As we look back on over 14 years of ministry in Gabon, Africa, our partners at MINE are a perfect example of the goals we always had for partnership. We have had US teams travel to Gabon to serve in many capacities, especially as volunteer medical teams, but watching this Gabonese ministry over the last few years has been all that we dreamed of in a partnership. This is a perfect example of nationally led volunteerism and commitment to helping those in need. Every program that MINE does is 100% led and run by Gabonese staff and volunteers. We are so excited to share with you the most recent event that the team held and why we continue to partner with this ministry and support their annual plan each year. This is the basis for all we all believe - instead of sending teams from the West, investing in teams and programs led by incredible Godly Gabonese people.

The most recent outreach program involved a team of Gabonese volunteer doctors, nurses, pastors, and psychologists who traveled to villages outside of Libreville that were lacking medical care. The mobile medical caravan saw the following results:

• 13 people came to know Jesus as their Lord (5 adults, 5 boys, and 3 girls)keyboard_arrow_right
• 418 medical consultationskeyboard_arrow_right
• 217 psychological evaluationskeyboard_arrow_right
• Psychological support recommended for 32 peoplekeyboard_arrow_right
• Mosquito nets and medicine given to all patients in need keyboard_arrow_right
• One child was hospitalized who was abandoned and left to die of Sickle Cell Disease. The team took him to get him the care he needed keyboard_arrow_right
• The gospel was shared with all patients, and those who were interested were connected to local village churcheskeyboard_arrow_right
• Awareness campaigns related to water-borne illnesses, dental hygiene (toothbrushes and toothpaste distributed), pregnancy and contraception, malaria (nets distributed), and trauma/psychological issueskeyboard_arrow_right
• A meal was served for all who attendedkeyboard_arrow_right

Most of the treatment was related to things that can be improved with a little bit of money and village involvement. Our hope and prayers are that E4 and MINE can develop a program that goes deeper into community development and that we can engage the communities to volunteer and help themselves. There is so much poverty, and it takes time to walk alongside villagers to help them see the assets and value they have as children of God. Just as our partners have been empowered to do the work in their country, we pray that together we can empower communities to become agents of change for their own villages.

• Water-borne illnesses were most common as the villagers have to get their water from an unclean riverkeyboard_arrow_right
• Malaria keyboard_arrow_right
• Skin conditions such as Staphylococcus and Scabieskeyboard_arrow_right
• Child neglectkeyboard_arrow_right

We have big goals of now partnering with MINE to determine how we can involve the community to volunteer time to determine the best clean water solutions that we can help with as well as continued education on things such as malaria, water-borne illnesses, and taking care of the children in their families. It can be very difficult when communities feel left behind, and there is much depression. However, our partners can empower them to see their value in Christ and the assets He has given them. Please pray that we might be able to raise the necessary funds to help with more community development in some of these villages.

We need your partnership.