‘Thank you Mercy Ships’ words from some of our healed patients from Toliara who returned to the screening site in their town to see our screening team there looking for more patients. Happy Thanksgiving to my American family and friends. We all have so much to be thankful for each and every day. Two short stories and some great news.

Delon – from Taolagnaro in the far south sector of the island of Madagascar (a four day and night journey by bus between there and the port city the ship is in). Our Screening Team was there in early September and Delon was one of those selected to come for maxillofacial surgery. I met him while visiting the HOPE Center. He could actually understand my limited French and would translate into Malagasy so that the others understood what I was trying to say. Delon is married and has one young daughter. He works and is also studying to be a pastor in his church. I had my friend call to see how he is doing with his transition back home – he shared it is going well and good to be with his family and community. He is rejoicing as he plans to be water baptized this Saturday.

Eddy – we are in the final weeks of pediatric orthopedic surgery which is done early in the field service so there is time for cast changes and all the therapy needed for these amazing kids and teenagers. I met one of the most friendly little Malagasy kid – his name is Eddy, 7 years old and he had bowed legs. He is from a village, but his mother heard of the screening and brought him. He was accepted, but due to her being in the final months of pregnancy she was not able to come and so his grandmother came with him as his caregiver. When I first met him, he just came up and sat next to me and talked and talked on in Malagasy and I smiled and shook my head. Last week, I saw him again and he has both legs in casts and yet he has started to walk on his own without crutches or a walker. Oh the joy that came, as he just grabbed my hand and we just walked around. Though, when we got to the stairs he needed a bit of help to get down as he swung his legs from step to step. He and all the orthopedic kids have a long road, but we are so excited at the progress so far. Please continue to pray for all of our patients.

Well the announcement we have been waiting for came, here are the details: “After careful consideration, the Executive Committee of the Mercy Ships International Board has approved the deployment of the Africa Mercy to the nation of Benin for the August 2016 – June 2017 field service.
The Africa Mercy was previously scheduled to dock in Benin in 2014, but had to redeploy due to the Ebola outbreak in the region of West Africa. Following the past two years of service in Madagascar, the decision to return to West Africa was taken with great care and deliberation even though Benin was not affected. During the past several months a number of West African countries have been declared Ebola free. In the coming months, Mercy Ships will continue to carefully monitor these encouraging developments, study and make the necessary preparations for this field service.
Despite the stability of both the country and its economic growth, it is still considered one of the poorest nations in the world, ranking at 165 out of 187 countries according to the United Nations Human Development Index in 2013. Benin welcomes support to improve the country’s health system. (1)
Donovan Palmer, Group Managing Director for Mercy Ships, reports, “Since our last visit to Benin, the Mercy Ships programmatic model has expanded. Capacity-building projects are now possible on a scale which did not exist previously. Coupled with the opportunity to build on projects from the past, we believe Mercy Ships efforts have the potential to catalyze change in Benin in ways not possible before now.” The Africa Mercy last visited Benin in 2009. Previous to that time, Mercy Ships have also docked in Cotonou in 2004, 2001, and first served in the nation in 1997.”
I am excited to return to Benin, to see former patients, local workers, partners and dear friends. I thank you all my family and friends around the world. Give Thanks with a grateful heart.

KRB Update #2210 – Cameroon 2017
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships               03 October 2015
‘Salama’ from the Africa Mercy here in Madagascar.  We have exciting news as seen in the title ‘Cameroon 2017’ that I wish to share with you.  Nearly three years ago, Pierre Christ, our Government Liaison, began faithfully pursuing new relationships in Cameroon in hopes of facilitating a future ship visit.  Since then, two delegations from Cameroon have visited the ship and another two Mercy Ships delegations have visited Cameroon.  I was with the delegation in March 2014 when Pierre and I traveled to Yaoundé, Cameroon.  In order to facilitate a ship visit, we need to have a signed protocol with the host government.  Recently my friends, Harmen and Andrea, went to Cameroon to help with the final stage of protocol negotiations. Then our Group Managing Director Donovan Palmer and Pierre arrived in Cameroon and were able to sign a protocol and committed to work towards a field service for the Africa Mercy there in 2017-2018.

A quote from Donovan, “At the heart of the agreement is a deep desire in the Cameroonian government to partner with Mercy Ships – to treat as many people as possible and offer capacity building projects as well.  In the coming weeks, we will negotiate and sign a secondary agreement called an ‘Accord de Siégé,’ which we hope to complete by mid-November. This agreement will pave the way for assessment teams to conduct research and address issues to be resolved with the government.  We have been invited to come in 2017 in order to allow adequate preparation time for the programs envisioned.  In the meantime, our proposals include capacity building programs that will begin before the arrival of the ship, enabling us to fully leverage the ship’s visit.”

If you can read French, here is a link to the article on the internet: http://www.cameroon-info.net/stories/0,68059,@,cameroun-sante-un-navire-hopital-de-l-ong-americaine-mercy-ships-bientot-au-came.html

For me, I am excited for this new country with a large population, people who are bilingual as it is French/English, which will help me with communications.  I have learned more about Cameroon from recent friends with a Christian missionary organization who have served there many years. I may be on one of the assessment trips, but that has not been determined yet.  Now you may ask “ok that is 2017, what about 2016?”, our leaders are still making a final decision and I will let you know when we know.

Back here in Madagascar, the first new patient I have connected with is Patrick and he comes from Taolagnaro.  He is in his 40’s and a father of four. His work is riding his bike village to village selling used clothes.  He borrowed money for a surgery but it was not successful.  So he has continued to pray for three years for his healing from a maxillofacial tumor.  He heard the announcement on the radio in his local dialect about the patient selection.  He was screened by our team, accepted and made the four day bus journey to get here.  He is a catholic man and so thankful to God for his healing.  His surgery and recovery has gone so well that he will be able to return home to his family and community soon.
Just yesterday I met three young boys with cleft lips, all from Manakara.  A bit shy and not accustomed to foreign people, but it didn’t take long to be doing fist bump.  They will have surgery next week.  I will be visiting them and their parents especially while they are with us on board in our hospital.

Photo:  Patrick on the left in the red coat and Hermann was translating for me – he is in the middle.  We are at the HOPE Center for Sunday worship.

Together we are following the example of Jesus bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor.

Serving Together,

Keith Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]   www.KeithBrinkman.com

KRB Update #2209 – Madagascar 2
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships               06 September 2015
‘Salama’ from the Africa Mercy back in Madagascar.  After a couple delays in South Africa, we set sail and returned to this the fourth largest island in the world and our home for the next ten months.  I am excited for this field service and all that God has in store for our patients, this crew, our partners and for me.  The last time we conducted two back-to-back field services was in Monrovia, Liberia in 2007 and 2008 – I served on the Advance Team for the time in between.  This time, I was the Liaison for the Advance Team on board the ship.  There are some unique opportunities available to us:

• Extensive screening for surgical patients in the capital for 3 weeks before the ship returned and in ten cities strategically located around the country. In the southern city of Taolagnaro, the pre-screening conducted by a partner and our two days last week – 58 potential patients received appointment cards to come to the ship for their final screening by the operating surgeon. One comment from a potential patient was “so grateful for the fact that Mercy Ships travelled so far down to select patients from my area.”
• As we learned of the great need for women’s health surgeries during our first visit, we have adjusted our surgical schedule and will offer more obstetric fistula, uterine prolapse and other gynecological surgeries for primarily the rural Malagasy women. For all of our surgical specialties, we are planning on over 2,000 surgeries.
• Due to the largest number of patients coming from outside the port city area, we expanded our HOPE Center to have 244 beds for patients and caregivers for their stay before surgery and afterwards when they only need outpatient care and not 24/7 nursing care. Plus we have completed two additional infrastructure development projects in June and July at the local government/university hospital and will start the renovations of the operating room block later this month. Helping to improve healthcare delivery in this nation and this region.
• Medical Capacity Building – having learned more of the types of medical training they need during our first visit, we have been able to formulate our most complete surgery-focused training courses (with training of trainers component) and mentoring opportunities on board. These projects have been specifically developed to impart knowledge and skills, while modeling and encouraging compassion and a professional work ethic. We expect over 500 healthcare professional participants.

In all areas, remembering our vision statement of “Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform individuals and serve nations, one at a time.”
For me, I look forward with great expectation to reconnecting with my friends in this nation – day crew (local workers), patients, caregivers and partners.  I am going to be more involved with Befriend-a-Patient for that one-on- one connection with our patients, who are in our hospital just below my cabin and down the hall from my office.  I have one patient who will be returning for a second surgery – Stani Junior – and so I can’t wait to see him again.

Thank you all your support – through your prayers, encouragement, and financial support – together we are following the example of Jesus bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor.
Serving Together,   Keith Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]   www.KeithBrinkman.com

KRB Update #2208 – End of Field Service
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships               13 June 2015
Hello from the Africa Mercy somewhere in the Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean as we have left Madagascar and are heading to Durban, South Africa for our shipyard/drydock phase.  Our field service to Madagascar has come to an end after eight months in this nation.  For me, it has been longer as I had the privilege to come in with the assessment and advance teams back in September.  Here at the end, we hosted our partners on board to thank them for their partnership.  Our thank you event for our amazing Malagasy day crew was filled with great food, fellowship, short performances of song and dance and more food and goodbyes for some, but for most it is only ‘Till August’ when we return.  I am currently in the process of reviewing 35 individual project reports from the hospital, medical capacity building, capacity building and support programs and mercy ministries.  These reports are our official documentation of the project noting our activities, challenges, responses and recommendations, what worked well and success stories and/or participant feedback.  Plus I am writing some summary reports and finalizing our statistics as we strive for excellence and integrity.  Here are a few charts showing some numbers, knowing that each number represents a person’s lives who has been impacted during this field service.

A short update on Sambany:  a small group from the ship joined him for the journey home to his village.  They drove as far as they could go and then a day and half walking.  Along the path, his wife (see the photo) was coming towards them and she didn’t even recognize her husband.  They had a joyful reunion as she thought he had died as it had been so long and there was no means of communications to her or anyone in the village.  Sambany was welcoming home by his village.  The group from the ship that joined on this adventure shared with the entire ship community what the experience was like.  A short update about Stani Junior, I talked with him prior to leaving and he returned home safely to his village, family and friends.  He shared with people that Jesus had healed him.  He inquired of me as that there is another person in his village with a similar problem.  He has encouraged the person to come for the screening for consideration to be selected for surgery.

While we are in South Africa, I am working on our preparations for Madagascar II – all of our project plans including their budgets, being the liaison for the Advance Team in Madagascar and taking some time to rest.  Thank you all your support – through your prayers, encouragement, and financial support – together we were able to bring hope and healing to the people of Madagascar and it is not the end as we return there in early August.

Serving Together,   Keith Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]   www.KeithBrinkman.com

KRB Update #2207 – Stani Junior
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships 09 May 2015

Salama from Madagascar – thank you for your messages about Sambany – he continues to recover and I see him regularly. In this update, I would love to introduce you to one of my patients – at first I called him Junior and later learned his real name is Stani. His last name is only three letters but is abnormal here as many have last names have over 20 letters. I normally do not even try to attempt to say their last names.

I met Stani during our surgical patient screening in Mahajanga in late January. In the midst of thousands of people, there are ones you meet who you can’t wait till they arrive on the ship for their surgery. Following Stani receiving his appointment for surgeon screening at the ship, my friend Josh and I asked Stani some questions. Josh is our talented videographer in our Communications department. Stani came with his mom and older brother and in the beginning the mom wanted to answer the questions but Stani desired to respond himself. I later learned from Stani it is his grandmother as his mom died when he was only 2 years old. He was raised by his grandmother and uncle.

Stani’s health was horribly affected when he was only 1 year old – he had an infection but received no care and Noma (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noma_%28disease%29) destroyed part of his young face – though he survived and only 10% survive this horrible but preventable disease. Though, the disease left a gap in his face under his eye and part of his nose. He went to school and endured the cruelty of the other children and people in his village. He learned French and that is how we talk, but most of the time I need a translator. He shared since he was 10 years old, he has been following Jesus. After about five years, some of his siblings have also decided to follow Jesus but not his grandmother and uncle. He has been praying for his healing for as long as he can remember, he is 22 years old now. He shared, “Thank God for Mercy Ships and for each of you who care for us.” He knows Jesus has healed him and provided this miracle for his life.
The maxillofacial surgical team provided two surgeries for Stani to restore his face and they have done an outstanding work. He is so pleased and all of us have seen the change. When I asked Stani what are your plans when you return home to your village. He shared, “I am going to tell everyone Jesus has healed me.” He also added he will sit for his ‘high school’ exams in July. We had sat together for the Sunday service and one of the Malagasy day crew shared the story of the blind man who Jesus healed and how he went and told everyone what Jesus had done. I asked Stani if he remembered the story from the gospel and how that sounds like your life now today in 2015 – you are testifying to what Jesus has done. Once it was translated, I could see his head shake in agreement and a smile. Please pray for this young man, his complete healing and his transition home.

Salama from Madagascar

Earlier this year, Mercy Ships volunteer surgeons removed the largest tumor (7.46 kg or 16.45 lbs) they had ever seen from a kind, 55-year-old man named Sambany. Much bigger than Alimou for those who remember my friend from Guinea in 2008.  He had walked for two days to get to the Africa Mercy. His operation took 12 hours.

Mercy Ships created this video about him. I think the obstacles Sambany faced are similar to those that many Mercy Ships patients must overcome to access the medical care they need.

I am excited to share his story with you today: www.mercyships.org/sambany. – for the video – below is the story Communications wrote.

SAMBANY, A “DEAD MAN” LIVES  Created by Nancy Predaina

The man trembled up our gangway and did something extraordinary . . . he changed our lives while we were changing his life.

Over the next few weeks, his name was spoken across the Africa Mercy’s eight decks, thousands of tears and prayers ascended to God, and social media exploded with his story. What was so special about Sambany?

Around 36 years ago, a tumor began to consume Sambany’s life. It became a monstrous burden, weighing 7.46 kg (16.45 lbs) – equivalent to two extra heads. After nearly three decades as a maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer, says, “It’s one of the biggest tumors of this type that I’ve seen.”

The tumor caused unrelenting discomfort. Sometimes it felt “hot like fire.” Sambany said, “I cannot sleep at night, and even during the day. It heated me up. When walking, it’s too heavy. I have to hold it.”

The tumor was also an emotional burden. Family and friends rejected him, mocked him, laughed at him, shunned him. Some thought his condition was contagious.  Harsh words were flung at him: “Why are you still alive? No one can help!”

Hopelessness defined his life. The search for help required traveling hundreds of kilometers and included ten hospitals (only three of which had surgeons) and a witch doctor … with no success. Sambany’s poverty blocked any other option. His despair reached new depths. He says, “I was waiting to die. I could not do anything. Every day, I was just waiting to die.”

So, Sambany’s world shrank to the size of his house, his only place of safety and peace.

Eventually, he became so weak that his life became a monotonous cycle of waking, sleeping eating. He felt useless, and it was hard to watch his family laboring in the rice fields while he wasted away. They were poor, and money spent on trying to help him was money unavailable for food.

Sambany’s main companion was the radio. One day he heard an announcement that resurrected hope: a hospital ship that could treat tumors for free was coming to Madagascar. In spite of his weakness, Sambany told his family, “Die or survive, I want to go!”

It was a journey that only a desperate man would attempt. The closest road was several days away; the ship was hundreds of kilometers away. Sambany struggled to walk around his house. How could he survive such a journey? But his family recognized his desperation and determination. They sold a rice field to pay for the journey. Five people took turns carrying him on their backs for two days. Then Sambany endured a painful six-hour taxi ride … but he made it.

Due to multiple health concerns, Sambany’s surgery would be extremely high-risk. For almost two weeks, he rested as the medical team determined the best course of action.

Meanwhile, his story spread throughout the ship. It made its way into our community meeting, when all were asked to pray. It appeared as signs on doors, asking us to pray and to give blood. It lent its voice to concerned requests for updates. It travelled into people’s dreams, dampened many a tissue with tears, and prompted some to go hungry as they fasted for this stranger from a country far from their own. Sambany penetrated our lives.

Then, with one word, Sambany’s entire life was changed. After a lifetime of hearing, “No, no, no,” he was delighted when the medical team said yes to performing the difficult surgery. Sambany was well aware of the risks. “I know without surgery I will die. I know I might die in surgery, but I already feel dead inside from the way I’m treated. I choose to have surgery.”

The surgery took over half a day, and over twice of his body’s volume of blood was lost and replaced. Our crew, our living blood bank, literally poured life into Sambany. The blood of seventeen people from six nations now runs through his veins.

Dr Gary described the surgery: “Oftentimes, in operations, you have high-stress moments where you’re in the middle of something – where, in that moment, if something goes wrong, you could lose the patient from a severe hemorrhage or something. With Sambany, it was pretty much high pressure the whole twelve hours of the surgery.”

The end result?  Sambany was finally free from the burden that had weighed him down for nearly two-thirds of his life! And the ship exploded with people praising God. We had helped transform Sambany, and he had transformed us.

A group of us watched breathlessly as Sambany looked at himself in a hand-held mirror … seeing himself for the first time without his tumor. With his head wrapped carefully in bandages, he looked into the mirror and said, “I like it. I am happy.” Later, he added, “I am free from my disease. I’ve got a new face. I am saved!”

A little over a month after his arrival, Sambany and his faithful grandson Flavy, made a special appearance at our weekly Community Meeting, triggering thunderous applause. What a “red carpet” moment! Everyone rose to their feet to honor this courageous man. Together, we had fought a battle against his death . . . and, by the grace of God, had won.

Dr. Gary says, “I think that every human being has the right to look human. To be treated as human. To have a place at the table of the human race. And when you have been deprived that seat, and it’s offered to you again . . . to be able to re-enter the human race and to look like everyone else . . . that’s a fantastic thing.”

Story by Eunice Hiew / Edited by Nancy Predaina / Photos by Katie Keegan, Ruben Plomp, Justine Forrest, Josh Callow

Because of you all my donors, I am able to be a part of Sambany’s story and many others. This past Sunday at our ward service, I sat with Sambany and as we used the Simply the Story method of sharing Bible stories, there is participation and he was participating fully.

Today Sambany is looking great and healing nicely. “My heart is very, very happy. I’m very happy. I’m just happy,” he says. You were part of that.  Thank you for all of the ways you support the work I am doing with Mercy Ships!

 

Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships               17 January 2015

Salama from Madagascar
I have had a good week and wish to share a bit about it with you all.  I was able to go to two of our Mercy Ministries sites for a visit.  As part of the advance work, I worked on finding potential mercy ministries partners since I first came to Madagascar back in September.  It is great to see the various partnerships that have been formed and the opportunities for the crew – both long term and short term – to come alongside existing organizations here in Toamasina.  Mercy Ministries is an area that I have the privilege to oversee; though I have a coordinator who ensure everything happens at all our sites with our partners and crew.  Our program and activities at each site varies greatly, though our highest goal is to demonstrate God’s love.

This week on Wednesday, I joined with a large group from the ship to go to the Semato Deaf School here in Toamasina.  When we arrived, we went around and greeted each child and the staff.  They are quick to start signing their name.  So I gave my name as the letter ‘K’.  Some of you may know that I learned a small amount of American Sign Language while at Bible College as I had a deaf friend and often sat with him for our times of praise and worship.  Though here, they use their own Malagasy Sign Language and the signs I saw are not the same.  Though, it was not long before some of the boys were teaching me signs, including greetings, etc.  In the photo, Mario is teaching me ‘Good Day/Bon Jour/Salama’ – right hand salute down to a fist with the thumb way up.  One of their teachers, Daniel, who is hearing, taught me the sign for ‘like’ and ‘love’ <two hands together horizontally over the upper left chest> and how the difference is just the expression on the face – it was a lot of fun and full of life.  We had a larger than normal group this day as our eye team joined and did brief eye examinations of the students and staff and provided UV blocking sunglasses to all.

Ray de Soleil (Rays of Sun in English) is a day care center for handicap children.  There are normally up to 12 children attending, but on Thursday only four children were present.  I immediately was taken in my Sigobidy, a small five year old with cerebral palsy.  You see him in the photo in the car seat next to me.  He often would give you the biggest smile with his whole face and mouth wide open as we played with bubbles and balloons.  Our day crew, Marina, brought her guitar and played some hymns that we sang softly in English and the staff sang in Malagasy – such a peaceful time.  I felt such delight every time he would stretch his body and smile big.

Some of our other Mercy Ministries Sites:  Children’s Home, Prison (Men, Women and Juveniles), Jesus Film, Maison de Traite (Senior Center), White Orchard Mental Handicap School, Pediatric Ward at Hôpital Be and visits to our own HOPE Center.

This week we have also had our Leadership Course for Community Leaders taking place.  This four day course is in partnership with Samaritan’s Strategy and Chris Ampadu.  The purpose of this training is for local government, community and church leaders to gain an awareness of a biblical worldview and practice a whole-person, incarnational leadership that provides tangible demonstrations of Christ’s love to a broken people.  I visited on the last day during which our agriculture facilitators spoke to the group and took questions and answers.

Please pray for all the adults and children we are building relationships with through Mercy Ministries and the community leaders who just finished this course.
Serving Together,   Keith Email:  [email protected]                         [email protected]
www.KeithBrinkman.com

KRB Update #2203 – Madagascar II
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships               01 January 2015

Happy & Blessed New Year 2015 / Feliz y bendecido año nuevo 2015
Heureuse nouvelle année 2015
Tratry Ny Taona 2015 (in case you are wondering this is Malagasy)

The big news we learned before the holidays was that our next field service will be here in Madagascar.  This is similar to the back to back field services in 2007 and 2008 in Liberia.  I am excited for the additional time and the great opportunities together we will have here – below is the official press release.

 

MADAGASCAR II — PUBLIC STATEMENT 15 December 2014

Mercy Ships executive board has confirmed acceptance of an invitation by the government of Madagascar to continue serving the people of this island nation with the services of its hospital ship the Africa Mercy through summer of 2016.

Operations onboard are expected to take a short pause from mid-June through end of July 2015 while the ship undergoes yearly maintenance work in Durban South Africa. The second field service for the ship is expected to begin again from early August through mid-2016.

“There is tremendous need and opportunity to deepen our partnership in Madagascar. A second field service gives us the chance to make an even deeper and more meaningful impact in support of the nation’s improving health infrastructure,” stated Mercy Ships Group Managing Director, Donovan Palmer.

The Mercy Ship will continue to with surgical projects through this second field service its areas of expertise including maxillofacial, orthopaedic, plastics, women’s health, ophthalmological and general surgeries. Additionally dental, healthcare education and training courses for Malagasy medical professionals including basic surgical skills, a safe obstetric anesthesia course, ward nurse and surgeon mentoring will also continue through to the second field service. The Mercy Ship arrived into the port of Toamasina (Tamatave), Republic of Madagascar, October 25, 2014.

Thank you all my friends and family – may you have a great start to this New Year 2015.

A few verses from our reflection time last night from Psalm 37 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness”, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”  “… for there is a future for the man of peace.”

KRB Update #2202 – Trip to US / Ebola / Mada
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships               23 November 2014
When I joined Mercy Ships in 1989, it was just prior to my parent’s 25^th wedding anniversary.  I assisted with some preparations for the surprise party but was not able to be there.  As we talked about their upcoming 50^th anniversary, there was no way I was going to miss celebrating with Mom and Dad.  I committed to get from Africa to Florida and bring them to Indiana for the celebration and then bring them back to Florida and then I would return to Africa.  The travel arrangements got complicated with the change of the ship’s schedule due to the ebola virus disease in West Africa.  Though, I made it and we had a great celebration – a family dinner at Jay and Laura’s house on the night of their anniversary.  Then the celebration at Mark and Lisa’s church on Saturday afternoon – many family and friends came to join us in honor and respect for our parents.  I am so thankful for all those who participated.  We enjoyed the week staying at Mark and Lisa’s house and had quality and quantity time also with my nephews and nieces.

At the same time of getting ready for the celebration, I was also praying and preparing for sharing at my home church, Indianapolis Christian Fellowship on that Sunday.  Our missions coordinator and friend of over 20 years, Allen, prepared some surprises for me, including a skit of my life performed by the children, children parading in with hand created flags from the nations I have visited as a missionary, and after my sharing a prayer of re-commissioning.  It was an amazing morning and entire day as we had a luncheon afterwards and later in the evening with a family I have known for 28 years.  Nate’s daughter mentioned wanting to hear a story about a girl her age in Africa and so I am intentionally keeping my eyes open for a patient who I can share with Sophia about.

A question that came up often while in the US for this quick visit was about ebola and the great impact on our region.  As you know, we postponed Guinea that is where ebola started earlier this year and so instead sent our Advance Team to Benin, but then ebola spread in neighboring Nigeria just 60 miles away and so we postponed Benin, and accepted the invitation to go to Madagascar for this field service.  Even though we are a hospital ship, we are not able to test for ebola or isolate patients and we don’t want to be the one who brings ebola into a country by attracting desperate people.  Plus if we had ebola on board we would be ordered to sea for weeks before being considered by any port to come in.  Please pray for the people of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia – the stop of new cases and care for those infected for their recovery.  This disease was had a huge impact – my friend Robert’s uncle got sick and all his family cared for him and they all died.  A pastor friend from Guinea was helping to share with people how to stay safe from ebola and false rumors were spread and they were all murdered and left in the ditch – it is serious and huge impact for all involved.

My return journey was 3 but felt like 4 days to my home on the ship in Mada, it is great to be back.  After serving here on the Advance Team and imaging the ship in port and now to see it and the arrangements dockside – it is an exciting time.  I plan to share much about this nation and its people – I wish that you get to know Madagascar for more than the cartoon movie by the same name.  Tomorrow, we conduct our Partner’s Reception with guests coming from the local area and the Prime Minister and others from the capital.  The hospital is open; patients are in the operating rooms and wards.  We shared the story of the Good Samaritan at our ward service this morning.  Please pray for the right patients, the participants for healthcare education and that together we may bring hope and healing as we love God and love and serve the Malagasy people.

KRB Update #2201 – Madagascar
Keith R. Brinkman with Mercy Ships               15 September 2014
“Salama tompodo Ny anarako dia Lahimatoa” (Hello – my name is Lahimatoa – which is my Malagasy name – it means first born son – many of you know that I enjoy using my given African names).  I am excited to send you this update and let you know where we are going for our next field service – Madagascar.  Actually I am already in Madagascar in the capital serving with the Advance/Assessment Team.  The ship is sailing to South Africa and then here to Madagascar.  It is an exciting time.  You will hear more from me over the upcoming weeks.  “Misaotra tompoko”  Thank you.
Lahimatoa Keith

 

–Press Release–

Las Palmas, Grand Canaria (PRWEB) September 15, 2014

Mercy Ships announced this week that they have accepted the invitation from of the President of the Republic of Madagascar, His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimampianina, to bring the world’s largest civilian hospital ship to Madagascar for its next field service until middle of 2015.

“We are honored to be able to come alongside the island nation of Madagascar and their government’s effort to strengthen their healthcare infrastructure through the training and capacity building Mercy Ships offers, free of charge. Thousands of patients are suffering from pathologies which the specialists on the Mercy Ship are equipped to assist through the surgical expertise of our dedicated professionals.” stated Mercy Ships President and Founder, Don Stephens.

The hospital ship’s Managing Director, Roland Decorvet from Switzerland, completed the discussions with representatives of the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Mr. Kolo Roger, securing the necessary agreements following an invitation from the President of the world’s fourth largest island nation. The Mercy Ship is expected to sail from the Canary Islands by mid-September with a stopover in Cape Town, South Africa, at the end of the month for refueling and crewing. Anticipated arrival into Tamatave, Madagascar, is by the end of October.

The Mercy Ship is equipped with five state-of-the- art operating rooms and is a fully modern hospital specializing in maxillofacial, reconstructive, plastics, orthopaedic, ophthalmic, dental and obstetric fistula surgeries. Doctors onboard anticipate operating on thousands of patients during the 16,500-ton hospital ship’s stay of several months in port. The surgeries and care are provided at no cost to the Malagasy people, and the focus of care is on the population which have very little or no access to specialized surgical healthcare.

Madagascar is located off the southeastern coast of Africa. More than 43% of its more than 22 million inhabitants are under the age of 20, and the nation is positioned 151 out of 187 countries in the U.N. Human Development Index. A protracted political crisis in recent years has endangered the nation’s ability to meet a number of millennium development goals and has taken a heavy toll on Madagascar’s economy and people, especially the most vulnerable.

According to the President’s office, there is a clear and important need for the expertise that Mercy Ships can bring to the nation, both in terms of specialized operations as well as in education and capacity building alongside Malagasy professionals working in medical care and surgical need. Mercy Ships will work closely with the Government of Madagascar to evaluate the exact needs, pathologies, and regional priorities, according to the government spokesperson.

Donovan Palmer, Mercy Ships Group Managing Director, added, “While we had been looking at the possibility of coming to Madagascar, we have decided to come earlier and to postpone our plans with Guinea and Benin due to the Ebola crisis in the West Africa region.”

The Mercy Ship is a specialized surgical ship with multi-bed wards and limited isolation facilities. With a crew of more than 400 from around 40 nations, including families with small children, the Mercy Ship is not designed to quarantine Ebola patients, stated Palmer.

Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $ 1 billion, treating more than 2.5 million direct beneficiaries. Each year Mercy Ships has more than 1,600 volunteers from more than 40 nations. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time.
The last visit of a Mercy Ship to Madagascar was in 1996.
–End of Press Release–