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.
Aaron & Hawa and their son William
One of the patients I am currently visiting is Aaron. He has been with us for 3 weeks now and soon he will be able to return home. The surgeons were able to do a surgery to correct a problem he has had since birth. On Thursday his wife Hawa brought their son William to visit, you should have seen Aaron’s big smile. We stepped outside of the hospital and took this photo together.
Bernards Farm beekeeping course
As part of our Women’s Empowerment program, we are conducting Beekeeping training with two groups of women. Beekeeping is something that the women can start up and maintain and yet doesn’t require alot of her time away from her family and does bring in income from the sale of honey, wax and other products. We brought in Dr. Kwame Aidoo from Ghana to do this part of the training. One of our crew members and Dr. Kwame will return in March to continue with the training on harvesting and marketing.