KRB Update #2194 – Brazzaville
Keith R. Brinkman 02 November 2013
The Africa Mercy is preparing for a historical event with our patient selection/surgical screening in the capitol and largest city of the Republic of Congo – Brazzaville without the ship’s presence nearby. Typically, our largest screening takes place in the port city and that is normally the capitol or less than one hour from the capitol as in Ghana and Benin. For those events, like 28 August here in Pointe-Noire, we have over 300 crew members involved along with another 100 local workers/day crew. For Brazzaville, we are working closely with the President’s Office, our host, to make this a success. Due to concern of the thousands of people who may come and how we are limited how many from the ship who can participate, we changed our strategy slightly. Pre-screening/selection process took place this week at 11 hospitals and health centers in and around the greater Brazzaville area. All of the participating doctors from those locations were briefed what we can assist with and what we cannot assist with. The majority of the pre-selection registration forms have been reviewed by Mercy Ships’ Patient Flow Manager. Only those who have a pre-registration form will be seen by Mercy Ships on Wednesday, 06 November at the site provided. We are flying personnel from the Africa Mercy in Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville for this event – hospital staff and translators (day crew) along with the communications team, executive and security. I hope to open the main gate at 06:00 on Wednesday morning. For this event, I was asked to be Site Commander and I agreed to take on the challenge. You can be a part of this event with your prayer.
Our prayer requests are:
* Pre-registered patients to come for the screening – nothing would hinder them
* Security and safety for all involved – peace and order
* Good weather with clouds and no rain
* All the logistics of air travel, accommodations, ground transportation, meals, etc.
* Our partners in the government, local church and local organizations
One short story from one of our patients from our first screening here in Pointe-Noire (I gave them their ticket at the main gate where I served): Vernel came with his papa as he had a cleft lip that needed to be repaired. Through our Befriend-a-Patient I spent time with them in the hospital wards. Amazing to see the change in this boy – see the other photo after his recovery – this was taken at his home in his village. Life changed !!! We pray for more to come from our upcoming screenings.
Thank you all for your partnership with me as I serve here.
Serving Together, Keith
Email: [email protected]
www.KeithBrinkman.com (web site new and improved with great thanks from my friend Paul in Guatemala)