Fall travel fun

October 16, 2018

It is this time of the year that I miss the leaves changing, cool nights, and temperate climates.  Rainy season seems to drone on and on.  Mud is a serious impediment to movement.  Today we are reading a book about the seasons and doing a leaf tracing with the kids, all in an effort to recognize the autumn season.

A Trip to Uganda

We just returned from a short road trip to Uganda to procure batteries for the hospital.  Power is a serious problem when the sun does not shine for our little “off the grid hospital.”  The hospital received several grants to help with the costs.  It is a large initial investment that pays off in the long term.  It was nice to get away from the threat of Ebola and be refreshed. 

There were lots of fun times on our road trip to Uganda.  It took about 16-18hours to make the 308 km trip to Kampala.  Google maps says it takes 11hours 55minutes, but the reality is otherwise!  We try to have some fun camping along the way, seeing animals in Murchison Falls and on the Nile

River.  We really enjoyed time as a family, with our friend and visiting surgeon Jen.  It is a season of firsts for our four-year old.  It gives us a lot of joy to see Emmanuel enjoy ‘catching’ a Nile perch and roasting it over the fire and learning how to swim for the first time.  He is gaining the confidence to swim and is not afraid of being underwater.  Rivers equate with crocodiles.  Elephants sleep under trees.  We sleep in a tent house.  As I am reading about this developmental stage, it seems that his rational thought is catching up with his emotions.  He is able to modulate his emotions and deal with his feelings, even express them.  We are really enjoying this new phase of parenting.  We are always thankful

to return safely to Nyankunde.

The Ebola Outbreak

As many of you know, we find ourselves living in a province affected by Ebola.  Our hospital has taken certain measures such as completion of an isolation ward, triage, and general infection control.  These are difficult days for hospital staff as our patient load has decreased significantly.  According to the government, we should only be doing emergency (no elective) surgery.  We have not had any confirmed cases here, for which we are so thankful.  Still there is a lot of fear in the population and fear makes people leave treatment centers, conceal the severity of their illness, and flee to outside hospitals.  The epicenter of this outbreak is in North Kivu in and around Beni.  However,  people have fled north to cities in our area.  Join us in prayer for the Lord’s protection of our staff and village.

Home Assignment

We are returning to the US for a short period at the end of the year (December-March).  This has been a particularly stressful time with the current outbreak and upcoming elections.  We are blessed to have a surgeon with us for the year.  This really gives us the freedom to travel and take a little time off.  It is the first time in 6 years that we are leaving with a surgeon in place.  We are looking forward to spending time with family and friends over the holidays in the Blue Ridge mountains, reconnecting with supporting churches, and taking care of medical appointments/etc.  We won’t be doing as much traveling this time, but we would love to see you.    

We know that God is with us.  He is sovereign and directs our paths.  He gives us purpose and daily lives that matter for His kingdom.  We have the honor to represent Jesus to others in our work.  

Prayer points:

-Please pray for the end of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo.  Pray for an end to fear and violence that escalate the problems.  

-Pray for Nyankunde Hospital as it struggles to pay staff and provide patient care.  Pray that we would represent Jesus well in our daily work.

-Pray for our preparations for home assignment in a few weeks.  Pray for a joyous time of reconnection with family and friends.

-Rejoice with us that the hospital chapel rehabilitation project is moving forward.  This is the last  link to the project:  https://youtu.be/uaeM-FhP8OM.  

An aerial view of the old hospital chapel

building of Nyankunde Hospital to be rehabilitated since the war.  The hospital received a generous donation from Redeemer Church in LaMirada California that will allow the work to commence.  If you would like to see more about this project, please email us privately: warrenandlindsey@gmail.com.  Check out the video

-Pray that we would also be growing in our walk with the Lord and with the community.

"Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."  Ephesians 3: 20-21.

With love and blessing,

Lindsey, Warren, & Emmanuel Cooper