Christmas?

 While the rest of the world is shoveling snow, our families are enjoying sunny beaches! It is summer in South AFrica!

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Come work with me!

If you would like to come teach in our Academy, check out this website:

http://community.icontact.com/p/brianandwarriecom/newsletters/mercyshipsacademy/posts/mercy-ships-academy-september

We'd love to have you. It is an adventure of a lifetime, and we have the most delightful students you could ever ask for!

Teacher close-ups: Spirit Day

In my last entry, I gave you a glimpse of some of the fun costumes of Spirit Day. Here are two of my favorite ones, my buddies the 4th grade teacher (Nemo) and the pre-school teacher (Africa Mercy) making some of their silly faces.

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Spirit Day at the Academy: Sea Theme

 Once a month the school has a Spirit Day. This means whacky costumes and funny stories. So here you see the 9-10th grades and mentor teacher, with Snail and Sponge Bob Squarepants leading in their managerie. Next we have grade 4, with the mermaid, the shrimp, the Academy beachcomber, Nemo, and the local jellyfish. Then I couldn't resist showing you the sea, the sea cucumber and the giant jellyfish, the 11-12th graders and mentor teacher. What a creative bunch!

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Sailing along South Africa

I am sitting at my desk, enjoying a spicy breakfast of curried potatoes and garbanzo beans. (I think some of you call them chick peas?) Our Gurkhas got up at 4 a.m. to cook up this treat for us. They even made chapatis! I feel impossibly spoiled, having just passed a delightful hour in prayer with my prayer partners as we watched the sun rise over the sea. We are nearing Durban, and will be having our South Africa arrival briefing this morning at 8:00.

We have lots of briefings on a sail, and need to be very flexible with our classes. However, we serve with such a delightful crew, and have such interested and enthusiastic students, no one is complaining.

Here are a couple of photos of some of our students enjoying the bow to watch the sun as it prepares to set. Enjoy!

Togo says good-bye

As we head out to sea, a final fishing boat waves us off, and the Togolese navy chaperones us until we are out in the open waters, a very gracious send-off.

And the school?

You may wonder what the Academy does during departure. Well, we all go out on decks 7 and 8 and watch! Sometimes there are church bands and government leaders seeing us off, but since Togo is very actively involved in government protests, we left as quickly and quietly as we could. However, we were all out on deck to see it happen. This was on the weekend, but we would stop classes for an hour or so to see it if we departed during school time.

Harbor pause

Then, as we backed out of the berth, we paused mid-harbor to check our starboard lifeboats. We can lower our boats on the water-side during our stay to make sure they are operating correctly, but these had hung over the quay.

Those few left behind wave us off

As we pull out, those few left behind wave to us from our designated part of the dock. Togo very graciously blocked off part of the dock for us strictly for our own use. The children loved it!

Deckies work to free us

After we hold a final at-sea muster in our life jackets, and everyone is accounted for, Captain Tim announces that anyone not sailing with us is to depart from the ship. There is a patter of feet as we all descend upon reception for final hugs for those who will be staying behind. Then the gangway is raised, and the ropes drawn in (after the pilot is aboard, of course).

Departure views

What goes on when a ship leaves port? Here are a few glimpses for you...

 

 

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Does God answer prayer?

Does God answer prayer?

You bet He does!

 

Two nights ago I ate some dressing that was a bit off in taste, and a couple of hours later had the telltale signs of stomach pain and nausea of possible food poisoning. I asked my roommate to pray for me. She did, and I immediately felt much better. I slept well, and in the morning was able to return to the classroom freely, without even a hint of discomfort.

 

When the ship was in Benin, a bunch of us visited the prison each week. There was a section for youths, boys under 18. A group went to them faithfully, teaching, discipling, encouraging. They distributed some 50 or more Bibles among them. Sometimes when I was done with the ladies, my group would go join them. A number of the boys asked for prayer, and we wrote down their names and began praying for them. We prayed that others would continue to visit them. We prayed that someone would mentor them. Prison Fellowship goes in and gives them some schooling and helps them make flip flops from plastic, so they have a trade and are not so bored. Well, we left, still praying.

 

Then a friend went back there this year and reported to us that 10 of the boys, who had no hope of leaving the prison, had been released. We were so thrilled at that answer to prayer.

 

It gets better yet. The other day a team of our people came back from Benin. They had been there for a few weeks, and guess where they went every other day? To visit the youth in the prison!!! They did not even know about our visits. They spent time with the boys and encouraged them, prayed with them, and mentored them. They reported back to me that Prison Fellowship is continuing to follow up with the boys when they go back home to help them get a new start. Better yet, this is the second group to do this!

 

Does God answer prayer?

You bet He does!

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Another story of hope and healing

Akou Kewukpo

“Hard things are put in our way not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength.” unknown author. 

Akou Kewukpo is a woman of courage. In Western Africa, women do an astounding amount of work. They farm, cook, take care of children, and sell goods. They carry heavy items on their heads extremely far distances. They are worked to the bone. Akou did these things while experiencing great pain.

She is a farmer and has five grown children. She looks stunning for her age. Akou's wonderful smile reveals perfectly straight, glistening white teeth. And you think, “There is a story behind that smile.”

A large mass had been growing on Akou's right shoulder for five years. The growth inched its way up her neck and caused great pain. Akou didn't realize that the tumor was slowly filling her lungs and would eventually kill her.

If Akou lived in a developed nation, the tumor would have been removed at a very early stage. But, because of the lack of health care resources, doctors in Togo suggested that she travel to Europe to have the tumor removed. Europe? She could not afford a trip to Europe. They had basically given her a death sentence. She said, “I couldn't believe it when they told me that. I shook my head, and essentially gave up.”

Three years later, Akou waited in line to see a doctor at the Mercy Ships screening day in Togo. The African sun beat down on the hundreds of hopeful people waiting for medical attention. Akou was checked by several nurses and given an X-ray. It was determined that she was a candidate for surgery and was given a date to return to the ship for her tumor to be removed. Finally, hope had returned! Akou remembers, “I was so happy that day. More than small happiness…this was BIG happiness. I was in a hurry to get back home … so the time would pass faster, and the day of surgery would be here!”

Eventually the surgery day arrived. Dr. Mark performed a marathon nine-hour operation. In order to remove the entire tumor, Dr. Mark had to cut the nerves running through it. Then, he meticulously stitched each nerve back together.

In recovery Akou had staples running down her neck and shoulder, resembling a train track of battle wounds. But she did not mind. The enemy was gone. All that remained was the beautifully sloped silhouette of her shoulders.

Akou's struggle, however, was not over. Her courage faced another test. When she woke up after surgery, she could not lift her arm. Akou understood that the nerves had to be cut in order to remove the tumor and save her life. But she also knew that her livelihood depended on being able to lift things.
Akou's prognosis is very good. Charge Nurse, Ali Chandra, explains, “The doctors are quite confident that over time and with therapy, Akou will regain all movement in her arm. And every day, I can see she is improving emotionally and responding to therapy.”

Akou's courage and strength were tested, and she rose to the occasion. Healing began. Eventually, it was time to look at her shoulder for the first time. Akou was handed a small mirror. She carefully cleaned it with her hospital gown and then held it up.

In a matter of seconds, her beaming smile transformed her face. She finally allowed herself to enjoy the hope and healing God had brought her through Mercy Ships.

“When my hand gets better,” she exclaims, “I will be jumping up and down hands raised in the air with celebration. The first thing I will do when I return home is go to church and thank God for what H e has done for me. All the nurses who have took care of me--I will thank God for them.”

Story by Claire Bufe
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Deb Bell, Tom Bradley and Liz Cantu

TGD0210_SCREENG_CMS_DB409_LO
Akou Kewukpo arrives at screening in Togo in February, 2010. Her tumor has the scars of a witch doctor who tried to heal her years ago.

TGD0210_SCREENG_CMS_DB602_LO
Akou speaks with a Mercy Ships staff member, receiving instructions.

TGD0210_SCREENG_CMS_DB410_LO
Akou waits patiently for a very long time to see a doctor.

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Perambulate

 

 

Each is given a domain to explore, So perambulate! What gifts of family, friends and foes Define your world and touch your soul?   Who are you?   Do you roam about your life Adventurously, in ongoing discovery?   Or are you always pushing Against the borders, Challenging the boundaries That put restrictions on your life?   Do you slash and burn and then move on To try another crop in another place in your domain, Leaving the past behind in a scorched earth policy?   Do you ramble about, going with the flow, And sometimes wonder if it has a goal, Or if the end will disclose it?   Do you pause to write your name on walls— A posterity you hope someone will notice And maybe even care about? After all, Amerigo Vespucci has a country named after him!   Do you take time to listen in your soul, And ask your Maker if He had a plan in mind— If there is any purpose to your life’s design?   Do you ever wonder if you are a Chevy trying to be a cow? .

 

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Mercy Ships Agricultural Outreach

 

 

The Food for Life Graduation Day In a remote area in Benin on a Saturday afternoon, a group of men, women and children dressed in their finest attire listen to a choir singing, "Oh, Happy Day, when Jesus washed my sins away!" One might think they were at a church service, but this is a celebration of achievement. Twenty four-year-old Serge Medeho is proud to stand among his classmates at the Food for Life graduation. He displays unusual maturity and determination. He has worked extremely hard for 4 long months, and today he will stand with his 19 classmates to commemorate the completion of the program. He simply says, "Now, I am looking ahead , and I am ready to return home and use what I have learned. I hope to get a large plot of land to practice my biological agriculture." Mercy Ships teamed with Bethesda of Benin, a non-governmental organization (NGO), to create the Food for Life Agriculture Program. The second graduating class boasts nineteen men and one woman. They have completed a gruelling 16-week course in which they learned about biological agriculture and how to manage and market a farm. Now they are armed with the knowledge, tools and skills required to become thriving agriculturists – and, better yet, they can teach others to use these new methods. The director for Food for Life Bethesda, Urbain Lontchedji, spoke to the graduates and guests at the ceremony, saying, "I know our training was very hard , and the students got up every morning and worked long days. Thank you to the families for letting your brothers, sons, and husbands leave home and come here to learn. They will be better off because of it." The partnership between Bethesda and Mercy Ships was the key to the program's success. Bethesda Director, Victor Gbedo, explained, "This program would not exist without Mercy Ships . We had the idea for this program, but not th e means to see it through. Mercy Ships stepped in and provided funding. We are so thankful for this partnership, and I know the graduates appreciate it just as much. We are transforming lives. " Half of the twenty participants were selected by Mercy Ships and half by Bethesda. Applicants were chosen according to their background in agriculture, and they attended the program free of charge. They gained in-depth knowledge about organic farming – such as composting, using home-made insecticide, and layering crops that thrive when planted together. During the course, the participants live on-site at the Bethesda Food for Life Training Center. Each student is given a plot of land to maintain. They grow fruits and vegetables such as pineapples, tangerines, corn, beans, peanuts, eggplant, tomatoes, and green beans. The students and teachers live off of the crops they grow at the center, but they cannot possibly eat all the food they grow! Thus, the center is a wonderful food source for people living in the surrounding villages. "We don't even have to bring the food into town," says Mercy Ships Agriculture Program Facilitator, Jean-Claude Mouditou. "They know it is here , and the people come and purchase the food right as it is harvested." Providing food for villagers is an added bonus to this amazing program. The main benefit is that the students receive skills and knowledge to be successful farmers. The ultimate goal is that they will share their new-found skills with others, expanding the impact of the program. Mercy Ships Managing Director, Donovan Palmer, told the graduates that Mercy Ships is delighted to be a partner in this program. He also gave them a challenge, saying, "I want you to use your faith and ask God to take what you have learned and grow it into something greater than you can ever imagine." Then Donovan paused and asked, "Are you excited?" And the graduates replied with a resounding, "Oui!" (Yes!!) At the end of the ceremony, each graduate was presented with a new wheelbarrow filled with a set of supplies. Two watering cans, a shovel, a pitchfork, rubber boots, a bucket, and seeds were among the items. As the graduates excitedly rolled their wheelbarrows out of the building, Serge Medeho expressed the feelings of all of the participants when he declared, "This equipment is so wonderful. It will help us truly succeed!" After the ceremony, Serge paused to reflect on his experience. "I don't even have the words to say 'Thank you. ' God passed through this organization and helped each one of us. How did I get so lucky? Being here has added so much to who I am … t o what I can do. It's truly amazing." Serge's sister, Therese, has seen a change in him. "He loves it here. He behaves so differently now. By God's grace , this is possible, and I know he will be very successful now." At the close of the ceremony, Mercy Ships Switzerland Director, Bryce Wagner, said a few words expressing how proud Mercy Ships is of these graduates and how their skills will serve them well. He concluded, "Vous êtes l'avenir d'Afrique!" ("You are the future of Africa!") Indeed, they are! And the crowd obviously agreed as they stood and erupted into claps and cheers. Story by Claire Bufe Edited by Nancy Predaina The Director of Food for Life Bethesda, Urbain Lontchedji, (left) speaks to the graduates as Jean-Claude Mouditou, Mercy Ships Agriculture Program Facilitator, translates (right). Joyous faces abound as graduates dance and celebrate their accomplishments! The graduates look to the back of the room as the Director enters to present their new equipment to them. Mercy Ships Managing Director, Donovan Palmer, shakes a graduate's hand as he receives his diploma. The singing and dancing resume after diplomas are handed out! A local band performs several musical numbers. Serge Medeho receives his graduation diploma from an elder in the village. The view of the room, wonderfully decorated with banner and streamers. Jean Claude Mouditou presents the graduates with their wheelbarrow full of new supplies and equipment. The entire group takes a photo in front of the Bethesda Food for Life Training Center – their home for the past four months. Three graduates and their families who have come to support them. .

 

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Poems by Hazel Servante

(Hazel is my prayer partner on the Africa Mercy.)

The question

There’s a question to ask, Lord, can You take it,
an honest appraisal of all that is seen
The question Lord, comes - You’ve heard it before;
There are those who ask, there are those who ignore -

God in Your control are the grains of the sand,
the rain-stores are emptied at Your command
Yet, for all this, Lord, there are yet still,
questions to ask; listen up for a while

There are those who’ve got plenty,
those who’ve got nought
There are those who are empty
and those with no thought
Of want

The answer, Lord... that’s our desire
To put all to right, to come up with a cure
For these people

But Lord, You’re not silent, nor distant nor cold
There’s a future that’s forever, a story untold for the nations
Lord, for each murmur, each question that comes
Remind me of Love, remind me of Hope

Turn my questions to Jesus, to new Life, new Hope
Turn my questions to worship, open for more
Of the Love of a Father, who compels us
To adore

Lord, in worship, the answer is found,
In humble confession, that Your love surrounds
The widow and orphan; mercy that's real
Love unended, whose compassions never fail

So compel us to love, compel us to serve
Keep us from idols, from that which will spoil
Clean hearts and hands, clean vessels for You
Lord, make us like You, to do Your will
__________________________________

The Rainbow in the Cloud
- The Covenant of Grace

In the cloud, there shall be a rainbow,
The Lord’s Covenant of Grace,
To perpetual generations,
Never again to send the flood.


The waters covered the deep,
The Father rained Justice on the earth
His wrath subsided, the waters receded,
Redemption on His heart.


Noah found Grace in the eyes of the Lord;
The Covenant between,
Stands for ever:
Christ our Redeemer

Written from the dawn of time
To Reconcile Creation
In the cloud, a rainbow,
The Lord’s Covenant of Grace.
Genesis 6 v 8; 9: 8-17; Rom 3:24

Pray without ceasing...

Sometimes I feel that my prayers are just yammering Kim's will at God, as if He is not quite understanding what is going on down here, and might need some insight or suggestions from me. When I think I am doing that, I am silent before Him, in shock at my own foolishness and in awe of Him, knowing that I cannot ever comprehend His perspective. How is it that He knows the number of hairs on my head, calls forth every star in the vast universe by name, and has designed every grass blade and snowflake to be unique?

Yet today I want to follow up on previous blogs to show you the power of prayer.

God, like any Father, does listen to the cries of His children. In the desert, when the people were tired of the limited food they had, God gave them quail. We are warned in Romans 1:18-25 that if our hearts seek to fulfill the lusts of our vain imaginings and the lust of our eyes, God will give us those desires: "Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity..."

Having seen the long-term devastation that comes of misguided civil strife in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Angola, I have asked you to pray for Togo, that the dissatisfaction with the government would not produce civil war. Many people have prayed. The next level of strikes and protests did not happen! The government listened to the people, and made a compromise with them.

My call to prayer and confidence in praying has been renewed, for I continue to pray that the government officials, police and military would see the general population with new eyes, and realize that they are the nation! O now I pray, may all those ruling officials have a new concern for the health and well-being of the common people, and may the common man see the government as his protection and strength.

What about us? What is our heart for our government? Do we curse it and despise it? Do our words produce righteousness or ruinous division?

There is a powerful warning agains slander and cursing in scripture: Psalm 109:17-20 records a prayer of King David against all those who cursed his government: "He also loved cursing, so it came to him; and so he did not delight in blessing. so it was far from him. But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, and it entered his body like water and like oil into his bones. Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself, and for a belt with which he constantly girds himself."

So as I pray for Togo, that the people will not curse their government, and that the government will not curse the people, what am I doing with my own nation? Is my heart full of slander towards my government, or am I praying without ceasing for righteousness and goodness and favour? Hmmm.

You prepare a table before me...

This morning as I was taking some exercise on the dock, I felt the Spirit of God speaking to me in my heart. The words from Psalm 23 came up before my attention: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." I had been told by the Gurkha who guards our area that I could not go outside the gates of our section of the dock, as it was not safe to walk out there. It was quite early, around 4:45 a.m.

As I walked up and down in our enclosed area of the dock, the words from Psalm 23:5 whispered into my heart. And I could see the truth of it. Even now, as bandits and other violent people and rather large nasty rats rambled about the vicinity outside our immediate dock, I was completely safe. More than that, there was a ship full of afflicted and poor patients who had a feast of healing, kindly affection, good food, rest in real beds, worship music and all sorts of help right there in the middle of some very nasty enemies. God had indeed set an abundant table in the presence of enemies.

Many of our patients are brutally rejected in their villages because people fear their maladies. Thinking them under some sort of curse and demonic affliction, their neighbors and family drive them out of schools, the business place, homes. Yet God prepared for each a table of abundance, right in the presence of all that hatred and enmity.

As David wrote (one who knew of affliction and injustice), "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

Thank You, Lord, for Your patience and kindliness to us, who so rarely give a thought to Your heart, yet cry out to You in hostility when we are uncomfortable or oppressed. How gracious You are! Thank You for this abundant table You have prepared here. Thank You for showing me anew how wonderfully You fulfill Your word!

"The Love Boat"

 

 

.

Thursday evening the Ship Manager, Donovan Palmer, joked about how his wife had looked forward to having a cruise on the "Love Boat" where she might lounge with her pineapple drink with its little paper umbrella by the ship pool. He joked that instead he got her a place on a working ship! This was especially amusing to us as our last ship, the Anastasis was often called "The Love Boat." This was not just because she had been a lovely cruise ship prior to belonging to Mercy Ships, but because many couples had fallen in love while working aboard her, and quite a number of those are now married. Well, that is still happening, so though the Africa Mercy is not a pretty cruise ship, but a rather squarish ferry boat, she carries on the tradition as our "Love Boat."

 

So in jest the head of Hospitality set up a deck lounge chair on deck 5, and she had a young man dress up in a steward's uniform with a linen towel to serve her her pineapple drink by a wee pool while the pianist played "The Love Boat" theme song from the TV series! We all sat down with our own paper umbrellas to enjoy the joke! Here is Donovan with Mae...

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Mercy Ship Humour

This made me smile!

These shots are from the youth retreat in Kpalime. Some of the ship adults work with the youth in the school, and took them on a weekend away. What a blessing!

 

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African wildlife?

Lookee what the girls took out of a pool on a trip up north in Togo!!

 

 

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Komi's New Dream

Not many children growing up in Togo have big plans for the future. Some want to be a farmer like their parents. Some want to become a builder or a seamstress. But it is pretty rare that a Togolese child aspires to be a doctor.

Twelve-year-old Komi appreciates the medical care he received from Mercy Ships. "Because of the way that they took care of me here," he says, "I want to take care of others in that way. I am the lucky one. I want to be a doctor like them."

Komi had a large growth on his neck – a thyroid tumor that had been growing in size for five years. His mother, Maulowé, says, "When I first noticed it, I wondered what it was. I did everything in my power to stop it, but I had no money to go to the hospital."

Life was extremely difficult for Maulowé, a widow, as she did her best to take care of her four children. She cooked and sold food on the side of the road to provide shelter and clothing for her family.

One day Maulowé received a call from her brother who lived in Lomé. He told her about a hospital ship that was docked at the port, and he believed that they could help Komi. Maulowé was sick with malaria, so Komi's uncle took him to the patient screening. Komi was approved for surgery and given a date to return to the ship.

In the meantime, Maulowé recovered from malaria and was able to come with her son to the Africa Mercy for a brief, but life-changing, stay. Dr. Gary Parker performed the surgery to remove Komi's thyroid tumor.

Afterward, a beaming Maulowé sat next to her son. She had been forced to take Komi out of school because the other children were afraid of him. They thought the devil was inside him, and that is why he looked so different. Now her son could have a normal life. She said simply, "I am so grateful for the nurses and doctors at Mercy Ships. May God bless you all."

Komi informed his nurse that he is looking forward to going back to school. "I want to play soccer with my friends," he said. "They will no longer be scared of me."

With smiles on their faces, Maulowé and Komi walked hand-in-hand out of the port and into the city. Mercy Ships touched a life, giving a young boy a new dream for the future.

Story by Claire Bufe
Edited by Nancy Predaina

 

 

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Troubles of Togo

This has been a difficult time for the people of Togo. The gas prices have suddenly risen, and the taxi drivers and others feel they cannot support the new prices. They are barely surviving as it is. So the taxi drivers went on strike, and all over the city people have put rocks blocking the intersections to stop traffic. The first day a gas station was ignited, and yesterday a lot of tires were burnt in protest and some explosions went off near our Hospitality Center. Finally we felt that we should recall and ground all our workers from the Center (pictured--where we have long-distance incoming patients and longer-term outgoing patients housed, as well as our eye clinic). No eye, dental or mental health teams were able to go out yesterday or today. Please pray for the people and government of Togo. Frustration can make people do things they will later regret. Please pray for the safety of our dedicated day workers.

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Diversions #2

Of course, these days there is another diversion. We often see people with a painting of their flag on their cheek. You might recognize the symptoms... World Cup fever! Here are shots of our folk from Ghana cheering on their team amidst the French, British and Americans!

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Diversions #1 more photos

On a naval ship there are separated eating and recreational areas according to one's rank. The cabins seemed snug, but pleasing. They were not all that much different from ours.

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Diversions #1

Sometimes there is an interesting diversion in port. Recently a French naval ship came in and allowed us to tour it. It had a small hospital unit, being a delivery and rescue boat. It had come to Togo as part of the treaty between Togo and France to help guard Togo's coastline. There was a deck that opened out on the sea. That deck could hold 4 boats that carry supplies or men and deliver them to the beaches. It was interesting because the deck was also a volleyball and sport court with various lines and circles on it! We enjoyed our tour immensely.

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