This is cute little girl, Manja, had club feet surgery on both of her feet last year. If you have a Mercy Ships calendar for ’08, she is the ‘December girl’. I just spent a bit of time with her and her mom as they returned to the ship for a check up with the orthopaedic surgeon. She is walking around like a normal two year old – her 2nd birthday is next week. If you remember me sharing about Emmanuel, who had one surgery on one foot last year and will have the second surgery next month. I will keep you posted.
HSV Swift Visit to Monrovia
The US Navy is currently here in Monrovia, Liberia with three ships outside the harbour and one HSV Swift tied up to the pier. We were invited to take a tour of HSV (High Speed Vessel – made of aluminum and able to travel up to 50 mph) last night. In the photo, I am sitting in the capitan’s chair with my finger on the small silver ‘helm’. The US Navy is on a good will tour, in cooperation with some non-governmental organizations, and hosting various receptions on board. In return, we hosted them for a tour and coffee on board the Africa Mercy.
Easter Sunday at church
On Easter Sunday, many of the children from Liberia Children’s Rescue Education Foundation Orphanage were baptised. The older children/teens at the river and the younger ones at the church. They attended some baptism classes beforehand so they knew what they were doing. It was a special day.
Easter Sunday ’08
Easter Sunday on the m/v Africa Mercy in Monrovia, Liberia started with sunrise service at 06:00 on deck 8, followed by our Easter Service on ‘our’ dock at 08:00. We had time of singing, readings from the gospels, two short presentations by our children and a brief message from our managing director.
Jesus Film for Children
On Wednesday evening, we set up the projector and large screen – connected to the back of the Land Rover. We had come to Victorious Faith Refuge Home and were sharing the Story of Jesus for Children with them. All of the children from the home were there along with the neighborhood children also. It is a special version of the Jesus film for children, from their perspective and only 67 minutes long.
CBM Reunion 15Mar08
For the Caribbean Mercy reunion, we had tables set up on Deck 7 of the Africa Mercy. At this table you see, Elizabeth (Aquino) Tuinier and daughter Isabella, Joycee Samuels, Taty, Estevam and Rodgrigo Silva and Yvonne Riddick. We took a large group photo and when that is available, I will also post it.
CBM Reunion 15Mar08
Former long and short term crew members who served on the Caribbean Mercy had a reunion celebration last Saturday. We counted 43 adults and 12 children who are now on the Africa Mercy. Of course, we had great food and great times of sharing memories together from the 11 year history of the Caribbean Mercy.
Screening – Praying
Many of our crew members prayed with patients – both those outside the main gate who are told by the pre-screeners that we are not able to help them and those inside who the surgeon tells them that we are not able to help them physically. They also prayed with those patients who received appointment cards to come for surgery. In this photo are two friends Yvonne and Debbie.
Screening – Abraham
I met Abraham and his mother at the main gate after the pre-screener gave them a card to enter. He was crying and so I asked if I could just pick him up and carry him and she said that was OK. I held him in my arms until his shaking and crying stopped. He has severe burns and so the plastic surgeon will see what they will be able to do. He has an appointment card and so I am sure I will see him soon in the hospital ward.
Screening – Escort
As I walked with this father and his daughter who has club feet, we talked and visited – many had slept overnight outside the gate awaiting our arrival – others had traveled far to be here for this day.