Flag of the Republic of Congo

Just like the flag of the United States, the flag of the Republic of Congo has experienced some changes.

Flag of the Kingdom of Kongo (circa 17th century)

Flag of the French Congo (1959-1970)

Flag of the People's Republic of Congo (1970-1991)

The current flag was adopted on September 15, 1959 and readopted on June 1991.

The green stands for the forests and agriculture of Congo, and the yellow represents the friendship and nobility of the Congolese people.

The symbolism behind the red is unknown.

The current flag of the Republic of Congo

Photos and info from Wikipedia

A little bit about the ROC

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"No, not that Congo..." 

is a phrase we have found ourselves repeating frequently.

If you hear about the Congo in the news, you are most likely hearing about the Democratic Republic of Congo, our neighbor to the East.

The Congo where we live is the Republic of Congo, located in the central-western part of sub-Saharan Africa.  The equator cuts through the country.

Fast Facts:

Official Name: Republic of the Congo

Capital: Brazzaville

Government Type: Republic

Population: 3.8 million

Area: 132,000 square miles; slightly larger than New Mexico

GDP Per Capita: $1,400

Web site: Congo-site.com (In French)

from the New York Times

For more information see: Republic of Congo (Wikipedia)

CIA World Fact Book
BBC Profile- Republic of Congo

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More to come on the history of the ROC flag...

Meanwhile, back at the farm....

Some of you may be wondering what is going on in Impfondo during our absence...

We have some good news: DR Congo is declared Ebola free

From Lauren Lunsford via Facebook:

One of my favorite parts about being a nurse is watching the formerly critically ill go home.

This is Mondesi. The doctors told his family repeatedly that they should prepare for his death, that he wasn't going to make the week. He had sickle cell, severe malnutrition, multiple abdominal surgeries, and needed abscesses cut open every week. BUT he had a mother and an aunt who prayed for him without ceasing. When one woman wanted to sleep the other would get on her hands and knees and pray so that someone was always praying. This boy could not even sit by himself without excruciating pain and weeping. And yesterday I watched him literally pick up his mat and walk home. God is a God of miracles even for today.

{Read more about Mondesi's story: Despite Our Presence or Absence}

This is Esther. She came in a few months ago very malnourished after drinking lye. She had a G-tube placed and is looking significantly better. It's so nice to see success stories every once in a while. 

 On Reigning in Life, Sarah Tenpenny shares about HIV Counseling

Often patients are diagnosed with HIV for the first time at the hospital. Our lab workers do their best to tell them about their diagnosis but sometimes it takes time to truly sink in. Often after they hear the words, “you have HIV” nothing else is heard after that. For so many years in Africa the disease was a death sentence. Over the last few years, especially due to PEPFAR that President Bush put into place a few years back to fund AIDS medication, this in no longer the case. The problem is, each patient must come back in regularly for medications and testing.

It takes significant time and kind, loving words to share this diagnosis. One such patient recently came into clinic with a new diagnosis, but understanding little. Her first questions was “How long do I have to take these medications?”. She was totally shocked and started crying when we told her “for the rest of your life”. She refused and got up to leave. Through kind words of encouragement and prayer the young woman began to accept this. We prayed with her and she committed herself to the treatment for her disease and better understood that she had not really been given a death sentence.

******************

From New Sight Congo

Happy Patients, Happy Staff, Happy us.
Have a happy day!
With love and thanks from the Congo

Ready, Set, Go

Ready to leave for the Congo for the first time

The last few weeks have been full of preparations for the next three years.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for all of our last minute details.  Our visas arrived on March 3, coincidentally my birthday.  I've decided it's my best birthday present ever- at least the most expensive!

Stephen finished his recertification exams.  He has received the news that he has passed both his Pediatric Boards and Emergency Medicine Boards.

The kids are much bigger now!

We've been saying some bitter-sweet goodbyes to friends and family. We have enjoyed the time with them and are so grateful for their presence in our lives, but it is difficult saying good-bye for 3 years.

For our last Sunday in the US, we were able to visit with our friends at Davidson Baptist Church.  This is the same church we visited our first Sunday in the US!   It was nice to close out our time here the way we began.

Now our trunks have been packed, weighed, repacked, rearranged, and finally they are ready to go.

This morning we depart for Congo!  We'll be driving to Cincinnati, flying to Atlanta/Paris/Brazzaville.  Please pray for our safety while traveling and that all of our luggage will arrive intact.

When we get to Brazzaville, we will spend a few days to adjust to the time change and climate, while doing some errands and reconnecting with friends.  After a few days, we'll be on to Impfondo.

Thank you again for all of your prayers, support, and encouragement.  We couldn't do this with out all of you!

Impfondo found Around the Web

Some of our colleagues in Impfondo have blogs, too.   The Harveys have been in the Republic of Congo since 1995.  Their newsletters can be found at Congo Harveys.

The Samoutous are operating New Sight Congo, the first eye center in our area.  They are also our neighbors in Impfondo.

 Dr. Laura Foudy was in Impfondo for about 2 1/2 years.  She's heading to the "other Congo" for three months.  We hope she'll be back in Impfondo soon.

The Tenpenneys are our newest arrival in Impfondo!

One Year Ago...

One year ago today, we left Impfondo.  It's hard to believe how quickly this year has flown.

We have purchased our plane tickets to return to Congo.  We leave the US on March 11!

One year ago- leaving Impfondo

One year ago- leaving Impfondo

What will we be doing as we prepare to leave?

School will go on as usual for as long as we are able.  All of our spare time will be used to pack and weigh trunks and suitcases.

Our last church visit will be with the Georgetown Alliance Church on Sunday, January 26.

Stephen will be busy studying.  He has two tests to take to keep up his medical board certifications.  One will be February 20, and the other will be February 22.

We are going to have a few last minute visits with family, and then we'll be on our way!

Summer/ Fall Update

Ian and Caleb at CMA headquarters in MT

Our family in Cut Bank, MT

Dr. Harvey and Dr. Foudy

Dr. Foudy with Siko and Delphine Bambemba

Wegners4theROC update:

The container is out of port. It's the blue one. Next stop Brazzaville.

Our family has been on the go!  We finished our touring in the Eastern part of the US with a week at Camp Nathanael in Eastern KY.  Then it was time to hit the road for another long trip.  We headed west, stopped by Colorado, then continued to Montana.

We arrived in Montana at the end of June, and we have been enjoying our time here.  Stephen has been working at the Blackfoot Community Hospital in Browning and Benefis Health Center in Great Falls.

We've been able to visit many churches in Montana during July, August, and the first part of September.

Our traveling and church visits will continue in September and October, with the following schedule:

September 21 & 22- First Alliance Church in Billings, MT.  This will be followed by the TLC conference.  Anna will speak Tuesday afternoon to the Great Commission women from First Alliance Church.

September 28 & 29- Lewistown CMA Church in Lewistown, MT

October 5 & 6-  Plains Alliance Church in Plains, MT

October 13-18- Stephen and Anna will be at The American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly in Seattle.

October 19-20- Neighborhood Alliance Church in Riverton, WY

October 27- Cut Bank Community Bible Church in Cut Bank, MT

We would love to see you at any of these places if you are close!

Family News:

We have had a chance for many reunions with friends that we haven't see in years.  It's been bittersweet- fun to see everyone again and catch up, but hard to say good-bye after a short time.

Anna and the kids started school on August 26.  We've been taking school with us as we travel.   It makes things interesting!  For more details see our family blog.

Hospital News:

The transitions continue at the hospital.  Dr. Joseph Harvey and his family returned to Impfondo in June.  In July, Dr. Laura Foudy completed her service in Impfondo and returned to the US.

The container with the electrical supplies is finally out of port!  The next step is transportation to Brazzaville, and from there to Impfondo.  Please continue to pray for these much needed supplies to reach Impfondo.

There will be a team traveling from the US at the beginning of October.  Thank you to those of you who responded to the "help wanted" add.  Please keep the team in your prayers as they finalize preparations.

Future plans:

In November, we will return to the southeastern part of the United States to spend time with family and attend several conferences.

We plan to return to the Congo in February or March of 2014.  We have been making preparations towards that goal.

Thank you for all your support and prayers on our behalf.

This is a job for?......

Many of you have heard us talk about or have read about our problems with consistent electricity at the Pioneer Christian Hospital and others of you have expressed an interest in helping out at the hospital but don't know what to do .  Well this is the post for you......See our help wanted ad below!

Wanted a few good people

 What: Installing new wiring, rewiring the infrastructure of the hospital grounds, laying underground cables and installing new circuit breaker panels connecting new generators to an electrical system at the Pioneer Christian Hospital.  This involves working in a tropical environment, manual labor and some cross-cultural interaction

 

Who: people who are skilled in wiring or who are good at working with their hands, improvising solutions and who love Jesus.

When: September/October of this year for 4wks to 3 mos.  You decide the length of time you can be in the Congo.

Where:  Impfondo, the Repbulic of Congo. It is an isolated city in the northern section of the Republic of Congo.  Weather forecast: mid 80s to low 90s with 90% humidity and chance of isolated thunderstorms.  The Pioneer Christian Hospital is a 7 year old evangelical hospital providing essential care to a catchment area of over 200,000 people.

How:  A team of volunteers is being organized by Chip Frey.  Interested parties should contact him directly by email at chipfrey@comcast.net  Volunteers will be expected to raise all the money needed to go on the trip.  The money raised will pay for flights to the country and in the country as well as food and lodging while in Impfondo.

Why:  It’s a great opportunity to use your skills to honor God in a cross-cultural setting and to play a role in providing medical care without having to learn anything medical!

For more info about the hospital check out www.congoharveys.org  and the pioneer Christian hospital facebook page or the wegners 4 the roc facebook page.

Faces

Northeast Road Trip---by the numbers

1 road trip

3000 miles
                             
                                                                                                           22 days

7 host families

The Hankinsons: one of many hosts for us

4 family reunions



















Two day trips to DC with one subway ride
One Zoo trip

One national park

Fort McHenry Baltimore MD

One day visiting old friends at Stephen's residency

FIVE museums 

 

Air force museum in Dayton OH

two state parks

THREE Open House get togethers

In Clinton Connecticut

Five ministry presentations in 3 churches

Two surprise visits from old Congo friends

Anna with Susie Lardner who drove a day to see us.

5 Congo reunions


ONE aquarium visit

in the mouth of the megamouth shark in Baltimore

and ONE LARGE LEGO TOWER!

Thanks to all who met, welcomed, prayed or were otherwise involved in the trip.  Stay tuned for more info about where we are going next and how you can partner with us.