Covenant News

CEUM Leader Trains to Repair Medical Equipment

CHICAGO, IL (October 8, 2001) - The Evangelical Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) has been proactive in training and teaching its young leaders. One of them, John Paul Dengali, 34, has been in the United States for six months learning how to maintain and repair medical equipment.

Dengali was based in Chicago and stayed with Covenant missionaries Bob and Janet Thornbloom. He spent much of his time at International Aid, Inc., an ecumenical organization in Spring Lake, Michigan, that sends repaired and refurbished medical equipment to various church organizations at a low cost. Dengali has learned maintenance and repair for a variety of things, including x-ray machines, autoclaves, dental equipment and fetal monitors.

Besides his technological training, Dengali has traveled to churches throughout North America. He was invited to an African music festival at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and visited with fellow CEUM member Sanguma Mossai, a doctoral student at Fuller. Dengali visited southern California, Texas, Michigan and Illinois in the U.S. and then trekked to churches in Alberta, Canada, as well as nearby Covenant Bible College in Strathmore. He recently returned from Saskatchewan, where he spoke to Edmonton, Prince Albert and Malmo Covenant congregations.

"The important thing is to learn and to look for some help," Dengali said. "I have to talk about CEUM because we don't have the support and resources for many things there. But I've also had a chance to thank many churches for praying for us and for our training in CEUM."

The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) was able to purchase a refurbished x-ray machine for $1,200, a far cry from the $20,000 needed for a new machine. Dengali helped refurbish the machine, which will allow him to better operate it and teach others how to do the same. And because Dengali has worked with technicians in the United States, he can better communicate with them when problems occur in Africa.

Dengali is grateful for his education in the United States and had a chance to thank some of his early teachers in Congo. Carl and Mary Beth Edstrom, Bob Peterson and Elaine Peterson and Edward Olson were early professors who made an impact during Dengali's early schooling.

In high school, Dengali took electrical courses at the Karawa station in Congo under John Hanson, who now is a dean of the technical college at the University of Houston. Dengali later ran a hydroelectricity unit for the station and its hospital. The Thornblooms and the Department of World Mission were instrumental in helping sponsor Dengali's stay in the United States.

In the future, Bob Thornbloom hopes to send International Aid technicians to Congo mission stations to check equipment and to train Congo students in equipment operation and maintenance. Dengali will be a key person in the process, serving as a teacher's assistant. He speaks fluent English and can translate into French and Lingala, the most used languages in that area.

Dengali visited Hollywood and saw the Pacific Ocean while in California. He visited Navy Pier and Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and the NASA training center in Houston. He was interviewed on WMBI, a Chicago-based Christian radio station, regarding the political situation in Congo. But generally the trip was all about business and Dengali learned enough to pass an equivalency test for the University of Houston's entrance exam. He eventually would like to attend the university and study under his mentor.

"There are many things to learn about technology and I only received a six-month visa," said Dengali. "I really want to help the Congo in technology because it's the base of our work."

Dengali asks for prayer for his country, not only for a Christian political leader, but also for leadership open to helping Congo. He also asks for prayer that his people can forgive those who have persecuted them. "I can get homesick for my family, but I've had kind friends here and that has made me feel better," he said. "And my family is safe there with the new leader."

Printable version of this page.