Alumni Newsletter January 2012

Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 09, 2012 at 04:08 pm

On January 5, 2012 the Africa Mercy returned to Lomé, Togo. In 1990, Togo was the first country in Africa that Mercy Ships visited and 2012 will be the fifth visit of a Mercy Ship to the West African nation.

Following a ten month field service in Sierra Leone where thousands of patients were treated, Mercy Ships decided to return to Togo to complete another five month field service. Many patients who had received surgery will be checked again and patients who were on a “waiting list” for surgeries will finally receive a long awaited free surgery.

The 2012 field service in Lomé, Togo, will include following services: cataract and pterygium surgeries, eye training, maxillofacial surgeries, plastic reconstructive surgeries, life-changing general surgeries, VVF (vesico-vaginal fistula) surgeries, dental care and basic oral health education and ministering of terminally ill individuals and their families.

Mercy Ships will also help in the capacity building by organizing leadership conferences and agriculture training program. In total Mercy Ships hopes to provide more than 1,250 free surgeries, 11,000 dental procedures and the training of 900 local leaders of churches, communities and government representatives.

We pray a blessing over the ship and her crew and pray that every encounter to be a life changing one.

FACEBOOK! Stay connected with Mercy Ships via our Alumni Facebook Page! Click HERE or scan the QR code and remember to 'LIKE' our page to get instant updates to your own feed.

ALUMNI REUNION CRUISE: We have booked over 50 cabins so far for the upcoming Alumni Reunion Cruise! Come join us for a 7 day cruise discovering the Western Caribbean on the Mariner of the Seas departing Galveston, Texas on 25 November 2012. This cruise is all about reconnecting with old friends and making new ones with your fellow alumni who all share the same rich experiences as you. When it comes to beautiful beaches and sparkling blue waters, the exotic beaches in Mexico, Grand Cayman and Jamaica is really in a league of its own. There are countless adventures within reach. And beneath their tropical paradise settings, these islands are home to rich culture and complex histories. In Jamaica we have the opportunity to give back with an optional Mercy Ministry!  For a limited time you can book your spot on the cruise for a $50 deposit. Space is limited! For more information, click HERE or go to www.mercyships.org/alumni_reunion_cruise

PALLIATIVE CARE - The Mercy Ships Palliative Care Program was initiated after crew member Ann Giles identified a need to offer continuing care to people with inoperable tumors. Now in its tenth year, the program sends nurses into the community to offer pain relief, wound care, counseling and support to these patients.

A JOURNEY IN FAITH - Shortly after he finished Bible school, Peter Dossou had a dream in which he received a letter that he couldn’t decipher. “I gave it to a man of God and said, ‘I can’t understand this. Please read it for me,’” Peter says. “He read it to me, and it said I must begin planting churches in Benin and then continue outside of the country.” When Peter woke up, he remembered that the letter had instructed him to build churches in other African nations, but he couldn’t remember which countries were named.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Mark and Sharon Biddell and their four children live in Phuket, Thailand for six years now. They originally came to help with building up communities after the tsunami hit Thailand, and then during their stay they visited Patong. After asking the young women in the bars questions about what their work involved they were shocked by their answers. Repeatedly they were told how the girls travelled from the poorer communities of northern Thailand so they could provide for their families. In the end, via one way or another, they eventually ended up selling their bodies to Thai and foreign men. This was a sacrifice they were willing to make for their family’s welfare. After hearing their stories, the Biddell family decided to offer women alternative employment making jewelry which they would then sell overseas to pay their salaries. They named their foundation SHE, which stands for Self Help and Empowerment and has now grown into giving free bakery lessons, English classes and hotel training enabling the ladies to get jobs in the hotel industry. We wish the Biddell family success in their undertaking.

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