A Personal Story

PEACE MENSAH

I would like to share a personal story of one of the patients we have had the privilege of helping.

A Message of Faith

Before & After

Ashamed, hurt & embarrassed, Peace Mensah suffered for years with a huge tumour sprouting out of her mouth. The fear of not knowing why the tumour began or how large it would grow, combined with the intense pain would have shattered most people's faith in a loving God. But for Peace it was her faith that carried her through.

"I want to tell my testimony to everyone of what God has done for me" Peace says as she begins her remarkable story of faith. As she perches on the side of her bed in the Mercy Ships recovery ward, Peace holds a mirror in one hand. She can't stop looking at her face, the transformation is amazing. A smile gradually grows wider and wider until a gasp of laughter comes rushing out. Over and over she repeats to herself "Thank you God! Praise you God!"

In 1998 Peace first felt the beginnings of discomfort in her mouth. Four years later the swelling had grown considerably and the pain was intense. Blood and puss constantly oozed out of the mass that swelled out of her mouth. A local hospital had diagnosed the facial tumour but there was little that could be done to help. Knowing there was little hope, Peace gave her condition up to God and prayed that He would keep her faith strong. She knew that people suffered hard times but wanted to constantly praise and trust in God.

Life grew tougher and tougher for the Mensah family. Running a small farm and trading vegetables and cassava kept them economically stable but as Peace's tumour grew, work for her became impossible. Her husband was forced to take over the running of the entire family. Unable to sleep due to the intense pain and only able to drink liquids through a straw, Peace gradually grew more and more weak. "I used to cry out and prayed for God to hear," she says while looking at her new reflection, "and God heard my cry."

In June 2006, a Doctor from Peace's village came to the family with the exciting news that a floating hospital ship was coming to Ghana. "He told me to pray." Peace remembers, "and I did. I never stopped praying!"

Along with thousands of others, Peace travelled to the Port city of Tema to attend the Mercy Ships Medical screening in late June 2006 ....as witnessed by Brenda. She stood for hours in a line, a line that would lead to a new face and a new life. Waiting in the lines were so many broken, desperate people, but Peace was different, she was sure that this was God's answer to her prayers. Her faith was in Him alone. Amazed and overjoyed, Peace left the screening site with a Mercy Ship surgical appointment card. The floating hospital was the answer to endless prayers; Surgeons assured her they could remove the tumour and restore her face. The 27th June, 2006 marked the start of the transformation process for Peace. She endured two surgeries over three months, spending 27 days in the Ship's recovery ward. At times she recalls that it was humiliating, "I had lost so much weight and was so light that I couldn't really walk. I had to be bathed and I always wet the bed. But the result was incredible and the nurses were amazing. Mercy Ships has done a big job."

"God has blessed me so much," Peace murmured over and over again. Throughout the whole 8 years, her husband loyally stayed by her side, looking after the whole family and reminding her that he loved her for who she was, not what she looked like. BUT she knows God loves her even more from this. "God is an amazing God, He is always by our side." After her final surgery Peace remained another 15 days aboard the Anastasis. "She was a delight to look after", one ward nurse commented. Ecstatic about her transformation and excited about returning home to her village, Peace talked about how the family would celebrate in style. She knew that it was her faith in God that had kept her going through all the emotional turmoil of the last 8 years and to Him she gave the Glory.

Written by Lu Mizen (Mercy Ships Communications Dept).

Brenda had the privilege of spending time with Peace on several occasions down on the ward and they sang some songs together. She was a remarkable lady with a beautiful smile.

Andy visits the various Mercy Ships off-ship Project sites

It was fantastic for Andy to go and see the major constructions sites all nearing completion next month. It is amazing to think how much the crew of the Anastasis along with local dayworkers, have achieved since arrival here in June 06.

Though we take the Hospital with us when we sail, it is wonderful to know we have made a lasting difference not only with the services offered and the interraction with the people; including vocational training, micro-enterprise projects and bringing the message of Jesus, but also in the Water & Sanitation & Construction projects completed that bring about lasting change. This photo was taken at one of the drilled well sites. The well is drilled and capped awaiting installation of the pump.

Please join us in praying for funding for the Projects we will be starting on arrival to Liberia.
Liberia has many more needs than Ghana and we pray Mercy Ships can continue to make a huge impact on this nation. This will be our 3rd visit in as many years.

Some of Mercy Ships Community Development Projects

TEMA POLYCLINIC MATERNITY WARD
Objective: To build and increase access to health care facilities by constructing and equipping a new maternity unit at the Tema Polyclinic.

Goal: Improved maternal health through better access to health facilities and more supervised deliveries. Skill enhancement and vocational training given to local site construction workers employed by Mercy Ships.

A very large project as you can see from the picture, a 9,000 square feet building. All the bricks for this huge building were hand made on location.

Steven's involvement: Steven has been working at this site as part of his minor job and has made some great friendships with some of the local workers. He recently requested a transfer from Food Services to become part of the CDS (Community Development Services) team. His transfer was approved & he starts full time in CDS next week.

Ashaiman Youth Health Clinic

Objective: To create and enabling environment for youth health and development in Ashaiman

Goal: Construction of a new youth health clinic. Providing improved access to health facilities for youth. Reduced incidence of HIV/AIDS and other STDs within youth through increased health & hygiene awareness. Reduction of youth entering commercial sex trade. Reduction in unwanted pregnancy and abortions. The health clinic was also the site for a Mobile Eye team every Friday.

Some interesting info about the town of Ashaiman - When the Port of Tema was developed as a deep water alternative to the Capitals' port of Accra, the growth of the port attracted many migrant workers from the villages. They set up their own accommodation on the other side of the motorway. Essentially a shanty town/slum area. This area has major needs but has continued to develop finally having been recognised by the Government which mean the essential infrastructure is very slowly being devloped. Mercy Ships targetted this area to assist in its development.

Other Ashaiman Projects

Multi-Track - Empowering Women Workshops

Last week they celebrated their graduation. Six women from the crew were involved with the groups - Bee Keeping, Snails, Rabbits and Mushroom farming.

• Busy Bees Project - teaches beekeeping to women as a new livelihood
• Snail group - 21 women
• 2 Rabbit groups - 19 women (group 1) 18 women (group 2)
• 3 Mushroom groups - 12 women in each group

Maternal Health Education - Mondays & Tuesdays in Ashaiman and Fridays in Lashibi

SHIPS - Community Health Education - At Rhema Church weekly on Wednesdays

HIV/AIDS training - taking place at several of the Ashaiman churches

Tema Newtown Projects

Multi-Track - Empowering women workshops which include:

• Snail group - 10 women
• Rabbit group - 14 women

These women will continue to breed snails or rabbits as a means of sustainable income.

Mobile Eye Team Sites

Screening off Ship - We have a Mobile Eye Unit on the Dockside for screening and follow up care and also every Wednesaday in Tema, Newtown Health Centre . The team also operates land based clinics in areas identified as lacking adequate ophthalmic services by Ghana Health Services. The team screens for surgical candidates for the ship based operating room, provides referrals for those needing glasses or other surgical procedures, provides advice on basi eye health and follow up on operated patients.

Dr. Neil Murray performing Eye Surgery on a cataract patient.

Ghana "Smiles" - Dental Project

Objective: To improve oral health in Ghana
Goal: 4,500 men, women and children will receive dental treatments and basic dental education, demonstrating improved knowledge and skills in oral health. In reality they will have provided over 5,000 people with dental treatment.

The Mercy Ships Dental Clinic is located in Tema, New Town at the Manhean JSS School.


Pictured, Dentist - Keith Chapman and below one or our Dental Sterilizers - Marissa Mendive.

Steve visits the Orphanage for the first time

Steve recently came with us to the Save them Young Orphanage. He was surrounded by kids the whole time who were fascinated by his red streaks in his hair. He played group games with the kids, we all sang action songs in a big circle and then towards the end of the visit he joined in with the painting of nails as seen in the photo. It was a fun visit.

Just before Christmas we went back and made a giant Christmas tree on the wall, made completely from cut-outs of the childrens hands traced onto green card. We took Popcorn and Cookies and Drinks and had a party.

A return visit to ADAH in between Christmas and New Year with Andy

It was nice to be able to get a away again for a couple of days and share the beauty of ADAH with Andy.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day

...and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.....EMMANUEL

There is a tradition with Dutch origins, on board the ANA, that on Christmas Eve each crew member places one of their shoes outside their cabin door. It is a wonderful way of giving and receiving to and from one another and makes Christmas that much more special.

At 10am we had a wonderful time with the whole Community celebrating the birth of Jesus, singing Carols and hearing a Christmas message.

The pics show just some of the pressies left outside our cabin door and our Christmas dinner with the rest of the crew.
This shot shows approximately one third of the crew eating Christmas Dinner. Our Galley team did an amazing job. The Dining room is too big to get the whole crew in one shot.

Academy Christmas Play

This production was pulled together in just 4 weeks. It was a lot of work, practices at least 4 times a week. The basic story was of a rich non Christian family who were did not appreciate the real meaning of Christmas. They had a maid who was the mother of a poor Chritian family.
The story focussed around the two oldest daughters in each family. Emma had the lead role of the rich families daughter who became a Christian through the influence of the daughter of the poor family. They went to school together and Emma (character name Brittany Ella!!) was invited to a Christian rock band concert where she heard the real message of Christmas and accepted Jesus into her heart and how she brought her whole family back to the Lord. There was a very emotional scene were the two girls sang together.
Chris was a member of the rock band at the concert - HIGHLY amusing! and Josh was an Angel :-)

Christmas Activities on the Anastasis

WINTER WONDERLAND - in the Med Lounge. Comprising stalls manned by various crew members who had made cakes, sweets, cards and gifts to sell. It was a lovely evening.









CHRISTMAS COOKIE BAKE
This was a really great social activity for young and old, with plenty of munching going on during the session!!
Here are some of the finished products. The Coles made approx 100 cookies.

Steven chosen to be on the Lifeboat Team

Because Steven completed the BST (Basic Safety Training) early in 2006 in Texas USA, he was qualified to be chosen as a Life Boat team member. (Pictures of him on BST are also on the blog under the early 2006 Archives).

He has thoroughly enjoyed the training so far which continues weekly until we sail. The training involves learning his role as the lifeboats are launched from the ship. Pretty scary and exciting!! A couple of pictures here launching from the ship and one all the way down in the water and back up again. More pics to be found on the photo link.

Andy's return to Africa

After what felt like a very long 14 weeks Andy finally returned on the 16th December to spend a month with us for Christmas. He will remain with us until the 15th January and then returns to Africa Mercy for a month. He will during that time pack up the rest of our stuff in England and return to the Anastasis a month later on 12th Feb, in time for Josh's birthday on 14th Feb. During this time the Anastasis will leave Ghana and sail to Liberia to begin the next Outreach phase. We are really looking forward to the 3 day sail. Andy will stay with us until early April returning to England to take his final Chief Engineer exams. Hopefully he will then sail with the Africa Mercy to Liberia.



Andy arriving at the airport and then back to the cabin - We're all VERY pleased to see him

Whole crew photo

This photo was taken just before Christmas after Crew mustered on the dockside during a fire drill. Unfortunately Josh was off the ship for the day on an Academy filed trip and it was before Andy's arrival. Can you spot the rest of the Coles?