PAACS Graduation

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; but teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Last week, we got to experience our first PAACS graduation.  It was an awesome experience, and we thought we would share a little bit about the PAACS program with you.

PAACS is the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons.  In 1996, this program was created by David Thompson along with Loma Linda University as a way of ensuring that there are surgeons from Africa being trained to work in Africa.  (The whole teach a man to fish concept!)  The program is a way of discipling Christian doctors and training them to be amazing surgeons who will one day return to their country to serve God's people there.  

Jean-Claude Bataneni is the most recent graduate from the PAACS program (the 8th from Bongolo Hospital).  He just returned this past weekend to his home-country of the Democratic Republic of Congo to build the surgical program at the Nebobongo Evangelical Hospital near his home-town.

  Christine (his wife) is also a medical doctor that will be working there (what a great team!)

This is Dr. Loua Ruffin from Guinea.  He is the Senior Resident now that Jean-Claude has graduated. 

This is Dr. Philadelphie Dembele from Mali.  

This is Simplice Tchoba.  He is from Gabon...this is very exciting for the PAACS program here.  He will be staying to work at Bongolo Hospital for at least a few years after he is done with his residency. 

This is Jacque Ebhele from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This is Anatole Nzanzu also from the Democratic Republic of Congo.  He is very excited in this picture because he is no longer the rookie.  

Here is the newest addition to the PAACS program at Bongolo Hospital.   This is Fabruce Ramaherimamonjy from Madagascar (the newest rookie).  

It has definitely been an honor to work with these guys down in the O.R.  They are very kind to the patients and staff that they work with, and they are always willing to answer my questions (which can be quite a few sometimes).  They are fun to hang out with, and their families are great as well!  


We are asking for prayers for Jean-Claude and his family.  They are going through a huge transition in their life with a 2-year old and a baby that is almost a month old!  They have their hands full...that is for sure.  Please pray that God would be their strength when they grow tired, and that God's hand would be in the building of the surgical program at their new home.  


Alicia