tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79943367451882578092024-03-05T00:51:44.700-05:00Kaleo: A Mighty CallingKaleo (kuh-lay-o) is the Greek word meaning calling. It is used in the Bible when referring to God's calling in our life. This blog is going to be the written account of God's calling in my life to serve in Africa.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-25694538797694734432013-05-15T06:19:00.003-04:002013-05-15T06:19:48.343-04:00Important Mission Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans";">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans";">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans";">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans";">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. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans";">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.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans";">Sincerely
yours,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Gill Sans";">Nicole
Pribbernow</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-58598014255489617142013-05-10T03:58:00.001-04:002013-05-10T03:58:36.241-04:00Remembering Radia!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://mightykaleo.blogspot.com/2012/02/meet-radia.html" target="_blank">Meet Radia</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://mightykaleo.blogspot.com/2012/03/best-experience-of-my-life-thus-far.html" target="_blank">The Best Experience of My Life!</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqq6IW1StX1nFmowUtNh-lWzdGRFjJlNJ-TxNj-djD2ITMJnw2x1x44gO3IsnQmSV8LYx5I4qQRtVYGsD9ncj08VXcP0UzU04iQBGRkjm7-UE9mc1-dJR_2wKluv8dAtNZeD3AdpXQgQg/s1600/179102_10151398901311560_1220570431_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqq6IW1StX1nFmowUtNh-lWzdGRFjJlNJ-TxNj-djD2ITMJnw2x1x44gO3IsnQmSV8LYx5I4qQRtVYGsD9ncj08VXcP0UzU04iQBGRkjm7-UE9mc1-dJR_2wKluv8dAtNZeD3AdpXQgQg/s320/179102_10151398901311560_1220570431_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v_kqhbd9T7v-6Zq-IwLuDvE_l7J1NVRGd05STSTG-J_K39A1xGXIdaScdZa-mFV7ySzU5bocFPBUblxiicgs3MCPldek066s3sw4t3Cn-1DL9vRYxjiXlU6SECp71c2OnM6EUuw5GgCL/s1600/image(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v_kqhbd9T7v-6Zq-IwLuDvE_l7J1NVRGd05STSTG-J_K39A1xGXIdaScdZa-mFV7ySzU5bocFPBUblxiicgs3MCPldek066s3sw4t3Cn-1DL9vRYxjiXlU6SECp71c2OnM6EUuw5GgCL/s400/image(1).jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you everyone who supported Radia! I can’t thank you
enough! Your support goes farther than you could ever imagine!</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-50064924418634211692013-04-16T05:13:00.000-04:002013-04-16T05:13:05.911-04:00Please Pray for us<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For the past 9 months, my AFM colleagues and I have been
pushing the boundaries of healthy workloads giving 200% to everything we do to
serve the people of Guinea. We’ve woken up early day in and day out – we’ve
work past the sun setting many nights – we’ve set aside personal time to then
go to other ministries on the weekend and in the evenings. For 9 months we’ve
been running an incredible race that can only have happened with God’s strength
and stamina. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, with a month left, the weary and tired crew are still
running strong; pushing through the barrier of exhaustion to reach every single
person we are intended to help. It’s difficult, it’s exhausting, and it takes
grace, strength and perseverance. Lord, You are our strong tower and all that
we need.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Please pray with me today for the crew who have worked their
absolute hardest and have accomplished so much here in Guinea. Lord, please
wipe away the weariness, take away the burden, build us up with Your strength,
cover us with Your peace and fill us with Your grace. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-13399298282475141442013-03-25T17:21:00.001-04:002013-03-25T17:21:11.442-04:00He was there...and He Understood<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Have you ever taken a moment to truly consider how great our God is - and who He truly is - and what He does for us every second of every moment of our lives?<br /><br />This past week was a disaster for me. I was down and out with a major flu virus. On top of that I had a tooth abscess the day I got sick. I found myself in my room, unable to move without being sick and tooth pain like you wouldn't believe for several days. I had a lot of time to think. My mind wandered into my past. So many painful moments that don't even compare to the pain of an abscessed tooth. The Dentist asked me today how the weekend was (I had my tooth pulled on Friday) and I simply said, "good." Yes, my mouth hurt and yes I was still wavering from my week long sickness but as I pondered my life I simply am able to say, it wasn't so bad. <br /><br />As I thought about my past broken bones, surgeries, car accidents, kidney stones, and more physical pains (not to include the emotional pains) all I could think about is how lucky I am have a God who is all knowing. To have a God who is all seeing means that every single moment He knows and understands what I am going through. I was giving someone of my testimony the other week and the person said, "wow, you've had a rough life." I simple shake my head because I have the all encompassing reassurance that my God has never left my side through it all. Many of those moments were hard in the moment and hinds sight is always 20/20 but last week in the midst of a really rough week I found myself truly resting in the strong tower of my Savior. I reached that point of giving it all up to Him - the master of the universe - and just resting in Him.<br /><br />Yesterday was Palm Sunday. I sat in Church as we praised our Hosanna. As I walked to my room thinking about Easter it hit my like a ton of bricks. I have a Abba God who knows and understands everything I've been through and who has never left my side no matter the murky waters I've traversed. <br /><br />I have had a rough past but that is nothing compared to what my Savior experienced on the day He was welcomed into the city as the people welcomed their Hosanna. I can't imagine walking through the crowd knowing what was to come. Knowing that a few days later these same people would be yelling, "Crucify Him!" <br /><br />I have never been beaten like He has, I never been betrayed like He has, I have never been crucified but He has. I can say that I daily pick up my cross but now, in retrospect I feel like saying "How dare I say such a thing?" Who am I to say that I've walked the path he was made to walk. A path he was made to walk to save ME from MY sin. <br /><br />I can now safely say my pain in nothing in comparison. I can now say that I was never alone in my moments of pain, <span style="font-size: large;"><i><u><b>He was there...and He understood.</b></u></i></span><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-78798418139814155952013-02-14T04:28:00.001-05:002013-02-14T04:33:39.759-05:00CBS 60 Minutes and Mercy Ships!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="" class="spotlight" height="145" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/529431_10151349201594900_6026501_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
The time has come! If you remember last May we hosted 60 minutes film crew, producers, and Scott Pelly on the ship.<br />
<br />
They filmed over 1800 minutes and had to dwindle it down to only 12 minutes that will be airing.<br />
<br />
However, you never know who you will see in the background! Since I helped host this team, keep an eye out for me!<br />
<br />
Also keep an eye out for a land rover driving in a scenic and wooded area - that's me! We had to take that shoot several times but in the end it will all be worth it.<br />
<br />
February 17th, the hour-long program begins at 7 pm Eastern & Pacific Time and 6 pm Central Time on your local CBS Station <br />
<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-46331286041309832412012-12-13T05:41:00.003-05:002012-12-13T05:41:41.537-05:00Advent: Joy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Joy: a simple word for a complex emotion. What is joy? We
know that joy is an emotion that we feel but is there a difference between joy
and happiness? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The word happiness comes from the root word, happen/hap. “Hap”
means chance or fate. Happiness is merely what comes to a person by chance or
in reflection to something that happened. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Joy, however, is a source of true delight. It lies under all
emotions no matter what happens to a person. Joy comes from one source and one
source only: our Heavenly Father. This world is corrupted but His love and His
joy is pure and untainted. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second week of Advent is focused on Joy. We talk about
the joyful season of Christmas and we sing our songs. Let’s pause to take a
look at the lyrics for this week’s carol. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Joy to the world, the
Lord is come!</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Let earth receive her
King;</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u>Let every heart
prepare Him room,</u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And Heaven and nature
sing,</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And Heaven and nature
sing,</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And Heaven, and
Heaven, and nature sing.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our joy is arriving because the Lord is coming. While we
focus this holiday on the little baby that is born, our joy and hope are so
much bigger than this one moment in history. Yes, a baby is born but where our real
joy lies is in who that baby was and what He did. He is our Savior, His coming
has been foretold for ages throughout the Old Testament, and the moment of His
arrival has finally come. Take a moment to reflect the emotion from going to
hopeless to filled with pure untainted joy because your Savior has arrived. </div>
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<br /></div>
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No more let sins and
sorrows grow,</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Nor thorns infest the
ground;</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He comes to make His
blessings flow</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Far as the curse is
found,</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Far as the curse is
found,</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Far as, far as, the
curse is found.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This song is about eternity, and what it will be like now
that Jesus had been born. It is genuinely the essence of joy: try to imagine a
world without sin. It is difficult to conceive but that is what Jesus’ coming
promised. Have you prepared room in your heart for Him? Have you allowed His
joy to fully and completely overtake your soul? He has come to make His
blessings flow and no matter what this corrupt world brings, we have an underlying
joy that can’t be tainted. No one can take that away from us. That is something
to rejoice about! No matter where you are right now, Jesus meets you there and
lifts you up with His truth, grace, and His unblemished joy. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-22268218585522479882012-12-05T05:45:00.001-05:002012-12-05T05:45:37.351-05:00Advent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<![endif]-->Recently I was asked by someone what the advent season was –
and to be honest, I didn’t quite know how to respond to her. I know that I love
it and I know that it is in preparation for Christmas.
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is Advent? Advent is a season of expectation and
preparation. The Lord is coming and we are yearning for his arrival that will
change the world. The term literally means “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">coming</i>”
and was used in the preparation for the coming of a great person or a king.
Advent gives us a month to fully prepare our hearts and our minds for the
coming of our saving King. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The first advent’s focus is on hope. A couple weeks ago I
touched on the epidemic that is sweeping across the world: the epidemic of
hopelessness. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hopelessness is a condition that eats away at the soul of
man and rips him apart from the God who sent His son to save him. For
hopelessness is the loss of future, the loss of present, and the collapse to self-centered
torment. Many put on the mask of survival only to have the undercurrent of hopelessness
eroding who they are and who they were meant to be in Christ. </div>
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<br /></div>
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There is hope. Advent is the season of hope. Our savior is
coming. The cure for this epidemic is simple because it only takes a flicker of
hope to set the contagious flames afire in our souls. The flames that will heal
the damage of the dark hopelessness. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hopeless people are everywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if
the person sitting next to you on Sunday morning was infected. It’s the weight
of the fallen world and Satan’s tool of separation. This isn’t a new thing.
Hopelessness has been around forever. Before the arrival of Jesus, the chosen people
cried out for that hope, that saving Grace called Emmanuel. We sing the song
every year – have you ever focused on the lyrics?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel that
mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Wow, the power of these words shakes me to the core. I can
image the people of Israel, on their knees begging for help. They cry out to
their God who they have faith is there but they are captive. Imagine the
hopelessness of being captive and exiled and having the loss of present and
future. Israel is begging God to pay their ransom, to free them because they
mourn deeply in being exiled. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Their only hope is the Son of God’s birth. Their only hope
is a prophecy of the coming King. So with hope they rejoice knowing that one
day, Emmanuel will come and will save them but when that will be no one knew. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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God heard their cry, He knew their pain and He listened. Even
though He knew the fate of His son would be torment and death, He was willing
to sacrifice Jesus, to pay that ransom and to save His people…to save me. This
is the season of hope. For God paid it all and the flicker of hope is ignited
in the birth of his Son, Jesus. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Today, if you find yourself in a hopeless situation know
that this advent marks the coming of the King. We have hope in Christ and he is
coming! Rejoice! Hope is coming!</div>
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<br /></div>
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This month, I pray that everyone can help spread hope to all
who suffer from this epidemic. For there is hope and it can be freely given to
all who need it, reach out and help bring life back to the world’s hopeless and
helpless. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O come, O come, Emmanuel,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And ransom captive Israel,</div>
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That mourns in lonely exile here</div>
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Until the Son of God appear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rejoice! Rejoice!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Emmanuel shall come to
thee, O Israel.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-83583279370023485972012-10-28T12:53:00.000-04:002012-10-28T12:53:27.805-04:00Update: Little boy with damaged legs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello everyone!<br />
<br />
I just want to give you a quick update on the little boy I blogged about not too long ago. I asked for prayer and I just want to show you a picture this says a thousand words in regards to how he is doing :) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-AmhNRCRiLWDAWl4qcRx77Pz8r_7cVWm0cvmZzfdmynLExXu35HrA3VK-IedXuSbhPXyzUz-Z9xLwM-LzzGLTraqcgJhJIwuWwl200wuANs4Udkh-x8vY48JTtKMGYKsB_vuuYue8LpF/s1600/GNC121015_PATS_ON_DECK_7_MM0007_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-AmhNRCRiLWDAWl4qcRx77Pz8r_7cVWm0cvmZzfdmynLExXu35HrA3VK-IedXuSbhPXyzUz-Z9xLwM-LzzGLTraqcgJhJIwuWwl200wuANs4Udkh-x8vY48JTtKMGYKsB_vuuYue8LpF/s640/GNC121015_PATS_ON_DECK_7_MM0007_LO.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-38681710660814998182012-10-20T10:23:00.001-04:002012-10-20T10:23:54.018-04:00Epidemic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
It creeps in from the darkness of night and over takes the senses. This epidemic is not only found to be an extreme problem here in Conakry, Guinea but it also has spread throughout every major city and community across the globe. It is a serious condition. Eating away at the souls of mankind, hopelessness is spreading throughout the world as people drift further and further away from their purpose in life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
Two days ago, I found myself sitting at Mercy Ships HOPE center. It is an off ship outpatient center where patient live while they are waiting for complete healing from their surgery. I was sitting across from a woman who had a large mandibular tumor (tumor surrounding her lower jaw). Her being at the HOPE center before surgery meant that she was from up country and waiting for her surgery. We met eyes and I saw the epidemic thoroughly infecting her entire being. She quickly looked down and I could feel the pain rolling off of her – the pain from a long history of people staring at her and rejecting her. I walked over to her, looking her straight in the eyes and asked what her name was – Ramatoulay she said quietly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lRiv8PRifE6r_w6_tmpYVyDrxpuRv-jXX3wk67c2cSt_kV1LskAGyurSvU5rohL_KSPcFrvtNTVTlSTRt5uFVgtgKrdlExO3l73eqXcX4eHtrr3HgksEuGUEK-JGlKl_RM7I59kGSvVV/s1600/GNC120903_SCREENING_DB0144_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lRiv8PRifE6r_w6_tmpYVyDrxpuRv-jXX3wk67c2cSt_kV1LskAGyurSvU5rohL_KSPcFrvtNTVTlSTRt5uFVgtgKrdlExO3l73eqXcX4eHtrr3HgksEuGUEK-JGlKl_RM7I59kGSvVV/s400/GNC120903_SCREENING_DB0144_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Ramatoulay - She is so beautiful and I am hoping she will be a patient I can become close to!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
I brought my translator over and sat down next to her trying to start a conversation. Slowly, her story started to unfold in front of me and the raw emotion of her hopelessness started to break through the strong exterior. She was married at 14 and even though she only looked like a child herself she had already been pregnant four times. Two of her children had passed away and the other two were 12 and 3 years old. Pure raw hopelessness filled her words. Her husband left her because of the tumor that started to grow on her face ten years ago and now she lives alone with her two children. I asked her if her oldest daughter would be getting married soon since she was married at fourteen. Her response was a filled with love for her daughter. Ramatoulay made sure her daughter was getting an education. An education meant that she could choose who she married but Ramatoulay didn’t have an education so she was married off quickly as a child. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I asked Ramatouly where she was from and if a caregiver came with her – “I’m from far away, no one visits me, and no one talks to me.” Her hopelessness breaks my heart and I can’t imagine the strength she must have to go through this alone. I place my hand on her shoulder and simple ask, “May I visit you in the hospital?” She laughed and looked down in an automatic response but then she looked back up and looked deep into my eyes. Was I serious? Would I really care about her? It was in this simple moment that hope started to blossom inside of her. This simple action created a new spring of life from within her <u>because</u> this simple action was fed from God’s love for Ramatoulay. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sRWSLKpRl0EXKkhBexcDLRZshmsZHmHJNO9hz5JuGm0bkHT0U6BRXkszfSEXwfqCTN3_FZlE1lERAoEzrFIhy_y6EKxhUHudR3tpzPIeBioFx49YQRh5rx5M-5QuY0YxKvOA-_m_K3gK/s1600/GNC120903_SCREENING_DAY_MM0388_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sRWSLKpRl0EXKkhBexcDLRZshmsZHmHJNO9hz5JuGm0bkHT0U6BRXkszfSEXwfqCTN3_FZlE1lERAoEzrFIhy_y6EKxhUHudR3tpzPIeBioFx49YQRh5rx5M-5QuY0YxKvOA-_m_K3gK/s400/GNC120903_SCREENING_DAY_MM0388_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing hopelessness means to look at a person through God's eyes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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We are the conduits of God’s love for the hurting and hopeless. I am here being the conduit for the people of Guinea but there are hopeless people in every town in the world. It could be your neighbor, the guy sitting next to you in church, or the elderly in the nursing homes. God calls us to reach out our hands, touch someone on the shoulder and ask, “Can I visit you?” When I first came here, I was worried with about difficult it would be to break through these barriers of hopelessness. After living here for a year I can now tell you that it is easier than you would ever imagine and all it takes is to be the person to talk first. After that, God will guide you because we <u>are</u> His conduits and His love <u>WILL</u> pour out of us and into the hurting and the hopeless people of the world. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
So I give you a mission - try it – try reaching out to just one person and see how it goes. I am here to tell you, God’s love flowing through you leaves traces behind and you will feel His presence like you have never felt before. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-22073297621732715372012-10-01T08:32:00.002-04:002012-10-01T08:51:36.013-04:00Life's Perspective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walking through life, we often find ourselves focusing on the negative aspects of every day. We can become so overwhelmed with things we can’t have, achievements we can’t reach, and struggles that seem to plague our days, months, and years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not excluding myself because often I can find myself thinking along the same lines. Just yesterday, I longed for a bath – a real honest to goodness bath. The 2 minute showers are wearing me down and my poor thick hair just can’t seem to be cleaned in this amount of time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But then I meet someone like this: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine living your young life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">all alone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">under a bridge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think to myself, how could I possibly survive living under a bridge? (Even on the ship, I have all of my needs met – 2 minutes shower and all)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine the only way your parents will talk to you is if you get enough money from begging. (Wow, my parents always wish I called more than I do and I have a family who loves me and wants to see me more…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you think this is a hard enough struggle?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine doing all this not having the ability to walk because your legs have been dramatically distorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazZcipNm_8MycogB5SsFeTyenvCqUrSWZxR6AmAqMZTDeTfVTafKXyTi0sE6kFNUo8eJu7w9FxuI9cvbJ0qThYPf1aHZGYrogqvGyUGCXH-o_JNcM8AYEJs0USnI_x1FvxpJZj1SDoxxc/s1600/GNC120919_WARDS_MM0008_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazZcipNm_8MycogB5SsFeTyenvCqUrSWZxR6AmAqMZTDeTfVTafKXyTi0sE6kFNUo8eJu7w9FxuI9cvbJ0qThYPf1aHZGYrogqvGyUGCXH-o_JNcM8AYEJs0USnI_x1FvxpJZj1SDoxxc/s400/GNC120919_WARDS_MM0008_LO.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meeting little guys like this really put my life in perspective. I can complain about so much, but there is this little boy who has suffered more than I can imagine and he can be seen smiling and laughing with more spirit than I can muster on a good day. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please pray for this little man as he is having surgery today! </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-88620195369070859812012-09-29T07:59:00.000-04:002012-09-29T07:59:19.720-04:00A little dose of Sunshine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone needs a little bit of sunshine in their life. While I was home this summer, I purchased a solar flower to put in my window at work. It’s very simple – when it is sunny, the leaves and flower move back and forth. When you see this flower moving you can’t help but smile and wonder about the little thing dancing in the sun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On numerous occasions, people who walk in my office notice the dancing flower and ask where I got it from. As they stare at it, they can’t help but smile and it brings a little bit of joy to everyone who sees it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju16kYiOK6CFuEdoUsr2lOEDctHWpm5pb2xFbz0T2hZo08YHC90ezVk91BkI334eYfKXZqzwLssBWTae5B3FM7_gQtuyBgh7BzOxgjW-w6COs-Yx9JkBEIZNkKfphw6MVSORlsZ4hoEJiP/s1600/painting.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju16kYiOK6CFuEdoUsr2lOEDctHWpm5pb2xFbz0T2hZo08YHC90ezVk91BkI334eYfKXZqzwLssBWTae5B3FM7_gQtuyBgh7BzOxgjW-w6COs-Yx9JkBEIZNkKfphw6MVSORlsZ4hoEJiP/s320/painting.BMP" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other day, a man was hanging outside my window painting the ship. He is a day worker who lives here in Guinea and comes to the ship to help us maintain the ship. As I looked at him sitting on a plank of wood outside my window, I noticed he was smiling. I followed his gaze and he was staring at the little moving flower. I waved at him, but he was so focused on this little flower he didn’t notice me waving at him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was such a bright moment of my day realizing that this flower was spreading joy even off the ship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-64211870007600239682012-09-20T07:58:00.001-04:002012-09-20T07:58:40.157-04:00Precious Purple Balloon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday I was privileged to witness one of the most joyful things I have seen in a long time. I was walking down the gangway. A four year old boy, dressed in a hospital gown and underoos, waddles down in front of me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He refused to grab the railing because the most important thing to him is the balloon he is carrying. It took him a while, but he finally made it to the dock. He lifted his balloon up triumphantly, his face showing only victory and joy. It was in that moment, the wind blew and he lost his grip on the precious gift. It took him a second to realize the tragedy of the situation but he soon when running after his prized possession: the purple balloon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While all of this was going on – one of our local Guinean guards was watching this boy very carefully. He was enjoying seeing the boy so happy with his balloon. The guard saw the balloon take flight and immediately ran to catch the balloon for the boy. He quickly passed the 4 year old and charged after this boy’s happiness as it floated away. The boy just stopped and stared at this man sprinting after the balloon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By the time the guard reached the balloon it was at the fence and blowing towards the barbed wire. As the purple balloon intertwined with the barbed wire the guard plunged both hands into the wire trying to protect the balloon from popping. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a success! He freed the balloon and ran back and gave it to the boy who was now cheering on his champion for saving his precious purple balloon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was something so simple. It was something so precious. It was definitely something that has made me smile for days and that makes me appreciate our guards even more. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-36138034648675934242012-08-27T17:40:00.002-04:002012-08-27T17:40:33.272-04:00a tribe to pray for......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The other night we were all
given a tribe of Guinea to pray for. There are many of them throughout this
country. Here is a little information about my tribe that was recorded by the
Joshua Project. </div>
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Tribe: Badyara, Badyaranke</div>
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Population: 9,400</div>
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Main Language: Badyara</div>
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Main Religion:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Islam</div>
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Bible: NONE</div>
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Christ-Followers: around 1%</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Badyara people live in the
Koundara Region. They also live in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. They earn extra
money by extracting Honey from beehives and also by producing excellent cotton
cloth. Most primarily earn their living as subsistence farmers. Most villages
consist of only 100 to 500 people. They are very proud of their unique
historical and cultural roots.<br />
<br />
They people fled to Senegal from Guinea approximately 110 years ago due to war
in their regions.<br />
<br />
They still practice female circumcision. Boys are circumcised at 8 years old
and are then taken away from the village for about one month, during which time
they are taught the ways of the people. This event is followed by a public
washing and a huge celebration involving the whole village. This is the only
time that the men dance.<br />
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They speak a language called Badyara and are part of the Atlantic people
cluster. The Biafada language is somewhat similar to their language.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10550&rog3=GV">http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10550&rog3=GV</a></div>
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Approximately 1% of the population of the Badyara,
Baryaranke of Guinea are Christians. That means, out of 9,400 people from this
tribe only 94 are Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine
the struggle of the 94. Can you hear their cries to God for help to come? Can
you hear their plea for revival, to no longer live in persecution?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they feel alone and cut off but the
reality is they are not alone. They are a part of this family – our family…your
family. </div>
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Will you join with me to lift these 94 up to our Father in
fervent prayer? </div>
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Will you join me in lifting up the 9,306 who do not know the
saving grace of our Father?</div>
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We live in a land where our streets are filled with fellow
brothers and sisters in Christ – imagine yourself being one of the 94. </div>
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Lord, today I lift up the 94 to you. Today I make a stand
for them, a stand on my knees as I lift them to you in prayer. Wrap them in
your peace and hope – let them know they are not alone – others know about them
and others are praying for them. </div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Psalm 107</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good; <br />
his love endures forever. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Let the redeemed of the
Lord say this— <br />
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> those he gathered from the
lands, <br />
from east and west, from north and south. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Some wandered in desert
wastelands, <br />
finding no way to a city where they could settle. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> They were hungry and
thirsty, <br />
and their lives ebbed away. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Then they cried out to the
Lord in their trouble, <br />
and he delivered them from their distress. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He led them by a straight
way <br />
to a city where they could settle. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Let them give thanks to
the Lord for his unfailing love <br />
and his wonderful deeds for men, </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> for he satisfies the
thirsty <br />
and fills the hungry with good things. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Some sat in darkness and
the deepest gloom, <br />
prisoners suffering in iron chains, </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> for they had rebelled
against the words of God <br />
and despised the counsel of the Most High. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> So he subjected them to
bitter labor; <br />
they stumbled, and there was no one to help. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Then they cried to the
Lord in their trouble, <br />
and he saved them from their distress. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> He brought them out of
darkness and the deepest gloom <br />
and broke away their chains. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Let them give thanks to
the Lord for his unfailing love <br />
and his wonderful deeds for men, </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> for he breaks down gates
of bronze <br />
and cuts through bars of iron. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-70056334633636267152012-08-03T10:42:00.003-04:002012-08-03T10:42:33.063-04:00FINALLY: AN UPDATE!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As we slowly descend from the sky the island starts to come into view with its bright lights carving their way through the coastline. The streets that wind their way up the mountain sides look like lava flowing from the volcanic center and I think to myself how crazy it is for me to be here. The small volcanic island with its dramatic coastline is where the ship is currently docked receiving maintenance (Tenerife, Canary Islands – Spain). The view outside my window is breathtaking and I praise God for giving me this last little reprieve before heading back to West Africa. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In less than 2 weeks we will be setting sail for the coast of West Africa – onwards to Conakry, Guinea! From the moment our lines secure us on the docks – we will all be running into action. In fact – we aren’t waiting for that point. Next week (after a mandatory day at the zoo due to a technical test on the ship) starts a string of meetings and planning sessions. Our screening day is not far away and the month of September is jam packed with patients arriving, events, and media team visits. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My time home was relaxing, healing, and busy all at the same time. I am so thankful I was able to come home and get my health back in order and start organizing the food shipping schedule for my parents. Talk about a blessing – my parents are gathering food for me and will have to ship it to me every month. Due to gluten allergy, I found it very difficult to stay healthy on the ship over the past 10 months. Now, I am blessed to have parents who are stepping in the gap to help me out. It’s a fine line between having enough food to last me a month and having space to store it (please pray I am allowed a 3-berth that has an amazing amount of storage). This is why my parents are dehydrating my meals. It is a tedious task that requires a lot of work on their part and in turn, it makes life a lot easier and healthier for me. The fact is, it is what keeps me here in West Africa serving our Lord and the people who desperately need our help. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you would like to help my parents there are several ways you can do this. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>There is an amazon wish list that is filled with items they need on a regular basis to provide me with full meals. As things come available, you can purchase online and have it shipped to my parent’s house or you can purchase it in the store (especially if it is cheaper) and give it to my parents. (MORE INFORMATION CAN BE SENT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>As things start to get organized a little better, my mom can set up “food assembly days” that could allow people to help her package 30 breakfasts, 30 lunches, 30 dinners, and 60 snacks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span>Support my Mom as she works tirelessly on trying to make yummy meals out of very little. She is a genius in the kitchen and I appreciate her. She can always use meal suggestion ideas for dehydrated meals! Feel free to contact her with ideas, praise, and encouragement in this regard!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I do apologize for not updating my blog in so long! Now that I am back in the field, I will get back on a regular schedule of stories from West Africa. I appreciate all of the encouraging words you have shared with me – it is so nice to hear that people are reading and enjoy this blog!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Do you have questions? Would you like me to write about specific things Mercy Ships is doing in West Africa? Do you want more pictures? Please feel free to contact me!! I am open to suggestions and really want this blog to be used as an informative tool connecting you with this mission in West Africa!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-33594412443262727422012-05-25T06:58:00.001-04:002012-05-25T06:58:54.038-04:00CBS 60 Minutes On the Africa Mercy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Time is winding down here in Togo, West Africa (Only 2 weeks
of surgery left and I leave in 2 weeks!) and I find myself so busy with last
minute projects that I quickly forget about my blog! The past few weeks have
been filled with patients, vision trips, and media teams. One media team that
has claimed some of my time is 60 Minutes! You’ve got that right; CBS 60
minutes had 2 producers, a film crew, and even Scott Pelley (anchor of the
famed show). It has been quite an adventure working with them. </div>
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First, I drove them 3 ½ hours north to a small village where
a patient from 1995 lives. Let me tell you, 7 hours of defensive driving in
West Africa is tough, but the conversations were rich and I hope I was able to
help the producer get a sense of who we are. </div>
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Later that week, something completely frustrating happened.
One of the film crew had their hotel room broken into! So I was “blessed” with
the opportunity to be Mercy Ships representative and help him at the police
station. This ended up being a 4 hour interview/interrogation that left
everyone unsatisfied. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Monday, I drove two of the film crew to the airport. I
have to say that I am both impressed and blessed to have met such a wonderful
group of people. Their professionalism made our job a lot easier and we could
tell that they really respected us. Where some people fear of what they will
report (60 minutes is known for their investigative tactics that shine the
light on all sorts of issues in the world) I said goodbye to them completely
comfortable that Mercy Ships has made a positive impact on their lives. </div>
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As they all make their way back home, I pray that God will
bless them for the way they have blessed us. I pray that Mercy Ships vision and
mission truly inspire them to see the heart of us volunteers and that they will
want to report on the thousands of lives we change every year. I hope that as
they have to go through the pain staking process of dwindling 1800 minutes of
footage down to a 12 minute show that God would guide their hands, minds, and
spirits as the decided what to choose. Lord, most importantly, I pray that as
they go back to their lives you keep itching at their hearts. That what they’ve
seen here in West Africa inspires them to see the power of your hand in
everything we do. Thank you Lord, so much, for such a wonderful opportunity for
the USA to hear and see the detail of what it is we do here for the people of
West Africa. </div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-59766569104675244762012-05-21T06:49:00.000-04:002012-05-21T06:49:33.213-04:00Afi's Release from Shackles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
“Every moment of my life is difficult to survive. I struggle greatly, and I struggle alone,” Afi says with tear-filled eyes that testify to the pain she has suffered for the last four years. As she speaks of the suffering she has endured, she takes a rag to wipe the tears streaming down her scarred face and recounts her story with courage and grace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6JBMFT8fKnhrioyfLO1QDZPHi3205FBDVZHTVLK-pHWn4KlgErurHQGTbeyOAMDVAbqoRU3ARI-MWgAhErsCVl841SmhK3uJRKmvKN_sA09J7BStW_4oyj2aDrS-2PK4ZskVm7CWxi21/s1600/TGE17016B_AFI_ZOYIKPO_LB002_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6JBMFT8fKnhrioyfLO1QDZPHi3205FBDVZHTVLK-pHWn4KlgErurHQGTbeyOAMDVAbqoRU3ARI-MWgAhErsCVl841SmhK3uJRKmvKN_sA09J7BStW_4oyj2aDrS-2PK4ZskVm7CWxi21/s320/TGE17016B_AFI_ZOYIKPO_LB002_LO.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kytBUZbwDyU5prwl6XJcNH8afvJt4BAhe3HIcGvSaDDG8xZBmMxgnDAG6hufw7U0QmJYsnNwrB03q7EJepOnOM0PT6FGj0QwcwFgLUI4Kwp0vj-mbCOLdnQqGj7hbukIN0Q5we-j9Sih/s1600/TGE17016B_AFI_ZOYIKPO_LB006_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kytBUZbwDyU5prwl6XJcNH8afvJt4BAhe3HIcGvSaDDG8xZBmMxgnDAG6hufw7U0QmJYsnNwrB03q7EJepOnOM0PT6FGj0QwcwFgLUI4Kwp0vj-mbCOLdnQqGj7hbukIN0Q5we-j9Sih/s320/TGE17016B_AFI_ZOYIKPO_LB006_LO.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Afi suffers from a disorder called epilepsy. She can suddenly have seizures that force her body into debilitating tremors. One day in 2008, Afi was cooking over a fire with her one-month-old son strapped to her back. Suddenly, she felt ill and thought she needed to sit down. Before she had time to react, her body went into a seizure, forcing her to fall face-first into the fire. She lay there in the fire, seizing helplessly. Luckily, her infant son was not harmed, but the damage to Afi was brutal. She suffered severe burns on her face, neck, hands, and legs.</div>
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Afi tried to go to a hospital to get medical help, but the hospital turned her away because she had no one to take care of her son. As her wounds began to heal, her skin started to contract, pulling her face down and her shoulder upwards. The injuries became her shackles over the next four years. Afi’s husband left her because he could not stand to look at her. Riddled with guilt, he ended up committing suicide, leaving Afi to be the sole parent to their three children.</div>
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People believed that Afi’s deformity was the result of a curse. She was no longer able to sell fruit in the market because people were too afraid of her. She was forced into a life of isolation, with only her children to help her. The village would no longer allow Afi to walk through the center, touch anything, or be near anybody. When children caught a glimpse of Afi's face, they ran away in fear. She had to hide in her home. If she wanted to go anywhere, she had to sneak around the outskirts of town.</div>
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Recently, she went to the hospital again, desperately seeking help. Catching a glimpse of a TV, she heard that Mercy Ships was coming to Togo, West Africa. Afi wrote down the dates. Leaving her children with her father-in-law, Afi tried to get to the port. Relentlessly, she made three trips to the port gates, each time being turned away by the local security. Finally, she was allowed through and examined by Mercy Ships crew.</div>
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It was a wonderful day when she was given her appointment card. “I know now that things are going to be better. I can tell my life will move in that direction,” Afi says as she spends her days on her hospital bed onboard the <em>Africa Mercy</em>. Afi’s surgery will release the contracted skin, allowing her neck and shoulder to move again. Her eyelids and lips will be released and repaired. She will receive function and movement again – release from the shackles, the injuries that have held her captive.</div>
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She has already had a taste of how much better her life will be. Mercy Ships crew are not afraid of her, and they look her in the eyes. This is the start of a new life, with new hope and a new future. She smiles through her tears saying, “Thank you for everything, and thank you to everybody. I now see a new life coming my way. I pray God will help me each step of the way.”</div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-45236778320964111572012-04-30T13:37:00.000-04:002012-04-30T13:37:12.097-04:00Tani - "I AM BEAUTIFUL!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Tani Nakabe: I Am Beautiful</b><br />
<br />
In the dockside Mercy Ships admissions tent, a young girl poked her head around different corners and people. Whenever someone looked up, they merely caught a quick glimpse before she was out of sight again. Her distant giggles filled the air as she sneaked her way around the crowd, always blending in with the other patients. Finally, she jumped out and laughed as her name was called, “Tani Nakabe.”<br />
<br />
Tani is 11 years old and has come to the <em>Africa Mercy</em> to continue the repair on her severe facial burns. In 2010, she had a free surgery onboard the hospital ship to repair her upper lip and to begin the reconstruction process on her nose.<br />
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Tani’s burns date back to when she was only one year old. She was playing on the floor while her mother cooked dinner on an open fire inside the grass hut. When her mother left to fetch water, the unthinkable happened. The grass hut caught on fire, spreading ferociously as the dry grass fueled its fury. Little Tani was trapped in the house and surrounded by flames. Luckily, her father saw the fire and pulled her from the inferno. Tani’s head and body were still burning. A neighbor, trying to help, grabbed the nearest bottle of what appeared to be water and threw it over the child. Unfortunately, it was not water – it was palm wine alcohol. The burns seared her face, leaving Tani with no nose and a severely damaged right eye and upper lip.<br />
<br />
Tani’s entire village remembered the tragedy of that day and never persecuted Tani for her appearance. She was able to attend school. In fact, she is at the top of her class. This acceptance, unusual in the superstitious West African culture, allowed Tani to grow up as a joyful child. Her infectious laughter melts the heart, and her smile brightens any room.<br />
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Despite her appearance, Tani is brave and bold. Many crew members remember her marching through the ship’s hallways in 2010 shouting, “I AM BEAUTIFUL!” in English. After receiving her first surgery, Tani’s demeanor never changed. Every day she went up to deck seven of the <em>Africa Mercy</em> and played with all the other children.<br />
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This year, Tani’s damaged right eye was removed and a skin graft was placed in its stead to help with her appearance. Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer and surgeon, explains, “Her right eye was partially destroyed by the burn, but remnants of the eye remained. Her eye would weep continuously and had the appearance of an open wound that never healed.”<br />
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Tani’s appearance will improve, and the difficulty with her damaged eye will be gone. But her joyful, courageous personality will have the greatest impact as her voice rings out, declaring, “I AM BEAUTIFUL!”<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ6v_bYlIqwu9fBafgdSfZv6shTTuc23wUKgsXu75VL1wrqQ8aR5qVbTOfobd7INroKJXuAmAoGQe8PIHPmnsV-vPXireKZU-keXZuMcN_9FhRJgaDPwlFe4gzi0aloRwmkwZdTJEACVl/s1600/TGD30406B-TANI_NAKABE6_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ6v_bYlIqwu9fBafgdSfZv6shTTuc23wUKgsXu75VL1wrqQ8aR5qVbTOfobd7INroKJXuAmAoGQe8PIHPmnsV-vPXireKZU-keXZuMcN_9FhRJgaDPwlFe4gzi0aloRwmkwZdTJEACVl/s320/TGD30406B-TANI_NAKABE6_LO.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tani when she first came to the ship in 2010.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tani when she came back to the ship this year, 2012.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwbBSJelI6O15o9xRjAvaTzI-px2-aXgZAIKVtw0eeVzu7yqKddDOb4PwP_rDVwwp8ZtT_0CEPyA_uZ1GCpyg4mB_QqPFhARagc_x5jqKJWEGYHVA3bdWDOhHbGXcNMdTZyGaPU3w4ty6/s1600/TGE1203_PAT17061A_TANI_NAKABE_FINAL_DB0055_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwbBSJelI6O15o9xRjAvaTzI-px2-aXgZAIKVtw0eeVzu7yqKddDOb4PwP_rDVwwp8ZtT_0CEPyA_uZ1GCpyg4mB_QqPFhARagc_x5jqKJWEGYHVA3bdWDOhHbGXcNMdTZyGaPU3w4ty6/s320/TGE1203_PAT17061A_TANI_NAKABE_FINAL_DB0055_LO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Tani - I'll never forget this little girl! Full of so much joy!</td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-29491443586624133302012-04-20T06:08:00.001-04:002012-04-20T06:08:37.912-04:00Philomene's Hope is Restored!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Philoméne Digbeli Gboko stood in line at the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) refugee camp in Togo, West Africa. It was early in the morning and the line was long, but she hoped that the Mercy Ships Eye Team could help her. Philoméne, like everyone else in line, was a refugee from the Ivory Coast. For the past eleven months, she had lived inside the refugee camp with 3,000 other people. Space was tight, and resources were limited for everyone living there, but for Philoméne, the living conditions were not the hardest reality to endure.<br />
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Less than a year ago, she was living in the Ivory Coast. One day, she went to visit a friend, and this act saved Philoméne’s life. When she returned home, she found her home consumed in a fury of flames caused by rebel soldiers. Inside, she could hear the screams of her entire family as they perished in the fire. In fear that the rebels would discover that she had survived, she grabbed everything not consumed by flames and ran for her life. She was never even able to bury her family.<br />
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Philoméne had a rough start at the refugee camp. The weight of her tragic loss was a heavy burden, and no one could lift her spirits as she mourned the loss of everyone she knew and loved. The UNHCR sent psychologists to help her, but they concluded that what she needed was time to deal with her grief.<br />
Another problem for Philoméne was that, in her rush to leave the Ivory Coast, she grabbed the wrong pair of glasses. She tried to wear them, even though they caused her much pain.<br />
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As Philoméne waited in line, she was filled with hope that maybe she would be able to see more clearly once again. To her pleasant surprise, as she neared the end of the process, she was fitted for a pair of glasses donated by Coastal Contacts. “I am very excited and have a lot of joy because these glasses will make life easier for me. This is the first sign that my life might be turning around,” she said as tears streamed down her face.<br />
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As Philoméne enjoyed wearing her new glasses, she added, “I have lost my words to thank you because words are not enough. God Bless those who donated the glasses because they have blessed me.”<br />
<br />
28 March 2012<br />Written by Nicole Pribbernow<br />Edited by Nancy Predaina<br />Photos by Debra Bell<br />
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--></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-17472987363065982022012-04-07T13:01:00.001-04:002012-04-07T13:02:39.637-04:00The Difference a Cleft Lip Makes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I want to show you the difference a cleft lip makes in a babies life. This is often hard to show, is the child small because he is in <place w:st="on">Africa</place> or is it really just the cleft lip? Our Infant Feeding program currently has a perfect example of the difference a cleft lip makes. The pictures below are of twin boys. Same age, same circumstances…major difference between them because one has a cleft lip. </div>
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Our Infant feeding program help malnourished babies gain the much needed weight. For this little guy, he needs to put on weight for surgery to repair his cleft lip. </div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-2137916653868635692012-03-31T13:20:00.000-04:002012-03-31T13:20:12.305-04:00The best experience of my life thus far!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Have you ever been blessed with an experience that will forever be molded into the best day of your life? Birth of a Child? Your wedding maybe? Well, for me my day came in mid-February this year. This experience is, hands down, the best experience I’ve ever had the privilege of being apart of. This was the day that we took Radia home and her family was going to see her for the first time without her tumor. The drive was long but it was so worth the experience. When we arrived, our land rover was surrounded by people coming to see Radia. As she climbed out of the back of the vehicle, she tried to quickly get to her home. She was overwhelmed with those that came to see her. People were crying everywhere. Tears of pure joy. Tears of unbelief that this was the same girl that left their home two weeks prior. We walked up to Radia’s home and were instantly surrounded by even more people. Radia’s great aunt grabbed my arm and pulled me to the center. She gave me a chair and forced me to sit down. She then went into a speech telling everyone in the community how I visited Radia every day. She told them that I went down to paint her finger nails and always make sure that they had everything they needed. Then she talked about Radia’s surgery and what the ship had given her. Then there was a parade of people all coming up to Radia and then coming to me. They would kneel at my feet and bow singing praises to God for giving me to them. Praising God for Mercy Ships. Then they would grab my hand and shout praises even more. The entire time Radia sat very close to me, always close enough to touch me. The entire experience was so overwhelming for her (and me) as she was use to hiding and didn’t really know these people. </div>
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So the day was very overwhelming and I couldn’t believe that God had blessed me with such an amazing experience. I’ve attached the pictures to this blog as proof of this life changing event. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXaDGkh7mfzvaN4_huXTAmFj768ZP1y-9m3WhPPDjyw89MXeeSlB75fWPRu_DbhNKyDAiN7CQkamM-JdtXI-JDj432mKuyB-MexIf7ypwpGOwqshSqxqZXTfaIK-9DR3Kvaoth4NMp1t1/s1600/TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0085_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXaDGkh7mfzvaN4_huXTAmFj768ZP1y-9m3WhPPDjyw89MXeeSlB75fWPRu_DbhNKyDAiN7CQkamM-JdtXI-JDj432mKuyB-MexIf7ypwpGOwqshSqxqZXTfaIK-9DR3Kvaoth4NMp1t1/s400/TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0085_LO.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radia leaving the ship for the last time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dT4QVOWVoEnN2m6D1Z4F8NAcUSwWhqc4erXgJ4JfqPbxAxrrS2wLWFLScO6r5ZWp2xMp-Q8wYDu7niv91-dKDjBRfelMiwn3evCL8fqgPgMOfThZ6boL7TQnzrGG5trCQtprnPxnqYzp/s1600/TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0098_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dT4QVOWVoEnN2m6D1Z4F8NAcUSwWhqc4erXgJ4JfqPbxAxrrS2wLWFLScO6r5ZWp2xMp-Q8wYDu7niv91-dKDjBRfelMiwn3evCL8fqgPgMOfThZ6boL7TQnzrGG5trCQtprnPxnqYzp/s400/TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0098_LO.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radia getting her final check - she's excited to go home!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhFQ10z3tOPUrGAngRuEBE0rGODOk78GQwQUeNi5OOgd7VSNrW8lISit8EYigPGEGFu_nqYW6LTFxSPLrqzFCn9az2bSyi7FqQUB-quKoHSz7WUeXnyhZkiWkYSbqvSnzoyocuh3lqc2L/s1600/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0007_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhFQ10z3tOPUrGAngRuEBE0rGODOk78GQwQUeNi5OOgd7VSNrW8lISit8EYigPGEGFu_nqYW6LTFxSPLrqzFCn9az2bSyi7FqQUB-quKoHSz7WUeXnyhZkiWkYSbqvSnzoyocuh3lqc2L/s400/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0007_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was Radia's first trip home - Me and my team drove her home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQotKFl93isfcr_T8ewBhZ3TVF3Jj2PIYHTY_ArefyRgdrDUzukVCDOOgrRL2Ia2lw9HZuVZTzHStGyg-3mLeHfU_wcxHDu3_8SkA-f8NXMLSTDn8G1FUGiOE38MgUFmhGMRTcAaFCMClq/s1600/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0032_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQotKFl93isfcr_T8ewBhZ3TVF3Jj2PIYHTY_ArefyRgdrDUzukVCDOOgrRL2Ia2lw9HZuVZTzHStGyg-3mLeHfU_wcxHDu3_8SkA-f8NXMLSTDn8G1FUGiOE38MgUFmhGMRTcAaFCMClq/s400/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0032_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was emotional for distant family and neighbors to see the difference in Radia's face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JAtJutK4-toshQO2zUotHC9VReZrKHEurd5YW88zc0R0BdCkuwvZGd14qP9iPV1gGWi48DANRyKWp5u5KeheNPrk8LV3Ye8kubgSs_twkcOsi2Zrqs1iFh2JBU3Q5g43IqxiNrMCKnbd/s1600/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0040_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JAtJutK4-toshQO2zUotHC9VReZrKHEurd5YW88zc0R0BdCkuwvZGd14qP9iPV1gGWi48DANRyKWp5u5KeheNPrk8LV3Ye8kubgSs_twkcOsi2Zrqs1iFh2JBU3Q5g43IqxiNrMCKnbd/s400/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0040_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting neighbors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz4ZhRslLocBhF7q3kFM-d6-gzF1FMaI1jk3dMXjEbDX_gRpHwx6b4gKvjJ0Wwz_-ZMIXLKerHLn3q5vx3FDxo3vInu9at6pCUa6If68Hchb2kJks0WtgSsHaNns16biiuB6yIr2oLY43/s1600/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0056_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMz4ZhRslLocBhF7q3kFM-d6-gzF1FMaI1jk3dMXjEbDX_gRpHwx6b4gKvjJ0Wwz_-ZMIXLKerHLn3q5vx3FDxo3vInu9at6pCUa6If68Hchb2kJks0WtgSsHaNns16biiuB6yIr2oLY43/s400/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0056_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radia starts crying as everyone around her is also in tears</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcOx_-52rJ-qdxRUogxTf0-UopNWCtsMSCUsIHbAjdIjtKwy0Y4aLacApov4gnVJIWG5ME6oRqROmNHYByd5gqoVYEbTIzUWNLrSEnjXown5umgI7OWqGfiWZCcAQ_JHEK7U5eDXY_81D/s1600/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0089_LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcOx_-52rJ-qdxRUogxTf0-UopNWCtsMSCUsIHbAjdIjtKwy0Y4aLacApov4gnVJIWG5ME6oRqROmNHYByd5gqoVYEbTIzUWNLrSEnjXown5umgI7OWqGfiWZCcAQ_JHEK7U5eDXY_81D/s400/TGE1202_PAT11040A_RADIA_1STHOME_DB0089_LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radia looks sad - she really misses her father - who died 1 month before surgery. He won't see her new face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We just told her we had to go - it breaks the heart to see her disappointment!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We kept trying to get a "family picture" and they kept pulling me in the shot</td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-18493366168427665932012-03-26T13:43:00.001-04:002012-03-26T13:43:24.885-04:00Church Update Spring 2012.m4v<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eliYMTSXBB8?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-8658790101091850442012-03-06T10:23:00.002-05:002012-03-06T10:23:30.251-05:00Modi sing for the ward!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<strong>Modi Assenou Sings for the Ward </strong><br />
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Her voice resonates in the hospital ward on the <em>Africa Mercy</em>. Her song was one of joy and praise. Everyone pauses as they hear her voice ring out - the medical staff looked overjoyed. For Modi Assenou, her prayers have been answer. For the medical staff, there is amazement over Modi’s ability to sing so soon after surgery. For all, Modi’s joy spreads throughout the ward.<br />
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Four years ago, Modi started having pain in her neck. Gradually, a lump started to form below her chin. Before long, it was clear that Modi had a big problem. Modi suffered from an enlarged thyroid gland; also know as a goiter. While the goiter did not cause her any pain or breathing problems, the affect it made on her appearance was clear.</div>
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Neighbors would mock her and constantly give her a hard time. While life was becoming difficult, Modi was surrounded by a good support system. Her close friends would give encouragement and help her out. They would say to her, “One day, by God’s will, you will be healed.” Not only did this encouragement give her the resolution to face each day, so did her husbands loyalty and support. Every step of the way, he has supported Modi, giving her love and care. He even traveled with her to Mercy Ships to act as her caregiver so that she would not have to face it alone.</div>
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After waiting in line for several hours, Modi was finally seen by the doctors at the mass medical screening in Lomé, Togo. When it was decided that she would receive surgery, Modi was overjoyed with the answer to her prayers. Even though she would be experiencing so many new things, none of this scared her. “No matter what is going on around me, I am so happy now, nothing can take that away!”</div>
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After receiving surgery, Modi began to heal very quickly. After the removal of the thyroid, it may take a little time for the patient to start talking again. For Modi, this was not the case. Within a day of her surgery, she could be found singing in the ward. Her song echoed in the hearts of many patients as she sang, “I will thank the Lord; I will thank the Lord forever!”</div>
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Modi is happy to sing for the patients and to share her joy with those around her. She walks away with the parting words, “I am so thankful and grateful for the surgeons and everyone else on the <em>Africa Mercy</em>. It is my prayer that the Lord blesses Mercy Ships to be able to do more and more surgeries.” </div>
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<a href="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE11199B_MODI_ASSENOU_DB6_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="423" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE11199B_MODI_ASSENOU_DB6_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="284" /></a><span class="image-wrap"></span><br />TGE11199B_MODI_ASSENOU_DB6_LO<br />Modi Assenou shows us her goiter.</div>
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<br />TGE1202_PATSURG_GOITER_DRLEO_DB029_LO<br />Doctors and Nurses pray over Modi before they begin surgery</div>
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<span class="image-wrap"><img height="280" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0244_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="418" /></span><br />TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0244_LO<br />Modi is very happy with how well she feels after surgery.</div>
<span class="image-wrap"><img height="281" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0247_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="419" /></span><br />TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0247_LO<br />Modi shows off how well she is healing by blowing up a balloon. This can be quite difficult after this type of procedure.<br />
<span class="image-wrap"><img height="283" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0255_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="422" /></span><br />TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0255_LO<br />Modi sees herself in the mirror for the first time.<br />
<span class="image-wrap"><img height="283" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0269_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="422" /></span><br />TGE1202_WARD_MED_ROUNDS_DB_DB_0269_LO<br />Dr. Leo Cheng explains the incision on Modi’s neck. <br />
<span class="image-wrap"><img height="281" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0068_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1331047113949" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="421" /></span><br />TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0068_LO<br />Modi waits for her final post operation check up.<br />
<span class="image-wrap"><img height="436" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0017_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="292" /></span><br />TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0017_LO<br />Modi is very happy after her final discharge from the hospital!<br />
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<span class="image-wrap"><img height="436" src="http://navigator.mercyships.org/download/attachments/252641423/TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0018_LOa.jpg?version=1&modificationDate=1330975451000" style="border-bottom: black 1px solid; border-left: black 1px solid; border-right: black 1px solid; border-top: black 1px solid;" width="292" /></span><br />TGE1202_FOLLOWUP_JJ0018_LO<br />Modi is very thankful for how Mercy Ships changed her life!</div>
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Written by: Nicole Pribbernow<br />Edited by: Nancy Predaina<br />Photos by: Deb Bell<br />
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This was a recent prayer request - As soon as I receive photos I will update my blog: Radia being greeted by her family after surgery!<br />
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I know this is long – but I have a huge prayer request!<br /><br />Meet Radiatou (Radia for short)! She is a 15 year old girl with a large facial tumor. I’ve embedded photos at the end of the email, just a warning they may be a little disturbing. I met Radia at the mass medical screening. Radia has become a very special girl to me and I spend every day with her. Her story is heart wrenching. I will give you a brief synopsis. <br /><br />Radia’s mother abandoned her when she was little; her father then became her caregiver. She started to develop this tumor 5 years ago and has not be able to go to school because of it. To this day people mock her and beat her. <br /><br />I went and visited her at home before she came for surgery and just before we arrived, people from ‘far away” came just to gawk at her. Her story has unfolded slowly as we found out that in 2010 she heard about Mercy Ships too late and when she arrived to the port the ship was already gone. She started to feel very depressed but her father always got her through it. A month ago her father died. Distraught about losing her father, and only caregiver Radia attempted to kill herself. Her Great Aunt stopped her and is now taking care of her. The next day she heard about Mercy Ships! It is amazing what tomorrow may bring. <br /><br />When I met Radia, I told her that she will not go through this alone, that I will be there with her every step of the way. I had no idea of her past month of loss and attempted suicide. Needless to say, she started crying and gave a sweet smile. There have been many moments of tears when I tell her about how beautiful she is and how she is not alone. <br /><br />If you want to know more about my visit to Radia’s home – check out the story and photos at: <a href="http://mightykaleo.blogspot.com/">http://mightykaleo.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Please pray for Radia. She had surgery Friday, February 10th. She spent the weekend in the ICU because of how much blood she lost during the surgery (which I was there for part of the surgery!). When I went to visit her the next day, she was in ICU but instantly grabbed for my hand. Yesterday, she started clapping when I entered the ward and got up from her bed and gave me a hug. <br /><br />Please pray that the Lord will truly work in her heart and mind. She is what I call a generational Muslim. Her great Aunt says, “We see the way you love us, it is different than anything we have seen before! You treat us like we are your own.” <br /><br />-I am fervently praying that the Lord transform them with the Holy Spirit! They are so close and are asking questions. <br /><br />Can I call on all my prayer partners to lift Radia and her Great Aunt up in prayer? If we can all lift them up, anything can happen! We can all have a part to play in her total transformation! Just think, one day you may meet her in Heaven! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-47516514421939141662012-02-10T06:37:00.001-05:002012-02-10T06:37:22.570-05:00Meet Radia!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I want to introduce you to Radia. I’ve mentioned her a couple times in my blog and my facebook status updates. Now I want to take you on a picture journey of my trip to visit her at her home on Tuesday February 7, 2012.<br /><br />I met Radia at our surgical screening on February 1, 2012. She was shy and cautious of her surroundings. She is 15 years old with a large facial tumor. Her beauty blew me away as I looked at her trying to hide herself. I knelt beside her and told her “I want you to know that you are not alone. We will be here through out this entire process. You will never be alone – and soon everyone will see just how beautiful you are.” Tears streamed down her face as I told her she would not be alone. Little did I know at the time that she was an orphan whose father died only a month prior. <br /><br />It was decided that we would follow Radia’s story very closely. We scheduled a visit to her home two days before she was to report to the ship for surgery. This is my account of Tuesday’s home visit.<br />
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Being the only driver in the team making this trip, I was behind the wheel for the 1 1/4 hour drive to Radia's home. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm95AEG6Mr1Pk2OiMCeVTuutUCYWQKP5AuvS5nYpaRediGYSB4YV41Rs9wqf40XsBBu6PuXq_8vdYqMpBoV8ZZYMt0V3WzT7FhG9nozJjmRnnzlwP7OkMJ2gJSRNztPdVWputvN7TKG5n/s1600/1+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0003_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm95AEG6Mr1Pk2OiMCeVTuutUCYWQKP5AuvS5nYpaRediGYSB4YV41Rs9wqf40XsBBu6PuXq_8vdYqMpBoV8ZZYMt0V3WzT7FhG9nozJjmRnnzlwP7OkMJ2gJSRNztPdVWputvN7TKG5n/s400/1+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0003_LO.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I know I haven't shown many photos of what the area looks like, so here is a glimpse. </div>
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I was blessed to have our wonderful translator Emily with me! It's a good thing to because I don't speak Ewe!</div>
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We were greeted instantly, and were seated on some benches. We were surrounded by odds and ends of Radia's extended family. </div>
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We had with us Emily our Translator, Josh our videographer, and JJ our photographer. </div>
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Radia's extended family did most of the talking at first. Radia finds it hard to talk and she is extremely shy. </div>
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Finally we were able to coax her out of the back. </div>
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Radia and her Great Aunt showed us their home. It consisted of one room with a mattress, a couch and a sink. </div>
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The Great Aunt (Radia's caregiver) was very excited to show us her home. </div>
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There was not enough room inside for all of us so I was listening from the window. </div>
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When we went outside, a few of the neighbors had shown up to give Radia a little bit of money because they felt bad for her. Early in the day, several people came from "far away" to gawk at her and make fun of her. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWaj9MYgSYi0pM1ZKwcBxUaAnkPpG_9YrQTPZTtZTvvdOn9Gpx5aWge6243GOh-HEtr9YZSaEEP0eC0B4CiTmMDLVx8ZR3ld9DRRhKMnNePHU20sZ07S1su5G9OyEbfInkCcMndtUsqMa/s1600/12+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0101_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWaj9MYgSYi0pM1ZKwcBxUaAnkPpG_9YrQTPZTtZTvvdOn9Gpx5aWge6243GOh-HEtr9YZSaEEP0eC0B4CiTmMDLVx8ZR3ld9DRRhKMnNePHU20sZ07S1su5G9OyEbfInkCcMndtUsqMa/s400/12+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0101_LO.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Radia was showing us her chores, housework and getting water. In this picture she is taking us to their well. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5GTsc9dFQJ_IU_kFPVhhZKkxI3U2f4cm8aPrtvnFjtgRkTxC9Oglzl6GBv0dcxYnrDVhyThTrTFKDt6DpiPL3bSPcvBBC47OlJu8WOAvMxA1f74FRQN-pdsULBgBVUHQKxseEMBiUop-/s1600/13+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0105_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5GTsc9dFQJ_IU_kFPVhhZKkxI3U2f4cm8aPrtvnFjtgRkTxC9Oglzl6GBv0dcxYnrDVhyThTrTFKDt6DpiPL3bSPcvBBC47OlJu8WOAvMxA1f74FRQN-pdsULBgBVUHQKxseEMBiUop-/s400/13+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0105_LO.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Radia, Emily, and myself are talking by the well. Radia saw a picture of herself in my notes and was asking about it. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ejvOopK4Uqu5E7c31uIuH32ttbdxJM7Vmss6zu9-SxSg2P-G6Kk_KUehjA048Lra35_3T0QQE3dFSuMJo9JWTGljwK3cl7mJo81ek_ZvrfqkW-9ykPQwfT5IgrDx729t6NXPsL65teq5/s1600/14+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0125_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ejvOopK4Uqu5E7c31uIuH32ttbdxJM7Vmss6zu9-SxSg2P-G6Kk_KUehjA048Lra35_3T0QQE3dFSuMJo9JWTGljwK3cl7mJo81ek_ZvrfqkW-9ykPQwfT5IgrDx729t6NXPsL65teq5/s400/14+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0125_LO.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This is me telling Radia that soon everyone will see the beautiful girl I see. I was reminding her that she will not be alone and telling her that we will be there for her. As you can see, it really touched her. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXs7M-RKYsuEz1qAZg_98stzKfZZmhbjk49eghAgNxz1fULS5hTpaxCa3nblzgSejD_Jti9qnEkgwrphSBtffcOJjCxvH-Wxple6ZY5AzIT-fU6Ach5vbMElQGB121k0bQkQ5ePwFD2wh/s1600/15+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0131_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXs7M-RKYsuEz1qAZg_98stzKfZZmhbjk49eghAgNxz1fULS5hTpaxCa3nblzgSejD_Jti9qnEkgwrphSBtffcOJjCxvH-Wxple6ZY5AzIT-fU6Ach5vbMElQGB121k0bQkQ5ePwFD2wh/s400/15+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0131_LO.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Radia, sad that we are leaving. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hHhyphenhyphenE29IJzsKoPRbyqxJbe8UtjdfPBC5ljW4MtGVzfnRZdv9keT9X6Sa7IPvj7uJwTX_gD1PPhfB3NcySXaNubDtFn7301FpzQTIe4He0YiauUl512KP_CSa5HPLcCbzYUgRKoWUcY9o/s1600/16+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0137_LO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hHhyphenhyphenE29IJzsKoPRbyqxJbe8UtjdfPBC5ljW4MtGVzfnRZdv9keT9X6Sa7IPvj7uJwTX_gD1PPhfB3NcySXaNubDtFn7301FpzQTIe4He0YiauUl512KP_CSa5HPLcCbzYUgRKoWUcY9o/s400/16+TGE1202_RADIATU_BOUKARI_VISIT_JJ0137_LO.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Radia was very touched by our visit and how we treated her...like a human being and a child of God. She was visible sad when we left her village. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Later on, another part of our team when to pick Radia up to bring her to the ship. I am told that she continually asked where I was, when we came to the docks, she was looking for me right away. God has given us a special connection and I pray that I am able to show His love to her and her family. Her Great Aunt told me last night, "The way you love us, we can tell you care about us, I don't know how to thank you and I pray God blesses you and my family back home." I was able to visit with Radia in the ward and I gave her my numbers. I was even able to pray with her! She was visible excited to get "her new face" that he bed was shaking from her constant movement. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Radia is in surgery right now - please pray for her! </div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994336745188257809.post-32844218262024570012012-02-02T16:06:00.000-05:002012-02-05T07:02:20.173-05:00Screening Day and the Reality of Togo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There are times when, even as a writer, it is hard to find
words to explain an experience. There are moments when words fail me, when
words only blur the reality of experiences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Today I am going to tell you the truth. The mass medical
screening went extremely well and smooth. We were able to schedule surgery for
hundreds of people. They received their first sign of hope and it is beautiful.
</div>
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This IS the truth…but it is not the only truth. There is a
truth that many find it hard to speak of – they want to focus on the positive
outlook. But I can’t bring you only the happy truth, I promised you I would
bring you along with me on this journey – so I feel a need to tell the truth,
the whole truth – so you know the reality in Togo – so you know how to pray. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
HERE IS OTHER TRUTH
</div>
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Screening day is a heartbreaking day. You see the effect of
little healthcare. I was faced with an endless line of people frantic for my
help. Every one of them looks at me, their eyes screaming in desperation. I was faced with sights that are hard to
explain. </div>
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<br /></div>
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-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>A small child with hydrocephelis (water on the
brain) whose head was 4x larger than normal. His body emaciated and paralyzed.
The only movement is from his eyes. He looks me straight in the eyes – does he
even see me through his pain? Is he beyond pain? As they leave I have to remind
myself, we can’t help everyone. <u>Where
is God in this?</u></div>
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-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: Times;">Another moment broke my heart as a mother brought her 6
month old child up to me. As she gave me her baby, he weighed all of 2 pounds
at 6 months old. I've seen pictures of starving children in Africa but this is
the first time I've seen a child so emaciated I thought he was fake. As I
stared down at him he struggled to breathe, his eyes moved and I knew he was
still alive. The child had already been treated in local hospitals and was sent
home to die. After a long time in consultation with the dietician, they are
lead away. As they leave I have to remind myself, we can’t help everyone. <u>Where
is God in this?</u></span></div>
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Where is God in this? Where is God in all of this suffering?
These are honest questions asked with an honest heart. An answer is given. </div>
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Where is God in this? God is in me, and through me He can do
His mighty work. Where is God in this? He is in the crewmember next to me
making the children laugh in the midst of suffering and pain. Where is God in
this? God is in the people working at the prayer tree who prayed with those
people who were sadly turned away. </div>
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<br /></div>
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God is in me, and He has sent me here to Togo, West Africa
to be His hands and feet. I can’t help everyone but I can help some. </div>
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-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>I can help Radia, a 17 year old who has a large
facial tumor. I kneel down next to her and tell her that I am going to be with
her through her time with Mercy Ships. I tell her she will not be alone, she
has nothing to fear. I touch her knee and look her straight in her good eye – I
unflinchingly tell her I am here for her. That is not me, that is God reaching
out through me touching a life full of suffering, pain, and rejection. That is
God giving Radia the first sign of hope and I will be here with her, showing
her His love, and His mercy. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 79.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
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God is here, because I am here. God is here because others
are here – serving Him and the people of Togo. God is here, because God is
everywhere, despite the pain and suffering – He is here holding them, crying
for them…</div>
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<br /></div>
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That is the truth of Togo. We are able to bring hope and
healing. We are able to helping hundreds, even thousands, of people. But at the
end of the day, Togo is in need, desperate need and we need to pray for her
people. That is the reality of Togo. </div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666329055734738082noreply@blogger.com1