As a way of saying thank you to all those who have helped us during a field service, we invite them to a special Thank you Reception on board the ship. Our department, Programs, hosted this event. One of my roles was to welcome the visitors and ask them to sign our guest book. At the last minute, we received word that the Vice President was coming to the event and so that was a welcomed surprise.
Holding a little guy during church
The Sunday morning services can go long at the local churches – often many hours. I was visiting this church this past Sunday and when they entered into Part 2 of the service, I stepped outside for some air and ended up staying out with the children. I met Emmanuel – see next BLOG entry and also this little guy, who ended up falling asleep on my lap. The children are precious.
Emmanuel & Pastor Andrew
Emmanuel was borned with two club feet – where the feet are going the wrong direction – he has lived with this for many years. Thankfully, God made a way for him – our orthopaedic surgeons selected him for surgery and did his left foot and will do his right foot when we return next year. He lives at an orphanage that some of my friends have been visiting. I met him at church last Sunday as seen in the picture with Pastor Andrew. He has a gentle heart and spirit – I told him that I will visit him when he returns for his second surgery.
Orphanage Tour – Bridge
On final stop on the tour of the Africa Mercy with the children and teens from the orphanage was on the bridge. One of our senior officiers, Ruth Denton, explained the equipment (even had the radar system turned on) and what all happens on the bridge while we are sailing. It was a great day to host them on board.
Orphanage Tour
Saturday, we hosted the staff and children from the Liberia Children’s Rescue Education Foundation Orphanage on board the m/v Africa Mercy. I had the privilege of giving them a tour of the ship – we have been to their home many times and now this was an opportunity to show them our home. In the photo we are on Deck 3 (hospital) aft (back part).
Peace Ward
Hospital Visitation – through our Adopt-A-Patient program, I visited daily the hospital – currently visiting Peace ward to see Nathaniel and Flomo. We are unable to take pictures in the ward out of respect for the patients, but here is a photo of the Peace ward before the patients arrived. The other wards are named by other Fruits of the Holy Spirit – Joy, Faith, and Hope.
Fombo out on Deck 7
For our patients who are well enough, we offer to take them to Deck 7 to get some fresh air and for the children the chance to play ‘outside’. Fombo underwent his first surgery on the Anastasis and that is where I met him. He completed his follow up surgery here on the Africa Mercy. He has now returned home with his mom and reunited with his father and older siblings.
Cheesemanburg Sunday School
Following we shared in Sunday School at the Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Cheesemanburg, we got out the parachute and starting playing with it. The children loved it – something new and different.
Cheesemanburg Community Garden
Jean-Claude Mouditou from Congo is one of our agriculture trainers. Here is showing me the community garden created by the people of Cheesemanburg. They are applying the principles that they are learning in raising new vegetables.
Academy Open House
As our crew is made up of singles, couples and families, we have an Academy on board. They had an Open House and we were able to visit their various classrooms. In the photo is Josephine Biney, her and her family were on the Caribbean Mercy years ago.
The Academy has 49 students in nursery (6), preschool (9), elementary (35), junior high (4) and high school (5) with 11 teaching staff using the Texas Education Knowledge and Standards curriculum.