Togo Screening
Angelle & Ablavi
Kossi
Caribbean Mercy
Adjustments
Benin Pre-Advance
LOA
Return to Sierra Leone
Eddie
Shortly after
our arrival in Togo, we held two days of screening at the national
stadium. While many of the people waiting to be seen lined up in an
orderly fashion, many others crowded the gate. We managed to see each
person who waited that
day,
in spite of some tense moments as they pressed through the gates. These
days are difficult, with large numbers of people seeking help. With only
three months in which to schedule operations, we quickly ran out of space on the schedule.
The final candidate on the second
day
filled our final maxillo-facial surgery slot. While this was good for
those patients, it meant that there were no spaces for people who came
to the ship after the screenings. Many of our
surgical patients from this outreach have been given cards to come to
the ship for a follow-up operation when we return to Benin in 2004.
TOP
In Benin two
years ago we provided surgery for Angelle, a young woman with a large facial
tumor. One of our translators in Benin, Kokouvi, followed up on several of
our surgical patients. He has visited them in their villages and encouraged
them. Shortly before
our
departure in June, Kokouvi brought Angelle to visit us on the ship. It was
exciting to see how well she is doing. We also shared with her the
Reader’s Digest article that featured her story.
Not every story has a happy ending. A few weeks
before Angelle’s visit in June, another young woman came to the Anastasis.
Ablavi’s father brought her, hoping we could help her as we had helped a
young man from their village. I became involved when the nursing supervisor
came to tell me about her, with the confession that she just couldn’t send
Ablavi away, even though the surgery schedule was full and our time in Togo
was drawing to a close. When I saw her, I couldn’t send her away immediately
either. Sometimes a person just grabs your heart and won’t be turned away.
We did what we could to meet her needs, but in the end, her massive facial
tumor turne
d
out to be malignant and we could not remove it. Kokouvi was there that day,
providing support and encouragement for our patients on the dock. He walked
through the screening process with
Ablavi and will visit her in
her village.
Would you thank the Lord with us for Kokouvi, who
continues to follow-up on Angelle and Ablavi as well as other patients from
this outreach. Pray particularly that Ablavi would experience physical and
spiritual comfort in the upcoming weeks.
Please begin praying now for the frontline staff
who during the outreach phase are frequently put in a position of having to
turn away patients because the schedule is full, their conditions are not
amenable to surgical treatment, or they have needs in areas we do not
specialize. TOP
Kossi
first came to our screening in March, his left cheek distended by a tumor.
He’s a subsistence farmer, growing maize, cassava, and peanuts. Biopsy
results after the tumor was removed showed that it was malignant and would
require radiation treatment. Anastasis crew gave a generous offering that
enabled us to send Kossi to Ghana for radiation therapy in June. Would
you pray that his recovery would be complete? Rejoice that he knows and
loves Jesus.
TOP
For the first
time, the Caribbean Mercy visited the port of Boston. This happened to
coincide with my time at home in New Hampshire. My parents graciously hosted
several Caribbean Mercy crew in their home for dinner and I was able to
attend a medical reception. Both experiences gave me a chance to exchange
ideas with medical crew. The Caribbean Mercy heads to Belize this autumn.
TOP
Easter weekend I assumed my new
role as HealthCare Manager. What an eye-opening experience!
My time was no longer my own as meetings and individuals vied for greater
attention. In this position I must think about and plan for 3 outreaches at
the same time: the current one, the return to Sierra Leone in November, and
our return to Benin in 2004! There are the renovations that will take place
this summer during my absence (see note below about my LOA), funds to be
raised, and supplies to be gathered.
Some of my
greatest struggles are learning anew how to ‘rest’ in Christ, something that
is closely related to my ongoing struggle to do things not in my own
strength, but in the strength He gives me. Because the needs are so great in
many of the nations we visit, it’s important to be able to discern the
difference between a ‘good thing’ and a ‘God thing’ i.e. what is it that God
wants me to be doing and directing my time and attention to at this moment?
Giving my best to those efforts means that I must say no to other things
that might also seem important. Would you please pray for me as I learn
and grow in these areas? TOP
Shortly
after assuming my new job, I participated in an early assessment trip for
our return to Benin in November 2004. We explored possible opportunities for
our community health education and community development teams. I also
visited with a number of non-governmental organizations and government &
hospital officials to get a picture of their needs, particularly in the
areas we have expanded since our last visit.
We spent a fair amount of time with ‘the five guys,’
our nickname for 5 young evangelists who are working in rural Benin,
planting churches by building relationships and helping meet needs in
different communities. They took us to 6 of the villages where they’ve been
working. We’re looking forward to working with them in 2004, whether it is
through the provision of additional training, water and sanitation
assistance, and/or community health education.
In addition to looking at
potential projects, we also revisited some of the villages our teams worked
in during previous outreaches. We met three men who still teach the lessons
they learned in their courses on community health and sanitation. They
continue to have a passion for helping their community, two of them serving
in pastoral roles as well, while the third is supported by a local
non-governmental organization. Would you please pray for Pierre (shown
right), Frederick, and Jean Baptiste as they persevere in these efforts?
Also pray that we would have wisdom as we decide where and with whom we will
work in Benin. TOP
Every three years, Mercy Ships
personnel are able to take a 3-month leave of absence (LOA) to catch up with
family, friends, and supporters. After six years onboard the Anastasis (yes,
it’s been that long! and seven years since I started my Discipleship
Training School), I am currently enjoying my second LOA. My first week home
I enjoyed the 4th of July festivities in Boston and visited the
Caribbean Mercy for the first time. In a few days I’ll leave on a week-long
medical missions trip with a team from my Richmond church. After I return,
I’ll make a circular tour through SC, TX, IN and IL, as well as Michigan
before heading home to New Hampshire.
Please pray that I will use my time wisely and set
aside time for a true vacation so that I might return to the ship refreshed.
TOP
This will be
our third visit to Sierra Leone in as many years. Our Community Development
team will continue to work in the same region where they have helped with
home building, agriculture, and Mercy Sheep, but in an expanded area this
time. One of our Community Health Educators who is also a midwife will work
with traditional birth attendants in these areas. As they learn to recognize
potential problems, they can make early referrals to the healthcare system,
ultimately improving maternal-child health. The dental team will work out of
the hospital just a short walk up the hill from the port. At this same
hospital, we’ll be working with nurses in our upcountry patient housing ward
and with surgeons and nurses to provide fistula surgery. This year we plan
to provide 90 fistula repairs, though even this is just a beginning.
TOP
One of our
crew was recently diagnosed with cancer for which there is no good
treatment. Eddie and his
wife Carolyn met on the Anastasis six years ago and have served together for
the past few years. They will be returning to England to be near his family
(they were planning to leave the ship to work at our head office in Texas),
but he is currently hospitalized in Spain. Would you please pray with us
that his condition would stabilize and arrangements can be made for his
transfer to England? TOP
Follow-up: Eddie died summer 2004, at home in Plymouth, England.
Please accept my apologies for not
communicating more regularly over the past few months! Blessings to you-
Jean
