KRB Update – Mercy Ministries

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Greetings from Lomé, Togo, West Africa. Mercy Ministries provide off ship ministry opportunities for Africa Mercy crew (long and short term and guests) working alongside existing ministries demonstrating hope and healing. Our highest goal is to demonstrate God’s love, care and concern for those we come to serve through listening, praying, counseling, teaching, spending time, playing, interacting and if suitable through practical assistance. I have a Mercy Ministries Coordinator who works full time and I am responsible for leadership over this area within Programs here on the Africa Mercy (Hospital, Off Ship Projects and Mercy Ministries). I love this aspect of my role here on board and going out myself and being part of the teams. Most of my local friends have been patients, caregivers, dayworkers and our local partners. Here are our mercy ministries partners for the:

Togo 2012 Field Service (most are ones we served with back in 2010 also)

Missionaries of Charity in Kpalime – we continue to partner with the sisters at Missionaries of Charity in the countries we visit – though this time the site is 2 ½ hour drive from the ship. Their care is focused on HIV/AIDS, a hospice setting.

Ephata School for the Deaf – our mercy ministries team visit weekly and work with the deaf students who are boarders from elsewhere in Togo (using American Sign Language).
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) – King’s Kids – we join YWAM with their monthly community children’s outreach with around 200 children.
Jesus Film – the team heads out with a local evangelist twice a week to different locations around Lomé sharing the Jesus Film in French or Ewe (local language)–based on the Gospel of Luke.

Hospital CHU Visitation – in partnership with YWAM and a local Assembly of God church, we join them in visiting the pediatric wards at the largest hospital in the nation.

Brigade Mineur Youth Detention Center – weekly scheduled visit for 90 minutes to share with primarily young men but also a few ladies in the youth detention center.

Maison Bethany Orphanage – a very popular site on Saturday mornings to visit, spend time with, share a Bible story, craft with the orphans at this home.

APEHM (Association pour la Promotion de l’Enfant Handicape Mental) – only facility in the nation of Togo to care for children with mental disabilities (autistic, cerebral palsy, down syndrome). Time of sharing simple Bible stories, crafts, lots of dancing and games.
HOPE Center – our mercy ministries teams visit our outpatient housing unit for patients and caregivers coming from far away – we go twice a week for the afternoon.
Prison Fellowship – Men & Women’s Prison in Tsevie – in partnership with Prison Fellowship, every other week our men and women make the hour drive north to this prison – they are able to share from God’s word, share testimonies and listen to the inmates.
Prayer Requests: 1) Each of the participants at our various sites as our time here is coming soon to an end. 2) Each of the above partners for their continued minister to these people.

Matthew 25 “I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited. Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help? He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

Serving Together, Keith