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MISSION CONNECTIONS:
John and Gwenda Fletcher
In January 2009, the Fletchers were appointed to serve with the Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC) in the Kasai region of Democratic Public of the Congo. This is by no means their first acquaintance with the Congo. The Fletchers were first appointed mission personnel by the PC(USA) in 1989, and they served in the Congo until January of 2001. Both John and Gwenda grew up as children of Presbyterian Mission workers in India.
An update from Gwenda as of November 4, 2009
John is a general surgeon who is working with the Congolese Presbyterian Church (CPC) in their medical programs. He is based at the Christian Medical Institute of the Kasai in Tshikaji where he performs surgery at the Good Shepherd Hospital and teaches medical students, residents, nurses and laboratory technicians. He has also been named the interim medical director of the CPC medical programs with responsibility for the overall management of the CPC's 7 "bush" hospitals. Our recent trips with the head of the CPC, Rev. Dr. Mulumba, were to introduce John to the medical staffs and to orient him to the various hospitals.
Medical work in Congo can be challenging because many patients arrive with very advanced disease. Typical surgeries John does are: reparations of intestinal perforations caused by typhoid, hernia repairs, lung surgeries for tuberculosis, intestinal blockages, kidney stones, orthopedic surgeries and resections of malignancies. He handles all surgical cases except for OB/Gyn since we are fortunate to have a missionary colleague, Dr. Mike Haninger, and a trained Congolese doctor, Dr. Jean Bimvulu who take care of those cases.
In his capacity as interim medical director of the CPC medical program, John directs and supervises the medical work of the CPC hospitals in coordination with the staff at each hospital and the church leadership. On his regular visits to these hospitals he will teach surgical technique and care to the doctors and nurses and help with management issues. He is also a talented all-round handyman and on our recent trip worked out a solution to an autoclave (surgical sterilization unit) problem, fixed two computers and brought back the pieces for a water pump he will work on as time permits in Tshikaji.
I am an educator who works with the CPC Department of Education. The CPC has over 500 primary and secondary schools in the East and West Kasai regions of central Congo. My focus is to help build the church's capacities in infrastructure, teacher skills and training, administration and community involvement. On our recent trips, while John was visiting CPC hospitals, I visited CPC schools. These schools are doing a wonderful job of educating Congo's children despite enormous challenges. Teachers and students have no textbooks. Most school buildings are built out of mud and sticks with thatch roofs. There are no desks or chairs so students sit on the dirt floor or a rock or log. Supervisors, located in the cities of Kananga or Mbuji Mayi, must travel distances of up to 150 miles (one way!) by bicycle to visit the schools for which they are responsible. Teachers are thirsty for additional training and instruction in teaching methods and practice. They lack not only textbooks but also didactic materials such as globes, charts, maps, manipulatives, flash cards, etc. In spite of the difficulties they face, the CPC schools are providing an education coupled with religious instruction and Christian witness in an effort to serve the populations in East and West Kasai.
The Congo Mission Network, a network of individuals and Presbyterian Churches interested in Presbyterian mission work in the Congo, has a sub-committee dedicated to education. They have produced a 10 minute DVD that explains the needs of Congo's schools. You can get a free copy of the DVD by writing to Jan Sullivan at: sull1300@comcast.net
We are very grateful for Swift Pres. Church's prayers, support and interest and look forward to getting to know you all better as we partner together in mission in the Congo.
Grace and Peace,
Gwenda Fletcher
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