One last time

"What? You're done with Mercy Ships...for good???" These are the words I have heard over and over again from friends and family over the last few weeks. I have been trying to process how to share my journey in coming to this decision and reflecting on what God has done in my life over the last few months and I think I'm finally ready. So get comfortable and pour yourself a cup of tea...this is my story:

It all began at the beginning of this past summer. The Guinea outreach came to an end and I was preparing to go to Zambia with some friends from my church back home. I wasn't sure what exactly was going on inside me, but something in my spirit that had become restless, dissatisfied, and hungry to experience more of God's presence and power. I shared this with a good friend of mine before I met up with her in Zambia. Below is an excerpt from the words in my email:

"Uncomfortable. That is the best way to describe how I feel right now...not because things are bad on the ship...things are going well here. But, over the last week or so, I've felt like God has been challenging me. My former roommate, Deb, just came back from working at a bush hospital in Sierra Leone and all of her stories about the children dying every day from various illnesses like cerebral malaria or malnutrition have really weighed heavy on my heart. On top of that, I've been reading a book called 'The Irresistible Revolution' and have been challenged about actually living out what Jesus says instead of just taking the bits from the Bible that I actually want to do and leaving out the rest. I am starting to get uncomfortable as I realize that God hasn't called me to an easy Christian life...even as a missionary on a ship in Africa. I feel like God is birthing some sort of revolution inside of me! I am so grateful to be a part of this ministry with Mercy Ships and I have seen so many lives changed...but what about actually working in Africa? I've been working next to Africa for the last few years and I just feel like my life on the ship has become too comfortable...like God is calling me to something bigger. I'm not sure what that looks like yet, but I know that He will show me in His time. 
 
For now, I'm trying to be faithful where He has me...we have one more week until we sail and then I'll be with you guys in Zambia...and I can't wait! I know that God is going to stretch us all in new ways, open our eyes to His power and show us that miracles still really do happen. And I think there will be transformation not only in the people we meet and share Jesus with, but also in ourselves, as we realize that God is still at work today, that Jesus meant it when he said that we'd do even greater things than He did, and that when we search for Him, we'll find him." 

On my flight to Zambia, I spent some time praying about God's will for my life and my involvement in Mercy Ships. I was making plans to come back the following spring when I felt a tender tug on my heart, a gentle whisper from the Lord. "Are you coming back because I told you to come back or for your own selfish motives?" I sat in stunned silence. Why wouldn't God want me to come back? I was serving Him and making an impact on people's lives...that couldn't be a bad thing, could it? But the more I thought about it, the more I felt convicted. I hadn't gotten clear direction from God to go back to Mercy Ships after Congo, yet I was already making plans for my next trip. I had to stop and evaluate my motives. Was I going back because it was familiar...maybe even comfortable? Did I just want to see friends and have my "Africa fix" again? Or was I going back because I knew it was where God wanted me to be? I sensed I knew the answer, but decided I would continue to pray about it during my trip to Zambia and see where He led me.

God did stretch me in new ways in Zambia and opened my eyes to see His power on a level I had never experienced before! I was a part of spiritual warfare in very intense ways and saw miracles happen right in front of me as people were healed in the name of Jesus. I was forced out of my comfort zone as I was given the opportunity to preach and began to speak with boldness as I shared Jesus. I saw healing, deliverance, and rebirth in the lives of so many people that we encountered. God was working in these villages in a very tangible way and we got to be a part of all He was doing! 

In the midst of all the amazing transformation we saw in the lives of the Zambian people, I realized that God was doing exactly what I had expected Him to do...He was transforming me! I could no longer settle for mediocre Christianity or living in my comfort zone...even on a ship in Africa. God had shown me a glimpse of His amazing power and relentless love and I would be forever changed. At the same time, God kept speaking to me about how He was doing a new thing in my life...through verses I read in my devotions, prayers that others prayed for me, and through the words of a pastor who worked in Zambia. 

As we sat around the fire one night, a man who I barely knew looked straight at me and said "God has placed a calling on your life. You're not going to be doing what you originally thought you would. He is going to use you in ways that you never even imagined possible." I will never forget those words. Usually I would be very skeptical of a message like that coming from someone I didn't even know. But it was as if God himself had spoken directly to my soul. I knew it was from Him and I was excited to see what He had in store! 

When I got back to the ship, that restless, uncomfortable feeling was still there. I knew that God was using me on the ship, but I also knew that He had called me to go beyond what was easy and comfortable for me. I could sense that I had changed: my priorities, my desires, my understanding of what missions was supposed to look like, even my worldview. At the same time, there were some changes going on within Mercy Ships as well. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't the best fit for me anymore. But the thought of leaving for good was painful to think about. When I had first come to the ship, I had taken a huge step of faith, left home, and come to a place that was completely out of my comfort zone. But now stepping out of my comfort zone actually meant leaving the ship, letting go, and saying goodbye. It meant leaving the place that felt most like "home" for me over the last three years. But I knew God was leading me and that He would go with me every step of the way. 

 As I prepared for my transition back to the States, a friend shared a quote with me that seemed so fitting: "You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price of loving and knowing people in more than one place” (Miriam Adeney). I couldn't agree more. 

I am so grateful for all God has done in my life during my time with Mercy Ships. I have worked with some of the most amazing people I have ever known, experienced what it means to live in community with other believers on an everyday basis, and I have grown in my understanding of missions and the African culture. I have seen hearts softened, hearts restored, and lives changed. I've had the privilege of walking through life with close friends from all over the world, learned to speak non-American English (which many of my friends tell me is the proper way to speak), and have made so many incredible memories which I will cherish forever. But, most importantly, I have learned to hear God's voice more clearly and to seek Him even when life is noisy and distracting. I pray that He has been pleased with the work that I have done and that someday in heaven there will be a line of people waiting to tell me how God used me to impact their lives for eternity. More than anything, I want to hear Him say those words "Well done, good and faithful servant." 

So while this has been a wonderful season, I realize that God is now moving me into a new season in my life. I wish that I could tell you exactly what that looks like, but I honestly don't really know yet. I only know that it's okay when I don't have it all figured out because it causes me to depend on the Lord and wait on Him to lead me. So for now, I'm trying to be faithful right where He has me and trusting Him to do far beyond what I could ever imagine. I know He's got something amazing for me up His sleeve...He always does! 

"I could just sit, I could just sit and waitFor all Your goodness, hope to feel Your presence

I could just stay, I could just stay right where I amAnd hope to feel You, hope to feel something again

I could hold on, I could hold on to who I amAnd never let You change me from the inside

I could be safe, I could be safe here in Your armsAnd never leave home, never let these walls down

But You have called me higher, You have called me deeperI’ll go where You lead me Lord

I will be Yours, I will be Yours for all my lifeSo let Your mercy light the path before me"
-Lyrics by All Sons & Daughters

Zambia Video

I just realized this week that I never shared the video of our Zambia trip with all of you! My friend Sadie did such a great job of putting this together! It is really powerful! Check it out on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNBcIF3jTHI

Need to breathe

Breathe in, breathe out. For most of us, the days pass by without us even thinking about breathing...it just comes naturally. Unless you have had severe respiratory problems with a condition like asthma, you probably don't know what it is like to feel like you cannot breathe.  I can't say I've ever experienced that before. The best way I can relate is to picture myself caught under a huge wave struggling to come to the surface for a breath of air as the panic and anxiety are flooding in. For one little boy, that was his life. 

Meet Emmanoel. He is only four years old and he came to us struggling for his life. Emmanoel had a tumor the size of a fist that had been growing in his neck for two years. Despite the fact that the tumor was beginning to suffocate little Emmanoel, the Congolese doctors told his mother they could not do anything. By the time Mercy Ships arrived in the Congo, the tumor was so bad that Emmanoel would actually lose consciousness from the lack of oxygen...sometimes up to three times a day! His parents were desperate to help him before the tumor took the life of their little one! 

Emmanoel's father actually worked in the port where the Africa Mercy would be docked and he saw the ship sail in...a symbol of hope for one father who had nearly lost all hope. His parents brought him to screening day and he was scheduled as one of the first surgeries to be done in Congo due to his compromised airway. 

I first met Emmanoel on the ward the day before his surgery and my heart just broke. As a nurse, I knew this little guy needed his surgery fast before it was too late! He had all the symptoms showing us he was in distress: stridor, retractions, nasal flaring, you name it...The poor boy was also very anxious, partially from being in a new environment (not too many African children are comfortable coming on a ship with a bunch of white people the first time!) and partially because it was evident that he felt like he couldn't breathe. It was so hard to watch little Emmanoel as he struggled. His Mama looked sad, but hopeful. We were all praying that his surgery would go well and that he wouldn't need a tracheostomy. 

The next day, a huge team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and intensivists welcomed Emmanoel into the OR. They said a prayer for him before starting his surgery. Many others were praying for this little guy, including all of us who had met him on the ward. The team were prepared to do a tracheostomy if need be, but we were praying that it wouldn't be necessary. The surgery was long and required a lot of people and a lot of work...not only did they have to remove the tumor, they also had to rebuild his palate, which had been greatly affected by the tumor. While Emmanoel was still in the OR, I ran into one of the surgeons who had been helping with the surgery in the hall and asked about our little guy. He told me that by the grace of God and the gifting of their team, they hadn't needed to do a tracheostomy! After finding out that Emmanoel was doing well and didn't need a trach, I raced back to the ward to tell Mama who was eagerly waiting. Her eyes lit up at the good news and she thanked me with a smile on her face...a little while longer and she would be reunited with her sweet boy!

Emmanoel came back to the ICU for recovery. He was still very fragile, but the tumor was gone and his Mama was smiling with relief! Although I am not an ICU nurse, I was working in the ward next door and would peek in and check on Emmanoel and his Mama as much as I could to say hi and see how he was doing. My friend Amy was taking care of him, so I knew he was in good hands.

Several days later, I came by to see Emmanoel on the ward and found out that he had gone up to Deck 7 to get some fresh air! When I came outside, I could hardly believe he was the same child! Emmanoel was playing with his new little friend in the red wagon without any respiratory distress, as though he had been a healthy child all along! It was the first time I had seen him since he had been out of the ICU and my heart was so full of joy at the little miracle before my eyes! 

I find it very fitting that this precious little boy is called Emmanoel. Although it is spelled differently, it is the same name "Emmanuel" which means "God with us." It was very evident that God was with this little one, who could've died from the tumor growing inside of him. God brought Emmanoel to us at just the right time and gave us an even more amazing outcome than we thought possible! I have no doubt that God has big plans for this little guy! 

Our little chipmunk

There is always one little ornery kiddo that finds a very special place in your heart...for me it was Alvin. In the three years I was on the ship, I had never before met an African patient with that name...but it was a very fitting name for him because the tumor in his mouth made his cheek pooch out like a little chipmunk. On the very first day of surgery, my friend Amy and I were taking care of Alvin (I got to orient the new nurses and was thankful that one of my good friends happened to be one of them)! He was a bit cranky the morning of surgery because he couldn't eat and was hungry! So we tried to distract him with toys, which was not hard to do! In fact, I don't know if Alvin had ever seen so many toys in one place! The hospital had just opened, so we had all the toys neatly arranged off to one side of the ward (with little expectation that our efforts to organize would actually last!) and took Alvin over to find some fun toys to play with. But instead of sitting down with the other kids to play, Alvin decided he would collect all the toys he could possibly carry and take them back to his bed. We watched as he piled up the toys in his little arms to the point that he almost toppled over and then slowly made his way back to his Mama and his bed. "Whatever will keep him happy while he waits for surgery," I thought. We could save the lesson on sharing for another day. 

Soon the phone rang and we got a call for Alvin to come to the OR. We walked Alvin and his Mama over to the OR nurses and said a prayer for the surgery. Alvin would be the very first patient in Congo to receive his operation! His Mama smiled as we walked back to the ward, thankful that her precious little guy would soon be tumor-free! 

A few hours later, we saw the new little Alvin as he came back from recovery. There was no longer a tumor in his cheek, just a bandage covering the area where they had done the surgery. Alvin was sleepy and Mama looked very content as she watched her little one. She would be the first of many Mamas in Congo to see their children get the help they had been so desperately praying for. 

Alvin made a quick recovery and would frequently call me over to his bed to look at the little froggy on my stethoscope (It is a mini flashlight for checking pupils and distracting the kids and works like a charm almost every time)! He was quickly back to his usual self, laughing and playing and winning over all of our hearts.  In fact, we even made some progress in teaching him to share! 

The big day

They came in the darkness of the night, one by one, hurting, hoping, wondering if this would be the end to their pain. Each one came with their different burdens, but they all came with hope. Our group arrived at the screening site at dawn, unaware that this would be the biggest screening day in Mercy Ships' history. As I looked down the street, I saw thousands of people lined up, waiting in expectation. I was overwhelmed by the need, then thought of Jesus and his disciples who had thousands upon thousands of people come to them with their hurts and needs. I knew Mercy Ships wouldn't be able to help every one of these precious people, but I knew that Jesus could. He knew each of them by name, all their hurts and all their dreams, and somehow He would work in their lives on this special day. 

On past screening days, I have worked in medical screening or registration, but today I had decided that I wanted to work in the prayer room. Yes, I'm a nurse, but I'm also a child of God and I have seen the power of prayer. I felt like that was where God wanted me...at least to start off the day. So we entered the prayer room and one by one, people came to us for prayer. Some were patients who had been told that we couldn't do surgery. Others were patients who had already received their surgery date and wanted to pray for their upcoming hospital stay. But they all came to the One who was greater than all their problems and pain. 

All of us on the prayer team had been placed with a translator. The only problem was that my translator was from the housekeeping department and my French was better than his English (which isn't saying too much). During the first few hours that we were praying, we had one woman come in with arthritis pain in her arms and knees. After we prayed for her, she had a big smile on her face and kept saying "guéri, guéri."  I couldn't remember what the word meant, but I know I had heard it before. Thankfully I had brought along my English/French dictionary, so I looked it up. Healed! That is what it meant! The woman was still smiling and I looked at her again and asked "Tu est guéri?" (Are you healed) to which she responded "Oui!" I gave her a hug and said goodbye, thankful that God had done a miracle in this woman's life. In some ways, I felt like I was in Zambia all over again, seeing God's healing through the laying of hands.  My faith was strengthened and my spirit was encouraged. 

Throughout the morning, a few other people came in with aches and pains throughout the morning: back pain, arm pain, abdominal pain, you name it. We saw several people get healed, leaving pain free with smiles on their faces. They may have been disappointed at first that Mercy Ships couldn't help them, but they left knowing that Jesus was the ultimate healer! After seeing a few different people get healed, my translator looked at me and said "Can you pray for ME?" I smiled, touched by the way God was using this experience to grow this man's faith. I asked him what he wanted prayer for and realized it was something he felt uncomfortable sharing. So I said a prayer for him anyway and then carried on with the other patients who were waiting.

It was encouraging to see that I was not the only one who experienced the healing power of God on screening day. My friend Jess is an amazing woman of faith and I knew that she would be praying with expectation to see God work. At one point, I heard lots of laughter and cheering coming from her side of the room. I came over to see what had happened and an old woman was sitting in front of them with a big smile on her face. She had come in with one side of her face completely droopy, barely able to open her one eye. After she received prayer, her face was completely normal again and both of her eyes were wide open (I wish I could show you a photo of the lady who was healed, but the media team wasn't around and we weren't allowed to take our own photos)!

I have to admit that I wasn't really sure how the prayer ministry would go, as I know that it can be overwhelming emotionally to see all the needs and hurts of so many people and watch them go feeling disappointed and defeated. I wish I could say that every single person who entered the prayer room got healed. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I would've really liked to see a crippled man put down his crutches and run around like the lame man in Acts 3. But, I know that God is sovereign and good and I am thankful that I was able to show love to the people who crossed my path, even those who didn't get healed. 

After a great morning in the prayer room, things started to slow down a bit, so I had lunch and decided to walk around with my friend Amy to pray for the site. When we walked out the front gates to the street, I was in total shock. It was about two o'clock in the afternoon and there were still thousands of people waiting in line! Normally, screening is finished by about 4 or 5pm, so I didn't know how we would get all these people through the line before dark! 

I found my friend Nate, who was one of the main people in charge of the screening process and asked if he wanted me to start screening the line. He told me that would be helpful, so I took one of our better translators named Bodry and set out down the line. 

The purpose of the line screening is basically to cut down the line to people who actually need to be there. Knowing the criteria for surgery and which surgeries we actually do, I was able to tell people whether or not we would be able to help them. If it was questionable, I would just tell them to stay and wait to find out. The hard thing about screening the line is that you have to break the bad news to a lot of people. "I'm sorry sir, but we don't do back surgery" or "we only have an orthopedic surgeon for children right now, so I'm sorry but we can't help you." It is pretty heart-wrenching to dash someone's hopes, especially when you know there's not a whole lot of options in their country. But, we always try to show love in everything we do with Mercy Ships, even if it's breaking some bad news. 

Another friend joined in the line-screening, so we were able to finish the screening within a couple of hours. The line was still fairly long, but we had done all we could outside, so I asked our screening coordinator what else they needed and got sent to help in Registration. Bodry came along with me as my trusty side-kick and we got to work again. 

The people kept coming through registration, one after another. It started to get dark a couple hours later, so we all had to get out flashlights and finish our work. Many of the patients didn't make it through history and physical, so they were given appointments to come to the ship within the following weeks for overflow screening. Out of the 7,354 people who lined up on Screening day, only 4,236 actually came through the gates. All the rest of those people were turned away before they made it in. Some had inoperable conditions and others simply needed treatment that we do not offer. It's always hard to break bad news and feel like you've just dashed the hopes of hurting people who are so desperate for help. But, I've always been told to focus on the ones that we can help. No matter how hard we try, we can't fix all of Africa at one time...but we can make a difference one life at at a time!

One special taxi driver

It was a calm Sunday afternoon and I headed out with a group of friends to a little place on the beach to relax and have some girl time. As we got into our taxi, the driver recognized that we were from Mercy Ships and began asking questions. He had a little boy named Murphy that couldn't walk and he wanted to know if we could help him. His eyes were filled with hope as he promised to bring his son with him when he came back to pick us up later that afternoon. 

A few hours later, Mac (our driver) came back as he had promised with not only his son, but his whole family. I took one look at the little boy and felt a lump in my throat. Murphy was four years old and appeared to have cerebral palsy, not an orthopedic problem. He was not even able to speak. In my broken French, I explained to his daddy that we would not be able to help. He looked at me with sadness in his eyes, but a glimpse of hope still remained. "What about in your country? Can they do surgery in America?" Mac did not understand the implications of the little boy's condition. I explained to him a little bit more about his son's condition and that it wasn't something that could be reversed. My words seemed to hit him like a punch in the gut. "So he's going to grow up like this," he asked. I told him about therapies that might be able to help his son, but tried to give him a realistic idea of what his son would be like. He was completely gutted. I asked if we could pray for his son and said a prayer for Murphy and his family, knowing that Jesus was the only one who could give them true comfort in that moment.

The drive back to the ship was a quiet one. From time to time, Mac would let out a deep sigh. I knew he was still processing the heaviness of my words. I did not come to the beach expecting to shatter the dreams of a hopeful father. I told him how sorry I was and that I wish I could help him. He attempted a weak smile, dropped us off at the port, and drove away. 

I think I can now relate with the doctors and how they feel when they have to break the bad news to parents in the hospital about a disorder that their child has. It wasn't just that we couldn't do surgery for Mac's child or that I had no medicine to give, but that his son had a condition that would affect him for the rest of his life. Mac thought he could just get surgery and be ok...there was still some hope remaining. But with a few words from my mouth, that hope disappeared. 

I came back to the ship with a heavy heart. I said another prayer for the daddy who loved his little boy and just wanted to give him a better life. I thought of all the patients that we would see on the screening day and the thousands of other parents who would carry their little one to us in hopes of medical help. I thought of all the people we would have to turn away because they needed a different type of surgery than the specialties that we offer or the patients who had conditions that were inoperable. Jesus, please be their hope. 

Tomorrow is screening day. We are expecting thousands of people to come. For some, it will be a joyful celebration because they will leave with their patient card and surgery date. For others, it will be a heart-wrenching, disappointing day. But I know that Jesus cares for each one who will be there and I pray that His love would be poured out through us in it all. 

From doctors to deckies

One of the great things about working with Mercy Ships is that during each sail, the nurses get to work in different departments outside of the hospital. I have alternated between the dining room, galley, sales, and housekeeping on my previous seven sails. It is always great to learn more about other departments and get to know the people who work there. With each new position, i have gained an increased appreciation for the work that each department does. During this last sail, I had a unique opportunity to do something I have wanted to do for a long time...I got to work in the Deck department! So I left working with doctors and nurses to go work with the deckies. I traded in my scrubs for coveralls, set down my stethoscope and picked up a pair of earplugs, exchanged my crocs for steel-toed boots and got to work. 

It's always a little bit intimidating to start working in a new job..especially when you're surrounded by a bunch of tough guys who aren't sure that they want to hand you a needle gun or paint brush before seeing that you can prove yourself. But thankfully it didn't take too long to earn their respect and I got to know some really awesome people in the meantime. I was also really grateful that my friend Romina, who is also a nurse had already transferred to deck and could show me the ropes. 

Enjoying some outdoor painting in the middle of the ocean

Although I only got to work on deck for the two weeks that we were sailing, it was a really awesome experience and I learned a lot! The guys did a great job including me and helping me feel like I was a part of the team. From letting me participate in the training on how to drop the anchor to helping with the mooring lines to mastering the needle gun, there was always something new and exciting going on. I had a really great time during my shifts on watch at the bridge as well! I served as a lookout and learned the official sailor lingo and got to steer the ship at the helm as well! Occasionally we would spot whales and dolphins during our watch which was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the guys on my watch and was grateful for their patience and good sense of humor. 

Working on the bridge

I had a very different experience than usual for our arrival in Point Noire. Instead of watching the arrival ceremony on the dock from Deck 7, I was operating the wench for the aft mooring lines and helping to secure the ship as we came into port. We could hear the music playing as we pulled into the port and could sense the excitement of the Congolese people. We had finally arrived! 

After all the mooring lines were secured, I headed down to the dock with a couple of the guys to drop in our Yokohama fenders (the huge tire-looking thing that goes in the water between the ship and dock to keep us from bumping into the side of the dock and scraping off all our paint). The ship had been bumping into the side of the dock from the time we arrived, causing some uncomfortable bumps, so we knew everyone would be much happier once they were in. After dropping each Yokohama down with the crane, we pushed them into the water and pulled them along with a thick steel wire...Let me just stop here and say that this was where having muscles came in handy. Up until this point, the guys had told me I didn't need to prove myself and show how strong I was. My Ukranian friend Victor would tell me "Becca, women don't need to be strong...only beautiful." But this was the one time that I really needed to be strong . So after pushing the Yokohamas into the water, we pulled the steel wire with all the strength that we had and managed to get each one to the correct position. It sort of felt like a big game of tug-of-war and even though it was very exhausting, I really enjoyed it. I think the crew were especially thankful once we got them in place too because the ship was no longer bumping into the side of the dock.

I have to admit that arrival day was much more exhausting than usual for me this time, but I was really grateful to have played a part in the work that took place on deck. By the end of the day, we were all tired and ready for the weekend, but a part of me was sad knowing that it was my last day in the Deck department. The following week, the Deck department had a special ice cream party to honor the nurses who had come to work on deck during the time the hospital was closed (myself and two other girls). We were left with many kind words from the deckies and officers who told us that we had proved to be more than just nurses. The Deck department now has a special place in my heart and I can honestly say it was the best reassignment I have ever had! 

Me & my Ukranian friends from Deck
Left to right: Big Sergei, Georgy, Victor, Genna, & little Sergei

The healing hand of God

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: they will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover." (Mark 16)

I've always believed in the healing power of God. I've read stories in the Bible of the sick people that Jesus healed and thought how awesome it must've been to be one of the disciples and be a part of something so amazing. But to be honest, I don't think I fully understood what Jesus meant when He said the same power that He demonstrated is now inside of us. I can't say that I've ever really prayed for someone to be healed and seen instant healing in front of my eyes. That all changed a couple weeks ago and my faith has been growing ever since. 

It was the first night in Zambia out in the bush and we were all tired from a full day of travel on the terrible roads. We had just arrived in Nzwida, our first village for ministry. Not long after setting up our tents, a crowd from the village came together in expectation, so we had our first night meeting. Jack, one of the Zambian missionaries shared the gospel in a very powerful way and gave an invitation for those who wanted to believe. Many who had come prayed to receive Christ. 

Afterwards, there was an invitation for anyone who wanted prayer and we all split up among them to pray. There was an older woman who had been sitting near me who went forward. She wanted prayer because she'd been having pain in her knees and her back. A couple friends and I laid hands on her and began to pray. Next thing you know, she is bending down and touching her toes, then jumping up and down with excitement! It was amazing to watch her and to be part of the miracle that had just taken place before our eyes! I could feel my faith growing stronger, but it was only the beginning. I had no idea all that God had in store for us!

The next day, we were visiting different homes and my small group came across an entire village that needed Jesus! We shared the gospel with them and many of them eagerly received Christ. Afterwards, we asked if anyone needed prayer. Quite a few people stood up. There was a teenage girl named Charlotte who needed healing from chest pain, headaches, and a hearing problem. After we prayed for her, she said her pain was gone. Her mother wanted to test her hearing, so she walked a distance from where Charlotte stood and spoke softly. Charlotte responded and her mother beamed with a big smile. "She's healed," she exclaimed. One person after another came up for prayer and was healed from various pains and problems. It was truly amazing to see how God was working and to gain a deeper understanding of His power!

By the time we left Nzwida, many people had been healed, quite a few were set free from spiritual oppression, and nearly all of those we encountered had heard the good news of Jesus and chosen to receive Him! We couldn't wait to see all that God had in store for us at the next village! 

No little devil

Every African momma dreams about having a beautiful baby of her own. But for one woman, the birth of her son came with surprises, as well as disappointments. Junior had a cleft lip...and in African culture this made him an outcast and a "little devil." Everything went alright until he was two months old. His mother became very ill and was told by the grandmother that the reason she was sick was that her baby was a little devil and needed to be sacrificed. If they killed little Junior, then they believed she would get well. They would take the life of this sweet baby in hopes of curing her illness.

The father couldn't bear to see his little boy sacrificed, so he snuck him away and took him to the only place he knew he could find help...the children's hospital. At the hospital, a white doctor named Sandra met the desparate father and was able to place Junior in an orphanage for safe refuge until more could be done to help.

Sandra had grown up on the Anastasis, one of Mercy Ships' former hospital ships, so she was well aware of the work that the Africa Mercy was doing in Guinea. She was able to connect with the screening team there to get Junior on the list for surgery. He was scheduled to have the operation several months later when he would be big and strong enough to undergo the surgery.

After a long journey from Sierra Leone, Junior finally arrived at the ship in Guinea and entered D Ward to prepare for his surgery the following day. As I was walking through the hallway of the hospital, my friend Dan caught me in the hospital to show me the newest cleft lip baby. I held him for a few minutes, aware of his story and thankful that God had protected him from being killed.

The next day was Junior's big day. The surgery went well and he came out with his new lip, covered with his steri-strip whiskers. I went to visit him and snuck in a few minutes of snuggles with little Junior while I chatted with his dad. Sandra had to take Junior and his papa back to Sierra Leone before the five days for the steri-strip whiskers was finished, so she did his follow-up wound care and sent us a picture of Junior and his new lip after his little whiskers came off.

Sandra and Junior

I am so grateful for the papa who saw his little boy as more than "a little devil" and fought to save his life. I have no doubt that God's hand was in it all and that God has great things for this little one. We are grateful to have played a small role in giving him a brighter future.

Coming back to my second home

One of the great things about coming back and forth to the ship is that each time I come back, there is always a sense of coming home.The crew of the ship and day volunteers are no longer strangers, they are family. I have my adopted "uncle" who first came with me to the ship in 2010, my "little sister" who adopted me into her own family back in 2011, my ship mom, lots of "brothers" and other family. One friend commented that I "seem so at home here." There's no denying it: this is definitely my second home. As much as I love my home in the States, there is something so unique and special about this place. I love the sense of community and the way we are able to share life together. Each day we have the opportunity to build each other up and sharpen one another "as iron sharpens iron." And whether that happens through a word of encouragement or rebuke, the joy of seeing a patient experience a new transformation, or through the frustrations of living in tight spaces, at the end of the day we are better and stronger for it.

Another thing that I have loved about being back is the friendlinessof the African people. Often when I am out in town, people will see me and say "Mercy Ships!" and wave or come over to say hello. If I need to get a taxi, there is always a kind person to make sure I get in the right one (I still haven't figured out all the hand signals they use for the taxis here...it is way too confusing)! When I get lost in the huge maze of the market, there is always someone who leads me to where I need to go. If I'm walking past a kids' soccer game in the street, they never hesitate to kick me the ball (they always love seeing girlsplay soccer because it's not that common here). If I'm out for a run, children on the side of the road often ask me for some of my water. I can't help but remember Jesus' words: "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42). And while it may not be a full cup, the kids love it when I share my water with them, especially if they're in the middle of a soccer game (don't worry mom, I've mastered the art of pouring it into theirmouths so I don't have to share any germs). One day my roommate and I were at the beach and multiple teenage girls came up and asked to takea picture with us, even though we had never met them before. Even if the people in town don't know my name, they see me as a representative of Mercy Ships and more importantly of Christ. So it makes my heart happy if I can somehow show the love of Christ to them. Whether it is through buying food for the kids who sit with me out of fascination with my blue eyes and light skin or through holding a crying baby for a young, overwhelmed mom who is already trying to console the other twin, I pray that some bit of Jesus love pours forth from my words and actions. One thing is certain: I am blessed to be in this place. I love the African people and am honored that God has called me to his work here. It is such a privilege!

60 Minutes

A few weeks ago, CBS aired their 60 Minutes special on Mercy Ships. Even though I didn't get any air time, it was fun to watch it with family and friends at home and point out roommates, friends, and patients who are dear to my heart! I thought 60 Minutes did a great job communicating what Mercy Ships does and what it is like for those of us who are blessed with the privilege of serving on the ship! If you missed the special, you can watch the 12-minute clip by following this link: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50141230n&tag=api 


Enjoy!