Desperation

Do any of us truly understand the feeling of desperation? Living a life with absolutely no hope, no future…no life… You see, we have this wonderful promise from our Heavenly Father, “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. As a Christian, no matter how hard life gets we still have this promise to cling to. In W. Africa, they don’t know about this promise. For the people Mercy Ships seek to help, not only do they have no hope but they are possibly days or weeks away from death. This is a desperation that I cannot grasp. When Mercy Ships pulls into port a new hope comes into town – a last hope. When you mix this kind of desperation together with one last chance for life…no one can tell what will happen. 

My last post was a plea for prayer in regards to the medical screening in Freetown, Sierra Leone on March 7 and 8. Many people came from all over the country seeking one last hope that someone can help them. Usually a couple thousand people show up…this year 15,000 desperate souls came to be screened. No one could have imagined the events that would happen; this has never happened in the history of Mercy Ships. As I am still in Michigan I only know what other have said about the events. 

Basically the desperate crowd ended up storming the gate that regulated flow of people. In the event the crowd broke the metal gate in a last effort to get help. Sadly a man was killed and 13 people were injured as the crowds trampled the innocent sick waiting in line. No Mercy Ships people were hurt but they did have to cancel all screening for the time being. 

Please pray for the crew that witnessed this new level of desperation and crowds being trampled by the mob. These images will never leave them and some of the crew included the high school kids there to help

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Please pray for the people of Sierra Leone as the need is obviously greater than Mercy Ships has ever seen.

Please pray for the management as they are trying to figure out how to proceed without any more problems.

 

Also – Mercy Ships will be holding a new screening this Saturday, March 26, 2011 at a more secure location. 

PLEASE PRAY for everyone’s safety!

PLEASE PRAY that everyone will be surrounded by the angels concerning them and create an atmosphere of calm and peace.

PLEASE PRAY for the Sierra Leonians as they are in such desperate need of help.