When we accepted the 98-year lease on these 18 acres in 2002, it was, frankly, ugly! Not one tree or flower. Everything was dust-colored as everything was covered with dust.
There was a rare hut but mainly open prairie. Now a city is building up on all sides of the hospital.
Yes, this reminds me of the One who inspired us to come here to tell others what He has done for us. But He is no longer on that tree!
He is doing His mighty work of Salvation here among the deluded folk who have been following an Imposter and Liar.
But praise Jesus! Truth has come to Guinebor and many other communities via medical/ surgical care servants who love Him.
I must admit, I once didn’t look forward to coming here to G2 on short term surgery trips—though I did it many years (three to four times yearly). Total of 35 trips and still counting!
We moved here full time in 2016. I was full time with VOM for seven of those years (2001-2008) as the international medical director. I founded CEF (2002) the next year.
At the same time that I was developing this hospital, I was also developing the one at Werkok, South Sudan—with the blessing of VOM.
I was also was running around some other dangerous countries in Central Asia and Indonesia taking medical/surgical care of brothers and sisters who had been physically injured by those who hate the disciples of Jesus.
But anyway, I used to consider G2 hospital mission station was just homely (not homey). Think different colors of light beige and dirt white!
Now, finally, thanks to previous and current residents here and to my wife, Debbie, there are colorful flowers and green plants. And there’s even mowable grass for three months of each year. A mixed blessing, you say?!
The rainy season is usually over by October and some of the colors fade, and most grass dies and turns beige. It gets dusty all over again very quickly. Everything turns beige and dirt white again—except many of the flowers and parts of trees.
You can imagine if you thrive on color, how much we look forward to the short Sahel rainy season.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. —Romans 1:20
Male orange head lizards found in several African countries as well as parts of Asia and probably other parts in the world.
Some may say, Bert, you must be desperate for amusement if you’re attracted to lizards!
That may be partly true but it doesn’t take so much to interest an older guy (79 years old next month.)
This is the second time that I’ve sent photos of lizards.
The first was almost five years ago from Nigeria when we served with WMM/Samaritan’s Purse/ SIM at Egbe Hospital. Doesn’t seem that long ago, does it?
What makes me reach for the camera is not its basic lizardness, though I watched one female consume at least 40 insects consecutively over a period of about 30 minutes! Hey, that’s worth a thumbs up, don’t you think?
The big attraction is the brilliant colors, especially the male. (See photo above.)
The females have a variety of interesting back patterns.
The females in this region display very interesting patterns and some color and would get more attention if the males didn’t prance by almost flashing his brilliant colors.
These beautiful colors, we read, are not intended for us but to attract females for procreation.
It is only during mating season that these colors appear. Otherwise, both males and females hardly attract attention as they both become dull-colored and much less attractive.
I do not agree with whoever feels that these beautifully colored creatures are “not for us.”
Before my conversion, I appreciated the beauty of nature, but after I became a disciple of Jesus Christ, this beauty became a time of humility, worship, admiration, and adoration of our wonderful Lord, the amazing Creator of all things!
The Big Bang Theory? No thanks!
A lizard is a very small example of how truly awesome He is!
I deal with some of the complexities of the human body almost every day. There just are not enough billions of years of evolution that could ever explain it!
Often I thank God as I suture closed a long abdominal incision, as I realize that without His miracle of healing it would all fall apart soon.
Thank you, loving Father, for creating beauty for your own reasons one of them being for the enjoyment of your children—like me!
We need more missionary housing. This is a good problem to have!
We expect four or five new long term families to move on campus over the next months and year. We also have more short termers planning to serve and many visitors. We need more housing.
In addition to adding a three bedroom house, we will remodel the building below which for years served as our sterilization center.
Good friends from SC supplied funds to remodel this building and converted it into two one-bedroom apartments. Another good friend, a SC architect, drew the building plans.
The first operation I did here at G2 about nine years ago was an amputation of a pretty little 8 y/o girl’s arm.
The family thought the girl had broken her arm and instead of bringing her to the hospital be treated they took her to a traditional healer (bone setter).
The splint they applied was too tight and the result was gangrene of the forearm and hand. We found no fracture, which seemed to make this already very sad case worse.
Four-year-old Fatime
I hoped that this would be the last of such cases I would see but, unfortunately, little four-year-old Fatime (see photo) endured the same painful ordeal only to end up having an amputation here three days ago.
Of course, we try out best to educate parents and anyone else listening to avoid bone setters but there some connections of the charlatans with the spiritual world. Often our advice is not heeded.
On the left is Dr. Tom Spears, who plans to be here next January with his wife and two children (ages 2 &4 years.) He serves with BMS UK and is a completely trained family medicine specialist.
He has served in Benin and Nepal. The Spears plan to serve with us long term at G 2.
This was a bit of a test trip for the Spears and to check into schools for the children. From the G2 leadership team’s perspective, the Spears “passed muster” and we enjoyed the time of interaction. We are already looking forward to the Spears family becoming members of our G2 family!
On the right is Chris Spears is Tom’s dad and is a retired engineer. I tried to recruit him to have a crash course in surgery so he could come and share night and weekend call, but he didn’t seem to think he would deal with blood too well.
I feel it is an excuse, and he just prefers to amble around the beautiful eastern England country and beaches! He knew better than to use the age card. I’m his senior by 8 years!
As you can tell we all enjoyed the Spears’s short visit with us. Bert
History is being made as Dr. Paul, his wife, Lynn, and three children, arrived this weekend for a four-month stay.
Paul is originally from Ghana and has completed his Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center in California.
He is the first Fellow we have had. We will try to provide him with a rich experience here at G2.
Paul’s supervisor is Dr. James Appel, also a graduate of the FM residency at Ventura County. The latter FM residency is known as one of the best in the US.
Dr. Appel has a vast experience in serving in Chad for 17 years.
Thank you, Lord, for sending this great family! Bert
