We received a container from the Netherlands and I was encouraged to see that there was an entire pallet of New Testament Bibles. They were produced by Health for Life, a project initiated by VVHS/BKV, International Bible Society and Mercy Ships-Netherlands. Their aims is to provide people in developing countries with in-depth information for healthy lives, both spiritually and physically. Primarily they will be used by the HIV/AIDS educators who are working with the local churches to create mercy coalitions. They have given us 250 for use by our disciplers and crew members as they are in relationship with, prayer and ministry with people here in Ghana.
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Children at Well Drilling Site
This village has no electricity or water – they walk a good distance to another village to a well to obtain water. For these children, the well drilling rig is great entertainment as they had just started and were drilling through sand and it was flying up in the air. School is just starting up next week and so they were enjoying the show. Our team will usually work in a village for a week and besides the well drilling and sanitation lessons, they have time with the people and especially with the children to share our Father God’s love for each of them.
Well Drilling Cap Off well
We have partnered with Ghana Water and Sanitation to help impact 38 communities. We will be drilling water wells, constructing demonstration latrines, teaching on community hygiene and training 3 residents in each community on water well maintenance. We have a great team together to be in these villages helping to provide the basic necessities of life and sharing their heart and faith with them. They have had some technical problems in the beginning, but they are up and going now.
Land Rover 4×4 KRB Driving
Are you envious? I was driving to several of our well drilling sites – about an hour and half from the port city. The night before, it had severely rained and so the ‘roads’ were not too good. The ship has about twenty Land Rovers which are used by all the teams working at off-ship sites and all the business and activities of the ministry. Some are in better shape than others. I was hosting the captain, chief engineer, and second engineer as I wanted to share with them what is happening in Community Development Services (CDS) with well drilling and sanitation. The vehicle before me had our executive director, her assistant, CDS manager, and one of the communications photographer – she took the photo.
President Kufuor
This morning we prayed particularly for the leaders of the nation. We prayed for President John Kufuor, his wife Theresa, the various Ministers who are serving here – particularly for the Minister of Health, Manpower, Transport and the Members of Parliament who have helped and continue to help with our time and the people of the nation of Ghana. President Kufuor, a devout Roman Catholic, is in his second term and the next elections will be in ’08.
Fountain Head Work Day
One of our Community Development Services projects is to construct another building for the Fountain Head Christian School here in Tema. The directors are from the Youth With A Mission base and they were needing to expand to have junior high grades. On Saturday, we invited general crew to join in and help. We had over 20 people volunteer and we painted chairs, moved the desks and chairs, haul rock for the foundation of an additional classroom and that is where I am heading with this wheelbarrow – thankfully my friend Rene from Guinea was there to help me. Good to be a part!!!
Jonas’ head tumor removal surgery
As most of you know about our amazing medical surgeries that we are able to offer to the people. These are truly life changing surgeries. I have seen eye surgeries on the Caribbean Mercy and a hip replacement surgery in San Pedro Sula performed by our ortho team. Though, this was the first chance to see a head tumor removal. Jonas had a large tumor of his right parotid gland that had grown externally and internally. The surgeon, Dr. Thermon, and staff explained some of the procedures so I understood what was happening. I was able to stand right behind the surgeon and looked over his shoulder (I’m the one in the back of the photo). The nerve that controls movement on that side of the face was intertwined with the tumor; it was more complicated than originally planned. Before cutting anything, they had to ensure that it was not the nerve. The surgery was over 3 ½ hours, but it was completely successful.
Living Bread Eye Clinic
One of our local partners is the church and ministry of Living Bread Ministries. I have been attending their church since I arrived in June. Some of their members including one of their elders are serving with us. They are also involved in planting churches. They asked if we could take the Mobile Eye Team to a community where they have planted a church and they would be our host. The partnership went well – the provided the venue, the people to help and the advertising to the community and we came alongside them. One of the pastors shared with the people and asked them at the end, ‘How many want to get to know Jesus better?’ Their people were there to pray with all those who responded. The very first patient that Dr. Glenn looked at had cataracts and she is already scheduled for surgery to give her back her sight.
Pantang Hospital Balloon for the Patients
Our heart is for the poor of the poor and the forgotten poor. We have found them at the government psychiatric hospital about an hour and half from the ship. I joined one of our groups as every other Saturday we go there. We have been able to help to make a connection with a pastors training program and this hospital and so together we go into the hospital. The administrator determines which ward we go to and so they are ready for us. I found it hard to connect with them as sometimes they are just not there and other times you have a connection. One of the pastors sings and shared a short message and then the patients are welcome to go to one of the stations – ladies to have their nails done and lotion on their hands, football outside, games inside, prayer station, and for this time Mario made balloon animals for all who wanted one. After serving juice and cookies, I was talking with one of the staff members who shared his thanks that we come and he notices the difference in the patients. Helping to bring light, the gospel and love to those there.
Orbis Flying Eye Hospital
I have a Google regular search for Ghana and I read about the Flying Eye Hospital coming to Ghana and they were going to be at the main airport. I wrote to inquire if we could visit. They also heard we were there and wanted to visit, so we hosted them on board the Anastasis on Tuesday. Then, we went on Friday to the airport and had a tour of their plane. They are focusing on going to developing nations and training the eye professionals in the area – they do some surgeries, but mainly it is training. Whereas, Mercy Ships we are doing 15-20 eye surgeries a day – seeing those who were blind can see again – plus we do training if there are eye professional in the area – in some countries, they just do not exist.