Lord, where are you?
What do you feel like?
What do you sound like?
Is that you in the cool breeze hitting my face or
Is that You I hear in the rustling of the leaves?
Maybe it’s You I see in the perfect ripples of the water.
Is that You inside of me? That small flame like flickering of hope inside of me…
Today I feel you all around me. I hear Your presence in the trees and loons, I see Your presence in the tiny ripples of water and I’m feeling You inside of me, feeding this flame of hope. This hope I’m trying to control so I don’t get excited for something that might not happen – yet I feel like You keep adding wood and gas to this fire until it explodes inside of me. Is that what You want Lord? For me to give it all to You and allow You to feed this hope into explosion? Ok Lord here it goes – Here it is – Here is my control and I give it all to You.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Evergreen Covenant Church: Guest Speaker: Nicole Pribbernow
On June 19th, I was able to speak for 30 minutes at a wonderful church in Branch, MI. In that time I was able to give my testimony - telling of the miracles of how God is calling me to Africa and also explaining Mercy Ships. If you are interested, the link below has the recording of my presentation.
Evergreen Covenant Church: Guest Speaker: Nicole Pribbernow
Evergreen Covenant Church: Guest Speaker: Nicole Pribbernow
Monday, July 11, 2011
Baby Barbara Receives Life
Babies born with deformities in West Africa start life as victims of the West African superstition that abnormalities are signs of a curse. When Barbara was born with a cleft lip that extended up into her nasal cavity, her father pronounced that she was a “demon child.” He ordered his wife to take the tiny infant into the bush and leave her for dead.
Barbara’s brave mother, Aminata, refused to abandon her child. As a result, she was thrown out of her house and moved in with her sister. Without a way to support her family, Aminata was forced to separate her four other children and send them to the homes of other relatives.
By the time she was eight months old, Barbara’s weight was drastically low because her cleft lip prevented her from getting the nutrition she so desperately needed. In fact she weighed less than 4 kilograms (8.4 pounds), less than half of what a thriving baby her age should weigh. To make matters worse, she had contracted tuberculosis and was placed on a TB program at a local hospital. Of course, the lack of financial support since the abandonment by the baby’s father was another serious obstacle.
Broken and devastated, Aminata had reached her darkest, lowest point. Then God stepped in and brought a ray of light. One day Aminata met a woman who said that Barbara was not a “demon child.” She also said that Mercy Ships would arrive in Sierra Leone in just a few weeks. Volunteer surgeons onboard the Africa Mercy could fix the baby’s lip – for free! Desperately clinging to this fragment of hope, Aminata took Barbara to a Mercy Ships medical screening.
Aminata was delighted when Barbara was accepted for cleft surgery onboard the Africa Mercy. However, because the baby was below the acceptable weight for surgery, she was placed on the Infant Feeding Program. This program provided proper nutrition for the infant and instructed Aminata in a better feeding method. Barbara’s weight gain was monitored each week.
The baby girl gained weight the first week she was on the program, but lost weight during the second week. She developed a fever, and she struggled to breathe or keep her formula down. The nurses gave her nasal drops to open her nasal passages, allowing her to breathe more easily. The third week she regained some, but not all, of the lost weight.
It was beginning to look like Barbara was not going to be able to have her surgery. The doctors suspected she might have a cardiac problem, too, which would interfere with plans for cleft surgery. Those working with the program began praying regularly for Barbara, and slowly she began to gain the required weight. At the end of three months, despite all her problems, Barbara was cleared for surgery.
The volunteer surgeons repaired the baby’s cleft lip and palate, as well as the centerline of her nose. Because of her delicate condition, they returned her to intensive care where nurses guarded her recovery. Nurse Jessica King, who supervised Barbara’s case for the Infant Feeding Program, said, “Barbara is a miracle baby. She had a rough time in the ICU, but she made it. She’ll bring her mom a lot of joy.”
Aminata’s love and sacrificial care for Barbara has been rewarded. Her tiny daughter may be fragile, but she has a strong will to survive. She will bless her family with a future of beautiful smiles.
“I’m feeling fine now,” said Aminata, as a tear of joy ran down her cheek. “I’m thanking God for what He has done for me.”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Tom Bradley, David Peterson and Liz Cantu
Barbara’s brave mother, Aminata, refused to abandon her child. As a result, she was thrown out of her house and moved in with her sister. Without a way to support her family, Aminata was forced to separate her four other children and send them to the homes of other relatives.
By the time she was eight months old, Barbara’s weight was drastically low because her cleft lip prevented her from getting the nutrition she so desperately needed. In fact she weighed less than 4 kilograms (8.4 pounds), less than half of what a thriving baby her age should weigh. To make matters worse, she had contracted tuberculosis and was placed on a TB program at a local hospital. Of course, the lack of financial support since the abandonment by the baby’s father was another serious obstacle.
Broken and devastated, Aminata had reached her darkest, lowest point. Then God stepped in and brought a ray of light. One day Aminata met a woman who said that Barbara was not a “demon child.” She also said that Mercy Ships would arrive in Sierra Leone in just a few weeks. Volunteer surgeons onboard the Africa Mercy could fix the baby’s lip – for free! Desperately clinging to this fragment of hope, Aminata took Barbara to a Mercy Ships medical screening.
Aminata was delighted when Barbara was accepted for cleft surgery onboard the Africa Mercy. However, because the baby was below the acceptable weight for surgery, she was placed on the Infant Feeding Program. This program provided proper nutrition for the infant and instructed Aminata in a better feeding method. Barbara’s weight gain was monitored each week.
The baby girl gained weight the first week she was on the program, but lost weight during the second week. She developed a fever, and she struggled to breathe or keep her formula down. The nurses gave her nasal drops to open her nasal passages, allowing her to breathe more easily. The third week she regained some, but not all, of the lost weight.
It was beginning to look like Barbara was not going to be able to have her surgery. The doctors suspected she might have a cardiac problem, too, which would interfere with plans for cleft surgery. Those working with the program began praying regularly for Barbara, and slowly she began to gain the required weight. At the end of three months, despite all her problems, Barbara was cleared for surgery.
The volunteer surgeons repaired the baby’s cleft lip and palate, as well as the centerline of her nose. Because of her delicate condition, they returned her to intensive care where nurses guarded her recovery. Nurse Jessica King, who supervised Barbara’s case for the Infant Feeding Program, said, “Barbara is a miracle baby. She had a rough time in the ICU, but she made it. She’ll bring her mom a lot of joy.”
Aminata’s love and sacrificial care for Barbara has been rewarded. Her tiny daughter may be fragile, but she has a strong will to survive. She will bless her family with a future of beautiful smiles.
“I’m feeling fine now,” said Aminata, as a tear of joy ran down her cheek. “I’m thanking God for what He has done for me.”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Tom Bradley, David Peterson and Liz Cantu
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Emmanuel Konteh
Five-year-old Emmanuel loves football (soccer), Ninja turtles, playing games with his buddies and all the other things little boys like to do. He is also a member of the children’s choir at his church. “He’s a boy who likes to sing,” said his father, Daniel, with obvious pride.
Three years ago, Emmanuel’s face suddenly swelled. He was taken to Children’s Hospital, but after three weeks they still had no idea what his problem was. The doctor prescribed several kinds of medicine, but Daniel had no money to pay for them.
One day, Daniel heard that Mercy Ships was on its way to Sierra Leone. He decided to do everything he could to take his son to the medical screening. When they arrived, they sat on a bench in front of the containers on the dock, waiting patiently for Emmanuel’s turn to be screened. The little boy’s beautiful face was marred by the growth on his left cheek that extended down to his neck. But when he smiled, his dimpled cheeks glowed and his big brown eyes sparkled.
Their patience was rewarded when Emmanuel received the coveted appointment card for a surgery.
When the anxiously awaited day arrived, Emmanuel was admitted to the onboard hospital. Even though he was scared, he was very brave as he was wheeled into the operating room. His father was also nervous. He waited in tears outside the operating room’s door, with a nurse holding his hand. “I have never experienced anything like that,” he confessed. “I prayed all night. I thought my son would never come out of the surgery.”
But Emmanuel did come out – with a bandage on his head and a smile on his face. Daniel heaved a sign of relief.
Both father and son were delighted with the results of the surgery. “There will be no more taunting now,” Daniel said. Emmanuel’s friends would no longer be able to laugh at him because of the growth. The little boy could start school with all the confidence a five-year-old should have.
In a few days, the dressing was removed and replaced by thin adhesive strips. “I’m glad they took off the bandage,” said Emmanuel. But he wanted to stay on the ship because he was enjoying all the attention from the nurses.
But when Emmanuel was discharged, he left with a brilliant smile. “I thank God to have the operation,” said Emmanuel with an impish grin. “Now, I can play ball!”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Liz Cantu and Tom Bradley
Three years ago, Emmanuel’s face suddenly swelled. He was taken to Children’s Hospital, but after three weeks they still had no idea what his problem was. The doctor prescribed several kinds of medicine, but Daniel had no money to pay for them.
One day, Daniel heard that Mercy Ships was on its way to Sierra Leone. He decided to do everything he could to take his son to the medical screening. When they arrived, they sat on a bench in front of the containers on the dock, waiting patiently for Emmanuel’s turn to be screened. The little boy’s beautiful face was marred by the growth on his left cheek that extended down to his neck. But when he smiled, his dimpled cheeks glowed and his big brown eyes sparkled.
Their patience was rewarded when Emmanuel received the coveted appointment card for a surgery.
When the anxiously awaited day arrived, Emmanuel was admitted to the onboard hospital. Even though he was scared, he was very brave as he was wheeled into the operating room. His father was also nervous. He waited in tears outside the operating room’s door, with a nurse holding his hand. “I have never experienced anything like that,” he confessed. “I prayed all night. I thought my son would never come out of the surgery.”
But Emmanuel did come out – with a bandage on his head and a smile on his face. Daniel heaved a sign of relief.
Both father and son were delighted with the results of the surgery. “There will be no more taunting now,” Daniel said. Emmanuel’s friends would no longer be able to laugh at him because of the growth. The little boy could start school with all the confidence a five-year-old should have.
In a few days, the dressing was removed and replaced by thin adhesive strips. “I’m glad they took off the bandage,” said Emmanuel. But he wanted to stay on the ship because he was enjoying all the attention from the nurses.
But when Emmanuel was discharged, he left with a brilliant smile. “I thank God to have the operation,” said Emmanuel with an impish grin. “Now, I can play ball!”
Story by Elaine B. Winn
Edited by Nancy Predaina
Photos by Liz Cantu and Tom Bradley
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