When Cheri Geise arrived at the Baptist Hospital in Ferkessedougou, Côte d’Ivoire, there were eight missionary nurses and no African registered nurses (RNs). One of her goals was to have African registered nurses capable of teaching, administrating and leading others.
For the past 22 years, Cheri has been teaching and discipling African nurses. Today there is only one other missionary nurse and five African RNs. Cheri has also been the Director of Nursing since 2002, facilitating and writing the objectives for a three-year nursing program that finished in March 2008. The other nurses, however, did the majority of the teaching.
With the African RNs capable of assuming administration and teaching responsibilities, Cheri’s role has begun to change. When she returns to Côte d’Ivoire she will continue to mentor the African RNs on the hospital wards and help them with protocols and quality of care.
Cheri will also continue her involvement at Bethel Bible Institute in Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire, the school of the Association of Evangelical Baptist Churches where she has been teaching since 2001. Cheri will be working with the church on both a local and national level in pastoral education, developing Christian education materials and training others in biblical counseling.
The Baptist churches in Côte d’Ivoire have many different ethnic groups and languages. The educational levels vary between some who are well educated and others who cannot read or write. The majority of believers come from animist or Arab backgrounds. Pray that the Lord will raise up more godly leaders in the churches. Pray that many Arabs and animists will believe in Jesus Christ. Pray for continued open doors to preach the gospel.
