GIVEAWAY!!

Welcome to my very first giveaway!! 

I've been familiar with blog giveaways for a long time now, but just recently inspired to do my own from my friend Ali.

The "cool" blogs always have giveaways. :-)  Well, now I've found something to give away! But this is not just for giveaway sake. I'm doing this for all of you, my loyal blog readers. For all those who have faithfully followed our journey with Mercy Ships in Africa over this last year and a half, and now this next year ahead. I want to "thank-you" for all the encouraging words, comments, and emails, and for all those prayers that have been lifted up on our behalf. Some of you, I don't even know! 

You are a blessing to us.

So, for the giveaway... I have a beautifully hand-made, hand-blown silver "Africa" necklace found at the local artisan/craft market. I love this necklace because it is simply unique and intricate. 

To "enter," please leave a brief comment of your experience with Africa... such as study, sponsorship, travel, adoption, missions, supporting a missionary, dream to go, etc. It can be anything! I just want to hear how Africa has touched your life. 

I will have the computer randomly select the winner next Monday, and then I'll mail it out when we are home for a visit in just a few short days!  One week... enjoy!! :-)

what's its all about

I just heard the best news ...

Just got back from celebrating 11 women this morning at ward church. They each shared a short testimony of their story of healing.  

         *One woman shared how she used to be Muslim, but through her condition she converted to Christ!!

         *Another woman shared that she isn't a believer, but since coming here she now believes!

Now THAT is what it's all about, bringing others unto Himself... expanding His Kingdom.

I just had to share with all of you. I can't stop smiling.  :-)

invisible children

Just saw this authentic, EYE OPENER of a documentary for the first time. I know, I'm seven years behind. So, if you're like me and you haven't seen it yet (raw footage of child soldiers in Sudan and Uganda)... it's a must-see!  Go here to learn more. 

from ashes to beauty

I find it difficult to put into words what it is like to care for these ladies; Women who have suffered for many years with a fistula(s). They have experienced the worst of humanity... beaten, rejected, isolated, abandoned, ridiculed... stillbirth.  I've listened to many a story. Heart-wrenching. Sorrow is all too familiar. Yet, their inner strength is admirable. They still choose life. Hope. 

Its hard to express the deep joy. Or the intense sorrow. Because there is no in-between. For some its a happy ending. For others the ashes still remain. They continue to cling. Like yesterday we celebrated the healing of five women. Yet just two days before, we sent two home. Inoperable. The tears were flowing. 

I love it. And I hate it. I have to rely on the truth that the God who created each of these ladies makes no mistakes. His will is perfect. He is in the pain as much as He is in the joy.  

Like these amazing and beautiful women, I will praise Him in the ashes. I will praise Him in the beauty.

exciting news!

I don't normally post our monthly newsletters on the blog. But not all of our blog readers receive our newsletters, and I didn't want anyone to miss out on what's happening with us. So here's the update, copied and pasted straight from the newsletter without the fancy template :-)...

            ----------------------------------------------------------------

We are pleased to share with all of you a new and exciting opportunity for us!  We have been asked by the headquarters and management staff of Mercy Ships to be part of the Advance Team to Sierra Leone, the country of next year’s outreach. 

What does this mean?  First, we will finish this outreach and sail to South Africa as previously planned. There we will stay for two months before we fly to Sierra Leone!  In Sierra Leone our mission will be to prepare everything needed for the ship’s arrival in February and set-up contacts, sites, and logistics for the upcoming outreach. Tim will be Assistant Team Leader.  His responsibilities will include establishing relations with government officials and port authorities, preparing the port for the ship, and keeping the team’s finances. Hannah will be Medical Coordinator, establishing relations with local hospitals and medical personnel, coordinating screenings, and locating sites for off-ship programs, and dental and eye clinics.

We will be living off-ship on land during this time until the ship arrives, giving us an even broader exposure to African culture.

How long is this commitment? The preparations will go until the ship’s arrival in February. We will then hand over all the information, contacts, and logistics to each affected department, and help ensure a smooth transition. This requires that we may stay until June 2011! We will be extending our commitment by six months!

This brings us to our second piece of exciting news. Because of a longer commitment we are coming home for a visit!! We will be home for the month of July to see family and catch up with all you, our faithful supporters. J

We will also be speaking in the service at First Baptist Church in Bend on July 18th. We would love to see as many of you as possible while we are home. But please understand that our time is limited and we may not be able to see everyone.

Thank you for journeying with us!  We graciously ask that you consider continuing your partnership with us through your prayers and financial support as we extend our service with Mercy Ships in the months to come.

We are excited for what lies ahead! We give God all the glory for what He has done and has yet to do!

 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. 

Proverbs 19:21

Love, Tim and Hannah

why Africa?

-15,000 Africans are dying each day of preventable diseases such as malaria, TB, and HIV. That's a death every 6 seconds! For malaria, that's a death one $10 bed net can prevent!!

-1 in 4 children are chronically malnourished and underweight. That's 25% that don't know when their next meal is.

-In Sub-Sahara Africa, HIV/AIDS has orphaned 12 million children. That's TWELVE MILLION children without a momma or daddy to tuck them in at night, or tell them they are loved, or wipe their tears.

-Child mortality in Africa is 16% with some countries, like Sierra Leone, exceeding 28%. This means that 1 in 4 children will die before the age of 5!! In the US, the rate is 2 out of 1000 children. This is horribly wrong.

-Many have little to no access to clean water (In Sierra Leone, not one hospital has running water!!).  Dirty, contaminated water is used for cooking and drinking. This in turn leads to disease. And without access to medical care, this can ultimately lead to death. 

(Stats from Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns.)

These are only five of too many...

.this. breaks. my. heart.

sandals

A couple weeks ago I went to the carpenter and had a pair of sandals custom-made.

I picked them up today. :-)

Now, I should go up where the hubby is and watch the World Cup "football" game with the rest of the ship :-)  This game is a VERY big deal when you live in a community of people from all different nations around the globe. Plus its the UK versus the US of A, need I say anymore? :-)

parents may not have favorites, but nurses sure do :-)

Me and Afi

nine course meal and a new ward

For the greater part of the outreach we've had a local surgeon, Dr. James, working alongside and training with the legendary Dr. Gary Parker in oral-facial surgeries.

A couple weekends ago he so graciously invited the OR and Ward staff to his beautiful home for dinner. And boy were we in for a treat! Nine courses and two glasses of wine later... no joke!! The courses included drinks, nuts, bread, sausage rolls, salad, the main dish with grilled pig, ice cream, sweet bread, and fresh fruit. The food kept coming and coming. :-)

Highlights of the evening included praise worship and dance with the band, hearing Dr. James express his gratitude, and (I'm not going to lie) the wine :-). We were recipients of such generosity and hospitality from Dr. James and his lovely wife. It was an enjoyable and memorable evening had by all. We were blessed.

The picture above is with Dr. Christophe in tribute to our morning rounds together in the land of max-fax in D ward. A couple weeks ago Ali and I switched wards for the remainder of the outreach. Time for a change of scenery :-) I will admit, it took a little getting used to :-) No more mandibulectomies, cleft palates, and pharyngoplasties for me. It will always feel a little like "my ward." I now work with little people with cleft lip and cataract repairs, mixed with a few bigger people for things like thyroidectomies.

Emergency airway kits replace NG bags above the beds, and so many small cutie patooties with whisker-like bandages over their repaired lip, or shields over their eyes, now fill the beds. Lots of snuggles and kisses to go around. Love those "little mouses!" Oh, and I mustn't forget the noise level either. Its about three times the decibel of D ward. :-)

Life is good.

Jacques

hope reborn

Today I was reminded of why I am here. Why I do what I do.

Today we celebrated three ladies who were once wet from a fistula, now healed and dry!! They were decked out in their beautiful and colorful new dress and headresses, complete with make-up and earrings. Their joy was overflowing and their beauty a shining.

We sang and clapped. They shared their stories and danced with thanksgiving.

One woman had been leaking for 25 years!! She expressed how thankful she is to God and everyone here. Another expressed how she is now sure that God exists. And the other,well, she is so happy that she can't wait to see her husband! :-)

Yes, today I witnessed joy. I saw hope reborn.

Using the words we sang today... He is the great Healer. And He is good!


For those interested in learning more about vesico-vaginal fistulas, I highly recommend the book Hospital by the River written by Catherine Hamlin, co-founder of the first fistula hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I also strongly recommend A Walk to Beautiful, a moving film documentary that follows the journey of several women to the fistula hospital in Ethiopia. There is an incredible need for maternal health, and maternal health education. Please read and see.

Oh, how I have missed these ladies.

(pics to come) :-)

When I born, I black
When I grow up, I black
When I go in Sun, I black
When I scared, I black
When I sick, I black
And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow
When you born, you pink
When you grow up, you white
When you go in sun, you red
When you cold, you blue
When you scared, you yellow
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you gray
And you calling me colored?

:-)