Abdul - Walking Tall

It's hard to believe that so much time has passed since I last posted an update.  Life has been crazy busy over the summer.  We have had our son Steve here with us since the beginning of August and he's with us till the end of October.  It's been lovely having him physically part of the family again and we're making the most of every moment.  He's been helping Andy with some chores around the place, so they've had some great father/son time together. Sadly, the time goes by all too quickly.  Neither Matt or Steve will be able to make it over this year for Christmas due to other commitments so I'm not sure when we'll see them next.

In August we managed to meet up with Matt for a couple of hours at Houston Airport when he got off his first ship after 5 months.  He had many stories to tell about his time on board and loved the experience, though he was worked very hard - 7 days a week for 5 months, not a single day off!!  While he was away he made a pact with his other college friends who were joining their first ships at the same time as Matt that none of them would shave for the entire trip. 

He is back studying hard in his second 6 month phase of College before going away again early next year for his second sea time phase of 5 - 6 months.

We are all well.... Josh is in the midst of intense Theatre Group practices for the Fall (Autumn) production of the hit Musical "Hairspray".  Chris is in full-on practice mode in anticipation of the start of the Basketball season and Emma is well into her Studies at College and doing well so far.

 

You may have asked recently just what do Andy and Brenda Cole do to bring hope and healing to the poor of West Africa when they are working at the Mercy Ships International Operations Center in Texas!  I am not surprised you would be curious about this, so I thought it might be appropriate to share with you our roles in the transformation of Abdul, a young child in Sierra Leone who was born with club feet.

It’s hard to believe that over a year has gone by since we made the move from the Africa Mercy to Texas and the International Operations Centre of Mercy Ships.

If the Africa Mercy is the heartbeat of Mercy Ships, then the International Operations Center is the backbone. Everyone working at the IOC is working in support of those  who serve on the front line with Mercy Ships in West Africa.

I, Brenda work in the IOC’s Human Resources Department, where all of the talented individuals who eventually serve with MS are recruited, evaluated and processed for service.  As the former HR Manager on the Africa Mercy, I also have a keen understanding of the importance of clearly defined procedures and processes for crew to follow.  Since joining the IOC I have undertaken an exhaustive review and revision of HR policies and processes on the Africa Mercy to assure all is efficient and effective as it should be. 

If that is not enough, I am also the HR lead on implementation of new software to enhance crew tracking and recruiting!

At the same time, Andy, as former Chief Engineer of the Africa Mercy, volunteers to assist the Marine Operations Department in their challenge of identifying and defining the optimum design for a new ship that Mercy Ships hopes to launch in the future….a ship that can bring hope and healing to more of the world’s poor.  In between Andy is also doing some commercial work at sea to keep his hand in, but also to bring in additional Finance to help offset the much higher costs of living ashore.

Our roles and those of many others at the IOC are just as important as the nurses and doctors, deck hands, accountants and chefs who work tirelessly on the Africa Mercy. It takes everyone….from the IOC to the National Offices to crew on the Africa Mercy…to make a difference in the lives of those living in poverty in West Africa.

That is why we can be proud of the transformation of Abdul, a young boy living in Sierra Leone born with deformed, curling feet.

He was considered the “devil child” in his village and was abandoned by his mother as a baby.  His father, Simeon, knew his baby’s condition was medical and not witchcraft.  Fortunately, for Abdul and Simeon, they learned of the pending arrival of Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, and while they stood in a line for three days waiting to be seen at a medical screening, Abdul was accepted for treatment!

Abdul’s treatment began with the Ponseti treatment which involved the application of heavy plaster casts to his legs to correct the position of his curled feet.  After many casting changes and several months of waiting, Abdul was ready for the long anticipated surgery!

A few days after his successful surgery and  fitted   with    straight, short leg casts which made walking easier, Abdul joyfully hobbled around on crutches with  the other boys who were receiving similar treatment on their legs.

His physiotherapist noted, “His first few steps were like a newborn calf, but now he’s walking with confidence. His future will be worlds apart from what it would have been before treatment – he would have been begging on the streets. Now, he will work, contributing to society, which gives him a bright future.”

Brimming with confidence his father added, “His faith has grown stronger and stronger as his legs healed. Now he’s ready to grow into a great man that we will love and respect!” 

 

You can see the excitement in Abdul’s face as he shows of his super new legs as Superman!!

In our roles at the IOC we are just as much a part of making a difference in this young life!

Amazing Stories

I want to dedicate this post to telling the stories of a few of our patients from Sierra Leone, there on the Africa Mercy.  The ship is about half way through the current 10 month field service.  These are stories of lives transformed not only physically but in every way.  We are so thankful to God for His mighty power to save and change lives but also to the countless volunteers who selflessly give of their time & skills to bring hope and healing to these dear ones.

 

M’Mai Souma

M’mai covered her chin with an orange rag tied behind her head to make herself more socially presentable. The tumor that protruded from her mouth resembled a whole leg of lamb held between her teeth. The rapid growth of the tumor was alarming. In only two years it had grown so large, it was about to suffocate her.
A young Muslim wife and mother of two small sons, she had been trained as a seamstress. Her leadership skills and ability to connect with people helped her to run a successful shop where several young people were learning to sew. But she stopped working when customers shunned her because of the growth. Verbal abuse from those around her made her feel ashamed, and she withdrew into the house. However, her husband, her sons, and a couple of neighbors continued to be supportive.
She tried traditional African medicine at home, but that didn’t work. The tumor kept growing, and those around her expected her to die. Desperate to find someone to remove the growth, she sold her sewing machine to pay for a trip to see a witch doctor. She was gone for six months. Her family thought she would not return. When she did, she found her husband had taken a second wife, her room had been rented out, and she had to sleep on the couch – a rejected woman.
Still hopeful, M’mai went to a clinic run by missionaries Jonathan and Anja Erickson in N’Zao, Guinea. Jonathan has brought many patients to Mercy Ships in the past, and he knew volunteer surgeon Dr. Tony Giles well. M’mai sent a photo of herself to Dr. Tony and went to the screening that he and his wife, Ann, were holding in the area. He referred her to the Africa Mercy for surgery.
Jonathan drove M’mai and ten other referred patients the 1200 km to the hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, docked in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He stayed with them for a month – providing translation, encouragement, and spiritual comfort.
The volunteer doctors removed the growth from M’mai’s mouth, and she anxiously awaited the therapy that followed. Therapist Sally Peet gave her exercises to practice several times a day. Determined to have a normal face again, M’mai did the exercises faithfully, all day. The next morning, Sally was happily surprised to see how much the swelling of M’mai’s lips had gone down. “My star patient!” she joyfully announced. “She’s so diligent and does her exercises! What an amazing transformation!” And, indeed, the transformation was amazing! Even M’mai was transfixed when she saw her “new” face in the mirror.
There were other transformations, as well. Her confidence returned, she was ready to be sociable once more, and smiles played easily across her lips. While she was recuperating, she spent some time in a Bible study and decided she would give her life to Jesus, saying she didn’t want to return to her old life.
“I would like to start up my sewing shop again,” she said. Her time on the Africa Mercy had not only restored her physical life, but had also opened up a new spiritual life, as well.
She will return to the ship in September for more surgery, if she needs it, and will then be ready for a new beginning at her tailor shop.
“I am so grateful to Mercy Ships,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “And I’m thanking God for what He has done.”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell and Claire Ross

Baby Barbara Receives Life


Babies born with deformities in West Africa start life as victims of the West African superstition that abnormalities are signs of a curse. When Barbara was born with a cleft lip that extended up into her nasal cavity, her father pronounced that she was a “demon child.” He ordered his wife to take the tiny infant into the bush and leave her for dead.
Barbara’s brave mother, Aminata, refused to abandon her child. As a result, she was thrown out of her house and moved in with her sister. Without a way to support her family, Aminata was forced to separate her four other children and send them to the homes of other relatives.
By the time she was eight months old, Barbara’s weight was drastically low because her cleft lip prevented her from getting the nutrition she so desperately needed. In fact she weighed less than 4 kilograms (8.4 pounds), less than half of what a thriving baby her age should weigh. To make matters worse, she had contracted tuberculosis and was placed on a TB program at a local hospital. Of course, the lack of financial support since the abandonment by the baby’s father was another serious obstacle.
Broken and devastated, Aminata had reached her darkest, lowest point. Then God stepped in and brought a ray of light. One day Aminata met a woman who said that Barbara was not a “demon child.” She also said that Mercy Ships would arrive in Sierra Leone in just a few weeks. Volunteer surgeons onboard the Africa Mercy could fix the baby’s lip – for free! Desperately clinging to this fragment of hope, Aminata took Barbara to a Mercy Ships medical screening.
Aminata was delighted when Barbara was accepted for cleft surgery onboardAminata in a better feeding method. Barbara’s weight gain was monitored each week.
The baby girl gained weight the first week she was on the program, but lost weight during the second week. She developed a fever, and she struggled to breathe or keep her formula down. The nurses gave her nasal drops to open her nasal passages, allowing her to breathe more easily. The third week she regained some, but not all, of the lost weight.
It was beginning to look like Barbara was not going to be able to have her surgery. The doctors suspected she might have a cardiac problem, too, which would interfere with plans for cleft surgery. Those working with the program began praying regularly for Barbara, and slowly she began to gain the required weight. At the end of three months, despite all her problems, Barbara was cleared for surgery.
The volunteer surgeons repaired the baby’s cleft lip and palate, as well as the centerline of her nose. Because of her delicate condition, they returned her to intensive care where nurses guarded her recovery. Nurse Jessica King, who supervised Barbara’s case for the Infant Feeding Program, said, “Barbara is a miracle baby. She had a rough time in the ICU, but she made it. She’ll bring her mom a lot of joy.”
Aminata’s love and sacrificial care for Barbara has been rewarded. Her tiny daughter may be fragile, but she has a strong will to survive. She will bless her family with a future of beautiful smiles.
“I’m feeling fine now,” said Aminata, as a tear of joy ran down her cheek. “I’m thanking God for what He has done for me.”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Tom Bradley, David Peterson and Liz Cantu

Atamin Avon

Mariama was a fifteen-year-old sophomore when her sister died giving birth to a baby daughter named Atamin. With her father’s support and the income from her part-time job as a hairdresser, Mariama left school to take care of Atamin, her sister and two brothers. There was no one else to help. This was a big responsibility for such a young girl, and the job was made even more difficult since Atamin was born with a crossed eye.
Little Atamin became the target of taunts from the neighborhood children.
“Cross eyes! Cross eyes!” they would call, which would bring on a torrent of tears. This wounding of her soul provoked the normally gentle child to misbehave. “She’s wild, causing problems with those other kids,” explained Mariama.
When Atamin was five years old, she was given some very exciting news – she was going to a big, white hospital ship called the Africa Mercy for surgery on her eye. She confidently believed that her eyes could be normal.
A Mercy Ships volunteer ophthalmologist performed the surgery. The next morning he removed the eye patch and handed Atamin a mirror. But the mirror reflected much more than just a properly focused eye – it displayed the joy blooming in a little girl’s glowing smile. The transformation in her personality was immediate and electric! Obviously in awe of the change, she relished the moment, savoring everyone’s exuberant response to the successful surgery.
This beautiful child who loves to dance, play games and sing at church can now thoroughly enjoy doing those things without the overshadowing fear of being shunned.
“I have a lot of thanks for you (Mercy Ships),” said Mariama. “When Baby was at home, people were laughing at her for crossed eyes. May the Lord bless you people. You have healed our daughter.”

Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell


The misery and shame these dear ones suffered prior to their surgeries help us put into perspective some of the daily challenges we walk through.

Family Update

Emma, Chris & Josh finished school at the end of May. 
For Josh is has been a very exciting though busy semester at school bringing it with it all the highs of becoming State Champions with their Theatre Production of Midsummer Nights Dream.  He is enjoying lazy mornings and days at home.  He is however involved in 2 weeks of Theatre Camp for a group of Elementary School students at the beginning of August.  They will be coaching and mentoring these kids, helping them to produce Live Performances (2 groups over the 2 weeks)  Josh is looking forward to it.

Chris has kept busy doing yard work(gardening) for a number of Mercy Ships families so far over the summer.  He also is up bright and early most mornings for his 7:30am Basket Ball practice till 9am for the Basket Ball Summer League....though he enjoys it, he is frustrated as they have yet to win a game!!  They have had a couple of games where they've missed winning by 1 point!!

Since our last communication Emma has successfully graduated Van High School and we celebrated this achievement with her as a family, recognizing her achievement against all the odds after the many challenges she has overcome.

Steve back in the UK has just finished his Interactive Media Studies Diploma Course and graduated with Distinction/Distinction/Merit.  He is delighted with this result.  We're very proud of him.  He worked many long hours into the night completing all the intricate artwork for his "Stop Motion Animation' project.  and other coursework.  He has just finished his job at the Metro Centre multi-plex cinema and flies out to Texas to be with us for 3 months over the summer We are all very excited to see him.  He will be with us from 5th August till 24th October.  After that he hopes to complete all his grade exams 1 through 8 for Drumming with a view to teaching and session playing.

Matt is currently still at seas on his first vessel as a Marine Engineering Cadet.  He is doing extremely well and has gained excellent reviews from the Chief Engineer & Second Engineer.  His two years experience straight from school, working on the Africa Mercy in shipyard in Newcastle gave him a lot of very useful knowledge which makes him stand head and shoulders above many cadets.  He is working long hours, day in day out.....It's not picnic but he is enjoying the work and has really shown his maturity as he has pushed hard with a great attitude!.  He finishes around 24th August August to return to the UK and starts back at South Tyneside College for his 2nd rotation of 6 month College time.

Andy & I are adjusting to what is a very different routine for us at the moment.  From  a financial point of view we still are needing to have Andy do some trips away to boost our income.  He is currently sailing around a number of Caribbean Islands (Barbados, Trinidad, Suriname & Curacao) on an oil tanker.  He is due home around 7th August.

Brenda's work at the Mercy Ships Head Office has her working closely with the HR Department on board the ship.  Her work revolves around keeping policies and procedures current, process definition & most recently being the lead HR staff member working on implementation of a new HR Software package just installed for Mercy Ships HR (organization wide).

Every member of the body of Christ, at home or abroad, has a unique part to play, uniquely crafted and purposed just for them to be able to fulfill their part in God's bigger plan for His Kingdom....wow...amazing that God entrusts that to us....

Thanks you for partnering with us!

 

Humanitarian Award Presented to Mercy

Ships Founder

Garden Valley, TX, May 25, 2011

The Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C., has announced that Don Stephens, President/Founder of Mercy Ships, is the recipient of the Diamond Award for his contribution to the development of Sierra Leone – particularly, in the field of health. The award is presented from the Embassy of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Diaspora in North America.
“I am honored to receive this meaningful award,” says Stephens. “Thank you for recognizing the work of Mercy Ships. Each humanitarian act is a reflection of hundreds of people working together toward a common goal.”
Mercy Ships has served the nation of Sierra Leone five times in the last 18 years. Their state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, is currently docked in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for a 10-month Field Service providing surgeries, dental care, eye care, and health care training to the country. The services Mercy Ships provides are carefully aligned with Sierra Leone’s 5-year National Health Sector Strategic Plan.
Since their first visit in 1992, Mercy Ships has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals in Sierra Leone. Through tumor removal, cataract repair, cleft lip and palate repair, dental work and medical training, many Sierra Leoneans have been given the chance to live productive lives again. Thanks to Mercy Ships, their quality of life has greatly improved.
The Africa Mercy has six operating theaters, a 78-bed hospital ward, a CT Scan, an X-ray machine and laboratory services. The ship has capacity to perform 7,000 surgical interventions per year. Staffed by a volunteer crew, the humanitarian work done by Mercy Ships is truly an act of love for others in need. Don Stephens, the visionary of the organization, leads the charge in bringing hope and healing to Sierra Leone and other West African nations.
“Even after the ship departs, our capacity training will have us involved in Sierra Leone for years to come. We pray Sierra Leone will become again what it was a half-century ago – a prosperous leader in the region,” states Stephens.
In celebration of their 50th Independence Anniversary, the Embassy is hosting The Sierra Leone @ 50 Awards Ceremony and Banquet on May 28, 2011, at Martin’s Crosswind inGreenbelt, Maryland. The event will gather dignitaries from academia, the political arena, sports and entertainment for an evening of reminiscence, celebration and entertainment in a banquet setting.
The Diamond Award is the highest award in the Sierra Leone@50 Humanitarian Award category.
ABOUTMERCY SHIPS: Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class health care services, capacity building and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $834 million, impacting more than 2.9 million direct beneficiaries. Each year Mercy Ships has more than 1,200 volunteers from over 40 nations. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships seeks to become the face of love in action, bringing hope and healing to the poor. For more information click on www.mercyships.org

Contact Information:
Claire Bufe, US Public Relations
us.media@mercyships.org

A Midsummer Night's Dream

As many of you know Josh has really enjoyed being part of the Van High School Theater Company.
They performed a wonderful rendition of 'Godspell' just before Christmas.
Since January he and the group have worked very hard on creating a performance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream".  Josh successfully auditioned for his part of "Puck"  the impish, yet faithful sprite of Oberon. This is the play that they have taken to competition in recent weeks.  So much work has gone into this performance and it shows.  Most days Josh leaves for school at 7am and isn't home till 6:30pm after rehearsals.   The acting, the costumes and make-up are all outstanding as you'll see in the pictures below.

This is how the competition stages have played out:  First the group competed in our local school District finals.
District Level Competition
Successfully advanced to the next level - Area. 
Josh was awarded an "Honorable Mention" Medal at the District competition.
Area Level Competition
We traveled to Terrell - 45 minutes away for the Area competition and once again they successfully advanced with just one other school to the Regional competition.
Josh was awarded a higher "All Star Cast Award" Medal at the Area competition.  This the highest award (excluding "Best Actor").
Regional Level Competition
Regional Competion This was there most challenging competition yet, the pressure was on...only two schools could make it to the all important State finals.  Now TEXAS is a big State.  What a huge honor it would be for them to Advance to the State finals!  Well that's exactly what they did!!  On 7th April we made our way to Commerce about an hour and a half away and watched the group perform against 5 other schools. The standard of competition was very high and it was a nerve wracking moment when the results were announced.
They did it and once again Josh was awarded an "All Star Cast" Medal.  An outstanding achievement for a Freshman.
9th May - State Finals
As a family we will travel to Austin, about 3 hours away, to support Josh and the group as they perform at State Level Competition.  Van High School have made it to State multiple times over the years, which is all credit to the Theatre Teachers & Directors Larry & Sue Wisdom.

Enjoy these pictures taken after their last performance in Commerce,Texas.

 Titania - Queen of the Fairies

 Puck - aka Josh

 Oberon and his faithful sprite -Puck (Josh)

 Funny Ensemble

 Oberon & Titania with Puck looking on....

 Oberon & Puck

Oberon & Puck making magic!

Oberon & Puck - amazing make-up!

Puck & Titania's Fairies

 Midsummer Ensemble

Josh - showing off his medals!

A Walk Down Memory Lane - 10 years of Service with Mercy Ships

10 Years Service Recognition Award

Far Left - Founder and Co-Founder of Mercy Ships - Don and Deyon Stephens. 

On 31st March 2011 we were presented, along with a few other Mercy Ships staff members, our 10 year service award.  It's actually 11 years in October since we started this amazing journey with Mercy Ships.  The above picture is taken in the Oasis Dining Room at the International Operations Centre in Texas.  

The presentation was an insribed Clock and Compass.

As we look back, we are humbled and overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God to us over this past decade.  We have seen and experienced so many things as a family so we thought it would be good to take you on a journey back in time and pick out some key moments over the last 10 years with Mercy Ships.

October 2000
We moved the family from Liverpool to Newcastle so that Andy could begin serving with Mercy Ships as 2nd Engineer.  The ship was into its 2nd year of re-fit from Danish Rail Ferry to Hospital Ship.  Brenda was transferred within the Civil Service and worked at Durham Passport Office for their first year with Mercy Ships while we did our Support Raising.
We moved into a very small apartment as we figured it to be a good transition to moving into a small ship cabin.  Little did we know at this time that it would be over 6 years till we moved on board.

September 2001
To serve as long term crew with Mercy Ships it is a requirement that an entry level training program be completed.  At that time this was called Crossroads Discipleship Training School.  It was 3 months in length - 2 months classroom time and a month on Outreach to Juarez, Mexico.    Filled with excitement and anticipation we headed for the USA to the Mercy Ships International Operations Centre for our training.  Our flight left London Heathrow on Sept 11th 2001.  Mid way across the Atlantic we were diverted to Newfoundland as the tragic events of 9/11 unfolded.  We were received with such generosity and hospitality by the people of Newfoundland on the day their population doubled, when.... as the title of a book perfectly described "The Day the World Came To Town".
This press article described it well:
On September 11, 2001, 39 heavy aircraft were diverted to Gander International Airport when airspace was closed in the United States because of the tragic terrorist hijackings. Runway 13/31 was converted to a temporary aircraft parking ramp. The airport terminal was turned into an aid centre as food and clothing was distributed to stranded passengers. The airport and its surrounding community afterwards received high praise for their response to the tragedy.

Our plane was one of the last to land and therefore one of the last to disembark after 27 hours on board the plane. 





January 2002
After completing our training programme we returned to the UK and Brenda began full time work in the HR Department.  By July 2002 she was working as the HR Manager.  We continued to serve on board despite the liquidation of Cammell Laird shipyard who held the contract for the m/v Africa Mercy Ship re-fit.  A long and protracted process ensued as a new contract was negotiated with A and P Tyne.
However, after 40 days of prayer and fasting through the season of Lent 2002, the final day brought an announcement that the Oak Foundation was donating $10 million towards the ship re-fit!  WOW! This was an unbelievable encouragement and blessing.

January 2003
Matt had left school and decided to join Africa Mercy as crew in his own right.  He worked for the following two years in Engineering as an Engine Hand and gained much experience.  Later we discovered that this sowed the seeds of a long term ambition to train as an Engineering Officer, following in his dads footsteps.  He is now away at sea on his first ship after completing the first six months of college time in South Shields, training to be an Engineering Officer.
The re-fit project repeatedly started and stalled due to contractual and financial obstacles.
Pic - The Africa Mercy as it looked when Mercy Ships first purchased her, before the bow doors were sealed up.

During 2003 the m/v Africa Mercy was moved across the River to Wallsend and went into dry dock for the next 15 months.

October 2004 - The m/v Africa Mercy was finally re-floated as she came out of dry dock and sailed back across the River Tyne to the Hebburn side of the river where the majority of the Mercy Ships porta-cabin offices had remained.


October 2005
Work on board continued.  Our family continued living ashore in rented accommodation with our kids in locals schools.  Andy and I were proud to receive our 5 year service awards presented by President and Founder of Mercy Ships - Don Stephens.

April 2006 - Liberia - With preparations well underway for the recruiting of post deployment crew Brenda flew out for a weeks visit to the M/V Anastasis for meetings with the leadership team on board.  Many of the m/v Anastasis crew would eventually transfer to the m/v Africa Mercy.  It was a successful week of meetings in which she also managed to fit in orphanage visits  and African Church!

August 2006 - Tema, Ghana

With Emma ready to go into UK GCSE's grades in England and knowing that the kids would soon be studying under a US curriculum it seemed pointless for her to remain in the UK school system. In addition there was a need for an HR Manager on board the m/v Anastasis, so we made the decision to transfer the family to Africa (Ghana) and on 26th August we flew out from Newcastle, leaving Matt behind.  Matt at this point had decided not to join us but instead chose to study in the UK.  Andy settled the family in Africa and then returned to Newcastle to continued his technical work on the m/v Africa Mercy.  He came out to stay with the family several times over the next 9 months.

Pic - Early hours of the morning on 26th August 2006 as we leave the UK for the M/V Anastasis in Ghana.
Another significant event of 2006 was that on 5th December Andy traveled down to London with his parents and sister Laura and also the Africa Mercy Executive Director - Ken Berry and his wife Ann, to be presented with the Merchant Navy Gold Medal Award.

 This was a great honour. There were 10 recipients of various awards. Andy had been nominated (we don't know how or by whom) to receive this award for his Service to Mercy Ships.


May 2007- Monrovia, Liberia - After successful sea trials the Africa Mercy finally embarked on her maiden voyage from Blythe, UK to Rotterdam for a couple of days of PR, then to Tenerife and finally arrived in Liberia on 23rd May.  The pics below shows the ship pulling into the port of Monrovia, Liberia and shows Brenda, Emma, Chris and Josh waving in Andy and Steve who sailed on board for the maiden voyage.

That same day our family moved all our possessions off the m/v Anastasis onto our new home the m/v Africa Mercy.  The next month was a hive of activity as the crew of both ships joined forces and emptied the m/v Anastasis, transferring the majority of her contents to the new ship.  In July the m/v Anastasis was retired and sailed off for her final voyage to India where she was to be scrapped.  A sad day for the many crew who have served on board over it's 20+ years of operational service.

Early 2008 - Monrovia, Liberia - Andy travelled to the UK for 3 and half months to study for his Chief Engineers License.  He returned to the ship and soon after our long hoped for family dream came to fruition as the family were re-united on the ship and served together as a whole family for the summer.  Matt travelled from the UK and both he and Steve served in Engineering under the leadership of their dad.

Shortly after Matt left the ship in August 08, Andy got his exam results through - He PASSED!!  He was soon after commissioned as the Chief Engineer by the Captain Tim Tretheway.

 Our time in Liberia was very special as we led a Ministry working at a home for orphans and displaced children called "Center for the Aged Orphaned and Abandoned Children".  We became very close to this wonderful group of kids and to the "Mom and Dad" - Dennis and Comfort and their staff.  Our three children were all very involved and we have many happy and wonderful memories of our time there.

February 2009 - Cotonou, Benin - We arrived in Benin in February and spent the usual 10 months there.  Much was achieved, many lives changed.  Brenda enjoyed her involvement with the Palliative Care Team making home visitations, sharing the love and compassion of Jesus to these dying patients and their families in the midst of their darkest hours. 

Towards the end of this field service All the Mercy Ships crew received a very special invitation from the President of Benin -  President Thomas Yayi Boni, to attend a Dinner in honor of all our crew, at the Presidential Palace. 

There were five medals presented (17 November) at the Palace.

Don Stephens - Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin, Deyon Stephens - Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin, Dr. Glenn Strauss - Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin. Also congratulated by the President was Dr. Gary Parker who had already been made a Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Benin in 2001 by President Mathieu Kerekou which was Mercy Ships second visit to this nation. This is Benin's highest medal and it can only be received once in a lifetime. Daslin Small Oueounou was made - Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Benin. Ken Berry was made - Officier de l'Ordre National du Benin
 

February 2010 - Lome, Togo - Every year the Academy High School students get to participate in the "Work Experience" programme.  Over the years our three kids have worked in the follwing Departments: Deck, Engineering, Hospital Ward, Sales, Reception, Galley , Dining Room.  It has afforded them unique insights into the work of each department and given them the opportunities to asses the areas they enjoyed and give them ideas for potential future career choices.  In this final year on board the ship, Emma worked in the Hospital again...she will go on to study Nursing this Fall at Tyler Junior College - her place has recently been confirmed.  Chris worked in Engineering - he is considering a future in some sphere of Engineering, yet to be determined.  Josh worked in the Galley...now...while he had a great time....he knows this is not for him! He definitely has his sights set on the stage.  More on this in another post!

At the start of 2010 we had no idea that this was to be our final year on the ship, but the Lord knew and he prepared us for what was to come.  In May we left the ship to get Emma some professional help and support as she became emotionally very fragile.  Depression crept up on her for a variety of reasons, not least of all finding it too difficult to cope any longer with the constant goodbyes of the many wonderful friends she made. 

August 2010 - Texas, USA - After successful visa applications we made the move to Texas, USA, specifically the small town of Van to live and work.  This move enabled us to continue our work with Mercy Ships, something that is very important to us.  The Mercy Ships Head Office is based just a few miles from Van.  I could tell you story after story of God's faithfulness during this season.
Emma has received the help she needs through the support of her family and friends and regular counseling sessions with a wonderful Christian Counselor.  She is doing so well!  There's definitely been some bumps along the road, but we are so thankful for the restoration we knew the Lord had in store for her.  We have held on to the promises of God through this difficult time and are so blessed to be able to testify that God continues to fulfill His promises.  'He knows the plans He has for our family, plan to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a future and a hope'.  Jer 29:11.  Also, we are so thankful that what the enemy intended for evil, God has most definitely turned for His good and His glory.
Our family is loving being here and we are convinced that this is where we are supposed to be as we continue to serve Him through this wonderful Ministry called Mercy Ships, hopefully for many years to come.  My work in HR continues to keep me busy as I focus on looking for ways to improve our HR systems, processes and policies for the m/v Africa Mercy.  Andy's role in Marine Ops is somewhat limited as he continues work on commercial ships in between, to subsidize our income here.

If you've gotten this far in reading our update, you've done well for sticking with it!!  I'm sorry it's long....10 years is a long time to reflect back on!   Thank you for your steadfastness and faithfulness over these years.  May the Lord Bless you and encourage you;  so many of you have partnered with us in our work and for that we are grateful beyond words.
We look forward to all the Lord has in store for us in the future.

Dr. Yasuhiro Kawashima – A Compassionate Heart

Dr. Yasuhiro Kawashima possesses a warm smile, kind eyes, and a compassionate heart.  As an anesthesiologist, he uses his skills to help others in his native country of Japan.  But he is also committed to using his medical knowledge to help people in impoverished countries – countries in which medical care is simply not available.
Immediately after graduating from medical school, Dr. Kawashima made a journey to Brazil to visit a Japanese evangelist.  The purpose of his visit was to investigate the possibility of doing future medical mission work.  A member of the church gave him a book entitled Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham.  The book mentioned Mercy Ships and their hospital ships – the perfect environment for Dr. Kawashima’s medical mission work.
In 1993, Dr. Kawashima attended DTS (Discipleship Training School) on the Anastasis, the first ship in Mercy Ships fleet, and in 2004 he joined the Field Service in Sierra Leone.  Since then, he has served six additional times onboard – once more on the Anastasis and five times on the Africa Mercy, the Mercy Ships flagship – and he was a member of a Mercy Ships land-based medical team in Honduras.
His most recent visit to the Africa Mercy was in March 2011.  He was in a hotel in Brussels, just a few hours before his flight to Africa.  He was stunned to hear a report on BBC News about the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan.  The images of destruction broke his heart.  He was faced with a dilemma.  Should he continue to the ship?  Or should he return home to help the people in his country?  He shares, “It was a very difficult choice.  But I had made a promise to come to the Africa Mercy.”
By the time Dr. Kawashima reached the ship, he was able to contact his loved ones at home.  Thankfully, his immediate family was safe.  His town was not damaged, and the situation there was stable.  However, one of his uncles lived near the earthquake’s epicenter, and no one had been able to contact him. 
Dr. Kawashima noted that the Japanese people are not hoarding food and water.  They are not looting damaged stores.  He describes them as “very nice people,” known to be very respectful and caring for others.
When his boss from the hospital in Japan contacted him to join a medical team going into the disaster-stricken areas to provide medical relief, Dr. Kawashima agreed.  Fortunately, there were other anesthesiologists onboard the Africa Mercy, and he could return home without feeling that he was leaving the hospital ship short-staffed.  Dr. Kawashima now plans to “spend his time for the suffering Japanese people,”---just as he has done for many years with Mercy Ships – to assist in the recovery from the recent natural disaster.
Story by Nancy Predaina
Photo by Debra Bell