Zambia Team Update

Please continue to pray for our team in Zambia.

The situation regarding the confiscated medications has not been resolved and the Zambian officials still have our team leader’s passport. In addition, as our team began assembling additional documentation, we were made aware that the temporary medical licenses have not been handled correctly between the two Zambian agencies involved.

At this point we have the following people and organizations involved:
- The Zimba Mission Hospital Administration;
- The National Office of the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church;
- The District Office of the Medical Council of Zambia;
- The National Office of the Medical Council of Zambia;
- The Church Health Association of Zambia;
- The US Embassy in Lusaka; and
- The US State Department in Washington, DC.

As of Thursday, our team is not seeing patients in Zimba pending resolution of these issues. As you can imagine, they are frustrated with the situation, just as we are back here. They will be leaving for Livingstone on Friday morning for a weekend of touring and rest while we continue engaging the various groups listed above for resolution.

Hopefully they will be able to resume their work on Monday. If not, we will assess the option of having them return home early. In spite of the compounded issues, the only point of serious concern right now is the return of Dr. Hollabaugh’s passport—the Drug Administration’s refusal to return it represents an ongoing threat to charge him with some wrongdoing.

Please pray for:
- Bob Hollabaugh’s passport to be returned promptly;
- the medical license confusion to be resolved;
- the team to be able to resume their work on Monday;
- relaxation and tension release for the team this weekend;
- Bob & Maggie’s peace of mind while his passport is being held; and
- our team’s continuing spirit of determination, persistence, faith, and love for the people they went to serve.