It's been quite a week....

 Greetings on the cusp of the arrival of November, 

Families fleeing the fighting

It has been quite a week. Christine was feeling the effects of the loss of her father when she was hit with COVID on the 24th! We are really grateful now that we were vaccinated and boosted (because of living in Bangladesh at the time, this wasn't easy - we do feel privileged!). She has had some pretty miserable days, but she is feeling much better today. We hope that the worst is behind her. But we do welcome your prayers for her complete healing!

There has also been significant fighting to the north of Goma (where we live). A few days ago we learned that one of the rebel groups had successfully taken the main highway (the one that the truck taking medicines to our northern base used a couple of months ago). And this morning we learned the group has consolidated its position north of Goma, with some reports saying that they have overrun the largest military base about 50 kilometres from Goma. 

10 years ago, this same group used that same military base to the north of Goma as their staging point from which they took Goma. That takeover of Goma was relatively peaceful. But people here are understandably concerned that there could be a replay of 10 years ago. 

Because of these developments Medair has implemented its contingency plans. It looks like  international staff will be working from our residence until things are clarified. Medair takes very seriously the safety of all staff - international and national. We don't have any national staff in the exact areas that are currently affected by the fighting. We do have national staff in areas that will be receiving internally displaced persons (IDPs), chased from their homes because of this fighting. The loss of life and property of the civilian population is heartbreaking. And this fighting creates more work of the type that Medair has been doing here for 25 years! So those calculation are also being made now - how can we serve these populations who are fleeing? 

Medair has evacuation plans in place, if it would come to that. So we are quite safe (in contrast to the populations suffering where the fighting is taking place). We could evacuate by boat across Lake Kivu, by land routes or by air.

We simply wanted to inform you of this reality, and invite you to join us in prayer! Thanking you for walking alongside us in this way - and alongside the people of Eastern Congo!

Praise: 

• For an organization that takes security seriously.
• For advances in getting Medair's customs convention signed - not yet signed, but it appears it will be in the weeks to come. 
• For medical supplies that should be coming from Nairobi in the next couple of weeks - we need them badly!

Prayer:

• For populations suffering because of this renewed fighting.
• For a peace based on justice in Eastern Congo, and with its neighbors.
• For Medair to be able to respond safely to care for people who are suffering.
• For complete healing for Christine from COVID19