In just weeks, a tiny little plane will leave Lubumbashi and land in Kapanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The plane will be filled to capacity with 10 people, including the pilot. The other nine men and women are old friends and include Whidbey’s own Carmen McFayden.
This is the fourth mission call the nine have answered together, taking their medical expertise to the people of the Congo in 2002, to Nepal and to China, where they were not allowed to give medical care but were allowed to teach English.
This time, the impressive nine will be based in Kapanga at the Samuteb Hospital, where a self-taught surgeon heads the staff and there is no electricity, nor is there a water supply. Currently, water running through a rusty pipe is caught and boiled for use in cleaning and surgery.
Built by the United Methodists in 1920-30, the hospital was supported by missionaries until a missionary was killed during a war in the ’70s and all churches pulled their people out. After several Congolese wars, as well as neighboring Angolan wars during recent years, the Kapanga people have been lost to the world, living in the midst of war zone dangers and post-war trauma.
At one point, the Congolese army occupied the hospital buildings. and the hospital has never recovered from that abuse. Still, Samuteb is considered the best medical facility within 300 miles in all directions. After another war in the ’90s, it is considered relatively safe for missionaries to return.
“Upon arriving in Kapanga,” Carmen said, “we’ll be cleaning the hospital area where we’ll be teaching – cleaning and sanitizing it our way – the way we’ll be teaching them to do.”
With two doctors aboard, mornings will be spent caring for the sick in outlying areas, but the afternoons will be different.
“We’ll be teaching about HIV/AIDS, general hygiene, sterilizing techniques and nutrition,” Carmen said, “things they need to know.”
On Friday, March 19, Carmen gave a pre-trip media presentation at a Soup Supper at the Coupeville United Methodist Church, where donations were received to support the impressive nine Pacific Northwest United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. She promises a post-trip presentation to follow.
Let’s send Carmen off with our love and support!
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