Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Psalm 96.3 (NIV)
|
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96.3 (NIV) |
|
|
06/08/08 |
     
|
Vacation Procurement Africa Mercy Summer Camp New Job Training Receptions Sierra Leone Upcoming Dates Although I spent eight weeks in the US this summer, I seemed to spend most of it on the road. My parents’ minivan certainly has the added mileage to prove it! I’m sorry I didn’t get to touch base with each of you. For those who shared a meal, a moment to chat, or the hospitality of a spare room, thank you! top of page For four weeks this summer I worked in Texas at the International Operations Center for Mercy Ships to procure necessary supplies for our upcoming outreaches to Sierra Leone and Togo. I sent letters and emails and even gritted my teeth and made phone calls (I avoid cold calls at all costs). Then the fun began, as individuals and companies gave generously to meet our needs. It is wonderfully exciting to see God’s provision. Please pray for God’s blessing in the live and businesses of these donors. top of page When the ship visited Bristol, England in September, I traveled to Newcastle to meet with a small team of people to work on the hospital design for the Africa Mercy. This was a nuts and bolts meeting…we covered power requirements; outlet locations; floor, wall, and ceiling materials; office space; and oxygen lines. It was fun to dream of what it will one day look like and how it will function. Although I’d been asked to consider going to the Africa Mercy to head up the medical department, I don’t sense that this is the right thing for me now. Would you pray for the Africa Mercy crew? They labor with a longing to see the Africa Mercy launched into full-time service. They struggle against discouragement as they wait for funds to arrive so work can progress. For years, summer meant camp to me. At New England Camp Cherith in Maine, I learned not only how to shoot a rifle well, but how to live out my Christian faith in my daily life. My instructors for both were often the same person. Some of the staff headed to the mission field; their example and choices influenced me. Over the years I progressed from camper to counselor to camp nurse. Today when I return, I fill another role – camp missionary. During a brief visit this summer, I helped with camper check-in, visited an air riflery class, rode in the boat for the tubing class, helped paint a banner, spoke at a morning staff meeting and Sunday service, and answered camper questions during a lunchtime Q&A session. I also had a chance to share with them how their offerings from the summer of 2001 helped provide chemotherapy for Sheku (last newsletter) and put a roof on a new home. This year they are helping to furnish a dockside unit where we will treat post-operative patients after discharge. The interactions with campers and staff seem so very brief and I don’t know what seeds God may have planted. I have heard from some of them who have been challenged and are considering what their future should be. I know that the campers and staff encouraged me. Would you pray with me for these campers and staff, as they have returned to the world of school and ‘real’ jobs, that they would continue to apply the truths they learned at camp? top of page The good news is that I have a new job. The bad news is that I don’t yet have an official job description or title! It’s something along the lines of medical program & procurement coordinator with other random things thrown in. I will be moving out of the operating rooms and providing a greater support role so we can be more effective in the care we provide. I also hope to develop a program for long-term follow-up of our patients. In the next few months I’ll also create project proposals for the installation of new autoclaves in the OR and renovation of the current crew clinic/pharmacy space into a ward extension. top of page Training: Ans, Diedre & Donna I’m only able to move into this new position because Ans Rozema, a Dutch critical care nurse, agreed to assume the role of OR supervisor. For the past two years she worked as a recovery room and ward nurse. Like me, she doesn’t have the OR experience, but that can be learned. Her assistant will be Diedre Graham, a nurse who has served on board for the past 14+ years. Because she has two young boys, she works mornings only. Would you please pray for us in this transition time? It’s a privilege to have most of the Sierra Leone outreach for Ans to learn the job. Please pray that I would teach well and effectively communicate the essentials of the position as well as some of the intangibles. In addition to training Ans and Diedre to assume my job responsibilities, I will also be working with Jamaican nurse Donna, our new eye care coordinator. Although she has been on the ship for a few years, she has not worked in HealthCare Services. One of our short-term crew has arranged to train her to care for ophthalmic patients. My role will be to help her establish a system for caring for our eye patients efficiently. The battle here is to make sure they experience God’s love through us even though they don’t spend days on the inpatient ward. Would you pray that we find a way to do this effectively and take our eye care program to a new level? top of page During our PR phase (Public relations, procurement & recruitment), we open our home to tours and host receptions on board. More than 7,000 visitors toured the Anastasis in Cuxhaven alone. On the eve of the reunification of Germany, we hosted a reception for medical personnel interested in the ministry of the ship. I spoke at length with a couple from Dresden in the former East Germany who were interested in full-time mission work. A dozen years ago they couldn’t have considered it. In Bristol numerous former crew took the time to visit the ship, often bringing donations of needed supplies with them. Our final European port will be Amsterdam. Please pray for me as I will speak at the medical reception. This is also where any last-minute purchases will be made. We’re actually in pretty good shape, but are still awaiting some medication and suture deliveries. top of page In just a month we will return to Sierra Leone for a three-month outreach. There is a sense of anticipation on board as the crew looks forward to reuniting with friends and continuing projects begun during our last visit. Among the projects lined up for this outreach are a continuation of the home-building in Molambay and something new called “Mercy Sheep.” If the details can be finalized, we hope to stop in the Gambia to collect a load of sheep and goats, along with a veterinarian to immunize and certify them, and deliver them to Sierra Leone. Most of their livestock was destroyed during the war years. One question the Sierra Leonean government and US embassy have posed is how we can reach out to the people in the interior of the nation. Sierra Leone is overrun by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), but they do the majority of their work in Freetown. The US Embassy has offered us the use of their helicopter to transport a screening team to three regional cities where we will hold miniature screenings prior to our main screening in Freetown. I have to confess that helicopters are not my favorite mode of transportation, but as part of the team I will make six flights within a week of our arrival. Please pray for safety. This process of reaching out to residents of the interior is not as simple as identifying those who need surgery. We will also have to work with other NGOs to ensure that the people selected for surgery make it to the ship at the right time and have a place to stay in Freetown during any immediate follow-up period. Please pray for the best solutions as details of screening, housing, and transportation are worked out in the next few weeks. top of page Upcoming Significant Dates - 2002/3 October 11-22: Amsterdam, Netherlands October 15: Medical Reception. I will be speaking – please pray for me! October 22: Set sail from Amsterdam October 28-November 4: Tenerife November 4-November 9: Sail to Sierra Leone November 9: Arrive in Freetown, Sierra Leone November 11-13: Screenings in Makeni, Bo, & Kenema. November 14-15: Screening in Freetown November 19: First surgeries December 6-January 5: Home in the US for my brother Bryan’s wedding on the 14th and my first stateside Christmas in six years. Skiing? February 14: Final surgeries in Sierra Leone February 21: Sail for Lomé, Togo top of page
|
This site was last updated 12/04/04