A Letter from John and Gwenda Fletcher, who served in Congo 2009-2018
July 2018
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Dear Friends,
It was just past midnight when the young woman arrived at the Good Shepherd Hospital (GSH), on the back of a bicycle and in great distress. She was in a desperate condition, having been in labor already for more than a day under care of a midwife in a distant village, but there was no progress, and the baby could not be delivered through the birth canal. The woman had been told by her traditional midwife that she had to go to a hospital for an operation. When she was examined at GSH, Dr. Bernard Tshibata and the nurses noted that the baby was already showing effects of the stress, and they needed to proceed with an emergency cesarean section to save her baby. In the central Kasai Provinces of the DR Congo, there is no electrical grid and no electricity, so no light and no power for surgical equipment! However, Praise the Lord, Dr. Tshibata was able to perform the emergency surgery without delay, saving the mother and her baby, because at the Good Shepherd Hospital we have electricity 24/7, thanks to the foresight of pioneering missionaries who planned for and undertook the construction of a small hydro-electric facility that has been providing electricity for the hospital with virtually no interruption since September 1986.
This facility functioned very well for nearly 30 years, but was in need of repairs and renovation. In 2010, I became involved in a renovation project for the GSH hydro. This project was supported by the Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) because they recognized the importance of affordable electricity in the provision of medical care in austere environments. Somewhat later, I also became aware of a similar need for the hydro-electric facility at the Bibanga Presbyterian Hospital.
The recognition of these important needs led to the development of a hydro-electric renovation project for the Bibanga and IMCK Good Shephard Hospital hydro facilities.
The team was at IMCK March 23-April 7, during which time they completed the installation of the new regulators, control panels, hydraulic units, and the wiring and hydraulic lines, as well as spent time training the hydro operators on the maintenance and use of the new regulators.
Once the work at IMCK was completed, the team then traveled by vehicle to Bibanga, arriving on April 7. Before the team’s departure from Bibanga on April 17, they were able to make repairs to and perform maintenance on the turbine, complete the installation of the new equipment (gearbox, generator, control panels, regulator and hydraulic unit and all the associated wiring, as well as a new grating in the canal to prevent debris from entering the turbine). The powerhouse was commissioned, as well, and training was given to the hydro staff. The team was unable to provide electricity to the hospital due to a previously unknown problem with the high-voltage transformer for the transmission line. This need remains, and is an important item for prayers. I remained in Bibanga for several weeks more to finalize things the team did not have time to address and to provide additional training to hydro operators.
I am sure that you have been concerned about Gwenda’s health and our plans. Gwenda was gradually improving during the time I was in the DR Congo, and upon arriving in Seattle in early June, I was most pleased to find that she is much improved since I returned to DR Congo in February. That was a real answer to prayer. It is clear, however, that she still has a long way to go and is not yet able to resume work, as she still cannot tolerate the physical demands of travel to and work in the DR Congo or the reading and computer use that would be necessary. It is rather difficult to make the decision to retire from service with the PC(USA) in the DR Congo, but we find that we really do not have any choice in the matter. We have very fond memories of our many years in Congo and are thankful to God for our many Congolese brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues we have come to know over the years. It has been our great privilege to work closely with the Congolese Presbyterian Church and the leadership of the Church, particularly in the areas of medicine and education. We are also thankful for the opportunity we had to work with and come to know so many of you wonderful Presbyterians here in the USA. We truly could not have served in Congo without your continuous prayer and financial support, and we thank you for all that you have done over the years to support the mission of the PC(USA) in the DR Congo.
I would like to particularly thank you for your continuous prayers for healing and a complete recovery for Gwenda. What a difference that made for Gwenda and for me. Gwenda deeply regrets that her illness has prevented her from being in regular contact with you and particularly has prevented her from expressing to you her great appreciation for your prayers of support during her illness and for your faithful support of the education ministry in the DR Congo over the years. Now, as we retire from service with the PC(USA) and move on to whatever God has prepared for us, we pray that God will show us His plan and give us open minds and the willingness of heart to follow His will.
Serving in DR Congo has taken pretty much all we had, but our role has been a small part in God’s mission, which will continue without us, as we are assured in Philipians 1:6: “… he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
The education ministry that Gwenda was involved in remains a priority for PC(USA) World Mission. We wish to share with you their statement regarding continuation of the (education) mission work in the DR Congo:
“World Mission is actively recruiting a mission co-worker to resource our church partners in Congo (CPK and CPC) in the area of education, similar to what Gwenda has been doing, and invites you prayerfully to continue your support of this important ministry. We ask you to further your partnership with Presbyterian World Mission by making a pledge for the next four years, that is, from 2018 through 2022, in support of our ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Your continued gifts to E200529 (presbyterianmission.org/donate/E200529/) will help ensure our ability to fill this position. We cannot do this important ministry without you.”
May God grant you His Grace and Peace,
John and Gwenda
P.S. Just a minor technical note: Our PC(USA) email addresses are no longer functional. You may contact us at jfletcher1420@gmail.com. Gwenda is not doing any email, so it is better not to use her email address.
Our temporary mailing address until mid-September is: John and Gwenda Fletcher, 784 Santa Barbara St., Apt 2, Pasadena, CA 91101
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