Here is a photo that shows our location here in the Port of Cotonou, port #4 – the other small boats in front of us are primarily for fishing and they are very colourful with various banners and flags. We will be at this location till December 8th.
Our Blood Bank
Here on the Africa Mercy for our hospital, we do not have a blood bank. Blood is needed on some more of the major maxillofacial surgeries. Instead, we, the crew, volunteer to be tested and available for donation when needed. Sometimes you know ahead of time and other times you get an urgent call from the lab to meet them in the ICU in order to donate as a patient is in the operating room who will be needing your type of blood. My friend took this photo after my most recent donation of one unit of A+ blood.
Liberia orphanage on the beach
Some of the children and teens from the orphanage in Liberia were hosted for a day at the beach by a couple who are working on a large hotel project in Monrovia. As you can see from their smiles, they really enjoyed their time on the beach and their meal together. I miss them, I do stay in touch with them via emails which the director gets from an internet cafe and the occassional phone call. A friend here on board will travel there next month and I will send some things with him.
Hospitality Center Inside Sleeping Room
All guests in the Hospitality Center are basically independent or with a caregiver and need no acute medical interventions. This photo shows inside one of the sleeping rooms. Also housed in the same facility are the Dockside Eye and Physical Therapy Units – these are normally dockside, but due to the size of the pier and the truck traffic for other ships, it is not possible and not safe to set them up on the dock. The goal of the Hospitality Center is to provide a clean and safe environment for pre- & post-op patients.
Hospitality Center w Sumano
This year, one of the goals in Programs is to maximize the efficiency of the Africa Mercy hospital. Particularly, the hospital staff struggle with the numbers in our wards and even having to limit surgeries as we do not have the ward space for the patient’s recovery. So our new Hospital Manager and many others came up with the concept of an off-ship housing unit. This lead to what we now have as our Hospitality Center. The Hospitality Center, (also known as the HC), is a non-medical, temporary, housing unit for approximately 38 national residents who will have a stay prior to hospitalization for an in- and outpatient surgical procedure(s). This unit is also be used by national residents who have had surgery on the ship and for logistical reasons, may need non-medical housing in between outpatient visits to the ship, especially for those from the central and northern parts of Benin. The photo shows a representative from the Ministry of Health and he stopped to talk with my new friend Sumano and his father.
Visit of the French Ambassador
Last week on Wednesday, we had the honor and privilege to host the French Ambassador to Benin along with some of his staff on board the Africa Mercy. Our Hospital Manager gave an extensive tour of the Hospital, we shared with them two short presentations in French including the one I prepared for the President and then we had refreshments together. While visiting with his staff, I tried my limited words in French, but then we switched to English.
Church Leaders’ Conference Cotonou
Currently, we are hosting a three day Church Leaders’ Conference here in Cotonou, Benin. The theme of the conference is Partnership in Holistic Ministry. Our main speaker is Pastor Chris from Ghana and we have over 300 church leaders in attendance. I have been assisting with registration of our participants.
Yvonne Riddick Farewell
At the close of our Yvonne Riddick Farewell party, we took some photos. In this photo you see (Left to Right) Agnes, Jannette, Yvonne herself, me, Andrea, Comfort and Rene (sorda cut off some). In the front is Joycee and Israel. It will be hard to see her go as we have served together at on the Caribbean Mercy, Anastasis and here on the Africa Mercy.
Yvonne Riddick Farewell
Last night, between 40-50 people gathered for a farewell party for Yvonne Riddick as she is leaving. I first met her in 2000 in La Union, El Salvador where she was a part of a large Crossroads Discipleship Training School. Later she returned as crew on the Caribbean Mercy. Following enjoying some refreshments, we had over an hour of people sharing memories and experiences and encouragements for Yvonne. We closed the evening all gathered around her praying for her and this transition that she is approaching.
Length of Service Award
Last Tuesday at our morning devotions, Don & Deyon Stephens (our founders) and Ken & Ann Berry (our director on board) presented about 15 length of service awards – 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and 20 years. I received my 20 year service award – which was a large framed Mercy Ships painting. My 20th anniversary with Mercy Ships actually is in September of this year.