The first planned mission trip to Bere Hospital is planned for this November 1st and is going to be a very focused.
It will be about 2 1/2 weeks long to accomodate travel dates. The plan is to remodel the existing hospital building and do some refurbishing and electrical work on the generator. A small, specialized team is preferred, including an electrician and someone to do the food preparation. Travel will probably be on Delta/Air France through Paris connecting into N'Djamena; cost will most likely be $1500 or less at that time of the year. However, immunizations can run up in cost, as well as passport and visa; so these should be started soon. There is a game park in Cameroon, but will probably not be included on this trip.
A lot needs to be done to get the hospital to some minimal standard. On subsequent trips, a more relaxed agenda might allow for some sightseeing.
We have a donor in Lodi who is willing to support (airfare and a stipend) a general maintenance person who would be willing to go for 2-3 months; he is also willing to do the same for a retired administrator. He feels these two areas would do a lot to help James and would give him some support and mentoring in the administrative process). James' friend, Wendy Louden, is going over in September to set up the accounting system for them. A couple nurses who recently graduated from Southern are planning to go over for a year. So there's some hlelp on the way. But the buildings are pathetic; and that's what we need to address immediatley.
If you feel impressed to help fund the construction, or have a background in any of these areas please feel free to call Gladys or Jim Appel at 407-774-8416.
Jim Appel
Tchad Mission Project
2089 Biltmore Point
Longwood, FL 32779
jimaappel@yahoo.com
You can contact the administrator of this site, Ken Miller at 805-480-4033 for questions on how to donate medicine, cash, medical equipment and overall needs at the hospital.