Emmanuel Health Center

This video, which tells the story of the new Emmanuel Health Center, was produced by Bruce Sundeen, who traveled to the Central African Republic for the dedication of the Emmanuel Health Center in January 2010. Contact us for more information or if you would like a copy of the video to share with your congregation or group.

Update: Spring 2010
Emmanuel Health Center in Gallo Dedicated
Over 2,000 people came out on January 19, 2010, for the dedication of the Emmanuel Health Center in the Central African Republic. The culmination of a 10+ year dream, concrete plans were initiated over five years ago for the health center to be built on the site of a former missionary compound using existing buildings. Extensive renovations, additions and rebuilding were done in 2009 (completed in February 2010) to create a clinic, complete with in-patient rooms, operating room, examination rooms and a dispensary. All this was done for about $250,000. Thanks to Hope Lutheran in Fargo, North Dakota, and Our Savior’s Lutheran in Austin, Minnesota, who gave the bulk of the money as a share of their capital campaigns, the basic building is paid for. What began with a cooperative effort by Global Health Ministries, Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of CAR (EELRCA) now has more than 20 significant partners from all over the world, including the three ELCA companion synods. Given the difficulties in building in this country, the costs involved, and the complexity of starting a health center from scratch, its completion is truly a miracle. The health center was named in memory of Emmanuel Hamoa-Bayanga, Director of Health for the church, who died two years ago, and in praise of our Lord who was called Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23), “God with us.” We praise God for providing the money, the gifted people and the security to make this wonderful health center a reality.

Health Center to Provide More than Treatment
With the able leadership of Teresa Obwaya, Manager of the health center project, and Dr. Christa von Oertzen, Medical Director, as well as President Andre Golike of the EELRCA and his health committee, the Emmanuel Health Center promises to be a catalyst for village based primary health care in the surrounding area and within the entire Lutheran church. In addition to treatment and curative services offered by the center, plans are being drawn up that include the use of existing institutions within the church to provide health education to the people through women’s groups, village schools, the seminary and Bible school, and congregations. The investment in this clinic includes buildings, equipment, and professional training. This promises to pay off in a big way by saving lives and improving the quality of life for people in this extremely poor country. The health center will serve as the model for this type of facility in Africa. The church has waited a long time for this!

Clean Water at Gallo
For many years, women and children from the Gallo village have gathered at the spring on the missionary compound to get clean water for their families. As part of the development of the health center, a cement spring box was built to collect and provide fresh water for the center. The spring continues to provide plenty of water for the villagers, and pipes have been installed making it easier for people to fill their containers. The spring runs even through the dry season to provide water needs for hundreds of people every day. They are thankful for this wonderful source of clean water.

Amazing Array of Partners for CAR
Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is proud to be a partner with the following organizations that have contributed significantly to the raising up of the Emmanuel Health Center and related facilities:

• The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic
• Global Health Ministries
• ELCA Global Mission
• Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod
• Western North Dakota Synod
• Eastern North Dakota Synod
• Hope Lutheran Church–Fargo, North Dakota ($150,000)
• Our Savior’s Lutheran Church–Austin, Minnesota ($100,000)
• MSAADA Architects
• Herman Miller Foundation ($10,000)
• Mildred Monke ($7,500 through the sale of her book)
• Evangelical Lutheran Mission–Germany (providing a doctor)
• CoLuREUM Lutheran Church–France (providing an administrator)
• MissionAfrika–Denmark
• Mercy Corps (US international development)
• ASOMESCA (an ecumenical medical organization in CAR)
• UN World Food Program
• UNICEF
• Catholic Mission (CAR)
• First Lutheran Church–Fargo, North Dakota ($30,000 for HIV-AIDS building)
• Other congregations and individuals

Update: Summer 2009
C.A.R. Health Center Update

Here is an update that Tim Iverson, Global Health Ministries Executive Director, sent to people engaged in the Gallo Health Center project:

“It is hard to come up with enough superlatives to adequately describe what Teresa Obwaya and EuniceOlson are achieving by supervising this Health Center, but we praise God for raising up and sustaining these two women to bring about this new center of hope and healing. Behind the scenes, Gordy Olson of Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry has been busy managing the flow of funds to finance the construction through each phase, and troubleshooting issues with the help of architects Tim and

Janet Dray, and Phil Nelson in Cameroon. Phil, an ELCA missionary, who with his wife, June, are serving in Cameroon and C.A.R., have been a terrific help for this project as well. Phil has been visiting the Gallo site to review progress there and offer support to Teresa. For these and many other ways in which Phil has shared in the excitement and helped the Gallo project overcome many challenges, we say a big THANK YOU!

The March cornerstone laying ceremony and community meal/celebration afterwards said much about how the Center is held in the thoughts and prayers of the regions’ people. Hundreds came for the celebration, and together, Muslim and Christian clergy and the congregants gathered for prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Health services have proven to be an instrument of peace and community-building, and with thanks to God, we can see that story being retold at Gallo. Thank you for your prayers and continued support for Gallo and the work of Teresa and Eunice. Soon, the center will be completed, and the real work of healing will begin in Jesus’ name!”

New Vehicle Brings Encouragement and Relief

A brand new Toyota Land Cruiser was delivered in April for the Gallo Clinic in the Central African Republic. Teresa Obwaya is both excited and relieved to have a dependable vehicle that will be used in many ways as the clinic is constructed and eventually operating. This versatile Land Cruiser will seat 13 (maybe 20-25 African style) and can be used for hauling, as an ambulance, for community outreach and for staff transportation. Ordered from a dealer in Gibraltar, the most difficult part of the process was getting it out of port. Eunice Olson and a driver spent two weeks in Douala, Cameroon, working to sort through the red tape. Now it is fully licensed and registered in C.A.R. Teresa commented that this wonderful vehicle is a gift from God!

Update: Spring 2009

An Update on the Gallo Clinic in the Central African Republic by Theresa Obwaya

Yesterday was a great milestone for the Gallo Health Center Project. President Golike invited about 57 people and we had more than 200 people to witness the occasion. Our chief guest was the Baboua District Commissioner. We had the speeches and prayers by a Baptist minister, Muslim Himmum, a deaconess from the Lutheran Church and President Golike. President Golike, with the help of the District Commissioner, laid the Foundation cornerstone. There was a lot of cheering from the audience.

After this there was inspection of the site and free mingling of people and plenty of food to eat and plenty to drink. I cannot begin to describe yesterday in terms of a milestone for the project, the feeling of people, the happy expressions of the commencement of the construction and the sheer jubilation of the whole day. It was like people did not want to go home at the end of the day. I spent most of my day smiling and taking pictures of the people and the work at the construction site, as well as talking with the chief of the construction about issues noticed on the trenches dug in preparation for laying the foundation.

Today, we went back to Gallo and spent the day as they laid the binding concrete on the floors of the trenches. In midmorning, when the workers took a break, we took that occasion to have a meeting with all workers on site together with the contractors. We told them that we and many other people especially in America appreciate their work and are praying for them. We also encouraged them that we appreciate how hard their work is, because of the hot sun and sand and cement dust. We told them that we will continue to pray for them for strength, good health and safety as they work.

Update: Winter 2009

My Visit to the Central African Republic by Gordon Olson

In early December I traveled to C.A.R., representing LPGM and Global Health Ministries, to see the completed women’s center and church in Bouar as well as to work with Teresa Obwaya, project manager, and President Andre Golike to take preliminary actions on the construction of the medical clinic in Gallo. The church (Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic — EELRCA) was so encouraged to know that this long-awaited clinic would finally be a reality. From celebrations at the Gallo site to meetings with the contractor, the experience was one of great joy and hopefulness.

Teresa Obwaya is doing a great job. Her presence alone here is so encouraging to the people, and everyone absolutely loves her. She is practicing hospitality to the limits and is enfolding all Africans she meets into her warm personality. She is going to get this clinic started in the right way–building a team of people who will share the same goals and aspirations.

The church leaders are so excited about the clinic and what it will do for the community and for the church. Now, more than ever, the church here is finding hope–hope because they know we are walking with them and are helping them to make important things happen. It is impossible for me to tell you the full impact of our partnership and the love they have for us. What powerful emotions! What an important and strong relationship we are building with people who for so long have not been able to dream of the future–but instead struggle to survive day by day.

Update Autumn 2008

Partnerships and Promise in Africa

The dream: A clinic for a desperate country where many people die needlessly
The process: Many partners have come together to share resources
The reality: The venture has begun!

One of the most exciting parts of being involved with Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is observing the hand of God in many projects and activities that are too difficult for us to fully orchestrate. Putting the pieces together to create a clinic in a remote part of Africa requiring the resources and cooperation of ten agencies and institutions is indeed a task that needs divine intervention.

Teresa Obwaya, a Kenyan woman who has been selected to manage the start-up, has now arrived in the Central African Republic to begin work on the long awaited clinic in the village of Gallo. The plans have been drawn and let out for bids. The money is coming in from donors, and the church in C.A.R. stands ready to make this mini hospital happen.

According to Teresa, she will spend the first few weeks networking, getting to know people, working on goals and a timeline with the church and beginning to select staff. Eunice Olson, a native of C.A.R. and wife of former missionary and ELCA pastor, Tom Olson of Hawley, Minnesota, will join Teresa soon to support her and translate for her. Eunice speaks French as well as the native languages and will be a great help in connecting and communicating.

Teresa and Eunice will live in Bouar near the headquarters of the church and will travel often to the building site. But Teresa will have many duties in cooperation with the Lutheran Church of C.A.R., among them the selection of a contractor, selecting and training staff, coordinating with existing medical and educational programs of the church, and getting to know the in-country resources–all while she hones her ability to speak and understand French and Sango.

A new satellite communication system will allow Teresa to send and receive emails from any location in C.A.R. A new safe vehicle will be available for her to drive. A house has been provided by the German Mission. Global Health Ministries is preparing a container of medical supplies to be sent to C.A.R. yet this year. We are grateful that all of these “pieces” are coming together at this time.

Please remember Teresa and Eunice and the Church of the Central African Republic in your prayers as they set out on this journey. Pray that they will remain in good health and be safe from harm. Pray that all will work together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to create this place of healing and restoration.

Update Summer 2008

Hope Lutheran Gives Another Gift of Hope
Readers may remember that Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo gave nearly $75,000 a couple of years ago to build a church in the Central African Republic and support an HIV/AIDS Awareness program in the same country. Their money went a long way and the finished church, a remodeled warehouse, is now the largest Lutheran church building in the country with a beautiful bell tower, arched windows and an inviting sanctuary.

The congregation recently voted to make an even greater impact on that same country by contributing $150,000 as a percentage of their capital campaign to improve their own facility. This money will go toward the new clinic in Gallo (see related article about Teresa Obwaya). Hope is one of ten significant partners in this project and certainly the largest donor. Our Savior’s Lutheran in Austin, Minnesota, is not far behind, however, with its commitment of $100,000.

Hope and Our Savior’s are among a special group of congregations that are going well outside the traditional “box” in their outreach. Imagine the impact if every congregation gave a tenth or even just a small portion of the capital funds away to increase–sometimes by tenfold–the effects of their giving! Is your congregation planning a capital fund drive? Contact us for information on more opportunities for larger projects around the world. Thank you Hope and our Savior’s!

Teresa Obwaya Accepts Challenge in C.A.R.
We are thrilled that Teresa Obwaya has agreed to live in the Central African Republic for the next year or so to supervise the construction and startup of the long-awaited Gallo Health Clinic. This clinic is a partner project involving the Lutheran Church of C.A.R. (EELRCA), LPGM, Global Health Ministries, three companion synods, MSAADA Architects, ELCA Global Mission, and two generous congregations. Teresa is a native of Kenya, but has worked in Tanzania, Kenya, Eritrea, and Nigeria. Her background in health care, strategic management, human resource management and leadership development gives her extraordinary qualifications for the job.

Teresa will work with the Lutheran Church of C.A.R. and with the partners to train and organize a staff, create an operating plan and supervise the actual construction of the clinic in the village of Gallo, about 40 kilometers from church headquarters in Bouar. This location has almost no available medical resources for a population of nearly a quarter million people living in hundreds of remote villages in the area.

The church has been waiting for this clinic for years and now, by the grace of God, it is about to begin. President Golike of the EELRCA recently wrote in a mood of desperation, “As a result of long waiting, women, children and even men have become victims of illness and death. I encourage you to begin the construction–NOW.” Well, “now” has come, President Golike, and we are thankful to God that many ingredients have recently come together to make this possible.

We will keep our readers posted on the progress of the clinic, which is being coordinated through Global Health Ministries (www.ghm.org). More funds are needed for staff and infrastructure if our readers know of other resources. It is a huge undertaking. But we are all grateful to Teresa for her selfless commitment to the project and the people of the Central African Republic. The clinic will be a witness to the love and compassion of God in that area of the world.