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...

 

 

This message and any attachments may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure - Mercy Ships.

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!

This message and any attachments may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure - Mercy Ships.

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.

This message and any attachments may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure - Mercy Ships.