Welcome to my Blog Site. This is where you can check to get the latest and greatest news of what's happening with our family as we continue to serve with Mercy Ships from the International Office in Texas. Hope to see you here often!! Be sure and note that the opinions stated on this blog are mine, and NOT the opinion of Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships is not responsible for any of the content I place on this blog.
We have continued to go regularly to the same Orphanage that we were involved with during out last field service - The Centre for the Aged, Orphaned & Abandoned Children. So far the rainy season, which has now officially started, has not hampered our visits. We continue to have fun with the kids with a variety of: Games Relay Races Song Times - "Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes!" The recent lessons which are always followed by a related craft activity, have included looking at the Fruits of the Spirit, The story of Zaccheus, The story of Jesus filling the Disciples nets after they cast them on the other side of the boat and then this week we looked at: The Story of Creation. It was a particularly fun week as we had recently been given a large donation of individual tubs of Play-Doh! We took these along this last week when we learned about The Creator God. After that kids had a wonderful time creating, plants and trees, fish of the sea, birds of the air, animals great & small and people of all shapes and sizes!
Emma, Chris & Josh continue to come along each time and thoroughly enjoy our time there, getting fully involved in all that we do. Emma loves to hang out with the teenage girls and this week chatted with those busy doing Laundry for the 65 kids that live there. Can you imagine that much Laundry, for that many children, all done by hand with washboards and soap that they make themselves?
No washing machines here!
One of my favourite activities is painting the girls nails. While I was doing this last time, one of the older girls came by and stood chatting to me whilst braiding my hair!
Africa Mercy - 1 Year Anniversary of Service in Africa
On 30th May 2007 last year, we had a 'Passing of the Torch' Ceremony as the Ministry of Mercy Ships was handed over from Anastasis to Africa Mercy. It's hard to believe a year has passed since then. On 30th May 2008, we had a celebratory meal on the Dock.
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Dear family & friends
As I think about all that's happened since we last sent out a newlsetter, the challenge is to know what to communicate. I thought the best place to start is to share this story of a life recently transformed on board the Africa Mercy.
ANTHONY - CHILD OF GRACE
Monrovia, Liberia - 2008
Slowly breathing through the pains of early labour, Grace felt the weight of her nine month pregnant belly with each small step she took towards the tri-community clinic in Paynseville, Liberia. It was midnight in a country where crime escalates after dark and the clinic was almost a mile away. But Grace, already a mother five times over, knew she needed to get to the clinic as soon as possible; her baby was ready to come into the world. A month before, the doctor examined her and felt that something wasn’t right with the baby. Grace had an ultrasound performed to see what was wrong but technician performed the test incorrectly. The needed view of the baby was not obtained and Grace did not have the ten US dollars needed for a repeat test. She never found out if there was a problem with her unborn baby. Everyone was sleeping when Grace breathlessly arrived at the clinic. After awakening the two nurses on duty, her husband who had escorted her, returned home; Grace would call him after the baby was born. A few hours later, forehead glistening with the initiation of motherhood, Grace was painfully breathing through narrowing contractions, focused on safely bringing her child into the world. She wasted no time worrying that something might be wrong with her baby. She had put her situation into prayer and trusted God that she would deliver safely. On March 1st at 6 AM, Anthony safely entered the world. But moments after his delivery, Grace’s worst fear came true. With a mixture of concern and repulsion, the nurse that had taken Anthony announced “ The baby has two butts.” Then Grace saw it; a thin, white fluid filled baseball size bulge attached to Anthony’s lower back. Anthony was born with a Meningocele, a protrusion of membranes that cover the spine and part of the spinal cord through a bone defect in the spinal column, which forms a fluid filled cyst. Meningocele’s are usually repaired within the first 24 hours of life to prevent life threatening infections that can develop if it is left untreated. Grace’s faith remained unshaken. Upon seeing her baby’s problem she said to herself, “Praise God, the hardest thing is for the baby to come out if it is having two butts.” She called her husband and told him she had safely delivered the baby and explained the baby’s problem. Not wanting a baby with a deformity, he suggested they put the baby up for adoption. Grace was distressed by the suggestion. “I came from suffering for my child all week, I deliver safely, and he said I should adopt the child? I can’t do this.” Grace didn’t know what she would do, but she trusted that God would take care of her and Anthony. The wife of a pastor and the mother of two children, Maime worked two jobs to help support her family. One of her jobs was at the Paynesville tri-community clinic. On the morning of March 1st, Maime was changing Anthony’s diaper when she noticed the cyst on Anthony‘s back. Curious, she asked Grace what was wrong with the baby. Grace quietly explained Anthony’s problem. Maime’s other job is a ward translator on the Africa Mercy and she had seen other babies receive the surgery they needed. “I think Mercy Ships can help you.” She instructed Grace to bring Anthony to the ship on Tuesday when there was an opening at the screening clinic. Grace had known that Mercy Ships was in town but did not know if they fixed problems like Anthony’s. Maime had given her hope. She would bring Anthony to the ship on Tuesday. “See what God can do. He has done a great thing. He has taken his problem from his back and the doctor did the operation.” Tiny screams came from the bundle of baby blankets being handed to the nurse in the screening tent on the dockside. Grace had brought four day old Anthony to the Africa Mercy, hoping they could fix his problem. After examining Anthony, the doctor told Grace she could not take the baby home; if he went home he would probably die of an infection. Anthony needed to be admitted to the ship hospital and started on antibiotic therapy. Knowing that her baby’s life was in danger, Grace’s faith remained unshaken. “When I entered I put my whole problem before the Lord, so I was relaxed. I had faith in me that everything would work out for the good.” Initially, Grace was told she would have to wait a month before a surgeon would arrive who could fix Anthony’s problem, but to her surprise, Dr. Bruce was able to perform the operation on the Thursday March 6, only two days after she had come. Anthony was only 6 days old when he received surgery. Anthony quickly recovered from surgery without any complications. His “second butt” had been removed and were there not a thin incision line on his back, you wouldn’t know anything had been wrong. The Saturday after Anthony‘s surgery, his father saw him for the first time. Anthony was now a week old. When Grace saw her husband, she laughed and told him, “See what God can do. He has done a great thing.
He has taken his problem from his back and the doctor did the operation. You see my fine baby you wanted to adopt.” Grace looks forward to watching Anthony grow and she will never forget the crew of the Africa Mercy who saved his life.
“He is different from all my children, he is special. Where God has taken him from, no man can take him from there. It’s a testimony on his side when he gets big to tell his family, to tell friends. God has done this miracle.” Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “grace” as unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification. Before turning a week old, Anthony has already seen God’s hand at work in his life in a powerful and unique way. He is truly a child of grace.
Mercy Ships Liberia Outreach 2008
Story by Megan Petock Pictures by Megan Petock and Debra Bell
FAMILY NEWS
ANDY
Since the middle of April Andy has been back in the UK studying to upgrade his Engineering License to "Chief Engineer - Unlimited. He writes:
'Study hard Dad, we want you as Chief Engineer'
It is not just my children who have said words like these to me, no there have been many in management positions in Mercy Ships who want to see me as the long term Chief Engineer. (Including my wife, I think she has a thing for uniforms and 4 gold stripes!) During my eight years associated with this ship I have worked under about 10 Chiefs. (Shortest time in the post one week, longest about 3 years!) In April Mercy Ships released me from my shipboard duties, brought in a relief second Engineer and paid for me to return to England. I am currently half way through an 11 week course at South Tyneside College, South Shields. I am staying in the halls of residence with all meals provided. (This was the one condition of mine, I did not want time diverted to shopping or food preparation and associated clean up!) I need to be fully focused in order to achieve what I have previously failed to do on 3 occasions, to pass Applied Mechanics and Naval Architecture. Both subjects have so many formulae to memorise, a high level of maths and are reckoned by college lectures to be the hardest subjects to pass.(Don't I know it)
Here's a few shots of my College room:
The separation from Brenda, Emma, Chris and Josh is hard,We do stay in touch by phone and Instant Messaging each other at odd times during the week. I believe that the proverb 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder' is so true. Roll on our July re-union.
Your prayers are appreciated, this is a huge challenge, it has taken us many years to get to this point, where I can be free to fully focus on studying. Exam dates of July 15th and 18th with a return flight to Liberia on 23rd July. - Andy
Please pray for Andy
This is an intense time of study for him
STEVE - is now back in the UK. He arrived on 20th May and is enjoying staying with Matt. Andy happened to be round at Matt's visiting when Steve showed up unnanounced (they weren't expecting him for a few more days as he was going to look up some friends in Plymouth before heading North). The travelling isn't quite over yet for Steve. On the 11th June he returns to the ship for at least a few months or until he figures out what God has next for his life. He will return to working in Engineering. It's been quite the adventure since his life transforming DTS which finished in December. Since that time he has been to Melbourne - Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada UK and soon back to Liberia.
MATT - is looking for temporary work at the moment till 16th July when he too comes to the ship for 5 weeks. He has applied for several courses starting late August/early September. His first choice is an Apprenticeship with the NHS in Electronic Engineering. It will be awesome to have him with us and fulfills our dream of having our whole family serving in Mercy Ships together. He will also return to Engineering. You may remember that Matt faithfully served as an Engine Hand for 2 full years after leaving school when the ship was in shipyard in Hebburn.
EMMA, CHRIS & JOSH - are doing well. They have been busy studying this last week, and especially this weekend as they go into 'end of year' exams all next week. They have only 2 weeks left of this Academic Year, finishing school on 12th June. They return for the new school year on 14th August. During the summer break they will each work part time in different departments on ship. Emma will spend most of her time helping in the Ship Cafe and Snack Bar, Chris wants to work in the Dining Room and may also go out one day per week with our Community Development Team, to help at one of the Construction sites. Josh is too old this year for the Summer Program, but he will go along each day as a helper, working with the littlest kids on the program 3 - 4 year olds.
As I sit and write this newsletter and look out of the porthole in the internet cafe, I look out on Liberia in rainy season. The day began bright this morning, we had a couple of showers and now at 4pm in the afternoon the rain is heavy. Most of the rain tends to be in the second half of the day and most torrential at night time. I am thankful that I am protected from both the heat of the sun and the rain that comes heavy at this time of the year by our nice air conditioned ship. My African brothers and sisters live in small over-crowded houses, with tin rooves. Many can only be called shacks and offer little protection form the heat and the rain. We experience in a small way what thats like when the A/C goes down and the ship (like a giant tin can) gets hotter and hotter. Our cabin even with the A/C is around 27 degress, without A/C the temperature rises to 30 degress+
We so appreciate your prayers. Though we feel so blessed and privileged to be here and in some small way, being used by God to bring Hope & Healing to the poorest of the poor, we do struggle and face some challenges. Living in community with 400+ people has its joys and challenges, the heat can be suffocating, the challenge of never feeling like you are 'off duty'. Being surrounded by so much need and knowing you can't possibly help everyone. Every time you leave the ship being bombarded by requests for help, requests for money.
One of the things we treasure most as we serve here in West Africa is contact and communication from love ones, friends & family back home, who we miss hugely. We would love to hear from you. You can find all out contact details in the left hand coloumn of our blog, Telephone number, email addresses and postal address.
Double Vision: Twins Blind from Birth Receive Their Sight
DOUBLE VISION
MONROVIA, LIBERIA Two-year-old twins, Assan and Alusan, had never seen their mother’s smile. Born with cataracts in both eyes, the boys could detect light and dark but little else. A neighbour in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp where the family has lived since leaving Sierra Leone in 1999 told Ellen about a Mercy Ship docked at the nearby port. The boys’ mother, Ellen, brought the twins to the hospital ship on April 15th where they were examined and scheduled for surgery the following week. On April 20th, Ellen left her two older children, 11-year-old Princess and six-year-old Ansu, with her mother and brought the twins to the ship. The next day, Dr. Glenn Strauss removed cataracts from both eyes of each boy. They wore eye patches for 24 hours to stop them scratching their eyes. When the patches were removed, the obvious improvement delighted Ellen and the ship’s crewmembers alike. Where once their eyes had been sunken and unresponsive, now Assan and Alusan opened their eyes wide and carefully followed the movements of hands and balloons. When they were taken home in a Mercy Ships land rover, family members rushed to scoop them up and hug them. One of the first things the boys did was to play a game of tag with each other. Assan and Alusan now see the world with new eyes and are learning to smile.
Baby Sah
Blind and deaf from birth as a result of Rubella, she finds mercy and sees her mother for the first time.....
IN SILENT DARKNESS
Sah, age 2, Monrovia, Liberia
An operating table. High-tech instruments all around. In the middle of the table: a baby girl. She is two years old but is so tiny that she could easily be six months. This little girl is deaf, her chart also indicates she has a heart murmur and she is blind. That’s a lot of complications for one little girl. But today, Mercy Ships ophthalmic surgeon Russell Leavitt is removing a cataract from her right eye following similar surgery on her left eye a few days earlier. The baby girl’s name is Sah, a likely victim of rubella during foetal development. That was last week. Today, comfortably perched on her mother’s lap, Sah is surrounded by a cluster of intrigued family and friends. Rushing into the small dimly lit hut from the surrounding fields and farms, villagers are arriving in their droves. Fresh red Liberian soil clings to their clothes and feet. Excitement fills the air: Sah is safely home, and the people want to hear the whole story. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEIR EYES MET“When I heard the news about a free operation with Mercy Ships I just knew I had to go,” says Sah’s mother, Bendu. “Everyone in the village told me not to go, out of fear of the unknown, but I knew God was in control and I trusted Him. The Mercy Ship is an answer to prayer.” Bendu smiles when she thinks again about their experience onboard the Mercy Ship. “My daughter had a cataracts removed from her eyes. After each patch was removed she could see. She was blind and is deaf but now she can see objects in front of her. When I gaze into her eyes, there is this knowing look that just says Thank you”. YOU SHOULD SEE HER GAZINGBendu waves a balloon in front of Sah’s face — she reaches out to grab it. Sah is already making fast progress in the way she moves and interacts with other people. We all know how fast children learn! Sah may never be able to hear, but Bendu’s excitement over her daughter’s improved vision is evident. This was more than mere surgery at work. Sah’s world has been changed, from a universe of darkness to a world where she is able now to see, play with other children or simply look into her mother’s eyes. Things are indeed looking up.Submitted by Mercyships on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 14:07. Transformations
Kumbah Fayiah & other VVF Ladies - going home (pictured with Surgeon Dr. Steve Arrowsmith)
"I have given birth eight times but only one child has survived. It was on the last time that I got my problem. Every birth has been so difficult and the child has died in labour.”
Monrovia, Liberia 10 September 2007 – As a Mercy Ships vehicle threads its way out of the Port of Monrovia and onto the Liberian capital’s busy streets, Jean Browne, head of the Mercy Ships Palliative (hospice) Care Team, lifts up a prayer to God. "Lord, please guide us today," Jean begins, "I pray the patient we visit will be so aware of a loving God behind everything we do. May her hope be in you and you alone." As conversation turns to the day ahead, it’s clear the team will face a very difficult situation. The young patient is suffering from Burkitt’s Lymphoma; an aggressive cancer of the lymphatic system. She is terminally ill. The goal of the Liberia Palliative Care Project is to demonstrate God’s love to people who face a terminal illness without support or resources. The project also supports the extended family of the terminally ill person. Back in the Land Rover, Jean and team mate Debbie Joensen discuss their patient, Candy. Originally from the neighboring nation of Ivory Coast, Candy and her father travelled to Liberia after hearing about Mercy Ships. They were desperate for help. Drugs for chemotherapy were procured by Mercy Ships and administered locally, however it quickly became obvious that the situation is terminal. At only 10 years old, Candy’s beautiful face is marred by a large white bandage covering her left eye. Bulging out, yet concealed beneath the dressing is a painful, oozing tumor. "When she first came to the ship, Candy was in tremendous pain, the tumor was constantly oozing," explains Jerry, the Palliative Care Team’s translator, as we arrive at Candy’s abode. "Now with the palliative care, Candy is having treatment to ease the pain. We see her smile and she is far more comfortable." So far from home, Candy’s father, Kaka is unable to provide for his daughter. They’re dependent on the generosity of others, living in a tiny one-roomed hut with a dirt floor and walls covered in newspaper. The situation is far from ideal, but Candy’s father is providing exceptional care. Having been extensively trained by Jean, Kaka lovingly changes Candy’s dressings, cleaning the wound. It may be a gruesome task, but Kaka’s love for his daughter is obvious. Unable to gauge just how long Candy will survive, Jean and Debbie’s aim is to support them over the next months through actions and love. Between tears, smiles and laughter can be seen as comfort is provided amidst the grief.
Chief Engineer & HR Manager
Steve on the Beach in Indonesia during his Outreach Phase
Steve has now completed his DTS and is seeking God for the next step.
Since October 2000, The Coles have served with Mercy Ships on the Africa Mercy.
In 2001 we did our Crossroads DTS to become long term crew. This was at the Mercy Ships Intn'l Ops Centre in Texas and then in Juarez, Mexico for our Outreach. During the Outreach we were involved with construction, medical & community health education projects and evangelism in the local community and orphanages.
On leaving school Matt 22, served for 2 years as a Motorman in Engineering. Steve did the same, for a few months until he started College. We transferred the family to the Anastasis in Aug 06. Matt remains in the UK, has finished College and is working.
The Africa Mercy finally arrived in Africa on 23rd May 2007. We have now relocated off the ship to serve within Mercy Ships from the International Office in Texas
