KRB Update – 1st Projects in Africa

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KRB Update #2176 – 1st Projects in Africa

Keith R. Brinkman                                                                                             April 21, 2012
Greetings from Lomé, Togo, West Africa. When the leadership of Mercy Ships felt that we were to come to the continent of Africa, inquiries were made with the nation of Ghana and an invitation was extended in 1990. Though as the Anastasis readied to sail, the invitation was revoked. The crew and staff all gathered to pray and seek God. It was revoked on the basis of false reports about who we are. During this time period of time, I was serving at the home office in Texas. With the closed door in Ghana, God was so faithful and opened the door wide for us in the neighboring nation of Togo. We are now in Togo for our fifth visit of a Mercy Ship.
During that first outreach to the continent of Africa to the nation of Togo in 1990, some of our projects ashore included construction of a school, agriculture and animal husbandry training, water and sanitation projects along with dental and medical clinics in Djegbakodji. During all this time, surgeries were held in the hospital on the Anastasis.
Due to my long friendship with John who led our work in the village of Djegbakodji and his desire to know how they are doing 22 years later, I have been in contact with a Togolese church planter/pastor who knows the people of the village. I visited in 2010 and just recently I was able to visit again.

When Mercy Ships crew came to the village in 1990, there were no known Christians in the entire area. Now there are three vibrant churches. I was very warmly received by the people of the village and able to share in their churches. I brought greetings from John personally and overall from Mercy Ships. As I was driving back to Lomé, my thoughts went to the New Testament (Colossians) related to a letter written for a certain area and how the letter was entrusted to a friend and read in that area (Ephesians 6:21-22). The people of Djegbakodji all expressed their gratefulness to God and with our efforts in their area and it was a great privilege to speak to them.

One of my maxillofacial patients (Florent, 15 years old who had a large tumor removed from his neck) heard I was going and requested to join me along with his father and older brother. That was great as he is a patient who we have cared for this year in our hospital on board.

Prayer Requests: People of Djegbakodji, Togo and for all the people from our former outreaches and field services especially here in West Africa – for their lives – physically and spiritually.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.”

Serving Together, Keith
Email: [email protected]
https://keithbrinkman.com/  

Mail: Keith R. Brinkman, Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 2020, Lindale, TX 75771 USA

KRB – Screenings – Togo

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KRB Update #2174 – Screening
Keith R. Brinkman February 25, 2012

Greetings from Lomé, Togo, West Africa. During our recent surgical screening, my role was as the gate keeper, passing out initial screening tickets. A total of 1,609 tickets were given to potential patients who came along with their family members and caregivers. I brought them inside the gate in small groups. I tried to greet each patient – I used a combination of languages: French with Bon Jour (Good morning) ou Bienvenue (Welcome) or in Ewe with Woezo (pronounced “Way-zo” – also means Welcome). I knew they understood my pronunciation of the Ewe when they responded with ‘lo’ or ‘yo’ with a long ooo. Plus there were some who greeted me in English and so I responded in English. See the above photo.

About 4,000 people came to Kegue National Stadium here in Lomé for the surgical screening for maxillofacial, plastic-burn reconstructive and general surgery. Most of the Africa Mercy crew and our local day workers were involved. It was a peaceful night and day as we cared for them one person at a time. The prayer team was stationed under a tree and available to anyone wishing prayer.
As the hospital crew was preparing to close the Patient Gate, Lawrence and I asked if we could maintain our post with the gates shut, but still available if anyone arrives with a maxillofacial tumor or cleft lip and palate. We probably had a couple hundred people come during those final couple hours but most were not surgical candidate for the Mercy Ship. Though the very last person was a father and her daughter, when asked what is her problem, he said the hole in her mouth and when I leaned down to take a look it was clearly a cleft palate (hole in the upper part of the mouth). Her name is Samsia, probably around three or four year old girl. She was scheduled for surgery!!!

Our operating rooms are open and have just finished week #3, Wards have patients and caregivers and dayworkers and patient visitations have restarted.
Our Dental Team under the new leadership of Sieh Moore from Liberia is set up a facility near the government sector of Lomé and they conduct their screenings on going every Monday and Thursday mornings. The number of tickets he is able to distribute all depends on how many dentists we have for that period and their average capacity (how many per day).

Eye Screenings continue to take place every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at rotating sites around Lomé.

Prayer Requests: *Each of our patients – their health, surgery and recovery for Hope & Healing. *For our healthcare professionals, we have had some surgeons cancel and that has a great impact. *Right people to still come for the remaining surgical slots and for Jonah from Ghana to have an opportunity for his second surgery.

Serving Together, Keith Email: [email protected] www.KeithBrinkman.com
Mail: Keith R. Brinkman, Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 2020, Lindale, TX 75771 USA

Surgical Screening – Hernia Boy

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Where I was station at screening – the first main gate – I watched for any children and would stop to ensure that they had a parent with them. This boy, 10 years old with a hernia came but by himself. Through my translator Ruthie, we explained to him that he needs to go get a parent, brother/sister, neighbor someone. We prayed and waited, waited and then he returned.