Wordless Weekday!

Mamodu Mattia

Mamodu Mattia

Mamodu Mattia is a teenager with an amazing smile, but you would not see it if you passed him on the street. He covers his front teeth with his lower lip, trying to hide the fact that he has a cleft lip – anything to keep the attention away from his mouth. His brother, Mohammad Mattia, stands watch over him, trying to protect him from harm.

The last time Mamodu and Mohammad’s family needed a doctor was three years ago when their mother was going through a difficult labor. She died, and the baby died several hours later. Sadly, their father was killed on the same day in a farming accident when a tree fell on him. Mamodu was only 14 when these tragedies struck.

Their extended family refused to take care of Mamodu for fear of any curses associated with his cleft lip. They felt his parents’ death was Mamodu’s fault. The brothers’ situation was made even worse by the fact that Mamodu is deaf and has no training in sign language. How could he take care of himself when he could not communicate with anyone?

So Mohammad left their extended family to take care of his brother. They have been on their own ever since, trying to make a way for themselves.

Before his parents died, Mamodu attended school. He loved school, but, after his parents’ death, he could no longer afford it. Mohammad worked tirelessly in the fields trying to save enough money to send Mamodu to school, but there was never enough. When Mohammad realized that Mamodu was too old for school, he taught his brother how to farm so they could work together. This helped Mohammad keep an eye on Mamodu at all times. Their extended family and other villagers were always mean to Mamodu, and the fact that he couldn’t hear them made him an easy prey.

A man named Abu Yeva changed everything for the two brothers. He told them about a medical screening conducted by Mercy Ships. It seemed too good to be true, and Mohammad was afraid to allow himself to hope. He did not know how much his brother understood, but he could already envision an easier, better life on the horizon. After receiving an appointment, they traveled for five hours to the ship. They were filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension.

When it came time for the nurses to take blood samples from Mamodu, Mohammad instinctively stood guard over his brother. He was still unsure of what they were going to do to Mamodu. He had years of experience protecting his brother from the cruelty of this world, but now Mercy Ships was treating him with such care and kindness. As their time with Mercy Ships continued, both brothers’ spirits started to lift, and they began to trust the help offered to them.

On their last day on the Africa Mercy, Mamodu was found looking in the mirror, admiring his new face. Mohammad was playing games with children on the ward.

Now both brothers are filled with more joy than they have known in years, as evidenced by their constant smiles. As Mohammad holds a child from the hospital, he says, “If it weren’t for Abu Yeva and Mercy Ships, Mamodu would not have been helped. I am so happy for my brother! Thank you Mercy Ships!”

December 2011
Story by Nicole Pribbernow
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Debra Bell

Mamodu and Mohammad wait anxiously to begin the admissions process.

Mohammad watches over Mamodu as blood samples are taken.

Mamodu and Mohammad are still unsure about the surgery.

Mamodu takes the first steps onto the gangway while Mohammad stands back apprehensively.

 
Mamodu is curious about what the nurse is doing to him.

Ever-vigilant Mohammad watches carefully as Mamodu finishes admissions.

Mamodu’s stitches come out!

 
After the stitches are removed, Mamodu and Mohammad see the amazing transformation for the first time.

Mamodu and Mohammad admire Mamodu’s new reflection.

Mamodu takes one last look at the ward  before he is discharged.

Mamodu and Mohammad final walk down the gangway with spirits lifted high.

  
Mamodu and Mohammad leave for home one week after their lives were transformed.

This is a Drill! This is a Drill! This is a Drill!

Safety is always first, right? Well don’t worry because that is our motto on the Africa Mercy! We recently conducted several fire drills. Where these drills are apart of our normal schedule here on the ship, these were “at sea” drills that included donning our lifejackets and preparing to abandon ship! It sounds more exciting than it actually is, but I assure you, it is very crucial to the crew to know what to do “in case.” Thankfully, we did not have to use this knowledge during our recent sail to Ghana, and now we are back to conducting “on land” fire drills. These on land drills will sure help me! In Ghana, our gangway is on the opposite side of the ship! Just my luck, I would try exit the ship ON THE WRONG SIDE!



I have a lifejacket! With a whistle and light ;)



How do you say goodbye?

How do you say goodbye to someone who has changed your life? How do you say goodbye to someone who has given you joy? How do you say goodbye to a people group who has molded your heart into a more beautiful object to give to your Lord? How…how do I say goodbye to Sierra Leone?
In my 6 weeks of being molded and shaped into a new creation, I’ve grown to love Sierra Leone more fiercely than I ever imagined. I stare at her, and she stares back into me…straight into my soul: knowing who I was and knowing who I have become. She sees the change that has overcome me, and when we pull away she will wave with stoic presence while I cry for the loss of my first African love: the people of Sierra Leone.

We are packing and tying everything down in preparations for the sail. “Soon,” they say, “we leave soon.” The surreal atmosphere of a half empty ship only makes me long to stay. I feel cheated, cheated out of time with Sierra Leone. I just got here, and we are leaving. I think of my family who adopted me and taught me Krio. I think of the girl who cleaned me when I was dirty and tired. I think of the village that changed its circumstances to prove they can overcome. The patient whose life was transformed in front of me from outcast demon to freed handsome young man. The list doesn’t end as faces and memories flash through my mind. I will miss each of them and pray that God will bless them for how they have blessed me.

My goodbyes are said, and I sit on the ship waiting to leave. I wait to leave, and we don’t even know when we will go. So I stare at her from another world, through longing eyes, wanting to care for her and help her. Sierra Leone, she has captivated me and her struggle has motivated me. I hope one day I will return to Sierra Leone, but for now, I move along the coast to new places with their own powerful hold on my heart. But I wonder if I will love any country as much as I love Sierra Leone.

I leave for Ghana soon: a country more developed and making progress. The ship will be receiving maintenance during this time, and I will find myself at a loss of what I have found normal. No patients, no writing, and no village visits. I pray that this time will be renewing of strength and energy. Togo will become busy as soon as we hit the docks and I will find myself as the “experienced” one training the new writer coming aboard January 1, 2012. I pray that God will renew me in the next 4 weeks so that I can give more than I have to offer in Togo because God’s wisdom will guide me through each day.
Goodbye Sierra Leone! God Bless and I hope to see you again soon!

I Tell Papa God Tenki!!

Gratitude

This word has been bouncing around in my head over the past 3 weeks. How thankful are we for what God has provided us? It seems so cliché and like this is what every missionary says after being in a third world country – so please forgive me if this is redundant. Thanksgiving is a day we celebrate in America with lots of food, football games, and more food. We may go around the table and say what we are thankful for and we give good answer (my family, this food, etc.). This week I’ve been wondering though, do we really know what it feels like to be truly thankful? 

The people here in Sierra Leone have blown me away with their kindness and resilient graciousness. They are faced with impossible circumstances, have lived through a treacherous bloody war, barely survive each and every day and yet they greet me with a smile and sincere concern about how I am doing. 

Today I was weaving in and out of a dental screening, interacting with the locals and trying to keep them calm (I was doing security). I was faced with people whose face was swollen to twice its size and you can see their pain clearly in their eyes. They have been standing there for hours waiting for help admist the chaos of Freetown. I ask them, “How da morning?” “They say “Fine, tenki” (Fine, Thank you) and I proceed to ask them “How da body?” (How is your body) and almost every response was the same. Their eyes soften and they look up saying “I tell Papa God tenki” 

I’m staring at someone who has every right to complain, who are expected to tell me they are in pain and can’t eat. They don’t, they say with all sincerity that they thank God for how well they are doing. After telling me this, they ask how I am doing and how I slept. This screening is about them and they are genuinely concerned with me – a complete stranger. You can tell by their eyes, when they hear that I am injured, they have genuine concern for ME and want to help ME! They may have a large facial tumor and their concern is for me. 

This Thanksgiving is going to be different for me. This Thanksgiving this is how I will think:

My head hurts: I tell Papa God tenki that I am able to live another day

I miss my family: I tell Papa God tenki that I have a family

I miss food from home: I tell Papa God tenki I get 3 square meals a day when the people I serve may not eat at all today

The internet is slow: I tell Papa God tenki for blessing me with the ability to communicate back home

I only get 2 minute showers: I tell Papa God tenki for making my soul as white as snow

I tell Papa God tenki for opening my eyes to see, showing me a new world, and using me in ways I would have never imagined. When life gets overwhelming just remember to tell Papa God tenki for the little things.

My God Moment in Yams Farm Wharf

Have you ever felt God was talking to you through an event, or a person? Well this happened to me during my field service, and I would like to share about it.

 

I was extremely excited to get back to work after hurting myself. I rested my ankle all weekend, and I felt great! So I dove right into work first thing Monday morning. I was shoveling dirt. We did that a lot during this field service: moved dirt. It seemed simple enough but after a while of taking turns shoveling my ankle was crying out in pain. After trying to ignore it for a little while, I finally decided to go into the shade and have a rest. I sat down by the school and watched everyone else work. I felt defeated and that I was letting my team down. I hated it. Then this little girl came up to me. School was not in session, and I don’t think I had ever seen this girl before or after this moment.

 

She came and sat on my lap. She looked at me, and I asked what her name was: “Whaty na u nem?” She didn’t respond; instead, she looked down towards my legs and did something that really shocked me. She started gently wiping all the dirt from my legs (from shoveling). When she got to my scrapes she made sure she was extra careful – making sure it was really clean. She looked at my ankle all wrapped up, and she cleaned the dirt off of it and just laid her hand on it. She then moved up to my arms: slowly wiping away all the dirt from my arms. She took my hands and started to clean under my nails. One by one, my nails were cleaned. When she was done, she looked up at me and just looked into my eyes. If you could see the whole world in a pair of eyes, I believe it was hers: such innocence and tender care. Then came her sweet smile and a sudden pat on the head and she was gone.

 

As I sat there in a state of shock, I thought about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Someone who is innocent and pure taking the time and care to make those who serve him clean again. This girl was one whom I was serving. I was tired, weary, and dirty but she took care of me. She couldn’t have been more than 6 years old, but she carried gentleness in her that is unlike other children I’ve seen (in Yam’s Farm). This was my God moment during my 2 weeks off ship. I believe in those girls eyes, I saw Jesus taking care of me and telling me, it’s ok to sit and rest.

 

 

 

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Yams Farm Wharf

An hour away from the madness of Freetown is a village called Yams Farm Wharf. While the traffic is still crazy and there are signs of recent war everywhere – this place is beautiful. If you drive down the hills on almost none existent roads you come to this tiny village. Surrounded by trees on this steep slope lives this group of people we have been serving. At the base of the village is a river that leads to the ocean with a mountain on the other side. Absolutely beautiful…until you look at the living conditions. 

YFW is made up of people displaced by the 10 year civil war that raged throughout the land. Everyone lost everything and were relocated here to start new. There are no stores/markets, no jobs, no doctors, and no hope. This community fishes for food and sells sand, sticks, and rocks (the child pound down to size). This is their life. Every day their only effort is to make sure they have food for tomorrow. They can’t see beyond that…they don’t seek happiness, joy, etc. In fact, most of them have never been to the beach/ocean – even though they are so close. 

It is easy to see hopelessness in this situation but that is not the case. These last two weeks I’ve seen this community trying to break the mold – trying to improve and not follow the model everyone around them follows. It started with a man, Pastor Mark, starting a Christian primary school and church 3 years ago. He was heavily persecuted for the five previous years but he stood his ground and expected better. In 3 years, the hearts of mind of the people have changed. 

Inside the school

The current school in Yam's Farm Wharf

Our project to build a secondary school these last two weeks proved this to me. It started with an elderly man named Champion. We bought a large load of rock from him for the construction work. When Pastor Mark went to pay him, he refused the money and wanted it to go into the school project. This was easily several months to a years worth of income for him but he would rather change the future than eat. This set the precedent and I was amazed to see the entire community start to follow his example.

Champion

The construction workers turned down paying work to come and build this school for free – they will go several weeks without pay (only their lunch provided) but they and their families are committed to change the future. Committed to break the mold and overcome. 

One worker, Mockidad, told us that we helped them accomplish in 2 months what would have taken them over 10 years to complete. Our presence changed them, never before had they worked with the “white man”. The fact that we would “sacrifice” so much to help them made them feel like they mattered. I suspect it may have been the first time they ever really had this feeling. 

Pierce and Mockidad

The new secondary school will change Yams Farm even more. Before, children who wanted to continue their education past 6^th grade had to change their religion to become a Muslim. There were no real Christian options. Now, children can continue their education and keep their faith. In fact, I was told that many of their new students are Muslim. Their parents see the love and affection going into this school and the high standard. They would rather send their children to there than the Muslim options. 

The students are very eager to learn!

This village has broken down the barriers that keep them from progress. They have exceeded our expectations and have taught us so much. They are breaking the mold, changing their world, and changing their future! They are overcoming and there are my hero’s for it!

Please pray they stay on track. They are not perfect and have a lot to overcome. But as Pastor Mark said,

“Because of you, we now know that Christ is alive!”

Flying to Africa

Hello Everyone! Well, I’ve been in Africa for 2 ½ weeks – I can’t believe I can actually say that! It all seems surreal and I don’t know where to begin.

 

Flights

 

So we left on Wednesday morning around 8:30 for Tyler Airport. It’s about the size of GR airport which made security a breeze. For the next 30+ hours we jumped from airport to airport. Most of the flying in the US was choppy but I was very excited when we left Chicago. You see – our flighty path took us directly over Muskegon! My friends were excited to hear this and I was able to say one last goodbye to home. Everything was normal until we stopped in The Gambia, West Africa. You know you are not at home anymore when they flight attendants run down the aisles with bug bombs spraying insecticide before taking off. I’m sure it was extremely healthy to breathe!

 

Sierra Leone was…hectic. We arrived an hour early but it took us at least an hour and a half to get to the “poda-podas” (vans). You should have seen how many bags they put on top of that van! My first thought of Sierra Leone was “Wow, it’s beautiful here!” My second thought, “Wow, I’ve never seen poverty like this before.” The ferry ride was chaotic but beautiful in the dark with only lights from Freetown looming in the distance. The docks were chaotic as well and my first glimpse of Freetown at night was very intimidating. I just wanted to get into the car and be done with traveling! But we weren’t. A quick drive to the ship first. My first look at the ship, I couldn’t believe I was actually here. My energy was boosted as I started to walk up the gangway. Energy that I desperately needed! A quick separation of our valuables (to leave onboard) and scarfing down a meal was all we were there for. I was amazed by how many people I knew and how many came to find me. Five minutes on board and it feels like home! We did a quick running around of the ship – I met my boss and the other writer, saw my office (size of a closet with 2 desks squeezed in it) and then we hurried up and left the ship. Hardest thing yet was to leave the ship.

 

We load up in our poda-podas and have an hour drive to Jui Junction – our home for the next two weeks. Let me explain how tired I was. If you take the worst two track/back road in Michigan and make it 100X worse – add to that riding in a van that has metal benches partial screwed to the ground and being able to see the road through the floor – and I STILL fell asleep on the way to our final destination! We arrive to a guarded place that is truly amazing for being in Sierra Leone. I am so thankful for the Hope Center run by GCPN!

 

Well, this is it! I arrived in Africa – and I can’t believe I am actually here!!

 

Right before I left – I broke my laptop. Please pray I able to figure out how to get a new one here in W. Africa. There are funds lined up for the computer but shipping it here is quite complicated!

 

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support!!

This message and any attachments may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure - Mercy Ships.

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Greetings from Africa!

After the longest day/s of my life I finally made it to Africa! Man, those flights are hard! We arrived at the Lungi Airport in Sierra Leone and hour early - but being Africa...our transport was 2 hours late. We were thrown into the African atmosphere very quickly and drove through the city at night. Can you believe I fell asleep on the poda poda (travel van with benches)?  This is VERY hard to do in Africa - the roads here are....well, I can see why this country is the second from the bottom on the Human development scale and still recovering from war. You can see the signs of war every where and the poverty is on a level all it's own.

We are staying in an amazingly wonderful place (for Sierra Leone). Yams Farm is located in a small village outside of Sierra Leone. We have electricity from 7 pm - 7 am and there are ceiling fans, running water (but we can't brush our teeth with it), showers and toilets. I couldn't ask for more.

So far I have been to the beach, church, market place, and working on construction.
 
I hurt myself on Tuesday at the work site. Don't worry, I am fine. I was stepping over a large hole from the newly made foundation onto the dirt ground.  The ground gave way and I fell halfway into the hole. I scraped my leg and arm and twisted my ankle pretty good. I'm recovery well and have a slight limp.

I am amazed at the friendliness of the people here. I have been told by an elder lady in the village that I am now her daughter and they visit me every day as I work and teach me Krio and how to make their local food. They have shown me their home and I have held their 3 month old baby girl quite often. Remind me to tell you more about this later on.


I love you all! I wish you could be here but I can tell you....it is very hard to see what I have seen. I am exactly where God wants me to be but the amount of poverty, deformities, death, etc I've seen in the last week can be very hard to handle. However, through it all, I am doing extremely well.

Hi- This is Christina (Nicole's sister) updating you on behalf of Nicole. I send out Nicole's newsletter and will, from time to time, update her blog and supporters for her. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at christina.byrd@gmail.com.

My mom and I got a surprise call from Nicole this afternoon.   She was on the ship for a few hours tonight for their ship community church service. She will be back in a week and will be able to connect online more and hopefully upload a few pictures for us all to see. During the few minuets on the satellite connection there was noise everywhere around her. It must have been the buzz of everyone on the ship talking to friends and connecting. She was excited to tell us her stories and how she was doing.  She also talked about doing dental screenings yesterday that led into using her newly found crowd control skills with four unhappy men and other issues that came up. Other highlights of our conversation:  enjoying cold showers for the first time in her life, the frustration of the language barrier, squatty potties with a twisted ankle, 100% humidity, the children shy away from her skin color but are facinated by her hair color, the expeince of being socially checked for lice in her hair and many other things.
This was the short update she was able to send to me via facebook. Be looking for her update in a week or two with fascinating God stories. Keep praying for her boldness to share the gospel through love and service, for the healing of her injuries and continued health in the extreme conditions, and God's work through her as she finishes up the second half of her field service!

The Mercy Orphanage

 

            Emmanuel Shaw spent six years as a translator, deckhand and cook on the Anastasis, where he met Shola, his future wife, who was working in the dining room. In the late 1990s, the Sierra Leone civil war was finally over, allowing the couple to go to the country on their days off. There they saw many children whose parents had been killed by rebels during the war. “We started to pray about it – my wife and the crew,” said Emmanuel.

            In 2005, the Shaws left the ship and rented a house in Waterloo, where they lived with five orphaned children. “We had nothing but a mattress on the floor. We prayed day and night for three months, seeking God’s direction,” said Emmanuel.

            They began screening in the Waterloo area for homeless orphans. The Minister of Welfare helped them to identify some children in need. When the rent on their house was raised considerably, they decided to move out. With some help from a friend, they purchased 7/10 of an acre of land in Waterloo. Emmanuel spent the next two years building a home for himself and his growing family, which then included eleven children. “The children were sleeping everywhere in the house – in the living room, the kitchen, everywhere,” he recalled.

            When his house was finished, Emmanuel built another two-story house on the property for the children. Each floor has an eating area, a kitchen, a bathroom, and four bedrooms. Two children are assigned to each bedroom. The team of workers that Emmanuel has gathered to help run the orphanage includes his mother, his uncle, a carpenter, and two ladies to clean and cook. He also has several men who work on projects part-time. The entire property is fenced in. However, after thieves broke in and caused some damage, Emmanuel added a security guard.

            There is also a small separate building which houses the main kitchen, where firewood is used to cook at least two meals a day for the children, depending on funding. To augment their food supply, they have sectioned a portion of the property for growing eggplant, okra, cassava, corn, sweet potatoes, papaya and peanuts. They also have two moringa trees, whose leaves can be crushed and ground into a very nutritious powder. Another corner of the property houses the stalls for the pigs, which the children help to tend. “When the baby pigs are sold, the money goes a long way to feed all the children,” said Emmanuel. They currently have sixteen baby pigs. 

            The Shaws live each day with a very strong faith. “Everything we do depends on how God directs us,” said Emmanuel, who is a day-worker on the Africa Mercy during the Sierra Leone field service. The Shaws have been very supportive of Mercy Ships over the years. Emmanuel claims that seeing the crew in action made him decide that he should be doing something himself to help his country. 

            Sahr Dauda is a homeless Mercy Ships patient who was recently released after five months of medical care to straighten his legs. He has joined the Shaws at the Mercy Orphanage, along with Samuel, a boy who was living on the street just outside the gates of the dock where the Africa Mercy is moored. Thanks to the vision of Emmanuel and Shola, these two boys now have a safe and secure home and the opportunity to attend school.

            “I thank the Lord because I had most of the vision (for the orphanage) on the ship,” Emmanuel stated.

Story by Elaine B. Winn

Edited by Nancy Predaina

Photos by Liz Cantu

Video by Beau Chevassus

Tour my new home!

Many people have wondered if I am living on a cruise ship that sails around the world. The quick answer is, "No, I would not call the Africa Mercy a cruise ship." Would you like to see my new home? I know that flying to West Africa for a tour of the ship is a little impractical so I brought the tour to you! If you click on the link below you will find a tour of the ship (anywhere from the rooms, hospital, cafeteria, etc) and also land tours of the projects Mercy Ships has on land! (When in the tour, click on the palm tree icon to link to the land tours)

I hope you enjoy!

360 TOUR OF AFRICA MERCY!!

It's a Monkey World

This story was used in our cultural classes this week.

"A typhoon temporarily stranded a monkey on an island. While feeling secure and waiting for the waters to recede, the monkey spotted a fish struggling against the current. It seemed quite obvious to the monkey that the fish was in need of assistance.

Being kind and compassionate, the monkey resolved to help the fish. A tree dangled precariously over the very spot where the fish was struggling. At considerable risk to himself, the monkey moved far out on the limb, reached down, and snatched the fish from the threatening waters. Immediately scurrying back to the safety of his shelter, he carefully laid the fish on dry ground.

For a few minutes, the fish demonstrated its gratitude for being rescued by vigorously flapping its tail and excitedly wriggling on the ground. After several minutes, the fish settled into a peaceful and contented state of rest. Joy and satisfaction swelled inside the monkey. He had helped another creature and had done it successfully. "

What does this story teach you about the way we need to do missions?

Welcome to the IOC

I have been at the IOC for a little over a week now. You may be wondering what the IOC is and where I am having classes every day. I am devoted this blog to you curious ones :)



The IOC (International Operation Center) is in East Texas on 400 acres of land. The property has many buildings but consists of mainly farm land. In fact, while on a tour of the property, we were assigned to herd in some cattle. It was quite fun, as long as you watched where you were stepping. 

Our group herding cattle (photo compliments of my roomy Jen!)

Welcome to the Family Dorms! The lower level is the housing for all Gateway participants. Behind our dorm is the International Lounge, this is where are classes are held every day. The upper levels are staffing offices.

I am welcomed with a sign and a personal verse. I have 3 roommates and we are all from the US.

Here is our little kitchen in the dorm. We have breakfast in our dorm room and other meals are provided at the Oasis (another building).

The lounge in our dorm is quite comfortable and has a Michigan style fireplace. I don't think we will be needing to use it since the weather is in the 90's (F).

Our lounge. This is where we all gather after a long day of class and sit on our computers or watch movies together.

Yes, Texas has trees! If you can't tell, it is very dry from the drought.

Welcome to the International Lounge. This is where class is held during the week.

Flags from many nations hang above us during class. I now belong to an international environment with at least 40 different nations represented.

As one of our activities this week, we had to describe the worlds view of God. We were given posters to illustrate this. As you can see above, this is the loving Father perception.

Santa Claus was my groups topic. It's amazing how the characteristics of Santa Claus really can corralate with our thoughts of God.

My favorite poster! A lot of people think God is like a Dictator. As you can see from the illustration, God is saying "Obey me or DIE!" as lightning and fireballs are falling from the sky. Yes, people see God is a dictator.

With this exercise, we had to write all of the feelings we've had toward God on sticky notes and place them on this scale. One side is positive and the other is negative. What are some of the feelings you've had toward God?

After sitting in class for 8 hours a day, we are all feeling a little bit sore. Here we have a group message during one of our breaks.