Antonio is a 10-year old girl from Angola who is one of the patients at Vanga Hospital where Bill and I have been working the past two months.   In October of last year, Antonio developed headaches and blurred vision causing her to miss classes in school. By Christmas she was totally blind.   Her doctors in Angola could not find the cause of her problem and ultimately mother and child crossed the Angola/Congo border by truck and traveled 400 km to arrive at the Vanga mission hospital.

Bill arranged for Antonio to have an MRI in Kinshasa (capital city) last week, where worst fears were confirmed.   She has a large brain tumor which has occluded the optic nerve causing her to lose sight.  As it grows,  Antonio will suffer far more severe symptoms.   We have reached out to neurosurgeons in the US and here in Africa and are seeking ways to have this treated.

The obstacles to sending her out of Congo for surgery are significant.  She has no passport or papers, they speak Portuguese (and not French or English).  The logistics may seem staggering to us … but not for God.   We pray that God will allow us to see what currently escapes us for a solution, and  open doors that are seemingly closed.   Our experiences over the past 23 years of mission service have shown that God does just that, and more!

Psalm 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.