Some of the opportunities include:
** Missionaries of Charity in Kpalime – HIV/AIDS hospice for primarily female, but they have some men and children – visit one-on-one, crafts, Bible lessons, etc.
** Poupomniere – a place with approximately 50 abandoned, orphaned, half orphaned babies & toddlers – a time to love on some little ones and to play and sing.
** Ephata Deaf School – private school – 125 students during the week along with about 40 ‘boarders’ whose families live far away and thus the boys stay there. They use American Sign Language due to the visit of a US missionary many years ago.
** Avenir Enface – weekend center for about 50 HIV orphans – a time of singing/dancing, Biblical lesson, crafts and fun/play activities inside and outside. I joined the team at this site the Saturday before last and even though we were a bit limited due to language, it was a great time with some special kids.
** Maison Bethel Orphanage – cares for 35 children – we visit on Saturday mornings sharing a Biblical story, craft time and of course singing with all the hand and body motions.
** Brigade Mineur – youth detention center for boys 14-17 years old – limited to only activities inside as it is a detention center.
** Youth With A Mission (YWAM) – assistance with home work and music lessons with 35 community children plus a monthly activity on the last Sunday of the month. See photo — > I joined them this past Sunday for this activity – great time with them as we shared about Palm Sunday. We had palm leafs to wave as some of the children re-enacted the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem and then we showed how to make the palm leaf into a cross.
** Campus Crusade – Jesus Film in French for adults and for children and also in Ewe – the language spoken by over 1 million Togolese people. Starting on Tuesday evening.
** Hospital CHU – visits to the 3 pediatric wards at the large government/university hospital – about 30 patients and caregivers in each ward. This is in partnership with YWAM and Assembly of God.
** IMPP Special Needs School – visits to a school with about 50 special needs children – children’s lessons, crafts, playing games, sports and having fun and loving on the children.Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support for this field service and throughout the year.
For us in Programs on the Africa Mercy, we have the activities of the Hospital, Off Ship Programs and Mercy Ministries. I would like to use this update and share with you some of the Mercy Ministry opportunities and partnerships we have for Togo 2010. Ines Kronester is our coordinator on board and she does a great job in assessment, oversight and leading several of the activities herself. Mercy Ministries provides off-ship ministry opportunities for crew working alongside existing ministries demonstrating hope and healing to those who can’t be reached and helped through our onboard services. They are available to all crew on a Sign-Up basis.