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Liberia Assessment
Although the
Africa Mercy has not yet started its first field service, we are already
planning for the first port after the two ports in Ghana. For two weeks
in February I stayed on the Anastasis in Monrovia. The primary purpose
of our trip was to assess potential partners that the Africa Mercy could
work with in 2007. It has been nearly two years since my first visit to
Liberia, but the Anastasis is currently on its second field service in
the country. I enjoyed visiting work s ites to see what the Anastasis
has accomplished. Please pray for wisdom now as
we consider and write potential project proposals.
Construction
Workers are
scattered throughout the Africa Mercy. In the hospital area, some are
working on the ventilation/air conditioning system while others are busy
installing furniture such as the nurses’ stations in the wards and
recovery room.
Away from the
hospital, much of the cabin furniture is in place. Flooring has been
laid in most cabins and corridors, including the hospital deck.
Furniture for the library and offices has arrived from Poland. Slovenian
workers are installing the galley equipment.
Advance Team
There was a great
deal of rejoicing here in Newcastle as the members of the inaugural
advance team arrived here for training in the middle of February. On
March 1, the team of 5 flew to Ghana to finalize arrangements for the
Africa Mercy’s time in Ghana. Three of these team members represent
HealthCare Services:
Kirstie
Randall: screening
(location, refe rrals
and advertisement), contacts with the Ministry of Health, registration
of medical professionals. Bob Hicks:
everything ophthalmic, including screening and scheduling of surgical
patients. The Africa Mercy has a much greater capacity for ophthalmic
surgery than the Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy. Jean Browne,
team leader and also responsible for dental clinic, strategic health
initiatives, traditional birth attendants, and HIV training. Colin &
Heather Alderson, Community
Development & Administrative Please pray for:
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Completion of
the project and receipt of a passenger certificate. The project has
been subject to numerous delays and it’s hard to believe the yard when
they provide a completion date since they haven’t managed to stick
with a schedule yet! |
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Wisdom for the
advance team members as they build relationships and work out details. |
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Wisdom for
those who must make decisions about when crew may join the Africa
Mercy in the midst of uncertainty about completion. Grace and patience
for those who are anxiously awaiting the final word that they may
purchase air tickets. (Update, April 1, 2006: Now this is a
matter of when crew will travel to Ghana to join the Anastasis
there to begin the Ghana field service.) |
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Sufficient
supply of water for the remainder of the Anastasis field service in
Liberia. |
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Financial
support for the Africa Mercy’s inaugural field service to Ghana via
the project proposals. Some of these are already funded. Please keep
on praying! |
Would you join me in giving thanks that:
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We have filled a number of key
positions with transferees from the Anastasis. |
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Our volunteer
coordinator joined us this past week. This frees Beverley Sutton, our
ward manager, to focus on her responsibilities. |
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A pharmacist has joined us for a few
weeks to assist with finalizing the needs lists for our procurement
team. |
Dates to Remember
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April 20-29:
Basic Safety Training at our headquarters in Texas. It is less
expensive to fly us to TX for the course than it is to pay for us to
take the course here. |
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April 6: A
commissioning event to be held in Newcastle, England. The shipyard is
behind schedule, so we will not be traveling to London for this event. |
On a Personal Note
My decision to
join the Africa Mercy for a six-month stint beginning in September 2003
was not an easy one. I had no desire to be here and could only see what
I was giving up by leaving the Anastasis, but I came out of obedience to
God. In reading Exodus at the time, I took note of Bezalel and Oholiab,
two craftsmen with special skill who were asked to build what was
needed for the tabernacle. Like them, I, too, had specific skills and
experience that suited me for this role during the construction phase.
Ultimately I agreed to return full-time, to see the Africa Mercy through
the construction phase and into field service.
These past 2 ½
years have been extremely difficult for me on many levels. My heart
remains in Africa. Sometimes, when shivering in the bitter wind of
Newcastle on dark winter days, it is easy to lose sight of the end
purpose of the work here, that we are building a tool that God will use
to bring HIS message of hope and healing to the nations of Africa. It’s
easy to grow discouraged when the finish line keeps moving. Please pray
that I would be able to remain focused and persevere, that I would learn
the lessons God has for me during this time, and that my attitude and
service would bring honor to his name.
This Week on the Africa Mercy
On Fridays I have
begun sending weekly updates to long-term HealthCare Services crew who
will join us as soon as we are able to move aboard the Africa Mercy. In
bullet-point format I relay what is happening in HealthCare Services,
general and hospital construction, the Advance Team, and specific prayer
points. If you would like to receive these updates, please send me
an email at
jean.campbell@mercyships.org and I will add you to the mailing list.
Please be sure that the above email address is added to your
address book.
Contact Info
If you’d like to
receive my newsletter via email, please send me an email with your
current address: jean@jeansjourneys.net If
you ARE receiving this via email and your address changes or you’d
rather not receive it, please let me know that as well! Thank you!
Jean |
