Hello from Gabon!
Over these past months, we have seen God faithfully answer your prayers for the ministry here at Bongolo as the country, the hospital and ourselves, have all stepped into new seasons.
We are so grateful for your partnership in prayer with us during these months, and rejoice in how God has provided and is bringing about His heart and vision for Bongolo and the work He is accomplishing here.
The InfoServe department, the area in which Christopher serves to provide Tech help and Biomed repair at the hospital, came up under the direction of the new Directeur Technique (DT) position within the hospital leadership structure. The DT is over several other hospital departments including facilities management, mechanics and new building projects.
It has been rewarding to see a department which has previously been IW led, now be directly led by the direction and vision of the Hospital.Christopher has been really blessed to serve under the DT, who leads his department with integrity and passion for the Gospel.
Christopher has also so enjoyed the fraternal relationships developed serving under the DT, alongside a whole new department of co-workers across the DT’s sub-departments.
The Nursing School transitioned to a Gabonese Director this year. God has brought such strides of development under Mr. Percy’s leadership. His calling, skill-set, critical thinking, cultural connections and passion for the discipleship of each student – are being used to point to Jesus here at the nursing school and in the surrounding community.
There are four different nationalities represented in our small nursing teaching team.
I have so enjoyed learning from each of their grace, patience and humor – as we’ve teamed while navigating each of our various cultural peculiarities toward a shared passion and purpose.
It truly is a joy to teach together.
New developments at the Nursing school this year:
-A teaching and clinical exchange with a local nursing school in Mouila that has ~400 students
-Further advancements in the critical thinking component of the curriculum
-Clinical instructor positions all became filled by African nurses this year
-New collaborations with the leaders of the Gabon Alliance church (of which the hospital is a ministry)
-And most notably – the nursing school is on the precipice of accreditation, undergoing it’s final steps in the government process
Last week, all 20 students passed their final A&P course to move forward in the program!
We praise God for fruit of these new seasons!
As we’ve seen God work through these new seasons in our respective areas of ministry, in praying we’ve received a consistent and confirmed sense of release for our family from the ministry in Gabon.
In light of that, we will not be returning to Gabon following our regularly scheduled home assignment this summer.
Our regular rhythm of pre-home assignment packing and “see you later’s”, these past few weeks have become packing to move and final “goodbyes”.
Our hearts are deeply saddened to leave the relationships the Father has led us into during our years here at Bongolo. Friends and colleagues of deep faith – who have grown us in our own.
We follow Jesus into this next season, forever marked by how their spirit has so resonated with our own.
In praying as to how and where Jesus may be leading us for this next season, we continue to receive confirmation that He is leading our family to a season of rest and refilling.
And so we follow His leading into a season of pause from full time ministry following this summer’s home speaking assignment.
If you’re reading this from our newsletter email links, then you are part of a small group who is keenly aware of just how pivotal your giving has been in allowing us to return to Bongolo each year.
It is no exaggeration that we very literally would not have been able to return to the field each year without you.
The rejoicing of this past year, the fruit of these new seasons – is yours to share in as well.
Your partnership with the kingdom in Gabon, is deeply felt here by our African colleagues in ministry.
Thank you for your essential, sacrificial prayer & giving for the furthering of the kingdom here in Gabon!
We look forward to connecting with you in the coming weeks and months, to share more deeply of how God has journeyed with us these past months, and so look forward to hearing how God has journeyed with you.
With Love,
One last time from the Jungle,
~The Edmans
Christopher, Amanda, Matthias & Cora Lisette
