February 21-March 2, a team, led by Mike Taylor, will be observing the needs and asking the Lord for wisdom for the next steps to take in meeting the urgent medical needs of the Central Africans.
From the beginning days of entrance into the field of French Equatorial Africa, medical work and evangelism were interwoven. As the African churches grew, they developed Bible training centers, a printing press, and an evangelistic medical work which eventually grew to two hospitals and about 30 dispensaries. Male nurses were trained in evangelism as well as medicine. Part of their training included two or sometimes three years of study at the Central Bible School at Bata. Doctors Taber, Mason and Walker dedicated a good part of their time to teaching and training nurses to diagnose, medicate, deliver babies and operate. Head nurses at each dispensary were taught to do small emergency surgeries, and some especially gifted nurses were trained as surgeons.
Many factors contributed to the eventual deterioration of the medical work, but the death blow was given by the invasion of bandits who ruled large areas of the country through their terrorism.
Dibona Paul was trained by missionary Doctors. He is the namesake of another Dibona Paul, his uncle, who was a godly man and a very gifted nurse. Dibona junior follows in his uncle's footsteps, using his medical talents to the glory of God.
Dibona was gifted in surgical ability and was valued for his humility and honesty in his work. As the Church's medical work faltered, Dibona moved to Bangui where he was able to engage in a limited amount of medical work. A bit later he was hired by the Project Hope and Charité to have the medical responsibility of the orphans and their families.
Two years ago his health began to fail. He went to many different doctors in Bangui, trying to discover the cause of his weakness and weight loss. Eventually, with the help of Mike Taylor, Dibona was sent to a hospital in Cameroon where a tumor was removed from his lung. It was such an orchestration of God, placing an American surgeon at that hospital at the right time, who recognized the symptoms and was able to make a diagnosis and operate; it was God's intervention in preserving Dibona's life in a very touch and go situation. It was God who worked in the hearts of medical personnel to give financial assistance. Dibona returned to Bangui and began to regain some strength but has never fully recovered. He has good days and bad and no one has answers for why he remains weak and thin.
Irregardless of his health condition, Dibona Paul continues to have a humble and happy and positive attitude. He recently enumerated some of the things he has learned through his illness. He now understands that believers are a huge family that support and care for each other; even people from the U.S. that have not met him are praying for him. He feels he will be a better doctor because he has a personal understanding of pain and an increased level of compassion. Most importantly, he knows that God hears and answers his prayers.
Dibona said, "I'm a doctor but I cannot explain why I am still alive." He is gaining weight, getting stronger and is asking God to give him the strength to go to the airport on February 22nd and walk up to meet Mike Taylor as he gets off the plane.
Please pray for the health and well being of Dibona and his family.
Please pray for wisdom for the team as they choose a location in which to establish a medical base in Bangui.
Please pray that the Grace Brethren tradition of good health care and godly compassion and love will be continued through this medical work.