Important Mission Update

Over the past two years you have partnered with me bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor. It is through partners like you that I’ve been able to develop relationships with the hurting and the helpless to share the pure love of our Lord Savior. We have helped Radiatou, Mama Theresa, Tani, Modi, Thierno, and so many more patients and crewmembers. Those lives are forever changed and you are apart of that.

My two-year contract is coming to a close and I’ve had some very large decisions to make. Due to my involvement with my National Honors Society, I’ve been given a large grant to finish my degree. I have a year left in Operations Management. After many discussions with leadership in Mercy Ships I have decided to take a year to finish my education. By finishing my education, I will be able to come back to Mercy Ships and offer even more skills to help this mission succeed. There is a large need for this type of expertise within this organization and it is difficult to find qualified personnel who are willing to volunteer. An operation like Mercy Ships not only has a functioning hospital, but a fully operating village and community. They constantly need to conduct operations away from the ship to help spread the word for surgery and educate locals in a variety of topics.

Upon my return to Mercy Ships, these are the types of operations I will be in involved in. By taking a year to finish my education, I am also allowing myself some time to fundraise for my next two-year commitment length. It has been difficult to stay in service due to a lack of finances coming in and by taking a year to reevaluate and fundraise I am praying I will be able to return to Mercy Ships fully funded. Over the past few months I have been increasingly short of my monthly goal – the last two months I have been short $700 a month. If you would like to give to help cover my last expenses my account through Mercy Ships will be open until August 10, 2013. After this time, Mercy Ships will deactivate my account until closer to my return date.

I will be carrying a very heavy school workload to be able to return to Mercy Ships in a year. While my education costs are covered my basic living expenses are not and I will try to find part time work to fit into my heavy schedule to help fund living stateside for a year.

Also, during this time it is my goal to raise $30,000 for serving another two-year commitment with Mercy Ships. The cost of serving with Mercy Ships has increased do to economical reasons and also I’ve added the cost of shipping my food to Africa. I am so thankful for your support throughout the past years and ask if you would prayerfully consider continuing to partner with me for my life long commitment to serve the Lord.

Sincerely yours,

Nicole Pribbernow

Remembering Radia!

Do you remember Radia – one of my patients from Togo? If not – here are the links to previous blog posts of how this wonderful young girl touched my heart and became a forever friend. 

 Meet Radia

The Best Experience of My Life!

With the help of some donors, last year I was able to pay for Radia’s tailor training. When asked what she wanted to do for a living, she proudly stated she wanted to be a tailor. At 14 (we think, keeping track of age is difficult here), Radiatou had never been to school because of the large tumor that was growing on her face. Since traditional school was out of the picture, we surrounded Radia with the chance of a life time. A skill that will always be needed and could always help provide for her. 

The tailor training is rigid and 3 years long but I’ve been getting regular updates from my day worker Emilie. Radia has been hard at work trying to prove her abilities. Over Christmas, I sent the last installment of the funds for her schooling with a little extra money for some fabric. In return and to thank me, Radia made me two outfits and had them shipped to me in Conakry. 

I was a little nervous when Emilie said they were pink and purple – not traditionally the best colors for a red head! However, when I received the two outfits I was amazed at how well they are made and fit. I’ve lost some weight so they guessed the difference in size. The only thing that needs adjusting is the skirt (it’s being held up with binder clips in the photo below).

Thank you everyone who supported Radia! I can’t thank you enough! Your support goes farther than you could ever imagine!