KRB Update 2269 – First Month – Africa Mercy – in Madagascar

Keith Robert Brinkman                                    02 March 2024 

Photo Caption:  The Africa Mercy at Mole A in Toamasina – Photo Credit: Lisa
 Having the Africa Mercy in Toamasina feels great – much has happened during the first month.  For me, I continue to live in the Country Engagement Team apartment in town and either walk, take a tuk tuk or pouse pouse to get to the main gate for the port and then walk the 13 minutes to the Africa Mercy.  I have enjoyed some meals in the renovated dining room as I sit with friends I have known for over 20 years and with new friends.
 
Photo Caption:  View from Town Hall towards the beach on the Avenue De l’Independance with the tuk tuks and pousse pousse (bicycle version)
 The Ministry of Public Health of Madagascar and Mercy Ships have agreed on the locations for the surgical patient selection process in Madagascar for 2024 – the cities are:  Antananarivo, Analamanga / Toamasina, Atsinanana / Vavatenina, Analanjirofo / Brickaville, Atsinanana / Amparafaravola, Alaotra-Mangoro / Miarinarivo, Itasy / Maevatanana, Betsiboka / Ambilobe / Diana Antsohihy, Sofia / Morafenobe; Melaky / Ihosy, Ihorombe / Manakara, Fitovinany.   We await the actual dates and exact locations for each city.  Since I returned in August 2023, I have made promises to people here in Toamasina to provide them with the necessary information.  I often share that you may know a family member or friend locally or back in the village who our team would never see if you didn’t assist us in providing the information and maybe even getting them and going to the site together.  Our hospital on board will open after the patient selection process is completed.  Please pray that those we can help, will hear the message, have the courage and come and that more healthcare professionals will volunteer and join.
Photo Caption:  a 40′ shipping container arrives at Mole A full of frozen food – 15,395 KG or 33,940 pounds to unload
In my role as Port Liaison, my responsibilities involve the customs clearance processes for our shipping containers and air freight shipments.  Each country where Mercy Ships operates the requirements are different.  With Annick’s help, we learned the system in Liberia as we had about a dozen containers with donations that arrived.  Here in Madagascar, I have and continue to understand the process for customs clearances in accordance with our protocol with the host government.  This is includes a detail invoice of eight columns include source, category, HTS code, unit of measurement, packing list with details, weights in detail, etc.  Most of our containers come from our European Distribution Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and the International Support Center in Lindale, Texas.  After reviewing the information, I work to produce official documents which need to be signed and stamped by the officials in the capital.  I work closely with our AGL Clearing Agents to make the delivery of the containers and air freight to the Africa Mercy as smooth as possible.  Though as you have seen on the news with the problems in the Red Sea and container ships traveling around Africa, there have been delays. 
In additional to customs clearance, I am learning about diesel fuel for the vessel and those requirements, inspection permissions, lube oil, a/c gases, and also the removal of oily water and slude.  Many of our former day crew (local workers) from 2014 to 2016 applied to work again with the ship, and the selections were made and contracts signed.  So it is fulfilling to see some of them already serving, and others will join when the hospital opens.   Additional Prayer Requests:  *Safety on the road between the capital and port city – due to the heavy rains, the road has been more challenging to travel.  *Health for our crew, day crew, staff, incoming patients, and myself.   
May we continue to Love God and Love and Serve Others. 

KRB Update #2268 Arrival of the Africa Mercy in Madagascar

 
KRB Update 2268
Arrival of the Africa Mercy in Madagascar
Keith Robert Brinkman
                                   

04 February 2024 
Photo Caption:  The Africa Mercy arriving in Toamasina, Madagascar on this past Thursday – 01 February 
Photo Caption:  Arrival Day with our Country Director, Esperant Mulumba
Photo Caption:  The day before the arrival of the Africa Mercy.  I told the officials I would not leave until all the other vessels at our location had been moved.

Short 34 second video available on Facebook
 

Thankful for the smooth transition for the immigration process and arrival day formalities.  

 Prayer Requests:  *Smooth Activities with customs clearance of our incoming containers   *Plus for our Patient Selection Team as they work with the Ministry of Public Health for the dozen sites around the country to identify surgical patients. 

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KRB Update #2267 Upcoming Return of the Ship to Madagascar

“The Mercy Ship is returning to Madagascar” 
Ever since I arrived in Madagascar in early August after leaving Liberia in July, many people have expressed their great excitement that the hospital ship is returning.  The Africa Mercy will arrive on 01 February for a ten-month field service. 

So, I have been on the ships most of the times when one of the Mercy Ships vessels arrives into a country.  Though, I have also been on land to welcome the ship and that is exciting also. 
In the Malagasy language, ‘Welcome’ = ‘Tonga Soa’ – so in between coordinating with the ship technical teams and our shipping agent and our partners of the Port of Toamasina, I will be welcoming the Africa Mercy with Tonga Soa.

As Port Liaison here in Madagascar, I have been working with the port officials related to the berth for the ship – same berth as 2014-2016 – use of the same warehouse as before but it needs some repairs, confirmations on the fresh water, arrangements for fuel deliveries, garbage removal and other activities. 
Plus learning the process for how Customs Clearance will take place for our incoming shipping containers and air freight – the paperwork and the required signatures needed from the capital and then the process here in the port city.  The ship relies heavily on incoming supplies, medications, food, equipment, and parts via containers.   

Prayer Requests:  *For the ship’s safe journey from East London, South Africa to Toamasina Madagascar, *Safe docking of the vessel, *Smooth Activities with customs and immigration.  *For the Mercy Ship team interviewing potential local workers, that they would have clarity on who is the best to serve with us and in what positions. *Plus for our Patient Selection Team as they work with the Ministry of Public Health for the dozen sites around the country to identify surgical patients.  May we continue to Love God and Love and Serve Others. 

PS – This a fulfilling time as the Global Mercy is in Freetown, Sierra Leone – providing specialized surgeries and education/training for healthcare professionals in Sierra Leone.  Our last visit to Sierra Leone was in 2011 and was one of my favorite field services – connection with patients – visit to their homes.  

Photo Caption:  Enjoyable Visit with my friend and former local worker, Pierrot. While serving on the ship, our local workers (day crew) and patients were the ones I got to know the best.  Here in Madagascar, I have been reuniting with many of these and making new contacts also.

Photo Caption:  Connecting with new friends from a friend’s church – who want to serve with the ship as day crew.

PS – a note on Liberia – after the second round of elections, they have voted for a new President – the former Vice President will now be the President for the six year term – Mr. Joseph Boakai.  We know him from the previous visits to Liberia from 2005 – 2008. 
On the sad side, after Christmas in Liberia there was a tanker explosion and over 50 people died and over 90 to the hospital due to burns and their injuries.  

KRB Update 2265 – Malagasy / Church 24 September 2023

Misaotra, Veloma, Tonga Soa, Salama, Fitahiana, Azafady – are all examples of words in the Malagasy language.  Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar.  The other official language is French, though it is considered to be the language of the colonizers.  Wikipedia tells us that Malagasy is the westernmost Malayo-Polynesian language brought to the island in or around the 5th century AD.  There are some words in common with the African continent                                                                     
Bantu languages and some Arabic expressions were brought here by the traders.  Around 25 million people speak Malagasy.  There are some major dialects from the Western Coast, Central, and Eastern Coast – I am living in and calling Toamasina ‘home’, so on the Eastern Coast.  However, I am trying to learn phrases in the standard language and not get involved with dialects.  When you try to speak some Malagasy, the people appreciate the efforts as they know their language is only spoken here vs. French, English, Espanol, etc.  Not many know English, but some will know some phrases as there are tourists who come through this area.  Malagasy is a beautiful-sounding language, I especially enjoy hearing it in praise and worship when I visit local churches.  I came prior to the ship in 2014 and was here for almost 2 years, so now I am enjoying reconnecting with people here – thankful for Messenger and WhatsApp and friends who know our other friends and have helped me reconnect.    
The Christian population here are Catholics (brought to the country by French missionaries in the 19th century), Presbyterians, Anglicans, Lutherans, and the ‘new’ churches – like the Baptist, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, and others.  The proportion of Muslims is small, though there is a mosque near our team apartment, so I hear the calls for prayer.  Often, when I visit a church on a Sunday morning, I am given the opportunity to share briefly on Mercy Ships.  When I ask ‘how many remember the Africa Mercy in 2014 – 2016′ many of the hands are raised.  I share a bit about the ship’s return in 2024 and that maybe they would know someone who would know someone who needs healing with one of the surgeries we can provide on the ship.  Plus for those here in the port city if they know of ones who may wish to serve with us as local workers (day crew) and to pray for us as we make the preparations.      

Photo Caption:  Visited a friend’s church – she was day crew in 2014 – 2016 with our hospital chaplaincy team and wishes to rejoin in 2024.
Last week, I was invited to a meeting of the Federation of Church Leaders for the area of Toamasina.  The Federation is primarily the ‘new’ churches.
I was given time to share about our plans to return, how the Body of Christ in Toamasina can be involved with referring surgical patients, identifying locals who would be able to join and serve with us, and for God’s will.  During the meeting, one of the pastors shared part of his testimony on how he received eye surgery on the Anastasis when the ship was in Madagascar in 1996 and how he gave his heart to Jesus and is now serving as a pastor today.  Two others shared how they had been local workers also back in 1996 and are now pastors.  I left the meeting with my heart so full of blessing and wishing to share with the Mercy Shippers from that time that their labor of love and sharing the two hands of the gospel have impacted people here and they are impacting others.   

Serving together,

PS.  Last weekend, I had my third birthday in Madagascar (2014, 2015, 2023) – a  celebration over the weekend – dinner out with friends, a home-cooked meal with a missionary family, day off, and visited First Love Church – as I was walking the last kilometer to the church, they were playing ‘Goodness of God’ song in French and this part of the chorus is so true <And all my life, You have been faithful.  And all my life You have been so so good>.   

KRB – Christmas in Madagascar

The above is in Malagasy, the language of Madagascar, where I am currently serving.  I figured out the translation of ‘Jesus Christ’ but was unsure about the other two words – a friend shared the translation:  “Jesus Christ is the Center”  Amen.

I spent two Christmases in Madagascar in 2014 and 2015, but those were Christmases with the Africa Mercy and all the fantastic opportunities available onboard the hospital ship.  This year, I celebrate Christmas ‘on land’ in Madagascar. 

I received an invitation from a local ministry here where their children and teens shared the Story of Jesus’ birth and served the community children lunch and gave them a gift.  Till today, which was their Christmas celebration, the staff and I served them as they performed the drama of the birth of Jesus and time of singing and dancing and eating rice, zebu (beef), and carrots and receiving their gift.  
Christmas Eve, a group of us Mercy Shippers will attend a friend’s church for their Christmas program – available in Malagasy and English.  Then, on Monday, Christmas Day, I will join a missionary family here in the area.  I wish all of you a special Christmas season, wherever you may be.   
 

Here are links for two Christmas songs you may recognize but probably have not heard in this language.  

Hobiana – Feliz Navidad  – fun video with pom poms at a party

O Holy Night – sung in Malagasy – lyrics in English – this same church has a congregation near Toamasina, which I visited.  
 

Merry Christmas

KRB Update #2264 – Madagascar

Dear friends and family,

SALAMA – a greeting in Madagascar of hello, good morning, good day, good afternoon, and even good evening – so a great word to know often here.

As mentioned in my last update, we closed down Mercy Ships activities in Liberia, I have moved over to serve on the team in Madagascar.

Some of you may remember Mercy Ships served in Madagascar for almost two years (2014 – 2016) when the Ebola disease was in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, West Africa.  I went ahead of the ship and served on the assessment/advance teams there.

In my new role as Port Liaison for Mercy Ships Africa Service Center, I am in Madagascar and am focusing on the arrangements for the ship in the port (I will share more details later), the customs and immigration arrangements which can be a challenge due to the uniqueness of Mercy Ships and our agreements with the host nation’s government, and any other arrangements and activities needed for the team.  Last week, I hosted a team from our Marine Operations department, and so we spent many hours at the Port.  In our big meeting <see first photo>, the port officials remember Mercy Ships, though some of them were in different positions than what they have currently.  The Port Director is the same man as before, and he remembers me from 2014.  They are encouraged to work with us once again.

For Madagascar, I am living in the port city of Toamasina (also known in French as Tamatave) – Mercy Ships has two Team Apartments in the same building.  Apartments with two bedrooms, an open living and kitchen area, and a covered balcony.  The apartment I am in, its balcony looks to the south, but not high enough above the trees to see the port and the ocean.  In the Southern Hemisphere, it is winter, so the temperatures are pleasant now – currently with high temperatures averaging around 80 degrees F (26 degrees C).  

    Photos:  part of the Port of Toamasina and a Group Photo after the Initial Survey

I flew into the capital, Antananarivo which is located in the middle of the country at a higher elevation. I will return to the capital for higher-level government meetings as needed.  Though the journey was difficult when Mercy Ships was here from 2014 – 2016 via the road, it is worse now than then and takes much longer.  The Country Director and Operations Director for Mercy Ships in Madagascar are living in the capital with their families.  Other Mercy Ships team members will join us here in Tamatave.  

The Africa Mercy‘s upcoming field service is scheduled for February 1 to December 14, 2024.  The Africa Mercy is undergoing some major renovation projects in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa (where I spent most of 2010) and will also be in East London – soon to be known as KuGompo in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, and then will travel to Madagascar.

I feel great reconnecting with former local workers, crew, and partners here in town, walking the streets, attending Sunday church service, and visiting the restaurants, barber shop, and grocery and local markets – re-establishing myself now in Madagascar.  I will be sharing more with you about Madagascar and Mercy Ships plans in this beautiful country through these KRB Updates.

As the firstborn son, my Malagasy name is Lahimatao – abbreviated to ‘Lahi’ – so that is the name I use here.

Serving together,

KRB Update 2262 – Liberia Key Achievements – Close Down

Dear friends and family,
As the outgoing Country Director assigned to Liberia, I wish to celebrate what has happened. Still, only some of what has happened in Liberia can go into this update about Liberia.  I have said my goodbyes to Liberia and the dear people I call friends there with the phrase shared with me from a senior Mercy Ships leader ‘for the time being.’    

Liberia had anticipated hosting the Global Mercy in Monrovia. However, we shared with the Minister of Health in Dakar, Senegal last year in May that a ship deployment would not be possible for various reasons.  In late May of this year, we shared with the same Minister of Health that all of Mercy Ships activities would finish by the end of June 2023.  Mercy Ships wishes to focus more on the countries where the ships will be visiting in the upcoming years.  A meeting followed and even with disappointment, the Minister was thankful and keenly interested in all that was still to take place, especially the strategic donation of eight more anesthesia systems for her hospitals and the user training.    

With this update, I wish to celebrate what has happened and rejoice with this phrase from the hymn ‘To God be the Glory, Great Things He hath done.’ 
I have a heart full of gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this for the past 33 months of my life. 
The below was also shared with the Minister for her to share with the President George Weah.


Photo Caption:  Final Day of Training – User on the Diamedica Glostavent Anesthesia System at a hospital in Monrovia (I am in the background on the right-hand side)

Mercy Ships Key Achievements 2021 – 2023

Based on assessment visits, the Surgical Care System Needs in Liberia Workshop held in May 2021, and in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Mercy Ships came alongside the healthcare system in Liberia in the following areas:

  • Training & Strategic Donations
    • Anesthesia:
      • 24 Diamedica Glostavent Anesthesia Systems with Patient Monitors donated and user training provided for 15 hospitals in 10 counties of Liberia.
      • Anesthesia Training – SAFE Obstetric Anesthesia Courses and Anesthesia Provider Mentoring in two hospitals.
    • Biomedical:
      • Two Training Courses for all Liberian Biomedical Technicians in 2021 – Mentoring conducted in all 15 counties.
      • Equipping the Workshop at the Healthcare Technology Management Unit at the Ministry of Health. Continuous support to biomedical technicians on various equipment.
    • Leadership Development Training & Mentoring
      • Four Hospitals over Two Years – Jackson F. Doe, JJ Dossen, Redemption, and Emirates hospitals.
    • Training Courses
      • Safe Surgery, Neonatal Resuscitation, Primary Trauma Care, Nurses, Nutritional Agriculture, and Mental Health.

                      = 685 training participants in 2022 + 335 training participants in 2023

  • Nurse Assessment Kits
    • 3,002 nurses and midwives in all 15 counties received the kit to assist them in caring for their patients at their facilities.
  • Donations: 40’ container of PPE, portable oxygen concentrators during Covid, new blue scrubs, 70 Nursing Drug Handbooks, face masks, exam gloves, audiovisual equipment, notebook computers, 120 new hospital beds, and other items
  • Surgeries: 216 head and neck surgeries were provided free of charge for 208 Liberians, with Mercy Ships personnel at a partner hospital and mentoring simultaneously.
     

Some kind responses are posted below – they were received after notifying our friends and partners about our departure as I wanted them to hear from me about the closing of our activities and not for people to hear via rumors in the market, workplace, church, or mosque. 

  • From Professor Robert M. Kpoto: “Mercy Ships during your tenure have done remarkably very well in Liberia.  It’s sad that Mercy Ships have to end all activities in Liberia.  I pray that in the not too distant future Mercy Ships will return to Liberia because the country and people of Liberia really need the critical humanitarian services they provide.”
     
  • From Dr. Ponnie Robertslee Dolo, Medical Director “We are sincerely humbled by your dedication and commitment to helping improve healthcare in Liberia. May your next assignment be fruitful. Thank you from all of us here at the Jackson F Doe Hospital.”
     
  • From Dr. Wiyatta Diggs, Physician Anesthesia Provider, shared over WhatsApp, “Mercy Ships have always been there for the people of Liberia. You’ve made a lot of sacrifices ensuring safe health care delivery. You’ve conducted workshops, trainings, and immense donations. Look around the entire country and see how many Glostavent Anesthesia System machines have been donated for safe surgeries.”

Photo Caption:  Convoy of Four Vehicles from Liberia picked up at the border with Sierra Leone and on the road to Freetown for use by the teams there and the soon arrival of the Global Mercy into Sierra Leone in three weeks.

We genuinely hope that with the strategic donations of anesthesia equipment and training, there is now better anesthesia in Liberia and, thus, safer surgery for the population.

I want to thank all the Mercy Shippers worldwide who have participated in what has occurred in Liberia.  From those who came to conduct the trainings, organize the trainings, purchased the specific equipment needed for the healthcare professionals here, shipped 40’ containers with donations. 
Huge thanks to all my friends, family, and church for your prayers and financial support, and encouragement.   

So many good seeds of hope and healing my Team and I have sown in faith in Liberia.

To God Be the Glory

So ‘for the time being’, bye bye to Liberia,

Keith “Kofa” R. Brinkman

PS – I will continue to serve full-time with Mercy Ships with the Africa Service Center on the Country Engagement Teams, next opportunity as Port Liaison, heading to Madagascar in just over a week – more to follow in my next KRB Update.   


Photo Caption:  Day of Departure with Yahyah, who has been on the team since 2021 and ensured that I got to the airport safely.  It may look like I am traveling light, but that is not true. I already checked in my luggage and Mercy Ships luggage at the airline’s office in the city the day before. 

KRB #2262 Training & Life in the Hands of God

Greetings from Liberia as we are in the dry season now so it is hot here and in the political season as major elections will take place in October of this year. 

Way back in May 2021 at our Surgical Care System Needs in Liberia workshop, we learned of the great need in the areas of leadership, biomedical, anesthesia, and supply chain.  So, we have endeavored to help the Liberian healthcare system in three of the areas (only not able to help with the supply chain).

In my last update, I mentioned how Mercy Ships is donating new anesthesia equipment that has been engineered for environments as we find in Liberia with on and off electricity which you can’t time or anticipate.  The electricity (here we say ‘current’) may go off in the middle of a surgery and unsure if it will turn back on or if the backup system at the hospital will work.  This new anesthesia equipment has a battery backup and can continue with all features for 30 minutes and even longer with just ventilation and no oxygen concentrator use.  In your role/position, you have the training but if you don’t have the equipment to do your role, it is limiting and frustrating and that is the case with some of the anesthesia providers in Liberia.      

We never want to donate medical equipment without the user’s training on that particular machine.  Those using the anesthesia equipment are nurse anesthetists.  For the user training, I decided I would travel with the trainer from Diamedica, the manufacturer in the United Kingdom.  I learned that Jon has been to almost 30 countries but this is his first time in Liberia.  He is a designer, engineer, and trainer on their equipment.  By traveling with him, I was able to connect with hospital leadership who I have known since the workshop but have not been able to visit in their hospitals in the interior.  Due to the road conditions and the amount of time it would take to get to the hospitals, for two hospitals, we used Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) – less than a two-hour flight from the capital.  Amazing to see the country with the dense forests and rivers from the air at about 8,000 feet.   

Fifty-six Liberian healthcare workers serving in hospitals where Mercy Ships donated the Diamedica Glostavent Anesthesia Systems and Patient Monitors with CO2 received in-person excellent user training by the manufacturer’s designer/engineer/trainer.  The equipment donation and the user training are steps towards better anesthesia and safer surgery in Liberia.  I am currently working on another donation of eight anesthesia systems.   

This last Sunday, I joined one of my former patients at his church, still within Monrovia, but a bit more isolated in its location.  I had shared briefly at the church previously and this time the pastor gave me the same opportunity.  Though instead of the news about the ship coming and how they could help us find potential surgical patients from the villages, I shared the sad news that the ship is not coming to Liberia.  I didn’t give many details but shared what we have been doing and what we have planned for the next few months.  I reminded them and myself about how our lives and our futures are in the hands of God. 


The church has two choirs – one choir is ladies, and they sing in the Kissi language and I just clap if I can stay on the beat as I don’t understand anything.  The young people’s choir sings in English and the song they had prepared – the chorus goes like this ‘No matter what comes my way, my life is in Your hands’.  Almost exactly the same as the encouragement I shared with them ten minutes early. 

I love how God is like that. 

Serving together, Kofa Keith  (at this church, I go by ‘Sahr‘ – firstborn son of my mother and father.  

KRB Update – 2022 & 2023

Happy New Year to you all.  Here in Liberia – one can continue to wish Happy New Year throughout the month of January.

I have been thinking about 2022 and all that took place and looking forward to 2023.

As Country Director, I am writing my Annual Programmatic Report for 2022, I think of the dozens of Mercy Ships volunteers who came in 2022 to Liberia to serve.  At times I had four teams in the interior and one anesthesia provider here in the capital. 
685 Liberians benefited from one of our trainings here including Biomedical, Obstetric Anesthesia, Safe Surgery, Neonatal Resuscitation, Nurses, Primary Trauma Care, Mental Health, Leadership Development, and Nutritional Agriculture.  A part of the vision is to see a well-organized, efficient, and effective surgical health system in Liberia that has the specialized staff to deliver timely and quality care for patients, staff within the surgical care systems are empowered, increased efficiencies within surgical care facilities, and improved leadership and structural capacity to enable a more responsive surgical care system.
Mercy Ships is in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other partners to see this come about.

In my updates, I often share some Prayer Points – including security, safety, and health for all of our people – as Country Director a prayer I lift to our mighty God regularly.  Liberia is a difficult country in many ways.  I am thankful to God that our teams were safe, secure, and healthy to do what they came to do – to Love and Serve God and Love and Serve the people in all 15 counties of Liberia.
For 2023, I am planning our activities – focusing on some continued trainings and follow-up with past training participants – strategic donations of up to 16 Diamedica Glostavent Helix Anesthesia System <which is an award-winning machine which has its own backup power and portable oxygen concentrator – both are important for a country like Liberia with unreliable power sources> to hospitals in counties around Liberia – see photo.  All of the anesthesia providers at the selected hospitals will receive in-person user training.  Safe anesthesia is so needed for safe surgery.  We have been involved in providing continuing education for almost all of the anesthesia providers in Liberia and have gifted and continue to gift the equipment needed.  In addition, Mercy Ships trained all the biomedical technicians in Liberia.  They received extensive training on this machine and this machine is at the Heatlhcare Technology Management Unit at the Ministry of Health and at the nurse anesthesia school for training purposes.  

After a successful pilot project to come alongside the nurses of Liberia, we have a couple thousand more nurse assessment kits en route to be distributed. 
Though as shared in a previous update there is no ship deployment planned for Liberia due to various complications, we will be closing out activities by mid-2023. 
I am praying about what lies next for me as my passion is to continue to serve with Mercy Ships – where? what position? but I know He is faithful and will continue to be faithful.      

A note about Baby Girl Sangalkam who I shared about having her cleft lip surgery at the Africa Mercy in Dakar, she is at home, doing well.  I have received photos of baby girl from the family and she is adorable.  

The Global Mercy is sailing soon for Dakar, Senegal for her first full field service and then later in the year to Freetown, Sierra Leone till June 2024.
The Africa Mercy will leave soon for Durban, South Africa for refit and renovations before going to Madagascar.

Serving together, Kofa Keith 

KRB Update #2260 – What’s Happening in Liberia

Healing Provided!!!  I have exciting news about the young baby girl with cleft lip the Patient Selection Team and I registered in Senegal.  I shared about her in my last update.  Two weeks ago, I received news that she was able to gain sufficient weight with the infant feeding program – 5 kilograms (11 pounds).  Yesterday, I felt I should reach out to see if the baby girl will have surgery this year or next year when the Global Mercy comes to Senegal.  A team member wrote back almost immediately to say that Baby Girl Sangalkam is in surgery now.  I quickly responded that I am praying for her and our team providing her healing.  I received this note yesterday afternoon:  “The baby is back on the ward, looking like a princess.. still sleepy and not too happy, but no more cleft lip. Thank you so much for finding her and all the other precious patients! and thank you for all the prayers!”  I waited on publishing this update as I wanted to share this good news with you.

What’s Happening in Liberia – my team and I are busy hosting various Mercy Ships teams coming to Liberia for their activities here including:  

  • Nurses Training and training-of-trainers training provided in partnership with Medical & Surgical Skills Institute (MSSI) of Ghana including visits to the previous participants’ hospitals.
  • Primary Trauma Care courses including one day of training-of-trainers – also with our friends from MSSI.  Two day training which was well received.  I joined them for their closing ceremonies.  
  • Follow-up visits were conducted by Prudent and Clement with 23 of the 24 young entrepreneurs who went through the Food for Life / Nutritional Agriculture course earlier this year.
  • Leadership Training with four hospitals in Liberia – one team member from Norway and two from Liberia
  • Mental Health – two one-week trainings in Greenville, Sinoe County – one week with healthcare workers and one week with church leaders – preparing and planning – to take place in November.
  • Soon the biomedical project manager and his team member will return to finish the visits to all 15 counties of Liberia to see the biomedical technicians in their normal environment and provide one-on-one mentoring.  This team will be the most traveled of all of the Mercy Shippers for Liberia.  
  • Distribution of Nurse Assessment Kits to nurses and midwives to aid them in performing their duties.
  • Planning for other strategic donations with hospitals and the Ministry of Health.

Unlike on the ship and where we would change countries every year, I have the opportunity to call Liberia home and to experience life in one country for activities like:

  • Wedding – a friend from 2007 – celebrating their union
  • University Graduation – a young man who I met in 2007 when he was a boy and now to be here last week to cheer for him at his graduation from university.  See photo above
  • Funeral – sadly to attend a friend’s husband’s funeral after his death from kidney problems
  • Birthdays of my team members and friends.  For mine last month, I was with the team from Ghana and we visited Redemption Hospital then in the afternoon we went to Evelyn’s for lunch/dinner – took photos and sang Happy Birthday, and they prayed a birthday blessing over my life.
  • Staying in contact with former surgical patients and also meeting new ones like Bestman who saw the Mercy Ships vehicle with our logo on the side.  I could see in my mirror that someone was running next to the vehicle, I stopped and rolled down the window.  Bestman had surgery with Mercy Ships in 2006.  So we visited together while he pulled out of his backpack his discharge document and very worn photo of him with two crew members, one crew member I know and the other I don’t.  


So I hope this ‘What’s Happening in Liberia’ update gives you insight into what is taking place here. 
I am so thankful for God’s protection, health, His guidance and direction, and safety for myself and the teams when they are in the country.  I am thankful to my financial supporters who continue to stand with me as I serve here and big thanks for your prayers when God brings me to your mind.