big white whale

As my shift was coming to an end, my patient P. Eddie, who speaks fluent English, handed me a paper full of his handwriting, "I want you to have this," he said with a big smile. As I read his words, through his eyes, I was moved and encouraged. It reminded me of the hope, the love, the life that is here--something I've recently needed to hear. I was in awe of how God has revealed himself to P. Eddie through others. 

We may not be able to help everyone or save each struggling life, but God IS here. And I believe that, like P. Eddie, each patient who leaves this ship has encountered God in some way...

I asked him if I could make a copy and share it with others. I now share with you: 

"My appreciation to the staff and crew of the Mercy Ship"

Angels Among the Sons of Men

The day the Big White Whale landed on the black shores of Africa, was a blessed day to the Sons of Men.

It came with Angels to walk amongst the Sons of Men. Why do I call them Angels? Let me tell you of my time with them.

I came on board the White Whale with rooms filled with the lame, the mame, the formed and the deformed, the wrong and the right.

And deep into the darkest part of the night, I saw men and brethren, maidens and ladies though flesh as us, yet with hearts of angels.

Sleeplessly and tirelessly they toiled through the night, through the pains and aches of men. They with hands to heal and mend, bringing from above the Father's love to the Sons of Men.

Some they cut, some they tie, some they seal and yet others they fix with tools untold.

Like messengers of the most high they come not thinking of their own. They risked their lives and sailed the Sea to lands beyond the endless world to shores of men afflicted and in pain.

Their hearts and lives they came to share as Angels walk amongst the Sons of Men.

Some in this life are born to pass and some are born in life to live, yet these Angels are born to preserve humanity.

Though some lives they see as waste, yet with speed they move to save. With words of love and touch of peace, they endlessly toil to make right the wrong.

You were born as men to your lands and yet Angels you served the earth.

Gold is dug from earth beneath.  Treasures are hunted on high seas. But love so pure and true can only in hearts like yours be found.

You labor in the Lord shall not be in vain.

For every life you touch and every soul you save.

For every bone you mend and every face you straight, 

The Lord of life and light will light your path and guide your life.

For you are truly Angels amongst the Sons of Men. 

in His arms

Our sweet little baby has gone home to Jesus today. 

You were like an angel whose short little life touched so many, oh how we loved you so! 

May God be glorified through your death, Huber-guber...

Thank you, thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement! God is not done yet... seeds have been planted in the hearts of his mama & papa, please join us in praying for their salvation.

please pray!

This is little Hubert (I call him Huber-guber) and his sister, Pauline. Hubert is one of the babes that has been staying here these last few weeks as part of our feeding program. The gubers had his cleft lip repaired back in April. He returned back to us because he was losing weight back home. We have been working hard with his mama to fatten his little body up for his cleft palate repair in November. The little guy has stolen each of our hearts!

I am asking you, pleading with you, to pray for this sweet babe and his family!! He has declined this past week with high fevers and infection, and his weak body is working so hard to breathe. He is currently under the care of our ICU nurses. Although we are a hospital, we are a surgical hospital. We also don't have a pediatrician on board. Please pray for discernment. 

My head fully trusts that my God has a plan for Hubert's life. I know he was created with a purpose. But my heart hurts with the reality of his numbered days and seeing him suffer so. 

Keep fighting Huber-guber, God is holding you close...

We need your prayers. 

Little Huber-guber needs a miracle.

A prayer for Cotonou, Benin

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are


For there is no one like our God
There is no one like You God


For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here


You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are


For greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
When glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You and love for You
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

(Song by Chris Tomlin)

beauty

Toastmasters

Can you find Tim? :)

The leadership team

diving in...

These are photos of our dive team. I thought they were pretty cool and unique, not to mention, disgusting :) The team regularly dives into the waters surrounding the ship to inspect the ship's bottom and pick away all the live growth and junk attached to it. As you can see from the photos, there is quite a bit of trash in the water!!

Antoinette

I wanted to write a little bit of Antoinette's story because I don't want to forget her.

I worked the night shortly after she was admitted. She came to the ship with her mom and little brother. Not for surgery, but because her face was being eaten alive by a condition caused by a sand flea/parasite (oversimplified). The base of her nostrils was disfigured and the area between her nose and upper lip was sloughing away. That night I instructed her mom to apply the ordered cream over her entire body except her face (just in case of scabies). She then spent a few weeks here receiving a very specific antibiotic to kill the effects of the parasite, and medicated cream. We saw improvement every day. By the time she was discharged, areas of her skin had grown back and wounds were crusted over. She will, however, need to see a plastic surgeon in the future. The best part though, was to see Antoinette come alive when she was here. When she arrived, she was very quiet and withdrawn. Throughout her stay she opened up more and more as she regained her self-confidence. You can just see it in her eyes and that beautiful smile of hers!!

A different girl left from the one who came.

Antoinette, may you never forget the love you felt while you were here, Jesus' love for you, as we will never forget you.

Emmanuel

Emmanuel after his surgery

I mentioned Emmanuel in my post "Lately." He had a very large facial tumor removed from the left side of his face/jaw. He had a nasogastric tube (feeding tube) for a week post-op until the swelling decreased and his jaw was rested enough for him to safely swallow food. I was charge the evening he came back from surgery. He was so anxious to see what he looked like. One of his first requests was a mirror. It is such a privilege to witness such moments. He was discharged this last week!!  Emmanuel knows the Lord and gives credit to Whom its due. (To read his full story, please visit my friend's blog nursemissionary.blogspot.com)

God is good!

All the time!!

NCIS, baby!!

Although we didn't have television/cable back home, we got hooked to NCIS (Naval/Marine crime scene investigation) through borrowed dvds. So you can imagine how excited we were when we found a great deal online for all six seasons!! We just couldn't pass this one up, so we made the plunge and splurged!! To our anticipated delight, they arrived in the mail a couple days ago...

Its good to see you again Gibbs, Tony, Kate, Abby, & Ducky!! Its been too long. :)

Can you guess what we did this weekend?? :)