Aberdeen Clinic & Fistula
Centre (ACFC)
A centre to
provide fistula repairs for women in Sierra Leone is moving closer to
reality. Two OB/GYN and their families will relocate to Sierra Leone
early next year. Rene & Marianne Lako, a couple with more than 25 years
of Mercy Ships history, have accepted roles as Country Director for
Mercy Ships Sierra Leone and HealthCare Manager of the ACFC.
The ACFC is
scheduled to open February 2005. I’ve been asked to help them with
set-up in February. I’ll most likely stop there after the assessment
trip in Ghana.
Please pray
that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sierra Leone Ministry of
Health is completed in the near future. (5
December, I received an email that the MOU has been signed.) Rejoice with us that significant
funding and personnel are available for this new venture. There are
still some personal needs as well as funds for a few more equipment
items.
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New England Camp Cherith
Camp
Cherith in Lyman, Maine has been an important part of my life almost as
long as I can remember. In the 70s and early 80s I was a camper; in the
80s I was a counselor and later camp nurse; and most recently I am known
as one of the camp missionaries. As part of this latter privilege, I
also get to visit camp and catch up with campers and staff.
For a few days in
July, I did just that. During my time there, I rode in the boat as watch
for tubing; chatted with campers in various craft activities; shared
briefly at the Sunday vespers service, for evening devotions with the
high-schoolers and at a staff meeting. It is a delight to challenge them
as my counselors once challenged me – and to be challenged anew as I
hear the passion and anticipation in their voices.
In August my
mother hosted a luncheon for several camp friends from the early ‘80s.
Tammy arrived from the Philippines while
others drove down from Maine, up from Massachusetts, over from Vermont,
and 15 minutes down the road in New Hampshire. What fun to see how the
Lord has led us in so many different directions over the past few
decades! Please pray for camp reunions this Christmas vacation, when
girls will be reminded of truths they learned at camp during the summer.
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Return to Northeast England
In mid-September
I returned to Newcastle, England and promptly caught a train to Dundee,
Scotland. While in Dundee I spoke at a ladies’ coffee onboard the
Anastasis and also attended a meeting to discuss a CT scanner for the
Africa Mercy.
To those of you
who prayed for these dates, thank you. More than 200 women attended the
ladies coffee. At the meeting about x-ray equipment, we were able to
gain some clarity regarding needs and models. Next month we’ll place the
first order for our radiology equipment, made possible by a generous
grant from a foundation here in the UK.
Please pray
for continued wisdom as we make purchase decisions. We also have several
contacts for potential donations. top
Africa Mercy ‘Sails’
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In
early October, with the hull freshly painted, the
Africa Mercy moved from
the drydock in Wallsend across the Tyne River to a berth in Hebburn.
This is a more convenient location, but now that the ship is back in the
water we must maintain 24-hour-a-day watches. With the exception of
mothers, everyone is pitching in to cover night and weekend shifts.
About the same
time, we received word from the UK Home Office that Mercy Ships staff
will no longer be able to obtain Volunteer visas to come work on the
ship – nor do we quite fit into any of the other visa categories. Those
of us with visas will be permitted to remain, but as they expire, we
will be required to leave the country.
Would you
please pray for a favorable resolution to this issue?
Several crew have visas due for renewal
in the next few months. It has already affected one of our officers and
cooks. Please pray for increased staff to cover cooking needs as well
as watches. top
Future
Outreach
While we wait for
completion of the Africa Mercy, we are moving ahead with plans for the
initial outreach to Tema & Takoradi,
Ghana. Please pray that we would identify the best partnerships for
our time in these ports. In future newsletters, I will introduce you to
some of the staff who will join me in HealthCare Services and make this
vision a reality. top
At Last
J
Two
amazing wonders in short order. First the
Red Sox won the World Series in
baseball. Even better, on November 1, my nephew
Patrick James Campbell arrived. Bryan and Maureen are training him
right, introducing him to the Red
Sox soon after birth. I promise I won’t make a habit of boring you with
photos and stories! top
Notes
I’m grateful for
continued support, whether it’s through your prayers, financial
contributions, letters or thoughts.
Please pray for:
