Saturday, September 22, 2007

CUMC Medical Team Part 1


Monday, September 3

Medical Team arrives in Livingstone
I was so excited when I saw Billy Hall and Maggie Hollabaugh from a distance. I didn’t realize how emotional it was for me to see familiar faces until the tears started streaming down my face. As I waited outside customs I was giddy with anticipation of hugs and southern accents.

I waited and I waited and I waited….
I saw them at the customs desk and thought it would be any minute and we’d load up the van….
I waited some more…
I waved at Billy and I saw him shrug. That wasn’t a good sign.


Their luggage was put into piles and each one was being opened and examined. I couldn’t imagine what was happening. All of a sudden, my tears stopped and I started thinking about what to do if there was a customs problem. I called Joan Wallace, a Wesleyan missionary with two years of tenure, to see if she had ever experienced anything like this. She referred me to a missionary, Bob Hayton, in Livingstone who has been here 15 years. He advised me to stay calm, not cause a scene and just wait it out.

Well, I waited some more and finally asked if I could at least talk to one of the team members to find out what the delay was. It was then that I learned one of the drugs they brought with them (Lidocaine) was a restricted drug. A new law was recently passed requiring all Zambian organizations that import drugs to register with the government and provide paperwork prior to arrival in the country. Now, Bob Hayton knew about the new requirement only because he had read it in the newspaper.

Finally, the team was allowed to come into the country but Dr. Hollabaugh and I were asked to go with the Drug Enforcement Commission with one of their agents. Luckily Bob Hayton’s wife, Jody, had come to the airport to support and encourage me. We used her vehicle to transport Dr. Hollabaugh, the DEC agent and myself to the DEC office. If you remember my story of the stolen vehicle, you will once again note the use of a personal vehicle for government business. Can you imagine transporting the person who is threatening to arrest you to the office where they intend to interrogate you?

During this meeting we were told that if we provided the proper paperwork, the drugs would be returned to us and all would be okay. Although we asked what was “proper paperwork” we were never given a form to fill out or any written instructions. They only had one copy and there was not a copy machine available. They held the document up for us to see but we were never allowed to read it.

I was thinking, okay, we can do this, let’s go and we’ll return tomorrow.


It wasn’t going to be so easy… after giving us a receipt for the confiscated drugs they asked for Dr. Hollabaugh’s passport… I had a sick feeling in my stomach…I couldn’t imagine what Dr. Hollabaugh was feeling. I did find the wisdom to ask for a receipt for the passport.

What a way to start a mission trip!!

Tuesday, September 4
Joan Wallace was in charge of contacting the American Embassy. Marian Mutoloki, Zimba Mission Hospital Head Nurse, agreed to travel with Dr. Hollabaugh and I back to Livingstone to provide the documentation we had pulled together. This was an effort partnered with Matthew Winn and Rebecca Hammond from the CUMC Missions Office. They came into the church office on Labor Day to help us with this information. It gives a whole new meaning to Labor Day! Thanks guys…

Marian’s uncle escorted us to the DEC office as well. Dr. Temba Mudenda is a retired dentist and is very well respected in Zambia. Most everyone knows him by Uncle Temba.

Unfortunately, we were too honest with our paperwork. The documents we provided included all the drugs that were purchased or donated for this trip. Two problems: 1) they had not confiscated all of the Lidocaine (and weren't willing to admit that) and 2) some of the drugs listed were still to come into the country by two team members who were arriving a week later. When the paperwork did not match what they had confiscated, they refused to release the seized Lidocaine. We were okay with that, we just wanted Dr. Hollabaugh’s passport returned.

After three hours of interrogation (Dr. Hollabaugh doesn’t like me using that term but I don’t know a better word to use) Dr. Hollabaugh was issued a warning and caution statement for drug trafficking. He had to sign the warning and then respond with a statement of guilt or innocence. It was like a bad movie… As he spoke, the agents were not documenting his words correctly and I quickly started taking my own notes. I was so worried that he was getting himself into more trouble. I wanted to ask for an attorney but both of our national representatives told me to keep that to myself. I guess I’ve seen too many movies.

We were allowed to leave but due to the late hour Dr. Hollabaugh’s passport was not available for return. We were told that I could return the next day without Dr. Bob and they would give the passport to me.

Wednesday, September 6
The American Embassy responded to our email with the notice that the person who received it was no longer in that position and of course no forwarding email was given. We still had not been able to get a live person the phone. You can imagine our concern.
Marian and I head to Livingstone again. We pick up Dr. Mudenda to escort us only to find that all the agents were off due to “games”. Oh, and besides, they want to see the doctor again for further questioning. Now, I’m really getting worried. We had told them we didn’t want the drugs back… why would they want to see him again?

I tried one more time to get through to the Embassy and this time was successful although the person I needed to speak to was not available. The secretary told me they were aware of the problem though and would call me as soon as their meeting was over. (They were probably aware of it because of Bonnie Hollabaugh, Dr. Bob's daughter, who has contacts in high places!)

In the meantime, Joan Wallace was in Lusaka. I called her to see if she could go to the Embassy. She had already started for Zimba and didn’t know if she would be able to make it there before they closed.

The following email was sent to prayer warriors immediately when I returned to Zimba!
Urgent Prayer Request in Zambia
A medical team from Christ Methodist Church arrived in Livingstone Zambia on September 3. One of the medical drugs they brought into the country is listed as a restricted drug and was not declared properly. The drugs have been seized and the team leader, Dr. Hollabaugh, has been served with a warning and caution for drug trafficking. His passport has been confiscated until the matter can be resolved. The Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia in Livingstone has threatened to arrest him if we are unable to satisfy their requests.
Please pray:
· That the authorities will come to understand that the drugs were imported for use at the Zimba Mission Hospital and not for sale to the general public.
· Mercy for not knowing the requirements for bringing this particular drug into the country.
· Return of Dr. Hollabaugh’s passport.
· Rescission of the warning/caution of drug trafficking.
· No fine will be accessed.
· That the ministry this team came to do will not be jeopardized by this situation.

Thursday, September 7
We took a break from the DEC issues and tried to concentrate on just doing the work they had come to do. We learned that morning that CHAZ, an organization that assists the hospital with paperwork, could not confirm that the doctors had been approved to work in Zambia. The Embassy advised us that without this confirmation we shouldn’t return to the DEC for fear of further repercussions.

The morale was very low for this team. Some thought maybe they should just go home? I tried to encourage them that maybe there was a ministry for them that did not include their medical skills but I don’t think it was very well received. I spoke with the head nurse and one of the medical officers and explained how the team felt and that they were considering leaving early. Both of them began to lecture me on the needs of Zambia and how it would look to the nationals if the team left and besides wasn’t that what Satan would want to happen? I felt they were preaching to the choir and asked them to speak to the team for me.

Let’s just say, the team did not leave and we all grew from the experience. Thank you Marian and Arkan for your words of wisdom and encouragement.

Friday, September 8
Since the doctors couldn’t practice and we were scheduled to go into Livingstone for a weekend break, we decided to go earlier and take a sunset cruise. The plan was that Dr. Bob and I would go to the DEC while the team checked into the hotel and if necessary we would meet them at the boat dock. The team would cruise without us if we were delayed.

Oh...before we left Zimba we received word that the doctor’s licenses were approved and that was not an issue.

This time we had also made arrangements for the Medical Director from the Kalomo District Ministry of Health to accompany us. We met him in Livingstone, briefed him and headed to the DEC. We were taken into the “interrogation” room and waited. Unfortunately, the “arresting officer” was at the airport and we had to wait for her arrival. Before she arrived, I was asked to go into the Assistant Director’s office.

I will have to admit, I thought they were pulling me out so they could put the screws on Dr. Bob for money without me witnessing it.

I was lectured by the Assistant Director and then we started to talk about Zambia, the United States, family, jobs, etc. We were getting pretty chummy. I overheard her say on a phone call that Mrs. Mudenda, the ‘”arresting officer” had arrived. I was sure the event was about to end but she continued to talk with me.

I received a phone call from the District Medical Director telling me he was in town and I became terribly confused. Ten minutes later there is a knock at the door. The Assistant Director tells me I can leave. As I leave her office I see Marian standing outside. The Medical Director is in town and Marian is outside! Where is Dr. Hollabaugh?

This time I will admit…I was ready to panic. How dare they leave him in the room with them alone!!! … then I see Dr. Hollabaugh. They had been waiting outside for me almost 20 minutes. Marian was the one who knocked at the door to ask if I could leave.

The following email was sent to the prayer warriors:
Urgent prayer Answered in Zambia
God is Good!
On Friday afternoon just 30 minutes before our sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, the drug enforcement officers decided to give Dr. Hollabaugh his passport back. The drugs they seized were not returned but our main concern was the passport. This was great news but we had one more hurdle to jump. Drs. Nav and Laura Rangi were scheduled to arrive on Sunday with medicines and medical supplies. The Drug Enforcement Commission had instructed us on the correct way to bring these drugs into the country and we had briefed the Rangi’s before they left the USA. The Rangi’s arrived Sunday and with little delay were allowed to enter the country with all the drugs they brought with them.
I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and love sent out to us during this time. It was a time of frustration, doubt, anger, cynicism, worry and most of all growth for the entire team.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….
GOD IS GOOD!