I have safely returned on Sunday. The plane rides were long but I made it my goal to memorize Psalm 23. Praise the Lord for He is good.
Just a few things I want to share with you from the last few days before coming home.
1) Joseph has been with Mercy Ships for the past year as a local day worker in the Physiotherapy department. I have met him a few times as he brings our patients into the xray department. He is a young, pleasant Christian who enjoys working with kids. Ever since coming to Christ in 2005, his Muslim family rejected him. Now Joseph has been accepted to Durban, South Africa this January for a six month Discipleship Training School with Youth with a Mission. After that he will be working full time with MS as a crew member!
As with all crew members, our fees are fully fundraised and paid for on our own. Leaving Mercy Ships I have been praying for God to use the rest of the money I had raised. Without hesitation I decided to transfer the $3000 left to Joseph for his upcoming training. I trust that you will support me with this decision. Just as much as I have been blessed with your generosity, I am happy we are able to bless a future crew member as well!
2) Remember my first maxillofacial patient from Guinea? At the last ward service he went up to share and give thanks to God. I found out he used to have a wife and five children but ever since the ameloblastoma started growing his wife could not deal with it and ran away with the children! His friends heard about MS and gathered money for him to come to us. Unfortunately there were complications from his surgery and he was unable get the bone grafting for a new jaw. He will meet MS again next year when the ship sails to Guinea.
Praise God for allowing us to treat and share His love to this patient! Please pray for this patient's survival - he has no teeth, he has no jaw - I'm not sure how Africans eat but many somehow still survive. Pray that MS will be able to meet him next fall for the surgeries. Please ask our Father for mercy so he can reunite with his family.
3) Lastly, my two days in Brussels made me see both poverty and riches. It amazes me how there are two extremes within the same world! Yet I'm very blessed to have seen both as I'm sure some from either ends may not want to or be able to step into the other side and see this world. We can be assured though that God sent His son, not to be a rich king here on earth, but as a servant for the sick, the forgotten, the poor. In Him alone we (whether rich or poor) can experience the riches and promises of His kingdom.
I have attached a photo of Joseph (very left) with his PT team and one of the ship I stayed on the past six weeks. There are images I am not allowed to post. If you'd like to see the ministries, pathologies or xrays, I'm happy to show you.
Once again THANK YOU for your prayers and partnership. This trip has had it's trying moments but I have been blessed to be a part of it and have been touched in so many ways. There is still much work to be done whether in West Africa, Europe or here in North America. May we continue to be the light that shines in the darkness.
Blessings,
Janet
No comments:
Post a Comment