EGBE November 2011

By Don Campion

Don and Sueanne Campion

Sueanne and I are back from another great trip to Egbe, Nigeria with a team of eight, (and coincidentally having celebrated our wedding anniversary for the third year in a row at Egbe!) Each time we go, we are amazed at how God designs our itinerary and assembles the team. We were privileged to have Gregg Bryce, SIM Canada Director; Gregg’s son Stephen; Rick Bradford, SIM Canada Regional Director; along with Tim McAlhaney (moving to Egbe in 2012); Betsie Campion Smith; Jason Lee (businessman); Matt Sosna (Banyan mechanic) and Luke Lichty (nephew). Rick’s presence as a representative of Philpott Memorial Church in Ontario, Canada, which was the church that first sponsored Tommie Titcombe, the first missionary to the Egbe area, spurred much celebration!

Hospital Women’s Ward

It is encouraging to see the medical work and patient care continue while construction and changes are taking place. In the last eight months Egbe Hospital treated 10,400 out patients, 1,100 in patients, performed close to 300 surgeries, delivered 275 babies, performed 11,250 laboratory tests, and, most importantly, the pastors shared the Gospel with 8,175 people.

Laboratory

We arrived to another warm welcome from the community! Mark and Abby’s (the construction managers living at Egbe) parents and sister, Erin, had been at Egbe for a week organizing items from the containers, building cabinetry, helping on the wards, and providing nursing instruction at the hospital. It was great to meet them – even if it meant traveling to Egbe to do so.

Abby's parents, Jim and Ada Loscheider

Throughout the first week we visited church leaders and schools to introduce our team members and to give brief updates. The team was treated to two special programs honoring the work of missionaries to this area. Experiencing Egbe first-hand was helpful for Rick and Gregg to better share Egbe needs with others in North America.

Rick Bradford brings greetings from Philpott Church

During our second week I traveled to Jos to meet with government, church and mission executives. Each of these key leaders reiterated their excitement and full support of the Revitalization Project.

The team was put to work fixing small engines, removing dead trees, labeling equipment, servicing vehicles and doing carpentry, prep work, electrical, and demolition in some of the houses. We continue to work with Samaritan’s Purse to find skilled laborer volunteers, and to encourage church groups and other organizations to send manpower to work alongside Mark and Abby. SIM recruiters are also assisting in the search for long-term missionaries called to spend several years at Egbe doing maintenance, construction, administrative or medical work.

Matt Sosna at work! The master mechanic!

Mark and local laborers

Much time was spent taking measurements and reviewing drafting options for the construction of the hospital’s new front entrance and outpatient department and transition plans. We received some great feedback from the resident doctors to incorporate into the draft plans. Detailed measurements were also taken of each house on the compound so we can send needed supplies and materials on the next few shipping containers.

“Fresh Air” transportation

While we were in Egbe, two doctors that had served at Egbe attended the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, Kentucky as exhibitors in the Egbe Hospital Revitalization Project booth. We were pleased to hear of the interest expressed by several medical candidates and will be following up with each as we continue to look for long-term personnel.