Happy and Blessed New Year 2025
This is my fourth Christmas and New Year in the nation of Madagascar – 2014, 2015, 2023, and 2024
The first two were with the Africa Mercy and the last two with Country Engagement while the ship is away
Photo: Joined this amazing group of young people with bringing Christmas meals and visitation at Bethany Hospital here in Toamasina.
I enjoyed Christmas Eve at God’s Presence Church with much singing and dancing by the children and young people.
Christmas Day with a missionary couple (Australia/USA) and their three Malagasy kids, an Irish doctor, an Australian doctor, and my fellow colleague with Mercy Ships from Switzerland.
Photo: A view from town towards the port – but no Africa Mercy as she is away for maintenance, repairs and new inspections which all take place in Durban, South Africa.
My work continues as the Port Liaison so I worked on the technical arrangements for the ship’s departure in December, various reports, and on the arrival formalities for the return next month. Working with our agents, port officials, technical vendors and others. I visit the port regularly as we left behind our vehicles, containers, tents with equipment and supplies inside the warehouse.
Plus as I am the Country Engagement Representative here in the port city, I am also involved with other areas to service – including visits to Bethany Hospital to check on the only patient we had to transfer from our ship hospital to a local hospital for ongoing care, though thankfully our little one went home this week. Also assisting with the four day crew still working at the HOPE Center in cleaning and general care, and arrangements with the caterer who is still providing meals for our day crew still working and hired security guards at the port and at the HOPE Center. I am also working on logistics arrangements for those coming to Toamasina before the ship returns.
All the time continuing to build relationships in the community and local churches. Also including joining the Patient Selection Team who paid a courtesy visit to the mayor of Toamasina yesterday and next week we will meet the governor.
Surgical Patient Registration starts on Monday the 6th for two weeks in the following cities around Madagascar: Sambava, Fianarantsoa, Farafangana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Fenerive Est, Tulear, Ambovombe, Anosy, Morondava, Antananarivo and two sites here in Toamasina. Extra points to anyone who tried to pronounce the names of the cities in Malagasy. I have been sharing the information on the patient registration with many of our partners both here in Toamasina and elsewhere. I often share that you or those who work with you may know a potential surgical patient in the city or in the village who has a surgical need that Mercy Ships can assist with, but you can be the one to share the information and help to give them confidence and courage to come for the registration. For the two sites here in the port city of Toamasina, I will drop by and show my support for the two teams over the next couple weeks.
Photo: Patient Registration posters shared in each city with the specific details on the locations.
Photo: Visit with a former day crew and dear friend ‘Dada’ Andre and his wife.
Praise: * Life Changing Surgeries * Training for Lasting Impact * Lives being Transformed * Hope being restored
Prayers: * Patient Registration in Madagascar – as Dr. Gary would often share with us that we pray that those God has purposes with Mercy Ships at this time for surgery, that nothing would stop them from coming to be registered
* Safe return of the Africa Mercy
* Continued safety for all involved * Good health