packed and dressed up, ready to go. Then Canadian Airways cancelled their flight. (I am not kidding, that is the name of the Lebanese/Congolese airline currently servicing Impfondo Mondays and (most) Thursdays). Their next flight isn’t until Monday, and it arrives in Brazzaville too late for me to make the connection.

When this happens in Africa, you evaluate rumors, check into all options, try to find people who know what’s going on, and when all else fails, you go to the airport and wait for the first available occasion. We have the advantage of living less than a mile from the runway, so we can usually hear when “de plane is comin’.” Thursday afternoon I was close enough to touch the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service Beechcraft King Air twin engine plane that came here. Actually I did touch the wing as I talked with the South African pilots, but they already had 9 passengers for 8 seats. One of the passengers was a baby, so there was enough room for the 3 aid workers, and 6 refugee patients that were being evacuated to Brazzaville & beyond, but no room for yours truly.

Yesterday (Friday) there were rumors that a charter flight was coming to bring the repatriated body of a Congolese business man who was killed by bandits in South Africa home to Impfondo from Brazzaville for burial. It rained hard all day, and that flight never came. It seemed best to purchase alternative tickets, and cancel the original tickets for the refund, so that’s what I did.

There are rumors now that the charter flight isn’t coming until Monday either. The UN pilots told me that the Brazzaville runway is closed several hours a day for repairs. Maybe it is closed weekends too?

Thankfully, I am getting a lot of administrative work done while I wait with my bags packed and ready to go. I am living out of a suitcase, even though my trip has not yet begun. I was able to help troubleshoot a few more electrical problems at the hospital too. (We had another lightning strike Thursday night which exploded 2 light bulbs in the generator house, tripped a number of breakers, and knocked out a number of fuses. We had power restored by 10 AM. It might have taken a lot longer if I wasn’t there to help). The unexpected time home with my family has also been enjoyable.

We would appreciate prayer that I would make it to the right destination at the right time, God-willing. You can pray also for Dr. Warren Cooper who is covering for me here while I am gone.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph Harvey, MD, MPH&TM
Saturday, November 19, 2011

(Pictured above with daughter Claire one night in September when we were on our way to a home delivery…)

#335: Why is Joe growing a beard?

2011-10-29T18:33:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,

When talking about our work in Congo, and our constant need for more help here, I often hear myself telling people, "If you are willing and able to come and work in Congo, you should." I say this often because there are some people who are willing to come, but not able, and there are many more who are able, but not willing. When you have the rare combination of being both willing and able to do something unexpected and significant, you should consider that a calling.

Since my satellite radio got struck by lightning over a year ago, I have been following world news on my cell phone. One day several months ago when rebel forces took a certain city, I saw something familiar on my little screen. Stretchers littered with dead and dying. Patients left to die. No doctors or nurses in sight. People didn't know what to do. I do. I am not afraid of death and dying. I deal with it all the time. And when it’s my turn, I am going someplace much better than here. I am also used to operating with staff shortages.

That day I stopped shaving. I started growing a beard. Why? Because I was willing to go help, and thought I might be able to too. I don't enjoy growing a beard, especially here in the prickly heat and humidity of the tropical rainforest. When my beard grows in it itches. My face hurts. So why do I do this? Have the screens you watch given you a clue? Have you noticed that most men there have a beard? I want to fit in. I want to identify with the hurting, and heal where I can. This is what I was called to do.

After sending out a bunch of feelers, I have received a call for healers. It’s official, and fairly safe. So it looks like I may be headed north for a few weeks, to be a part of an emergency relief team with Operation Mercy. Turns out, a good doctor friend of ours is already on his way here. He agreed to cover for me.

Just listened to a message and took these notes:

How to claim your birthright:

Let go of the world.
Grab onto Dad with both hands.
When Dad speaks to you, obey.

This rings true, and is what I must do too. By the way, we still need lots of help here in Congo. And we still will when I get back. If I go, my trip doesn’t change that. Are you willing? Are you able?

In other news, in case you thought we’re all work and no play…someone gave us a kid’s dirt bike recently for free, and it works! I am living my childhood dreams!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph Harvey, MD
Rebecca Harvey, RN
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah
October 23, 2011

#334: Take A Number

2011-10-02T20:14:00.000-04:00

August 2, 2011 (started)
Sometime mid-August (edited)
September 29, 2011 (editing complete…finally sent…still overdue for another update!)

Dear Friends & Family,

            So often for so long now so much happens I don't know where to begin. I know this isn't a good way to begin an update, but it's what I find myself often thinking and composing in my head. It's like I have to say something before I say something.

            Saying something like "things have been very busy, for the past five years," just doesn't cut it, when you are a missionary and your life and work depends on people remembering to pray for you. But it's true.

            I want to communicate with you and make reading this update worth your while. I want it to grab your attention, and motivate you to prayer and action. The point of these updates is to share with you, our friends and family, what is going on in our life. But so often, so much is happening I don't know where to begin. Wait, I already said that. Being too busy has become the rule rather than the exception. Not exactly a healthy lifestyle, but actually, we are feeling pretty good, considering.

            I got to the hospital early yesterday (August 1^st) because it was the first day we were going to use the new "take a number" waiting system for our outpatients, and I wanted to make sure all the details were arranged. "Take a number" sounds cruel in the medical context, but since we don't have enough staff, at least this way people know how many people are ahead of them as they wait, often all day, to be seen by the nurse, and if they are really sick, a doctor.

            We now have 5 doctors at Pioneer Christian Hospital. In Huntington, Long Island, when I grew up, once in a while on a Saturday morning Dad used to drive himself and his four boys to the "5 Barbers, No Waiting" barbershop on Route 110. I guess the efficiency of the place appealed to him. The result wasn't that bad either, judging from some of our family photos.

            You would think with 5 doctors, our wait times would decrease, but without enough nurses, I think it has gotten worse. Our nursing shortage seems to go from bad to worse no matter what we do. We often have only 2 nurses on duty for 50 inpatients, and a lot of those patients are quite sick. We doctors write great orders (sometimes), but when there is no one to carry out the orders, it leads to frustration and delayed healing.

            Yesterday I was on a roll. I needed to set up a small workspace for the nurse's aide who would be taking vital signs, writing down the chief complaint, pre-sorting the patients for us upon their arrival. We decided to put this in the chapel/waiting room, because that's where we want the patients to wait, instead of on the ground under the trees, or crowding around the doors of the treatment and consultation rooms of the emergency/critical care department.

            I knew it was going to take a while to find a working blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, and scale for Ella (the aide that has been assigned to this project).

            I also wanted to touch base with Pastor Jim Kirch and his family (here volunteering for a month from East Bethany, NY) and the rest of the construction/maintenance crew, to make sure the painter was called, the new door installed correctly, and a transformer and 110 outlets were added to the plan for the ongoing renovation of the labor & delivery room.

            I also needed to get the solar/generator/grid electric system configured properly so the OR would have all three types of power simultaneously (110V/60Hz for US donated equipment, 220V/60Hz for the oxygen cylinder filling station, and 220V/50Hz for the anesthesia machine) for the thyroid surgery we were hoping Dr. Fuka and Dr. Jacobs (a volunteer from North Carolina) could do under general anesthesia administered by Dr. Wegner.

            And I needed to check on Ruffine, an 18 year-old girl and one of the two patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancies that we had to operate on the day before (during our Sunday morning worship service, which I was supposed to translate for). Ruffine lost a lot of blood and needs another transfusion, but has a rare blood type and our blood bank is overdrawn (empty). On Sunday our lab tech on call's cellphone wasn't working, so I drove to his house to pick him up, only to learn from a neighbor's kid that "he went to stick people with needles" so I returned to the hospital and got a flat on the way, but he wasn't there either. Eventually the lab tech did come and our daughter Claire (who was supposed to do special music) was able to give one of the 3 units needed. But that was Sunday and I'm trying to tell you about Monday morning when Ruffine was crashing, and I wanted to make sure her family members got tested to see if one of them could donate.

            And I wanted to get to our 7 am staff Bible study on time, since I am scheduled to lead that on Mondays.

            I made it to the chapel door on time, but was met by a woman who had run 9 miles carrying her unconscious two-year old boy, all wrapped up in a pagne (brightly colored cloth). He wasn't breathing and had no heartbeat. I did chest compressions for a while, but he did not return. His body was still hot from the malaria fever that consumed his blood and life.

            I'll just put an ellipses here...to tell you that it was a long day leading staff devotions on the great commission, rounding on inpatients, seeing outpatients, taking care of administrative duties, being interviewed for an educational video, ordering meds and supplies, and checking on the construction/maintenance jobs in between. By 6pm I was ready to go home. At that time another 2-3 year-old that we worked on all afternoon gave up the ghost to the malaria specter. A sad ending to a long day.

            I tend to write about problems, because I tend to think (obsess) about problems, and how to solve them. I neglect to mention that Ruffine is starting to get better; the other lady we operated on on Sunday is ready for discharge; Olivia, Tabitha, and Claire sang their beautiful trio at our Sunday evening service instead; we have some new pre-med students who enjoy learning and helping out; the Kirches are on target for completing most all of the projects we set out for them to do; Laurent Fuka arrived home safely after graduating salutatorian and will attend medical school in the fall; Dr. Jacobs is checked in for his return flight to Brazzaville; and Suzy (our pharmacist) and Jean de Dieu (our nursing supervisor) are returning to Impfondo today. Hurray!

            Or that the new tractor made it to Impfondo safely and is working well; all the palm trees have been trimmed; the grounds are looking great; the big generator is fixed and is working better than ever before; the solar system is working well; the oxygen cylinder filling station is installed and working properly; the fuel we paid for a month ago has been delivered; the natural gas shortage is over; one of the two refrigerators we ordered arrived; twice last week we received meds the day we ran out of them; a lost box containing blood transfusion tubing and a tile saw was found the day Pastor Jim started the tiling job..., etc.

            Today's problems are tomorrow's answered prayers. I am hoping that one of these tomorrows we will have enough nurses (we need at least 6).

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

#333: And Again!!!

2011-08-08T06:50:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,
            Yesterday we went out of town for a picnic. We were gone about 5 hours. When we got back around 6 PM, the head midwife called to say that the patients had no water to take their evening medicines with. For some reason, the village electric was on, but the hospital and water pump that fills our water tower were not getting any power. I went and checked on the system, thinking a circuit breaker had tripped, or a fuse was blown. Dr. Wegner was with me. We checked everything in the generator house, and all was as it should be, except there was still no village power. We followed the electric line out to the corner of our property where our connection to the village electric system and main fuse box is. We were not prepared for what we saw. Would you believe somebody stole 150 feet of the aerial electric cable that we just installed in February!? Talk about frustrating!

           I immediately informed the guards. They hadn’t noticed, because the section of cable that is missing was hidden behind a productive (& tall) cassava garden. I reported our loss to the director of the electric company, so he could be on the lookout for our cable. Then I went to the local radio station. The announcer there wasted no time letting his audience know our plight. He tried to communicate to them that if someone steals from the hospital, he is not stealing from an individual, but from the entire population. When we are without village power, we have to run our generators much longer, and we run out of solar electric power and water much more often. When we run out of power, our batteries get discharged, and babies on oxygen or preemies in incubators die.

            After our last PrayerNet, one of our Pastors wrote, “We should pull together a handful of people to specifically pray for you and the Hospital when you are out of town. How can you rest when your mind and body are tensing for the inevitable return? I know very well how that all goes.” What gets me is this: before leaving for our picnic, I took the time to write to him and let him know we were going out of town, so he could pray, but I forgot to connect and send out the message, so he never got it.

            I don’t think I’m being paranoid or superstitious. We offer a place of life and light. The powers of death and darkness are trying everything they can (steal, kill, and destroy) to keep us from being healthy, and put us in the dark! This is war. When we go out of the bunker, we need our buddies to cover for us!

            We’re not leaving town again until maybe next weekend, but just the same, would a handful of you pray right now that God would stop the stealing, killing, and destroying: that God would restore our electrical connection as soon as He sees fit, in a way that will bring Him glory? I would love for our thief to get caught this time, and have the cable returned without delay, so that all who hear about this will think twice if they are tempted to steal from the hospital in the future, but I bet God has an even better plan, and we’ll just have to wait on Him and see what it is, why we struggle to restore our power lines.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Sunday, August 7, 2011

#332: Again!?

2011-08-08T06:47:00.000-04:00

Written July 15, 2011
Dear Friends & Family,

            Do you ever argue with God? I do. I usually lose. Job asked why. He pleaded his cause and prepared his arguments. Abraham negotiated with God over how many righteous it would take to save Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction. Jacob wrestled with God. Moses disputed God’s calling on his life. Balaam beat his donkey who was only trying to protect him from being struck down by the angel of the LORD. David poured out his complaint before the LORD. Jonah refused to go to Nineveh. The Apostle Paul asked God to heal him three times. God said no.

            In this PrayerNet, I am going to let you in on my running argument with the Creator of the Universe.

            I’ve been asking God to let us have a stable source of electricity at Pioneer Christian Hospital. When the OR doesn’t have air conditioning, or the wards don’t have lights, or the emergency room is without oxygen, or the newborn incubator doesn’t work…I take all these things personally…an affront on my character. It’s as if these situations mock me saying, “See you can’t provide modern health care in the jungle, and you are foolish to try.” I don’t think I am a fool (what fool does?), but maybe I am a bit crazy.

            After all the months (it will be a year in August), of inverter problems, generator problems, circuit breaker problems, lightning strikes, tractor problems, in the last few weeks we finally got a new inverter/charger installed, and re-installed our old inverter that had been repaired for the 2^nd time with some new safeguards. I made sure all the connections were done according to the book. It took a while to get everything pretty much exactly how the experts say it should be done. What a huge sense of accomplishment when the lights came back on, and stayed on.

           Then a few weeks ago our new tractor arrived from Brazzaville on a riverboat barge, and we were able to offload it without any trouble at all. Praise the LORD! Hallelujah! It had been a long week on call and struggling to keep up (and not succeeding) with the administrative workload of directing this hospital. Our critical nursing shortage seems to go from bad to worse no matter what we do. That weekend we were ready for a break. We decided to go camping Saturday night, and have a mini-retreat. Just our family. We found a great spot in a grassland area along the road to Dongou that the military occasionally uses for target practice (not too many other clearings big enough for a rifle range in the tropical rainforest). We were gone just about 24 hours. Long enough for lightning to strike and the lights go out at the hospital again! This happened in spite of the 14 plus lightning rods and surge suppressors that were installed since the last strike. When we got back to Impfondo Sunday night, I found that the inverter/charger that had just been repaired by the factory is not working again.

            I am starting to develop a complex…it seems like I can’t leave Impfondo for even a few hours without major problems clamoring to threaten the hospital’s existence! I don’t like to feel so needed! I’d much rather work myself out of a job. Problem is, I end up doing so many things that aren’t in any job description, but then I am so distracted I have trouble finishing the jobs I start. We really need a master mechanic-truck driver-logistician-electrician-builder-mason-carpenter-purchasing agent-tile layer-plumber-teacher-welder-medical technician, all in one or two people. We also need a full-time public relations-negotiator-arbitrator-tax payer-administrative assistant-secretary all in one. And at least 8 nurses. Another thing we really need is a completely new integrated automated stable hybrid (diesel-generator, solar-power, and public utility grid) electric distribution system that will service the hospital’s growing needs without major headaches for the next 20 years or so. As a matter of fact, one such system is currently being designed and prepared for ordering. Thank you Alan Shea and HCJB Global! We are told it will cost roughly $80,000. God will provide. End of argument?

            OK…running out of time to write this update. Will have to drop creative writing and just give you the facts.

            I’ve been asking God to help us get a radio station on the air. Some guy from South Africa came through town a couple of months ago. I lost his contact info, and thought he forgot about us. He called me today out of the blue saying that he is planning to come back to Brazzaville for a month to help us get our broadcasting license.

            We’ve been asking God to give or let us buy the property we’ve been renting for the past 3 years for use as our Brazzaville Bravo Guest House and Ministry Center. The owner contacted us in April, and said he was interested in selling. We made him an offer, but now he tells us that his family decided to not sell. And in lieu of raising the rent (I didn’t know that was a given), he is going to divide up the compound and use the guest apartment for himself whenever he is in town.

            There is joy in serving Jesus. And trials too. Pray for us.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Friday, August 5, 2011

#331: From Olivia

2011-05-30T16:56:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Thank you so much for your prayers for safe travels, because we have certainly done a lot of traveling in the past two weeks. Yes, it has only been two weeks since summer began for me, but we really have been packing in the miles since we packed up my stuff and left Cedarville on May 7th. From Cedarville we drove the 11 hours down to South Carolina to stay with my grandma Marlaine Harvey at her home in Andrews. We were able to see my dad’s three sisters and their families and spend time with our cousins. We were also privileged to spend some refreshing time getting our dose of vitamin D (maybe a little too much-despite sun block) and salt water at the beach with family. It was a wonderful time and very refreshing for my dad who has had a lot on his plate lately. (If you have been keeping up with the PrayerNets)

After South Carolina, we drove up to Virginia to see great aunt Ginny Shelnut and had a very pleasant visit with her. Then it was off to Long Island for a board meeting my dad needed to attend there on May 16th. Along the way we were able to take a stop for church and a little detour to go to Chincoteague and Assateague Island, as well as the Wallops NASA Flight Facility Visitor’s Center. We did as much as you can do for free on a Sunday in that area which included climbing to an observation deck on top of the visitor’s center, but did not include climbing the lighthouse on Assateague Island. Right after the board meeting, we continued on to visit my dad’s sister in Pennsylvania, and had a fun time catching up with her family at Red Robin. (Perhaps if you are nice the waitress will give you a root beer float for free!) Then, it was a nonstop drive to Perry, NY (except one time for gas).

It is good to be home, but there is still a lot of work to do before my dad, Isabelle and I depart for our return to Congo on May 30th. My dad and Isabelle attended the Pioneer Christian Hospital annual board meeting at Global Outreach Mission headquarters in Buffalo, NY, which went well. Isabelle has been keeping busy keeping up with her secretarial duties, while I am preparing for my role as bridesmaid in my good friend Katy Case’s wedding. My dad is busy coordinating shipments, ordering parts and supplies for Congo, while trying to catch up on the backlogged emails.

It seems that getting away from headaches would make them go away, but problems seem to tag along no matter how far away you are from them. What makes solving them challenging and difficult is the distance between you. While my dad and Isabelle were trying to sleep in an uncomfortable car crossing West Virginia, the power at the hospital stopped working. My dad is busy trying to get the crucial parts needed in order to remedy the power deficiency. Please pray for the hospital team as it struggles to care for patients on oxygen without essential electricity.

My dad has the opportunity to speak at our home church, LaGrange Baptist Church, for both the morning and evening services on what has been happening lately in Congo, so if you are in the area you should stop by.

Thank you all for your prayers. Without your prayer support, we would be lost. Have a wonderful and safe summer and image our Creator this week!

In Him,
Olivia Harvey
Joseph & Isabelle
in Perry, NY

…and for
Rebecca, Claire & Noah Harvey
in Impfondo

Sunday, May 22, 2011

#330: To-do or not to to-do

2011-05-01T20:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

My most recent Facebook status update simply said, “I don’t know where to begin.”

One friend commented, “Tell us about the shipment having arrived and being all squared away and tidy and useful…”

I wish I could. In reality, over a month has come and gone since our container was released from port, but still only 1/6^th of the contents have made it to Impfondo. We still have 8 ½ tons of donated supplies and equipment sitting in our warehouse in Brazzaville (900 km to the South), with no way to get them here. (Thank God for the warehouse). For 2 months we have had 1 ton of medicines that we ordered from Europe (and paid for) back in September, sitting in a storeroom in Bangui (200 km to the North). (Thank God the medicines have made it thus far). No boats are coming to Impfondo, because the river is too low. The humanitarian flights that are supposed to bring our stuff for free have begun charging $2 a pound, or are alternately cancelled or too full. (Thank God a commercial airline has agreed to start bringing things a little at a time for 50 cents a pound, and 118 boxes arrived yesterday). Every day at the hospital, many times a day, people tell me “we are out of suture” or “we are out of bandages” or “we are about to run out of IV fluids.” We are also out of fuel and natural gas (which we use for refrigeration and cooking). I don’t know what to tell them except “they’re in Brazzaville” or “we bought some 8 months ago that hasn’t arrived yet.” I try not to get discouraged.

Our Facebook friend continued, “Tell us about the family reunited, and about `normal life’.”

Thankfully, I can do that. I have had 4 weeks of “normal life” in Impfondo. Being reunited with Becky, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah, is a huge blessing. I love my wife. I love my family. I love my life. I enjoy watching Noah play with friends in the guava tree outside our kitchen window, studying the Bible together after supper, reading a book out loud to the family. I enjoy rounding on patients, interacting with government officials, fixing solar systems, or trying to troubleshoot the generator. I like reading and writing e-mail, though there is no way we will ever be able to catch up with our backlogged communications without outside help. I love seeing patients getting better, making recoveries that display the power of our Risen King. I grieve with for/with those that don’t.

Normal life for us here also includes having short-term missionaries come (hurray), and go (boo-hoo). We thank God for Dr. Karen Andrews (Med/Peds resident from Tennessee/Indiana), Kyria Joss (physical and massage therapist from France/Belgium), and Dr. Christine Groves (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Resident from Charlotte/Indiana) who arrived last month. (Thank God Mistral Aviation’s Tuesday flights started up again today, just in time for Dr. Karen & Dr. Christine’s departure).

Normal life includes longer-term missionaries who have become integral members of our team, leaving on furlough or concluding their commitments here. The Ralstons (Maintenance Director & Communications Assistant from NY) left in June and Monique Le Grange (Hospital Administrator from Quebec/South Africa) left in January, both without definite plans for returning. Sarah Speer (Assistant Field Director, Hospital Managing Committee Member, and Community Health Nurse from Winnipeg) left for furlough in February. Her mother passed away February 25. Lord-willing she will be returning in mid-May. Susan Lardner (Pharmacist and Executive Assistant) also left in February for 5 months to visit family & friends in the US, and work with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone. The Vandevoordes (Head Chaplain, Building/Construction Director, and Interpreter & English Teacher) are getting ready to leave for the summer and not return. Dr. Fuka (General Surgeon) and his family are about to finish their 4-year commitment here and are due to move to Kisangani in September. Melanie Madinga is doing a great job filling in as Administrator, but we need to find someone to take over for her, or help with the accounting. All the other posts remain vacant.

The harvest is great. The laborers are few. We were overworked before people left. Now the list of things to do is piling up like documents to print when your printer cartridge runs out of ink. I couldn’t keep our to-do list up to date even if maintaining a to-do list was all I had to do. Like when you try to think of something to do that doesn’t involve electricity when the power’s been out for a day or two, I keep thinking of things that will have to wait until help comes. And we’d like this hospital ministry to move beyond surviving to thriving. For either to occur, we need help. We need a Communications Secretary, Maintenance Director, Pharmacist, General Surgeon, Logistics Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Nurses, and Midwives. We could definitely use 2 medical/nursing students every month. We need a full-time mechanic. We could use a work team every two months.

Normal life in Congo includes tragedy. The morning after I got home from Brazzaville the first of April, there was a huge explosion and fire aboard a riverboat 200 feet from our house. (I plan to post a short video of the event soon). Pioneer Christian Hospital received 11 injured from that event. Miraculously no one was killed. All but one of our patients recovered and have been discharged to home. The one who is still with us is doing well, and has had no complications, though 60% of her body was burned (praise God for Marie-Nicaise’s recovery). Then 3 days after I got home, a UN plane crashed in Kinshasa, killing 33 of the 34 people on board.

And normal life for us includes travel. Olivia is planning to come home to Congo this summer. I am leaving soon for a one-month trip to the US to pick her up from Cedarville University, and to attend Global Outreach Mission’s Annual Pioneer Christian Hospital Executive Committee Meeting. Isabelle will be traveling with meJ. Becky, Claire, and Noah will hold down the fort here in Impfondo. Here’s our schedule so far:

April 30: Leave Impfondo

May 1: BrazzavilleàAddis Ababaà

May 2: RomeàWashington DCàNYC LaGuardia Airport. (Stay with Sid & Susan Harvey in Smithtown, NY)

May 4: Stay with Paul and Sara Harvey (Wyomissing, PA)

May 5: Drive to Cedarville University (Ohio)

May 5-6: Isabelle to stay in dorm with Olivia

May 7- 8: Travel to Andrews, SC

May 8-13: Stay with Mom/Granny Harvey

May 14: Travel to Long Island

May 15: Available to speak at a church on Long Island

May 16: Sid Harvey Board Meeting (in Garden City, NY)

May 18-19: GOM PCH Executive Committee Annual Meeting @ GOM Headquarters in Buffalo, NY

May 19: Perry, NY

May 22: Available to speak in/near Perry, NY

May 28: Katy Case & Jason Hollands wedding @ Warsaw Baptist Church

May 29: Available to speak in/near Perry/Rochester, NY

May 30: Joe, Olivia & Isabelle: very early AM departure from RochesteràWashingtonàAddis AbabaàCongo

May 31: Arrive Brazzaville

June 2: Return to Impfondo

We are flying on Ethiopian Airlines. Our flight path should take us through the airspace of Congo, DR Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Libya, among other countries. We’d appreciate your prayers for traveling safety. Also for some time to rest a bit somewhere along the way .

Well, I started this message not knowing where to begin, and now I don’t know how to end. I suppose a thank you for your support and prayers would be a good place to stop! Thank you!

For Health & Hope,

Joseph and Rebecca Harvey

Olivia, Claire, Isabelle and Noah

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

#329: Our shipment has arrived safely at our warehouse in Brazzaville. Joe has a ticket and confirmed reservation to return to Impfondo on Thursday

2011-04-02T10:14:00.000-04:00

Pointe Noire has become a busy port with thousands of containers and vehicles being held hostage by customs.

Our container & driver getting ready to leave the port.

Dropping off the container at the Airport.

Getting ready to unload, under the watchful eyes
of André my driver & companion for the past 2 weeks.

First truckload neatly stacked ;-)
by the scale, waiting to be weighed.

Tractor under guard.

Our plane arriving in Brazzaville, in need of air shocks.
They fit 2 containers’ worth of stuff in there!

The only picture I have of unloading in Brazzaville...It was raining and 50 or so boxes disintegrated.

One more picture from the crash last week...We had a few less people "helping" us unload today.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

#328: In the Air

2011-04-02T09:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Late Sunday afternoon the minister's delegate called the director of customs in Pointe Noire, and she sent the person in charge of customs at the airport to release the tractor and table saw. We finished weighing all the items and covering them with tarps Sunday night at 23h00. The rain didn't start until 05h00, so I think everything was pretty much protected. Monday the plane didn't fly because the Russian pilots were observing a day of mourning for their colleagues who perished in the crash last week. After the victims were buried and/or repatriated, our ground crew got to work loading a plane, exactly like the one that crashed last week. There are only 2 big cargo planes left that are still working, which is why none of the companies want to risk flying to Impfondo, even if we paid them the usual fee of $36,000.

The delay Monday enabled me to tie up some loose ends. We donated the empty shipping container to a church in Pointe Noire that serve as our church home whenever we are there. Once all the contents were loaded into the plane last night, I came to Brazzaville on a passenger plane. I just got word that our cargo plane is now in the air. It should be here in about 30 minutes.

Please pray that the plane makes it to Brazzaville one more time (it looks like it doesn't have a lot of flights left).

Please pray that the officials in Brazzaville don't hassle us as we unload the plane and leave the airport with the medical & maintenance supplies and equipment, including the table saw and tractor.
Please pray that we’ll figure out how best to get everything to Impfondo in God’s time.
Please pray that I make it home to Impfondo today for some much needed family time and rest.
Please pray because of course, when I get home there are a few patients and administrative hassles waiting for me as well.

I hope to send some pictures when I can find the time. (Now where did I put that?)

For Health & Hope,
Joseph Harvey, MD
Tuesday, March 29, 2011

#327: Words

2011-03-31T06:29:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends,

I don't have the words to describe all that I have been through since our last PrayerNet. The brief facts: Our shipping container was released from the ocean port Friday. It is now sitting empty at the airport in Pointe Noire. All the contents have been weighed and are on pallets on the dirt under tarps next to the plane that is supposed to take them to Brazzaville tomorrow. This took 12 hours on Sunday, and involved the seizure of the tractor and table saw by customs officials under the false accusation that we did not declare these items, 5 hours of fruitless negotiation, death threats against my person, the intervention of the Minister of Health and 8 other high ranking government officials, and moving every single item by hand 6 times. The plane was supposed to be loaded yesterday, but now they say maybe tomorrow. We couldn't afford to pay for a flight to Impfondo, so now we'll have to move/lift everything at least 11 more times.

It is pouring rain now. Please pray that this tropical downpour stops immediately, and does not damage the 611 boxes under those tarps. If it does, how can we possibly move 10.9 tons again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again, by hand, before everything arrives at Pioneer Christian Hospital in Impfondo? How many more days will I have to spend being hassled by customs?

On a more sober note, tomorrow is a national day of mourning for the 23 people that died in the plane crash last Monday, and support for the 22 people who were injured on the ground. Nobody seems to know when/if the plane our shipping agent hired will fly again. It is the same make and model as the one that went down in the following video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UYg1vstCgM&feature=player_embedded

Standing in the need of prayer, in need of lots more miracles,

For Health & Hope,
Joseph Harvey, MD
Monday, March 28, 2011

#326: Waiting with reason...

2011-03-25T20:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

The LORD [is] good unto them that wait for him, to the soul [that] seeketh him. [It is] good that [a man] should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD Lamentations 3:25, 26.

Last week I asked you to pray for 4 things.

Our container to be released Friday, March 18, 2011.
The shipping company to waive the parking fees
A plane and pilots to safely transport me and the container’s contents to Impfondo by Sunday morning.
A safe place to park the container between Friday and Sunday.

God answered our prayers, but not in the way we expected. Thankfully our container is still locked up safely in the Port of Pointe Noire! If it had been released Friday as we hoped, it is possible that I may have been in this same cargo plane that fell out of the sky onto three houses in a crowded neighborhood here in Pointe Noire Monday afternoon.

I talked to the Russian pilot of this Antonov 32 on Thursday when I was at the Trans Air Congo office trying to negotiate a cargo flight. Because our container is still in port, I was still here and able to go to Loandjili Hospital and help receive and treat some of those who were injured on the ground, and counsel grieving family members.

Eugenia was with her 5 children when the plane fell on their house. Her 24 year old brother David was at a nearby garage. When he felt the impact, he ran to where his sister’s house used to be, and got there in time to pull her out of the wreckage, but had to leave his nephews behind. Eugenia is in stable but critical condition with burns covering 36% of her body. Only one of her children survived. Brenda was in her backyard, squatting by a cooking fire, making fish soup. The impact threw her many feet into another building, the roof of which then collapsed on her. She escaped with minor abrasions, lacerations, and 1st degree burns. The death toll stands at 19 with 14 injured, but may rise as rescue crews continue to sift through the rubble.

I still spend my days in customs offices waiting for all the formalities to be completed, but with new perspective, and great opportunity to share with others the urgency of living right with God. None of us knows the hour of our departure, or the day of the second coming of Jesus Christ. We only know that it is soon. Today is the day of salvation. Today I saw that the signature that will authorize us to remove our container from port once all the paperwork is completed (hopefully tomorrow or Thursday) was stamped on March 18, 2011! Praise God.

For Health & Hope,

Joseph Harvey, MD

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

#325: Port of No Return

2011-03-20T18:45:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

This is the third week out of the last four that I have been separated from my family and patients in order to try and get a shipping container of medical and maintenance supplies and equipment from Samaritan’s Purse / World Medical Mission for Pioneer Christian Hospital out of port. I spent 2 weeks in Brazzaville trying to get the Attestation d'Exonération from customs, which we received last Friday. Praise God! Saturday I traveled here to Pointe Noire to work with our Transitaire to get the approval needed (26 signatures) to get the container out of the Port Autonome de Pointe Noire.

This is an expensive process. Even though we are exempt from customs and taxes, so far we have incurred over $10,858.14 in fees and required contributions to such things as the “Customs Agents’ Sitting Fees” and “Contribution to the Community of Integration” and “Extension of IM-9 Time Limits” and “Certificate of Verification.” The airline that we’ve used before now charges $35,000 for the charter cargo flight to Impfondo. Last time we paid $16,000 (in December 2004).

I am writing for your help, not so much for the money (we have some), but for your prayers (this is war), because I would like to get back home to my family and work in Impfondo, with the bandages and suture and oxygen machines and new used tractor that we desperately need to keep PCH running. Would you please join me in praying for:

Our container to be released today, March 18, 2011.
The shipping company Delmas to forgive all or a majority of the $100/day parking fees since our container arrived in port January 20, 2011.
A plane and pilots to safely transport me and the container’s contents to Impfondo for $20,000 (or less) by Sunday morning.
A safe place to park the container between now and Sunday.

While you’re at it, please also pray for us to recover a suitcase that has been lost since December 2, 2010, which contains costly probes for the hospital’s ultrasound machine, and Christmas presents and homeschool books for some of our precious MK’s in Impfondo.

God’s will be done. Thank you!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph Harvey, MD
Field Director, Global Outreach Mission Congo
Medical Director, Pioneer Christian Hospital, Impfondo, Republic of Congo
Thursday, March 17, 2011

#324: Manifest Destiny

2011-03-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Thank you for your prayers last week.

ECHO let me go on their flight last Friday (the day I wrote you), even though my name was not on the manifest. (ECHO stands for European Community Humanitarian Office). I arrived home in Impfondo 20 minutes before Noah's birthday party. We had a great time.

I returned to Brazzaville Sunday. This time it was Noah who didn't have a paper or electronic ticket, just a verbal one, but they still let him board. He accompanied me back here so I could continue working on trying unblock the container.

There doesn't appear to be much hope of getting the attestation d'exoneration any time soon. The people who need to sign it are still not in town, and noone seems to know when they are going to return.

God has been blessing my other contacts. I met with the Minister of Health Tuesday. And we got a bunch of meds on Wednesday.

At this point my plan is to return to Impfondo tomorrow, and work on other things until the attestation d'exoneration is signed. At the same time, our handling agent will try to get the container out of customs by using another method (enlevement par anticipation).

I appreciate your prayers for:

That our exoneration letter will be signed.
That the container will be released from customs.
That we don't have to pay an unreasonable amount of storage fees.
A secretary, preferably bilingual (English/French).
That I make it back to Impfondo tomorrow.
For my sermon on Sunday.

Praise God:

Dr. Laura Foudy arrived safely from language school in Switzerland, with all her bags. She will be serving with Samaritan's Purse / World Medical Mission for at least 18 months, maybe more.
For the great 5 days Noah & I had working together here in Brazzaville. He is a big help, and encouragement to me.
233 boxes of medicines finally arrived in Bangui (ordered over a year ago)!
His Grace to cover when our lines of communication get broken or tangled up!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Thursday, March 3, 2011

#323: Update from Joe in Brazzaville

2011-03-04T07:26:00.000-05:00

Dear One,

The container of medical supplies and equipment sent by Samaritan's Purse / World Medical Mission which arrived on time January 20 has been sitting in port for over a month now, held up by red tape. Daily storage fees are assessed after 2 weeks.

I am in Brazzaville trying to speed up the process. Our Attestation d'Exonération from the customs bureau has been printed, but still needs to be signed. The Directeur des Litiges et Contenieux who needs to sign it first is in Pointe Noire, and we don't know when he will return. Once he reviews our dossier and signs his initials, then the Directeur Générale de la Douane will know that everything's OK for him to sign, and he will hopefully do so without further delay.

In Impfondo the big news is that there was a serious accident yesterday on the road to Epena. One of the pickup trucks that is used for public transport rolled over. Dr. Wegner is having to deal with the 15 victims as the only doctor at our hospital. Dr. Fuka is supposed to return to Impfondo today, after traveling to Kinshasa for an eye checkup & new glasses, and completing a driver's education course and completing the 2-day driver's license exam in Brazzaville yesterday. Results will be posted Tuesday.

It doesn't look like I am going to make it home in time for Noah's birthday party. He turns 10 today! I wish so much that I could be there! My heart is heavy! There is an ECHO flight tomorrow, but I am not on the manifest. Please pray that I can get on the flight.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Friday, February 25, 2011

#322: Goodbye Nana

2010-11-14T20:40:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,
We just found out this evening (Wednesday) that Becky's mom, Sylvia Waneta Jones, died peacefully around 6:30 AM Wednesday morning, November 10, 2010. The funeral is scheduled for 11:00 AM Saturday, November 13th @ Robinson-Ackerman Funeral Home in Warsaw, NY, with a short burial service to follow at East Koy Cemetery.

We checked into tickets, but it seems the soonest Becky could get to NY would be Sunday evening. Since Dad Jones died in August 2005, Mom has had a steady decline into dementia. Since March 2007, she's been lovingly cared for at Eastside Nursing Home. We greatly appreciate your prayers and support for the entire family during this time of grief.

Mom is survived by her sisters Barbara (& Don) Boise and Gini Shelnut; children Lori (& Harold) Coller, Jeff (& Carolyn) Jones, and Rebecca (& Joseph) Harvey; and grandchildren Paul, Matt & Shaun Coller; Beth, Rose, David & Andrew Jones; Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah Harvey.

Thankfully we have the blessed assurance that Mom & Dad Jones are together again now in Heaven, and we will see them again someday.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
November 11, 2010

Baptist Church of Perry Directory, circa 2001

Visiting Nana @ Aunt Gini Shelnut's house, October 2006

Dinner with Nana @ Eastside, Spring 2007

Last visit before taking Olivia to Cedarville Univserity, August 2010

One more (hazelnut coffee) for the Road

Goodbye for now!
We love you Papa and Nana, Dad and Mom!

#321: Nursing School Authorization

2010-11-08T07:19:00.001-05:00

Impfondo, All Saints' Eve 2010

Dear Friends & Family,

We are humbled by the overwhelming response to our last PrayerNet about the lightning strikes that hit our home on October 2. After a couple of weeks without running water, Molimo & Jean Claude, and a local self-taught electrician, were able to rewind our well pump motor for $110. They got it going again the day that Global Outreach Mission President Dr. Brian Albrecht and Director of Global's Health Services Division, Dr. & Mrs. John & Judy Look arrived for an official visit. Good timing! Our partner mission HCJB Global has graciously offered to send us 2 technicians from their Technology Center in Elkhart, Indiana, to help us repair generators at home & the hospital! We were able to bring up a used keyboard that we bought from missionaries in Brazzaville a few months back. We had an old printer lying around that uses the same power supply as our new printer, so we are back in print. I am surviving without the news. A visiting OB/GYN from Maryland was able to bring us new inverters. We got a new battery for our solar system, and haven't run out of power yet. Your prayers have been answered. Praise God for His abundant provision!

Since Wednesday evening, we have been fasting and praying for another request: that God would grant us government permission to begin the nurses' training program at Pioneer Christian Hospital. We are expecting a breakthrough by midnight tonight, and will write again as soon as we know the outcome.

Olivia Grace is enjoying her freshman year at Cedarville University. We still miss her a lot though. She is planning to come home for Summer Break. We can't wait.

Joe & Claire had an excellent trip to Switzerland for Global Outreach Mission's Bi-Annual European/African Conference in September. Our co-workers Sarah Speer and Susan Lardner were also able to attend. It was truly a mountain-top experience with excellent Bible teaching, times of worship, great food, and fellowship with fellow missionaries working around the world. In October, Joe made back-to-back trips to Brazzaville, first for the Annual Meeting of Pioneer Christian Hospital's Executive Committee, and then to accompany President Albrecht for meetings with the US Ambassador to Congo and Congo's First Lady's Chief of Staff & Presidential Advisor. We appreciate Dr. Fuka & Dr. Wegner covering the hospital as Joe traveled.
Praises:

Running water.
World Medical Mission / Samaritan's Purse has offered to send us a 40' shipping container of medical relief supplies.
The Samoutou family have gotten approval from their home church to join our team here in Congo. Henri is an eye surgeon, and Joyce is a Family Practice doctor. We look forward to meeting their very cute children Cherissa, Ezra, and baby Karis.
Dr. Eddie Hyre (general surgeon) hopes to lead a short-term surgical team sometime soon.
The VSAT internet modem at the hospital hasn't work since the ant invasion of August 2nd. Thankfully, the Catholic Mission graciously allowed us to borrow their modem free of charge.
Good meetings with the PCH Executive Committee, government & embassy officials.
Our newly formalized partnership with the Evangelical Christian Church of Congo.
Jay van Achterberg & Chip Frey are preparing to come the end of January 2011 to help us upgrade the solar electric system at the hospital.
Rob Eisbrenner (excellent mechanic and expert welder) has agreed to come back for one month in early 2011. This will be his fourth trip here.
The US State Department has given the hospital a grant of $25,000 for the purchase of medical oxygen bottling equipment, so we can better meet the needs of our refugee patients. The fighting across the river ended in April, but still 50% of our patients are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Prayer requests:

New main generator for the hospital, and repairs to our broken-down backup generators.
Improved X-ray and ultrasound capabilities, tractor, and other major purchases to be shipped in the container.
Financial support for Henri & Joyce Samoutou.
Dr. Eddie Hyre as he recruits a team and makes preparations to come help us.
The Eisbrenner Family as Rob prepares to come in early 2011.
The Catholic Mission's modem didn't work with our satellite dish, and now it is not working at all. We now have 3 modems (all the same make & model), and none of them work. We would dearly like a more reliable and less expensive connection, so that we can better maintain our communications with the outside world.
HCJB Global Technicians as they prepare to come here, and for a productive trip.
Congolese government authorization to start a Nurses' Training Program at Pioneer Christian Hospital.
Air transportation needs to be met. A plane, pilot/mechanic, hangar, and permanent authorizations would be ideal.
A radio station manager to get Radio Sango Kitoko on the air.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support!

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

I knew the mountains would make us well!

Claire & Joe in Switzerland

Reviewing Reports during the Annual Meeting of the Pioneer Christian Hospital Executive Committee GOM Bravo Ministry Center & Guest House in Brazzaville

Signing a Partnership Agreement with the Evangelical Christian Church of Congo from left to right: EECC Vice President Pastor Yvon Mowawa, President Pastor Guy Kotoboua, GOM President Brian Albrecht, GOM/Congo Field Director Dr. Joseph Harvey, and GOM Health Services Director Dr. John Look.

Nurse Sarah Del Sizemore & Dr. Stephen Wegner rounding in the Pediatric Ward

Dr. Joe with one of our littlest patients

My 3 beautiful women!

(Isabelle, Rebecca & Claire Harvey)

#320: Lightning Strikes again and again

2010-10-21T07:11:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

If you Google Impfondo on the internet, you will find a lot of inaccurate weather predictions. Supposedly every day is cloudy, with high of 88, a low of 72, and a chance of thunderstorms. Well Saturday, the Weather Channel got it right about the thunderstorms. A huge storm did roll through. When the downpour started, I was in the generator house at the hospital with maintenance worker Jean Claude, after assisting Dr. Fuka with a C-section. We were trying to figure out why our main generator doesn't start, and why its starter doesn't stop. Becky, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah were home eating lunch. In Impfondo, when it rains it pours, until there is water everywhere outside and in. Guess that's why they call this place an inundated tropical rain forest. When it really comes down, everything stops, except the thunder and lightning and wind. Once people find cover, nobody moves. Life is put on hold.

Our house got struck by lightning. Twice, in less than a minute. The first blast hit the roof, and blew a small hole in the cement of our bedroom floor and wall. When the second bolt hit, balls of fire came out of the power strip in our living room and rolled around on the floor, even though Claire had unplugged our inverter and power strips, as we always do as a precaution when there is a storm. It left marks on the cement floor. Serge, who was standing next to Becky near the table, collapsed on the floor from the jolt he felt in his legs. In the living room, Enoch got a zap in the foot that he will never forget. (Serge is our long-time mission cook, property manager, neighbor and friend. Enoch is his nephew and Noah's closest friend). Noah was sitting next to Enoch, but was untouched.

Serge got up. We praise God that everyone is OK. Every thing isn't. It is taking a while to find all the damage:

The water pump that supplies the 4 houses on our mission compound with well water makes a funny noise, but no longer pumps.
The control panel of the generator that powers the well is fried.
Our keyboard doesn't turn on.
The power supply for our printer/scanner/copier doesn't work.
My satellite radio doesn't work and the headphones exploded.
Our DC->AC power inverter, and the Fuka's inverter are both fried.
Our Tri-Metric solar/battery system monitor/meter is history.
3 power strips, all unplugged, smell funny and don't work.
The heavy duty extension cord in Noah's room is fried.
A third of the light fixtures and half of the lightbulbs in our house had to be replaced.

It's going to take a while to recover from this shock and total of over $2,500 in damage in a couple of milliseconds and megawatts. Things could have been a lot worse. We are very grateful that none of us was seriously injured. Lightning and thunderstorms are a part of the risk of everyday living and working in the tropical rainforest. We know of others who didn't fare so well. Earlier this weekend lightning killed 3 people in DRC. One of our patients presently in the hospital is a pregnant woman who had a tree fall on her during a storm, breaking her leg. Another lady broke her femur when corn stalks came crashing down from the rafters where they had been placed to dry, causing her to fall. She delivered a healthy boy by C-section.

Thank you LORD, for protecting us! Thank you friends, for your prayers and support!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Monday, October 4, 2010

#319: Home Safe

2010-09-05T18:30:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Just a quick note to let you know that Becky, Noah, & I have arrived safely back in Congo after our brief visit to the US. Packing, driving from Perry to JFK, checking-in, and the flights were without complications. After her first week in college, Olivia says she is learning a lot already. She knows how to make her father happy! And she tells her mother about all the fun she is having too :-)

We would like to request prayer for Joe's Aunt Susan Harvey (father's sister) who is in hospital in Maine with severe lung problems. Thankfully her children Eric and Virginia are able to be by her side. Part of the sacrifice of being a missionary are the frequent goodbyes and prolonged separation from family & friends. The up side is we also get to say hello often. When Jesus comes again, all those who believe in Him will be together forever. We haven't seen Aunt Susan, or our cousins Eric or Virginia in many years, but we look forward to seeing each one again some day soon.

We plan to head up to Impfondo on Tuesday, where Claire & Isabelle await us. Thank you for your prayers.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Friday, September 3, 2010

#318?

2010-09-05T18:29:00.000-04:00

Walking out the door in a few minutes. would appreciate prayers for safety as we drive to JFK on not enough sleep. at least we don't have to fly the plane :-)

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

#316: Ants & Modems

2010-08-08T16:00:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Monday night as I was leaving the office, while talking to Monique, our hospital administrator, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that there were a number of ants coming out of the satellite modem that gives us internet access (when it's not raining) at the hospital (it rains a lot here in the tropical rainforest).

Tuesday morning Monique noticed that the internet was down. Monique got the ants to move on, but now the modem is giving an error code, and won't boot up properly. We opened the modem but can't see anything amiss. It seems perhaps they ate some of the insulation off the solid state electronics.

Satellite internet modems cost a lot. Our last modem stopped working after only a month or two. Our providor said it had been struck by lightning, but I don't believe that now. The manufacturer (iSite) only sells to Internet Service Providors. They do not deal with consumers.

In African some fetishers are known to be able to send animals to attack/destroy their enemies. By being bearers of the light and truth, we have developed some enemies here among those who prefer darkness and lies.

Were these ants sent by the Satan to destory our lines of communication?

After God spared Ninevah because the people repented in response to Jonah's preaching, Jonah got mad. He set up a shelter and waited to see what would happen, hoping that God would judge them severely. God prepared a plant to shade Jonah, then God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

Did God send these ants to teach us a lesson?

We may never know the answer to these questions (chances are when we get to heaven we'll have much more fun things to think about), but I do wonder now.

I also wonder how God will choose to provide for our needs as He promised. We unplugged the modem when leaving the office tonight after 13 hours of rounding and consulting patients, and are praying/hoping/believing that when we plug it in tomorrow, voilà, it will work by God's grace and power. Though the connection is much much slower, I am thankful that my cellphone modem is still working so I can send/receive e-mail.

In other news...

Please pray for the Marshes. Brenda's mother died on Friday, and the funeral/burial is today. It is hard to miss such momentous family events.

Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields- and with them, persecutions) and in the age tocome, eternal life. Mark 10:28-30

Brenda's brother Larry Craft will be preaching the Gospel at the services. Please pray that other brothers, sisters, & children will hear God calling them to a deeper relationship with Him today.

Becky & Olivia are doing well in Perry. They've enjoyed attending some of the events at Kingdom Bound 2010. A graduation present for Olivia? Their other three suitcases were finally delivered by Federal Express one day last week. And they have the internet up & running now in Perry, which was nice the one day our connection at the hospital here in Impfondo was working for us. Noah & I are getting ready for our trip. So much to do before I go. Number 1: Relax! It will be OK! Claire & Isabelle are getting everything ready for our 1-night camping trip this Friday night. We will camp very close to town so Noah & I don't miss our flight to Brazzaville Saturday around noon even if the Dakota breaks down and we have to walk to the airport (I am starting to expect nothing to work anymore). We are sorry to be leaving on Isabelle's birthday, but Anna Wegner has a donut party planned for her Saturday night. We are privileged to work with some of the best people in the world!

Thank you for your prayers and support.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Wednesday, August 4, 2010

#315: Lurline Craft

2010-07-29T20:50:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Please pray for David & Brenda Marsh and family. Brenda's mother Lurline Craft had a bad fall early this morning. She broke her shoulder and has a severe head injury with brain hemorrhage. She is in a coma and not expected to live much longer.

Becky & Olivia arrived home in Perry. One of their suitcases arrived. The other three will hopefully catch up with them soon. Becky is having trouble connecting to the internet, so please pray that they can get connected soon.

Claire, Isabelle, Noah & I are doing OK here in Impfondo. Lots of work to do for all. We had 53 patients in the hospital this morning. Every bed full, and then some. Thankfully, Dr. Stephen Wegner, Dr. Fuka, and I were able to discharge 16 patients this morning. We are trying to get ready to implement a number of much needed changes/improvements this weekend. We covet your prayers!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Monday, July 26, 2010

#314: The Land of Moriah

2010-07-25T14:41:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

It's done. Olivia has left home. Spread her wings and is flying. And so the nest begins to empty. Olivia & Becky left Impfondo yesterday. God willing, they will change planes in Casablanca, arrive @ JFK tomorrow, spend 2 nights on Long Island with Sid & Susan Harvey's family, then drive up to Perry on Wednesday, July 21.

Joe, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah stayed home for now. God willing, Joe & Noah will travel too on August 6, arrive @ JFK August 9, also stay 2 nights with Sid & Susan, then drive up to Perry on Wednesday, August 11. The 4 of us hope to leave in time for Cedarville's MK/International Student Orientation August 17-22, leave Olivia @ Cedarville, and return to Perry and prepare for our return to Congo on September 1.

The plan is for Claire & Isabelle to hold down the nest in Impfondo while we are gone, and for Dr. Fuka, Dr. Wegner, and Joan Hornick to cover my patients at the hospital.

We appreciate your prayers as our family travels through this time of separation and growth by division/multiplication! We are grateful to God for His unmerited favor. His grace. The grace of letting us raise Olivia Grace for such a time as this. David Marsh told me today that when he was driving his first child to college for the first time, he couldn't stop crying until at one point he said to God, "Ok this is it, I am just going to have to trust you with my son," and God replied, "That shouldn't be too hard to do, after all, I trusted him to you."

Many of you have already experienced this letting go, this angst. Congratulations! We apologize for not being more sensitive to your pain! We are grateful to you! For those who can't relate, just wait! God asks all of His children with children to pass through the land of Moriah sooner or later (see Genesis 22). This leads us to a closer relationship with Him. Moriah is also where the Temple of the LORD was built (see 2 Chronicles 3)!

Saying goodbye at the Impfondo Airport

standing: Laurent Fuka, Olivia, Octavie Ngalipe, Perpetue Fuka, Judy Ngalipe, Isabelle, Joe, Becky, Claire

kneeling: Kelly Fuka, Yvonne Ngalipe, Noah Harvey

empty skies over Impfondo

Olivia is gone. Go in Grace!

Love,
For Health & Hope,
Joseph, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Sunday, July 18, 2010

#313: 21 years today

2010-06-25T20:34:00.001-04:00

Impfondo, June 17, 2010

Dear Friends & Family,

June 17, 1989 was an awesome day. Heavy clouds in the morning. Then the sun broke through and bells pealed as we walked out the front door of Baptist Church of Perry, NY, husband and wife. We praise God for each one of you present that day, even those who pelted us a little too hard with the birdseed. You are our witnesses that we are wholly and legally committed to love and cherish each other 'til death do us part.

Before our first anniversary, a mouse had eaten through the pocket of the silk jacket in my closet to get at the birdseed still in the lining!

Medical school. Nursing school. Olivia Grace. Our first trip to Congo. Family Practice Residency in Erie, PA. Claire Elise. Moving from Erie to Brazzaville during the Blizzard of January 1996. Language Study. Isabelle Anna. Civil War. Evacuations. Vanga, DRC. Gabon. Impfondo. Elikia Health Center. Noah Allen. Pioneer Christian Hospital. Dad Jones. 21 years can go by pretty quickly.

Today as we reminisce, renew our love, cherish our vows, we celebrate with you too. This world is not our home, we are just passing through! Are you ready for the next?

Becky's Mom is doing OK after surgery to fix her hip on Tuesday evening.

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

#312: Super Super Summer Time!

2010-06-19T15:20:00.001-04:00

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for praying for our sacs of cement and other burdens. The riverboat finally arrived last Monday. We unloaded our cement and got it to the hospital Tuesday. We were happy to see that only 3 bags were ripped open and partially destroyed in transport. The boat continued upriver Wednesday. Friday we found out that the cement we unloaded was not ours! It actually belongs to a retired military officer in Dongou 35 miles north of here. Apparently the cement our agent bought back in February is a different quality (lesser) and is still on the boat, which is now 2 days upriver in Boyele. After hours of negotiation, we finally decided to buy the cement we thought was ours from the rightful owner, and wait for the boat to return so we can unload our cement (again) when it comes.

Here's an update on our other requests:

Claire is getting around OK with a knee stabilizing brace, after the dislocation of her knee cap last month.
We haven't found the stolen bike, but nothing else has disappeared that we know of.
Offerings and attendance at Pioneer Christian Church have gone up since we caught the boy stealing from the offering plate. His father took the event seriously and has put him under discipline.
The fetal doppler (ultrasonic stethoscope) that disappeared last month from maternity has been returned!
Candace Gullung has joined her friend Sarah Sizemore, both recent RN grads from the Ida Moffet School of Nursing at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. They are great nurses and have been a big help in the OR and other departments too.
We received a new oxygen concentrator that works with both our solar & generator systems.
Art Ralston & David Marsh adjusted our satellite antenna, and the internet connection at the hospital is working again.

Quite a few members of our team have been sick this past week. Noah (our 9 year-old boy) is burning up with fever as I write this. His malaria test is negative, but his throat hurts. We just began another treatment for strep throat.

Dr. Fuka and his 5 year-old daughter Kelly have arrived safely at our big sister hospital in Bongolo, Gabon, where Kelly is scheduled to have her tonsils removed this week by a visiting ENT surgeon. Enough gifts came in to cover Kelly's surgery and travel, but the Fukas are $4,250 behind in their regular support account, and need $1,450 more in monthly support.
David & Brenda and Tabitha Marsh are adjusting well and have completed their 6-week orientation period.
Jean-Pierre & Ginny Vandevoorde have left for a 3-month visit with family & friends in Belgium and Canada.
Art & Danielle and Michael Ralston begin their journey home to Piffard, NY, tomorrow. We are grateful for the year they invested here for God's Kingdom in maintenance and communications. They need to raise more one-time and monthly support in order to return. The people renting their house left without warning, or paying the last three months' rent. The Ralstons would like to sell their house before returning to Congo.
Amanda, Beth, Deborah, Devan, Megan, Mike, and Rachel, students and their professor from Liberty University are here for 6 weeks helping in the hospital and community. They are a lot of fun to have around.
Midhuna William a medical student from Loudonville Community Church arrives next week for a one-month rotation.

We are making plans for Becky to travel to the US July 17-August 30, to accompany Olivia as she prepares to enroll in Cedarville University in Ohio. International/MK Student Orientation begins August 17. At this point we are thinking that Joe & Noah will join them for the last 3 weeks, and Claire & Isabelle will hold down the fort here in Impfondo. We are open to having other doctors come and fill-in for Joe, Stephen Wegner and/or Domain Fuka anytime. Our visitor calendar is wide open!

As far as our main prayer requests for this year, please keep praying:

For the establishment of a Nursing School. We signed a partnership agreement with the Conseil Départemental (equivalent of the State Assembly) on May 8. We still need to obtain authorization from the Ministry of Technical & Professional Education in Brazzaville.
For the right person to start & run Studio Sango Kitoko (Radio & Television Station).
That we would be able to own Bravo, our base in Brazzaville.
For our air travel/transportation needs. Three airlines have resumed servicing Impfondo! Since we never know how long these flights will keep coming, we would still prefer to have our own plane, pilot, mechanic, hangar, tools, and permanent authorizations, if/when God wills.
For volunteers to rebuild and help run Mukanji Hospital in Sierra Leone.

Thanks a million for your support and encouragement and prayers!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

#310: Sacs of Cement

2010-05-09T20:17:00.002-04:00

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Got your armor on? We are once again under sustained attack by the enemy of our souls. Burnout is not an option, but is just a prayer away. Maybe your prayer.

Claire is using a walker to hobble around the house (all the crutches have long been assigned to other patients). She suffered a subluxation of her left patella Saturday night during a birthday party at our house. She'll be out of commission for a week or two.
Yet another bike was stolen from the hospital compound Saturday evening.
A boy that's been helping collect the offering at church on Sundays has been putting the big bills in his own pocket.
The fetal doppler (an ultrasonic stethoscope used to listen to babies' heartbeats) disappeared from maternity this weekend. Monday we lost a baby and had to do an emergency C-Section/Hysterectomy for a ruptured uterus.
We are trying to train our 4th OR team in 4 years. It is tiring teaching the same things over and over to the different people, and never quite having a complete qualified team.
A lot of our equipment (tractors, mowers, generators, trucks, motorcycles, oxygen concentrators) are wearing out or already broken down.
The internet connection @ the hospital stopped working Friday afternoon. Our cell phone modems are not working either.

Nothing major...but just like when carrying sacs of cement on your shoulders, these problems can add up quickly. Please help us shoulder the burden. We (our team on the field) can't do this by ourselves. We need your support.

Now for the bright side of the same problems.

Dr. Fuka was able to get Claire's patella back in place shortly after the fall, with help from David Marsh and valium.
We have 21 other bikes that have not been stolen.
Our assistant chaplain caught the boy who was stealing from the offering red-handed, and now we have a chance to correct him.
I have a brand new fetal doppler from Samaritan's Purse in my office that maternity can use.
We have had many volunteers willing to learn how to help in surgery. We handled simultaneous emergencies twice in the past few weeks, and the work got done. Olivia is still here, and Marie-Rose has been with us from the beginning. They know what they're doing, and have been a great help.
Quite a few machines are still working in spite of heavy use.
If you can read this, we already got the internet connection working again. Probably just needed to readjust the satellite antenna.

Speaking of cement, we bought 100 sacs for a construction project in February. We were so glad to get them for a good price, and loaded the same day in a barge that was leaving for Impfondo the next morning. The boat broke down 30 miles north of Brazzaville the same week, and a month later abandoned the barges. We paid to have our cement put in another barge with another riverboat transport company, but after a month, that boat has still not left Brazzaville. As you can imagine, a riverboat barge in Congo is not the driest/safest place to store cement for months on end. Would you please pray that our cement makes it here before it is totally ruined?

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Tuesday, May 4, 2010

#309: A Positive Place

2010-03-08T06:58:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

After visiting Pioneer Christian Hospital a couple of weeks ago, the Honorable Alan Eastham, US Ambassador to the Republic of Congo commented, "Impfondo is the most positive place in Congo...at least with the Harveys and the rest of the team."

We are grateful for the privilege of being able to brighten our corner of the ends of the earth with the awesome team of missionaries and staff God has assembled here. We are also grateful for your support, and couldn't be here without your prayers.

God is multiplying our team! So far in 2010, we have welcomed the following visitors & short-term missionaries:

Dr. Brantly Baynes, retired Air Force pediatrician, from Hawaii, January - March 16.
Joan Hornick, physician's assistant from Georgia, has been helping us develop our HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Prevention & Treatment program, January 2010 - January 2011.
Erin McNamara, ultrasound technician from StonyBrook University Health Sciences Center & Grace Church in Smithtown, NY, came for several weeks in January.
Dr. Ravi Morchi, ER doctor from California, served with World Medical Mission for the month of February.
Paul Ohlin & Russell Shiebler, serving with United World Mission, for the month of February, here to strengthen and encourage the Baaka church that he established here in the Likouala.
Kristina Brayman, assistant director of IPHD in Congo.

Coming or returning soon:

Dr. Warren Cooper, missionary surgeon with Samaritan's Purse/World Medical Mission serving the month of March.
Monique Le Grange is coming to replace Rachel Maurais (hospital administrator) who is leaving after 2 years to pursue university studies.
Susan Lardner, pharmacist/administrative assistant returning the end of March for another term.
Sarah Sizemore, RN, hopes to be with us April-December.
David & Brenda and Tabitha Marsh, new career missionaries, will serve as assistant nursing supervisor, coming for their first term.
Sarah Speer, our nurse in charge of community outreach, has been in Canada since December to spend time with her mother and family and plans to return early April.

Joe returned last week from the Christian Medical & Dental Associations' 30th Continuing Medical Education conference in Kenya. It was awesome to meet, worship, network, study, learn together with 306 doctors and medical personnel working in 37 countries across Africa. God is on the move! The 3 hospitals that opened around the same time as Pioneer Christian Hospital (in Angola, Guinea, and Mali) are growing strong too. But so much more remains to be done.

One of the workshops Joe attended was on Strategic Planning for Mission Hospitals. We are trying to be good stewards of the time that remains, and the resources God has entrusted to us. We know God has great plans for our future. Will you pray with us for the following requests/plans this year?

Government Authorization to begin a Nurses' Training Program.
The right person to start & run Studio Sango Kitoko (Radio & Television Station).
That we would be able to own our base, Bravo, in Brazzaville.
Our air travel/transportation needs. We would prefer to have our own plane, pilot, mechanic, hangar, tools, and permanent authorizations.
The rehabilitation of Mukanji Hospital in Sierra Leone, and the missionary staff to run it.

Thank you for your support and prayers.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Wednesday, March 3, 2010

#308: Concern for refugees rises as river runs low

2010-02-18T20:49:00.002-05:00

DONGOU, 20 January 2010 (IRIN) - John Kanilamba sits under the porch of a half-finished house on the outskirts of Dongou - his home, despite its lack of doors and windows - since early November. His four children play idly at his feet, all refugees from inter-communal clashes (link) in Equateur province in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"We were all caught in violent fighting; no one was safe," the 39-year-old said, recounting the harrowing journey along roads littered with corpses, across the Ubangi river, to this town some 850km north of Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo.

"Friends offered me a ride in their canoe across the river; I don't even know how to paddle," Kanilamba said. "I can't see myself going back, even if the [Kinshasa] authorities say it is safe."

For Kanilamba, the situation is desperate; for the humanitarian actors and resident families who are again opening their doors to new arrivals, it is all too familiar. Some 5,000 refugees have arrived in Dongou - among the more than 107,000 arrivals in total recorded by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the Likouala region, most of them sheltering in straw and palm frond huts on 70 sites along a 250km stretch of the Ubangi river. A major concern is that this lifeline waterway, which marks the border between the two Congos and is the only available route to deliver aid to many of the refugees, is running low due to poor rains.

"We just don't have the resources; we made an initial appeal to assist 35,000 people, but now we have more than 107,000," said Daniel Roger Tam, one of the regional coordinators for UNHCR. "If people don't react, we will not be able to respond."

The agency has managed to deliver 160MT of aid - blankets, plastic sheeting, kitchen sets, sleeping mats and mosquito nets - to the most vulnerable refugees.

In addition, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has begun to deliver around 20MT of relief supplies, such as nutrition kits, tents, prescription drugs, school-in-a-box (link) and recreation kits and water tanks to Likouala.

Medical shortages

In addition to the lack of food is a persistent shortfall in medical equipment and medical assistance. At the nearby evangelical hospital at Impfondo, US missionary doctors work round the clock to tend to the steady stream of wounded, almost all young men.

"Since the end of October, I have treated about 40 wounded; only three of them had knife wounds, the rest were gunshots," said Joseph Harvey, the hospital's director.

The risks to the population are also more acute because of the lack of rain; local food production is down, and health visitors who normally run mobile clinics on the Ubangi river have been forced to suspend their operations because they cannot navigate the river.

Instead, Doctors of Africa, an NGO that conducts check-ups and other medical procedures for UNHCR, has had to double the number of static clinics, from eight to 15, over 100km, said Rufin Mafouta of the agency.

Although the lack of resources poses a tremendous challenge to the humanitarians, there have been no security incidents since the refugees arrived. Those refugees who bore arms are separated from the civilians, their weapons taken away and handed over to the authorities, according to Tam.

The US and French governments have donated US$4.6 million and 400,000 euros ($568,330) respectively in response to the humanitarian appeals. France's embassy in Brazzaville has confirmed that French forces based in nearby Gabon at Libreville will ferry supplies to Impfondo before the end of January, including vehicles, boats and other supplies vital for UNHCR to operate in the region.

lmm/lg/am/mw[END]

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis:
http://www.irinnews.org

[This item comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States. Reposting or reproduction, with attribution, for non-commercial purposes is permitted. Terms and conditions: http://www.irinnews.org/copyright.aspx

Received Saturday, January 23, 2010.

#307: Breaking News!

2010-01-15T07:58:00.004-05:00

Dear Family & Friends,

Olivia has been accepted to Cedarville University! This was her first choice, and the only college she applied to. We are all ecstatic.

I haven't seen my wife and kids since last year! I am really starting to miss them. Becky, Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, Noah, left for Brazzaville on December 31, 2009. They are having a good time with fellow MKs (missionary kids) (Julian, Phillips, Howell) who are home in Brazzaville from college & boarding school for Christmas Break. Most of them leave tomorrow, so they had a sleepover last night at Bravo (our Mission's Base in Brazzaville).

The house sure seems quiet, because it is. This is good news. No gunshots so far this year, that I have heard. There was a major battle about 80 kms from here though last week, in a town called Enyele. The DRC-Kinshasa government reports 157 rebel fighters were killed, with 14 government soldiers injured and only 1 dead. We were expecting to receive some more wounded, but so far we haven't had any casualties of war since New Years' Day when we received a child soldier who had been shot 3 times a week before. He is doing OK now, but very hungry as all boys his age would be.

We have received 36 war-wounded, 30 very sick refugees, 12 suspected cases of severe H1N1 infection, 12 cases of malnutrition, and 6 high-level government & UN delegations, in addition to all our regular patients, in the past two months. Many of the wounded and malnourished take a long time to heal. We have gone through a year's supply of pain medicine, compresses, and rolled bandages in one month, because of the daily dressing changes. We continue to field questions from the media. The day after Christmas, Joe was interviewed on the Regional Radio Station, and had a chance to be a strong witness of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ, who was once a refugee child in Africa (Egypt), soon after the first Christmas.

As you can imagine, our team has been under a good deal of stress. Thankfully, God has provided for all our needs. We even benefitted from onsite debriefing and trauma counseling with Anne Stephens, a "Mobile Member Care" trained missionary who came up from Brazzaville to meet with us individually and as a team December 29-January 2. Anne's advice and this ongoing crisis have brought our team closer together, and for that we are very grateful!

Please pray with us for Peace on Earth, especially in the Equateur Region of DRC, and a town called Buburu. Pray for God's protection on Impfondo, Pioneer Christian Hospital, our patients and their families, and our staff. Pray for us to work well together and always be ready to treat with compassion the patients that come our way. Pray for us to have the strength to carry on when we are overworked. May God's Holy Spirit move upon the waters, and both banks of the Oubangui River, bringing health & hope to the 93,373 refugees camping out here, and those routinely residing in the Likouala Region.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. Without your prayers round the clock, I don't want to know where we'd be!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Isabelle, Olivia & Rachel Thanksgiving Day 2009

#306b: Update

2009-12-26T19:32:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

I am trying to be objective, and at the same time use discretion and avoid denial. I want to be upfront with you, while not being sensational, or seeking secondary gain. If you know some of what we are going through, it may help you know how to pray for us. It is true that we remain in a crisis situation. But some of the things that sound so terrible to you, we see on a regular basis living in Central Africa and working at a referral hospital. Death and disease, civil unrest and war, injustice and persecution, are not uncommon occurences here. Just like when Jesus was born, in the fulness of time. God has called us to serve Him in Congo. We counted the cost before we came, and made the decision to accept the adventure and challenge of missionary service. While we are all affected by the tension and unrest of the past 2 months, we are probably not in any imminent physical danger.

Some really good things have happened since I wrote the last PrayerNet:

Dr. Fuka returned home safely and is together again with his family.
We had a record turnout at our Christmas Celebration Service on Sunday with 165+ patients and family members and staff in attendance.
We may be at the beginning of a revival, led by our refugee patients! Testimonies of God's mercy from Gerard-- a man who lost his right arm--and other refugees, sparked times of weeping and spontaneous praise and jubilation the past three Sundays!
The Air Congo flight from Brazzaville that was cancelled Saturday, came the next day, in plenty of time for Amy Riedy to make her connecting flight to Paris. (We depend on regular flights from Brazzaville to bring our medicines, supplies, and reinforcements).
Several severely wounded have made a good recovery and are being discharged from the hospital. (They have no place to go though, so you can pray about that).
Staff from Doctors Without Borders have arrived and are setting up an emergency office in Impfondo. They will be helping the government hospital function more effectively. That should take some of the pressure off of us.
The food and fuel barges have been unloaded, and our stores are being replenished. (Pray for our medicine orders to arrive too).

At the same time, we continue to receive heart-wrenching cases including:

Several babies who were born way before their expected date of delivery. We do not have enough electricity to concentrate the oxygen to keep them all alive. And some arrived too late to save.
Several more patients with suspected H1N1 in severe respiratory distress. We still do not have tamiflu.
A suspected case of multi drug-resistant shigella dysentery.
A 6 year-old refugee girl with pelvic infection, raped a month ago in Emese (about 80 km upriver from here).
A 3 year-old girl violated this weekend, probably by her uncle, here in Impfondo.
A 37 year-old unarmed fisherman who got shot by a sniper in the right arm while spreading his nets yesterday morning near Dongou (50 kms upriver). He may need an amputation.
A 22 year-old combattant who got shot 4 times 4 days ago. All 8 wounds (entry and exit) are infected, and he will most likely need an amputation of his right arm.

The physician's assistant who accompanied the patient has been operating on injured rebels in the rainforest. He tells us that he will bring 10 more patients with gun-shot wounds tomorrow. Please pray for the continued safety and security of our mission and hospital compounds. We are trying to discharge those who are not critically ill, and enforce strict visiting hours to limit the number of people roaming about.

God is in control. We are privileged to be here for such a time as this, when help is greatly needed. O come, let us adore Him.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Tuesday, December 22, 2009

#306: Red Alert

2009-12-26T19:27:00.001-05:00

Dear Team Members, Friends & Family,

Since October 28, 2009, we have been in a state of heightened security at Pioneer Christian Hospital here in Impfondo, Congo. That was the day that we received the first civilian casualties from fresh fighting in Dongo, a town in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since October over 77,000 refugees have flooded across the Oubangui River into the Likouala Region of Congo from the Equateur Province of DRC.

We received two more waves of war wounded in November, and hear that more are on the way. From collateral damage, streams of very sick refugees and residents have been flowing into Pioneer Christian Hospital for HELP. Currently more than 50% of our patients need nutritional support, have only the clothes on their backs, and no means to pay for the care we administer. At the same time, we are trying to stem the tide of a confirmed Swine Flu epidemic that has already taken the lives of 3 of the 10 contagious children.

We are glad to be here doing our best to stretch our limited resources and minister effectively to very real needs, but the stress of being so close to a war zone is starting to take its toll.

Things seem to be getting noticeably worse instead of better. God knows if things are about to turn around, or descend into complete chaos, but I believe He wants us to be prepared either way.

A lot has happened just this week:

On Tuesday, Laurent Fuka (17 year-old son of our surgeon) arrived home after evacuating from Bwamanda, DRC, where he has been attending boarding school for the last year and a half. He and 7 classmates spent a week, fleeing from the rebels on foot, pirogue, UN motorboat, and truck. They had several close encounters on the way. Before leaving one of Laurent’s classmates went to the market to buy some food and was killed by the rebels.
Tuesday evening we were called upon to treat two wounded rebels at the government hospital. One is a 14 year old boy with a bullet in his right humerus. The other is a 22 year old with a bullet in his buttocks.
Tuesday night some people came to the government hospital looking for the wounded rebels, intent on rendering vigilante justice. The staff was able to hide the patients, but this significantly delayed them from getting the care they need.
Wednesday morning during morning report at Pioneer Christian Hospital our maintenance staff heard gunshots coming from the river. This was around the same time a Central African Riverboat was released by the rebels after being held overnight. Occasional gunshots have been heard several other times this week too.
On Thursday local public high school students went on a riotous rampage after the government teachers went on strike instead of administering final exams for the semester. The students trashed their school, then attacked several private schools in town, beating up other students and staff, destroying classrooms, and smashing computers. The gendarmes and police were called in and ended up arresting 11 students.
Thursday night a river boat and barge hired by the United Nations to bring emergency food rations for the refugees came under repeated attacks from armed men in dugouts, and motorized longboats recently stolen from the UN refugee agency in DRC. The barge was flying the UN flag and the pusher was flying the Congo-Brazzaville flag. The attack was finally repelled with support from a Congolese military attack helicopter.
Friday we were interviewed about this crisis by a correspondent from Bloomburg News Service. Maybe it will play on National Public Radio.
Friday night a river boat barge loaded with fuel for Impfondo was also attacked. Congo-Brazzaville government soldiers traveling with the barge opened fire, reportedly killing a number of DRC rebels, whose bodies fell into the river. The boat arrived in Impfondo this morning with a helicopter escort.
Saturday the regular Air Congo flight was postponed, and some people say it is because of the increased military activity downriver from Impfondo.

I think we have no choice but to raise our security alert level and review and implement emergency planning.

I didn't want to write this message. As far as we know, we are not in immediate danger, but we do need your help. If you would be willing to join our intercession team to pray for our protection, wage spiritual warfare, and ask for peace on this part of the earth, please send a short message to Danielle Ralston and let her know what day(s)/time(s) you will be praying.

In the meantime, we continue to prepare for our special Christmas Celebration at the hospital chapel scheduled for this morning, Sunday, December 20. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Harvey New Year. Bon Dimanche!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Sunday, December 20, 2009

#305: Needs unmet as refugees flee from Congo to Congo

2009-12-26T19:20:00.002-05:00

BRAZZAVILLE, 9 December 2009 (IRIN) - Aid agencies have been unable to fully meet the needs of tens of thousands of people who have fled inter-communal clashes over natural resources in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

And according to the Humanitarian Affairs Minister in the neighbouring Republic of Congo, the refugees' destination, time is of the essence.

"We are also afraid of low water levels in the River Ubangi [which separates the two Congos]," said Emilienne Raoul.

"From 15 December it will be difficult for boats to navigate the Ubangi,"
she added.

"There are now 77,488 refugees in Congo-Brazzaville," said UNHCR's crisis unit chief Ben Boubacar Diallo.

"Given the number of refugees, the aid would appear to be insufficient. The needs are enormous," he said, adding that the situation in DRC's Equateur province had yet to improve.

"We will keep supplying domestic kits [comprising mattresses, mosquito nets, blankets, basins and jerry cans] while mobilizing agencies," said Diallo.

"Conditions are harsh. We have not yet registered epidemics because agencies offering health services have been efficient and vigilant," he said.

So far the humanitarian response has involved:

- The World Food Programme on 8 December sent a boat with almost 300MT of food and 1,500 litres of fuel up the Ubangi river to the northern Likouala region, where the DRC refugees are now living along a 160km stretch of riparian territory. Some 90 percent of the refugee sites can only be reached from the river.

- The Italian government announced it has donated 300,000 euros
(US$442,597) to help meet the most pressing needs of the refugees for the next six months.

- The World Health Organization has made 2MT of medical supplies available to the Congolese government for delivery to the refugees.

- Some 500MT of food is warehoused in the southern city of Point Noir but wagons are needed before they can be railfreighted to Brazzaville, from where they will be sent to Likouala.

© IRIN. All rights reserved.

[This item comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States. Reposting or reproduction, with attribution, for non-commercial purposes is permitted. Terms and conditions.

Received Sunday, December 20, 2009.

#304: Sidelines, Frontlines, Bylines

2009-12-12T15:06:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Being on the sidelines of the frontlines gets you in the by-lines. We are starting to feel a little bit like our hospital is a MASH unit. Every week we receive more direct and indirect casualties of the ongoing conflict across the river in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. There is peace and security on our side of the river, while just a few miles from here, villages are being looted and destroyed. About 10 high-level delegations from Brazzaville, Kinshasa, the UN, and international aid agencies have passed through our gates. We are grateful for the interest, but also want to protect our patients' privacy, and make sure their needs are met with more than political promises. Many of the delegations that came had members of the press accompanying them, so Pioneer Christian Hospital has been in the local, national, and African news a lot lately (see sample article below).

A Battle of a Different Kind. This week we also received a village fisherman who was attacked by a panther. The cat snuck up behind him while the man was sitting calmly at his campfire by the riverside, drying fish. Between the panther's teeth and claws, half of the man's scalp was ripped off. It took his family and friends 4 days to get him to our hospital. It didn't take as long for the flies and bacteria to find him. We aren't sure how to cover his infected skull, or how long he can survive as he is. Please pray for his survival. Curiously, another man approached me privately yesterday to offer me a panther skin. Coincidence?

Nurses Needed. Now that we have 3 full-time physicians, and an influx of refugees, our chronic need for more nurses is even more critical. On a daily basis we are confronted with the need for our own Nurses' Training Program. We just cannot hire and keep enough nurses, no matter how hard we try. The pool of healthcare professionals in Congo willing to work long-term in the remote Likouala Region is simply too shallow to draw from. Please pray for us as we continue to work through the setbacks and successes of trying to begin our own nurses' training program. After receiving approval on the local and regional level, the central government once again refused our application. We have to submit a revised proposal. Our new goal is to start in January 2010. Please pray for us as we reformulate our application and recruit and select candidate students this month.

Thank You. Thank you for your prayers and support. Without your help we could not be here enjoying the rewarding work God has given us.

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Wednesday December 2, 2009

ReligiousIntelligence.Com
Security List
November 25, 2009
Communal violence has claimed at least 100 lives and displaced 53,000 people since the end of October in the DR of Congo’s northwest Orientale province, the UN said Monday. On Friday, two villages were attacked, but in one of them, Burburu, 8,000 people had fled for fear of a raid, announced the UN Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC), which could not give casualty figures. Burburu is 150 kilometres (95 miles) south of Dongo, on the banks of the Oubangi river, which separates the DR Congo from Congo-Brazzaville. On Tuesday and Wednesday, there were clashes at Sabasaba, 25 kilometres southeast of Dongo, in which about 10 people died. The violence broke out on October 29 and 30 in Dongo between the Lobala, or Enyele, people and the Bamboma (or Boba) people, who come respectively from the villages of Enyele and Monzaya, but are also installed in other nearby places. For years, these ethnic groups have argued the right to waters rich in fish and the dispute has flared up into violence. The UN says people have been killed with machetes and firearms. Some have also drowned, trying to cross the Oubangi to seek refuge in the Republic of Congo. Dongo is completely deserted, with corpses lying in the streets, and many homes and stores have been burned. About 53,000 people have fled the violence: 37,000 to the north of the Congo Republic, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and about 16,000 others who have stayed in the DR Congo, according to MONUC.

#303: Back to the Congo

2009-11-21T09:33:00.003-05:00

Dear Friends,

We are happy to report that we have returned safely to Impfondo, after our 4-month furlough in the US. Many thanks to Susan Lardner, Joe's mother and brother Sid, who came to the John F. Kennedy Airport to see us off.

Our 6-hour and 10-minute layover in Casablanca was a little too exciting. Royal Air Maroc graciously gave us day rooms in the Atlas Airport Hotel, but after naps, a swim, and a quick lunch, the shuttle bus driver refused to take us back to the airport! We ended up catching another shuttle with no time to spare. Then Claire who was still recovering from H1N1 influenza when we left, collapsed at the security checkpoint! As soon as she revived we ran/dragged her to the gate, but it was already closed and we could see them taking our suitcases off the plane!

After much consternation and reprimands from the gate agents, they reluctantly radioed the pilot who finally agreed to reopen the gate and let us get on the plane. During the flight, the cabin attendants & captain made a point of apologizing to everyone several times for the 10-minute delay due to late passengers. The rest of the trip went smoothly, and all our bags arrived with us. We slept a lot during our 4 days in Brazzaville. Claire had no more problems, and we are all pretty much healthy now. We are very grateful.

Overall the transition back to our work in Congo has gone very smoothly this time around. We are happy to be back together with our team in Impfondo, which has grown substantially over the past few years. On Saturday we welcomed the newest members of our long-term team: Dr. Stephen & Anna Wegner, and their children Ian (9), Isabelle (6), and Caleb (3, almost 4). We are so grateful that they have come! Just what the doctor ordered: more doctors!

The GOM-Congo Team November 2009

Here's a short update about the rest of our team:

Nurse Sarah Speer has been helping in triage and the wards. She is planning to return to Canada in December to help care for her mother & sister-in-law who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.
Jean Pierre & Ginny Vandevoorde continue leading the construction department, woodshop, and chaplaincy program, in addition to teaching at the Evangelical Church's Bible School and helping us with church relations.
Dr. Domain Fuka our surgeon, has traveled to Kisangani, DRC, for 2-months. Patience is pregnant and due in April. Their son Laurent (17) is away at boarding school near Gemena, DRC, while Perpetue (9) & Kelly (4) stayed home with Patience to continue their schooling.
Siko & Delphine Bambemba (lab director & maternity/nursing instructor) are hoping to return to Impfondo this week from Kinshasa where they have been on medical leave for 2 months. Siko had non-pulmonary tuberculosis and Delphine had a difficult miscarriage. They are doing well now and looking forward to getting back to work.
Melanie Madinga, our hospital bookeeper, suffers from sickle cell anemia and gallstones. Please pray for her health to improve.
Art & Danielle Ralston are adapting to life in Congo. Art continues to fix most everything and anything at the hospital & mission. Danielle has started to help Joe with some of our backlogged communications, in addition to home schooling their son Michael (12), and teaching our kids some too.
Rachel Maurais, our hospital administrator and personnel director, has plans to leave Congo in April 2010 to resume her formal education. We are praying for God to provide people to take her place, but even so, we will sure miss her when she goes!
Susan Lardner, Pharmacist & Administrative Assistant, is on furlough in Albany, NY, but hopes to return to Congo in March 2010.
David Marsh, RN, will be taking the last exam of French-language school on December 11. Then he & his wife Brenda and their daughter Tabitha (11) will return to NY from Quebec to continue deputation and prepare for their departure for Congo.

Things have been busy at the hospital. There is a new armed conflict going on northeast of Impfondo in the Equateur Region of neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. About 26,000 refugees have crossed to our side of the Oubangui River in the past month or so. At Pioneer Christian Hospital we have received 3 waves of wounded refugees, injured in the chaotic violence. We are taking care of 7 patients (ages 11 to 57) with gunshot wounds, and 4 with serious machete wounds. All have had one or two surgeries, and most need more to reattach tendons and further mend broken bones. Our hospital is now a stop on the humanitarian assistance/UN/government/media circuit as a number of delegations have come through to assess the situation. The Congo-Brazzaville & Congo-Kinshasa governments have responded quickly and effectively to the needs that we have presented, and we and our patients are very grateful.

Our need for nurses is even more critical than ever! It's really good to have 3 doctors on full-time staff now, but we don't have nearly enough nurses to carry out the doctors' orders. We hope to start a nursing school in January, which should help in the future, but we need nurses now! Often we have only 1 nurse on duty for 25-35 inpatients! This is unacceptable. Please pray for God to provide 4 RN's, 2 physician's assistants or nurse practitioners, and 4 LPN's as soon as possible.

Dr. Wolff with one of the wounded refugees
who was attacked with a machete by her neighbor

How are we doing as a family?

Joe is really enjoying working with Drs. Eckehart & Klaudia Wolff (surgery & family therapy/anesthesia) and Dr. Juan Carlos Panchi (family practice) who are here for 3 months, on loan from HCJB/Global in Ecuador, South America. We also have short-term missionary Amy Riedy visiting from California. Their help is enabling Joe to do some strategic planning for the hospital, and still spend time with the family.
Becky is gradually resuming her ministries: home school teacher, housing coordinator, mission treasurer, Sunday School coordinator, hair stylist, and part-time nurse.
Olivia graduated from Harvey Christian Academy in June. She has been working part-time at the hospital and working on several independent projects. While we were in the US, we had a wonderful opportunity to visit some Christian Colleges. She plans to enroll in college in the Fall of 2010, and has applied to Cedarville University; now we just need to figure out where & when she can take the SAT!
Claire (16) passed her road test our second to last day at home in the US, and is now an officially licensed junior driver. She is taking guitar lessons, and still loves to draw.
Isabelle (13) is very good at writing...maybe next time we will share her blog with you.
Noah (8) is always the first one up and diligently working to finish his school work so he can go outside and play.

Overall we are doing very well. We greatly appreciate your support & encouragement. Thank you!

For Health & Hope,
Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle & Noah
Friday, November 20, 2009

2009-10-15T10:03:00.001-04:00

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

2009-09-13T15:40:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-13T15:30:00.002-04:00

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:

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.
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.
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.
Please pray for Patience and Kelly Fuka, and our daughter Claire, who have been sick often lately.
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

2009-06-28T15:14:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-21T17:18:00.001-04:00

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

2009-06-21T16:47:00.006-04:00

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

2009-05-17T18:03:00.003-04:00

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

#296: Doctors Needed

2009-04-11T09:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Joe is signed up to take the American Board of Family Medicine Recertification Exam on July 20, 2009 at a computer testing center in Rochester, NY. This is required for maintaining his board certification.

We are planning to go on furlough June - October 2009.

At present we still have no doctors signed up to cover for Joe while we are gone.

Please pray that God will send the right person(s) at the right time.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Wednesday, April 8, 2009

#295: If Kady Could Have Come to Congo

2009-04-04T12:47:00.003-04:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Greetings from Impfondo, Congo!

I returned two weeks ago from a trip to Sierra Leone. To be honest, I didn't really want to go on this trip, but God blessed my socks off! Literally. In an effort to boost tourism, many hotels and guest houses in Sierra Leone provide complimentary laundry services daily. You just put your dirty clothes in a hamper in the morning, and by 3pm, your clothes are returned to you washed, dried, ironed and folded! I couldn't wait to work hard, walk the dusty paths, and take my socks off at night, knowing they would receive such loving care the next day!

I was surprised by how much serious fun I had joining the Global Outreach Mission / Engineering Ministries International team! Here in Congo, Becky & I have had the privilege of receiving many short-term missionary teams, but it is not very often that I get to be a short-term missionary. We accomplished a lot in a short time, and didn't get completely burned out in the process. Actually the experience was quite refreshing (though the 11 take-offs and 11 landings to get there from here were exhausting). Together, we were able to come up with a sensible plan for rennovating and revitalizing the Hospital in Mokanji. It was awesome to see God at work through each and every member of our diverse and qualified team.

Short-term missions certainly has its advantages! But what we need now in Sierra Leone is long-term missionaries to coordinate the efforts of our staff on the ground and those of other short-term teams, in order to turn this dream into a reality.

Mokanji reminded me a lot of Impfondo in 1999. Desperate conditions. Stark realities. Unacceptably high maternal mortality rates. The day I arrived in Mokanji, Kady was brought to the "hospital" on a motorcycle taxi. She was 19. Pregnant with her first child. Swollen ankles. Nearly unconscious from pain. Convulsing. Blood pressure through the roof. Cervix: 2 cms. Diagnosis: Ecclampsia. Treatment needed: IV magnesium sulphate and immediate delivery by STAT C-section.

Kady and her village midwife arrive at Mokanji Hospital in Sierra Leone

The "hospital" was destroyed during Sierra Leone's civil war in 1998. It still has no electricity, no running water, no soap, next to no supplies or equipment, and only 2 staff members who have not received their meager government salary in over a year! Needless to say, they aren't quite set up yet for C-sections!

Half of the hospital's staff along with all of the hospital's supplies

While the staff tried to convince the family to accept an evacuation to the district hospital, I found myself wanting to do everything in my power to make sure that in the future, appropriate care could be given on site, where it is most needed. We ended up paying for transport, prescriptions, and treatment at the district hospital several hours journey up the bumpy dusty road. But even there, the care she needed was not available. Her baby died soon after delivery, while Kady continued to seize. I believe she survived, but just barely.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because I believe perhaps one of you reading this PrayerNet right now has been called by God to serve Him in medical missions. This is your wake up call. If you are a doctor, physician's assistant, nurse, midwife, or a construction supervisor, and you speak English, Sierra Leone needs you! Mokanji Hospital needs you! Will you answer the call, or just roll over again and hit the snooze button/delete key!?

Drs. Look and Harvey review hospital plans...

...for Sierra Leone's future

Well, it is good to be back in Impfondo, at Pioneer Christian Hospital, where God has knocked my socks off once again! After my trip to Sierra Leone, I am even more grateful for all the work and investment people like you have poured into Congo, so we can do STAT C-sections as needed here. I thank God for you, and the privilege we have to serve Him, because of your support!

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Monday, March 30, 2009

#294: Tropical Storm

2009-03-07T16:39:00.002-05:00

Friday, February 26, 2009

Dear Friends & Family,

Everyone agrees that Becky writes much better PrayerNets than me, and she did promise to write one about our Valentine's Day Celebration [which reminds me, there should also be a Valentine's Day 2009 Edition of the Harvey Holiday Highlights coming soon to a mailbox near you from Global Outreach Mission, so please don't throw it out without opening it (even though I wrote it) because there are good pictures in there and it took me a year and a half to write it], but since she is too busy being a Mom and teacher and principal and folding laundry (her favorite thing to do in the whole world, no kidding), and since we've let weeks and weeks go by without giving you any news again (sorry), I thought I would send you a quick update.

The Big News here is that an exceptionally severe tropical storm struck Impfondo Wednesday with zero warning. There were multiple injuries and casualties as houses collapsed & trees fell down, and dugouts got swamped from the hurricane-force winds and hailstones. Two Bayaka children walking home from school were crushed by a falling coconut tree.

In smaller news, as a result of the storm, my flight from Impfondo to Brazzaville was cancelled. I must confess, as much fun as it is to go off call and trick myself into thinking I can use the unexpected time to catch up with my inbox [I am only 8 years behind (I just checked and there are messages in there from 2001!), so that is never going to happen unless I hire a presidential campaign team to deal with my communications, or do as many of you have already suggested and erase my hard drive!], I am relieved that the plane did not come because I think it would have been a very bumpy ride.

There were no other flights until today, so I will definitely not be arriving in Sierra Leone at 2:20 am on Friday, Feb. 27, as planned. Of course that's not relevant news to most of you because you probably didn't even know I was planning to go to Sierra Leone, because I neglected to tell you. But allow me to make it relevant to you. Our mission has been given a hospital in Sierra Leone, West Africa, that was destroyed by the bloody civil war in that country. In November, our mission president invited me to be a part of a team of 15 people from Global Outreach Mission and Engineering Ministries International that is going Feb 26-March 9 to develop a plan for the hospital's rehabilitation. The feeling was, since I have tried to do this once or twice before elsewhere in Africa, my input might be helpful. I was looking forward to the trip and possibly being able to visit another mission hospital too.

Now because my first flight was cancelled, I missed my connecting flight to Freetown (capital of Sierra Leone) via Douala, Casablanca, and Monrovia. Royal Air Maroc can't get me to Freetown until March 6, but thankfully they have agreed to reimburse my ticket, minus a $75 fee. The plan is now for me travel via Cotonou, Abidjan and Dakar, arriving in Freetown Monday, March 2, at 2:20 pm.

Whatever happens, please pray with me for the success of the GOM/EMI Mokanji Hospital Team in Sierra Leone (with or without me). Pray also for God to raise up long-term medical missionaries to complete the project.

In other news, we are happy to report that "Peace" arrived in Impfondo on February 18. That's the name of the river boat that pushed the barge upon which "November One" and "Mobile 20" and our driver Antoine and guard Fernand were perched for 16 days. "November One" and "Mobile 20" are the names of our two Toyota Land Cruiser trucks that have now been safely unloaded by driving and pushing/pulling them off a 18 foot long makeshift bridge over troubled water. Maybe next PrayerNet we can send you a picture of that pleasure.

Thank you for your prayers. Please keep them coming, especially for my on again off again trip to Sierra Leone, and for Becky & the children as they stay home in Impfondo to keep plugging away with home school.

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

#292: Deep Reflections

2009-02-01T16:58:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

Jesus wept. I think He's getting tired of weeping. I am. Don't you think He must be planning to come again soon?

I can't wait, but wait we must, and work and pray for the night is coming. Glory! Oh, that will be glory for you and me, but terror and judgement for so many who have been blinded and cannot, will not, see.

My heart grieves for the lost around me.

I interact daily with multiple patients and family members who, even at high noon on a cloudless day in our small clearing in the heart of the Congolese Rain Forest, are totally in the dark. They live in the dark, the heart of Satan's Darkness. In deception. In slavery to sin. They don't even know or understand that they can be free in Christ, even though we tell them until our voice is hoarse and we sound like a broken record.

Death has such a hold on people here. Even those who don't need to die, who have no reason to die, sometimes who are not even very sick, sense the inevitable and seem to yearn for it! An incredible tendency to run, walk, limp, crawl, or be carried into the grave!

Death is celebrated so much more than life.

Baby's come. Baby's go. But whenever a "real" person (over age 8) dies, the whole family, village, tribe, shows up for the 3-day, all-night drunken dance-seance-trance that follows.

Patients that slowly decline in the hospital for weeks who have no one to feed or care for them, besides our busy staff, suddenly have hordes of people come like flies on yesterday's roadkill, as soon as they begin to breathe their last.

And too often, just when the patient is getting better, or the appropriate treatment has finally been initiated, they demand the release of their relative, so they can bring them to the fetisher and pay big money for "Kisi ya BaNkoko." To consult the ancestors as to the "real" cause of the tumor, or infection, or anything more than a cold!

Enough!

It is finished! But there is so much more work to be done!

In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15

God help us.

Well maybe this is more than you asked for...but just want you to know that the yearning is strong here among His faithful. Even so, come LORD Jesus, take us Home!

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Thursday, January 29, 2009

#291: Christmas Eve in Congo

2009-01-07T20:30:00.000-05:00

Impfondo, Congo
11:30 pm, December 24, 2008

Dear Friends & Family,

It was a quiet day here in Impfondo. Dr. Fuka and the surgical team kept busy taking out an older gentleman's prostate, and then operating on a homeless man who had a strangulated hernia the size of a basketball. When I examined him this morning, it seemed next to none of his intestines were left in his abdomen. Sure enough, when Dr. Fuka & assistant Julien opened the hernia sac, most of the small intestines, and part of his large, had been mobilized to fill the sac. It took a while to get everything back in place.

We took advantage of this momentous occasion in this man's life (severe somatic pain has a way of sobering up even the most recalcitrant addicts, if only temporarily) to get him cleaned up for surgery. Off with the dreadlocks and disheveled beard. Gone were the cigarettes, bottle, and clothes that hadn't been washed in many moons. When he recovers, we'll be happy to give him a new set of clothes, and a new lease on life. We pray that his spirit and mind will be healed, as well as his body, so that the change will last. We can clean people up on the outside, and even patch them up on the inside, and but only God can heal the human heart.

I lost a patient today. Not permanently. A young pregnant woman came to my office with abdominal pain, accompanied by her father, a pastor friend of our ours, and several other family members. She hadn't been registered, so I told them to go to triage, have her vital signs taken and return to my office, so I could consult her. I waited, but they never returned. Apparently the midwife saw her in triage, consulted her in maternity, sent her to the lab where an uncomplicated urinary tract infection was confirmed, prescribed a treatment, and sent her home. Not a bad way to lose a patient!

We had 28 patients to round on this morning, and were only able to send 3 or 4 home. The rest get to spend a few more days with us. I am concerned that a few may not make it to see the new year, 2 are semi-comatose with newly diagnosed AIDS-related central nervous system infections, and not all of the medicines they need are available here. I was glad to see 2 patients who were critically ill yesterday improve dramatically today.

On the way home from the hospital, I stopped to order BBQ chicken from a streetside vendor for our Christmas Eve dinner. And do my Christmas shopping, which took 25 minutes. I already received the best gift ever: hearing my teenage daughters tell me what they wanted for Christmas: a bar of soap, and box of Q-tips! 'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free!

While I was away, Becky & the girls transformed our home into a winter wonderland, preparing for tonight's Christmas Eve Party and gift exchange with our Missionary Team. Siko Bambemba left yesterday for Democratic Republic of Congo to visit his ailing mother. Sarah Speer is on a two-month furlough visiting her mother and family in Canada. Gottfried & Marie Michel have returned to Kinshasa from Germany, and are with Marie's mother and family. The rest of us (Joe, Becky, Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, Noah, and Sparky Harvey; Delphine Bambemba, Mélanie Madinga and her Aunt Mélanie; Dr. Domain, Patience, Perpetue, and Kelly Fuka; Rachel Maurais, Jean-Pierre & Ginny Vandevoorde, and Susan Lardner) are here, enjoying our time together.

The donkeys, sheep, goats, chickens, roosters, ducks, egrets, pythons, cats and dogs, and people just outside our always open windows, make me feel closer to the manger than ever. We are so blessed to have a humble simple beautiful Christmas celebration in the midst of a crumbling, troubled world. Christmas eve is almost over, Christmas Day is almost here. The drums of pagan powers pound through the night. Herod-like hippocrates still seek to murder the Christ child. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. Hallelujah, Christ is born!

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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

#290: Safe & Sound

2008-12-14T14:51:00.001-05:00

Saturday, 13 December 2008, 15h45

Jean-Pierre Vandevoorde and I have arrived safely back at our base in Brazzaville. After the last 35 hours, it really feels good to be back home (at Hotel Bravo), away from home (Impfondo), away from home (Perry, NY), away from home (heaven)!

Life has been a little too interesting as of late. Being under house arrest, having our compound completely looted, being denied our basic human rights by the Chief of Police, Commanding Officer of the District Military Operations, District General Secretary, Sous-Prefet (mayor), Prefet (governor), with support from the General Director of Health, Minister of Health, and Prime Minister, can makes one (namely me) somewhat paranoid.

Add the fact that our mobile ham radio antenna stopped working yesterday,
and the fact that for about 120 of the 142 kilometers, there is no cell phone coverage,
and the fact that we were driving on a desserted sandy path across the bush (we only encountered two other moving vehicles on the entire trip and about 10 vehicle carcasses),
and the fact that almost the entire time we were in former "Ninja" rebel territory,
and the fact that we have to drive across two military bases with checkpoints,
and the fact that our odometer broke so we couldn't inform any one of our exact position anyway,
and the fact that even if we could get in touch with someone in case of an emergency, there would be precious little they could do to help,
and the fact that even in the best of circumstances this bone-jarring trip is a grueling, dusty, dirty, muddy ordeal,
I think you can understand why I might be a little paranoid.

In my mind, I was prepared to walk to Brazzaville with (hopefully) the clothes on my back if need be, as I could easily picture the authorities setting up a roadblock and confiscating our vehicle.

In retrospect, the trip went very well. We only had to stop a few times to:

fill in a 40 foot long ditch in the road
try to fix the speedometer (it worked for exactly 3.7 kms, then stopped working again)
pick up a sick sargeant at one of the military bases
eat some mangoes at a ghost village
water the bushes, and
change a flat tire.

In reality, I don't think we were ever in much danger (more than normal) of physical harm, but we sure appreciate your prayers just the same. And we didn't forget to shake the dust off of our feet.

Maybe later I can give you who haven't had the experience a clearer picture of what it's like to have your compound looted. For now, I'm more than ready for a hot meal and bed! And mainly I just wanted to let you know we are home safe. Praise God!

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

#289b: Shaking Dust

2008-12-14T14:49:00.002-05:00

Kindamba, Saturday, 2:33 am, December 13, 2008

Dear Friends & Family,

Thank you for praying for our current crisis. I am writing this message from our base in Kindamba. Jean-Pierre and I arrived here yesterday. We are under house arrest, but hopefully will be released tomorrow morning. No charges have been filed. That's just the way it is.

On the way here, we met up with the Mayor of Kindamba in a village 60 kms from here. His vehicle had broken down and he had been waiting for 3 days for someone to come and get him. We offered him a ride, which he accepted, along with his bodyguard and office manager.

Upon arriving at our base, we were saddened to hear the report from our guards that the police had come two days earlier with a seizure order from the same Mayor's office. The police broke into our house and storage buildings, and over the last two days, removed whatever they wanted. They found and kept the keys, and are planning to come back tomorrow to take the rest.

We returned to the Mayor's house, to express our concern over the injustice, and to request the keys to our house so we could have a place to spend the night. He swore that he knew nothing about what had happened. He called the governor, and said the governor's instructions were clear: We were not to remove anything from the house, our house, which we've been renting for the past 6 months. He also called the police, who escorted us to the house.

Please pray with us for God's will to be done in this sad situation. Our plan? Shake the dust of our feet, and move on. "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where" (see Luke 9:1-6).

We are confident that the power of darkness that reigns in this region will soon be broken, and that eventually our testimony will be received.

Please pray also for our trucks Jupiter & Gazelle, and drivers Honoré, Antoine 1, Antoine 2, and Jean-Marie. They have been stationary for over 24 hours, stuck behind 40 or so vehicles that are stuck at an impassable section of the mud road, 100 kms from Brazzaville.

Please pray that all of us make it back to "Hotel Bravo" by tomorrow, with our vehicles, cargo, bodies, and spirits intact.

In the Savior's care,
Joseph Harvey
Jean-Pierre Vandevoorde

#289:Under House Arrest

2008-12-14T14:47:00.000-05:00

Friday evening Congo-time

Dear Praying Friends,

This is Becky writing from Impfondo, and I'd like to ask your special prayers for the situation in Kindamba. Joe just called me to say that he and Jean Pierre Vandevoorde arrived safely in Kindamba a couple of hours ago. They went there to officially turn over the medicine and hospital supplies that were given to our mission by MSF, to the government hospital there since we were informed clearly on Tuesday by the Minister of Health and other officials that our mission's presence in Kindamba was not wanted. They stated that everything is fine there and they can run the hospital there without any help or aid of any sort from us. That's kind of interesting that they should say that, because the very next day--yesterday--the prefet of the region sent an order for the armed police to go to our rented compound in Kindamba, intimidate our guards and workers, break down the doors to the storehouse and living quarters and relieve the buildings of their contents. Not that they need any of that stuff, of course, because they've got everything they need. They (I'm not exactly sure who the "they" I keep referring to are... but they're people in authority in the government) told Joe and Jean Pierre that they (Joe and Jean Pierre--I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry to get this out, and am not taking the time to work out all my pronouns) were not allowed to even sleep there in our rented house, but then relented and said they could stay there, but were not allowed to leave the fenced-in compound. They're basically under house arrest. Had to send the guard to get them some food to eat from the market. They are supposed to leave first thing in the morning and not take anything with them, not even our personal effects that we left in the house in the hopes of returning there in the future to resume medical work. (Joe is taking down Claire and Isabelle's hand-drawn pictures that they left on the bedroom walls to greet them next time they went there...I imagine that won't cause a problem.) There is still some furniture left in the house I guess, but it's been pretty well cleaned out and the job will likely be finished by tomorrow.

So, we have remained willing and hopeful to resume a medical ministry there in the Pool region, in the town of Kindamba, getting contradictory and frustrating responses from the government authorities since May about whether or not they wanted us and would authorize us to work there. But when it was stated clearly on Tuesday in Brazzaville that since Congo is no longer in a time of war and no longer needs any "crutches," that they do not want us to work in Kindamba, Joe sadly decided to postpone his trip home and make a trip there to sign over the material to the govt. hospital. But the officials were a little impatient, or wanted to make a point, or are just greedy... and beat us to it. "You can't give us that medicine... we're going to steal it! (and whatever else we can get our hands on that's there.)"

It's unjust, unfair, unkind and unbelievable how the authorities have treated this whole situation. There remains the possibility of violence, and we would like to ask you to pray for God's protection for Joe and Jean Pierre tonight and tomorrow. Also for our workers, most of whom are high-tailin' it out of town with Joe in our vehicle tomorrow back to Brazzaville, unwilling to stay in such a hostile and discouraging situation. And pray that we would respond as God would have us to. Oh God, have mercy.

Thank you for standing with us and the people of Kindamba.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Harvey
Friday, December 12, 2008

#288: Pillage

2008-12-14T14:45:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends & Family,

I don't have much time. I am leaving in 5 mins for Kinkala. The meeting with the Minister of Health was very disappointing. The official government position is that Congo does not need our help. They do not want our mission to have any presence in Kindamba. Today they sent people from the hospital to our compound in Kindamba to take what they say belongs to them. So I guess they don't need our help, just our stuff!

Pray. This is a tense situation with many actors and obviously can get out of hand very quickly.

We are not worried about the stuff...it will all burn one day anyway. We are concerned about our future ability to work in this country, and the safety and security of our soon to be former personnel. The time may soon be coming when we need to wipe the dust off our feet, and move on to areas where we are more welcome.

I weep for these people are as sheep without a shepherd!

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Thursday December 11, 2008

#287: A Walk in the Forest

2008-12-14T14:18:00.005-05:00

Dear Family & Friends,

I don't do enough to give you the big picture. I definitely see the forest. Am very aware of the forest. Live in the forest. But when it comes to PrayerNets, I mostly talk about trees. Trees with branches that have fallen across my path. Trees that are blocking the Son from shining into my life. Trees that have a fungus and are about to come crashing down on my house in the next thunderstorm! That's just the way it is. Or rather, the way I am. So I am making an attempt to be less tree-y and more forest-y in this update.

Hi. My name is Joe. But I don't work in a button factory. My wife and I are medical missionaries to the Republic of Congo. There I go again! Zooming in way to fast. OK. We are talking the Universe, Milky Way, Solar System, Planet Earth, Continent of Africa, Central African Region, and more specifically the Republic of Congo (or Congo-Brazzaville, not Democratic Republic of Congo-Kinshasa). For the last decade we've been mostly working in the Likouala Region, in Impfondo. Impfondo is a town of 40,000 people (and regional capital), in the heart of the Congo River Basin Rainforest.

Though we primarily live and work in Impfondo, we are from Perry, New York. From, in the sense that we two who became one were tied in a knot by the authority vested in Pastor Matthew Rennie before God and these witnesses at the Baptist Church of Perry, on June 17, 1989. And in the sense that our tax home is 74 St. Helena Street, Perry, NY 14530. And that Perry is where we stay in between deputation trips when we are on furlough. (While it may not seem like it, Perry, NY, is in the same Universe, Galaxy, Solar System, & Planet as Impfondo, just a different continent, country, and region).

Becky and I are both currently 42 years old. We have 4 children: Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah. Right now they are 17, 15, 12, and 7 years old, respectively. I could say respectfully, because they are great kids. The only thing I have against them is that they are growing up like poplars (too fast). We teach our children at home, and call our home school "Harvey Christian Academy." Actually, Becky does all of the teaching, except gym class, while I serve as medical director of Pioneer Christian Hospital.

Pioneer Christian Hospital is a 46-bed general mission hospital, which opened in January 2006. We have a staff of 2 doctors, 1 pharmacist, 1 administrator, 1 accountant, 2 pastors, 2 physician’s assistants, 1 x-ray technician, 1 lab director, 5 nurses, 1 midwife, 3 practical nurses, 2 lab techs, 6 aides, and 16 support staff assuring 24/7 coverage of Medicine, Pediatrics, Maternity, Surgery, Chaplaincy, Triage, Outpatient Consultation, Emergency, Laboratory, Medical Imaging, Pharmacy, Administration, Security, and Building and Property Maintenance services.

We treat about 7,000 to 10,000 patients a year. Our average inpatient census is 23. We perform 7 surgeries a week and 7 deliveries. So far 1,000 babies have been born at Pioneer Christian Hospital. A small but significant percentage of those babies probably wouldn't be alive today if Pioneer Christian Hospital never came into being.

One of our major motivations in starting Pioneer Christian Hospital was to provide a place where pregnant women could receive proper obstetrical care. So, come to think of it, maybe I do work in a button factory, as umbilical cords are designed to be temporary. When all is said and done, all that's supposed to be left is a belly button (and the obliterated urachus, for you medical types).

Because of our health care experience in Congo, about a year ago we were asked to take over Doctors Without Borders' work at the government hospital in Kindamba in the Pool Region, as they were planning to leave in May 2008. We accepted, and Doctors Without Borders left. For those of you who have been following the story, you know that this arrangement was accepted by some, but not all members of the Congolese government. Since May, we have lived with a greater than usual measure of uncertainty and persecution.

A number of untruths were circulated about us, complete with an alternative (and inaccurate) perspective of our objectives. Controversy. Threats of military intervention. Rumors of revolt. In the end, we withdrew our missionaries and staff from Kindamba and stopped our medical activities there.

In October, Doctors Without Borders came back to Congo for a 3-month sleeping sickness treatment program in another area of the Pool Region. They didn’t find as many cases as they thought they might. They were able to treat 20 patients, and wrap up their program ahead of schedule. Since Doctors Without Borders shares our frustration that the people of Kindamba do not have adequate medical care, in late November, they invited us to attend a meeting with the Prefet of the Pool Region to try to see if a solution or compromise can be found.

The day before Thanksgiving, this meeting occurred. It didn’t go well. At several points the Prefet became quite frustrated with me because according to him, I insist on mixing religion with medicine. I would say I don’t mix religion with medicine. My relationship with Jesus Christ does impact just about everything I do, and I am a Christian Physician. But I am a better doctor for it, and do not attempt to force my religion on anyone.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I do seek to follow his example of preaching good news to the poor and healing the sick. But I am not a religious person. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. There is a difference. I don’t mix religion with medicine. But my relationship with Jesus Christ is an integral part of who I am, and He will never leave me or forsake me. Jesus Christ is a controversial character! A stone that makes some stumble. A rock of offence. And I welcome His presence in every aspect of my life!

So, even though the meeting was frustrating, we did come to an understanding, and the uncomfortable meeting came to an end, and Isabelle & I were able to return to Impfondo in time for Thanksgiving Dinner. Hurray!

Now the Prefet’s office is kindly requesting my presence at a meeting he has arranged for Tuesday morning, December 9, with the Minister of Health, the General Director of Health, the Regional Director of Health for the Pool Region, a Representative of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Doctors Without Borders Sleeping Sickness Project Coordinator, and His Excellency, the Prefet of the Pool Region. So I am back in Brazzaville again, this time accompanied by Pastor Jean-Pierre Vandevoorde, our hospital chaplain and construction coordinator. We are hopeful that this meeting will result in an agreement which will have a positive impact on the health of people living in the Kindamba District, and allow Global Outreach Mission to establish a new mission hospital in Kindamba.

Thank you for praying for this meeting on Tuesday (tomorrow morning, about 4 AM EST).

Thank you for praying for our trucks and drivers who left for Pointe Noire last week. They had a challenging journey, but returned safely in less than a week, and have already left again for Pointe Noire to bring back the rest of our supplies.

I’ve found quite a few of you on Facebook. Thanks for being friends with Joseph Mapes Harvey! Feel free to check out the new "A Day in the Life of Dr. Joseph Harvey" video I just posted there.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Monday, December 8, 2008

#286: Giving Thanks

2008-11-28T22:44:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends,

I owe it to you. So much happens and I just let it slip by, without letting you know. God is so good to us...what we write down here is not even the tip of an iceberg...not even the chip of an iceberg. We are privileged to be able to serve our fellow created beings here in Congo. It almost seems like a crime to be able to save so many lives with so little effort with such simple treatments and simple prayers.

Well this is thanksgiving week, and I have a lot of little things to be thankful for that are big to us. The proof is in a can of cranberry sauce and a bunch of school books.

Isabelle and I (Joe) have been in Brazzaville for one week now. We arrived safely and have been having a fairly productive time here (better than par for the course even without all our handicaps!) doing homeschool and hospital business. Even though we've been gone longer than planned (long enough to run out of clean underwear), hopefully we will be able to head home on Thursday, and be home in time for Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday afternoon (in Impfondo we usually have roasted duck with dressing, gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, squash pie, and a bunch of other goodies). A friend from the US Embassy didn't know we were going to be at the small gathering of missionaries Sunday night, but he had an extra can of cranberry sauce (and a can of pumpkin pie filling), and brought them along looking for someone to give them to, and I saw him first! (I felt like we were winning the lottery).
Yep, our school books have arrived, thanks to Mary, our friend from the CDC who came from Atlanta to continue monkeypox surveillance. Our eager students have been making up for lost time. One night I found Isabelle still up at 2:30 am reading a book for school ! Our kids got to enjoy a career day with Cynthia from INCEF, a non-profit organization specializing in developing educational/development media for such hot topics such as recognizing & treating monkeypox, and why one shouldn't hunt elephants, for use in the remote villages where diseases like Monkeypox is most commonly found and elephants still destroy people's gardens like your neighbor's dog does to your flower bed. (We're talking really remote--not as in the kind that takes batteries).

OK, here's some things I anticipate being thankful for very soon:

Our container has cleared customs, and after another week's delay, we were finally able to send 2 drivers and a helper in 2 trucks to Pointe Noire (yes, Steve, one is a Unamog and the other a Land Cruiser) today to bring back the contents (it will take at least two one-week trips). So far they have gone 113 kms in 14 hours (that's an average of 5 miles an hour)...most of that time stuck behind other vehicles that were stuck in the road. (I suppose it goes without saying that the road is in bad shape). So after one very long day, they are 1/5th of the way there. Pray. I am thankful they are OK so far, and our trucks are still moving. I will be even more thankful when they get to PNR, and return safely with things like exam gloves for the hospital. Pray their average speed improves tomorrow (if it's gets any worse, they'll be back before I know it)!
Tomorrow a representative from Doctor's Without Borders, Sarah Speer, and I are scheduled to meet with the Prefet and Director of Health of the Pool Region at 10 am (4 am EST) at our office in Brazzaville, to discuss the situation in Kindamba, and do some strategic/contingency planning. We have a number of conditions that will have to be met before GOM can resume working in Kindamba.
I have a lot of new old friends. Found them on Facebook. If you Facebook, and consider me to be your friend (if you don't then you certainly shouldn't have read this far), try to add me while you can (before I return to Impfondo, where our internet connection is much much slower and intermittent). Just look for Joseph Mapes Harvey.

Sorry no pretty pictures this time...hopefully I will be able to upload a slide show soon to my Facebook Profile.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Tuesday, November 25, 2008

#285: Family Fun & Fitness

2008-11-15T14:09:00.003-05:00

Dear friends,

Joe spends a lot of his time at the hospital doing hospital-related stuff. I, on the other hand, spend a lot of my time at home, doing family-related stuff. Being the sole teacher for five kids ranging from 2nd to 12th grade takes a lot of my attention, and I'd like to share a bit of what's going on lately at Harvey Christian Academy with you.

I could tell you about the neglected egg that's been sitting in vinegar and then honey and who knows what else for about 2 weeks now, posing as a science experiment. Or how Isabelle sometimes likes to do her reading on the back of one of our three donkeys. Or about the auditions for the Father Brown mystery that Olivia has adapted to be a radio drama (she assures me that she can do wonders on our Mac, and that all of us girls will end up sounding like a bunch of British men.) Or about the fact that my Sonlight curriculum order hasn't even arrived yet due to a lack of visitors this Fall who could bring it with them, and how the kids are making do and trying to double up and get ahead on what we already have. Or how Claire prefers to do her Algebra, music playing in her headphones, lying on the cement floor where it's cooler. Or even about how Noah tried to fool me by using a ruler to make his "H's" straight for penmanship, or how he loves books so much that he rode his bike with Joe to the hospital one day to spend the morning at the library there.

But I'd like to tell you about gym class.

Tuesdays are Joe's "alternative ministry day." Now before you worry too much about what that could possibly mean, let me explain. Since Joe often has to be at the hospital on weekends, he takes Tuesdays as his day to stay at home to work and do the things that are difficult to do when he's away at the hospital, like working on all sorts of reports and email and other correspondence, meeting with church leaders, and doing/fixing things around the mission like unclogging the bathroom sink (yes, Joe is also our plumber). It's a great day for him if he gets a chance to mow the grass with the John Deere tractor, which is just about his favorite thing to do.

I'm not quite sure what inspired it, but late one Tuesday afternoon, Joe rallied the family together for some Physical Education. Although our kids are pretty active, we haven't been real heavy on formal PE classes here at HCA. Despite his assumed gruff-gym-teacher demeanor, everybody had a lot of fun and Mr. Credansky (the assumed gym teacher's assumed name) promised to hold gym class again on Saturday.

Saturday came and went, however, with no PE. The promise of doing it the following Tuesday yielded the same results. When the students started trying to entice the teacher into having class by offering him 5 extra minutes of computer game time for each class he held, I saw that it was time to step in. Being the conscientious home schooling mom that I am, I've had a spiral bound Home School Family Fitness book sitting dutifully on the shelf for many years now. It's full of ideas for activities, needed supplies, the rules for just about every group or individual game known to man, and most importantly for my purposes--fitness charts! What our unsuspecting gym teacher thought was going to be a fun couple of hours doing stretches and jumping jacks with the kids has now turned into a (drum roll please) "Family Fitness Challenge!"

Sounded simple. Like Change. We would consult a few charts as we tested our strength, speed and flexibility; see if we met the minimum levels of fitness for our age; practice; make progress towards our goals while earning points towards a total that would award us each a prize when we became...FIT! Somehow this goal seems more elusive now after having actually struggled through the sit-ups, pull-ups, stretching, running, sprinting and jump-roping and having adding up my points. Adversity does draw people together, though, and I'm looking forward to some real bonding, quality family time together. Isn't there a saying, "The family that plays together...sweats together"?

Our "family" at present consists of our own four children, us parents, and two extras. Leticia Julian, whose parents Ron and Ruth minister with the C&MA in Brazzaville, is spending part of her school year abroad--that is, here with us in Impfondo. And Rachel Maurais, the capable young lady who has been our hospital administrator and logistics coordinator since April, lives in the house next door and hangs out enough at our house to be obligated to join us in this.

Hey, I'll make you a deal. If you read all the way to the prayer requests at the end of this message, I promise I'll send you a photo of our illustrious gym teacher in action, complete with nylon gym shorts and whistle around his neck. AND, if you actually take the time to meet with God about these concerns I'll even throw in one of mom getting lapped by her 7 year old son. OK? Hmm, maybe I know where the kids got that idea of resorting to bribing the gym teacher.

We're not decided yet on what the awards will be for achieving this Olympian goal of fitness, but some ideas have been posted in our living room. Choices range from cold hard cash, to time off from school, to such sedentary activities as extra computer game time and movie nights--preferably combined with junk food like soda or candy or maybe homemade milkshakes (or both!) Perhaps a word is due about our milkshakes. We have an old-model Oster blender that we can connect to a transformer and whir up the blades when, as Claire likes to shout, the "Power's On!" (see explanation below). Not only is the 220-volt current transformed into 110 to prevent the blender from burning up, but a combination of milk powder, sugar, bananas and ice cubes is also transformed into a delicious evening treat.

Hopefully we'll have village electric tonight, as that's what we use to pump water from our drilled well to the tank that serves as our water tower, and we've run out...mostly due to the heavy demand placed on our supply by the excessive sweating produced by our family's attempt at fitness. The town electricity is normally on from 6-10pm, two nights for our side of town, alternating with two nights for the other end of town, as the generator can't keep up with the demand for the whole town at once. But it hasn't come on for several nights now, possibly because the Prime Minister was in Impfondo for a visit last week, and they ran the generator all night the night he stayed on the other end of town, which messed up the schedule and used up the last of the fuel. He came to officially inaugurate the airport terminal building that has been completed since 2005. Since the building hadn't been inaugurated, we (the public) haven't been allowed to use it. Luggage has been checked in and weighed at makeshift tables in the shady overhang of the front of the building, but passengers have had to wait in the sun to board the plane and pick up their luggage upon arrival. The recently-added paved parking lot has sat almost empty as cars have lined up along the road in order to avoid the long detour around the obstacle of the terminal building.

Well, this is supposed to be a PrayerNet, so let me leave you with some items you can pray for as they come to mind over the next days:

The war in Congo. Not our Congo, but our big neighbor to the east (the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), capital city Kinshasa, formerly called Zaire.) You've probably been hearing of the horrors of war occurring there right now, but since the news doesn't usually differentiate between the two "Congos," it can be confusing. Things are peaceful here, but the people in eastern DRC certainly need much prayer, as rebels and soldiers are wreaking havoc and causing untold suffering to many thousands.
Hap Ohlin, son of our good friends Paul and Diane--missionaries we first met here in Impfondo when we came as students in 1992--has turned yellow. The problem is not that this color clashes with his wardrobe, but that it indicates his liver is having a problem. This case of Hepatitis was thought to have been brought on by a medication he was taking to prevent Malaria, but according to the Ohlins, it appears that he may have picked up one of the less known hepatitis viruses, of which there are hundreds.
I guess I don't need to remind you all over there on the other side of the pond to pray for the US General Election Tuesday. We're hearing quite a bit about it all on shortwave BBC news, so I can imagine what it's like there in America. And after praying, get out there and VOTE!

Thanks once again for standing (and kneeling) with us in prayer. As the catchy tune from the teen hit movie High School Musical says it, "We're all in this together..."

Becky,
for Dr. Joseph,
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah Harvey

#285b: Promised Fitness Photos
Dear Friends,

Here's the follow-up to our last message...

The war in Congo (DRC) continues. Let us not forget the suffering there.
Hap Ohlin is having to take it easy (no sports for now) while recovering. As far as we know, the definite cause of hepatitis is still undetermined.
The results are in, and we have a new president-elect. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Proverbs 21:1) Let's continue to support our nation's new leader in prayer (too bad Joe doesn't have any plans to run for president in the future... these pics could be incriminating...)
I'll slip in another request while I have your attention: I think our whole missionary team could use a boost of encouragement, unity and refreshment. Thanks.

"Mr. Credansky" calling gym class to order

Ok class, gimme all ya got!

Jumping jacks, or victory dance?

Noah takes the lead (he's a full lap ahead. . . can't we bottle some of that energy?!)

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

#284: Some Praises

2008-10-05T14:39:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends,

Ready for some answers to prayer?

After years of researching options, waiting for prices to come down to an affordable level, agonizing decisions, and a false start, we finally have a somewhat reliable satellite internet connection at the hospital. Our new modem was finally released from customs, installed, and it works. The speed isn't all that great, but hey, it's not bad for the middle of the world's most dense tropical rain forest (and we can upgrade our speed any time we want (for a price)). It looked like we were going to have to pay for another "technician" to come up from Brazzaville and tinker around with the connection, but God helped me find just the right angle for the satellite receiver/transmitter when I was just about to give up trying.
I am told that our certificate of exoneration for the container has been issued by customs. This after a reasonable amount of time (it's only been 4 weeks).
Our faithful crew in Brazzaville (Papa Mbossa, Gaspard, Honoré, and Antoine 2) are getting ready to send two of our trucks to Pointe Noire to receive the container, store it with C&MA missionaries there, and start transporting the contents to Brazzaville for distribution to their final destinations (it may take (2) 4-day trips...sorry I can't help but slip some prayer fodder in here).
Becky, Olivia, and Rachel had a good trip to Switzerland for Global Outreach Missions' bi-annual European Conference (we don't have an African conference yet...maybe someday?) and have arrived safely back in Brazzaville. They were able to buy tickets for the last 4 seats on Saturday's Air Congo flight to Impfondo, so, Lord-willing, they will be home soon! Leticia Julian is going to be home schooling 9th grade with our family this semester, so she will take the 4th seat.
We have found a relatively reliable way to transfer funds from Impfondo or Brazzaville to pay our guards and project coordinator in Kindamba.
Some more of our former employees from Kindamba are willing to come serve at Pioneer Christian Hospital for the next three months...Lord-willing Tuesday we will finally have a head midwife, nursing supervisor, lab assistant, and possibly a cashier...posts we have been trying to fill since the hospital first opened.
Last night I finally finished preparing tax information for our 2007 returns (none too soon...the final deadline is October 15. I really enjoy filling out tax forms, which is why I always put it off. Delayed gratificaion is a trait many doctors master during their long training, often to the detriment of their family/social/spiritual life).
Though it's sad news, it is a blessing that the Vandevoordes were able to travel on short notice for a reasonable price to be with family for the funeral of Jean-Pierre's youngest brother. Roland served as a pastor/teaching elder in a church in Brussels, and died suddenly of a heart attack last week. He was only 47, and leaves behind his wife and their 4 children. (This brings back memories of Dr. Sam who was also 47, and my father Stephen Rupp Harvey who died in 1981 at age 49. Through it all God is faithful, and has worked all things together for good to those who love Him, to those called according to His purpose.

Thanks for praying.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Friday October 3, 2008

#283: Pioneer Christian Hospital News anyone?

2008-09-14T14:06:00.004-04:00

Dear Friends,

I was going to title this message, "Not so Fast."

After telling us that we were free to resume our work in Kindamba last Wednesday, the Governor of the Pool Region was one-upped by the Prime Minister who visited Kindamba this weekend, held a meeting, and criticized the governor and village elders for trying to kick out the doctor he sent to help them. That same night the doctor in question refused to do a C-seciton on a woman who came with obstructed labor, and she died the next day, without delivering her baby. So, nothing has changed, except that now we know for sure that the Prime Minister was behind our cold reception by the officials in Kindamba.

Here in Impfondo things are going much better...as this hospital news update shows. If you would like to receive regular, enjoyable updates of our hospital ministry in Impfondo, please contact Mrs. Ginny Vandevoorde to be added to her list.

For Health & Hope,
Joe & Becky Harvey

From: "Virginie Vandevoorde"
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 4:19 PM
Subject: Destination: IMPFONDO, Republic of Congo

Mbote mingi!

That was a long 2 and more weeks without communicating by e-mail! Finally the computer is working and we can connect just long enough to receive your messages- no photos, no attachments, no forwards, but please do send us your own personal news. Thank you for praying for us in spite of our silence.

So we are finally at Impfondo and it was another adaptation once we arrived here where the heat and especially the humidity are on full blast. Those cool days at Brazzaville and at Kindamba are forgotten. But no. Kindamba stays on our hearts. Living right here beside us are reminders of Kindamba. Joe hired some medical staff from the MSF hospital who were willing to come up here to work for a time. As Jean-Pierre was meeting with each one to get to know them, Edwige came along with her Bible. She was wanting to pray to accept the Lord! Besides her, Adrien always wants to ask Jean-Pierre a question from the Bible; his hunger keeps him reading and questioning everything that was taught him all his life. In the chapel five mornings a week, Siko, Jean-Pierre and 3 others take turns giving a short Evangelistic message. Most of the sick patients come and listen and very often several raise their hands to accept the Lord and then they are counseled and followed up. One prostitute came and seemingly accepted the Lord and has been back to ask more questions.

Last Thursday Jean-Pierre and Siko visited a young boy of 13 who has a cancerous tumor on his leg. Earlier this summer the boy came with his parents from at least 80 km away plus 3 days in a dugout boat. When Dr. Fuka started to operate to remove the tumor, he saw that the boy was loosing too much blood to continue and that a blood transfusion was necessary. But since they found no one to give blood, the doctor was not able to continue the operation. It was suggested sending him to Brazzaville for the operation but the parents couldn't afford that and decided to take him back home where he was treated with leaves. The wound never healed but only infected more. This time he is back but the infection has gone too far- he will not pull through. Jean-Pierre and Siko prayed with him and the boy prayed to receive Jesus... After this diagnosis, the parents are now preparing themselves for the worse. The only thing to do is to go back to the village and wait for his imminent death. Returning now would be less expensive than taking the body back later. It is too late to save his body but Praise God he heard the Good news of Eternal life and responded. That's what this hospital is about- saving people for Eternal Life and in the mean time giving them medical care and hope.

Saturday morning there were 4 babies delivered and the week before there were 3 C-sections in 24 hours. One lady had come in a dugout boat from quite a distance....

We just said good bye to 2 short term missionaries who came from Alberta. Ardell Pierce is a nurse and Christy Neufeld is a paramedic who works in ambulances. Just a few days after they arrived, they were able to relieve Joe and take care of 2 different evacuations by plane. Two bad accidents where the victims needed more intensive care in Brazzaville.

There's lots to tell you but will leave something for next week...

Thank your for your prayers; we need them!

Ginny Vandevoorde for Dr. Joe Harvey and all the team
here at the Hôpital Evangélique Le Pionnier.

#282: Good News/Bad News

2008-09-06T16:54:00.005-04:00

Impfondo, Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Dear Friends,

First the good news.

Yesterday we received word that the Governor of the Pool Region made an official visit to Kindamba and replaced the difficult doctor that was appointed medical director of the Hospital in Kindamba in April with a cooperative, competent, and caring physician's assistant.
The town elders & governor are asking Global Outreach Mission to return and resume our medical work as soon as possible.
Our container of medical supplies and equipment has arrived in Pointe Noire.
The replacement satellite modem which will allow us to connect to the internet in Impfondo once again has arrived at the airport in Brazzaville.

Now for the bad news:

Yesterday we received word that Dr. Samuel Bamoueni was killed in a humanitarian-aid plane crash in Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday. Dr. Sam worked for Doctors Without Borders in Kindamba for 3 years as a physician/surgeon. He had a rare combination of Christian compassion and competence that impressed everyone who had the privilege of working with him.
We will not be able to resume providing medical care in Kindamba until two full-time missionaries step forward to lead the project, and a physician or two like Dr. Sam accept the challenge too.
Custom Officials say they will not release the container or Satellite Internet Modem until we obtain proof of our exoneration (last time that process took 9 months).

Pray there for.

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

Dr. Sam in January 2008

The Kimbala Krew
Doctors Without Borders/Global Outreach Mission Handover
May 14, 2008

#281a: Brazzaville Birthday Celebrations

2008-08-16T17:32:00.003-04:00

Olivia (17) & Claire (15) on July 23 & 25

Isabelle (12) on August 7

Steak Dinner with Ron & Ruth Julian and Jean-Pierre & Ginny Vandevoorde on Joey’s day, 8/8/8

Joe, Becky, Olivia, Octavie, and Noah contemplating the Fallen Angel Food cake

Even better: Homemade Ice Cream!

LOVE YOU GUYS!

August 13, 2008

#281: "No" Breakthroughs

2008-08-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

Brazzaville, Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Dear Friends,

Don't give up heart! God does answer prayer.

This time His answer appears to be "No!"

Today, with heavy hearts, we will make a final (?) journey to Kindamba, to close down the project there. The government of Congo has done nothing to encourage or enable us to stay and resume our support of the hospital there. We get the message, and will only return to work in Kindamba if/when God tells us to return in spite of the intense opposition. For now, we must leave because it would be illegal to resume healthcare activities without authorization from the Ministry of Health and at least a minimal amount of cooperation from other local, regional, and national authorities. We cannot afford to continue to spread ourselves so thin waiting for an authorization when there is no indication that one is forthcoming.

Not exactly the PrayerNet I envisioned writing, but that is where we stand. We still need you to stand with us!

Please pray for us as we close up shop. There are many details to take care of.

Please pray for our safety, and lasting peace in the Pool Region. We know the will of the people (currently in our favor) can readily be chanelled in another direction.

Please pray for the 35-40 employees we have to lay off now...never an easy process in Congo where labor law was written and precedent set during the Marxist/Leninist (Communist) Socialist era. (Laying off people when there is still so much work to be done has to be one of my all-time least favorite things to do in the world!).

Please pray for our visas to be renewed by Monday so we can return to Impfondo as planned on Tuesday, August 19. Today's Bible reading in Revelation 2:1-7 really encouraged us that this (returning to Impfondo and concentrating our efforts on glorifying God through the ongoing development and ministry of Pioneer Christian Hospital) is the right thing to do at this time.

Please pray for Dr. Fuka who is on a 2-week trip into the heart of Democratic Republic of Congo to take his son Laurent to a boarding school there.

Please pray for Dr. John Loge and family and Larry & Gerrie Bliven who have had some rough days and discouraging times in Impfondo while we've been gone.

We still have billions of reasons to praise God!
• For the Loge's and Bliven's faithful service in Impfondo.
• Jean-Pierre & Ginny Vandevoorde have arrived safely for a 4-year term.
• Our unexpected 4 weeks in Brazzaville afforded us plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues and friends here.
• We have made progress sprucing up our new base in Brazzaville, "Hotel Bravo."
• Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, and Joe all had really fun birthday celebrations while we've been here.
• Our 20' shipping container of medical supplies from Dr. Hyre/Samaritan's Purse is due to arrive in Pointe Noire on Thursday!
• We still have lots of prayer and financial support from people like you!
• 6,716,425,406 people that God loves as much as you and me alive on planet earth today!

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

#280: Cause for Concern

2008-07-26T11:24:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends,

In our last message I shared with you how we received word from Kindamba that the Mayor was threatening to have Global Outreach Mission personnel removed from the Kindamba Hospital by force. Were you wondering what happened? I didn't mean to leave you hanging. First let me say I don't write (or not write) these messages to give you cause for worry or concern. I write them to èncourage you to pray for us and our team. And it helps me to be able to share my concerns with you.

So, what happened in Kindamba?

Our missionaries Rachel and Melissa met with the mayor the next day (June 24). He showed them a letter, addressed to us (but never delivered) and dated one month prior, in which the Director of Health for the Pool Region revoked our partnership agreement for "failing to cooperate with the medical director of the hospital." Interesting accusation, since the medical director left Kindamba May 15 with the hospital's ambulance, of his own accord, and hadn't been seen since! (Hard to cooperate with someone who's gone AWOL).

The Mayor restated his threat of military action if we didn't leave the hospital immediately. Rachel and Melissa assured him that wouldn't be necessary, and our agents left peacably, because we had no other choice. As of July 1st, we no longer have any health care personnel working in the Kindamba Hospital.

While we were running the hospital from May 14 until June 26, there were no deaths or complications. None. Since June 26 (when the government appointed medical director returned and kicked us out soon after), 7 people have died in Kindamba. We are told when patients come to the hospital now there is no one there to receive them.

This is war. The stakes are high. Lives are being lost. Does this concern you?

Since we now had 40 employees, with no place to work, we began looking for somewhere else in town to set up a clinic or temporary hospital so at the least we could provide basic healthcare as needed. Turns out in looking for another place to work, we apparently called the Mayor's bluff, since he really doesn't want us working anywhere in town. The Mayor now says the abandoned property we expressed interest in is all of a sudden being purchased by the Prime Minister!

I care about the people of Kindamba. I am concerned about the 55,000 people that now have no access to a functioning hospital. But I am also concerned about this: the spiritual battle of maintaining our beachhead in Kindamba is taking a toll on me physically. Don't get me wrong. I am feeling strong and healthy. It's just that I am down to 142 pounds and 5'8". The shrinking part is normal with age, and I can wear workboots. The unintentional weight loss is concerning. I share this concern not so that you worry about me, but so that you can help me bear this burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we need your active participation in this standoff. Doctors Without Borders entrusted us with thousands of dollars worth of equipment and medicines so that we could treat the population in Kindamba. Now the Prime Minister and Mayor and Medical Director are preventing us from using what was entrusted to us to meet the healthcare needs of their own people!

I feel led to ask those of you who are favorably inclined to join us for a day of prayer and fasting for a breakthrough in Kindamba on Saturday, July 19. Saturday, July 19th is already going to be a big day.

July 19th is Susan Lardner's last day of work in Albany, NY. Susan is the Pharmacist that came for a short-term missions trip in January, and has decided to return as our pharmacist/administrative assistant for a one-year commitment, beginning in September.
July 19th is Dr. Stephen Wegner's last day of work. Dr. Stephen and his wife Anna, and their children Ian, Isabelle, and Caleb, are planning to begin French language training in Quebec in September, and come to Congo from there.
July 19th is the date Pastor Jean-Pierre and Ginny Vandevoorde are scheduled to leave Montréal for Congo for a 4-year term (with yearly visits to see their grandchildren).
July 19th was to be our family's first full day in Kindamba.

I feel burdened to ask you to pray that on Saturday, July 19, the hold on Kindamba will be loosed! There are principalities and powers that clearly do not want us there. Will you join us in prayer on this special day?

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Thursday July 17, 2008

#279: Bravo, Bravo, Kingston!

2008-06-24T12:02:00.005-04:00

Tuesday Morning, June 24, 2008

Hello,

Last night at 8pm I signed a 3 year, 6 month rental contract and paid the security deposit for the former Doctors Without Borders house, warehouse, garage and annex in Brazzaville. (Don't worry, the landlord signed the contract too.) It's so good to have a place to call home! I slept much better last night (5 hours in a row!) at our new guest house/office/base here in Brazzaville (I've been staying here since June 20), knowing that it is now legally ours.

After signing the rental contract
This morning once again I struggle to not let my heart be anxious! Oh me of little faith! We've been given so much: houses, warehouses, garages, land, furniture, vehicles, spare parts, medicines, equipment, dedicated, qualified employees, and with it, persecution. Don't think it strange that we face fierce unrelenting opposition even though we are only trying to help! We are on the move and God is working through us. Satan and his camp are not happy. If you see him smiling, don't believe it. It's really a smirk. The pleasures of sin last only for a season, but there is everlasting joy in serving Jesus!

So what's the latest struggle that's stealing my sleep this morning?

Rumor has it that the Mayor of Kindamba has ordered the military to surround the hospital compound and enforce his desire that Global Outreach Mission stop all activities on the hospital compound today. According to our agreement with the government, they can ask us to leave, but only with one month's notice. We have received no notice.

This isn't a crime! Physician's Assistant Julian closing after another successful C-section.
I spent the afternoon yesterday at the Ministry of Health, trying to inform the leaders of this situation. At 6 pm I was graciously received by the Minister's Chief of Staff. She was visibly upset by the news, and scheduled a meeting with the General Secretary of Health, Dr. Bodzongo, at 1pm this afternoon. That will be too late. This morning I plan to contact the Governor (Doctor-Colonel Jean Michel Shanga), the acting US Ambassador (Mrs. Cindy Gregg), and the Army Chief of Staff (General Essongo), who I'm confident will take appropriate action. I will do what I can to prevent this escalation, but first I want to appeal to God with you.

We need your prayers now more than ever! All 700 of you that receive this e-mail, please pray right now. Lives are on the line (not so much our own, but much more so those of our patients, who we may be forced to abandon). I have instructed our missionary representatives in Kindamba, Rachel Maurais and Melissa Cossette, and our 44 employees, to

Pastor, Melissa, Rachel and Joe with our guard Fabien and his bride at their wedding reception

not react to the rumors, but to avoid all unneccesary confrontation and fuss over this stuff. The LORD Jehovah will fight this battle for us. We shall overcome! I feel sorry for the losers!

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

#278: Happy Summer

2008-06-22T12:21:00.005-04:00

Sunday Morning, June 22, 2008

Dear Loved Ones,

Delphine's pain went away after she started taking the medicine I recommended, and you started praying. Thank you, and thank God! Siko and Dephine arrived safely back in Impfondo on last Friday. How good to have them home again! She is planning to go back to work overseeing our Maternity department this Thursday.

Siko & Delphine Bambemba

We are still waiting on/trusting God to provide more doctors for Pioneer Christian Hospital and the hospital in Kindamba. No leads yet!

This week we received word that our landlord's brother at the former MSF (Doctors Without Borders) compound in Brazzaville decided to rent to other people instead of us, without letting us know. (The landlord himself is a retired Congolese government minister/diplomat and lives in New York, so we have to deal with his brother). The way we found out is typical in Africa: some strangers showed up at the compound saying they were the new renters. Property values in Brazzaville have risen sharply in the past 5 years. Apparently the landlord's brother wants to cash in on the new market rather than having us rent the place for the same amount MSF was paying, as we agreed in April.

Our new base in BZV?

We have no where else to go, and don't have the time or personnel or money to start looking. If we can't keep the base in Brazzaville, we will have to close down the Kindamba project too, since we depend on Brazzaville to keep that place going. Is this why noone has come forward to help us in Kindamba? It was foolish not to make sure we had a contract signed as soon as MSF gave their notice. To me it was one more thing in the list of hundreds of things to do. Now we have no where else to turn, but to the LORD. I am in good company. King David said, "O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel" Psalm 69:5.

I don't know what to do except pray and ask you to pray, and trust that God will be glorified through this situation, that we will know His will, and do it! I have made an emergency trip to Brazzaville to meet with the landlord's brother today at 4pm (10am EST), so if you go to church today, pray for us there!

The Landlord's Representative (Mr. Martin) & Joe on April 14.

Some of you commented that we seem to have a lot of problems in this work. I'm sorry for giving you an unbalanced perspective. I'm a troubleshooter, so I tend to always focus on the problems. So many many many things are going very well (and I admit I rarely focus on those). We are very blessed, satisfied, content, and truly do feel privileged to be able to be here in Congo serving God and people He created (in spite of the all the trials). God is good. All the time.

In other news, Becky & I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on June 17. We are so grateful to God for His mercies. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. Thank you for your prayers. May God bless you today.

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

#277: Delphine

2008-06-14T17:13:00.004-04:00

Dear People,

As I write this, a group of soldiers is running by our house on a routine physical training exercise. Nothing like the sound of a batallion of soldiers running by your house at 4:50 am in flip flops. Flip flops flapping in unison as a sargeant grunts the Lingala equivalent of "left, left, left right left."

When I think about us, I am overwhelmed by the fact that we are soldiers marching to the beat of a different drum. Sometimes the beat is all consuming. Sometimes it's hard to hear, and our feet fall out of step. I don't want to be the straggler at the end of the pack. Don't they have to do extra guard duty, or push-ups or crunches or something?

Please pray for Dephine. Siko called last night from Kinshasa to let us know that she's been having such severe pain, he was cancelling their flight tomorrow. We are very disappointed. Especially since if she doesn't get on the plane, we have no way of getting her the help she may need. It sounds like it is the type of post-op pain that one can expect, but perhaps with the diet change, just more intense because the anti-inflammatory medicine she was taking is no longer having the desired effect.

Anyway, my first thought (well actually second or third) was to write to you and ask you to pray for a miracle...that Delphine's pain would return under control, and that Siko & Delphine would be able to return to Impfondo in God's time.

Dr. Nobles with Delphine in ICU/Recovery Room

We still have no doctor lined up for Kindamba except for July 21-August 21 or so. Please pray for God's provision!

Thank you,
For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
June 11, 2008

#276: I will return

2008-06-06T21:18:00.003-04:00

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Dear Beloved,

Just in case you were wondering, this is Joe, and I'm still in Kindamba. Have I told you that we have a critical need here for a medical doctor capable of doing C-sections? I have stayed here as long as I possibly can. The doctors who said they would come work here have evidently decided to do otherwise. Now, because of pre-existing commitments to other patients in another part of this country, and no less importantly, my need to be reunited with my family, I absolutely have to leave tomorrow, in spite of the fact that nobody has come to replace me. At times like these I am tempted to second guess every decision, including the one that brought us here in the first place.

The Road to KDA

KDA General Store

But the hospital that would have been closed three weeks ago is still open. The 58 patients that were hospitalized received the care they needed. 40 people that would have been unemployed are still working. And the Gospel has been presented in word and deed. Here are some more statistics for the second half of May, since we assumed responsibility for running the Kindamba General Hospital:

• 3 c-sections
• 3 other surgeries
• 7 broken bones casted
• 46 new patients treated for sores
• 129 patients for follow-up sore treatment
• 58 patients hospitalized
• average inpatient census: 15.4
• 21 babies delivered (33% to child mothers less than 18 years old)
• 20 first-time prenatal visits
• 26 follow-up prenatal visits
• 127 pre-school children examined and immunized

At the same time, all reports indicate that Dr. Fuka and the rest of the team in Impfondo have been doing a fantastic job running Pioneer Christian Hospital. I can't wait to get back to Impfondo to try out our new Satellite Internet Connection! And see how much cleaner the hospital is now that we have a cleaning crew in place. And drink water from the new well water distribution system at the mission, powered by village electricity!

Dr. Fuka/Sarah Speer @ PCH

So I am leaving Kindamba tomorrow morning at 6am, hoping to return here in a month with my family. That will be nice. Rachel and Melissa will keep things going here, but it looks like effective 6 am tomorrow, we are going to have to suspend surgical services until a suitable doctor can be found. Please pray with us for God's provision. Pray for Dr. Pascal who is still undecided about whether or not he is going to come.

Signing the handover agreement in BZV, May 6

Just after handing over the patients in KDA, May 14

Please also continue to pray that our presence at the hospital will be welcomed by the local authorities, and that the handful of people who don't want us here will be frustrated in their attempts to encourage us to leave. Pray especially for the Sous Prefet (Mayor) pictured below:
Joe & GOM President Brian Albrecht with the Sous Prefet of KDA, January 2008
In other news, Siko & Delphine have arrived back in Kinshasa safely. The return trip to New Orleans for specialty surgery was long, but they are doing OK. Please pray for the last leg of their journey when they return to Impfondo from Kinshasa, Lord-willing, on June 10.

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

#275: Update from Kindamba

2008-06-06T21:14:00.001-04:00

Sunday, 1 June 2008

Dearly Beloved,

Greetings from Kindamba. I'm still here (this is Joe writing) with Olivia. Melissa Cossette (short-term missionary nurse from Quebec) and Rachel Maurais (our hospital administrator) just joined us.

On the surface, everything seems calm. The hospital is running smoothly. The staff are well-trained, disciplined, capable, and pleasant (fun) to work with. The patients are compliant, and getting better. Right now we have 16 inpatients, down from a high of 23. We operated on 4 patients this week: a 15 year old pregnant girl whose baby was in distress (C-section); a 4 year old boy who had extreme pain on urination since birth (urethral dilatation and catheter placement); a 32 year old mother of 4 with a two week old neck abcess (incision & drainage); and a 60 year old man with an oral-cutaneous fistula that has been draining since he had a tooth pulled in Brazzaville 3 years ago (exploration and curettage).

Underneath the surface, there is a still some turbulence. The future of this hospital, and health care in this region in general, are anything but assured. While the hospital has been quiet, town hall has not. The mayor has been meeting all week with various groups and individuals to decide the fate of 2 teenage boys accused of using magic to send lightning (2 weeks ago a lightning strike in town killed a 10 year old girl and wounded a soldier). (At the same time there was an uproar in Brazzaville over a man believed to be using witchcraft to make other men's body parts disappear). The mayor and some of the town elders continue to make comments about driving Global Outreach Mission from the hospital. Apparently they were hoping to get their hands on the $40,000/month budget they think the government would entrust to them if we weren't here.

I guess I forgot to tell you what happened on May 14, the day of the Handover Ceremony. The mayor never did sign our proposed agreement, or make a counter-proposal. His office hijacked the handover ceremony, using it to present the government doctor as director of the hospital. The mayor did not even acknowledge our presence! While the mayor and doctor took a tour of the hospital, we stayed behind with most of the invited guests, sitting under the mango trees. I took advantage of this time to introduce myself, our mission, and our plan to continue running the hospital after Doctor's Without Borders' departure to the general public. The response was overwhelming. The population is definitely on our side, with many begging us to stay.

When the dignitaries returned from their tour of the hospital, the Mayor tried to get the head of Doctor's Without Borders to sign a paper turning the hospital over to the government. Lai-Ling refused, since they had in fact already turned all their material and the hospital services over to Global Outreach Mission (the buildings and land do in fact still belong to the government). The Mayor then promised to meet with us and the government doctor the next morning so we could work out the terms of a partnership agreement. That meeting never occurred as promised as the government doctor left town early the next morning in the hospital's brand new ambulance, and has not returned.

Thankfully, Doctor's Without Borders delayed their departure by a day to help us get up and running. Since May 16, Global Outreach Mission missionaries and employees have been running all the hospital services. While we have written authorisation from the governor and regional director of health to be working here, unfortunately the local government has still refused to give us their approval. I'd say we are at an impass.

So what do we do now? Our plan is to appeal to the higher powers. We need you to pray that the mayor will have a change of heart. We need you to pray for Olivia and I as we travel to Brazzaville this week to meet with the Minister of Health. We need you to pray that God will send 2 doctors to serve in Kindamba, immediately, so that we don't have to suspend surgical services.

How are we doing? I've been away from home for almost a month now. Thankfully, it hasn't been that bad. Having Olivia here with me has been a big help, and it's been fun working with her as my assistant. Becky, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah back in Impfondo are doing OK too. But I think we are all ready to be together again. And we are starting to look forward to returning to Kindamba as a family during July and August.

In other news, Siko & Delphine are scheduled to begin their return to Congo tomorrow. Delphine continues to recover well. They should arrive back in Impfondo on June 10.

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

#274: From Mary*

2008-05-23T21:37:00.002-04:00

*name changed to protect the privacy of my eldest daughter
Dear Prayers,

I am not really sure of how to write this, but I will just start writing and see what happens.

My dad, Jason Zimmermann and I are in Kindamba. We came here supposedly to do a handover, but the past weeks have been anything but that.

After a long bumpy trip up and over lots of mountains (for us they are mountains, for some of you they would seem more like hills) we arrived in Kindamba, a little dirty and tired, but happy none the less. The trip was very exciting for me. Impfondo's geography is more flat, swampy, and covered with thick rainforest where as the Pool Region is mountainous, drier, and grassy with only a few pathetic small trees and shrubs. The ride (which it is literally, you feel like you are riding a bucking horse! which is fine with me since I love riding horses) in was beautiful, and I was again surprised at the geographical diversity of Congo. Beautiful sunflower-like flowers cover the countryside and it is quite striking in comparison to the abandoned houses, still deserted from the war.

Dr. Special K, as he has being fondly nicknamed, was already here in Kindamba when we arrived on May 7th. He is under the impression that MSF should hand the hospital over to namely, him. (Since he claims he was sent to Kindamba to be in charge of, and run the hospital.) Dr. Special K also expressed his views that we have no right to be here, or the papers necessary. So after a heated meeting on our first full day, the MSF ex-pats and decided that it would be best for my dad to leave the next day for Brazzaville to try and attain more written approvals from the "higher ups" in Brazzaville. So on Friday, May 9th my dad left for Brazzaville leaving Jason and I to talk to the people, and conduct job interviews. The tiny apprehensions that I might have had about being here without my dad were quickly dissipated when I started to talk with people. The staff and the people of Kindamba are incredibly kind and welcoming.

On Saturday the MSF ex-pats, Jason and I were invited to a traditional Congolese wedding. Then on Sunday we went to church. There were several churches all combined because of Pentecost, and the whole church was packed. When church finished 6 hours later, the pastor came up to us and told us that the whole church was praying for us, and the situation with Dr. K. (In a small town like Kindamba news spreads like wild fire).

On Monday my dad came back having successfully attained some more papers. So things looked more hopeful and more preparations for the handover were made. We were on the top of a mountain. Then some more draining meetings...and down we went again in the valley. One day things look hopeful, then 3 hours later they look bad again. By now we are talking the afternoon of the day before the handover ceremony, and still it looked as if the mayor and Dr. K were going to keep blocking MSF from handing it over to the handover partners! By now we had learned that the population of Kindamba was backing us, and even approaching me to say, "If they tell you that the population doesn't want Mission G.O. Congo here, they are lying! We all really want you to work here!" Although it was a little comforting to have the population on your side, we didn't necessarily want to restart the war! Finally Mrs. Lai Ling Lee, the head of mission for MSF, went to the mayor's office and gave him the paper to sign (which gave us permission on the local level to have the hospital). She also told him that if he didn't, then all ex-pats would just leave and there simply wouldn't be a handover (this was our plan D, after exhausting plans A, B, and C.) He seemed apologetic and said that he would read it over and give it to us tomorrow. We were up on another mountain...

So that brings us to the day of the ceremony May 14th...that's a whole 'nother story that I'll let my Dad tell you sometime. Just know that the up and down ride to Kindamba continues! The one good thing is that our mission is running the majority of the hospital services, my Dad has most all of the keys to the hospital, and Dr. Special K left town the morning of the 15th.

Today a young girl of 15 came to the hospital on one of the big transport trucks from a village 43 kilometers away. She needed a c-section, and her uterus was ready to rupture. The baby was showing signs of distress, so even though the trained anesthesiologist and assistant left for Brazzaville, we went in. My dad did the anesthesia (at the same time teaching another one of the nurses to do it) Dr. Sam was the surgeon, and Jason assisted. I was circulating. It was an extremely quick surgery and was over in 35 minutes. God really was with us, and it went very well. We praise Him that the baby was ok, and that we were able to operate on the girl before her uterus ruptured. It is a hard and tiring battle that we are fighting for this hospital, but it is worth it to see the rewarding results. If we weren't here the baby or the girl (or both) would have died. There is no other hospital (or doctors) for miles.

Many of you are probably wondering what is happening with Siko and Delphine. Well PTL they are in New Orleans!!! Delphine had her surgery on Thursday May 15, and is now starting to recover!!! We are very thankful to God that the surgery went well. It is a HUGE answer to prayer! It took so much hard work to get them there. Please continue to pray for her complete healing, and safe recovery.

Ciska and Melanie are also doing better, and were both able to go home. Melanie now has a sister (or somehow related family member) also named Melanie, that has come to live with her to help with the cooking and housework.

I want to thank you all for taking the time to read this, and please continue to keep us in prayer. Dr. Sam has now been assigned to another mission in DRC, leaving my dad the only doctor here in Kindamba at the moment. This whole thing isn't finished yet, and I'm sure that we will have to cross many more mountains before all is said and done. We will try to keep you posted on what is happening over here with this new project. Thank you for your prayers and support.

On behalf of our team,
Mary*
May 22, 2008

#273: Up up and away

2008-04-30T20:02:00.000-04:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Siko & Delphine
Please pray for Siko & Delphine, our missionary lab director/assistant chaplain and head midwife/nursing instructor from Democratic Republic of Congo. They should be headed to the airport right now in Kinshasa to continue their long journey to New Orleans. Please pray they make this flight and their 3 connections in Brussels, New York, and St. Louis.

We've been working on getting them to the US since September, and a window of opportunity finally opened this morning...if they can get to the airport and get checked in on time for the flight that leaves in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Should be simple, but since the tickets became available and were purchased just this morning, and since there is no electricity in most of Kinshasa, and the roads there are terrible, with huge traffic jams all around, Siko has been unable to download the e-tickets. They will have to go to the airport armed with only their passports and a SMS message on their cell phone with their confirmed reservation code. Hopefully the police will let them in the airport even though that they don't have any paper to present.

More updates:
-- Olivia has been helping a lot at the hospital in the pharmacy and OR. She likes the OR or working with me most of all. Hopefully sometime soon we'll be able to send you a PrayerNet that she wrote recently about some of her experiences living on the hospital compound the last 2 weeks.
-- Claire is doing well, and has taken up jogging (in the house, because she doesn't like the looks she gets when she goes outside).
-- Isabelle is recovering nicely from the typhoid. Please pray for her bowels to get completely back to normal after several months of ... well let's just say discomfort.
-- Noah is doing better learning how to read, but what he likes to "read" most is Calvin & Hobbes. We grounded him from that series for a month recently after he learned a few too many tricks from Calvin.
-- Our new computer now has about 3/4 of the files we need, and we are learning how to use it. Thank you for your prayers.

Kindamba Update
I alternate between being really excited about this incredible opportunity that God seems to have placed in our laps, and being overwhelmed at the seeming enormity of the task and added responsibility. I feel like the coach in the movie Facing the Giants getting his small town team ready to face a much larger school in the state championships. I make it a habit of praying for God to teach me patience, to humble myself, to enlarge my coasts (borrowed from Jabez), and cause me to be fruitful and multiply (not just add to his kingdom). That last part I call "The Prayer of Joseph." The name Joseph means "And he shall add." But I want God to do more than just add with my life. I want him to multiply my fruitfulness for Him.

The Josephs in the Bible often had problematic dreams. Great dreams, but difficult to carry out. "Be not afraid to take Mary as thy wife." "Arise, take the mother and the child, and flee to Egypt." "I saw the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowing down before me."

Back to the basics. Things are going well with the project in Kindamba. We still need more personnel (what else is new)? God is continuing to provide (just this week we learned of an administrative assistant/pharmacist who is applying for service in Congo). Please pray that we not rely on our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him in the upcoming critical time of transition.

Jason Zimmermann (a pre-med intern that has been with us here since January, and whom I inadvertently left out of the last PrayerNet) is planning to go to Kindamba with me next week (and perhaps Olivia) for the Handover Ceremony, and final contract negotiations with MSF staff members that are willing to keep working in Kindamba with Global Outreach Mission. MSF will be giving us their best 4 vehicles and both Unamogs (medium size go-anywhere trucks). The government has hired some of the MSF workers for the hospital (to be paid by the government). Roadwork has begun in other parts of the district. MAF-Kinshasa should be able to fly us in and out on a monthly basis for a reasonable fee (as it will only be a 30 minute flight from Brazzaville instead of a 7-hour rambunctious monster truck race on a very sandy track).

We Covet Your Prayers

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle
April 28, 2008

#273a: Another snag

2008-04-30T20:01:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends,

Please keep praying for Siko and Delphine. Tonight they got to the airport just in time, only to be refused boarding passes because they do not have Airport In-Transit visas from Belgium for their 3-hour layover in Brussels! We didn't even think of that one!

Fortunately, the Brussels Airlines personnel were very polite and patient in explaining that this requirement is not their own making, but Belgian immigration law for all people traveling with ordinary (non diplomatic) Congolese passports.

So, tomorrow they will try to get their in-transit visas from the Belgian Embassy in Kinshasa. One small problem, they don't have the 60 Euros/person for this unexpected visa fee. Not to worry, we were able to contact our missionary doctor friend in Kinshasa who will be able to lend them the money tomorrow morning.

Forgot to mention: please pray for Franciska, our guest house cook/supervisor, and Melanie Madinga, our missionary bookkeeper, who were both hospitalized over the weekend. Melanie is recovering from a Sickle Cell Crisis, and Ciska has a very serious case of double pneumonia.

In Him,
Joseph Harvey
April 28, 2008

#273b: US contact info

2008-04-30T19:57:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. The saga continues. After spending all day at the Belgian Embassy in Kinshasa, the Bambembas were denied in-transit visas for Belgium! Wow! I wonder who they grant them to? I panicked until I found out that the non-refundable tickets we had ordered on their behalf were cancelled by Brussels Airlines before the charge cleared our credit card, so we did not lose any money (just time and money for phone calls, airport taxis for the Bambembas, and tylenol for the headaches). Siko was able to check with Ethiopian Airlines who said they can get them to the US for the same price (without having to go through Belgium or get any more visas), so hopefully we'll be able to find a way to purchase tickets tomorrow for the Babembas to leave Kinshasa on Thursday.

Keep praying. Assuming they do get to the US eventually, while there, Siko & Delphine can be reached c/o:

Pastor Brad Rine
Fellowship Bible Church
4600 Clearview Pkwy
Metairie, LA 70006

In Him,
Joe & Becky Harvey
April 29, 2008

#273c: Confirmed Reservations

Dear Friends and Family,

Siko and Delphine are still in Kinshasa. We found out from the US Embassy that France and Belgium both automatically reject anyone applying for an in-transit visa once they have already attempted to check-in for a flight without one. As far as immigration laws are concerned, you are guilty until proven innocent. An innocent mistake (not knowing that you need an in-transit visa for a 3-hour layover) proves you're guilty, and intend to immigrate illegally. After spending most of Tuesday and all day Wednesday on the phone and in various offices, Siko was finally able to get confirmed reservations Friday for the Ethiopian Airlines flight next Thursday, May 8. Here is their schedule:

Thursday, May 8:
2:15 pm Ethiopian Airlines flight #830 departs Kinshasa
8:35 pm Arrive Addis Ababa
10:15 pm Ethiopian Airlines flight #500 departs Addis Ababa

Friday, May 9:
7:55 am Arrive Washington DC/Dulles
12:20 pm United Airlines flight #233 departs Washington DC/Dulles
2:05 pm Arrive New Orleans

Saturday, May 31:
12:29 pm United Airlines flight #312 departs New Orleans
4:00 pm Arrive Washington DC/Dulles
8:30 pm Ethiopian Airlines flight #501 departs Washington DC/Dulles

Sunday, June 1:
7:00 pm Arrive Addis Ababa

Monday, June 2:
9:45 am Ethiopian Airlines flight #831 departs Addis Ababa
1:15 pm Arrive Kinshasa

Please keep praying. We think it's important for Siko and Delphine to go to the US at this time for medical care, and that God would have them go, but it seems the opposition is working overtime to prevent this journey. Another problem came when we tried to pay for their tickets by credit card. Apparently none of the travel agencies or airlines in Central Africa take credit card payments over the phone...you have to be present in person. Since I don't plan to be in Kinshasa anytime soon, we are trying to make arrangements for our missionary friends in Brazzaville to pay for their tickets there. Please pray for us to find a way to pay for them by Sunday at 5 pm.

In other news, the hospital has been almost full lately. Melanie and Ciska are improving. It's Saturday afternoon. I've been working on hooking up our house to the municipal electrical grid. I enjoy climbing around in the ceiling, and wiring circuit breakers and outlets, but when the sun comes out it's a hot job inches from the hot tin roof. The electric company has been running their generator 2 evenings on, 2 evenings off, consistently for several months now. Since the well pump at the mission takes too much power to run with our solar system or small generators, hopefully once we're hooked up to the grid we'll being able to pump water in the evenings by simply flipping a switch. That will be a switch...since August we've been driving a tractor and power-take off generator down from the hospital (3 miles away) twice a week to fill our water tower.

So I've been in the plafond, and the kids are having a birthday party for their friends Judy and Octavie Ngalipe. I joined them for a couple of games and cake and coconut-flavored Foster Clark juice. Yum! Hope you have a nice weekend and a good time worshipping God this Sunday.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
www.CongoHarveys.org
May 3, 2008

#272: Siko & Delphine

2008-04-30T19:40:00.002-04:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Introduction
It's hard to resist the temptation to write about how time flies, about how hard it is to believe that it's been over a month since our last PrayerNet, and almost a year since our last quarterly prayer letter.
Whoops! See what I mean?
It's even harder to resist typing the words, "we've been real busy."
Some things go without saying.
So how 'bout starting with letting you know how we are doing? We are doing well. How 'bout you?

High (and low) lights:
-- Olivia has learned to play the guitar and lead worship at our house on Sunday Nights.
-- Claire enjoyed a week in Brazzaville homeschooling and playing with her MK friends there.
-- Isabelle is sick with typhoid fever, but is starting to recover.
-- Noah lost his two front teeth.
-- Joe bought a new computer in January. He wishes he'd listened more to Becky who often says, "Beware of time-saving devices."
-- It's taken forever (actually no, just 4 months) to get about half of our files and programs copied over to the new computer, that we still don't know how to use properly. Now Joe gets to take two laptops with him wherever he goes, along with the obligatory portable hard drive and USB keys, so he can be sure to never know where anything is, but look important trying to find it. (Maybe this new computer is smarter than we think...it apparently knows what Joe wants to do to it...the delete key just fell off!)

Kindamba Project Update
We are proceeding with plans to serve as Doctors Without Borders' handover partner for their project in Kindamba in the heart of the Pool Region. A "Handover Ceremony" for the work of supporting the Hospital in Kindamba is scheduled for May 14. Please pray for this critical time of transition as the number of hospitals, employees, and patients we are responsable for doubles overnight. Hopefully the impact of our ministry will more than double too. Those in leadership of Doctors Without Borders are doing all they can to help us. They plan to leave us many of the tools we will need to continue this effort: radios, vehicles, equipment, etc. Please pray for a peaceful and secure transition period.

Hotel Bravo Base in Brazzaville
Part of the plan is for Global Outreach Mission to move into Doctors Without Borders' headquarters in Brazzaville after they leave. We are waiting to hear back from the landlord about whether or not he would be willing to sell us the property. Then Global Outreach Mission could have a permanent presence in Brazzaville with room for offices, missionary housing, guest rooms, garage, fuel depot and warehouse.

Here's a quick update on our team.

Gottfried and Marie Michel have left Impfondo and are now in Kinshasa on their way to furlough in Germany and the US. Lord-willing when they return to Congo, they will serve as logistics coordinator and hostess in Brazzaville, serving both hospitals in Impfondo and Kindamba, and developing a rescue ministry to at-risk young people in Brazzaville.
Rachel Maurais has arrived to serve as Administrator and Personnel Director of Pioneer Christian Hospital. So far she has been doing a tremendous job. We are trying to make sure she is not overworked from day one, so we are focusing on recruiting others.
Sarah Speer has just returned from a trip to Bétou to help Melissa Cossette lead an HIV/AIDS seminar. It took them 3 days to get there by dugout but only half a day to return by speedboat. The seminar went well, with many testifying to their lives being transformed by the truth of God's Word proclaimed.
Dr. Domain Fuka continues to develop our surgical program, and does a great job holding down the fort when Joe is out of town. Laurent (age 15) and Perpetue (age 7) are making friends in Impfondo and are doing well in school. Patience stays busy at home with Kelly (age 2).
Melanie Madinga recently returned from an overdue vacation trip to Kinshasa see her brother graduate from Medical School, and visit her family. Melanie is an important member of our team, working in the hospital's administration. She's lacking in financial support, currently receiving only $50/month; would you consider becoming one of her prayer/financial partners?
Siko & Delphine Bambemba have been on medical leave in Kinshasa since February 23, without being able to get the care they need. We are trying to make arrangements for them to travel to New Orleans for surgery not available in either Congo. Praise the Lord their visas were approved today! You could pray for plans to be finalized and for their healing.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
April 23, 2008

#271: Ready for Takeoff

2008-03-16T14:52:00.004-04:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Ready for Takeoff ?
Brazzaville, March 5, 2008
For the sixth time in 2 weeks, our bags were packed, checked and loaded on the plane. Our carry-ons were stowed in the overhead compartments, and under the seats in front of us. Our seatbacks and tray tables were in their upright and locked position. Our seatbelts were securely fastened. Our flight was ready to taxi for takeoff. Then the flight attendant announced calmly, "We have a technical problem, so we ask you all to disembark, and we'll try again tomorrow."

Today (yesterday's tomorrow), the airline called to say that our flight has been re-rescheduled for tomorrow. Travel in Africa is notoriously unpredictable. Our flight to Impfondo this week was no exception. Becky and I have been away from our children for 13 days now. We left to attend a 2-day conference in Ghana. The fact that the two of us are together, that we have a pleasant place to stay, and know that our children are well taken care of, adds to our sense of peace about this situation.

Thankfully, Theresa Follmann, a short-term missionary from Germany, is in Impfondo helping homeschool our children. Theresa and our children have enjoyed her time in Impfondo, but I'm sure Theresa is ready to return to her friends and apartment in Brazzaville (where we are staying), and our kids are starting to miss their parents. Theresa is supposed to return on the same plane that brings us to Impfondo.

Kindamba International Airport

Our travel uncertainties are a small inconvenience linked to luxury, compared to what most people living in Africa deal with all the time. How would you like to live somewhere where you had no reliable access to emergency or even basic medical care for yourself or your children? If the hospital run by Doctors Without Borders in Kindamba closes, this is the reality that the people there will face once again.

We have decided to serve, pending final approval from our mission board, as Doctors Without Borders' handover partner for their project in Kindamba. Thankfully, they will be turning the 6 clinics over to another partner, so all we have to do is help keep the hospital running. The task seems immense, but we are starting to figure out how to make this happen. Olivia says we don't have to worry about going crazy, because we are already crazy for being here in the first place, so we have nothing to lose!

The response since our last PrayerNet has been overwhelming...we even received a pledge to help put some cattle back on those hills! But our greatest need remains a couple of experienced administrative/logistical and/or medical missionaries to provide oversight for this project. Please let us know how God is speaking to you.

Noah's Belated 7th Birthday Party, on 7 March 2008
Well here's a happy ending. Mistral Aviation did finally take us safely all the way home to Impfondo on Thursday, in time for a belated, patiently-awaited birthday party for Noah (his real day is February 25). Theresa made it safely back to Brazzaville as well. Praise God and thank you Mistral.

For Health & Hope,

Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey

Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
March 12, 2008

#270: Kindamba!?

2008-02-17T14:53:00.002-05:00

Impfondo, February 12, 2008

And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other
cities also: for therefore am I sent. Luke 4:43

Dear Friends & Family,

We have so much to report, it's hard to know where to begin. In order to give you an accurate perspective of what's going on here, we'd have to write a new PrayerNet every day. It would be easier for you to come see for yourself, so until you are able to do so, you will have to settle for these glimpses of what God is doing here in Congo-Brazzaville.

Dr. William A. Mix
Many thanks to Bill Mix who came to fill in for Joe for a couple of weeks. Joe had fun learning how to sleep through the night again after 3 months on call. Thanks too to First Baptist Church North East for supporting Dr. Mix's long-awaited trip here. Another benefit: Bill's presence here enabled Joe to travel to Brazzaville in preparation for Pioneer Christian Hospital's Annual Meetings.

Short-term Missionaries Detained by Congo Immigration Police
An international incident occurred when Joe & Isabelle went to pick up Rev. Stan Key and Mr. Erich Rupprecht, Pharmacist Susan Lardner, and Nurse/Pharmacy Technician Mrs. Marion Thompson at the Maya Maya Airport in Brazzaville on January 14, 2008. All had valid US passports, visas from the Congolese Embassy in Washington, a letter of invitation, and certificate of yellow fever vaccination (i.e. their paperwork was in order).

After detaining our weary travelers for 5 hours without explanation, the colonel in charge of immigration locked their passports in his office and said we would have to spend the night in baggage claim. At midnight when they locked the doors with us inside, we thought of Paul & Silas in the Philippi Prison, and decided to pray and sing praises to our King. A number of our fellow prisoners and guards heard us and woke up. There wasn't any earthquake, but at a quarter to one AM, US Embassy personnel secured our provisional release, while the other detainees and immigration police went back to sleep.

Supposedly the problem was that we didn't get our visitors' letter of invitation stamped by the head of the State Security (Congo's equivalent of the KGB). When we went to the General Headquarters of the State Security first thing that morning, they told us they never heard of such a thing! Still, only after the intervention of three Colonels and two Generals (one in charge of the National Police, and the other in charge of the Army), were our visitors' passports returned, as we were boarding the plane for our flight to Impfondo!

Second Annual
Pioneer Christian Hospital
Executive Committee Meeting
Due to travel scheduling difficulties, not all of the PCH Executive Committee members were able to be in Impfondo at the same time, so we scrambled and made arrangements to hold the meeting at the SIL (Wycliffe Bible Translators) headquarters in Brazzaville on January 19 & 20, 2008. This made for a lot of logistical work, but in the end things worked out surprisingly well...almost as if things were proceeding according to a divine plan.

On Friday, January 18, Joe, Pastor Stan, Erich, and Noah were on hand when pre-med student Jason Zimmermann, and Dr. John & Judy Look (Director of Global Health Services Division) arrived as scheduled, while Rev. Brian Albrecht, President of Global Outreach Mission, got delayed and rerouted. In the end, President Albrecht arrived an hour after the meeting was scheduled to begin (instead of the night before, and several days before his suitcase and garment bag).

During our meetings, two new members were elected to serve on the committee which meets yearly to provide accountability, oversight, and advice to the hospital leadership. The new members are Judge Isaac Locko (a retired justice of Congo's supreme court) and Rev. Charles Koumba (a Christian & Missionary Alliance Pastor and director of a local relief organization).

Among other agenda items, Joe presented his Annual Report for 2007, and Action Plan for 2008. Since President Albrecht wasn't the only one weary from traveling, we decided to divide the meeting into two days. At the end of the second day, Joe was reconfirmed as Medical Director of Pioneer Christian Hospital for another one-year term.

Helping the Church Respond to the
Growing HIV/AIDS Epidemic
After the executive committee meetings, Joe & Noah returned to Impfondo with President Albrecht, Dr. & Mrs. Look, and Jason Zimmermann, the same day Miss Melissa Cossette (a nurse from Quebec) and Miss Hanni Gruenig (a veteran nurse/midwife with Wycliffe Switzerland) arrived to prepare for and lead a week-long workshop in Lingala designed to train church leaders to lead their churches in a biblical response to HIV/AIDS. This workshop resulted in profound lifestyle and attitude changes in some of the participants. Melissa and Hanni plan to help others learn to teach the same material to others in the upcoming months. GOM/Congo missionaries Mrs. Marie Michel, and Siko & Delphine Bambemba also participated in the training, and we were all encouraged by the response.

Pioneer Christian Hosptial began treating HIV/AIDS patients with anti-retroviral therapy in December. There are still a lot of kinks to work out in this government-sponsored program. For starters, we'd like to be able to do our own CD4 and viral load testing, and have our own supply of medications for our patients, instead of having to pass all our orders & labs through the local health department.

The Kindambian Call
You may have heard of Doctors Without Borders, an international humanitarian organization that works in conflict & crisis areas to bring healthcare to those who would otherwise have little access to it. Since the last civil war in Congo-Brazzaville ended 3-4 years ago, Doctors Without Borders began planning to withdraw from Congo-Brazzaville, so as to focus their efforts on more active crisis areas like Sudan, Kenya, and Chad.

Doctors Without Borders has been running a hospital in the heart of the Pool Region for 5 years, in a place called Kindamba. The Pool Region used to be the bread and beef basket for all of Congo-Brazzaville. In fact, the Pool surrounds the capital Commune of Brazzaville on 3 sides. After years of conflict and neglect, the once vibrant District of Kindamba is now literally 6 hours of low-gear 4-wheel driving past the end of the road. Many houses still lie in ruins on the fertile hills, though an estimated 55,000 people have returned to the land to rebuild their lives. The Red Cross provided seed and hand tools, but people have no way to get their produce to market, and their once numerous livestock have long been eliminated by hungry warriors.

Doctors Without Borders has asked Global Outreach Mission to take over their integrated health care services (hospital and 6 clinics) in Kindamba. They are willing to hand over the tools (bases, vehicles, equipment, etc.) and skilled people (employees) we would need to make it possible for us to do so before they leave the country May 15, 2008. They have given us until February 22, 2008 to respond.

When Global Outreach Mission President Brian Albrecht heard this challenge, he modified his itinerary so he and Joe could travel with Doctors Without Borders to see their work in Kindamba. We were overwhelmed by the immensity of the task, the difficulty of working in such a remote place, but at the same time our hearts ached to see the intensity of the need. Unless somebody responds to Kindamba's appeal for help, the only hospital serving 55,000 people will be forced to shut down.

I believe God would have us say "Yes, we will do what we can to keep the hospital in Kindamba open, and even expand its impact by adding the spiritual component." In order to do so, we need one or two missionary couples to help us with this effort, and a budget of about $300,000 per year. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. I think He cares about the 55 thousand people on a thousand hills where there are no longer any cattle. Please let us know right away if you can help us respond to this need, as we trust God to provide. In particular, we are looking for several large gifts or grants to confirm God's leading in this area, as well as an experienced administrative/logistical or medical missionary couple to provide oversight to the project.

I thought you were burning out ?
There are many ways how I can foresee taking on the new project in Kindamba will actually help, not hinder, the hospital ministry in Impfondo.

First of all, the base that Doctors Without Borders is willing to turn over to us in Brazzaville would not only be essential for keeping the hospital in Kindamba running, it would also be a huge help to Pioneer Christian Hospital in Impfondo. The base is close to the airport and downtown, has a good size warehouse and plenty of room for guests, and is well equipped with everything needed to support works in the interior. We have already exhausted our resource contacts in Brazzaville and this would greatly expand our logistical support base/capacity.

Second, the LORD has already been leading Gottfried and Marie Michel to serve as our business agent and hostess in Brazzaville when they return from furlough next year. They could leave for furlough in May with a clear vision of the place & ministry they would likely be returning to.

Third, Doctors Without Borders is a well-known, well-respected, effective and efficient international organization. They are willing to help us make sure the Congolese government grants us the same rights and privileges that they have in writing, which would serve to greatly clarify the legal status of Global Outreach Mission in this country. Working on our own, we haven't been able to do that since we first came to Congo in 1996. In essence, we would be grandfathered in to a number of agreements similar to ones we've already negotiated, but that have never been fully implemented (by the government) because we haven't had a full-time representative in Brazzaville.

I should mention that we have been up front with the Doctors Without Borders project leaders, and they understand that our primary goal as an Evangelical Mission is to share the Gospel. Our mission provides healthcare as a means to demonstrate God's love to those in need. Like Jesus we've come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Fourth, we can envision there being an exchange of qualified medical personnel between the hospital at Kindamba and the Pioneer Christian Hospital in Impfondo. It could also provide much-needed change of scenery (ie refreshment) to missionaries in Impfondo, almost as a retreat. There is already a godly Christian Congolese doctor in place who would love to continue on there if we could provide the budget and support to keep the hospital open.

Fifth, our vision is to impact the health of a nation. Our plan in starting Pioneer Christian Hospital was that it would serve as a foundation for health care outreach in the Likouala and other areas of Congo. I can see this as God's way to accelerate that process. With a measured increase in administration and infrastructure we could be reaching twice as many people who are probably twice as needy. Once you have started 2 health centers and you have one mission hospital up and running, there is an economy of scale and experience that allows leveraged impact. Our ultimate goal has never been to start a mission hospital. Our goal is to impact the health of a nation in body, soul, and spirit. Our time on this earth is limited. If we don't move soon, our impact on this nation will be limited.

Sixth, we need God to increase our faith. We've asked God to multiply His harvest in this land. He wants exponential growth, not just growth by addition. Nothing lights my fire like a new challenge! I thought I was burning out, but maybe that was just the precursor to an explosion! Seriously, I haven't felt this excited about something since we first entertained the prospect of starting Pioneer Christian Hospital! We can really see God working in this opportunity, and we are ready as a family for Him to use us and even move us if need be! If we don't keep up momentum towards reaching the entire nation, the tendency for Pioneer Christian Hospital will become (and to some extent already has become) inward and self-serving. Instead of looking within ourselves, we need to look out and look up. The sky is no limit. Heaven is His throne, the earth is His footstool.

Thank you for standing with us in prayer...and remember that responses back to us before the February 22 deadline will help to confirm God's plan on this matter.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
February 13, 2008

#269: Collective Response to PrayerNet #266

2008-01-11T16:41:00.000-05:00

Impfondo, January 3, 2008

Dear Friends & Family,

A belated Merry Christmas to you and Happy New Year!

We received a heartwarming and overwhelming response to PrayerNet #266: Intense Battle, in which I shared with you my frustrations in dealing with the local labor office. We were encouraged to hear from so many of you who have never written before or haven't written in a long time. Thank you for your messages, and thank you especially for your prayers.

Burnout

Some of you correctly surmised that we may be experiencing burnout. Burnout is an all-too-common experience for humanitarian workers in general, and missionaries to Congo in particular. Congo remains a very difficult place in which to live and work. We appreciate your prayers and concern. Don't let up now.

Our options are varied: scale back, reevaluate/acknowledge/accept our limits, implement more preventative measures, medication, counseling, "deal with it", take a break, or quit, etc. While our 5-day break in Pointe Noire and Joe's brother Paul's visit for Thanksgiving has helped us step back from the brink of burnout, it is clear that we are on course for disaster if nothing changes.

We hope and pray that God will strengthen and renew us, and help us have the wisdom to show restraint (Proverbs 23:4). Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 13:1). Faith is confidence that God will intervene. It is camping out on the Egyptian Shore of the Red Sea as Pharoah's army approaches (Exodus 14).

Advice

In your messages, many of you gave advice, all of it appreciated, some of it convicting, some conflicting. Thank you for understanding that it is impossible to put all the advice we receive into practice. We are trying, as Joe's mother often says, "to eat the fish, and spit out the bones." (Dry season has started here, when fish are easier to catch...we've been eating lots of fish lately).

Legal Vacuum

This isolated situation occurred in a context. In Congo there is a "vide juridique" (legal vacuum) with regard to health care administration and employment. In fact we are the first non-profit, non-governmental hospital in this country. So everything we do (good or bad), is setting a precedent. There are no laws that dictate what has to be done in our particular situation, just individual opinions as varied as the shape of our noses.

Another part of the context is that most everything in this country is up for negotiation, and corruption is commonplace. I was not advocating that we try to get around the law, just that we not too readily succumb to any one individual's interpretation or fabrication of what the law requires, particularly in an environment of oft repeated allusions to the potential for personal gain.

What do you do when the facilitator/arbitrator starts pushing his own agenda? My tendency is to appeal to a higher power. Thankfully in Congo, going to the Chief to resolve a dispute is culturally acceptable, and there are multitudinous overlapping layers of authority, so there is always another Chief you can go to if you don't like the answer you get.

Finally, I have one important clarification. We were not firing these two workers, but literally letting them go: they expressed a desire to leave, and we agreed to let them out of their contracts. In Congo labor contracts are automatically upgraded to permanent/undetermined duration after 2 years (or after 21 days of work, if no temporary contract has been signed).

So what did we decide to do & how are things now?

We ended up paying the severance packages as established by nerve-wracking negotiations at the labor office, in the workers' presence. The two workers have moved on, and seem content. We are trying to maintain good relations with all.

Unfortunately this unplanned expense has put the hospital in a precarious position financially. We had hoped the hospital would be self-supporting by now with regards to local salaries and medication purchases. So far, the hospital's receipts have been barely enough to pay the employee salaries. Right now we have $232.05 left in the cashbox, with payroll due January 8, and social security/income/regional and other taxes due January 15 (our average monthly expense for payroll & taxes is over $6,000.).

Some of you expressed interest in helping with this situation and asked for more details. I include these details only because you asked. The two worker's received:

salary for days they didn't work $ 79.97
2 weeks paid time off to look for another job $ 179.33
compensation for accumulated vacation time $ 113.07
required bonuses! (for what?) $ 634.94
compensation! (for what?) $ 175.84
encouragement for a job well done !!??? $ 980.11

Total workers received: $ 2,030.51
Total taxes paid (28%!): $ 374.51
Labor office fees: $ 454.55
Total paid: $ 2,859.56

Bottom line, we had to pay $2,859.56 to let two workers quit (that's something like 5 times the amount the average Congolese makes in a year, for work that was not done)! Imagine if we wanted to fire them? I'm not going to dwell any more on this or it will make me sick all over again.

Lessons Remembered

Try to avoid the labor office whenever possible.
Be very careful about who we hire.
We need to constantly surrender our "rights" to God's control.
Try to improve employee retention and model job satisfaction.
We need to prioritize (ration) our mind, will, and emotions, because they are limited resources.
I tend to take too much responsibility on myself, and need to share more with others.
We shouldn't give up our responsibilities, just ownership of the problem.
Money isn't the most important thing.
Don't look to this world for justice.
Communism set up a system that is still very kind to the workers.
It's expensive to try to help people in this country!
Don't get stressed out about things we are powerless to change.
Choose our battles wisely.
We are loved.

In PrayerNet #266 I wrote, "We are literally fighting for the lives and souls of an entire population."

One friend responded, "Our Sovereign God has permitted you, and the hospital, to serve as His instrument for a time, but He has not relinquished His sovereignty over the situation at all. Your task is to focus on doing the “next right thing,” whether or not it results in threatened long-term viability of the hospital...none of this took the Lord by surprise, and responsibility for the long-term viability of the hospital rests on His shoulders, not yours."

I think that's a fitting conclusion to this matter, don't you?

Thanks for your patience with us, and thank you again for your prayers, concern, empathy, encouragement, inspiring words, scripture references, and heartfelt advice.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
January 7, 2008

#268: Antidisencouragementisms

2007-12-25T15:23:00.000-05:00

Impfondo, December 16, 2007

Dear Friends,

Give thanks to LORD for His goodness. He is great and greatly to be praised.

Each week during our Global Outreach Mission/Congo team meetings, we are reminded of the many prayer requests from the week before that have been answered. This week we rejoice that:

44 boxes of medicines and 2 refrigerators ordered one year ago, arrived safely from Amsterdam via Douala, Bouar and Bangui. a 3-year old boy named
Moses who spent two weeks in respiratory distress due to a pleural effusion from pneumonia, started getting better and now he's ready to go home.
we were able to start our first 2 AIDS patients on anti-retroviral therapy.

Sing to Him. Tonight our children gave their beleaguered parents an airband concert, singing praises to Him.

Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds.

Jesus once said to John the Baptist's disciples, "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."

For 8 years I've been praying for Papa René to get the cataract surgery he needed. While we were on furlough, an eye surgery team came, and took the scales from his eyes. On my way to the hospital, I often see Tata René walking down the street. He walks slowly, because he is old, but his head is up now, and he stands tall, because he can see.

Last week 4 year-old Roselyn's mother carried her to the hospital. Her right leg was tender and swollen and she couldn't stand or walk. Her father cancelled his business trip when, after 24 hours, there was little improvement. We discovered that Roselyn has sickle cell anemia, and started her on appropriate treatment. The next 24 hours brought remarkable improvement, and in 3 days she was running around the pediatric ward, ready to go home.

Lobilo is a young Aka (pygmy) man who fell out of a palm tree and broke his back several years ago, resulting in partial paralysis. Because of this, he developed sores on one foot that smelled so bad, no one wanted to touch him, like a modern day leper. Dr. Fuka operated on his foot, removing some dead and infected bone. His feet are now clean, and his room has been cleansed.

21-year-old Mireille couldn't hear. Her family found her lying on the street near her village after her husband had gone to Impfondo to sell her manioc leaves. They thought she was having a temper tantrum, but our thermometer showed she had a fever. Cerebral malaria was the culprit. After 24 hours on IV malaria medicine, she woke up, could hear and talk again, and was able to go home on oral medicine.

56-year old Lucien started breathing funny after an all night vigil at a "church" that worships waves on the river. About 20 extended family members brought him to the hospital in a profound coma. Several times during his first week in the hospital, the women in his family started wailing. He was so close to death, they started measuring him for a casket. A careful history finally revealed that he was suffering from alcohol withdrawl with delirium tremens. Thiamine injections did the trick, and he has been coming to our chapel services every Sunday since, on his own power.

At Pioneer Christian Hospital, on a daily basis the gospel is preached to the poor, many of whom can not afford adequate medical care anywhere else. In November, 139 patients and family members made commitments to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is still alive, and at work at Pioneer Christian Hospital...the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. This hospital is His.

Exult in His name. His name is great! Jesus! Our Messiah. Our Saviour. Our King. He's got an awesome name, Jesus Christ!

Rejoice.

Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.

Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength!"

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
December 25, 2007

The Rest of the Story

2007-12-02T21:35:00.000-05:00

Dear Pray-ers,

You're in for a special treat. Here's a special Guest PrayerNet written by none other than Joe's brother Paul Harvey, who came to pay us a short visit & accompany his daughter Maribeth (of PrayerNet #263 fame) on her homeward journey. Enjoy...

Love,
Joe & Becky Harvey

Written: Nov. 29, 2007

Dear
Pray-ers,
"This is SO Cool," I say when I get to write The Harvey's Congo PrayerNet from Joe's home, on his computer.
"This is SO Cool," says Maribeth anytime she is overwhelmed with the joys of being here (almost daily).
"This is SO HOT," I say as I sweat buckets just sitting in a shady room (cool day = 89 degrees, 85% humidity).

So how much reality do you want? Which is it; a pure joy, or a smelly sweaty walk in the mud? I'm reminded of a line from somewhere, "the truth? you can't handle the truth." Or as Jesus was asked, "what is truth?" The best solution is for you to come here. If I can do it, you can. I dare you. Are you chicken? I certainly was/am, yet I'm here - and loving it. In case you're wondering, I haven't cheated. I didn't sit under my mosquito net and read a book all week as I threatened to do before leaving. I've seen much of "the real Congo". I swam in the Oubangui River. I carried my nephew away from army ants in the rainforest while led by Aka Pygmy guides. Today I sat in a mud hut with a leper. These are the paths Jesus walked. They are still here, come and see.

It takes a while to get here, and you need reservations. Meanwhile, please plan to get the full story of my short visit personally. I've got eight pages of notes and video and pictures, I'll be prepared to share. I'll give you the whole truth, and answer any questions. Like a walk in the rainforest, you can't understand it without a guide, so ask Maribeth. She has LOVED living here for 3-1/2 months and all the Congolese love her.

For now, I'll give you the rest of the story first, since your own visits will take time to prepare. Why did I come here? I did not have the money or the vacation time and I hate leaving my wife and children for even one night. The answer is simple really. I came for love. I've always loved my brother and his family. As a teen, I loved the Thomas' missionary stories that started Joe's adventure back in the beginning. I love my daughter Maribeth and this was the deciding factor. I wanted her to follow her heart and God's calling to come here, but I also wanted her back!

Even as the shortest of short-term missionaries, I felt that I needed a job to justify my visit. My second motive for coming was to "work" as a missionary. I didn't read the last PrayerNet...we must have crossed paths over the Atlantic...last I knew patient Eliane was doing well and hospital employees were settled. All I knew was that the entire Impfondo family was dreading Maribeth's departure. I prayed for a job, and the only thing that came to mind seemed so little; "be an encouragement." In fact, I don't even know if it's anything that can be put on a list. So I prayed harder and longer, especially for the luggage because I knew they needed the 190 lbs of treasures. God's hand was clearly protecting our luggage, and I got to see Him get even the last bag thru (Brazzaville Airport is a thrill a minute, for hours!).

I'm still not sure how well I've succeeded on either goal. We're all praying hard for our travels (and luggage) to end safely, for now I'm only 50% done with job 1. As for my 2nd goal, how do you know if someone's been encouraged? PRAY, please keep praying. Give thanks to the Lord, I have heard several times this week that I must be like some sort of magic sleeping drug, as the whole family has been able to sleep late all week! I believe this is an answer to your prayers. God gives sleep to His beloved, because often discouragement and fatigue walk hand in hand. (For extra credit, read Margin by Richard A. Swenson, M.D.) We'll never know the eternal battles that have been fought here, but I do know there is no magic or drugs in their sweet slumber.

From the Global Outreach Mission Congo Team meeting last night I heard several additional prayer requests. More workers, always more workers. A doctor, a dentist, a nurse, a teacher, an accountant, a radio team, support staff, short-term workers, and more. The list goes on and on. The doors are open, the blessings are waiting for you. Pray as key team and hospital employees take long overdue vacations, but leave the others overworked. Pray also for fuel, government and church support, and God's protection. Pray for strength for all here as our families and loved ones far away struggle with all the tough issues life can bring. Life is hard here in Congo, but you should see the prayer requests we get from "home". In our meeting here we hurt with you and prayed for your needs.

The Hospital work here is amazing. It's WAY COOL. Please track us down when we arrive safely in PA, USA. I've uncovered my 3rd job...to share this story, in detail, with anyone who will listen. You've got to hear the rest of the story.

Reporting from Impfondo, Congo: for Joe,
Becky, Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, and Noah,
With great joy and love,
Paul Harvey

One couple, Three weddings

2007-11-14T17:45:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

Last month Becky & I were honored to serve as the Bride's witnesses in a wedding. Mr. Pierre & Annie Manguinga are now married, almost. So much of life here is so different, it is impossible to explain, but let me try.

In Congo, in order to be completely married, the culture dictates that one couple must have three weddings. Fulfilling the obligations of all 3 weddings is an expensive rigorous process that usually takes decades.

First there is the mariage coutumier (traditional marriage),
then there is the mariage officiel (official marriage),
and finally, the mariage religieux (religious marriage).

Before any of these can happen the man must faire la presentation where he declares his desire to marry a woman. This would be analogous to asking the father of the bride for permission to get engaged, except you have to give the bride's family a significant amount of alcohol in order for them to say yes.

Next the man must pay la dôte, the bride price to the bride's family. The dôte is a long list of items negotiated by the groom's representative (usually an uncle) with the bride's family (usually her uncles) including hoes, machetes, lamps, designer suits, money, and always plenty of alcohol. Once he has the bride price ready, the mariage coutumier can be scheduled.

Usually the mariage officiel (state civil ceremony) can only be performed once the traditional wedding has been completed. In Congo, only the sous-prefets (mayors) have the authority to perform legal weddings.

The mariage religieux (church wedding) or benedition nuptiale (nuptial blessing) has no legal significance, and can only be performed once the civil ceremony is complete.

The end result of this complex system is that the vast majority of Congolese couples never end up getting completely married. Even otherwise devote Christian couples end up living together in a half-married or semi-engaged state for years, before they are able to acquire enough riches to complete the engagement and three-stage marriage process.

Pierre & Annie are typical Congolese newlyweds. They have lived together for 24 years, have 5 children, some of whom are completely grown, and a grandchild. They are getting married as quickly as they can. Almost eloping! The only reason they are able to get married now is because the bride's family was willing to overlook the fact that the groom hasn't yet completely paid the bride price.

Regardless, we were honored to participate in Pierre & Annie's mariage officiel, and covet your prayers for them and many Congolese couples like them.

We are not the only ones who feel that the cultural dictates with regards to marriage in Congo are unreasonable and prohibitively expensive. Complete marriage is so unobtainable to the average couple. This culture must change in order for the tide of sexual inmorality, adultery, and HIV/AIDS to be reversed.

God designed marriage for one man and one woman, for life. Wherever culture departs from this divine plan, the culture needs to change. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Pray with us as we wage war with traditions that stand in direct opposition to God's word and his commands in this land. We will pray with you as you do so in our home culture and land.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Monday November 12, 2007

Intense Battle

2007-11-14T17:40:00.000-05:00

Dear Pray-ers,

We fought valiantly to save the life of Eliane (aka "Delores"), the young lady who suffered multiple complications related to inadequate obstetrical care before her arrival. Eliane spent 3 months in Pioneer Christian Hospital, and was doing well when she was discharged. We got word yesterday that she died soon after returning to her village.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Though we weren't able to cure Eliane of the physical complications she experienced, she left the hospital a firm believer in Jesus Christ, and we are confident her soul is in heaven now. She was found and saved! To see her walking on her own power to our Sunday chapel service, and dancing with joy to praise music when she came for a dressing change one day, are memories I cherish. These memories are a small glimpse of what heaven will be like, where all the blind will see, all the lame walk, all the lepers are cleansed, all the deaf hear, and all the dead are raised.

In the meantime, we content ourselves with a fraction of the divine healing that is possible but for our lack of faith, and the fact that to the poor the Gospel is preached (Luke 7:22).

In the month of September, 169 poor in spirit patients and family members accepted Christ during chapel services at Congo's Pioneer Christian Hospital!

So why am I surprised at the row that rages on in my soul now?

We have 2 employees that decided to quit working for the hospital 8 months ago. They didn't resign, but didn't do much work either. It took us a long time to come to grips with the fact that their productivity was not going to return to acceptable levels. We decided last week to let them go. Now, according to the government work inspector's calculations, we are required to pay each of these 2 workers, a severance package equivalent to 8 months' salary, and the equivalent of 4 months' salary to the government labor office!

I am struggling to find the balance between standing up for what is right and rendering unto Ceaser that which is Ceaser's. Let me be frank with you. This week I have come as close as I ever have to a nervous breakdown. I have been losing sleep and weight over this injustice. I know everything we have has been entrusted to us by God. I find it hard to justify using money that has been given for the Lord's work in this way. The same amount could literally treat one hundred patients who can not otherwise afford their care. How does this glorify God? Is it really His will for us to give in, or should we fight the system?

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. The powers that we've come up against now are threatening my sanity and the long-term financial viability of Pioneer Christian Hospital. That makes me angry, perplexed, depressed, desperate, torn, wounded.

Feel free to write me with advice, but what we need most right now is your prayers. Get into this battle with us, please. On our side. We are literally fighting for the lives and souls of an entire population.

For Health & Hope,
Dr. Joseph & Rebecca Harvey
Olivia, Claire, Isabelle, & Noah
Monday, November 1, 2007